UConn to Big East May Be Gaining Steam

[sportsart]

Am I in the minority? I couldn't give a rats arse if UConn ever played another football game again.

Die mfr, die!

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Am I in the minority? I couldn't give a rats arse if UConn ever played another football game again.

Do you ever contribute useful posts about UConn athletics or this website just a venue for you to piss people off?

 

[Deepster]

Do you ever contribute useful posts about UConn athletics or this website just a venue for you to piss people off?

Why should that piss people off? Has anything good come of upgrading the footballs program yet?

 

[Pudge]

The Big EAST Basketball is Fox

B12 Conference is Fox PLUS ESPN

What does Fox want? What does UConn want?

Let's keep this really simple. If Texas Governor gets to have his say ... why don't you think that Fox won't be angling for their own Private bonus in negotiation.

 

[Fishy]

Am I in the minority? I couldn't give a rats arse if UConn ever played another football game again.

Maybe.

If you care about UConn basketball, start caring about UConn football.

Longterm, trying to pal around with Georgetown, Nova and Providence is a surefire path to oblivion - the power five will get around to vacuuming up all the cash in basketball eventually.

 

[Waquoit]

Has anything good come of upgrading the footballs program yet?

For me, about 75+ good times that I might not have had otherwise.

 

[Pudge]

For me, about 75+ good times that I might not have had otherwise.

I got to know Dan Orlovsky's father. He was fun.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Why should that piss people off? Has anything good come of upgrading the footballs program yet?

Deep, you can be my guest to any home game you want. I'll provide great food, plenty to drink a parking pass and tickets. All that is required of you is the time to invest (basically the bulk of a Saturday), an open mind and the promise that if you do actually enjoy yourself you will attend another game (on your dime for that one, you can still join my tailgate) and bring some friends. If every 'basketball only' fan does this we will no longer have attendance issues.

 

[Northbound]

If you're not with the P5 at some point you won't be in any meaningful conversation or relevant. It's likely that at some time in the future the P5 is going to have there own governing body and it won't be the NCAA.

 

[gtcam]

Am I in the minority? I couldn't give a rats arse if UConn ever played another football game again.

Whether you like it, believe it or refuse to face reality:
In a very short time, those not in the P5 category will be fighting for their lives financially (except for some Ivy League and assorted others) on the athletic side and what brings in more money than athletics?
Going into the Big East may interest those who say grab what you can but the aim HAS TO BE - get into a P5 conference
Hathaway gave UConn the death sentence with hiring PP - we can only hope that Diaco can pull a rabbit out of the hat SOON
The womens and mens BB programs here at UConn deserve much better than this AAC BS

 

[Drew]

Deep, you can be my guest to any home game you want. I'll provide great food, plenty to drink a parking pass and tickets. All that is required of you is the time to invest (basically the bulk of a Saturday), an open mind and the promise that if you do actually enjoy yourself you will attend another game (on your dime for that one, you can still join my tailgate) and bring some friends. If every 'basketball only' fan does this we will no longer have attendance issues.

you sir, are a saint. way to go!

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Deep, you can be my guest to any home game you want. I'll provide great food, plenty to drink a parking pass and tickets. All that is required of you is the time to invest (basically the bulk of a Saturday), an open mind and the promise that if you do actually enjoy yourself you will attend another game (on your dime for that one, you can still join my tailgate) and bring some friends. If every 'basketball only' fan does this we will no longer have attendance issues.

Just make sure there's no Hartford skyline views from your seats.

 

[Deepster]

Deep, you can be my guest to any home game you want. I'll provide great food, plenty to drink a parking pass and tickets. All that is required of you is the time to invest (basically the bulk of a Saturday), an open mind and the promise that if you do actually enjoy yourself you will attend another game (on your dime for that one, you can still join my tailgate) and bring some friends. If every 'basketball only' fan does this we will no longer have attendance issues.

I had season tickets for the first six seasons at the Rent. Stopped getting them after that and haven't been to a game in maybe four years now. No thanks on the generous offer. I'm good.

 

[mauconnfan]

I don't think many of the real football fans can understand the point of view from the old basketball fans, and that's ok. I'm the old basketball fan, field house - 70's an on. By the way not all bball fans are like me this is just my take.

Never went to a football game on campus in Storrs, I was a Notre Dame football fan growing up through dad and my uncles. I cared enough to read the paper to see how the Huskies did and when they had a good year, maybe read a little more but that was it. No reason to ruin a fall golf day to head to football game which ultimately wasn't going to entertain me. And I know more than likely that's my day to play golf and you know why, the Giants are on Sunday and I'm going to be in front of the TV watching that game.

