If UConn leaves
- Thread starter NYShoreGuy
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Rated well by who? Their SNY ratings are not better than anything else and their final four game got beat by FAU/SD St.
I hear what you’re saying. B12 definitely has interest (and they know their reasons) and UConn must leave if offered
My point is that’s a disaster decision by them. UConn brings next to no actual juice or value. Same Rutgers and B1G.
I think it may be a bridge too far to say those four schools were preferred to Connecticut. It's not like there were five schools up for nomination and they picked those four and not Connecticut.
We are in agreement, though, it's the presidents decision. There is a lot of talk right now that they give considerable difference to what Yormark recommends.
Regardless, Connecticut isn't in a horrible position. Either we are going to get an offer that sets up our athletic departments financial future for minimally a decade, or, we get to stay in the Big East which is a conference that I think most fans prefer buy a wide margin.
L
Again, even though it's not my job to defend Rutgers, they're moved to the Big Ten was a huge financial success. The Big Ten never expected them to win championships, only to bring in money and they do just that merely by being located in the New York DMA.
Lol, you realize that the SNY games are only the woman's games, right? But as long as you mentioned them, the highest rated game in women's college basketball last year was a UConn game. That is often the case. Just the fact that a linear network is willing to pay over $1 million to broadcast Connecticut women's basketball games is a pretty nice testament to their value.
Again, even though it's not my job to defend Rutgers, they're moved to the Big Ten was a huge financial success. The Big Ten never expected them to win championships, only to bring in money and they do just that merely by being located in the New York DMA.
Great for UConn..just think b12 doesn’t gain anything
But they might be/probably the best of the worst trash that’s left over for a P5 football conference
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Well, I guess they gain another national champion. So that would be three in a row for them. Plus Connecticut's Pedegree with five men's national championships and 11 women's is pretty much unrivaled. So again, since BY is talking about emphasizing the value basketball (both men's and women's, by the way), certainly the big 12 inviting Connecticut would lock that down for them.
Similarly, Connecticut has 24 national championships and four different sports, so the athletic department has a pretty good pedigree. All but one of those championships has been in the last 30 years, so it's a pretty attractive trend line.
Connecticut has good fan support, as you guys know. And they bring the come I think it's like 32nd largest DMA with the Hartford in New Haven DMA, plus another million people in Fairfield County which is a part of the New York DMA. So, I see some logic to their interest, but more importantly their commissioner sees the logic. That's a gSo, I see some logic to their interest, but more importantly their commissioner sees the logic. That's a good place to start.
Ok I’ll chime in.
If UConn gets that offer and the economics are that good…they should take it. That’s obvious.
I don’t begrudge them. If we (as a conference or otherwise) didn’t see that as a possibility…Shane on us.
Do I like what is going on in college athletics? Absolutely not. From conference realignment BS to the NIL/Transfer/free agent madness I was very close to not renewing my tickets (which I’ve had almost every year since 1978 except we’v some years with personal issues going on).
And frankly CL to me is a very balanced poster; not worthy of any abuse. I welcome reading his posts to give us a little different perspective…Which to me is always important.
For whatever that is worth
Oh and I’ll add, I think UConn football adds nothing to a P5 conference. It’s their basketball brand that carries them. They will likely be at the bottom in football in any P5 for many years. My opinion anyway
That's a nice spin.
If the Big 12 wanted you at that time, they would have invited you over one of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston or UCF. Or, they would have invited you in addition to those schools.
They went with those four -- all of whom were, and are, more competitive in football. All are also reasonably accomplished in basketball except for UCF. They were added to allow the league to expand its football recruiting footprint to Florida.
If the B12 adds UConn it will be due exclusively to hoops. That add will unequivocally make it the best hoops conference.
They are all better football schools right now no doubt about it, but it's not like we were in the mix then. You can make an argument that we weren't in the mix because we weren't somehow worthy, but they say they picked them up instead of us is inaccurate. We weren't on the table at that time.
Shrugs
UConvicts football adds nothing to any D-1 conference. D-2 maybe. 😮
3 of those schools are geographically suited and UCF adds a decent football program & a good travel destination. Storrs not so much, unless you like cows in pastures adjoining the campus.
