UConn to the Big East?

[uconnell]

Football can have some time, but I don't see why that absolutely means the hoops program should wait around. To be honest, I'm not sure they have the time to.

I mean on the surface, the Big East as a ratings mine doesn't seem like much, but when you look at UConn's schedule, i'd much rather play Georgetown's JV team than see almost any other team in the American. And I mean that. Because there's history. There's a rivalry. There's actual interest. If you're going to tell me that fans wouldn't rather see UConn play Providence than say.... USF, East Carolina, UCF and Tulane - you're just nuts. Or even Seton Hall and St. John's at this point.... and I'd absolutely eat my left shoe to get Villanova back on the schedule, Georgetown back on the schedule (both twice) and add Butler and Xavier into the mix. And Marquette isn't exactly a storied rivalry, but at least there's a little history there and it's by all accounts a pretty good program. And i'm going to go see UConn play Providence. And I'm going to show up to discount days for Seton Hall and St John's, too I guess. And Creighton is a decent program, too.

I mean in the AAC, you have a sort of, I guess rivalry with Cincinnati (in the loosest sense possible). SMU, Temple and Memphis are the only other real 'interesting' games on the conference schedule. I mean I guess Houston will get there eventually I suppose - but I just don't give two about half of the conference. There's no history there, no shared culture, no nothing. Just another game on a Thursday night.

To me - I think Uconn is a tremendous asset to the Big East across the board - if for nothing that bringing interest back. You're basically looking at your old conference minus Syracuse, Pitt and BC and BC brings nothing to the table anymore, Syracuse is likely to take a big step back in the next few years and Pitt is.... Pitt. I guess. Switch that out with a steadily rising Xavier, and strong Butler program.. I'll take that just fine.

As for their ratings, it's FS1. No one watches it anyway with the exception of their UFC shows. And the Big East has a lot of the same problems we do - which is meaningful games in the W-L column and traditional rivalries. Adding UConn adds two interesting games to almost everyone's slate. And New York and stuff.

I don't consider Butler or Xavier any kind of replacement for the Cuse or Pitt or any other of the OBE.

The fact that NBE is having the same problems as UConn, etc.is that they have no rivalry with Creighton, Xavier or Butler.

We already had games at Georgetown and hopefully Villanova as the only 2 teams I care about in the BE. They both have FB teams, I would love it if the would move them up and join the AAC, but fat chance.

Probably no one cares what I think but NO to moving to the BE and boy am I sorry we sold the name and all that goes along with that name. Yes I know why, but we are now facing the same situation and are in a worse spot.

 

[UConnMike04]

I am a Uconn fan and I do not know where some of these fans get off sometimes.

Uconn is a grand total of 3-3 vs Tulsa in 3 years and one of those wins was an ugly 47 to 43 stinker. Plus, the next game is doubtful in regards to victory. The three years since Tulsa joined the AAC, they have finished AHEAD of Uconn all 3 times. Maybe Uconn can, I don´t know, try to do better than the team in the standings for once (1 game back this year too, will it be four years running?) and win more often against Tulsa before fans claim they are not interested in Tulsa.....IMO this is unwarranted arrogance. But maybe I took it the wrong way.

ECU, Tulane, USF, I will give you that. They are lousy and Uconn better beat the 0 and 11 Bulls.

As for SMU, I have full interest until Uconn can actually consistently make it a game but they have kicked the c==p out of Uconn numerous times....not sure how one could lose interest in actually trying to beat a team on the road which Uconn has failed to do FOUR years in a row, not even making it a game even once, plus getting smoked two years ago after that ugly 47 to 43 game.

Be better than the teams before complaining about the conference made up of those teams. The way some people think, you would think Uconn was crushing this leauge Kansas style. No, they can´t even make it a game on the road vs. SMU, are .500 vs Tulsa, etc.



Uconn is 2 and 4 vs Houston since they joined as far as I recall and this next game is doubtful. If Houston is ¨not there¨I am a little afraid for Uconn who has a losing record vs. them over the past 3.5 years and might have an 0 and 2 record this year....

Again, beat the teams, often, before having misplaced arrogance against them.

