Why is the Big East terrible for UConn and where should UConn go instead? | Page 5 | The Boneyard
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Why is the Big East terrible for UConn and where should UConn go instead?

Chuck said:
I honestly can't read through all of this, so I don't know if this was already addressed. Assuming that something happens in the next couple years that realistically closes the door to UConn getting into a P4 conference, what does UConn do next?

I personally don't see UConn doing a UMass and joining a crummy league for all sports. So, what do we do with football. Stay independent? Try to join a league for football only (which would require buy-in and termination fees)? Go FCS? UConn is spending a lot of money right now trying to look like a P4 team with no other end game (terrible bowl access, no conference titles or big games). We're the only real independent team considering ND has a scheduling agreement and bowl access through the ACC (and they're ND). That doesn't seem like a responsible way to spend in the long run.
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They’re taking a calculated risk, in which the potential reward is significantly huge relative to our current situation. If that fails, UConn probably stays independent or tries to make a deal with a G5 for football-only and some basketball scheduling agreement.
 
nelsonmuntz said:
It has been 24 years since conference realignment really picked up, which means 24 years of not being picked by anyone but the Big East. Look at the last few additions from the Pac 12. The ones that joined the Big 10 and ACC joined as partial members.

The only way we are getting invited is if the macro circumstances change, and when that happens, we need to be well positioned. Praying for a miracle is not a strategy.
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Again, nobody is praying for a miracle. It’s getting FB on the right trajectory. Mora made huge strides, and now it’s on Candle to continue that upward climb.
You can clearly see the change since Mora arrived.

BB is at its peak. And both programs again are challenging for a Natty.

Also, the metrics over past 24 years have changed, as you point out frequently. Used to be cable boxes. Now it’s brands.

I also think that if ACC could go back in time and get a do over, they might choose UConn.

Regardless, UConn is getting things right at the right time. They certainly aren’t waiting for a miracle
 
UConnDan97 said:
I hate this thread for multiple reasons, but I have to put my hat in the ring too.

Yes, the Big East saved us from death in the AAC. The AAC was not really all that good for our football team, and you could make the argument that the existence of the AAC is why Houston and UCF are in the Big12 and we aren't. And it was horrible for our basketball programs.

But good God almighty, if anyone on this thread is arguing that the Big East is great for us and that we wouldn't accept a Big12 invite in a New York minute, I would recommend that person to seek serious medical help...
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You must be in favor of re-joining the American. 😉
 
nelsonmuntz said:
The AAC was a catastrophically stupid decision that was dragged out way longer than it should have been because UConn wanted to cash the exit fee checks. If UConn had joined the Big East for hoops and gone independent in football in 2013 when Pitt and Syracuse left, UConn would be a full member of the Big 12 now. The AAC killed both the football and men's basketball programs, and while Geno won 3 championships out of the AAC, he hated that league too.

Everyone that ever supported being in the AAC owes the rest of us an apology.
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Or maybe if UConn had taken football seriously instead of hiring and funding it on the cheap, sort of the polar opposite of what Houston, Cincinnati and Central Florida did, it would be in the B12 now. I don’t guarantee that but I think it is very likely.

Here is the reality. UConn killed UConn football and basketball. Poor coaching moves almost ruined both programs. Pasqualoni, Diaco and Edsall 2 were unmitigated disasters. Kevin Ollie, once Calhoun’s players left, was Kyle Neptune.

Playing in the NBE with Ollie would have been just as disasterous as playing in the American. He was a bad coach. Unless you think finishing 7th in the NBE would have drawn huge crowds. As here’s a dirty little secret. UConn basketball attendance was declining on a pretty consistent basis from 2006 when it peaked.It actually started to come back in 2020 not because we were joining the NBE but because we were winning again and likely would have gotten a bid if the NCAA tournament hadn’t been cancelled.
 
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freescooter said:
Or maybe if UConn had taken football seriously instead of hiring and funding it on the cheap, sort of the polar opposite of what Houston, Cincinnati and Central Florida did, it would be in the B12 now. I don’t guarantee that but I think it is very likely.

Here is the reality. UConn killed UConn football and basketball. Poor coaching moves almost ruined both programs. Pasqualoni, Diaco and Edsall 2 were unmitigated disasters. Kevin Ollie, once Calhoun’s players left, was Kyle Neptune.

Playing in the NBE with Ollie would have been just as disasterous as playing in the American. He was a bad coach. Unless you think finishing 7th in the NBE would have drawn huge crowds. As here’s a dirty little secret. UConn basketball attendance was declining on a pretty consistent basis from 2006 when it peaked.It actually started to come back in 2020 not because we were joining the NBE but because we were winning again and likely would have gotten a bid if the NCAA tournament hadn’t been cancelled.
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Pretty spot on.
UConn fans, even BB, aren’t immune to apathy if the team isn’t winning.