Then they went D1 and opened the Rent - I was a season ticket holder. I went to most every game and it was fun, the party the game eh, but nonetheless it was a good time. Then I realized it wasn't good enough for me to lose both weekend days to not playing golf. I mean if I party all day at the Rent and take basically my Saturday away from my family how could I dare go out and play 18 holes and grab another chunk of the weekend from my family? Add to this the fact the team was decent but not overly entertaining as well as the venue itself. I mean I am sure most of you who are really loyal fans and I really do respect that, I get it, get po'd at the people who don't come into the games until late. I think it's embarrassing when they have a big game and it's 1/2 full for kick off the noise level which should be monstrous, is actually weak. Maybe this is because of "fans" like myself or maybe it's because they haven't put a product on the field which creates the passion necessary to put fannies in the stands? I don't know the answer but I know that people have a choice and for now, I'm not interested in going to the game just because people believe this is how we will get into the P5. I believe it is and will be a requirement, but so far they have underachieved in making this happen and I, as one person, have better things to do than to try to make this product better by going to the games. Remember, I started as a huge UConn basketball fan and a ND fan in football, that hasn't changed. What did change is they have my interest but now it's up to them to really peak it, not me. Sorry it's the way I feel, so far they've come up short. Golf and the Giants are much more important in weekends.

 

[sdhusky]

Why should that piss people off? Has anything good come of upgrading the footballs program yet?

You should become a women's only fan. Only good things come from that.

 

[mauconnfan]

You should become a women's only fan. Only good things come from that.

Is it Deep's fault they hired Paul P and set the momentum back 5 years because of it? I mean my problem is with the loyalists who think every new fan will have the patience, it's not up to Deep it's up to the program. He gave it a 4 year try, not good enough?

 

[sdhusky]

Is it Deep's fault they hired Paul P and set the momentum back 5 years because of it? I mean my problem is with the loyalists who think every new fan will have the patience, it's not up to Deep it's up to the program. He gave it a 4 year try, not good enough?

No. Not if you care about UConn.

And the team is coming together. the next couple of years will be fun. I think our two best teams ever.

 

[8893]

Is it Deep's fault they hired Paul P and set the momentum back 5 years because of it? I mean my problem is with the loyalists who think every new fan will have the patience, it's not up to Deep it's up to the program. He gave it a 4 year try, not good enough?

It's not about fault, loyalty, guilting people into attending, trying hard enough or anything else except reality, which Fishy summed up here:

If you care about UConn basketball, start caring about UConn football.

Longterm, trying to pal around with Georgetown, Nova and Providence is a surefire path to oblivion - the power five will get around to vacuuming up all the cash in basketball eventually.

I'm old school basketball like you and Deep (I also grew up a ND football fan, but now I hate them because of what that school has done to college sports in general and us in particular). I went to UConn football games as a student as an excuse to party, and I went to games at the Rent the first few seasons to check it out and try to support the program. I watch now when I can, but I just can't muster the passion or the time to dedicate to it. UConn hoops comes first by a long shot in my sports fandom, followed by Mets baseball and Giants football. After that I really don't have time for much more, but what time I have I try to at least pay attention to and root for UConn football because I ascribe to reality that our hoops program is doomed long term if we don't land in a P5 conference, and football is the only way we're getting there. I don't love that that's the reality, but I accept it. The AAC and Big East are both on the Island of Misfit Schools, which is not a good place to be long term.

 

[djct1999]

The recipe is simple. Be competitive and play high level opponents. You do that, the Rent will sell out. Problem is, UConn hasn't done either. I find this notion that only now if we fill the Rent it will help our chances join a P5 insulting. NO IT WON'T!!!! We are five years to late for that. It is now in the hands of this administration and this state to do anything necessary to get us in. You do that, the football problem will solve itself. You don't, well the fate of the entire school falls in your hands. Not the fans!

 

[Deepster]

No. Not if you care about UConn.

And the team is coming together. the next couple of years will be fun. I think our two best teams ever.

I have always followed the men's basketball program. Since the Field House. I'm here on a men's basketball program message board. I very loosely follow the hockey team in recent years. I'll read a little about the baseball team. I don't follow much else. I gave the football program a fair shot. I had some good times tailgating. At the end of the day, they didn't hold my interest. Part of that is I don't really follow college football in general, part is that I don't feel like sacrificing the fall Saturday and part of it is that I just didn't care for the overall product.

