The A-E-C?!

This is Connecticut, not Central Connecticut.

Why not? All of UConn's notable athletic history came within a quarter century. Like UMass, there's nothing notable about them other than from 1990-2014.

UMass is lucky they're in the A-10, they look like an AEC school aside from the basketball program, though they would likely be in the CAA or MAAC if not in the A-10.

It shouldn't fall to that level for UConn but you never know. Football is not well liked up north and for various reasons the football program could disintegrate into FCS caliber, especially since they don't play on campus. The basketball program did well but now has hit a thud. Should they de-emphasize football, it's not out of the question that they could fall to the A-10 or even the CAA or if they just wanted a regional conference, the AEC.

But that won't happen any time soon...except maybe the A-10 part.

(03-31-2018 07:53 PM)ken d Wrote:  They have virtually no appeal to the ACC, which would on the surface seem to be their best hope for a P5 invite. Too many schools in the ACC would revolt if they were invited, and I doubt those who might be inclined to vote for them would fight very hard on their behalf.

That good fan base went into witness protection this year in both football and basketball. They drew less than 15K for ECU, and while it's tempting to blame that on their poor record it was only the third game of the season, when it wasn't yet clear how bad both clubs would be. But even if it was clear, that's pretty lousy fan support. In the B1G, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers were pretty weak, but they still managed collectively to average 43K fans. UConn gives the B1G nothing of value it doesn't already have enough of.

UConn had a great run for about 16 years in hoops. That was at the height of the Big East's power in basketball. The Huskies have yet to prove they can sustain that without the allure of the BE for recruits. It will be to their great credit if they can get back to those heights, but even then I don't know if it would be enough to overcome their perceived weakness in football.

Right now, they are the longest of longshots for the P5, and probably not in the top 6-8 choices to get promoted. They have a big hill to climb.

I mean, your logic is off (we saw in the last round of Big 12 expansion discussion that the "top four" in terms of merit are BYU, Houston, Cincy, and UConn, in whichever order geography dictates) but the end result isn't far off - ESPN overpaid for it's big-money properties in the last round of negotiations and doesn't intend to allow the club to expand any further. It's why they threatened the Big 12 into surrendering their pro-rata functionally for free.

As such, in my opinion your argument is actually one of the strongest arguments in favor of UConn settling into the Big East. They're at the point where they're selecting their long-term home, and their choices are probably just the AAC, Big East, or hoping for an invite to a picked-over Big 12 after the top brands leave.

At a certain point they just need to make the best decision possible for basketball. Football was supposed to be the thing necessary to keep them from winding up in the A-10 after the Big East split (the split was expected as far back as the early 90s, but the non-football schools have just kept chugging along perfectly fine). The goal wasn't to start up football because Conference USA was actually a pretty good conference in the 90s.

(04-01-2018 03:22 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  They earned an ACC invite imo but without it, they could slide down to the A-10 or even the AEC. The Big East has a good thing going with the Catholic theme, why should they change? For a school not even guaranteed to be good anymore?

Well this is just silliness. UConn leaving would be for a basketball upgrade, and UConn's easily the most valuable property available to the Big East and also has perfect geography. I think it's Creighton's AD that's on record saying UConn's the only school that could get 7 votes in the Big East right now.

(04-01-2018 09:54 AM)Bogg Wrote:  

(03-31-2018 07:53 PM)ken d Wrote:  They have virtually no appeal to the ACC, which would on the surface seem to be their best hope for a P5 invite. Too many schools in the ACC would revolt if they were invited, and I doubt those who might be inclined to vote for them would fight very hard on their behalf.

That good fan base went into witness protection this year in both football and basketball. They drew less than 15K for ECU, and while it's tempting to blame that on their poor record it was only the third game of the season, when it wasn't yet clear how bad both clubs would be. But even if it was clear, that's pretty lousy fan support. In the B1G, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers were pretty weak, but they still managed collectively to average 43K fans. UConn gives the B1G nothing of value it doesn't already have enough of.

UConn had a great run for about 16 years in hoops. That was at the height of the Big East's power in basketball. The Huskies have yet to prove they can sustain that without the allure of the BE for recruits. It will be to their great credit if they can get back to those heights, but even then I don't know if it would be enough to overcome their perceived weakness in football.

Right now, they are the longest of longshots for the P5, and probably not in the top 6-8 choices to get promoted. They have a big hill to climb.

I mean, your logic is off (we saw in the last round of Big 12 expansion discussion that the "top four" in terms of merit are BYU, Houston, Cincy, and UConn, in whichever order geography dictates) but the end result isn't far off - ESPN overpaid for it's big-money properties in the last round of negotiations and doesn't intend to allow the club to expand any further. It's why they threatened the Big 12 into surrendering their pro-rata functionally for free.

As such, in my opinion your argument is actually one of the strongest arguments in favor of UConn settling into the Big East. They're at the point where they're selecting their long-term home, and their choices are probably just the AAC, Big East, or hoping for an invite to a picked-over Big 12 after the top brands leave.

At a certain point they just need to make the best decision possible for basketball. Football was supposed to be the thing necessary to keep them from winding up in the A-10 after the Big East split (the split was expected as far back as the early 90s, but the non-football schools have just kept chugging along perfectly fine. The goal wasn't to start up football because Conference USA was actually a pretty good conference in the 90s.

(04-01-2018 03:22 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  They earned an ACC invite imo but without it, they could slide down to the A-10 or even the AEC. The Big East has a good thing going with the Catholic theme, why should they change? For a school not even guaranteed to be good anymore?

