Why the ACC took Louisville

[frankthetank]

If the ACC felt like it was going to "lose" Louisville to the B12, then it was a good move. After seeing the B12 continue to drag their heels on expansion and insist upon a round-robin conference tournament, it doesn't seem like they were/are in a hurry to add anyone. But I guess the decision was whether or not they felt Louisville was at greater risk to be added by another conference before UCONN. Judging by how each school's football programs have performed and have/have not been supported by their fan bases, perhaps the B12 would have beed motivated to add Louisville (with possibly Cincinnati to give WVU an eastern "pod"). I think Louisville would have been added by the B12 long before the B1G would add UCONN, hence their decision.

Whether it was intentional or not, the ACC really did box in the Big 12 by picking Louisville. The Big 12 adding a Louisville/BYU or Louisville/Cincinnati combo would have been much more valuable for that league compared to their options right now (i.e. Cincinnati/BYU, etc.). Remember that this was back during the period where there was a loud contingent (not me, but others in the Internet sphere to the point that FSU's president and Board of Trustees had to address it publicly) that believed that the Big 12 could poach the ACC of its top football brands. I don't think that was the only factor in the ACC's decision-making process (as I'll give Tom Jurich all of the credit in the world for spending 15-plus years preparing for the moment when an opportunity like an open spot in the ACC presented itself), but it was a clear benefit. I said it back then: the Big 12 partisans got way too big of heads for their britches and completely overestimated their power in conference realignment. Their inane thinking that they could get Florida State to move prevented them from moving forward with an obtainable Louisville. Many Big 12 partisans won't ever admit it, but the ACC legitimately screwed the Big 12 with the Louisville addition since their options are much weaker now.

 

[WestHartHusk]

The OP was correct. Louisville had the home stands full and loud for their opening game and won. UConn only had 35k for a pretty good home opening opponent and was routed. Expansion was about football and Uconn is a BB school.

Oh piss off. I have seen a ton of L'Ville football games with a TON of empty seats. I promise you, if we had a two-year build-up towards the ACC and Miami as a home opener our stadium would look no different. You got in, and deserved to, but to think there is a difference between L'Ville and UConn is ridiculous. And we are both basketball schools, we are just better at it than you are.

 

[3d2bcards]

And ask yourself why FSU wanted them. A. Better football program? B. Southern culture/not another Yankee school? C. Less likely to align with Tobacco Road? D. Lousiville and Jurich made great powerpoint presentations and lobbied effectively. E. All of A through C above? I think the answer is E. By the way, none of those things are Warde's fault.

I thought I lived in the midwest?

 

[pj]

Many Big 12 partisans won't ever admit it, but the ACC legitimately screwed the Big 12 with the Louisville addition since their options are much weaker now.

Why should the ACC have cared about screwing the Big 12? If the Big 12 takes Louisville and BYU or Cincy it doesn't hurt the ACC.

 

[Calamitous]

How exactly is the wildly successful and ground-breaking BTN "low grade" vs the SEC Network that just started days ago??

First off, my comment wasn't meant to offend B1G fans, but I get why some might be a little overprotective and take that the wrong way. "Superior" is different than "wildly successful." I said superior as in a more superior media platform.

That said, "Low Grade" is probably a poor choice of words, but the ESPN (SECN) > Fox (B1GN), much to my chagrin. I'd love to see Fox or NBC sports take some wind out of the ESPN sails, but right now ESPN has too much power and momentum. Unfortunately, most people (not me) want glitz and over-the-top visual stimulation. For me, I just want to watch the game. But 90% of Americans can't watch more than 5 minutes of anything, much less a game, without needing to see tickers scrolling across the screen with random pop-up ads pimping a new program. My hat's off to Delany for many of the moves he made, but Slive will win the cable network battle... sorry.

True, the SECN has only been out for several weeks, but their ratings are through the roof already. ESPN has been shoving the SEC down our throats for decades and now they have an official ESPN/SEC platform. No conference will be able to compete with that IMO.

Bc of their recent football success?? lol. We love our Big Ten football up north too.

I'm sure B1G fans love their football. I never questioned that.

 

[whaler11]

First off, my comment wasn't meant to offend B1G fans, but I get why some might be a little overprotective and take that the wrong way. "Superior" is different than "wildly successful." I said superior as in a more superior media platform.

That said, "Low Grade" is probably a poor choice of words, but the ESPN (SECN) > Fox (B1GN), much to my chagrin. I'd love to see Fox or NBC sports take some wind out of the ESPN sails, but right now ESPN has too much power and momentum. Unfortunately, most people (not me) want glitz and over-the-top visual stimulation. For me, I just want to watch the game. But 90% of Americans can't watch more than 5 minutes of anything, much less a game, without needing to see tickers scrolling across the screen with random pop-up ads pimping a new program. My hat's off to Delany for many of the moves he made, but Slive will win the cable network battle... sorry.

