Whom Is UConn Trying To Impress?

[RSTuthill]

I see a lot of negativity here regarding the ACC. And several comments assuming that the B12 will one day offer UConn membership and all UConn has to do is get its FB program to competitive status with B12 schools. I am reminded of the guy who repeatedly asked a girl for a date and kept getting turned down yet he never got the message and kept asking. So I looked at UConn FB scheduling since 2011. Games with B12 teams and games with ACC teams:

B12: 0 (We were at the last one in 2011, home against Iowa State. Third game of the season. A very exciting loss.)
ACC: 23

And then I looked at the next three years:

B12: 0
ACC: 10

The zeros are correct. The ACC numbers might have minor errors. The point stands. If UConn is trying to flirt with the B12, where the rubber hits the road, it doesn't support that narrative. And yes, I am aware that MBB just played Kansas. But football is the only sport that counts as we have been told many many times. Not that one sport is better than the other, but rather, steps that the football schools took to protect their revenue and the basketball schools did not.

 

[KryHavok]

That's an interesting conundrum. I think the ACC games are/were scheduled because the ACC teams believe they can beat UConn despite us seeing it as we can compete with them with our limited resources; given more football revenue we could be even more competitive.

As for not playing Big12 teams, the irrational part of me thinks they don't want to potentially lose against us as they could show that we can compete with them and might actually be a "fit" for their conference. I think it's just another way for the Big12 to keep us at arm's length irrespective of UConn or Yormark having perceived mutual interest.

 

[JwittersPAC]

That's an interesting conundrum. I think the ACC games are/were scheduled because the ACC teams believe they can beat UConn despite us seeing it as we can compete with them with our limited resources; given more football revenue we could be even more competitive.

As for not playing Big12 teams, the irrational part of me thinks they don't want to potentially lose against us as they could show that we can compete with them and might actually be a "fit" for their conference. I think it's just another way for the Big12 to keep us at arm's length irrespective of UConn or Yormark having perceived mutual interest.

More likely that BIG12 sees no reason to schedule UConn since most of their alumni are not living in the New England area. Makes more sense to schedule games in Midwest and South.

 

[businesslawyer]

More likely that BIG12 sees no reason to schedule UConn since most of their alumni are not living in the New England area. Makes more sense to schedule games in Midwest and South.

This. Simply geography.

 

[RSTuthill]

This. Simply geography.

If they were at all interested that would not be a problem. They are not.

 

[businesslawyer]

If they were at all interested that would not be a problem. They are not.

If they were interested in WHAT? The decision to add a conference member is based on whether you add monetary value (directly and indirectly) to a conference. The decision to play out of region Team A, as opposed to regional Team B, is based on where is there more value in giving access to alumni who don’t get to see games at your home stadium, what is the delta in travel costs, and visitors buying tickets to your stadium if you don’t automatically sell out. So it makes far more sense for a Virginia or Wake to want to play us, where they have alumni in metro NY, than it does for Kansas State to want to play us.

 

[RSTuthill]

If they were interested in WHAT? The decision to add a conference member is based on whether you add monetary value (directly and indirectly) to a conference. The decision to play out of region Team A, as opposed to regional Team B, is based on where is there more value in giving access to alumni who don’t get to see games at your home stadium a loss, what is the delta in travel costs, and visitors buying tickets to your stadium if you don’t automatically sell out. So it makes far more sense for a Virginia or Wake to want to play us, where they have alumni in metro NY, than it does for Kansas State to want to play us.

If they were interested in assessing UConn's competitiveness with their teams -- a prime metric in determining their ability to provide accretion. It's not a difficult concept to understand considering that the major portion of UConn's schedule is G5. Also, there were schools in the B12 who supposedly were interested in having UConn join their conference. Baylor, WVU, Iowa State and Kansas for instance. UConn could raise the profile of their program with B12 schools by scheduling one of them per year. It's not happening. Conclusion: there is no interest on either side. If UConn joins a P4 at the next juncture, it will be the ACC.

 

[businesslawyer]

If they were interested in assessing UConn's competitiveness with their teams -- a prime metric in determining their ability to provide accretion. It's not a difficult concept to understand considering that the major portion of UConn's schedule is G5. Also, there were schools in the B12 who supposedly were interested in having UConn join their conference. Baylor, WVU, Iowa State and Kansas for instance. UConn could raise the profile of their program with B12 schools by scheduling one of them per year. It's not happening. Conclusion: there is no interest on either side. If UConn joins a P4 at the next juncture, it will be the ACC.

