UMass signals CUSA

[pepband99]

Have you seen what's been going on lately? Would you rather grind forever without any interim goals?

As opposed to hitching to a dinghy?

Yes. He clearly prefers insanity.

As opposed to ignoring math? Be honest - does setting ourselves up for "competing" for a low-tier G5 conference title and a low-tier bowl bid really rejuvenate anything? Currently-constituted MAC and CUSA are about a 1/4 step above FCS, and with some fairly big drawbacks.

Go ahead and make a case that, in all likelihood, joining a conference for LESS MONEY actually fixes anything. I'd love to hear your actual reasoning, and not just have you lob another flippant insult across, though that's your schtick.

 

[Kolumbo]

I'll play Devil's Advocate and suggest revisiting the C-USA football-only option might be the best option. Let's concede for a moment that we need to join a conference and UConn isn't leaving the Big East unless one of the Power conferences invites us. That means football-only. C-USA with 9 members may be the only option and depending on who 10-12 or so are, it may not be bad. UConn and UMass. Delaware perhaps? Buffalo?

G5 is G5. UConn has to earn it's way back in and any conference affiliation may help that. It would be a conference UConn could win sooner rather than later if Jim Mora is that good. Liberty made the jump as an independent, just joined C-USA, and is winning. 48-22. 5 years indie and 1 in C-USA and hasn't had a losing season. Maybe it's looking at the Sun Belt, I don't know. But UConn has to establish some type of foundation upon which it can build and win and then the spoils should come.

 

[CL82]

I'll play Devil's Advocate and suggest revisiting the C-USA football-only option might be the best option. Let's concede for a moment that we need to join a conference and UConn isn't leaving the Big East unless one of the Power conferences invites us. That means football-only. C-USA with 9 members may be the only option and depending on who 10-12 or so are, it may not be bad. UConn and UMass. Delaware perhaps? Buffalo?

G5 is G5. UConn has to earn it's way back in and any conference affiliation may help that. It would be a conference UConn could win sooner rather than later if Jim Mora is that good. Liberty made the jump as an independent, just joined C-USA, and is winning. 48-22. 5 years indie and 1 in C-USA and hasn't had a losing season. Maybe it's looking at the Sun Belt, I don't know. But UConn has to establish some type of foundation upon which it can build and win and then the spoils should come.

I don't know, I wonder if joining CUSA or the MAC would be viewed as another admission that we were not serious about football.

 

[Kolumbo]

I don't know, I wonder if joining CUSA or the MAC would be viewed as another admission that we were not serious about football.

I think it would be the opposite. Indie is no-man's land, and Liberty is very serious.

 

[CL82]

I think it would be the opposite. Indie is no-man's land, and Liberty is very serious.

Yeah, I don't know that I have a definitive answer one way or another, but I do worry about it.

 

[Bongo Fury]

I don’t know if it would be an improvement but probably not worse either. Winning will bring back fans and maybe even a tiny bit of respect.

 

[Vowelguy]

Have you seen what's been going on lately? Would you rather grind forever without any interim goals?

The interim goal is win some games. Until
This team stops stinking up the joint, nothing else will matter.

 

[ZooCougar]

As opposed to hitching to a dinghy?



As opposed to ignoring math? Be honest - does setting ourselves up for "competing" for a low-tier G5 conference title and a low-tier bowl bid really rejuvenate anything? Currently-constituted MAC and CUSA are about a 1/4 step above FCS, and with some fairly big drawbacks.

Go ahead and make a case that, in all likelihood, joining a conference for LESS MONEY actually fixes anything. I'd love to hear your actual reasoning, and not just have you lob another flippant insult across, though that's your schtick.

Neither works well.

One would potentially work better than the other because it provides us something to compete for and gives us bowl alliances and other basic requirements that independence doesn’t provide.

Financially? You’re quibbling over pennies.

You’re expecting different results when we are doing the same thing over and over and over and over again.

That’s the definition of insanity.

We don’t recruit well enough to beat most of the P5s that we play. Maybe all of them.

Like Mora lined out. We are just setting ourselves up for long term failure. And misery.

 

[shizzle787]

I think it would be the opposite. Indie is no-man's land, and Liberty is very serious.

Liberty joined a league to bolster their basketball side. Their football side and schedule took a hit.

 

[shizzle787]

UConn made a basketball move and the football program is trying to get up off the mat
Liberty made a basketball move and the football program is 8-0 heading to its 5th straight bowl game

If only we could take such a hit. I guess their schedule took a hit because they aren't playing any power conference programs this year. But who did they have previously? Syracuse, Wake, BYU, Arkansas, Va Tech, Ole Miss...not quite ivy league now is it. 8-0 is 8-0.

They were good the last few years playing much more difficult schedules. In a 12-team playoff, they will never make it in from CUSA. If they were independent, they would at least have a shot.

 

[Kolumbo]

They were good the last few years playing much more difficult schedules. In a 12-team playoff, they will never make it in from CUSA. If they were independent, they would at least have a shot.

dang, I deleted my post to edit it but nevertheless.