True, the SECN has only been out for several weeks, but their ratings are through the roof already. ESPN has been shoving the SEC down our throats for decades and now they have an official ESPN/SEC platform. No conference will be able to compete with that IMO.



I'm sure B1G fans love their football. I never questioned that.

From a pure television standpoint the Big Ten Network is excellent.

They obviously can't compete with the SECN on their football game inventory, but they have excellent non-game programming.

I just got SECN right before the season started so I haven't seen much yet, but obviously they have high production value.

Both are lightyears ahead of the Pac12 net which can be tough to watch sometimes.

 

[whaler11]

The outcome of one football game demonstrates farsightedness?

If the ultimate goal of realignment was to get good TV ratings in September 2014, then adding Louisville was farsighted, to be sure.

Of course it doesn't. But Louisville had been building towards this for the better part of two decades and they knocked it out of the park last night.

The ACC was stupid to not take Louisville before Pitt and Syracuse.

I get why UConn fans don't want to come to grips with Louisville's obvious success... but you have to ignore what is blatently obvious.

 

[Calamitous]

From a pure television standpoint the Big Ten Network is excellent.

They obviously can't compete with the SECN on their football game inventory, but they have excellent non-game programming.

I just got SECN right before the season started so I haven't seen much yet, but obviously they have high production value.

Both are lightyears ahead of the Pac12 net which can be tough to watch sometimes.

Nothing is better than Raycom

 

[Cleanface]

My hat's off to Delany for many of the moves he made, but Slive will win the cable network battle... sorry.

Blasphemy.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

And last night Louisville put on quite a show to vindicate/justify FSU's demands. I wanted/want UConn in the ACC, but last night was a pretty strong affirmation for FSU's/ACC's choice.

I assume you're serious. I have no idea why but I assume you are. You're "vindication" scenario is like trumpeting a replacement at second base because the new guy went two-for-four. Or calling a pitching change brilliant because the new pitcher's first pitch was a strike. What the hell is your/the ACC's time horizon on deciding on proposed new membership? We want the team that's likely be the best performer through the middle of next week. And what's your strategy? Find out who's most pissed off and let them pick the next member? I'm not saying Louisville won't turn out to be a good add. I like Louisville and wish then well. I'm saying that you're celebration of the Louisville add is more reminiscent of a 5-year-old wanting to be a fireman because the class visited the firehouse today than a deliberative response. I'm saying that that decision making process won't serve you well in the future. Perhaps you got lucky this time. Time will tell. But you've also gotten stung by Boston College and Miami, and likely Syracuse...maybe Pitt.

 

[Seaa Blue]

My hat's off to Delany for many of the moves he made, but Slive will win the cable network battle... sorry.

Coming in second (however you might want to work the numbers to achieve that result) is not "losing" in that 2-horse race.

-B1G

 

[gioff23]

UConn did not get passed over for Louisville; we got passed over for Pitt. Our best chance to join the ACC was the prior raid that originally had us paired with Cuse. The last round was a great strategic move by the ACC (see FTT's comments above). They could have easily yelled checkmate after that move. Taking UConn and leaving Ville for the B12 at a time when FB was everything and many in the ACC were left questioning their southern heritage could not happen. Instead, they took the Ville, appeased their most (er, only) powerful FB schools, and left us sitting there.

The B12 aint touching us and I just remain unconvinced the BIG ever will.

ND in the ACC will be the turning point, the year they get an invite to the playoff while only playing a few conf games. The ACC will be forced to make ND a full member (which ND never will) or be asked to exclude them from consideration as a league member for the playoff. They might then want another team to create balance. Might.

 

[NickyNewark]

Imma let the UCONN folks handle this thread.

Love your postings so far tho, clmssun. Do it again.

What a "yokel" Clampson is with his lack of understanding of CR move wisdom.

 

[Bobol]

In my opinion UConn has been past over for ACC membership because the old boys in the Carolina's still have a distaste in their mouth over the ill conceived lawsuit against their league by former Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

Yes, I know that other schools such as Pitts were also plaintiffs along with UConn but Blumenthal took the vocal lead on the lawsuit and the old boys of the ACC carry grudges.

 

[FDNY99]

And Tom Jurich was behind the development of strong athletic programs at Louisville. He was active throughout. Not sitting back waiting. Not monitoring. This is where Warde is left behind. He is still talking about monitoring in the latest news interview in the newspaper from Utah! After watching last nights Louisville game, it all became clear as day why they were chosen and UConn was left behind.

Warde wasn't the one who sat back...and caused UCONN athletics to wrap around a tree at a EXTREMELY high rate of speed. That was one Mr Jeff Hathaway! If you want to pin the excuse on why we are where we are...make sure you place blame where it deserves!!!

