What Can UConn Do To Be Competitive If an Opening Comes Up In ACC?

[CL82]

Do you believe that football attendance (or lack of it) indicates the level of support for the team? Do you believe that support for the team is important in conference realignment? If it’s simply the size of the market that matters, wouldn’t the ACC be going after Columbia or Fordham?

Sure it does, as a snap shot. The point that I made, and that @Zissou figured out was that UConn has drawn well in the past. There is not reason to think that that cannot happen again with a successful team.

Now here's a few questions for you:

Do you believe that ACC only sponsor's a single sport, namely football?
Do you believe that the sole indicator of support for a university is the number football fans?
Does the ACC broadcast any sports other than football?
Does the ACC care if anyone watches those other sports?
Do TV ratings matter at all?
Does UConn draw viewers for basketball broadcasts?
In this cable cutting world, are potential subscribers important?
Does population impact potential subscribers?

(I'll note again, that I think CR is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Do you agree?)

 

[Ha Who]

Do you believe that football attendance (or lack of it) indicates the level of support for the team? Do you believe that support for the team is important in conference realignment? If it’s simply the size of the market that matters, wouldn’t the ACC be going after Columbia or Fordham?

Based on your record in meaningful games, a MWC invite is waiting for you

 

[Adios]

I guess the way Edsall left turned fans off. We do have the most emo fanbase in the US. Notre Dame has the most spoiled.

By the time Pasqualoni was fired, the stadium was almost empty at times, headed towards a winless season. Till the legend of Casey Cochran. TJ Weist actually heard me yell "Put in Casey!" while getting beat by Louisville in a stadium so empty that he could hear me. Glad he listened.

We have low standards for legends for the time being in football.

 

[Irishfan]

Sure it does, as a snap shot. The point that I made, and that @Zissou figured out was that UConn has drawn well in the past. There is not reason to think that that cannot happen again with a successful team.

Now here's a few questions for you:

Do you believe that ACC only sponsor's a single sport, namely football?
Do you believe that the sole indicator of support for a university is the number football fans?
Does the ACC broadcast any sports other than football?
Does the ACC care if anyone watches those other sports?
Do TV ratings matter at all?
Does UConn draw viewers for basketball broadcasts?
In this cable cutting world, are potential subscribers important?
Does population impact potential subscribers?

(I'll note again, that I think CR is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Do you agree?)

I think football is the only sport that matters for conference realignment. Is there any evidence to the contrary?

 

[Irishfan]

Based on your record in meaningful games, a MWC invite is waiting for you

I expect we would turn it down. As we did with the Big Ten, when they wanted us.

 

[CL82]

I think football is the only sport that matters for conference realignment. Is there any evidence to the contrary?

Lol, Rutgers to the Big 10?

Feel free to answer the other questions....

 

[billybud]

And FSU before Ville. Don’t forget UNC’s fake classes!

Of course FSU is ranked by US News & WR as #19 in Top Public Collegs and Universities and #58 in National Universities...right there with UConn ( #63).

 

[Kolumbo]

After reading the Missouri AAU article, it would seem to me that achieving an AAU invite is even more unlikely than landing a P5 invite.

AAU shifted its research emphasis to medical research. The article notes that only main campus research counts in its evaluation. Like Nebraska, UConn’s medical school is not on main campus.

As AAU membership is capped, who does UConn replace (once it relocates its medical school).

I am guilty of derailing this ACC thread but since it's off the rails already. . .

The AAU added three members in 2019 to bring membership to 65 so perhaps it's not as capped as they say.

And yet it's the reality.

"Big Ten member institutions are major research universities with large financial endowments and strong academic reputations. All institutions except full member University of Nebraska and associate member Notre Dame are members of the Association of American Universities."

The article states that Nebraska's medical research is at its Omaha campus and not its main campus. I think this refers to separate schools and not physical location, and I think UConn is one. Not sure.

Nevertheless, obviously the ACC is a different racket than the B1G so it's all conversation.

 

[billybud]

The difference between adding a UConn vs WVU could come down to academics...

WVU has pretty good sports...a national brand,,,(and if TV watching now counts more than markets, decent match up capabilities). They make a natural rival for Pitt.