Only value is to raise the cable rates like the BIG did by adding the Little Red Schoolhouse. BTW, their athletics dept is hemorrhaging $$.
Actually, the fact that we have a strong agricultural program including cows and an active dairy farm is one of the arguments that we are a good fit for the big 12, culture wise.
Actually, Yormark particularly likes the fact that we have a strong overall athletics department with repeated success in a variety of sports. Obviously basketball is a big part of that brand, both men's and women's, but it is an exclusive to that. I'm sure you were right, though, population, demographics, fan support etc does play a role in their analysis.
Had kids graduate from more than 1 Big 12 school and not a cow in sight or smell of any of those schools. Culture wise the CAA was were UConvicts belongs.
Only 2 sports really matter in the Power 5 conferences - primarily football & then Men’s basketball for tv revenue. UConvicts gives the BIG 12 entry into the Metro NY market, since, at least their fans would add their network.
BTW - the womens program may be the best all time thanks to Gino. Coached against his wife for 6 years in summer swimming. She was very good too.
You say this a lot here it’s just not true. You have good athletics against the NBE etc but we are horrible.
UConn is always mid pack or lower in Directors cup (ranks D1 athletic departments)and you recently CUT sports. That’s a joke
You have amazing basketball
Just be happy someone thinks you’re the best of the worst left over and you’ll get your pay check and it will be nice for your school.
Lol, the "directors cup". Does anyone care about the Leerfield Cup? Is the announcement televised? Are there hot stove leagues that talk about it? Maybe Stanford who wins it every year on the basis of track and field events? Troll better my friend. 😂 😂
In any event, Connecticut has 24 national championships in four different sports. Yes, no one's been better in men's in women's basketball over the past quarter century, but during the last year Connecticut was ranked in the top 15 for 1) men's basketball, 2) women's basketball, 3) men's hockey, 4) women's hockey, 5) baseball, and 6) softball. Those are national rankings not just in the Big East. That's a pretty strong athletic department and the success over a broad range of sports is very much a part of our "brand". Again Yormark has mentioned this specifically.
So, here's a confession, I love posters like you that try to hurl shotgun criticisms at Connecticut because it gives me the opportunity to trot out our impressive résumé which I would not do here except in response to poster. So, thank you for the opportunity to humble brag. It's appreciated! 😂
Baseball?!?!? Wow
Have you ever been to Stanford? Texas? Because I have and they hang their directors cup banners every year they win. They take great pride in it
You have great men’s basketball and the best woman’s basketball
Everything else you quote is niche sports..how many schools participate in men’s hockey? And even so you aren’t nearly a power. How many olympians have you produced?
Again for a state school your athletics is medium. You CUT SPORTS three years ago.
If you compare yourself to seton hall, yes you’re amazing, good for you guys.
But if you want to go to the B12 and compare yourself against legit flagship state schools it’s average to below average. It is what it is. Don’t fight it, it’s fine. You’ll get paid. Because people are morons and think you bring the NYC market and no one is left
If you dropped UConn with the real big boys in B1G and SEC how would you fair? Horribly
These schools produce, team national champions, individual national champions at huge rates in many many sports
Look at your new conference mates OK St. they aren’t even considered elite and they dwarf UConn
Not as good basketball (but competitive)
Wrestling
Golf
Cross country
Football…all worlds better producing pro/Olympic talent every year
And again they aren’t even considered the elite
Have you ever been to Stanford? Texas? Because I have and they hang their directors cup banners every year they win. They take great pride in it
You have great men’s basketball and the best woman’s basketball
Everything else you quote is niche sports..how many schools participate in men’s hockey? And even so you aren’t nearly a power. How many olympians have you produced?
Again for a state school your athletics is medium. You CUT SPORTS three years ago.
If you compare yourself to seton hall, yes you’re amazing, good for you guys.
