The View From Section 241 -- Realignment

[Vowelguy]

The ACC doesn't ask BC for their opinion, the ACC tells BC what their opinion is. If the bigs in the ACC want UConn then BC will get in line. Simple as that.

You're assuming the decision is clear cut.
If instead everyone is one the fence for whom to add, I'm sure they could be swayed by intense BC lobbying.

 

[tzznandrew]

You're assuming the decision is clear cut.
If instead everyone is one the fence for whom to add, I'm sure they could be swayed by intense BC lobbying.

It feels to me that the ACC just doubled down on the NE Corridor. UConn competes or beats Syracuse and BC there (depending, exactly, on the region). It would make the most logical sense.

 

[jpm25]

For what?

Things were a lot better for BC when UConn was an athletics backwater. I'm sure they'd love for that to happen again.

For what? To be relevant. BCU is on an island - they have not geographic, cultural or historal cohesion with the rest of the conference. Do you think that Michigan wants OSU to suck? Do you think Texas wants OU to suck? As a UConn fan, do you want to be the only school in the region that is good and growing? Do you want kids around Boston to grow up wanting to play football or soccer?

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I just can't belive that BCU is an obstacle for UConn. They may hate us, but they need us. And to be honest, we kind of need them.

BCU is not an obstacle and for the record, the three ACC members with the most conference clout (UNC, UVA & Duke) all prefer UConn to any other possible candidate (including the two who were just added). Our not being part of the first phase of expansion wasn't due to any ACC members preventing us from being part of their conference.

 

[John Greene]

Alabama is not ACC centric but there are a goodly number of NC, Duke and GTech people around here. For what its worth I have heard twice in the last 36 hours that Uconn was one of the 10 that approached the ACC, but, there were questions about the "stability and structure" of the athletic department. Specifically the influence of Jim Calhoun on the AD change and departure of Edsell. I Can't imagine that RE would have many nice thing to say about JC if asked.

 

[jpm25]

Alabama is not ACC centric but there are a goodly number of NC, Duke and GTech people around here. For what its worth I have heard twice in the last 36 hours that Uconn was one of the 10 that approached the ACC, but, there were questions about the "stability and structure" of the athletic department. Specifically the influence of Jim Calhoun on the AD change and departure of Edsell. I Can't imagine that RE would have many nice thing to say about JC if asked.

1. who would ask Edsall about Calhoun?
2. what conference would make a decsion about a school based on a coach that has only a few years left in the tank?
3. what conference would make a decision about a coach period? These are, presumably "100 year" decisions
4. what conference would not want Jim Calhoun, a HOF coach and 3x National Champion?

 

[HuskyFan16]

4. what conference would not want Jim Calhoun, a HOF coach and 3x National Champion?

So far... all of them.

 

[jpm25]

So far... all of them.

I'm assuming that this is not a single criteria. This was in response to the suggestion that somehow a step in expansion would be to call Randy Edsall and get his sign-off on Jim Calhoun.

 

[Vowelguy]

For what? To be relevant. BCU is on an island - they have not geographic, cultural or historal cohesion with the rest of the conference.

They get their regional rival with Syracuse.
BC is <2-hr flight to most of the conference. Any school in the Pac-10 would kill for that. Texas Tech would kill for that. Miami would too.

Do you think that Michigan wants OSU to suck?

Yes.

Do you think Texas wants OU to suck?

Yes.

 

[tzznandrew]

The fans, but not the schools.

 

[jpm25]

They get their regional rival with Syracuse.
BC is <2-hr flight to most of the conference. Any school in the Pac-10 would kill for that. Texas Tech would kill for that. Miami would too.

Yes.

Yes.

I disagree on all three. Fans want rivals to suck. Guys that program TV content do not. Administrators do not. The Pac12 has a "Noah's Ark" model (their term, not mine). They won't add a school without a natural rival. See: USC/UCLA, UA/ASU, Cal/Stanford, UW/WSU, UO/OSU, CU/UU

 

[SAMCRO]

You're assuming the decision is clear cut.
If instead everyone is one the fence for whom to add, I'm sure they could be swayed by intense BC lobbying.

I was assuming the decision was clear cut, right up until I read the ESPN.com write up that UConn was lobbing the ACC. After reading that, I don't feel as good as I had been. Will be interesting fo sho

 

[UConn9604]

BCU is not an obstacle and for the record, the three ACC members with the most conference clout (UNC, UVA & Duke) all prefer UConn to any other possible candidate (including the two who were just added). Our not being part of the first phase of expansion wasn't due to any ACC members preventing us from being part of their conference.

I agree with all of what you're saying, but that's my opinion -- do you have any links, or at least substantiation, to back this up? I would love to see that in print somewhere. Thanks.