But,,,, I could see academia preferring UConn and thet Presidents wrestling with ESPN.

Us fans...we don't really give a rip. Just want good sports programs...football first. But Presidents will focus differently.

 

[Ha Who]

I expect we would turn it down. As we did with the Big Ten, when they wanted us.

But you’ll go unbeaten and get destroyed in the playoffs

 

[buddy]

The difference between adding a UConn vs WVU could come down to academics...

WVU has pretty good sports...a national brand,,,(and if TV watching now counts more than markets, decent match up capabilities). They make a natural rival for Pitt.

But,,,, I could see academia preferring UConn and thet Presidents wrestling with ESPN.

Us fans...we don't really give a rip. Just want good sports programs...football first. But Presidents will focus differently.

You are trying to be kind, but you know that academics are meaningless. Presidents are meaningless. ESPN and the ACC are essentially married. Connecticut lawmakers could have pressured ESPN a decade ago to give UConn a lift, but they were disinterested apparently and now can do nothing about it. The question is who is really making the decisions. UConn fans, including myself, may not have liked your posts over the years, but mostly you have been correct. Not only that, but with each passing year, UConn falls further and further behind as its former peers receive 5 to nearly 10 times the income that UConn receives on a yearly basis. For example, this is made clear by the great strides made by Rutgers since they have joined the Big Ten. I don't think UConn could even compete with them on the basketball court now and forget about football.

 

[billybud]

Buddy...when you are talking about a sports league, you are right that USNWR rankings may not really matter.

Alabama and Ole Miss can tout Vanderbilt as their conference's academic school...but to the sports conference, Vanderbilt is really an afterthought.

I did notice that FSU's President poo-pooed going to the big 12..in a email to boosters saying that the "faculty are adamantly opposed to joining a league that is academically weaker."

So...when things are close between two prospective additions...I could see academics play in.

 

[billybud]

Sure it does, as a snap shot. The point that I made, and that @Zissou figured out was that UConn has drawn well in the past. There is not reason to think that that cannot happen again with a successful team.

Now here's a few questions for you:

Do you believe that ACC only sponsor's a single sport, namely football?
Do you believe that the sole indicator of support for a university is the number football fans?
Does the ACC broadcast any sports other than football?
Does the ACC care if anyone watches those other sports?
Do TV ratings matter at all?
Does UConn draw viewers for basketball broadcasts?
In this cable cutting world, are potential subscribers important?
Does population impact potential subscribers?

(I'll note again, that I think CR is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Do you agree?)

The fact so far, for the ACC, is that ESPN has valued football as 80% of the contract...

And matches that compell people to watch are of high value....no matter how transmitted.

The Big East contract would be more remunerative if basketball drew the national numbers that footbal does.

Does anybody know, or care, that UNC has won 22 Women's Soccer National Championships since 1980 ?

 

[billybud]

And largest college basketball audiences in the 2019-20 season...

1...Duke-UNC
2...Duke-Kansas
3...St. John's-Xavier
4...MSU-Kentucky
5...OSU-Kentucky
6...UNC-Duke
7...MSU-Purdue
8...Louisville-Duke
9...Kentucky-TTU
10..OSU-MSU

And there were 10-14 football games almost every week of the season that drew more than the highest rated of these basketball games.

 

[CL82]

The fact so far, for the ACC, is that ESPN has valued football as 80% of the contract...

And matches that compell people to watch are of high value....no matter how transmitted.

The Big East contract would be more remunerative if basketball drew the national numbers that footbal does.

Does anybody know, or care, that UNC has won 22 Women's Soccer National Championships since 1980 ?

Hey Billy I’m guessing here, but we’re sure about that 80% number, which sounds right to me, because Notre Dame has 20% of a normal share? Just curious. You are usually pretty good about having a source when you’re that specific with a number.

It took me a second to try to figure out what the non sequitur at the bottom of your post was about. I think, and sometimes you can be a little obscure, but, I think that you were attempting to analogize UNC soccer viewership to UConn women’s basketball viewership. I think you can do that if you believe that UNC women’s soccer viewership has ever out drawn NBA games in the same time-slot. You’re not suggesting that are you? If not, it’s kind of an apples and oranges comparison, right?