That’s why getting football to win is so important. Change the narrative, get fans in the seats, and start making some noise.
 
freescooter said:
Or maybe if UConn had taken football seriously instead of hiring and funding it on the cheap, sort of the polar opposite of what Houston, Cincinnati and Central Florida did, it would be in the B12 now. I don’t guarantee that but I think it is very likely.

Here is the reality. UConn killed UConn football and basketball. Poor coaching moves almost ruined both programs. Pasqualoni, Diaco and Edsall 2 were unmitigated disasters. Kevin Ollie, once Calhoun’s players left, was Kyle Neptune.

Playing in the NBE with Ollie would have been just as disasterous as playing in the American. He was a bad coach. Unless you think finishing 7th in the NBE would have drawn huge crowds. As here’s a dirty little secret. UConn basketball attendance was declining on a pretty consistent basis from 2006 when it peaked.It actually started to come back in 2020 not because we were joining the NBE but because we were winning again and likely would have gotten a bid if the NCAA tournament hadn’t been cancelled.
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Getting you to simultaneously bash a National Championship coach and argue that being in a southern mid major was a good move for UConn completely justifies this thread.
 
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UConnDan97 said:
I hate this thread for multiple reasons, but I have to put my hat in the ring too.

Yes, the Big East saved us from death in the AAC. The AAC was not really all that good for our football team, and you could make the argument that the existence of the AAC is why Houston and UCF are in the Big12 and we aren't. And it was horrible for our basketball programs.

But good God almighty, if anyone on this thread is arguing that the Big East is great for us and that we wouldn't accept a Big12 invite in a New York minute, I would recommend that person to seek serious medical help...
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This! Perfectly said. Next time we meet at a game, let's get another beer together.
 
freescooter said:
Or maybe if UConn had taken football seriously instead of hiring and funding it on the cheap, sort of the polar opposite of what Houston, Cincinnati and Central Florida did, it would be in the B12 now. I don’t guarantee that but I think it is very likely.

Here is the reality. UConn killed UConn football and basketball. Poor coaching moves almost ruined both programs. Pasqualoni, Diaco and Edsall 2 were unmitigated disasters. Kevin Ollie, once Calhoun’s players left, was Kyle Neptune.

Playing in the NBE with Ollie would have been just as disasterous as playing in the American. He was a bad coach. Unless you think finishing 7th in the NBE would have drawn huge crowds. As here’s a dirty little secret. UConn basketball attendance was declining on a pretty consistent basis from 2006 when it peaked.It actually started to come back in 2020 not because we were joining the NBE but because we were winning again and likely would have gotten a bid if the NCAA tournament hadn’t been cancelled.
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Even if we were good at football and still missed out on the Big 12 or ACC, I still think we would have dumped the AAC.

The fact that we sucked in the AAC was totally our fault, but it was a very bad fit and I the final TV deal highlighted that. Both can be true.
 
nelsonmuntz said:
This is the thread for those that want to litter every thread on the basketball board with their anti-Big East rants. Let's hear why the Big East is so terrible. Let's hear why UConn would be better off in the American. Educate the rest of us.

@HooperScooper @bendm @RuffRuff @rashadray11
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Myself I think the Big East was a great league, however I think we need a new league (Big 12 would be my #1 choice, ACC #2) to keep the tractory of UConn football up. The Big East is not the future for us, a major football school, we need to be in a P4 league.
 
nelsonmuntz said:
A would be OK, but it will never happen.

B would be a horror show, and there is no way Duke, Cal and Stanford stick around for those additions. BC and Wake would tag along with the prestige academic schools.

C is the same as B in practice. Unlikely that hodge podge would be worth joining.


One of the things that people don't get is that the rules for what constitute a conference are gone at this point. The minimum number of sports and the rest no longer apply because there is no way they would survive a court challenge. Those are much more anti-competitive than the rules around the player eligibility that keep losing in court. There are 4 scenarios that I think are realistic which wouldn't be terrible for UConn:

1) Football breaks off - I think this is realistic. If it happens, we are in a good place and will have some options as conferences are formed purely for football and basketball and other sports can be aligned in different conferences.

2) Big East/ACC merger - The ACC needs more and better content and the Big East pays for itself because it already has a TV contract.

3) The Prestige Schools break off - Stanford, Cal, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Duke, Rice, BC, Wake split, maybe add a few other prestige schools (U of Chicago may want to be part of this) and form a D1 Ivy. Those schools get nothing out of being in major conferences, they could get a decent TV deal on their own, and they don't want the stigma of association with some of the wild west antics of state schools that are making a mockery of "student athlete". The alumni of those schools look down on the state schools they are currently affiliated with, and those same alumni would LOVE this league. There would also be enormous pressure by Notre Dame to join this league by its actual alumni (not internet fans). This scenario enrages several of the posters on this board. Good.

