Uconn's time may be near....

[Dann]

i like that nelson.

duke/wake/cuse/pitt/bc/miami/gt/vt/vandy/nw/army/navy +nd/gtown/nova/sju

 

[Pudge]

Susan Herbst is the absolute lynchpin in this discussion. Her special genius in perceiving this University in places never before imagined, and executing like no President before her, should give us confidence that we'll be fine in the end. When she came into office she recognized instantly that we'd been sleepwalking for years in the fundraising arena. While the legislature had funded the campus infrastructure, we had failed to aggressively pursue the necessary steps for UConn to achieve a much higher academic standing.
She also understood fully that big time sports are the front porch of the university (knowing full well that our athletic success played a big part in getting those legislative funds in the first place). So she moved quickly, decisively, and intelligently. She replaced the AD, the Provost and quite a few less visible others. She also instilled a sense of urgency and responsiveness never seen before in the academic halls and the fundraising offices. She hired Warde Manuel, who, despite his Buffalo pedigree, she saw as one of the players who was at the “table” with a lot of the other important AD's at major schools. He had connections, and he was a Michigan man.
Now, as she swiftly moves UConn along in the academic and endowment arenas, she also understands we must move our athletics to a better place. In fact she sees it as imperative that we protect and expand our athletic franchise. So, for example, despite the polite conversation, there is no way that Kevin Ollie will succeed Jim Calhoun. She’s not about to put her crown jewel BBall program in the hands of someone with no head coaching experience. Had she been in office earlier, the likelihood is that Coach P would not be the football coach--forget about a Burton outcry, she would have doubled his support. She will be the one to push for stadium expansion at the right time. She will continue to be probing and demanding to achieve her aspiration for UConn to be “more Michigan than Maryland”.
My bet is that given the breathing room she has enjoyed since those chaotic, out of the blue, "beg harder" days, she is well on her way to positioning us for a very soft landing in a very attractive place.

YES ... I totally agree.

1. I do want Calhoun to have a say. I want it kept in the family. Ollie is not there ... at this moment.
2. Warde Manual is the connections to other major Public Universities and the right profile. Solid hire. Performance? Let's see. Hathaway had to go.
3. I REGULARLY chastise Rutgers. But, let's recognize one thing: they just significant upgraded their Stadium & Infrastructure for Football ... BECAUSE IT WAS THE TIME THAT CAPITAL COULD GET IT DONE. We should have pushed then too. Now, we are in a blah Capital Market (maybe it gets better). We have a far more advantageous Public Finance structure with the Stadium being part of a Public Authority. We definitely could have done the expansion. The ISSUE is the Public Perception. It should have got done ... it must get done.
4. Herbst is damn good.

 

[whaler11]

Is it time for the Boneyard to move to mandatory drug testing?

I can't wait to hear the Hurricane alumni reaction to when they decide to give up on football and join the Patriot League.

 

[Dann]

Is it time for the Boneyard to move to mandatory drug testing?

I can't wait to hear the Hurricane alumni reaction to when they decide to give up on football and join the Patriot League.

miami has alum who are sports fans? doesn't look like it the way there stadium fills up. and wait a sec, i though they were getting rid of football sonn when the ncaa does its dig....for a crapy bball school thats a prety good league they would be joining.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Even if FSU and Clemson go, it is not necessarily good for UConn. The ACC may choose to stay at 12.

Or, I could see FSU and Clemson departures causing VTech to re-engage with the SEC, maybe taking NC State with them. The SEC will try for UNC, but I think UNC would prefer to be in the Big 10 if they were not in the ACC. I think philosophically, UNC would be very reluctant to affiliate with programs like Auburn and Alabama, particularly after the Butch Davis experience.

The Big 10 is all about markets for the BTN, and NC, MD and VA are three of the best markets adjacent to Big 10 country, and all are growing whereas the Big 10 markets are all shrinking. I could see a situation where all 3 pursue Big 10 membership, and the Big 10 accepts them, because in the big 10 revenue model, it is not locked into network TV contracts to expand its top line.

Here is where my theory about what happens next gets a bit creative. I don't see Duke, Wake, et al getting real excited about joining a league with UCF and Memphis. If 6 or 7 ACC schools have left or are trying to leave, I could see the rest deciding that they are not the SEC or the Big 10, and really don't want to be. But the TV rights market is so frothy, they could make incredible dollars by historical standards, without sinking into the cesspool that is big time football.

So Duke, Wake, BCU, Pitt, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, and maybe Miami decide to go for the top academics. They invite Northwestern, Vanderbilt, maybe Rice, Tulane and Villanova. Add Notre Dame and Georgetown as basketball only members. That ACC would get a decent, not spectacular contract, especially if Notre Dame was affiliated.

