UCONN to new Big East

[huskymedic]

BrownDog's recollection is fuzzy/not accurate...Long story short, the Stadium they were going to build to lure the Patriots was going to be in downtown Hartford ( Adriaen's Landing) and was to seat 68k and would also house UConn Football as the moved from D1AA to D1.

... when the Patriots pulled out of the deal, Rentschler Field across the river in East Hartford was born and was built to seat 40k

It was originally conceived there. However, Kraft had concerns about tearing down the plant that was there and getting the Patriots there in the early 2000s. Even though people really wanted it downtown, it was agreed that as long as it was close to the river and interstates, it was fine.

Ground was broken at the Rent. We gave him a totally pathetic contract that allowed him to walk away. The whole time he was working with Boston.

The reason we can only hold 41K is that ground was broken but we didn’t need a 75k+ stadium, did we? They scaled it back.

How the Patriots Almost Became Connecticut’s Team

Robert Kraft was on the verge of moving his team out of Massachusetts in the late 1990s. At the last minute, an NFL executive on the rise—Roger Goodell—stepped in and helped get a new stadium built in Foxborough

www.si.com

I'm sorry for taking the thread off topic and belaboring the point but Kraft cancelled his contract w/ the State/Rowland on May 1, 1999. Ground wasn't broken for Rentschler Field until late October 2000.

Also... Rentchler Field is pre-engineered w/ footings in place for expansion to 60K (not that with recent events that will ever likely be needed/come to fruition).

 

[triaddukefan]

Yes. One that beat UConn last year.

When the Minutemen and the Huskies meet up in front of 1,300 in a rainstorm played on a abandoned airfield

 

[j66kicker]

1) I had never cared a lick about UConn's football team until it became the cover charge for mere eligibility for future P5 membership.

2) This move must mean that UConn is satisfied that the P5 ship has sailed for good or that they simply can't afford the yawning deficits for which the football program is primarily culpable. Let's just hope that the gross incompetence that left UConn in its odd state of exile is not continuing in this present decision.

1) Although I’m a big college football fan, I’m in exactly the same boat as you regarding UConn football.

2) From all that has been published in advance of an official announcement, there is nothing indicating any conscious plan for football. I’ve even wondered if the real plan is just to drop football. But let’s wait on the announcement. Then, if there has still been no plan for football articulated, I would say there is no reason to be optimistic that the gross incompetence you referred to has gone anywhere.

 

[DefenseBB]

Wonder if the Big East will move their Women's tournament back to Connecticut..... wonder where the AAC will move their women's tournament after 2020.

Answers:
1. Yes, it should if it wants strong attendance and ESPN there for all the rounds.
2. Who cares?

Actually, here’s some numbers for you in 2019
total tournament attendance and location
AAC 28,227 Mohegan Sun
Big East 6424 (didn’t list the 1st session of 2 games) Chicago
ACC 55,242 Greensboro
So, you tell me where the Big East should go to hold it?

 

[Plebe]

1) Although I’m a big college football fan, I’m in exactly the same boat as you regarding UConn football.

2) From all that has been published in advance of an official announcement, there is nothing indicating any conscious plan for football. I’ve even wondered if the real plan is just to drop football. But let’s wait on the announcement. Then, if there has still been no plan for football articulated, I would say there is no reason to be optimistic that the gross incompetence you referred to has gone anywhere.

Unless there's something we don't know, I can only imagine they went into this decision fully expecting to go independent in FB, while not unilaterally closing the door to another conference. Surely they had to know that a football-only invite from any FBS conference was about as likely as a Christmas card from Boston College.

 

[Vowelguy]

Wonder if the Big East will move their Women's tournament back to Connecticut..... wonder where the AAC will move their women's tournament after 2020.

Would be surprised if BE is not in Hartford or Bridgeport soon.
AAC should go to Tampa or Orlando, as UCF/USF are good chance one or both are in the final.

 

[Vowelguy]

1. Yes, it should if it wants strong attendance and ESPN there for all the rounds.

Uhh. ESPN will be there for 0 rounds since the BE contract is with Fox.

 

[DefenseBB]

My only point was that back in prehistoric times, long before there even was a UConn WBB team, Yale football was the biggest thing in NE college sports.

