What would be the requirements for UConn to join the Pac-12 for football-only?

[Jetskies]

Move the campus and university to the west coast.

while we play around in the world of fantasy:

University of Calecticut
UC Storrs

 

[Jetskies]

jokes aside, I will put money that this pac12 thing will never happen.
But the terms/demands of this post are a bit unlikely.

As we've discussd on the conf alignment board, UConn doesn't have enough leverage to make the demands being made in this post. Not giving even a single bball game (M+W, so 2 total) is unfair to the Pac12. We can gladly play gonzaga or SDSU to keep our schedule strong enough. idk about Utah State, but striking a deal to play their biggest brands on a rotating basis, would be a fair compromise.

BBall is the only card we've ever had to play. no one cares about our academics or our field hockey & soccer banners. So if we take bball away, UConn football isn't exactly a prime target for the conference.

If we're honest, we'd both be at the table because we need the other. But i don't think pac12 is gonna bow to us just cuz they need one more team. Someone out west or at least in the midwest, will pop up in due time.

in short, I think we need the Pac12 more than the Pac12 needs us. And we don't really need that Pac12, so imagine where that puts their feelings toward us.

 

[DW1361]

If we’re putting all jokes aside, I feel both UConn and the PAC12 can have relations outside of marriage that could be beneficial to both. Schedule some h/h football games in exchange for basketball. That I can get onboard with.

 

[TheDrifter75]

If we’re putting all jokes aside, I feel both UConn and the PAC12 can have relations outside of marriage that could be beneficial to both. Schedule some h/h football games in exchange for basketball. That I can get onboard with.

So we've gone from join the conference with no bball games to if you schedule some of our football we'll play you in bball.

I love this board

 

[willie99]

If the Big 10 ever wants to win a basketball championship, and expand their presence in the Northeast, we're here for you. We are the solution. Plus we represent in baseball, soccer, track and hockey.

I'm more interested in a permanent solution than another stop GAP measure

 

[CL82]

If the Big 10 ever wants to win a basketball championship, and expand their presence in the Northeast, we're here for you. We are the solution. Plus we represent in baseball, soccer, track and hockey.

I'm more interested in a permanent solution than another stop GAP measure

Someone's got to foot the bill for that though and I don't see any media partners being willing to do that.

 

[DW1361]

So we've gone from join the conference with no bball games to if you schedule some of our football we'll play you in bball.

I love this board

I was pretty clear from the beginning of this topic that I was against joining the PAC12 and even threw out some ridiculous conditions. Some here like the idea of joining and I respect that. I am just not one of them. Yes, I love this board as well.

 

[DW1361]

If the Big 10 ever wants to win a basketball championship, and expand their presence in the Northeast, we're here for you. We are the solution. Plus we represent in baseball, soccer, track and hockey.

I'm more interested in a permanent solution than another stop GAP measure

I thought our allure to partner with Rutgers to seal the Northeast would have had us in the Big10 by now. UConn was making all the moves towards becoming a member of the AAU. I have no idea where that stands today. The other obvious weakness is the football program. However, in my opinion our football program is beginning to turn the corner as an independent and has made the necessary investment to get stronger. NIL has been key. We are the perfect piece to go with Rutgers and I feel we need to remain the course. To join a conference across the country, despite the respectable schools the PAC12 is putting together, I feel it would not be financially viable to do so and that it would hand tie UConn’s flexibility to grow and standout.

 

[NEforceUConn]

When the banks (P4) close the door on you you’re forced to borrow from less desirable people (PAC 12, Big East). Of course if someone steps up to guarantee (John Henry, Bridgewater, cough cough McMahons) you’re saved. Until then you pray to survive.

 

[metsfan2323]

PAC 12 for football would be a huge improvement to our schedule and provide a realistic path to the tournament which we do not have now. Hopefully more TV money would come with it. I don't see a downside unless the exit fee was prohibitive.

 

[Hoophound]

The one downside I see is it’s a tough conference. We’d need to perform well to look good for the P4. That conference is almost as strong as the ACC and B12. It’s an opportunity for sure, but we’d need to win there too and that would be a challenge.

