Twitter post regarding UConn & Big East

[Bobol]

For what its worth:



Sammy Albano‏@SammyAlbano
So @UConnHuskies calling @BIGEAST presidents 4 an audience bout membership in #BigEast #AmericanAthleticConference @KevinMcNamara33

_____________________________________________

Do you think there is any substance too this twitter post?

 

[BleedHuskyBlu]

Bull#$%@

 

[FartMan69]

This thread has the potential to turn into a complete show

 

[Ts5034]

I never heard of this Albano guy, but his Twitter Bio says that he is a former editor for CBS News, and former executive producer of Inside the Big East. I went through his Twitter feed and he told McNamara he heard that from "reliable sources". Once again who the heck knows? but I think this guy maybe has a little more credibility than those West Virginia people...if he is who says he is.

 

[Stainmaster]

If this is true, then it's been nice knowing you guys. RIP UCONN athletics.

(Edit: just scrolled through his Twitter feed. Guy's a clear SJU homer. This is definitely a pipe dream for the NBE schools starting to miss the team that carried their conference.)

 

[BleedHuskyBlu]

If it were to happen even though it is highly unlikely to happen, we would be guaranteed a +2 seed line bump by playing in an overrated conference

 

[Dove]

If that is a former CBS editor then they write like a 3rd grader.

 

[Penfield]

They just want associate membership for women's rowing. NBD

 

[Bobol]

They just want associate membership for women's rowing. NBD

The Big East does not have women's rowing.

 

[UConn990411]

No truth to this rumor.

 

[upstater]

No truth to this rumor.

So there is women's rowing?

 

[OkaForPrez]

Twitter convo continued and someone from Marquette said the request is for Men's LAX.

 

[4in16]

Twitter convo continued and someone from Marquette said the request is for Men's LAX.

That would make sense as women's lax plays in the BE.

 

[willie99]

way too early to choose that path

maybe after all the re-alignment chips have fallen and we're left in an AAC that's even weaker than it is now. Maybe we reassess at that point

 

[tjhusky]

Could be it is the B1G Eastern Division

 

[StingLykOllie]

That would make sense as women's lax plays in the BE.

University of Denver also plays in the BE for lacrosse, so nothing makes sense.

 

[brewcity77]

University of Denver also plays in the BE for lacrosse, so nothing makes sense.

In this new age of conference realignment, does it ever? I heard the lacrosse thing last night. UConn transitioning to D1 men's lax in 2018, would likely need a conference and likely need approval of the presidents to join.

Basketball makes zero sense. The vestiges of the Big East basically split over football, and UConn giving up football after all the money spent on the program wouldn't make any sense. I don't think expansion makes sense at all for the Big East right now. The five East Coast schools would definitely want someone near the coast and there aren't any schools that fit the profile (private, religious, quality basketball team) of the rest of the league. Richmond is probably the closest, and, well...no thanks. In the Midwest, Dayton is probably the best fit, but heaven help us if Dayton would be the reason we expand (fine second option, but god no as a first option).

Unless you guys plan on cutting football (LOL) or transitioning from a public to private catholic school, I think this is just one overzealous St. John's fan pining for the halcyon days of the Big East. If it had any legs, there would be a LOT more people reporting it.

 

[Jaker]

probably soccer

 

[FartMan69]

Twitter convo continued and someone from Marquette said the request is for Men's LAX.

Crappy thing about that is that it kind of squashes the B1G rumors going around, no?

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Posted elsewhere, this likely has to do with the potential upgrade for UConn men's Lax to D1 for 2018. the AAC does not currently sponsor Lax and UConn women Lax already play in the New Big E.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

Why aren't we petitioning the B1G for lacrosse only and start forming some relationships?

 

[Milo65]

This opens UCONN up for a B1G move. Northeast Lacrosse opens up TV sets and opens up a market for the BTN. Maryland needs some eastern league mates.

 

[Milo65]

 

[The Funster]

Look, it's pretty obvious that UConn has been asking for, and receiving, feedback from 1 or more prospective conferences. Has anyone heard about the Title IX makeweight for adding M Lax? If it's gymnastics...

 

[Jaker]

everything on twitter is legit, lol

 

[Milo65]

 

[deedougie]

B1G would be the best conference for UConn to land. The powers that be:

 

[2Husky]

hmm 2019 is too far, hopefully these rumors will make the ACC get their act together and pick us up for 2017.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Look, it's pretty obvious that UConn has been asking for, and receiving, feedback from 1 or more prospective conferences. Has anyone heard about the Title IX makeweight for adding M Lax? If it's gymnastics...

There is room in existing sports but it would require a serious financial upgrade to add the scholarships and increase the recruiting budgets necessary to bring in additional non-scholarship female athletes (Title IX measures both scholarships and total participation).

FWIW I know Sam Albano (haven't seen him since the 2009 BE Tournament). He was reasonably well connected with St John's until the Jarvis years sent that program down the toilet but I imagine he jumped to conclusions on what sport was involved in the discussion.