The Big XII doesn’t need to have its schools play UConn to assess where UConn football currently stands compared to Big XII schools. And there is no reason any particular school — let’s stick with K State — should play UConn home and home to help the conference if it’s not in their individual interest.

Just because you come up with a unique theory doesn’t mean there is anything to it.

 

[RSTuthill]

The Big XII doesn’t need to have its schools play UConn to assess where UConn football currently stands compared to Big XII schools. And there is no reason any particular school — let’s stick with K State — should play UConn home and home to help the conference if it’s not in their individual interest.

Just because you come up with a unique theory doesn’t mean there is anything to it.

Let me put it to you this way. If there is no mutual interest in playing one game a year now, for whatever reason, raising the UConn football profile, speed dating, whatever, there will never be a mutual interest in playing 5.

Meanwhile, over on the east coast, UConn has 3 games and 4 games per year scheduled with the ACC.

I don't know what that tells you. We have already discussed what that tells me.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

The title of this thread reminds me of when The Odd Couple had a scene about Oscar and Felix arguing over which one of them screwed up Abbot & Costello's 'Who's on First' routine. Oscar said to Felix "You're the one who said 'Whom is on First'. ". Felix replied "That's not what I said. I said 'You throw it to whom?'." In the process Felix pointed out that he was using correct grammar and Oscar's statement was incorrect grammer, which Oscar was oblivious to.

 

[JwittersPAC]

Let me put it to you this way. If there is no mutual interest in playing one game a year now, for whatever reason, raising the UConn football profile, speed dating, whatever, there will never be a mutual interest in playing 5.

Meanwhile, over on the east coast, UConn has 3 games and 4 games per year scheduled with the ACC.

I don't know what that tells you. We have already discussed what that tells me.

I think nothing happens (CR) until 2030. I do believe ACC teams that play UConn have alumni in the area.

 

[RSTuthill]

I think nothing happens (CR) until 2030. I do believe ACC teams that play UConn have alumni in the area.

Agree on 2030. If true, the alumni thing further makes the argument that UConn is more aligned with the ACC rather than the B12. ACC teams find value in playing UConn and B12 teams do not

 

[BlueHen]

Let me put it to you this way. If there is no mutual interest in playing one game a year now, for whatever reason, raising the UConn football profile, speed dating, whatever, there will never be a mutual interest in playing 5.

Meanwhile, over on the east coast, UConn has 3 games and 4 games per year scheduled with the ACC.

I don't know what that tells you. We have already discussed what that tells me.

How many times did the ACC schedule games against Cal, Stanford and SMU before inviting them to join the conference? What did that tell you?

 

[RSTuthill]

How many times did the ACC schedule games against Cal, Stanford and SMU before inviting them to join the conference? What did that tell you?

You are equating a panic situation in which the PAC12 was disintegrating and the ACC added two valuable football schools already playing at the P4 level both with high level academics and one G5 team paying a gigantic admission fee with adding UConn a G5 whose prior season record was 3-9? I think you know the answer to your question. Not germane to the question at hand. Completely different situation.

 

[ZooCougar]

I see a lot of negativity here regarding the ACC. And several comments assuming that the B12 will one day offer UConn membership and all UConn has to do is get its FB program to competitive status with B12 schools. I am reminded of the guy who repeatedly asked a girl for a date and kept getting turned down yet he never got the message and kept asking. So I looked at UConn FB scheduling since 2011. Games with B12 teams and games with ACC teams:

B12: 0 (We were at the last one in 2011, home against Iowa State. Third game of the season. A very exciting loss.)
ACC: 23

And then I looked at the next three years:

B12: 0
ACC: 10

The zeros are correct. The ACC numbers might have minor errors. The point stands. If UConn is trying to flirt with the B12, where the rubber hits the road, it doesn't support that narrative. And yes, I am aware that MBB just played Kansas. But football is the only sport that counts as we have been told many many times. Not that one sport is better than the other, but rather, steps that the football schools took to protect their revenue and the basketball schools did not.

You’re assuming that we are scheduling ACC because we are trying to get their attention when it might just be convenient for both parties to play eachother.