I hope I didn’t offend you as I completely agree with what Yale Football meant to New England but was merely poking fun that it was 50 years ago now. They didn’t have other activities nor success in Basketball. Yale also won national titles in Swimming in the 60’s with Don Schollander and the awesome Kipeth swimming pool. For those not in the know, Kipeth is like a Football venue with tiered seating all around and the pool like the football field with great sight lines from everywhere. And it’s still a very fast pool due to its depth (though only 6 lanes)...cue “Those were the days” by Mary Hopkin!

 

[DefenseBB]

Unless there's something we don't know, I can only imagine they went into this decision fully expecting to go independent in FB, while not unilaterally closing the door to another conference. Surely they had to know that a football-only invite from any FBS conference was about as likely as a Christmas card from Boston College.

I know how UConn and the ACC feel as PC blackballed Rhode Island from the Big East so we had to go to the Eastern 8/Atlantic 10. I wonder if Rhode could join the Big East???

 

[Carnac]

A moment ago........Big East presidents vote to invite UConn to conference, Board of Trustees expected to vote Wednesday per the Courant.

 

[triaddukefan]

Answers:
1. Yes, it should if it wants strong attendance and ESPN there for all the rounds.
2. Who cares?

Actually, here’s some numbers for you in 2019
total tournament attendance and location
AAC 28,227 Mohegan Sun
Big East 6424 (didn’t list the 1st session of 2 games) Chicago
ACC 55,242 Greensboro
So, you tell me where the Big East should go to hold it?

1)Those Big East numbers are abysmal
2) I try to watch as many of the mid-major finals that are available.... so watching the post 2020 AAC would be like watching a MWC or CAA Final

Would be surprised if BE is not in Hartford or Bridgeport soon.
AAC should go to Tampa or Orlando, as UCF/USF are good chance one or both are in the final.

1) Makes sense....... perhaps the Mohegan can pick up the MAAC or the American East to take the AAC's place

2) They can move it to Lakeland... right on Interstate 4 between the two schools...... they have an arena which is the home to the Orlando Magic's G-league affiliate

 

[oldude]

I hope I didn’t offend you as I completely agree with what Yale Football meant to New England but was merely poking fun that it was 50 years ago now. They didn’t have other activities nor success in Basketball. Yale also won national titles in Swimming in the 60’s with Don Schollander and the awesome Kipeth swimming pool. For those not in the know, Kipeth is like a Football venue with tiered seating all around and the pool like the football field with great sight lines from everywhere. And it’s still a very fast pool due to its depth (though only 6 lanes)...cue “Those were the days” by Mary Hopkin!

For many of us old farts, we are a lot clearer on what was going on 50 years ago, while not necessarily remembering what it is we had for breakfast..,,

 

[f1f1ferrari]

I hope I didn’t offend you as I completely agree with what Yale Football meant to New England but was merely poking fun that it was 50 years ago now. They didn’t have other activities nor success in Basketball. Yale also won national titles in Swimming in the 60’s with Don Schollander and the awesome Kipeth swimming pool. For those not in the know, Kipeth is like a Football venue with tiered seating all around and the pool like the football field with great sight lines from everywhere. And it’s still a very fast pool due to its depth (though only 6 lanes)...cue “Those were the days” by Mary Hopkin!

...or "Those Were the Days" by Archie and Edith Bunker

 

[Vowelguy]

maintain being good in multiple sports simply by being in a P5, many P5 schools aren't.

WOW. Breaking news there!


See: Necessary vs sufficient conditions

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Another story on BE Presidents signing off. Big East votes to extend invitation to UConn

 

[TheFarmFan]

Here's the ESPN story. I love this quote from Megan Walker:

UConn is expected to spend at least another season in the AAC before it moves, and junior Megan Walker said keeping that spotless record intact will be a priority. She said the Huskies understand that the league's other teams now have even more motivation to beat them.

"Ever since I got to the University of Connecticut, we've always been the black hats, the bad guys," she said. "I enjoy it. If we didn't want that challenge, we wouldn't be here at this university."

She may not be very emotional on court, but she sure has that DT attitude off it! Love it.