I don't have Liberty's strength of schedule by year handy but what difference does it make. First, Liberty is 8-0. It is receiving votes. Second, who's to say it will never make the playoffs winning C-USA. And who cares? UConn won't either. No one other than ND has a shot as an Indie and even ND struggles to get there. How the heck would Liberty have a shot as Indie? Third, C-USA is not Liberty's end game. It is building its program and C-USA is a stepping stone. That's the right way to build a program. There are no shortcuts.

 

[shizzle787]

dang, I deleted my post to edit it but nevertheless.

I don't have Liberty's strength of schedule by year handy but what difference does it make. First, Liberty is 8-0. It is receiving votes. Second, who's to say it will never make the playoffs winning C-USA. And who cares? UConn won't either. No one other than ND has a shot as an Indie and even ND struggles to get there. How the heck would Liberty have a shot as Indie? Third, C-USA is not Liberty's end game. It is building its program and C-USA is a stepping stone. That's the right way to build a program. There are no shortcuts.

Liberty is radioactive. The only reason CUSA took them was because the league was desperate. A CUSA champ won't be one of the top 5. It's SOS won't be there. Same thing for the MAC.

In the miracle event UConn goes 12-0, we absolutely would be in the conversation as we would have beaten 4-5 power conference schools plus a few MW and AAC schools. Our competition would be 3-loss SEC and B1G teams for an at-large bid. We could make a case (especially if our SOS is 80 or better).

 

[Kolumbo]

Liberty is radioactive. The only reason CUSA took them was because the league was desperate. A CUSA champ won't be one of the top 5. It's SOS won't be there. Same thing for the MAC.

Again, who cares? Playoffs?! That is the least of anyone's worries right now. UConn is one of the worst ranked FBS programs and you are stuck on the fact that Liberty at 8-0 won't be in the playoffs.

btw, all G5 are desperate, yet UConn is still shunned like an Amish kid with a nipple ring.

 

[shizzle787]

Again, who cares? Playoffs?! That is the least of anyone's worries right now. UConn is one of the worst ranked FBS programs and you are stuck on the fact that Liberty at 8-0 won't be in the playoffs.

btw, all G5 are desperate, yet UConn is still shunned like an Amish kid with a nipple ring.

That's literally the main reason for joining a league.

 

[Kolumbo]

That's literally the main reason for joining a league.

No, it is literally not. Why not focus on being capable enough to string together a few bowl seasons before worrying about the playoffs.

Air Force, Tulane, JMU, Fresno State, Liberty. But Liberty is so much worse off than the other 4.

 

[shizzle787]

No, it is literally not. Why not focus on being capable enough to string together a few bowl seasons before worrying about the playoffs.

Air Force, Tulane, JMU, Fresno State, Liberty. But Liberty is so much worse off than the other 4.

Liberty was desperately trying to get out of the basketball toilet bowl known as the ASUN.

If getting into the playoff (which I think is easier as an indie playing 4-5 P4 teams than as a MAC/CUSA team) isn't important, then why join a conference?

 

[Kolumbo]

Liberty was desperately trying to get out of the basketball toilet bowl known as the ASUN.

If getting into the playoff (which I think is easier as an indie playing 4-5 P4 teams than as a MAC/CUSA team) isn't important, then why join a conference?

This is rich. UConn needs to get good. Getting good is more important than making the playoffs. The playoffs are designed for the Alabamas and Georgias. If you are so hell bent on worrying about the playoffs, UConn is not the team you should be betting on.

But wait. It is easier to make the playoffs as an indie. Is that really your take? So you feel that UConn is in a far better place than Liberty. OK, go with that.

 

[shizzle787]

This is rich. UConn needs to get good. Getting good is more important than making the playoffs. The playoffs are designed for the Alabamas and Georgias. If you are so hell bent on worrying about the playoffs, UConn is not the team you should be betting on.

But wait. It is easier to make the playoffs as an indie. Is that really your take? So you feel that UConn is in a far better place than Liberty. OK, go with that.

Scheduling wise yes. Your precious Liberty is 8-0 and unranked.

 

[pepband99]

Scheduling wise yes. Your precious Liberty is 8-0 and unranked.

...and an embarassing diploma mill. At some point, you need to look at the school (and the means to a good team, btw).

 

[Vowelguy]

Liberty was desperately trying to get out of the basketball toilet bowl known as the ASUN.

Unless you can provide evidence of this, I'm calling BS.

Liberty has been clear that they are going all-in on creating a major FB program and becoming Baylor 2.0. After getting rejected by every other G5 during the latest realignment, they went with the conference that was desperate for any warm body.

 

[shizzle787]

Unless you can provide evidence of this, I'm calling BS.

Liberty has been clear that they are going all-in on creating a major FB program and becoming Baylor 2.0. After getting rejected by every other G5 during the latest realignment, they went with the conference that was desperate for any warm body.

KenPom. Went from a league in the low 20s to a top-12 league. Their fanbase was not happy about joining CUSA for football and giving up P4 H/H series.

 

[Vowelguy]

KenPom. Went from a league in the low 20s to a top-12 league. Their fanbase was not happy about joining CUSA for football and giving up P4 H/H series.

