UMass & AAC

[Mokum]

Of course they can. They can sustain their athletic budget precisely because they have an FBS football program. That's why everyone and his brother wants a successful football program at UConn, Cincinnati, SFU, UCF, and UMass. Not to mention FCS schools like James Madison chomping at the bit to upgrade. Villanova is kicking themselves for not upgrading years ago when they had the chance to, now it's more difficult. If they had upgraded back then, they'd be in the ACC now.

Yeah I guess I am a bit stuck in the past ( it happens when you get old). In the days of my youth, TV money was non existent pretty much. The Small Catholic schools could not compete and one by one they dropped football. Back then there were no divisions, just major and minor, neither of which had a concise definition. I remember for example Holy Cross. They played an absurd schedule by todays standards and the other Catholic schools as well. This week Umass, Next week Penn St. and so on. Times have changed.

 

[Zissou]

taking steps

 

[buddy]

If UMass could move to Maryland or Virginia, we would add. Don't need another school in this conference in New England. The boat wont float.

That was the argument BC used to keep UConn out.

 

[Brochacho]

The AAC only has room for one terrible Northeast football program, and while UMass has a slightly less-bad football program, UConn currently occupies the spot.

The only move that makes for the AAC is to add Boise State and BYU to the West and move Navy to the East.

 

[buddy]

As the rest of the AAC schools continue to improve, and UConn continues to falter, perhaps the AAC may one day throw UConn out, and it will be a south and west centered conference. Then a new conference will have to be formed and UConn and UMass will once again be back to where they started!

 

[Bobol]

As the rest of the AAC schools continue to improve, and UConn continues to falter, perhaps the AAC may one day throw UConn out, and it will be a south and west centered conference. Then a new conference will have to be formed and UConn and UMass will once again be back to where they started!

Don’t be silly. UConn provides legitimacy to the AAC. There is no scenario where the ACC throws UConn out.

I believe that UConn athletics in the AAC would benefit from a strong geographic rivalry which it currently does not have. For that reason I would welcome UMass into the AAC.

 

[huskyrob1]

As the rest of the AAC schools continue to improve, and UConn continues to falter, perhaps the AAC may one day throw UConn out, and it will be a south and west centered conference. Then a new conference will have to be formed and UConn and UMass will once again be back to where they started!

What dumb stupid post, like we're waiting for the Big Ten to throw out Rutgers too. The AAC is NOT going to throw out a school that has 22 National Championships under it's belt over the last 20 years or so, no matter how bad it's football team is. If that were the case the SEC would have thrown out Kentucky many years ago.

 

[Dooley]

The only move that makes for the AAC is to add Boise State and BYU to the West and move Navy to the East.

Winner.

 

[Dooley]

The AAC will never kick UConn out. Ever. UConn (and BYU) represents the biggest brand of any school stuck outside the P5. Conferences - especially conferences strapped for cash like the AAC - desperately need big brands to sell tickets, TV, licensing, etc.

 

[Hogoff]

While the geographic proximity is tempting, it would dampen recruiting and, in a sense, allow UMass to draw closer competitively with UConn. No thanks. Playing the Minutemen as an OOC opponent is fine annually--not as a conference foe.

Since when is competition bad?

 

[CL82]

While the geographic proximity is tempting, it would dampen recruiting and, in a sense, allow UMass to draw closer competitively with UConn. No thanks. Playing the Minutemen as an OOC opponent is fine annually--not as a conference foe.

The argument against UMass is that they don't bring enough to the table for them to get a piece of the conference pie. It is the same argument that we won't be going to the Big 10 in the foreseeable future. Both teams need a seismic event to happen.

I like playing UMass. We just need to be better.

 

[Zissou]

UConn (and BYU) represents the biggest brand of any school stuck outside the P5.

I'm not sure that is true today. If you are of the opinion that football holds all of the value then UConn does not rank near the top.

UConn basketball still has a valuable brand, although it's honestly a bit tarnished by losing, the coaching press, and the history of violations. Losing is the biggest part of that, and that can turn back quickly.

It's important to note that when UConn was left out of the CR musical chairs, winning and losing had no bearing. UConn was on top at that point. Rutgers has a very long tradition of suck and they were invited up.

 

[ASweet3781]

Since when is competition bad?

Everyday you read something on this board that is just so mind numbingly stupid you can't even believe it.

Yes helping out you're competition who is already for lord knows what reason better than us by inviting them into a better league is BAD. This isn't hard. The fact we even went from Syracuse and Rutgers being our competition to UMass in 5 years is reason enough not to invite them. You think rebuilding UConn football is gonna be hard try inviting a similar regional school who has already shown they can do more with less.

 

[Zissou]

Everyday you read something on this board that is just so mind numbingly stupid you can't even believe it.

Yes helping out you're competition who is already for lord knows what reason better than us by inviting them into a better league is BAD. This isn't hard. The fact we even went from Syracuse and Rutgers being our competition to UMass in 5 years is reason enough not to invite them. You think rebuilding UConn football is gonna be hard try inviting a similar regional school who has already shown they can do more with less.

Suddenly the BC position on UConn makes sense.

 

[Hogoff]

Everyday you read something on this board that is just so mind numbingly stupid you can't even believe it.