The Big 10 lets Northwestern go as a 1 for 3 swap to get the MD, VA and NC markets for the BTN. The SEC may squawk, but I suspect most SEC schools would be happy to see Vanderbilt go, and maybe they take Miami or TCU or WVU if they have not signed the GOR yet. The Big 12 replaces TCU with Louisville, and maybe grabs BYU and Cincinnati if it wants to expand to 14.

In that scenario, UConn and Rutgers are totally screwed. Louisville, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Georgetown and Villanova are gone. Without Louisville and Cincinnati, with with the 3 hoops schools gone, NBC may not be interested anymore so Boise and SDSU decide to stay home in the MWC.

. That is just fcking crazy.

 

[traitor71]

miami has alum who are sports fans? doesn't look like it the way there stadium fills up. and wait a sec, i though they were getting rid of football sonn when the ncaa does its dig....for a crapy bball school thats a prety good league they would be joining.

Why do you think they finally came out of their coma and got rid of the Coker/Shannon types? There was finally enough pressure for them to realize that no one would support the football program anymore unless they actually started trying to win again as opposed to having some sort of a "feel good" story roaming the sidelines. They neglected the football program for damn near ten years and people finally got fed up and starting showing that in the best way possible-by not spending money on it.

 

[The Funster]

Yeah, some of you need to take a giant step away from the realignment scenarios.

 

[Sean]

I am going to have trouble sleeping now that Nelson has predicted UConn to be left in the cold in favor of Rice.

Better move to add Old Dominion to the Big East now.

 

[Hoophound]

. That is just fcking crazy.

No way do they add bball onlies when UConn and Rutgers, who are both academically worthy, are still on the board. They might add bball onlies in addition to UConn and Rutgers though. However, that bball conference might be too good.

 

[Dann]

Why do you think they finally came out of their coma and got rid of the Coker/Shannon types? There was finally enough pressure for them to realize that no one would support the football program anymore unless they actually started trying to win again as opposed to having some sort of a "feel good" story roaming the sidelines. They neglected the football program for damn near ten years and people finally got fed up and starting showing that in the best way possible-by not spending money on it.

there was plenty of $$ being thrown at that program. so much so that they got caught. miami is smueast soon.

 

[Dann]

You guys just need to stop taking this board so seriously and just enjoy it for the conspiracy theory’s that it is. That’s what all of these boards are. Go to the WVU 1 or the Texas 1. There a lot worse than here. Just laugh and dream and enjoy it. Is it not fun to start from scratch and build things yourself if you could dream? If you hate or love something enjoy it and poke fun at it. Stop acting like its life or death on this board.

 

[traitor71]

there was plenty of $$ being thrown at that program. so much so that they got caught. miami is smueast soon.

No one can say what the NCAA will find, in fact when they really look into a given program they are bound to find something. To this point though, it doesn't seem like a lot of Shapiro's claims are being proven. A handful of one game suspensions, one 6 game suspension and the reinstatement of a basketball player that Shapiro claimed to have paid isn't exactly earth shattering stuff just yet.

 

[whaler11]

You guys just need to stop taking this board so seriously and just enjoy it for the conspiracy theory’s that it is. That’s what all of these boards are. Go to the WVU 1 or the Texas 1. There a lot worse than here. Just laugh and dream and enjoy it. Is it not fun to start from scratch and build things yourself if you could dream? If you hate or love something enjoy it and poke fun at it. Stop acting like its life or death on this board.

No one is acting like it's life or death, but some of us are following expansion because it impacts something we care about.

If people want to post UNLV to the Pac 12 or Northwestern to the ACC..... good for them, it's just so stupid it makes it harder to find legitimate information or opinions in the threads.

I'd read another school's message board about the same time I root for Boston College.

 

[Dann]

No one is acting like it's life or death, but some of us are following expansion because it impacts something we care about.

i follow the real stuff also and care as does nelson and others i'm sure, but we all have our fun also. there are some all business threads here, its not all disney world fluff. i guess just ignore me becuase i don't work for espn or comcast so no matter what i say its not the mccoy.

If people want to post UNLV to the Pac 12 or Northwestern to the ACC..... good for them, it's just so stupid it makes it harder to find legitimate information or opinions in the threads.

its not hard to find the important stuff. if i say unlv to the acc and then the next thread on this board some 1 says espn just paid x mil to the acc for y. if you can't tell which one is important of the 2 than i don't know what to tell you.

there is a poster who keeps a beauty of a thread going on the psu board about expansion. its all the meat and real stuff no theorys and fun like most stuff on most expansion boards. if your looking for the real deal go follow that thread, i do and its a great read. he has everything from the fcs schools moving up and down to the b12 contract talks all linked with good sources. its a rare breed in the expansion world to have a thread like that.

I'd read another school's message board about the same time I root for Boston College.
sorry tough guy, i didn't realize real fans only read 1 board.