Just because CUSA is ranked higher in BB does not mean that was the prime reason for moving. The BE is ranked higher in men’s soccer than the American. Can we conclude that UConn chose the BE because of its soccer ?

 

[shizzle787]

Just because CUSA is ranked higher in BB does not mean that was the prime reason for moving. The BE is ranked higher in men’s soccer than the American. Can we conclude that UConn chose the BE because of its soccer ?

Falwell wanted the school to stay independent and become the evangelical Notre Dame. He got forced out, and they changed direction.

 

[Vowelguy]

Falwell wanted the school to stay independent and become the evangelical Notre Dame. He got forced out, and they changed direction.

Still not hearing any proof their decision was driven by basketball.

It defies logic.

 

[UConnJim]

No school from CUSA would ever be considered for the CFP due to the weak schools (CUSA is rated the worst G5 conference) and poorly rated schedules. Liberty is 8-0 this year and their schedule is ranked #128 and are rated #63 in FBS by Sagarin. They are rated below 6-2 SMU, 8-0 Air Force, 6-2 Troy, 8-0 James Madison, 7-1 Tulane, 4-4 Boise St., 7-1 Fresno St., 5-3 UTSA, and 6-2 Memphis.

In 2022, before joining CUSA, Liberty played Wake Forest, BYU, UConn, Arkansas, and Virginia Tech. This year, they play no P5 schools, and they have none scheduled until 2027. They play 3 Tuesday night and 1 Thursday night games this year. Does anybody really want to sign up for that? Not me.

 

[Marbles90]

But the huge flaw in your logic is UConn going 12-0 as an independent beating P4 teams to get there. That will never happen. Mora has straight out told you that. I don’t get why you all care so much who we play. We are getting shellacked. Nobody is coming to games anyway. And we will never have the $$ to be anything more than a laughing stock to the other P4 programs. Even if a CUSA playoff bid will never happen, winning in that league or any G5 league is way better than going 2-10 as an independent.

And for those folks saying these G5 conferences won’t help us financially, that is true if you are still under the delusion that we can compete with P4 schools. If we are getting G5 conference $$ we are at least on a level playing field with others in the same league.

We need to win. We need to rebuild. We sold our football soul to save basketball. As much as I hated it, it worked. We won the national championship and we are back in basketball. Football can’t compete on the same level as our basketball program right now. Rebuilding is about starting over and with our coach, facilities and resources, we SHOULD be able to win in these conferences and start the process of moving up.

 

[shizzle787]

But the huge flaw in your logic is UConn going 12-0 as an independent beating P4 teams to get there. That will never happen. Mora has straight out told you that. I don’t get why you all care so much who we play. We are getting shellacked. Nobody is coming to games anyway. And we will never have the $$ to be anything more than a laughing stock to the other P4 programs. Even if a CUSA playoff bid will never happen, winning in that league or any G5 league is way better than going 2-10 as an independent.

And for those folks saying these G5 conferences won’t help us financially, that is true if you are still under the delusion that we can compete with P4 schools. If we are getting G5 conference $$ we are at least on a level playing field with others in the same league.

We need to win. We need to rebuild. We sold our football soul to save basketball. As much as I hated it, it worked. We won the national championship and we are back in basketball. Football can’t compete on the same level as our basketball program right now. Rebuilding is about starting over and with our coach, facilities and resources, we SHOULD be able to win in these conferences and start the process of moving up.

We are top 12 among G5 in attendance so…..

 

[LetsGoUC]

If were winning, who cares who really play. People will come to games if were winning and we can still schedule 1 or 2 OOC games with P4 schools.

 

[ZooCougar]

If were winning, who cares who really play. People will come to games if were winning and we can still schedule 1 or 2 OOC games with P4 schools.

Joining a crappy conference cons:

Less games (that we won’t win anyway) at home against P4 teams. Although this likely a plus since we need to stop pretending that we can compete on a P5 level.

No CBS

A bit more ESPN plus

Joining a crappy conference pros:

More games against teams we can compete with

Something to compete for

Bowl alliances

All games including the usual FCS on an ESPN plus

Bowl alliances

With a conference schedule it’s easier to schedule 7 home games a year

A chance to be dominant in a conference and prove that we can win.

 

[LetsGoUC]

Joining a crappy conference cons:

Less games (that we won’t win anyway) at home against P4 teams. Although this likely a plus since we need to stop pretending that we can compete on a P5 level.

No CBS

A bit more ESPN plus

Joining a crappy conference pros:

More games against teams we can compete with

Something to compete for

Bowl alliances

All games including the usual FCS on an ESPN plus

Bowl alliances

With a conference schedule it’s easier to schedule 7 home games a year

A chance to be dominant in a conference and prove that we can win.

Pros outweigh Cons.

I think unfortunately we need all just realize we arent and wont be P4. Once you swallow you pride there (I have), play football in a G5 conference against teams we can actually compete against. I think overtime we can begin to dominate that conference which could lead to a P4 invite.

There is nothing wrong at all playing in an elite basketball conference with the Big East and a lower tier football conference where we can be competitive.