 

[uconnbill]

Not so sure about the whole comment about Edsall and Calhoun. They have always gotten along from all I have heard.

Calhoun deserves say with all he has done at UConn. I know football runs the ship but basketball played a very important part of UConn football getting where they are today. Without Calhoun and Perkins. I believe UConn would be a Villanova or St. John's football wise.

Alabama is not ACC centric but there are a goodly number of NC, Duke and GTech people around here. For what its worth I have heard twice in the last 36 hours that Uconn was one of the 10 that approached the ACC, but, there were questions about the "stability and structure" of the athletic department. Specifically the influence of Jim Calhoun on the AD change and departure of Edsell. I Can't imagine that RE would have many nice thing to say about JC if asked.

 

[tzznandrew]

Not so sure about the whole comment about Edsall and Calhoun. They have always gotten along from all I have heard.

Calhoun deserves say with all he has done at UConn. I know football runs the ship but basketball played a very important part of UConn football getting where they are today. Without Calhoun and Perkins. I believe UConn would be a Villanova or St. John's football wise.

What would he say? If he suggests that we shouldn't join the ACC, he's crazy, and it's too short-term.

 

[John Greene]

I'm assuming that this is not a single criteria. This was in response to the suggestion that somehow a step in expansion would be to call Randy Edsall and get his sign-off on Jim Calhoun.

You should not read into my post that Edsall was in any way "consulted" or had to "sign-off". Just that some ACC people have looked at the Uconn athletic department and raised questions.

 

[Vowelguy]

I disagree on all three. Fans want rivals to suck. Guys that program TV content do not. Administrators do not. The Pac12 has a "Noah's Ark" model (their term, not mine). They won't add a school without a natural rival. See: USC/UCLA, UA/ASU, Cal/Stanford, UW/WSU, UO/OSU, CU/UU

What rivalry are talking about?
- UConn & BC have not played in other in any major sport in years.
- They were never FB rivals.

A better comparison would non-conference rivals like Fla St & Fla (or Clem/SC or Penn St/Pitt- which is barely even a rivalry anymore). Do they want the other to suck? Hell yes. Then they get all the prestige, and have a recruiting advantage.

 

[CL82]

BCU is not an obstacle and for the record, the three ACC members with the most conference clout (UNC, UVA & Duke) all prefer UConn to any other possible candidate (including the two who were just added). Our not being part of the first phase of expansion wasn't due to any ACC members preventing us from being part of their conference.

Okay, I'll bite. What do you think it is due to?

 

[uconnric]

For what?

Things were a lot better for BC when UConn was an athletics backwater. I'm sure they'd love for that to happen again.

BC is mortified that we would surpass them in NE football superiority. That's one of the reasons they left in the first place. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if they instigated talks with Pitt and Syracuse to achieve this result.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

 

[upstater]

What would he say? If he suggests that we shouldn't join the ACC, he's crazy, and it's too short-term.

Calhoun has spoken openly in the past of joining the ACC. I'd be shocked if he were against it.

 

[upstater]

You should not read into my post that Edsall was in any way "consulted" or had to "sign-off". Just that some ACC people have looked at the Uconn athletic department and raised questions.

I'd expect them to look at the AD, but those questions exist anywhere. I could cite similar questions about BC and VT and hell Miami and Cuse and Pitt. UConn is no different than any of these schools. Well, except for Miami.

 

[John Greene]

I'd expect them to look at the AD, but those questions exist anywhere. I could cite similar questions about BC and VT and hell Miami and Cuse and Pitt. UConn is no different than any of these schools. Well, except for Miami.

I agree that there are always questions that must, and should be asked. What may make things a little more complicated in our case is that the changes, new president and temp AD are so recent in one case and ongoing in the other. No implication that this in someway disqualifies us. We should be there, but I would feel a lot better about it if our president had been around for more than a couple of months and we had an AD that was more than a caretaker. Man was a great fund raiser but who knows what follows the temporary period or how long it is.

 

[huskydave]

Pitt and SU's actions were self serving and not for "the greater good", and I don't blame them one bit. Their first priority is the welfare of their school. They acted as such. It's a dog eat dog "business" and right now the remaining big east schools are wearing milk bone underwear. UConn will be fine when it's all said and done, just need to deal w/ the anxiety/unknown for the time being. Conference realignment is FAR from over.

Agreed.

Hopefully, UConn wil be making a similar decision soon.

As for ESPN getting involved, I am not a businessman or a lawyer, but it is not a huge leap to conclude they have their hands in this. They have a product and brand to protect and promote. As for the legality of big businesses back room deals; I would rather worry about how much I pay at the pump or at the doctor's office.