( Just to be clear, there are only a handful of teams that move the needle for conference realignment at this point. Notre Dame would be one if it was an already contractually limited to the ACC. Since it has no competitive market there really is no way to get a competitive value. I do not believe the University of Connecticut is one, and apparently neither do they since they join the Big East. The only way I can see it happening is if ESPN decides it is worthwhile. The only scenario that I can see that might lead it to that belief is that taking Connecticut gains extra value by hurting Fox. Again, I don’t think that’s particularly likely.)

 

[Kolumbo]

The power conferences have a few elite programs and everyone else. I don't doubt that UConn could at least be the same 4-7 that Louisville is if UConn had been invited instead. Add in the academics and basketball championships and it's case closed. So Louisville was selected because it happened to be hot at that time? Makes no sense at all. Rutgers has beaten Michigan St, Purdue and Maryland. Maryland beat Minnesota and Penn State. That P5 money sure does help. Unless you're Syracuse (1-10).

 

[CL82]

The power conferences have a few elite programs and everyone else. I don't doubt that UConn could at least be the same 4-7 that Louisville is if UConn had been invited instead. Add in the academics and basketball championships and it's case closed. So Louisville was selected because it happened to be hot at that time? Makes no sense at all. Rutgers has beaten Michigan St, Purdue and Maryland. Maryland beat Minnesota and Penn State. That P5 money sure does help. Unless you're Syracuse (1-10).

No doubt that we could compete. I just can’t see any economic viable reason for anyone to invite us, other than the somewhat tortured logic about Fox.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Again, Nebraska was kicked out as the emphasis has shifted to Medical research, and research at satellite medical campuses doesn’t count. It would seem UConn is in a similar position as Nebraska.

U Nebraska's medical school is a couple of blocks from the campus of the University of Nebraska - Omaha (UNO). UNO was a private university before being taken-over by Nebraska. UNO is a distinct, separate 15,000 student campus with its own D1 sports program. UConn Health in Farmington is just the medical school and hospital. No campus, no dorms, not sports teams. Cornell's medical school is 250 miles away in New York City, Penn State's medical school is 100 miles away in Hershey, Indiana's main medical school is 50 miles away in Indianapolis and is part of a Indiana University–Purdue University - a distinct college similar to UNO. They are all AAU programs. While the quality of UConn Health is a concern at this time, having it located 50 miles away from the main campus does not seem to be a critical issue.

 

[billybud]

CL82...that non sequitor about women's soccer really had to do with the TV value of non revenue sports...

The ACC is terrific at soccer and lacrosse...but limited interest and thus limited value compared to football...men's basketball.

80 % is football money....


"For example, in this latest contract with ESPN, 80 percent of it is generated by football," Phillips told TigerNet.com. "As good as basketball has been in the ACC, it is very evident just through this contract that the football has to be very, very relevant."

Now, page down to the bottom of this old interview with Swofford, and he confirms that figure:

Swofford speaks out on realignment, the ACC TV contract and college football

In an exclusive interview with TigerNet, ACC Commissioner John Swofford talks about realignment, the recently-signed ACC television contract, the Clemson rumors

www.tigernet.com

 

[Irishfan]

But you’ll go unbeaten and get destroyed in the playoffs

possibly, but I’d rather get destroyed in the playoff than win the Camellia Bowl.

 

[Irishfan]

Lol, Rutgers to the Big 10?

Feel free to answer the other questions....

People seem to forget that Rutgers had two consecutive 9-4 seasons before they were added to the Big Ten. I have no doubt that if Uconn were to have two consecutive 9-4 seasons, they would be in line for a Big Ten or ACC spot.

 

[CL82]

People seem to forget that Rutgers had two consecutive 9-4 seasons before they were added to the Big Ten. I have no doubt that if Uconn were to have two consecutive 9-4 seasons, they would be in line for a Big Ten or ACC spot.

Lol. It's like you aren't even trying anymore.

(RU had a losing season it's last year in the American before it went to the B1G, but you knew that right?)

 

[Irishfan]

Lol.
It's like you aren't even trying anymore.

you seem to be the one that forgot that Rutgers actually had a couple of decent football seasons a few years ago. apparently, that’s what it takes to get into a major conference ( in conjunction with proximity to a major metro) Take a look at the title of this thread. “What can Uconn do to get competitive if an opening comes up in the ACC“. What Uconn can do is have a couple of winning football seasons.