Yes helping out you're competition who is already for lord knows what reason better than us by inviting them into a better league is BAD. This isn't hard. The fact we even went from Syracuse and Rutgers being our competition to UMass in 5 years is reason enough not to invite them. You think rebuilding UConn football is gonna be hard try inviting a similar regional school who has already shown they can do more with less.

Everyday you read something on this board that is just so mind numbingly stupid you can't even believe it.

Yes helping out you're competition who is already for lord knows what reason better than us by inviting them into a better league is BAD. This isn't hard. The fact we even went from Syracuse and Rutgers being our competition to UMass in 5 years is reason enough not to invite them. You think rebuilding UConn football is gonna be hard try inviting a similar regional school who has already shown they can do more with less.

I know your tiny brain can’t understand how competition can elevate two different entities.

Everyday you read something on this board that is just so mind numbingly stupid you can't even believe it.

Yes helping out you're competition who is already for lord knows what reason better than us by inviting them into a better league is BAD. This isn't hard. The fact we even went from Syracuse and Rutgers being our competition to UMass in 5 years is reason enough not to invite them. You think rebuilding UConn football is gonna be hard try inviting a similar regional school who has already shown they can do more with less.

They’ve shown they can do more with less? You’re right. Every day you read something stupid on the boneyard.

 

[ASweet3781]

I know your tiny brain can’t understand how competition can elevate two different entities.


They’ve shown they can do more with less? You’re right. Every day you read something stupid on the boneyard.

I guess you missed them beating us yesterday.

 

[Zissou]

Rivalries make both competitors better (and more valuable).

 

[Hogoff]

I guess you missed them beating us yesterday.

Nope! I saw it.

 

[Hogoff]

Rivalries make both competitors better (and more valuable).

I couldn’t agree more. If we didn’t have competition in the BE our basketball team never would have been anything. If SMU didn’t get invited to the BE they never would have been anything. Look around the country and you’ll notice how competition breeds success in everything, not just sports.

 

[Fishy]

UMass is not getting into the American.

Anything that dilutes revenue share is a non-starter.

 

[SubbaBub]

How many major conference championships in FB have they won?
How are their national TV ratings in any sport?
How many eyeballs/dollars would they bring to a conference's media rights deal.

Answer (Umass) - None, Non-existent, No more than they have now.
Answer (UConn) - Two, Better than BC, More than BC.

Stop asking this question until UConn is no longer in the AAC.

 

[buddy]

What dumb stupid post, like we're waiting for the Big Ten to throw out Rutgers too. The AAC is NOT going to throw out a school that has 22 National Championships under it's belt over the last 20 years or so, no matter how bad it's football team is. If that were the case the SEC would have thrown out Kentucky many years ago.

Most of UConn's national championships have been in women's sports which don't move the needle in national perception of athletics. I applaud all national championships, but you cannot deny that the direction of athletics in general has been downward, especially in the AAC. I am not counting field hockey or men's hockey which do not compete in the AAC. I was being facetious in my initial response and I am happy that you replied. You keep bringing up the 22 National Championships, but it doesn't really seem to have helped the perception of UConn these days.

 

[buddy]

Don’t be silly. UConn provides legitimacy to the AAC. There is no scenario where the ACC throws UConn out.

I believe that UConn athletics in the AAC would benefit from a strong geographic rivalry which it currently does not have. For that reason I would welcome UMass into the AAC.

I also would welcome UMass into the AAC. I just bristle at the hubris of some these posters. UConn has shown nothing to the AAC. One of the posters continues to brag about UConn's 22 national championships, but fails to mention that the overwhelming majority of them are in women's sports, which although laudable, don't move the needle in terms of national respect. My feeling about UConn and the AAC is just that the other member schools have improved immensely since the inception of this conference, yet it appears to me that UConn has faltered.

 

[huskyrob1]

Most of UConn's national championships have been in women's sports which don't move the needle in national perception of athletics. I applaud all national championships, but you cannot deny that the direction of athletics in general has been downward, especially in the AAC. I am not counting field hockey or men's hockey which do not compete in the AAC. I was being facetious in my initial response and I am happy that you replied. You keep bringing up the 22 National Championships, but it doesn't really seem to have helped the perception of UConn these days.

In your eyes only Sherlock.

BTW UCONN field hockey left the Big East for the AAC.

 

[ASweet3781]

In your eyes only Sherlock.

BTW UCONN field hockey left the Big East for the AAC.

The field hockey team competes in the Big East. There is no field hockey in the AAC.

 

[buddy]

In your eyes only Sherlock.

BTW UCONN field hockey left the Big East for the AAC.

You cannot change facts to your liking. Why is UConn field hockey playing in the Big East tournament next weekend if they are in the AAC?

 

[Hogoff]

You cannot change facts to your liking. Why is UConn field hockey playing in the Big East tournament next weekend if they are in the AAC?

This is the last season they will be in the BE. The AAC will be sponsoring field hockey, which they currently do not.

 

[Adios]

UConn basketball still has a valuable brand, although it's honestly a bit tarnished by losing, the coaching press, and the history of violations. Losing is the biggest part of that, and that can turn back quickly.

Please. Don't you have some game to attend at the Palestra? Thats the farthest VU will go in college athletics history.

 

[TJT]

Does the loss on Saturday mean the Big Ten will want UMass now instead of UConn?

 

[huskyrob1]

You cannot change facts to your liking. Why is UConn field hockey playing in the Big East tournament next weekend if they are in the AAC?

It's their last year in the Big East.