 

[tomcat]

Answers:
1. Yes, it should if it wants strong attendance and ESPN there for all the rounds.
2. Who cares?

Actually, here’s some numbers for you in 2019
total tournament attendance and location
AAC 28,227 Mohegan Sun
Big East 6424 (didn’t list the 1st session of 2 games) Chicago
ACC 55,242 Greensboro
So, you tell me where the Big East should go to hold it?

Umm.......Greensboro?

 

[Carnac]

Auriemma said his team's success has never depended on what conference it is in, and he doesn't see that changing.

He also mentioned he isn't sure what the move means for the future of UConn's football program. But the coach said he can foresee a day when all schools, not just UConn, have multiple conference affiliations based on what is best for each sport.

Auriemma also challenged UConn fans, many of whom, as he noted, have been calling for the Huskies to rejoin the Big East for six years, to back up their preference by attending more games.

"So if this does happen, there better be 16,000 at the XL Center every night," Auriemma said. I believe the overwhelming consensus here in the yard is that UConn has no business in the AAC. It’s not a good fit for the school.

Outsiders (haters) have chastised us for years about being in a weak conference that can’t send more than 2 teams to the tournament. Well, we got our wish. The BE is not where we want to be, but it’s better than where we were. I’m excited about what lies ahead for us as we return home.

 

[diggerfoot]

WOW. Breaking news there!


See: Necessary vs sufficient conditions

Ouch!!!

Assuming we are talking about MBB as one of the multiple sports, an implication behind your rebuttals is that Villanova had not the necessary conditions, nor Gonzaga, nor Butler a few years ago when they had a great coach. Neither P5, nor the revenue of a P5 proved to be a necessary condition for those schools to have great MBB teams. Is your argument that in the future it will be a necessary condition, even though in the past it was not?

I agree that past is not a necessary predictor for the future. Maybe there's merit in claiming a P5 will be necessary moving forward for MBB to be one of the competitive sports. Yet the evidence is on my side, not yours. You have challenged me to offer explanations, but the burden of proof lies with you, not me, that not being in a P5 will prevent us from having a great MBB team. Until you provide such proof of why the future will be different from the past in this matter, and I said proof, not a rationale, why should anyone conclude definitively that P5 is a necessary condition for a good MBB program?

In any case, the passage you cited was part of the section I stated was for the Board's eyes, so your comeback is a dig at them more than me, though I am sure that was not your intent.

On the other hand, I think you are trying a little too hard to undermine my position. Let me help things out. You could be right that we might end up in a P5 under the right conditions. You could be right that we are more likely to end in a P5 from the AAC rather than the NBE. You could even be right that a P5 is a necessary condition for sports like MBB .... in the future. You just would have to be delusional to think any of that is self-evident and does not require a burden of proof.

Your position may be the self-evident one to you, the one deserving benefit from the doubt for anyone "listening in." But that is not true.

Actually, I think I am done with this topic at this point. It appears your goal is something other than discussion.

 

[Waquoit]

any thoughts on how this might effect UConn WBB recruiting? Good/Bad/No Change

Do you think Geno started going overseas by choice? That crappy league was even taking it's toll on this program.

 

[Waquoit]

That may be. So what does the state do with a 90 million dollar stadium the taxpayers bought?

It's paid for and has already been used for 20 years so we already have gotten our money's worth out of it. I imagine the UConn FB team will still play there.

 

[Waquoit]

Well, ground was already broken when MA decided to give Kraft what he wanted. He pulled out of the deal so fast it was shocking.

Kraft didn't get what he wanted from MA. They added some local infrastructure improvements as face-saving measure but he wanted much more than that. The fact is Rowland didn't have all the ducks in a row and couldn't guarantee an on-time opening. That's what killed the deal.

 

[triaddukefan]

Umm..Greensboro?

 

[Waquoit]

My only point was that back in prehistoric times, long before there even was a UConn WBB team, Yale football was the biggest thing in NE college sports.

Anyone else remember the NCIS episode where DiNozzo was captured somewhere in the Middle East? And despite being beaten up several times he still managed to have witty banter with his captor, asking him where he went to college.

"Yale"
"Yale, huh? Quite the football program you have there!"
"More national championships than any other team"

I looked it up. It's true!