I'm not talking about having no interest in regards to standings. Of course I want UConn to beat up on them and be on top. I'm not looking down on those teams either. What I am simply saying is that I'd rather play teams that I have memories of having big games against that are local and that we have been playing for 25+ years. What the hell do we have in common with SMU? Tulsa? Tulane? ECU? Nothing. No history, no geography, etc.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

UConn Basketball is fine in the AAC, under the condition, they actually win games in the league.

UConn Basketball doesn't have an AAC problem, UConn Basketball has a winning problem.

Long term, I think we're going to face monetary issues and attendance issues (for the lower half of the league especially) but overall the only thing holding us back is us.

I hate being in here, but bitching and moaning that the league is holding us back when we are consistently a middle of the pack team is pretty laughable.

 

[BuffaloHusky]

I'm going to sound like the ultimate Ollie apologist but the AAC's travel is partially to blame for the mediocre records in conference plan year to year. Unless UConn has significantly better players, they are going to struggle every year they travel to Houston, Dallas and Tulsa. The Texas, Oklahoma trips are very similar to the NBA's San Antonio, Houston, Dallas trip where teams are ecstatic to win 2/3. The AAC though is not the NBA and college kids really struggle playing hostile road games with significant travel in a different time zone regardless of opponent. In fact, I think their success in the AAC and NCAA tournament over the last several years is partially due to that crucible.

Ollie has upped the talent level significantly which bodes well for future years and I think would have paid dividends eventually this season but as long as 2 of the top 5 players are sitting on the bench, they won't be beating SMU in Dallas.

 

[Travelman6]

Just to avoid travel to such "far away" (even by usa standards which is a huge country) places, I think Uconn should try to get into the Big East, actually. It is insane to have to travel across numerous time zones for a conference game, multiple times per year. This re-alignment business blows IMO, makes no sense geography wise. I think I read a graphic one year that Uconn was the most travelled squad in the country, by far. I bet they rank in the top 10 every year too. A lot of that is simply Houston, SMU and Tulsa. I have nothing against those three teams, but it is a pain to have to travel so much.

 

[freescooter]

When does there tv contract end. I can see ESPN buying back the rights

It's possible but doubtful it will be for much more than they are getting. Here is the problem. The market is saturated and ESPN is losing subscribers in the new cordcutting world. And they are saddled with P5 deals that really make no long term sense. Frankly I wouldn't be shocked to see fs1 shut down

 

[MASSconn]

Rothstein is spot on. I swear 50% of the US doesn't even know the American Conference exists, and this is from someone who wants UC to be recognized. We should have kept basketball there. Geographically it makes absolutely no sense and there are zero traditional rivalries (other than late Big East add Cincy).

Get us OUT! Who gives a shit about the ratings. It's 100% branding that is killing us.

 

[shizzle787]

Rothstein is spot on. I swear 50% of the US doesn't even know the American Conference exists, and this is from someone who wants UC to be recognized. We should have kept basketball there. Geographically it makes absolutely no sense and there are zero traditional rivalries (other than late Big East add Cincy).

Get us OUT! Who gives a about the ratings. It's 100% branding that is killing us.

On top of that, we would have a better schedule and more fans would show up. The only deadbeat in the BE is DePaul. In the AAC, ECU, USF, and Tulane definitely fit the bill and the jury is out on UCF and Houston (due to an impending recruiting violation...remember who their coach is). The BE is a power conference according to the media, the pollsters, and the NCAA committee. The AAC is not a power conference by anyone's standards. On top of that, the BE might keep the double round-robin and just go to 20 games. As far as football, we should go independent and we can do it and arguably get more P5 opponents a year. Football will be on the way out in the next 10 years due to lawsuits anyway. Basketball is where it's at in the future.

 

[CL82]

Basketball is where it's at in the future.

How so Shizz?

 

[shizzle787]

How so Shizz?

Football won't survive past about 10-15 years from now due to CTE and concussions. It will be played in the deep South and Texas, and that is about it. Basketball is the one major sport where there are no major injury concerns and is growing globally. Football's decline will be both basketball and soccer's gain. Better athletes playing basketball leads to better college basketball leading to a better NBA which leads to higher viewership around the US and the world leading to higher participation rates among youth and the cycle continues.