I also feel that the lean on football has thrown the men's program into a little tailspin, into a garbage conference and scrambling for anyone better to throw us a life preserver. Maybe I don't get the financial impact or longer term football/P5 aftershocks. Maybe I don't care about that. Maybe I just liked following the hoop team when they sucked back in the day, when they were good, when they were great and in the future, no matter what they are.

 

[Waquoit]

Is it Deep's fault they hired Paul P and set the momentum back 5 years because of it? I mean my problem is with the loyalists who think every new fan will have the patience, it's not up to Deep it's up to the program. He gave it a 4 year try, not good enough?

He gave up just as the team was getting good, P had nothing to do with it. He's not a fan, fine. Enough with the trolling.

 

[mauconnfan]

It's not about fault, loyalty, guilting people into attending, trying hard enough or anything else except reality, which Fishy summed up here:



I'm old school basketball like you and Deep (I also grew up a ND football fan, but now I hate them because of what that school has done to college sports in general and us in particular). I went to UConn football games as a student as an excuse to party, and I went to games at the Rent the first few seasons to check it out and try to support the program. I watch now when I can, but I just can't muster the passion or the time to dedicate to it. UConn hoops comes first by a long shot in my sports fandom, followed by Mets baseball and Giants football. After that I really don't have time for much more, but what time I have I try to at least pay attention to and root for UConn football because I ascribe to reality that our hoops program is doomed long term if we don't land in a P5 conference, and football is the only way we're getting there. I don't love that that's the reality, but I accept it. The AAC and Big East are both on the Island of Misfit Schools, which is not a good place to be long term.

Fair enough

 

[mauconnfan]

He gave up just as the team was getting good, P had nothing to do with it. He's not a fan, fine. Enough with the trolling.

P had nothing to do with it? Really, he had everything to do with it. Deep gave up just as the team was getting good in one side of the mouth and the other P had nothing to do with it? I mean they were "getting good" when P showed up right and they haven't been very good since. It is all about PP, sorry that's what I saw. It's hard not to notice Diaco is doing his damnedest to bring them back but the poor guy was left with a pile of crap to get people like Deep and I more interested. I'm rooting like hell for him to bring them back but going to the games isn't in my priorities list nor do I think the P5 gives a crap if I'm there or not. This years team looks like it has some potential and I can't wait to see if it translates on the field. Win a few, get everyone excited and watch them flock to the games.

By the way I understand how important the P5 invite is and I want the football team to be better so the basketball team is where they deserve but it's not fair to ask people who are "kinda" fans of the team to be at the games or shut up. Plain ridiculous.

 

[SubbaBub]

Please name a school outside the football P5 that feels good about it long term future in top level athletics in any sport.

You can't because as Fishy indicated, all the money and control of the NCAA is going to go to the P5 conference teams within the next 15 years.

Lew Perkins said as much when pushing for the FB upgrade. He was right then and he's right now. If we had upgraded in 1990 as opposed to 2000, we'd be in the ACC or B1G.

Without P5 football, access to the NCAA BB tournament decreased, as in it has already happened, to UConn in terms of both seeding and bids. The AAC gets hosed because the people in the room are not our friends. That is only the beginning. Once the TV money is all gone or so far behind the P5, it will all be over.

 

[8893]

I was not fully on board with the football upgrade initially because I didn't appreciate the P5 importance or long term implications for the viability of the University itself. I do now.

The reality is that there is a 99.9% chance we'd still be in the conference called the Big East right now if we didn't invest in football, and the vast majority of us, including me, would be looking at out at the same landscape and thinking we made a grave mistake by not investing in football, as there is zero chance that we would have been passed over for the likes of Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse or Louisville, etc. when the P5 conferences came calling for expansion candidates. We would know our days were numbered, and that the financial resources of the University would be forever limited by the loss of the opportunity for the revenue generated by P5 football television contracts.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Maybe.

If you care about UConn basketball, start caring about UConn football.

Longterm, trying to pal around with Georgetown, Nova and Providence is a surefire path to oblivion - the power five will get around to vacuuming up all the cash in basketball eventually.

This sounds a lot like those who said playing for almost nothing on ESPN would be a good idea because of the "exposure". How did hitching our wagon to ESPN work out for us? Now the argument is continue to spend indefinitely on football because the P5 will rescue us someday. This logic will guarantee the failure of UConn's entire athletic program, including the three major sports.