 

[Jetskies]

The other obvious weakness is the football program. However, in my opinion our football program is beginning to turn the corner as an independent and has made the necessary investment to get stronger.

the haters with power (commish's and univ ADs/presidents) will likely say that in their view we haven't begun to turn any corner yet. I know we think we have, but we desperately need to string together a few more (two to three) 8-4 seasons or better, and start winning some ACC games, for the true corner to be turned.

hot take - UNC bowl win doesn't count as a true ACC victory, to the haters. They were zombies, the haters will say.

 

[SubbaBub]

1. Football only
2. Full share of FB revenue with a guaranteed minimum in case their media rights deal is not P4 level
3. 7 game conference schedule, so we can play 5 east coast opponents (2-3 P4 and 2-3 buy games)
4. Full access to bowl games, like ND with the ACC
5. No more than 2 MBB games and 2 WBB per year with mutually agreed terms.
6. This is the big one, they pay any exit fees to the Big East and we get to leave without penalty after 5 years.

 

[DW1361]

1. Football only
2. Full share of FB revenue with a guaranteed minimum in case their media rights deal is not P4 level
3. 7 game conference schedule, so we can play 5 east coast opponents (2-3 P4 and 2-3 buy games)
4. Full access to bowl games, like ND with the ACC
5. No more than 2 MBB games and 2 WBB per year with mutually agreed terms.
6. This is the big one, they pay any exit fees to the Big East and we get to leave without penalty after 5 years.

These are reasonable. I still would hate to be locked in for five years.

 

[Palatine]

For UConn to join the PAC-12 would only require one thing. A lobotomy.

 

[Rich]

Commercialized hypersonic flights.

 

[Patman]

So we've gone from join the conference with no bball games to if you schedule some of our football we'll play you in bball.

I love this board

Remind me. Did we not used to trade football games for basketball games?

 

[DW1361]

For UConn to join the PAC-12 would only require one thing. A lobotomy.

Well then, welcome to the Cuckoo’s Nest. Would you like to share anything else with the group?

 

[TheDrifter75]

Remind me. Did we not used to trade football games for basketball games?

With this soon to be iteration of the Pac12? I'm just enjoying the progression of the thread.

 

[uconnbill]

UConn has only two conferences it can go too. The two are the Big 12 or the ACC. Of course I along with UConn would love a Big Ten invite but that isn't happening.

 

[Kowalski]

1. Football only
2. Full share of FB revenue with a guaranteed minimum in case their media rights deal is not P4 level
3. 7 game conference schedule, so we can play 5 east coast opponents (2-3 P4 and 2-3 buy games)
4. Full access to bowl games, like ND with the ACC
5. No more than 2 MBB games and 2 WBB per year with mutually agreed terms.
6. This is the big one, they pay any exit fees to the Big East and we get to leave without penalty after 5 years.

1. P12 must realize any serious invite has to be football only.
2. Ok
3. It’s no more than 4 or 5 trips west anyway.
4. Most years, the P12 winner will probably be the top rated G5 & most playoff proposals have the top G5 included. That’s a realistic goal that UConn doesn’t have as an independent.
5. BB home & homes with Gonzaga or SDSU would be great.
6. Why would the BE get exit fees if it’s FB only? Definitely low or no exit fees if UConn leaves for P4.

 

[Patman]

1. P12 must realize any serious invite has to be football only.
2. Ok
3. It’s no more than 4 or 5 trips west anyway.
4. Most years, the P12 winner will probably be the top rated G5 & most playoff proposals have the top G5 included. That’s a realistic goal that UConn doesn’t have as an independent.
5. BB home & homes with Gonzaga or SDSU would be great.
6. Why would the BE get exit fees if it’s FB only? Definitely low or no exit fees if UConn leaves for P4.