 

[Waquoit]

Geno wants talent he can work with, and the latter part of the equation is getting harder to find on these shores.

Especially while playing in a crappy league.

 

[UConnNick]

So UConn vs Texas at MetLife Stadium...

- Would they fill the stadium? Who would actually go to this game besides maybe the 21,000 (avg) who go to UConn home games now?

- What network is putting this game on in prime time or Saturday afternoon?

- Why would Texas do this? They can get UConn-level teams to play them in Austin with no return commitment, get a guaranteed sellout, and broadcast it on the Longhorn Network.

For recruiting purposes. Big time CFB schools like to play games in other markets for the exposure it gives them with recruits. Playing all your home games in Austin doesn't give you that opportunity.

 

[DefenseBB]

Umm..Greensboro?

Hey it's not the Northeast, so does it really matter? (sorry Triad!)

 

[UConnNick]

I will bite after just reading for a few days.

The largest problem with the AAC hasn't been the lack of competition but rather the lack of interest from the fan bases and media. UConn women have steamrolled through old BE competition before and the men won a few NCs playing top teams but their conference opponents were old rivals, rankings were at stake and had a sense of tradition about it. I am skeptical the AAC will ever have tradition regardless of how good some of the teams may become. Let's be honest, even if ECU and Uconn had outstanding football teams would there ever be a large following for the games? I'm skeptical.

The AAC is Conference USA redux with UConn added out of basically being forced to do something. Geography plays a factor and it's for the same reason I wondered why West Virginia would join a conference of midwest schools and be forced to pay for the non revenue sports to go halfway across the country several times per year. The travel alone will help UConn's bottom line and athletes and restoring old rivals with some opponents will spark more interest from the media and fans.

College sports is a dirty business and the upheaval was for football alone. In an ideal world UConn would join the ACC but unfortunately that doesn't appear to be an option for now.

Not true at all regarding UConn and ECU.

The favorite sport at ECU is football, by a wide margin. They've drawn decent crowds for football even lately, when they've had a few down years. When they've been good they've had top 25 teams and they packed a 50,000 seat stadium.

The same was true for UConn. During the several seasons we played in the original Big East, we packed a 40,000 seat stadium and could have sold more tickets.

 

[UConnNick]

I agree with you 100%! Absolutely! It would be delusional to be certain that UConn can maintain being good in multiple sports if not in a P5. No doubt about it! Of course .....

It would be delusional to be certain that UConn will maintain being good in multiple sports simply by being in a P5, many P5 schools aren't. There's more to it than what conference you are in and how much revenue you get. From your comment I know you understand the risk of being certain when not warranted, I post this info for whatever Board members may be reading this. While they are reading let me add ...

It's also delusional to be certain that UConn will get into a P5. One may have their reasons to think it is probable, but certain? Nah, that's delusional. For that matter, one cannot be certain whether it's more likely to get to a P5 from the AAC or the NBE. One may have reasons to think one is more probable than the other, but certainty of no risk? Nah, that's delusional. I hope any Board member reading understands that.

However, I do feel certain, and not the least bit delusional, that a smaller geo footprint means less travel expenses, more convenience for student athletes and their parents, including with the overlooked nonprofile sports, and greater opportunities for fan rivalries. Yes, I do want any Board member reading this to know I feel certain about that.

UConn in the AAC had a slim chance of eventually getting a P5 invite. Uconn in the NBE has a zero chance of ever making it into a P5 conference. Without football, you'll never be in a P5. The school administration just killed any chance of being P5.

 

[browndog319]

Kraft didn't get what he wanted from MA. They added some local infrastructure improvements as face-saving measure but he wanted much more than that. The fact is Rowland didn't have all the ducks in a row and couldn't guarantee an on-time opening. That's what killed the deal.

Have you BEEN to Gillette Stadium? Have you ever been to the old Foxboro Stadium?
I can’t even imagine what else he could have wanted. It’s hands down the nicest stadium I’ve been in along with the retail area around it.
The traffic in and out still blows. But it beats the old mud pit that it was the last time I was there in the 90s.
Did you read the article I attached? This is exactly what it said about on-time concerns. However, he didn’t want to leave MA at the end of the day. He was able to leverage us to get what he wanted.