We need to get away from the AAC as soon as possible. All we have accomplished by being in the AAC is to elevate community colleges like Houston and Memphis by being in the same league and getting paid the same money as they received. If UConn is P5 worthy, it needs to prove it is P5 worthy by being in a top tier hoops league and figuring out a way to make more money on football. UConn is telling the world it is a mediocre mid-major program by staying in this crappy league.

I have a little career advice, that applies to a lot of other facets of life. You don't get a job as a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs if you are a bank teller at Webster Bank. If you want to get to Goldman someday, you need to improve your resume today.

 

[TRest]

I was not fully on board with the football upgrade initially because I didn't appreciate the P5 importance or long term implications for the viability of the University itself. I do now.

The reality is that there is a 99.9% chance we'd still be in the conference called the Big East right now if we didn't invest in football, and the vast majority of us, including me, would be looking at out at the same landscape and thinking we made a grave mistake by not investing in football, as there is zero chance that we would have been passed over for the likes of Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse or Louisville, etc. when the P5 conferences came calling for expansion candidates. We would know our days were numbered, and that the financial resources of the University would be forever limited by the loss of the opportunity for the revenue generated by P5 football television contracts.

That's not much different than where we are now. By the end of the year we should know if we're facked forever.

 

[8893]

That's not much different than where we are now. By the end of the year we should know if we're facked forever.

I agree, except that our investment in upgrading football--however poorly managed--keeps us within reach of one of the few remaining P5 life preservers. Had we not upgraded, we'd have no shot whatsoever.

 

[PRHusky]

I don't think many of the real football fans can understand the point of view from the old basketball fans, and that's ok. I'm the old basketball fan, field house - 70's an on. By the way not all bball fans are like me this is just my take.

Never went to a football game on campus in Storrs, I was a Notre Dame football fan growing up through dad and my uncles. I cared enough to read the paper to see how the Huskies did and when they had a good year, maybe read a little more but that was it. No reason to ruin a fall golf day to head to football game which ultimately wasn't going to entertain me. And I know more than likely that's my day to play golf and you know why, the Giants are on Sunday and I'm going to be in front of the TV watching that game.

Then they went D1 and opened the Rent - I was a season ticket holder. I went to most every game and it was fun, the party the game eh, but nonetheless it was a good time. Then I realized it wasn't good enough for me to lose both weekend days to not playing golf. I mean if I party all day at the Rent and take basically my Saturday away from my family how could I dare go out and play 18 holes and grab another chunk of the weekend from my family? Add to this the fact the team was decent but not overly entertaining as well as the venue itself. I mean I am sure most of you who are really loyal fans and I really do respect that, I get it, get po'd at the people who don't come into the games until late. I think it's embarrassing when they have a big game and it's 1/2 full for kick off the noise level which should be monstrous, is actually weak. Maybe this is because of "fans" like myself or maybe it's because they haven't put a product on the field which creates the passion necessary to put fannies in the stands? I don't know the answer but I know that people have a choice and for now, I'm not interested in going to the game just because people believe this is how we will get into the P5. I believe it is and will be a requirement, but so far they have underachieved in making this happen and I, as one person, have better things to do than to try to make this product better by going to the games. Remember, I started as a huge UConn basketball fan and a ND fan in football, that hasn't changed. What did change is they have my interest but now it's up to them to really peak it, not me. Sorry it's the way I feel, so far they've come up short. Golf and the Giants are much more important in weekends.

Mau, here is why your golf excuse does not make a lot of sense. At most, UConn plays seven home football games in a season. However, at least two of those are usually played on days other than Saturdays. So you are really looking at potentially five Saturday games a season, of which at least one is usually played at night. Is it too much to ask that you sacrifice four golf Saturdays a year for the good of the great University of Connecticut? I guess it is. What is particularly frustrating is that you clearly like football based on your love for the Giants.

 

[Deepster]

Mau, here is why your golf excuse does not make a lot of sense. At most, UConn plays seven home football games in a season. However, at least two of those are usually played on days other than Saturdays. So you are really looking at potentially five Saturday games a season, of which at least one is usually played at night. Is it too much to ask that you sacrifice four golf Saturdays a year for the good of the great University of Connecticut? I guess it is. What is particularly frustrating is that you clearly like football based on your love for the Giants.

Again, why sacrifice even 4 Saturdays if you just don't care about going and think the experience is sorta meh?