 

[noeynox]

You're not old enough to remember the FL teams before FSU's glory daze. Wasn't until the mid-80's and some NCAA sanctions that FSU caught up on the field.

True, As a kid, I remember Florida sucking under Galen Hall. Don't ask me who coached there before him.

 

[UConnDan97]

You guys just need to stop taking this board so seriously and just enjoy it for the conspiracy theory’s that it is. That’s what all of these boards are. Go to the WVU 1 or the Texas 1. There a lot worse than here. Just laugh and dream and enjoy it. Is it not fun to start from scratch and build things yourself if you could dream? If you hate or love something enjoy it and poke fun at it. Stop acting like its life or death on this board.

I have to agree about the WVU board. I've read that thing, and I'm not sure that I've recovered from it. They are another level of "crazy"...

 

[whaler11]

Who said anything about that making anyone a tough guy or a real fan. I waste enough time here, I don't need to multiply it by reading other board about teams I don't care about.

 

[UConnDan97]

Who said anything about that making anyone a tough guy or a real fan. I waste enough time here, I don't need to multiply it by reading other board about teams I don't care about.

Huh? Was that directed at me or at someone else?

 

[CTMike]

Well, if you're a hoop fan (which I'm not) you would answer that differently. But seriously, you just named 3 of the most dreadful football BCS programs of 2012 and frankly, the last 20 or so years. Football matters first and foremost. If it didn't, you wouldn't have teams trying to run, not walk, away from the most dominant basketball conference in the nation.

Seriously......Duke, Wake, and MD??????????????? 3 football powerhouses.

I'm a lot more likely to go see Duke, Wake, and MD play than ever traveling to Houston or SMU. Actually, I have- UConn/Duke @ Duke... UConn/Wake @ Charlotte... and crossing off MD this September. I'm just more familiar with/interested in those schools. Their football histories not withstanding.

 

[UCFBfan]

ESPN Rumor Central is now reporting that rumor has it that ND/Louisville are top targets for Big 12 if they expand. It also said that if ND doesn't come along, and we all know how hard it is to get them to join a conference, that Louisville would no longer be a target. This could get very interesting in a few months.

On another point....if anyone thinks that staying in the BE is a good idea is crazy. You think Louisville plans on sticking around very long? Heck no. Assume ND could bring it's olympic sports to the Big-12, if not the whole package. What are you going to do now? Cheer when they bring in UMass and UNLV or whatever other silly, stupid schools they can grab to expand the "geographic footprint"?? Please.

I HOPE the ACC invites us. This new conference is just another patch job and the ACC is stability. Even if FSU and Clemson leave. Some of you really need to lay off the Koolaid.....

 

[Dann]

1) i saw that^. what i thought was weird is why would espn post that? what do they have to gain from doing that? if nd/lv goto the b12 imho that would give fsu/clem and 2 others more fuel to move right?

2) best post on the wvu board today was a random person who posted that nd was invited and accepted today to the b12. news to come next week. and u guys get at me?!?!?!

 

[Vowelguy]

ESPN Rumor Central is now reporting that rumor has it that ND/Louisville are top targets for Big 12 if they expand.

I will now report the rumor that Alabama is the top target for the Big East.

Both rumors have the same probability of actually occurring.

 

[UConnDan97]

ESPN Rumor Central is now reporting that rumor has it that ND/Louisville are top targets for Big 12 if they expand. It also said that if ND doesn't come along, and we all know how hard it is to get them to join a conference, that Louisville would no longer be a target. This could get very interesting in a few months.

Not to constantly bash on ESPN, but saying that Notre Dame is now a top target for Big12 expansion is kind of like saying LeBron James is now a top target for teams in the NBA. No $#it, ESPN! They are a top target for every other conference, too!

I guess the possibly interesting twist from the synopsis is that the Big12 is considering L'Ville and ND linked somehow. If that is true, then it means that they just don't want Louisville, in my opinion. They have to know that ND is going to fight joining a league, as they always have. They also know that a functioning Big East allows ND to do so. They also know that taking L'Ville would be a strong shot to the heart of the Big East. They could easily add L'Ville right now, along with Clemson and FSU (as rumored). That would likely spur ACC to take UConn / Rutgers, killing off the Big East and giving the Big12 their best shot at ND. So to me....it sounds like they don't want the Ville.

Besides, if I know ND and their alums like I think I do, the Big12 is a distant third to the Big10 and ACC for being the conference that could make ND go to the altar (pun intended)...

 

[Dann]

Not to constantly bash on ESPN, but saying that Notre Dame is now a top target for Big12 expansion is kind of like saying LeBron James is now a top target for teams in the NBA. No $#it, ESPN! They are a top target for every other conference, too!