 

[CL82]

you seem to be the one that forgot that Rutgers actually had a couple of decent football seasons a few years ago. apparently, that’s what it takes to get into a major conference ( in conjunction with proximity to a major metro) Take a look at the title of this thread. “What can Uconn do to get competitive if an opening comes up in the ACC“. What Uconn can do is have a couple of winning football seasons.

Your argument that RU got into the B1G because of two 9-4 seasons is, well, kind of silly. Especially when you realize that those 9-4 records are wedged between two losing seasons. (6-7 and 4-8). It is pretty well established that the B1G took Rutgers to get 1st tier access to the NYC DMA. I mean, you know that right?

Sure winning is a good thing abstractly, but it rarely has been the reason for CR.

 

[billybud]

Billy's view....each conference add may have different individual reasoning.

1...Rutgers was added to go east and to pick up TV sets in NY-NJ.

2...The Big 12 didn't find a needle mover so stayed with a pat hand

3...The ACC, yada, yada

 

[Irishfan]

Your argument that RU got into the B1G because of two 9-4 seasons is, well, kind of silly. Especially when you realize that those 9-4 records are wedged between two losing seasons. (6-7 and 4-8). It is pretty well established that the B1G took Rutgers to get 1st tier access to the NYC DMA. I mean, you know that right?

Sure winning is a good thing abstractly, but it rarely has been the reason for CR.

because so many people in the NY market follow Rutgers. now who is being silly.

 

[SU1968]

I don't have a dog in the fight about population and conferences adding schools for additional TV sets. I am curious though; does anyone have data on how many cable contracts were gained by ESPN when Rutgirls joined the B1G?

My guess is that it didn't move the needle very much.

 

[CL82]

I don't have a dog in the fight about population and conferences adding schools for additional TV sets. I am curious though; does anyone have data on how many cable contracts were gained by ESPN when Rutgirls joined the B1G?

My guess is that it didn't move the needle very much.

The benefit isn't ratings it is 1st tier pricing. The B1G got that upon RU joining. No performance is necessary for it to kick in.

because so many people in the NY market follow Rutgers. now who is being silly.

Mmm, not really how it works, so ... still you.

 

[billybud]

I don't have a dog in the fight about population and conferences adding schools for additional TV sets. I am curious though; does anyone have data on how many cable contracts were gained by ESPN when Rutgirls joined the B1G?

My guess is that it didn't move the needle very much.

The proof is in the movement of the revenue...as a moon's density may be calculated by the gravitational pull on a planet...the value of the Big Ten's additions may be surmised by the increased contract revenue.

The Big Ten had major media money upgrades in 2017...The media payed more because the product was more valuable.

...Earlier this month, USA Today reported that the Big Ten’s revenue in 2018 was $759,000,000—up 48% from 2017. The increase was mostly attributable to a new media rights deal the went into effect in 2018. (That same media rights deal is why we now get fewer Big Ten basketball games on ESPN2 and ESPNU, and more on Fox and FS1.)

....FORBES
But no one, even Delany could predict what would happen in 2015. By adding Maryland and Rutgers, the conference was able to go back and renegotiate all their carriage rights deals. In June 2015, they reported a whopping 33% one year increase of revenues (including the brand new College Football Playoff infusion of cash). By 2018, all media deals collectively brought in $759 million dollars.


...Dennis Dodd, a Senior Writer at CBS Sports, reported on Thursday that Big Ten members will each receive over $60 million in media rights revenue in 2025. That number is expected to increase to $70 million by the end of the decade. This number includes the money earned from media rights to both football and basketball, as well as anything earned from the typically non-revenue sports.

 

[Adios]

College sports has become commoditized by corporations. That being said, the UConn athletic department just needs to be competent, at least, and we'll be in some power conference. We have over 20 national titles. Not many schools can say that.

Hard to believe conference alignment is now being based on athletics and markets. The development of transportation and media outlets sure changed how conferences take shape now. The large majority of Ivy League schools are near or on Post Road between Boston to Philadelphia.