Yeah. Uconn isnt leaving the big east without a p4 move and the big east is stupid to raise a stink if they do

 

[Stinger92860]

1. Football only
2. Full share of FB revenue with a guaranteed minimum in case their media rights deal is not P4 level
3. 7 game conference schedule, so we can play 5 east coast opponents (2-3 P4 and 2-3 buy games)
4. Full access to bowl games, like ND with the ACC
5. No more than 2 MBB games and 2 WBB per year with mutually agreed terms.
6. This is the big one, they pay any exit fees to the Big East and we get to leave without penalty after 5 years.

There would be no BE exit fees for football. The big one for me is no exit penalty.

 

[CL82]

the haters with power (commish's and univ ADs/presidents) will likely say that in their view we haven't begun to turn any corner yet.

I don't think they would, and frankly, I don't even think that's the analysis. The commentary from A.D.s in the big 12 was, essentially, since you are not in the P4, you are not worthy of being in the P4. That's a tough mountain to climb, particularly since you can find data to back it up.

First off, you can say our revenue is well behind a P4 team and you'd be right. Of course, if we had the same media revenue and CFP money that P4 teams get, we'd be significantly above the median revenue in the P4.

You can also say that are ratings numbers for football are well below the average P4 numbers and again, you'd be right. But if you put our games on a more visible platform, our ratings would be stronger.

You can also know the huge amount of institutional support that the university has to invest in football to keep it viable. It is a big number, but, again, if we had P4 media revenue and a CFP share, that number drops 40 million, minimally.

How do we overcome that? I'm not sure if we can. Continued basketball success, of course, significantly helps, but probably the best thing we can do is schedule and comfortably defeat P4 teams.

I don't have a lot of hope that we can get into a P4 conference. It is very hard to overcome the argument that if "you're not in the club, you don't deserve to be in the club"

 

[CL82]

1. Football only
2. Full share of FB revenue with a guaranteed minimum in case their media rights deal is not P4 level
3. 7 game conference schedule, so we can play 5 east coast opponents (2-3 P4 and 2-3 buy games)
4. Full access to bowl games, like ND with the ACC
5. No more than 2 MBB games and 2 WBB per year with mutually agreed terms.
6. This is the big one, they pay any exit fees to the Big East and we get to leave without penalty after 5 years.

We're not a football member of the Big East, so there wouldn't be any exit penalty. Change number six to we can leave at any time, and I'm with you. It's a good list.

 

[NowInStorrs]

I don't think they would, and frankly, I don't even think that's the analysis. The commentary from A.D.s in the big 12 was, essentially, since you are not in the P4, you are not worthy of being in the P4. That's a tough mountain to climb, particularly since you can find data to back it up.

First off, you can say our revenue is well behind a P4 team and you'd be right. Of course, if we had the same media revenue and CFP money that P4 teams get, we'd be significantly above the median revenue in the P4.

You can also say that are ratings numbers for football are well below the average P4 numbers and again, you'd be right. But if you put our games on a more visible platform, our ratings would be stronger.

You can also know the huge amount of institutional support that the university has to invest in football to keep it viable. It is a big number, but, again, if we had P4 media revenue and a CFP share, that number drops 40 million, minimally.

How do we overcome that? I'm not sure if we can. Continued basketball success, of course, significantly helps, but probably the best thing we can do is schedule and comfortably defeat P4 teams.

I don't have a lot of hope that we can get into a P4 conference. It is very hard to overcome the argument that if "you're not in the club, you don't deserve to be in the club"

I'm not disagreeing with you. However, this line of thinking is even more frustrating because we used to be in the club. It's like everyone just forgets that we were already in a power football conference and that we performed quite well in that conference. That said, recency bias is huge and lately we haven't been in any conference and we haven't been any good. Out of sight out of mind as they say. The further we get from our power conference days, the harder it likely will be to get back there. If we're going to turn a corner and start taking out some real football teams, the time is now. Dump whatever we can into that goal or else it's too late. Hopefully the B12 will come around on us. That seems like our best chance. Or the P12 as a layover isn't horrible. At least if we can have a decent record there. At least people might remember that we exist.