But if you want to go to the B12 and compare yourself against legit flagship state schools it’s average to below average. It is what it is. Don’t fight it, it’s fine. You’ll get paid. Because people are morons and think you bring the NYC market and no one is left
If you dropped UConn with the real big boys in B1G and SEC how would you fair? Horribly
These schools produce, team national champions, individual national champions at huge rates in many many sports
Look at your new conference mates OK St. they aren’t even considered elite and they dwarf UConn
Not as good basketball (but competitive)
Wrestling
Golf
Cross country
Football…all worlds better producing pro/Olympic talent every year
And again they aren’t even considered the elite
Shrugs. I suspect will be fine. I'm old enough to remember the mid 80s when local reporters writing articles talking about how Connecticut should leave the big east because it could never compete at that level of basketball. Eventually we not only competed but became the standard bearer for the conference. When I went to college, I can remember lifting on the other side of a curtain in the gym where the woman's basketball games were going on. If there were 100 people there, I would be surprised. Yet that became the best program in the nation by a wide margin. Baseball is considered to be the best in the Northeast and consistently makes the postseason a couple years ago they were a game away from the college World Series. We're good, and will get better. Hockey is a very tough sport to compete in. Connecticut plays in one of the two top conferences in the country, Hockey East. It was a struggle at first, but now we are consistently finding ourselves up among the leaders in the conference. The university and athletic department doesn't aim at just putting out teams, it aims at competing at the highest level. Thus, the national rankings in so many sports. That's not being good vis-à-vis Seton Hall, or the rest of the big east conference, that's been good against the country. That's the goal.
So, I welcome the opportunity to compete against big 12 teams. There's certainly no drop off in basketball, they are better in baseball and we get to stay in Hockey East. In football, it's going to be a long tough slog, but I feel pretty good about Jim Mora's ability to put out a competitive team. It'll take time, but we will get there.
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C’mon man. UCONN made an all out push to join the league. I recall articles stating as such. I recall the UConn president getting criticized for not getting it done. So that’s your spin right there.
Now circumstances are different. And if a few things go a certain way (Pac12 media deal) UConn will be in good shape to get in.
UConn made an all out effort to join the league back when UConn was in the American. As far as I am aware, Connecticut was not part of the attempt to fill the void after OU and Texas indicated they were leaving.
Agree that, as often has been the case in realignment, Connecticut's fate is reliant upon circumstances out of its control. In this case that is that an odd number of PAC 12 teams leave to go to the big 12. That feels so random. It is, what it is. It will either happen, or it won't.
It's easier to be philosophical about it in the Big East, because institutionally and from a fan perspective we like it here. Financially, however, it's just not competitive.
Not that anyone cares, but I have to say, the whole situation is a little weird. If we get in, I'll be grateful for the financial security, but a little sad about leaving the big east; it's been a fun few years. On the other hand, if we stay in the big east, we get to play against teams that are fans actually care about and we institutionally have a history with, but it is one last life boat pulling away from a sinking ship. There may not be another one after this.
I hate to break it to you, but the NBE is not a "'sinking ship". In fact, the prospects look very promising for the future. Similar schools that actually like being in the conference and not looking to get out and go to another conference.
Also, you mentioned that the Big East schools left UConn. You know that UConn was trying to do everything they could to end up at a new conference but was rejected and then ended up in the AAC. The remaining seven did what they had to do and the NBE has thrived.
Also, you mentioned that the Big East schools left UConn. You know that UConn was trying to do everything they could to end up at a new conference but was rejected and then ended up in the AAC. The remaining seven did what they had to do and the NBE has thrived.
I hate to break it to you, but with the Big Ten and SEC earning roughly $75 million, per school, every year, there's no way that we can consistently compete with them earning the $4 million and change that we get from Fox in the Big East. That's a fact. Now, it's easy to point to us and say well we won it all this year, and we did, but eventually the huge amounts of money pouring into the top football conferences impacts us all. Eventually we won't be able to pay competitive salaries for our coaches. Heck Ed Cooley is making $6 million at Georgetown. Cooley is a good coach but he's not a $6 million man, in my view. Likewise Dan Hurley is making 5 million in change at Connecticut. Dan, at least, has proven that he's capable of winning national championships. But, those salaries aren't going to end there. They are only going to increase. How long can we, and I include Connecticut in that, continue to compete?
Take a look at the struggles you guys are having funding the improvements on campus. In the end you got it done, but it's a bear. As is often pointed out on this site, Connecticut has an institutional advantage because we are supported by the state. That too comes at a cost and we end up playing half our games in Hartford and all of our football games in East Hartford. Meanwhile the big time football schools, or those fortunate enough to have been associated with them early, are getting truckloads of cash dumped on them every year. Eventually it'll be de facto relegation for the rest of us.