 

[uconnell]

On top of that, we would have a better schedule and more fans would show up. The only deadbeat in the BE is DePaul. In the AAC, ECU, USF, and Tulane definitely fit the bill and the jury is out on UCF and Houston (due to an impending recruiting violation....remember who their coach is). The BE is a power conference according to the media, the pollsters, and the NCAA committee. The AAC is not a power conference by anyone's standards. On top of that, the BE might keep the double round-robin and just go to 20 games. As far as football, we should go independent and we can do it and arguably get more P5 opponents a year. Football will be on the way out in the next 10 years due to lawsuits anyway. Basketball is where it's at in the future.

The Big East is a power conference because the Big East was a power conference name. As much as Providence et al said they have more right to the name, it was Cuse, Pitt,Wv, UConn, Georgetown and Villanova that built the name .

Truthfully I cannot recall much of the games we played against the C-7 except for those two teams and PC when they had Gomes.

I don't watch any BE games except if we are playing them. I hate that we don't have the BE name.

 

[shizzle787]

The Big East is a power conference because the Big East was a power conference name. As much as Providence et al said they have more right to the name, it was Cuse, Pitt,Wv, UConn, Georgetown and Villanova that built the name .

Truthfully I cannot recall much of the games we played against the C-7 except for those two teams and PC when they had Gomes.

I don't watch any BE games except if we are playing them. I hate that we don't have the BE name.

There were a lot of big games against St. John's in the 80s and 90s. Regardless, the BE is a power conference whether we like it or not. We should strive to be in a power conference in our main sport and the one that actually runs a profit.

 

[Chief00]

Quite frankly, we may now wait to see the identity of our newly configured football team before making any major changes.

The Big East is interested in us for a few reasons. One, that has not been mentioned in this thread is attendance at their tournament at MSG. They want to protect their dates/time-slots at MSG from possible Big Ten or ACC intrusion. UConn has a great reputation for fan turnout at MSG.

 

[shizzle787]

Quite frankly, we may now wait to see the identity of our newly configured football team before making any major changes.

The Big East is interested in us for a few reasons. One, that has not been mentioned in this thread is attendance at their tournament at MSG. They want to protect their dates/time-slots at MSG from possible Big Ten or ACC intrusion. UConn has a great reputation for fan turnout at MSG.

I think we should give football 3-4 years to see what happens with the team, the new AAC media rights deal, how the AAC fares vs. the NBE, and potential CTE lawsuits. If the Big 12 doesn't come calling by then, it might be time to move to the BE.

 

[joober jones]

Just to avoid travel to such "far away" (even by usa standards which is a huge country) places, I think Uconn should try to get into the Big East, actually. It is insane to have to travel across numerous time zones for a conference game, multiple times per year. This re-alignment business blows IMO, makes no sense geography wise. I think I read a graphic one year that Uconn was the most travelled squad in the country, by far. I bet they rank in the top 10 every year too. A lot of that is simply Houston, SMU and Tulsa. I have nothing against those three teams, but it is a pain to have to travel so much.

Given your user name, your last sentence is the most ironic thing you could have possibly said.

 

[uconnell]

Quite frankly, we may now wait to see the identity of our newly configured football team before making any major changes.

The Big East is interested in us for a few reasons. One, that has not been mentioned in this thread is attendance at their tournament at MSG. They want to protect their dates/time-slots at MSG from possible Big Ten or ACC intrusion. UConn has a great reputation for fan turnout at MSG.

The Big East doesn't want us, at least that is what they are saying on the PC board. Let them rot seems to be a favorite . I feel the same way about them. They have a nice little club over there and a few teams are wining who didn't do much in the past. They don't want any outside team to come in and mess it up.

 

[shizzle787]

The Big East doesn't want us, at least that is what they are saying on the PC board. Let them rot seems to be a favorite . I feel the same way about them. They have a nice little club over there and a few teams are wining who didn't do much in the past. They don't want any outside team to come in and mess it up.

Au contraire, FOX wants us. PC fans don't mean anything anyway. The BE wants us too. When we applied to the Big 12 under the football-only portion of the application, we mentioned joining the BE for everything else. We wouldn't have been able to put that down unless the BE had given us a de facto invite.

 

[Chief00]

The Big East doesn't want us, at least that is what they are saying on the PC board. Let them rot seems to be a favorite . I feel the same way about them. They have a nice little club over there and a few teams are wining who didn't do much in the past. They don't want any outside team to come in and mess it up.

Confirmed - Trust me - the Big East wants us.