 

[ZooCougar]

The Big XII doesn’t need to have its schools play UConn to assess where UConn football currently stands compared to Big XII schools. And there is no reason any particular school — let’s stick with K State — should play UConn home and home to help the conference if it’s not in their individual interest.

Just because you come up with a unique theory doesn’t mean there is anything to it.

There is nothing unique or clever about it.

We just played three Big 12 schools in basketball. Big whoop.

 

[RSTuthill]

There is nothing unique or clever about it.

We just played three Big 12 schools in basketball. Big whoop.

Hoops are irrelevant in the realignment discussion. Haven't we learned that yet?

 

[ZooCougar]

Hoops are irrelevant in the realignment discussion. Haven't we learned that yet?

Not according to Yormark..

 

[RSTuthill]

Not according to Yormark..

Who got not just a NO, but a HELL NO!!!

Twice. From his member presidents/AD's

 

[uconnyankee]

I think we all know that as things sit today, ACC would be a far better fit geographically, culturally, and conference make up.

If you layer on the potential for departures in ACC, it changes the dynamic. At that point, really comes down to who leaves and who is in new ACC.

I’ve always felt, ACC could lose up to 4 teams and still remain a viable P4: Clemson, UNC, UvA and FSU leaving could still leave Miami, VT, NC State, Pitt, GT, and UofL.

I think the question is whether Big12 could pry off some schools, or whether ACC could. At that point, it comes down to media partners and who can strike first.

I always like ACC. But this game of ignoring such an obvious expansion candidate over SMU, Cal and Stanford has soured me on the league. Just continues initial feelings after ACC and ESPN destroyed Big East.

Given all that, Big 12 excites me more. They have more creative leadership, the league is more exciting, and they are the aggressor.

Whichever happens, big step up for UConn and I will gladly support either move

 

[ZooCougar]

Who got not just a NO, but a HELL NO!!!

Twice. From his member presidents/AD's

You don't know if it was a hell no. It was a few votes.

You're really off base here. I was just saying that just because we are playing a bunch of Big 12 teams doesn't have to mean anything. We've been playing these ACC teams for decades. We're a decent opponent in a great location.

By the way, the Arizona AD and President didn't travel to Storrs because of the nice weather. They were there in part to check us out.

 

[ZooCougar]

If they were interested in assessing UConn's competitiveness with their teams -- a prime metric in determining their ability to provide accretion. It's not a difficult concept to understand considering that the major portion of UConn's schedule is G5.

This is the craziest comment, accretion has to do with the ability to raise the value of media rights and revenue.

They don't need to play us to see if we are accretive. The ACC just wants to be friends.

 

[RSTuthill]

I always like ACC. But this game of ignoring such an obvious expansion candidate over SMU, Cal and Stanford has soured me on the league. Just continues initial feelings after ACC and ESPN destroyed Big East.

I hear you. Kinda reflects my view which is also conflicted. The obvious expansion candidate you refer to is UConn? I would guess that UConn's recent FB history doomed that possibility at that juncture. A decade of hopelessness followed by 6-7 and 3-9. I guess I wouldn't blame Miami, Clemson, and FSU for strenuously objecting to UConn at that point. But a lot has changed in two years. Their new conference champion lost to UConn. Hard to ignore.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

I think we all know that as things sit today, ACC would be a far better fit geographically, culturally, and conference make up.

If you layer on the potential for departures in ACC, it changes the dynamic. At that point, really comes down to who leaves and who is in new ACC.

I’ve always felt, ACC could lose up to 4 teams and still remain a viable P4: Clemson, UNC, UvA and FSU leaving could still leave Miami, VT, NC State, Pitt, GT, and UofL.

I think the question is whether Big12 could pry off some schools, or whether ACC could. At that point, it comes down to media partners and who can strike first.

I always like ACC. But this game of ignoring such an obvious expansion candidate over SMU, Cal and Stanford has soured me on the league. Just continues initial feelings after ACC and ESPN destroyed Big East.

Given all that, Big 12 excites me more. They have more creative leadership, the league is more exciting, and they are the aggressor.

Whichever happens, big step up for UConn and I will gladly support either move

Our resume speaks for itself. At the end of the day, I would much prefer the B12 since we would be their Northeast presence, and the league is just more stable. In addition, their leadership is far more creative and forward thinking than old dinosaurs running the ACC. The ACC will be picked apart since it has some schools that P2 would like to have.

 

[buddy]

Not according to Yormark..

And his opinion apparently doesn't matter either.