 

[Calamitous]

I assume you're serious. I have no idea why but I assume you are. You're "vindication" scenario is like trumpeting a replacement at second base because the new guy went two-for-four. Or calling a pitching change brilliant because the new pitcher's first pitch was a strike. What the hell is your/the ACC's time horizon on deciding on proposed new membership? We want the team that's likely be the best performer through the middle of next week. And what's your strategy? Find out who's most pissed off and let them pick the next member? I'm not saying Louisville won't turn out to be a good add. I like Louisville and wish then well. I'm saying that you're celebration of the Louisville add is more reminiscent of a 5-year-old wanting to be a fireman because the class visited the firehouse today than a deliberative response. I'm saying that that decision making process won't serve you well in the future. Perhaps you got lucky this time. Time will tell. But you've also gotten stung by Boston College and Miami, and likely Syracuse...maybe Pitt.

UL's membership in the ACC was a band aid on the open UMCP wound. Losing UMCP hurts the ACC in every way imaginable. A lot of ACC fans are in denial and say good riddance. I'm not one of those... losing UMCP stings badly. Adding UL as the replacement did not make me feel better. It feels like settling to me.

But congratulations to UL and their first ACC win over Miami. UL fans may want to temper that excitement though, as Miami historically tends to take large gambles in the 4th quarter when they are down. A great example was the long pass play that could have gotten Miami within 3 to 5 points of UL, but was negated for a dumb ineligible receiver penalty. Next thing you know, UL has a short field and pads on another 7 points to make it look like a blow-out. Don't get me wrong, I think UL deserved to win that game and was the better team, but I don't think FSU has anything to worry about. Everyone handles Miami these days, including Duke, Wake and UVa.

In all this excitement, UL may want to be careful going into the quiet confines of Scott Stadium. Many have a false sense of security when playing there. I wonder if UL can handle the silence

 

[NickyNewark]

UL's membership in the ACC was a band aid on the open UMCP wound. Losing UMCP hurts the ACC in every way imaginable. A lot of ACC fans are in denial and say good riddance. I'm not one of those... losing UMCP stings badly. Adding UL as the replacement did not make me feel better. It feels like settling to me.

But congratulations to UL and their first ACC win over Miami. UL fans may want to temper that excitement though, as Miami historically tends to take large gambles in the 4th quarter when they are down. A great example was the long pass play that could have gotten Miami within 3 to 5 points of UL, but was negated for a dumb ineligible receiver penalty. Next thing you know, UL has a short field and pads on another 7 points to make it look like a blow-out. Don't get me wrong, I think UL deserved to win that game and was the better team, but I don't think FSU has anything to worry about. Everyone handles Miami these days, including Duke, Wake and UVa.

In all this excitement, UL may want to be careful going into the quiet confines of Scott Stadium. Many have a false sense of security when playing there. I wonder if UL can handle the silence

The"Ville" got the VERY SAME lucky break in the last big RU/Ville game a few years ago when they stole victory from from the jaws of defeat at RU the yr they demolished Fla in the BCS bowl with TB and that was an RU home game. Funny thing though our fanbases are friendly and respectful though Jurich rubs us the wrong way!! WVU fans and RU are also friendly but that dont mean UConn would'nt have been the smarter long range add for CR purposes...I have a hunch SU/UM had a lot to say to kibosh the wiser move for selfish reasons though I can't prove it.

 

[Calamitous]

I have a hunch SU/UM had a lot to say to kibosh the wiser move for selfish reasons though I can't prove it.

Nothing surprises me anymore.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

In my opinion UConn has been past over for ACC membership because the old boys in the Carolina's still have a distaste in their mouth over the ill conceived lawsuit against their league by former Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

Yes, I know that other schools such as Pitts were also plaintiffs along with UConn but Blumenthal took the vocal lead on the lawsuit and the old boys of the ACC carry grudges.

Stupid ACC trolls are stupid.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Taking Louisville was a reflexive mistake by the ACC, essentially betting on Tom Jurich and Rick Pitino living forever. The school is a community college and the market sucks and is incredibly crowded. UConn should have never been outsold.

Losing out to Pitt and Syracuse was also ridiculous. Those are two good academic schools (equivalent to UConn) in dying markets. Will the Pittsburgh and Syracuse markets shrink by 10% or 20% over the next 10 years? Your guess is as good as mine, but it will be a big number. Connecticut has a much better demographics than either of those two markets, and is still growing, albeit slowly. Plus, we are as strong in NY as Syracuse, and Pitt has nothing and shares eastern PA with WVU, Ohio State and Penn State. We share NY/NE with BC and Syracuse. Neither Pitt nor Syracuse has done anything particularly interesting in football, and we have a much better basketball program than either of them. We should never have been outsold by Pitt and Syracuse.