The big east isn't a "sinking ship" and I could see how you would read my post that way, but it wasn't what I intended. The non-P5 schools are a sinking ship, as a whole. People are already talking about creating a new division for us. That's fine, and it'll help competition within the division, but we will lose our national following.
Now, Connecticut has zero chance at joining the SEC and may be 1 million to one shot at joining the Big Ten, but apparently we have a shot at joining the big 12. That conference won't make 75 million a year, but projections are saying it'll learn about 50 million a year. That allows us to keep up, somewhat, with the big two conferences.
It's been a while since I mentioned that Connecticut didn't leave the old Big East, the Catholic 7 left Connecticut, but I do point it out from time to time to posters who suggest it was the other way around. The fact that the C7 left the Big East is an indisputable fact. I get that there were good reasons for it, and in the end it created a soft landing spot for us. We're happy to be here. But none of that changes the fact that we had to live through a decade long suck fest during our tenure in the American. So, you will forgive me if I point out how disingenuous it feels to those few posters who whining about Connecticut's loyalty, if we decide to leave just as you did.so, you will forgive me if I point out how disingenuous it feels to those few posters who whine about Connecticut's loyalty, if we decide to leave. For the most part, people on this board are pretty reasonable and get the fact that if were offered the opportunity to make a half billion dollars over the next 10 years, we'd be fools not to take it. Whether that will happen or not is still uncertain.
For anyone who is curious, Here is what the Connecticut media is saying. The link at left will get you past the pay wall.
What? UConn was in the group of schools trying to get in after Texas and Oklahoma announced they were leaving for the SEC. UCONN was passed over for the four schools entering this year.
My recollections were that UConn was trying to get an invitation to other conferences and but was rejected.
I think there was an issue with BC and that other schools in the ACC didn't care for the football program.
I'm not blaming UConn that they were looking to get out - but to say that UConn was just sitting idly there while all hell was breaking loose IMO is not correct.
When the OBE was looking to add Tulane and others, the C7 had enough and broke off. I guess UConn could have come at that time, but it points back to football on why they did not move.
Which brings us back to the present. I agree that UConn has to move if they get the invite to the B12.
But looking at the B12 from a football perspective, it is not a strong conference without national brands in Texas and OK. It is a very average football conference and UConn football is not going to move that needle.
I think there was an issue with BC and that other schools in the ACC didn't care for the football program.
I'm not blaming UConn that they were looking to get out - but to say that UConn was just sitting idly there while all hell was breaking loose IMO is not correct.
When the OBE was looking to add Tulane and others, the C7 had enough and broke off. I guess UConn could have come at that time, but it points back to football on why they did not move.
Which brings us back to the present. I agree that UConn has to move if they get the invite to the B12.
But looking at the B12 from a football perspective, it is not a strong conference without national brands in Texas and OK. It is a very average football conference and UConn football is not going to move that needle.
Entirely fair. Connecticut definitely would've left if the opportunity arose. We still well, a decade later.
Dan knew Uconn was BE bound when he signed. And he knew that a fb conference move always was/is possible.
When Bob got his NBA money, he bought a house in Avon, my home town. It was across the lane from my brother's house. His daughters were very good hoopsters. One day he walked into one of their rooms and two of the girls were hanging out the window. He said what the heck is going on, they said sshh Dan, Danny and Bobby Hurley are playing one on one in the lane. lol
Forgot it was dissolved in 2014 which was years after I relocated to NV from KS. Now they’re on ESPN+ which costs extra. CT joining would add to the ESPN coffers with residuals to the BIG 12.
Would it? ESPN + is a pretty universal streaming service now
How many people in CT are getting ESPN + new so they can watch the huskies and b12?
I would imagine quite a few. A lot of the highest rated sports events in Connecticut are UConn. Heck, even a woman's basketball has outdrawn pro sports pretty regularly in TV ratings. Connecticut athletics has enough value that it has two separate contracts independent of the big east deal with Fox. The CBS Sportsnet deal to broadcast football and the SNY deal to broadcast woman's basketball.
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