Why No Alarm???

[giddyup]

Nothing is stopping this arms race as long as 50 to 70 schools nationally are involved because not a single politician will step in and upset their state’s piece of the pie. Congress is the only player that can put the genie back in the bottle and return the integrity of amateur college sports, and they can even on the most basic of issues impacting Americans. We are entering the last stages of the college gave we loved. I’ll never be a fan of a team of super conference. I’ll watch the NFL.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Ah, the argument for passivity.

I thought you wanted intelligent discussion.

This seems like what you really are after is crying and complaining and if you don't see it, you criticize comments that don't lead down that path.

This is far from the first thread that you've started over the years where in a passive aggressive statement, you attempt to blast the football program (or the fact that we have a football program).

We get it, you want the school to drop the football program. That's fine, you're entitled to your opinion but you may as well be a bit more transparent as your act isn't fooling anyone.

 

[Samoo]

Ah, the argument for passivity.

Would being an aggressive fan change the situation?

 

[cellocgg]

How much more pro-like can CFB become before the NFL puts a stop to it?

 

[CL82]

Ah, the argument for passivity.

Or is it the argument against pointless reactionism?

 

[mets1090]

There has been talk of a slow death and being left out of the club for 10+ years now. There have been other obvious signs of the apocalypse through the years. We even had to set up an entirely different board to house realignment discussion. Until UConn is being reported as moving to one of the non-dying conferences or there are reports of those conferences blowing the whole thing up for everyone else, nothing has changed and there is nothing to talk about.

In the public eye, all UConn football can do in the meantime is get back to respectability and all the fans can do is try to support the program by showing up (which is a hard sell if you have seen the on field product for the last 5-10 seasons). Otherwise we just pray that being a premier basketball brand is enough.

 

[uconnyankee]

How much more pro-like can CFB become before the NFL puts a stop to it?

The NFL will squash College football in head to head in most markets. Maybe in SEC territory it would be closer but NFL won’t allow college football to encroach its money draw

 

[CL82]

The conference alignment board was set up back when Connecticut was included in the rumors du jour on a daily basis. Sadly, those days have passed and it seems as if conference realignment has passed us by. There really isn't much point in barking at every single rumor or lack there of. At this point, I think most of us are resigned to our fate and will be delightfully surprised if anything changes.

 

[tiger paw]

It looks like the only/last hope is just FB into the MAC.

 

[History Geek]

The conference alignment board was set up back when Connecticut was included in the rumors du jour on a daily basis. Sadly, those days have passed and it seems as if conference realignment has passed us by. There really isn't much point in barking at every single rumor or lack there of. At this point, I think most of us are resigned to our fate and will be delightfully surprised if anything changes.

I still have hope. Let’s see what happens with the ACC situation. Could open up a seat for us somewhere.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

It looks like the only/last hope is just FB into the MAC.

Yeah that’s the ticket, but then try and justify a $150 million fix up for Rentschler Field.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

The NFL will squash College football in head to head in most markets. Maybe in SEC territory it would be closer but NFL won’t allow college football to encroach its money draw

Does college basketball outdraw the NBA? Do the NBA playoffs outdraw March Madness?

 

[Samoo]

What can you do?

In five or ten years there will be a ca. 48-team semi-pro super conference with a division below it that will include P-5 cast offs, G-5, and some newbies willing to invest in upgrading. Second division conferences TBD but wouldn't be surprised if two of them were named the ACC and PAC-10.

There will be lots of transfer churn as the good players from the second division get pulled up and players not seeing time in the first division drop down to prove themselves on the field hoping to get called back up to the bigs.

Where does UConn land? Odds say the reimagined ACC with our old Big East buddies.

Will there be mobility between first and second divisions? Wouldn't be a bad idea from a marketing perspective but not likely.

Bowl games could be back in vogue for the second division - separate from the first division playoffs.

Or something completely different could happen.

 

[uconndogs]

What can you do?

In five or ten years there will be a ca. 48-team semi-pro super conference with a division below it that will include P-5 cast offs, G-5, and some newbies willing to invest in upgrading. Second division conferences TBD but wouldn't be surprised if two of them were named the ACC and PAC-10.

There will be lots of transfer churn as the good players from the second division get pulled up and players not seeing time in the first division drop down to prove themselves on the field hoping to get called back up to the bigs.

Where does UConn land? Odds say the reimagined ACC with our old Big East buddies.

Will there be mobility between first and second divisions? Wouldn't be a bad idea from a marketing perspective but not likely.

Bowl games could be back in vogue for the second division - separate from the first division playoffs.

Or something completely different could happen.

Very likely scenario.......or something darn close to it......

 

[CL82]

I still have hope. Let’s see what happens with the ACC situation. Could open up a seat for us somewhere.

 

[Hoophound]

As the value of basketball goes up, we inch back into the picture. What would really help is a breakout football season. Now that we can see that NIL money really helps get football players, maybe the powers that be can figure out how to get noticed in football.

 

[CL82]

As the value of basketball goes up, we inch back into the picture. What would really help is a breakout football season. Now that we can see that NIL money really helps get football players, maybe the powers that be can figure out how to get noticed in football.

We did well in the portal, particularly in skill positions. Hopefully that translates into a winning season.

 

[UCFanInSC]

Long time lurker on the Boneyard.

I don't understand why UConn isn't in a major conference given the success of it's programs outside of Football.
In a major conference, Football would be as good as the Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Wake, Vande, South Carolina and all the other programs that get 6 win seasons.

 

[ScottVib]

Long time lurker on the Boneyard.