 

[HuskyBarker]

I believe it objectively. I believe that Herbst is on top of the situation and has been for some time. You are, of course, correct about Pitt/BC and ND. I guess I was more focused on the schools ND would probably dislike playing. No conference would turn down ND. However, I don't think ND's eyes are in the Southeast and I can't believe ND wants to give up its Midwest roots, MSU, Michigan, NW, Purdue, USC/Stanford (West I know) and Navy (I know, East). We do not have idiots running the show in Storrs. Not now.

I believe the same thing. Life is like a game of chess, each move and possibility has to be considered 30 moves out. Swofford to Marinate checkmate. So disappointed to see the BE go down like this. I'll miss MSG. Wonder how the Yankee's Pinstripe Bowl are gonna feel about this?

 

[Murph]

I believe the same thing. Life is like a game of chess, each move and possibility has to be considered 30 moves out. Swofford to Marinate checkmate. So disappointed to see the BE go down like this. I'll miss MSG. Wonder how the Yankee's Pinstripe Bowl are gonna feel about this?

If BE football goes away because the leftovers join the Big 12 schools, I would hope they'd become an ACC bowl (Assuming UConn is in the ACC)

 

[RS9999X]

So disappointed to see the BE go down like this. I'll miss MSG. Wonder how the Yankee's Pinstripe Bowl are gonna feel about this?

If Rutgers and UConn get added a MSG tourney alternating with Greensboro is highly possible as is at least one Yankee Bowl matchup a year. Alternating Hartford and Greensboro for the Women? I'd think that's smart business for them for a decade anyway and consolidate the fan base and advertising.

 

[J187Money]

I'd be happy with either ACC or Big Ten.

I think the ACC makes more sense but as a Midwest guy I'd love to go to the Big Ten.

Either way we are ok. Anything else sucks.

 

[businesslawyer]

A lot of interesting thoughts. A few more on my end, with it being clear that the 4 big XII teams to the Pac 97.

1. If there were no further Big East losses, I think the Big XII leftovers would join the Big East hybrid. If, however, UConn, RU and WVU land somewhere, I think the basketball schools say enough, the Big East stops sponsoring football and USF, Cincy, LV and maybe a Boise, BYU or other MWC or CUSA school joins a reconstituted and watered down Big XII. Now, the A Ten gets to be raided.

2. I think ND joins a conference. Remember, the administration wanted to join the Big Ten a while back but yielded to alumni pressure. I think that this time, they use the timing pressure that Swofford has created on the process and join (likely the Big Ten but I don't think with the right TV deal the ACC is impossible) a league and tell the alumni they had to act immediately and there was no time for alumni input.

3. I don't think the Big Ten or SEC are going to find it easy to poach ACC members after this. I think to outpay the ACC contract, which will be revised upwards, will require paying teams more than they are worth.

4. The Big Ten is playing for big boy stakes right now. There strength has always come in part from not just being the midwest conference, but also more the northeast conference than any single other group. The expanded ACC, if they take RU and UConn, could grow into the major product in the Northeast markets. The Big Ten has to decide if they are willing to overpay for UConn and RU, or risk having their principal region shrunk. Real guts ball.

5. I have trouble thinking anyone is "blackballing" UConn. Pitt was a plaintiff as well in the suit. To quote the Godfather movie, "it's just business."

6. If I have a choice between Big Ten and ACC, it's a no brainer. ACC has more drivable games, a largely northeast football conference, chance to play hoops tourneys in NYC and better hoops. I really don't see why I would prefer the Big Ten (although beggars can't be choosers).

This could go on for a while. However, given the jobs, student-athletes and state interests at stake, I would hope the power leagues would have the decency to do whatever they are going to do and get it over with so everyone can get on with their lives. But I'm not betting on decency at the moment, LOL.

 

[teresias216]

I think those are some solid points, and #2 on that list is what has me most worried. If ND decides to go to the ACC, there is a real possibility of a Rutgers v UConn v Louisville showdown for the last spot. I also think that the ACC will take no more teams UNTIL ND states its position. I would put the odds for UConn as 65% ACC, 30% Big East 5% Big 10 at this point.

 

[Excalibur]

You should not read into my post that Edsall was in any way "consulted" or had to "sign-off". Just that some ACC people have looked at the Uconn athletic department and raised questions.

There are obvious questions about our athletic department that need to be addressed, particularly in the way it has been run in the last few years. Some of them can be addressed by hiring an experienced BCS conference AD with ties to/relationships with the ACC and/or B1G. That list does not include Paul Pendergast, who I like and respect.

The other part -- athletic performance -- is a potential issue for us. What happens when JC retires? I think that many assume that we will not be able to compete at the highest level once he is gone.