 

[uconnell]

Confirmed - Trust me - the Big East wants us.

I don't want to give up football and I love basketball,. Guess I'll just stay out of the arguement.

 

[shizzle787]

I don't want to give up football and I love basketball,. Guess I'll just stay out of the arguement.

I don't want to give up football either and we don't have to if we go independent. However, we also need to realize that the future is bleak for football around the country.

 

[upstater]

I'm going to sound like the ultimate Ollie apologist but the AAC's travel is partially to blame for the mediocre records in conference plan year to year. Unless UConn has significantly better players, they are going to struggle every year they travel to Houston, Dallas and Tulsa. The Texas, Oklahoma trips are very similar to the NBA's San Antonio, Houston, Dallas trip where teams are ecstatic to win 2/3. The AAC though is not the NBA and college kids really struggle playing hostile road games with significant travel in a different time zone regardless of opponent. In fact, I think their success in the AAC and NCAA tournament over the last several years is partially due to that crucible.

Ollie has upped the talent level significantly which bodes well for future years and I think would have paid dividends eventually this season but as long as 2 of the top 5 players are sitting on the bench, they won't be beating SMU in Dallas.

I agree in part, but every conference is like this these days so there are no excuses.

The BE itself is in Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, and it will probably add Missouri or Iowa if it adds a school like UConn. You still have to get to Omaha, which is no different than Tulsa.

 

[shizzle787]

I agree in part, but every conference is like this these days so there are no excuses.

The BE itself is in Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, and it will probably add Missouri or Iowa if it adds a school like UConn. You still have to get to Omaha, which is no different than Tulsa.

Except the B1G TV contract is worth almost 20x the AAC one and that softens the travel blow quite a bit.

 

[Adios]

I don't want to give up football either and we don't have to if we go independent. However, we also need to realize that the future is bleak for football around the country.

London still wants an NFL team and the fanbase is still growing there. Do you think before you type? I am guessing no.

 

[shizzle787]

London still wants an NFL team and the fanbase is still growing there. Do you think before you type? I am guessing no.

I'm guessing you haven't heard about CTE yet. You're one of those.

 

[Adios]

I'm guessing you haven't heard about CTE yet. You're one of those.

No, I know plenty about CTE. Been through plenty myself. Notice Brady is insanely careful about his health but still wants to play more anyway. Geez. Yeah, you're one of those.

 

[shizzle787]

No, I know plenty about CTE. Been through plenty myself. Notice Brady is insanely careful about his health but still wants to play more anyway. Geez. Yeah, you're one of those.

It is going to die at the youth level because parents are going to stop letting their kids play and they don't want to sign the lengthy waivers. London has wanted a team for a decade, it doesn't work logistically and the sport is growing (albeit small-time) in the UK because it is a novelty there. It's the equivalent of lacrosse there maybe worse.

 

[UConnfan8]

I think we should give football 3-4 years to see what happens with the team, the new AAC media rights deal, how the AAC fares vs. the NBE, and potential CTE lawsuits. If the Big 12 doesn't come calling by then, it might be time to move to the BE.

By then our biggest OOC draw will be URI

 

[Adios]

It is going to die at the youth level because parents are going to stop letting their kids play and they don't want to sign the lengthy waivers. London has wanted a team for a decade, it doesn't work logistically and the sport is growing (albeit small-time) in the UK because it is a novelty there. It's the equivalent of lacrosse there maybe worse.

You're very wrong about the sport being a novelty. Wow, you are not too bright. In case you didn't know, parents sell their kids when times are rough.

Pushing for independence in football, too? Really?

 

[shizzle787]

You're very wrong about the sport being a novelty. Wow, you are not too bright. In case you didn't know, parents sell their kids when times are rough.

Pushing for independence in football, too? Really?

In the UK, yes, football is a novelty (and I'm not talking soccer when I say that).

 

[Adios]

In the UK, yes, football is a novelty (and I'm not talking soccer when I say that).

I am sure that's why they're aiming for an NFL team. They can support a full franchise there as of now. Tickets sell for 100 pounds and above for each game. And sold out all but two games.

In Germany and Australia, the game's popularity is even picking up. This Super Bowl should actually help it grow even more. If you listen to players, they speak of what they do as job opportunities. Too bad you can't grasp that.