 

[Jetskies]

I'm not disagreeing with you. However, this line of thinking is even more frustrating because we used to be in the club. It's like everyone just forgets that we were already in a power football conference and that we performed quite well in that conference. That said, recency bias is huge and lately we haven't been in any conference and we haven't been any good. Out of sight out of mind as they say. The further we get from our power conference days, the harder it likely will be to get back there. If we're going to turn a corner and start taking out some real football teams, the time is now. Dump whatever we can into that goal or else it's too late. Hopefully the B12 will come around on us. That seems like our best chance. Or the P12 as a layover isn't horrible. At least if we can have a decent record there. At least people might remember that we exist.

feels like uconn and USF were the oregon state and washington state, of the old big east. the bulls are still fighting to get back to primetime, too. so from that lens, it may be that we were lucky to be in a P_ football conference back in the day, but it wasn't about us. people wanted to see WVU and the like.

i'm not saying i'm right, just wondering.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I'm not disagreeing with you. However, this line of thinking is even more frustrating because we used to be in the club. It's like everyone just forgets that we were already in a power football conference and that we performed quite well in that conference. That said, recency bias is huge and lately we haven't been in any conference and we haven't been any good. Out of sight out of mind as they say. The further we get from our power conference days, the harder it likely will be to get back there. If we're going to turn a corner and start taking out some real football teams, the time is now. Dump whatever we can into that goal or else it's too late. Hopefully the B12 will come around on us. That seems like our best chance. Or the P12 as a layover isn't horrible. At least if we can have a decent record there. At least people might remember that we exist.

feels like uconn and USF were the oregon state and washington state, of the old big east. the bulls are still fighting to get back to primetime, too. so from that lens, it may be that we were lucky to be in a P_ football conference back in the day, but it wasn't about us. people wanted to see WVU and the like.

i'm not saying i'm right, just wondering.

There is a bit of a caveat that needs to be added:

Many (both at the time inside power conferences and on the outside looking in) greatly resented the fact that we didn't throw our hat in the ring (so to speak) to commit to (then) D-1A football until 1998, didn't begin our transition until 2000, weren't fully a D-1A until 2003 yet were in a (then) BCS conference in 2004. Quite a few schools and quite a few pundits believed we were handed a gift we didn't deserve.

 

[buddy]

There is a bit of a caveat that needs to be added:

Many (both at the time inside power conferences and on the outside looking in) greatly resented the fact that we didn't throw our hat in the ring (so to speak) to commit to (then) D-1A football until 1998, didn't begin our transition until 2000, weren't fully a D-1A until 2003 yet were in a (then) BCS conference in 2004. Quite a few schools and quite a few pundits believed we were handed a gift we didn't deserve.

If UConn was handed a gift, then how do you explain UCF, Houston, and Cinci in the Big 12 and SMU in the ACC? Fact is lackadaisical action by UConn administration when it mattered, the hubris of Suzie and Warde, the anti UConn bias of tax enabled ESPN and Ct lawmakers all have a hand in the demise of UConn from power conference status.

 

[uconnfan68]

I don't think they would, and frankly, I don't even think that's the analysis. The commentary from A.D.s in the big 12 was, essentially, since you are not in the P4, you are not worthy of being in the P4. That's a tough mountain to climb, particularly since you can find data to back it up.

First off, you can say our revenue is well behind a P4 team and you'd be right. Of course, if we had the same media revenue and CFP money that P4 teams get, we'd be significantly above the median revenue in the P4.

You can also say that are ratings numbers for football are well below the average P4 numbers and again, you'd be right. But if you put our games on a more visible platform, our ratings would be stronger.

You can also know the huge amount of institutional support that the university has to invest in football to keep it viable. It is a big number, but, again, if we had P4 media revenue and a CFP share, that number drops 40 million, minimally.

How do we overcome that? I'm not sure if we can. Continued basketball success, of course, significantly helps, but probably the best thing we can do is schedule and comfortably defeat P4 teams.

I don't have a lot of hope that we can get into a P4 conference. It is very hard to overcome the argument that if "you're not in the club, you don't deserve to be in the club"

And yet, they took a few AAC teams (non-P4) to fill out their league. Just hypocritical?