I guess the possibly interesting twist from the synopsis is that the Big12 is considering L'Ville and ND linked somehow. If that is true, then it means that they just don't want Louisville, in my opinion. They have to know that ND is going to fight joining a league, as they always have. They also know that a functioning Big East allows ND to do so. They also know that taking L'Ville would be a strong shot to the heart of the Big East. They could easily add L'Ville right now, along with Clemson and FSU (as rumored). That would likely spur ACC to take UConn / Rutgers, killing off the Big East and giving the Big12 their best shot at ND. So to me....it sounds like they don't want the Ville.

Besides, if I know ND and their alums like I think I do, the Big12 is a distant third to the Big10 and ACC for being the conference that could make ND go to the altar (pun intended)...

lets look at it a different way. the b12 has 6 spots open for a 16 team conf with a east and west division.

lville/fsu/gt/clem/md

if those were the 5 added to lure nd it may work. why?

nd and wvu used to be rivals somewhat right? nd gets to go to dc ever year(md), fl (fsu), atl (gt). so they get to visit the east coast for the alum. that east division will get 1 texas school also. baylor or tcu would make nd happy being what those schools are about. the b12 would have 7 division games and 2 cross games. ok and tex would prob both make nds cross games. that would be a interesting league. kan/lville/tex easily keep that bball league in the top 3 every year.

 

[huskypantz]

On another point....if anyone thinks that staying in the BE is a good idea is crazy.

Noone does. We can make it as positive as possible until we move on, or we can on the BE left and right while potential recruits and their parents read our posts.

 

[UConnDan97]

lets look at it a different way. the b12 has 6 spots open for a 16 team conf with a east and west division.

lville/fsu/gt/clem/md

if those were the 5 added to lure nd it may work. why?

nd and wvu used to be rivals somewhat right? nd gets to go to dc ever year(md), fl (fsu), atl (gt). so they get to visit the east coast for the alum. that east division will get 1 texas school also. baylor or tcu would make nd happy being what those schools are about. the b12 would have 7 division games and 2 cross games. ok and tex would prob both make nds cross games. that would be a interesting league. kan/lville/tex easily keep that bball league in the top 3 every year.

Wow. Again, you know that I really do appreciate your work, HuskyfanDan, but the answers to your questions are no, no, no, and no. No, ND does not fancy itself as a rival of WVU. No, ND does not need to be in a conference with Maryland to visit DC every year (they could just schedule Maryland or play their annual Navy game which is near DC). No, they don't care about Baylor or TCU. No, no, no, no, no, no, and no again.

ND likely believes that its true rivals are Michigan, USC, and Michigan State. To a lesser degree, they have a rivalry with Miami and Florida State that was fostered in the late 80's and early 90's. Then, they have their "tradition games" against BC, Navy, Stanford, Purdue, and Pitt. They don't really care about "The Ramblin' Wreck," nor do they care about Maryland. What you have stated is just pure fantasy...

 

[whaler11]

Notre Dame and West Virginia were never rivals. They were both just good at the same time.

Of all leagues why would Notre Dame join the damn Big 12. To end their series with USC and Michigan to play Iowa State and Baylor?

 

[Dann]

navy
usc
mich or another ooc
lville
md
fsu
clem
wvu
tex cross 1
ok cross 2
tcu
gt

i think thats a pretty good schedule. nd would never go 10-2.

with navy ooc and md in conf thats a trip to dc every year
with tex cross div and a tex school in division thats a trip to tex every year
ga and fl every other.

just playign around with what there looking at(if they actually are)...

 

[nelsonmuntz]

. That is just fcking crazy.

It isn't crazy at all. If you don't like Tulane and Rice, leave them out. If you think for a minute that Vanderbilt or Northwestern alums think of any school in their respective conference as "rivals" in anything other than sports, you are out of your mind. I don't care if a kid grew up in Tuscaloosa, if he is a legitimate candidate for Vanderbilt, he would slit his wrist if he ended up at Alabama. If you asked Vanderbilt and Northwestern alums if they would rather be in a league with Auburn and Minnesota, or Duke, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, and even Georgetown and Villanova, most would rather be affiliated with the better schools.

Vanderbilt and Northwestern are not interested in being semi-pro teams like Auburn and Ohio State. How do I know this? Look at their records for the past 10 years. They are playing a straight game in leagues where anyone that wants to win is cheating. That won't get better with the dollars on the table, particularly with the playoff.

Despite their huge endowments, money is still a problem, or these schools would already be in a league together. But in this market, the league I laid out could still get a big payday from TV. A lot would have to happen to get to that point. But there are very plausible scenarios where UConn is not the next phone call the ACC makes if it tries to expand.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I will now report the rumor that Alabama is the top target for the Big East.

Both rumors have the same probability of actually occurring.

I tend to agree. 1) National news organizations have NEVER broken these stories. 2) ESPN is way too far in the middle of this stuff to be remotely accurate. I am surprised they are reporting on this at all, because anything they publish could get them in trouble in a lawsuit.