When turnips like Rutgers and Maryland are getting into the Big 10, and Pitt and Syracuse are getting into the ACC, it is not about football. If it was, none of those schools would have been going anywhere. We got outsold.

 

[Kolumbo]

Taking Louisville was a reflexive mistake by the ACC, essentially betting on Tom Jurich and Rick Pitino living forever. The school is a community college and the market sucks and is incredibly crowded. UConn should have never been outsold.

Losing out to Pitt and Syracuse was also ridiculous. Those are two good academic schools (equivalent to UConn) in dying markets. Will the Pittsburgh and Syracuse markets shrink by 10% or 20% over the next 10 years? Your guess is as good as mine, but it will be a big number. Connecticut has a much better demographics than either of those two markets, and is still growing, albeit slowly. Plus, we are as strong in NY as Syracuse, and Pitt has nothing and shares eastern PA with WVU, Ohio State and Penn State. We share NY/NE with BC and Syracuse. Neither Pitt nor Syracuse has done anything particularly interesting in football, and we have a much better basketball program than either of them. We should never have been outsold by Pitt and Syracuse.

When turnips like Rutgers and Maryland are getting into the Big 10, and Pitt and Syracuse are getting into the ACC, it is not about football. If it was, none of those schools would have been going anywhere. We got outsold.

Have you been to Pittsburgh? The city of Pittsburgh has an awful lot going for it. Even Syracuse has more going for it than Hartford. Not saying those two schools were better choices than UCONN, but when it comes to city offerings, Hartford loses.

 

[specialisthusky]

Have you been to Pittsburgh? The city of Pittsburgh has an awful lot going for it. Even Syracuse has more going for it than Hartford. Not saying those two schools were better choices than UCONN, but when it comes to city offerings, Hartford loses.

Lol. No, Syracuse definitely does not have more going for it than Hartford.

 

[Kolumbo]

Lol. No, Syracuse definitely does not have more going for it than Hartford.

Let me know the next time you or anyone you know decides to go to Hartford just to hang around and enjoy the city.

 

[billybud]

You know...the selection of a program by a conference is sort of like a guy picking a girl to dance out of a wall of young ladies....

Sometimes the best dancer doesn't get asked, sometimes the "looker" doesn't get asked....or the girl with rich parents (markets).


What floats someone's boat is an individual thing.....and I suppose it is that way with a conference...

The B1G evidently likes the smart girls....the Big 12 is afraid to dance

 

[Dooley]

Let me know the next time you or anyone you know decides to go to Hartford just to hang around and enjoy the city.

Hartford is by no means NYC or Boston, but to say that Syracuse is a better town is crazy-talk. Syracuse is a 4-5 hour drive to the middle of nowhere. Other than Syracuse sports, what is there to do out there? You have to drive some 3 hours to get to Buffalo. 5+ hours to get to NYC. People only live out there because they either have an affiliation with the university or with Carrier.

 

[billybud]

LOL...you want to live in the middle of nowhere...try Tallahassee.

Syracuse sounds like a sister city....

 

[businesslawyer]

Let me know the next time you or anyone you know decides to go to Hartford just to hang around and enjoy the city.

There is no reason for this debate because it is not meaningful. Syracuse's market is greater Syracuse. UConn's market is not Hartford. It is the State of Connecticut.

 

[Kolumbo]

There is no reason for this debate because it is not meaningful. Syracuse's market is greater Syracuse. UConn's market is not Hartford. It is the State of Connecticut.

There is a direct pipeline from Syracuse to NYC. Again, I am saying Syracuse is a better choice then UCONN by any means. But do not underestimate Syracuse's ties to NYC and the rest of NY. SU is NYC's school. The billboards say so.

 

[businesslawyer]

There is a direct pipeline from Syracuse to NYC. Again, I am saying Syracuse is a better choice then UCONN by any means. But do no underestimate Syracuse's ties to NYC and the rest of NY.

There is a direct pipeline? WTF does that even mean? It doesn't mean that SNY showed more UConn games into Metro New York than Syracuse games when they were both in the Big East. But of course, that's a fact, as opposed to writing something meaningless like "there is a direct pipeline."

If I research your posts, am I going to find that you actually post things that a UConn fan would -- like about games -- or am I just going to find you being contrarian for no apparent reason?

 

[Kolumbo]

There is a direct pipeline? WTF does that even mean? It doesn't mean that SNY showed more UConn games into Metro New York than Syracuse games when they were both in the Big East. But of course, that's a fact, as opposed to writing something meaningless like "there is a direct pipeline."

If I research your posts, am I going to find that you actually post things that a UConn fan would -- like about games -- or am I just going to find you being contrarian for no apparent reason?

SU has a very large Jewish population. In other words, SU is not just about the greater Syracuse area. You just might find that many SU grads are either from NYC or work in NYC. More so than UCONN grads. Do you dispute that? That is what I mean by direct pipeline.