4) Schools drop out of competition. They may not officially drop out of D1, but they will downshift to something else. Many of these schools have huge financial problems, and they do not want to compete with Texas or Ohio State and their $100 million payrolls. I don't know what this will look like or which schools it will be, but I think this is likely to happen.

Those scenarios could result in a soft landing for UConn football. Any other scenario probably results in failure of UConn athletics. I think the latter is a very real possibility, so enjoy each season while we have them.
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Prestige school is BC?
 
freescooter said:
Or maybe if UConn had taken football seriously instead of hiring and funding it on the cheap, sort of the polar opposite of what Houston, Cincinnati and Central Florida did, it would be in the B12 now. I don’t guarantee that but I think it is very likely.

Here is the reality. UConn killed UConn football and basketball. Poor coaching moves almost ruined both programs. Pasqualoni, Diaco and Edsall 2 were unmitigated disasters. Kevin Ollie, once Calhoun’s players left, was Kyle Neptune.

Playing in the NBE with Ollie would have been just as disasterous as playing in the American. He was a bad coach. Unless you think finishing 7th in the NBE would have drawn huge crowds. As here’s a dirty little secret. UConn basketball attendance was declining on a pretty consistent basis from 2006 when it peaked.It actually started to come back in 2020 not because we were joining the NBE but because we were winning again and likely would have gotten a bid if the NCAA tournament hadn’t been cancelled.
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This is 100% true. Blaming the AAC for UConn’s decline is passing the buck. We made terrible hires and handed out ill-advised contract renewals. That’s what hurt UConn, not the AAC.

If anyone wants to argue that Hurley wouldn’t have won 2 chips if we stayed in the AAC, then fine. But don’t argue that UConn athletic programs floundered in the first place because the AAC was a bad conference.
 
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Kembafan said:
This is 100% true. Blaming the AAC for UConn’s decline is passing the buck. We made terrible hires and handed out ill-advised contract renewals. That’s what hurt UConn, not the AAC.

If anyone wants to argue that Hurley wouldn’t have won 2 chips if we stayed in the AAC, then fine. But don’t argue that UConn athletic programs floundered in the first place because the AAC was a bad conference.
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That is exactly what I am arguing.

If the AAC is such a great conference, then why aren’t its member schools doing better?
 
nelsonmuntz said:
That is exactly what I am arguing.

If the AAC is such a great conference, then why aren’t its member schools doing better?
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You're smarter than this, even though you work very hard to make it appear otherwise.

I'll use Houston as Exhibit A. Once Phi Slamma Jamma moved on they spent three decades accomplishing absolutely nothing. They started building again once they joined the AAC (even made a final four as a member), got invited to the B-12 and have been one of the five or six best programs in the country post-covid.
 
nelsonmuntz said:
That is exactly what I am arguing.

If the AAC is such a great conference, then why aren’t its member schools doing better?
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Didn’t 3 schools get pulled into Big 12? And didn’t a member of AAC just make the playoffs?

It’s not a league I’d be happy with now, but the AAC could have been decent had UConn thrived instead of flopped across the board.
UConn, Cincy, Houston, SMU, UCF and Memphis could have been a very strong G5
 
I’m gonna ignore the question because I already stated my answer.

That said, can we take time to acknowledge that in spite of being left out in the cold of conference realignment, being temporarily stuck in the purgatory that was the AAC and being technically lumped in with the financial have-nots, we’ve still accomplished more than our former (and current) Big East brethren and have regained national relevance?

I mean, what do Syracuse, West Virginia, and Rutgers even have to look forward to nowadays?

This question applies to most of the P4 already tbh
 
nelsonmuntz said:
That is exactly what I am arguing.

If the AAC is such a great conference, then why aren’t its member schools doing better?
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Conference change was clearly a factor in revitalizing the basketball program. But I think the Hurley coaching upgrade over Ollie was the bigger factor.
 
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FightOnCT said:
I’m gonna ignore the question because I already stated my answer.

That said, can we take time to acknowledge that in spite of being left out in the cold of conference realignment, being temporarily stuck in the purgatory that was the AAC and being technically lumped in with the financial have-nots, we’ve still accomplished more than our former (and current) Big East brethren and have regained national relevance?

I mean, what do Syracuse, West Virginia, and Rutgers even have to look forward to nowadays?

This question applies to most of the P4 already tbh
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UConn has accomplished more than any school in the country.
 
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