I don't understand why UConn isn't in a major conference given the success of it's programs outside of Football.
In a major conference, Football would be as good as the Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Wake, Vande, South Carolina and all the other programs that get 6 win seasons.

UConn arguably was more successful than Syracuse during the time they both shared a conference.

2004: Syracuse 4-2* / UConn 3-3
2005: Syracuse 0-7 / UConn 2-5
2006: Syracuse 1-6 / UConn 1-6
2007: Syracuse 1-6 / UConn 5-2*
2008: Syracuse 1-6 / UConn 3-4
2009: Syracuse 1-6 / UConn 3-4
2010: Syracuse 4-3 / UConn 5-2*+ won tiebreak
2011: Syracuse 1-6 / UConn 3-4
2012: Syracuse 5-2* / UConn 2-5

Both teams won conference co-championships twice, UConn claiming the only BCS bid during that time. Syracuse's co-championship years were the only years they had better conference records than UConn. Neither team was outstanding, but UConn went 27-35 during that time with Syracuse going 18-44. Syracuse's edge came with it's decades of successful history at the major college level that easily put it in the drivers seat for a spot (first in 2004, then again in 2011)

Ultimately the problem for UConn is it started "big time" football too late to build a name or history to make it attractive outside of basketball (and you could argue it's basketball success started too late to make it attractive enough to the only conference (the ACC) that still valued basketball on par or ahead of football when things started). Then taking the lead on a lawsuit, plus the misguided fear of competition from a nearby neighbor built enough animous to make the only conference still valuing basketball highly in the 2010s willing to look at alternatives (reportedly Pitt got a spot originally earmarked for UConn). Finally football first forces reportedly carried the day, the final time around.

Since then UConn made two additional hires that proved disastrous putting the football program into laughing stock range. That, coupled with a couple of unconventional decisions for a football first culture that reigns in conference governance (going independent in football & canceling the COVID season in its entirety) has led to the impression that the school doesn't care about the #1 revenue sport, creating an even bigger hole to dig out of if they are to find a desirable conference home.

 

[AllHusky]

It looks like the only/last hope is just FB into the MAC.

Not happening, will stay Indy

 

[Hoophound]

Long time lurker on the Boneyard.

I don't understand why UConn isn't in a major conference given the success of it's programs outside of Football.
In a major conference, Football would be as good as the Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Wake, Vande, South Carolina and all the other programs that get 6 win seasons.

Wrong place, wrong time issues. It’s really nothing more.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I dunno, but in light of Rule 1, this new agreement seems awfully likely to kill UConn FB as we know it. Yet no one is alarmed?? Paying athletes with the institutions own funds in addition to NIL? Given that the UConn AD is one of the most heavily subsidized in the country that perennially runs a deficit, are we not talking about a HUGE increase in subsidy to stay in the game? Intuitively it just seems like a death knell, and perhaps designed to be so. Comments?

If you want to stomp your feet and proclaim the death of UConn athletics, you should head over to the Realignment Board. You would have a lot of company there.

I have been posting on the Boneyard since before the first realignment crisis in 2003, when Miami and BCU staged a raid to destroy the Big East and wipe the remaining athletic programs off the map. People have been stomping their feet and proclaiming the death of UConn athletics since the winter of 2003, and UConn has won 5 men's basketball championships and 8 women's basketball championships since then.

As others have pointed out, there is not much we can do about it. BUT, chaos helps those on the outside, and between NIL, the Transfer Portal, the end of the cable bundle, and the demographic cliff creating enrollment Armageddon at colleges nationwide, there is quite a bit of chaos happening in college sports. Let's see what happens.

 

[Jimdish255]

What can you do?

In five or ten years there will be a ca. 48-team semi-pro super conference with a division below it that will include P-5 cast offs, G-5, and some newbies willing to invest in upgrading. Second division conferences TBD but wouldn't be surprised if two of them were named the ACC and PAC-10.

There will be lots of transfer churn as the good players from the second division get pulled up and players not seeing time in the first division drop down to prove themselves on the field hoping to get called back up to the bigs.

Where does UConn land? Odds say the reimagined ACC with our old Big East buddies.

Will there be mobility between first and second divisions? Wouldn't be a bad idea from a marketing perspective but not likely.

Bowl games could be back in vogue for the second division - separate from the first division playoffs.

Or something completely different could happen.

But will the best players actually play in those bowl games? They killed it unless you lose your NIL money or your scholly by sitting out. You would need an 8 team playoff to make the split work. There has to be something, including money to play for.

 

[Hamms30]

If you want to stomp your feet and proclaim the death of UConn athletics, you should head over to the Realignment Board. You would have a lot of company there.

I have been posting on the Boneyard since before the first realignment crisis in 2003, when Miami and BCU staged a raid to destroy the Big East and wipe the remaining athletic programs off the map. People have been stomping their feet and proclaiming the death of UConn athletics since the winter of 2003, and UConn has won 5 men's basketball championships and 8 women's basketball championships since then.

As others have pointed out, there is not much we can do about it. BUT, chaos helps those on the outside, and between NIL, the Transfer Portal, the end of the cable bundle, and the demographic cliff creating enrollment Armageddon at colleges nationwide, there is quite a bit of chaos happening in college sports. Let's see what happens.

Huzzah!!

 

[FfldCntyFan]

What many of us need to realize is there are many cases throughout history, in many fields, where the ability to endure was the most important attribute.

We are an extremely successful, valuable brand in many sports. We need to stabilize our football program (at a minimum) and continue with everything else. At some point in the not too distant future some P-whatever conference will need us.