Well this is just silliness. UConn leaving would be for a basketball upgrade, and UConn's easily the most valuable property available to the Big East and also has perfect geography. I think it's Creighton's AD that's on record saying UConn's the only school that could get 7 votes in the Big East right now.

A lot of good points here. Ironically enough, I think UConn's basketball and Olympic sports would carry more value in the Big East, and the conference's value would increase with their membership. I think there is definitely a mutually beneficial relationship there.

(04-01-2018 06:36 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Why not? All of UConn's notable athletic history came within a quarter century. Like UMass, there's nothing notable about them other than from 1990-2014.

UMass is lucky they're in the A-10, they look like an AEC school aside from the basketball program, though they would likely be in the CAA or MAAC if not in the A-10.

It shouldn't fall to that level for UConn but you never know. Football is not well liked up north and for various reasons the football program could disintegrate into FCS caliber, especially since they don't play on campus. The basketball program did well but now has hit a thud. Should they de-emphasize football, it's not out of the question that they could fall to the A-10 or even the CAA or if they just wanted a regional conference, the AEC.

But that won't happen any time soon...except maybe the A-10 part.

So now UMass is lucky to be in a conference we were a founding member of?

(04-01-2018 09:54 AM)Bogg Wrote:  I mean, your logic is off (we saw in the last round of Big 12 expansion discussion that the "top four" in terms of merit are BYU, Houston, Cincy, and UConn, in whichever order geography dictates) but the end result isn't far off - ESPN overpaid for it's big-money properties in the last round of negotiations and doesn't intend to allow the club to expand any further. It's why they threatened the Big 12 into surrendering their pro-rata functionally for free.

As such, in my opinion your argument is actually one of the strongest arguments in favor of UConn settling into the Big East. They're at the point where they're selecting their long-term home, and their choices are probably just the AAC, Big East, or hoping for an invite to a picked-over Big 12 after the top brands leave.

At a certain point they just need to make the best decision possible for basketball. Football was supposed to be the thing necessary to keep them from winding up in the A-10 after the Big East split (the split was expected as far back as the early 90s, but the non-football schools have just kept chugging along perfectly fine. The goal wasn't to start up football because Conference USA was actually a pretty good conference in the 90s.

Right.

Its also important to look at the FB issue historically. There was talk of reducing the BB schools in the BE to the point where they could be jettisoned as well. The BB schools around 2000 were all pretty weak and useless to the conference.

Villanova was in a panic and serious considered joining the BE as a 10th FB school to make sure they stayed on the inside lane. Their rise in basketball under Jay Wright was huge for them after a decade in Temple's shadow.

So the C7 was going into the split with a national power in Villanova plus picked up 3 hot programs in Butler, Xavier, Creighton. Signed a national TV deal. This never would have worked if had been tried in the 90's from where those programs were at the time. Big East catches fire at the right time once again.

There is also the student athlete to consider here. UConn might find its worth it to take its Olympic sports to Providence and Queens instead of shipping them to Houston and Dallas. Playing St. John's and Seton Hall its easier to maintain a presence in NYC.

(04-01-2018 06:36 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Why not? All of UConn's notable athletic history came within a quarter century. Like UMass, there's nothing notable about them other than from 1990-2014.

UMass is lucky they're in the A-10, they look like an AEC school aside from the basketball program, though they would likely be in the CAA or MAAC if not in the A-10.

It shouldn't fall to that level for UConn but you never know. Football is not well liked up north and for various reasons the football program could disintegrate into FCS caliber, especially since they don't play on campus. The basketball program did well but now has hit a thud. Should they de-emphasize football, it's not out of the question that they could fall to the A-10 or even the CAA or if they just wanted a regional conference, the AEC.

But that won't happen any time soon...except maybe the A-10 part.

Hahahaha...UMASS in the MAAC and not even the MAC...Uconn in the AEC!!! Hahahahaha
Playing with the kangaroos and the Albany colleges hahahahaha

(03-29-2018 07:34 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Im not sure what you are saying here---but there is zero reason for the AAC to "negotiate down" the exit fee if UConn decides to leave.

Agreed. Especially after UConn screwed the rest of the American on the other exit fees. If they leave, it's full freight.

(04-01-2018 06:36 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Why not? All of UConn's notable athletic history came within a quarter century. Like UMass, there's nothing notable about them other than from 1990-2014.

UMass is lucky they're in the A-10, they look like an AEC school aside from the basketball program, though they would likely be in the CAA or MAAC if not in the A-10.

It shouldn't fall to that level for UConn but you never know. Football is not well liked up north and for various reasons the football program could disintegrate into FCS caliber, especially since they don't play on campus. The basketball program did well but now has hit a thud. Should they de-emphasize football, it's not out of the question that they could fall to the A-10 or even the CAA or if they just wanted a regional conference, the AEC.

But that won't happen any time soon...except maybe the A-10 part.

I'd say its the FB program at UMass that differentiates them from AEC more so than the basketball program. However its perfectly logical as the flagship of a state with 7 million million people that they would at least be given a try in a higher level basketball conference which they did with the A10.

Where UConn found great success in the BE, UMass didn't so much in the A10.

UConn FB really needs to be in a conference with Florida schools for recruiting. AAC as comprised is the best option for its FB program. Going independent would place a de-facto de-emphasis on FB.

(03-29-2018 06:17 PM)WNCOrange Wrote:  He made mention of UConn in talks with the BE. He said it would be good for them to get back to playing teams like Villanova instead of teams like ECU.

I don't know if he was blowing smoke or what but he is still a UConn diehard and it shocked me to hear him say the BE out loud.


Around the 12 minute mark.

https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/conten...m-calhoun/

Well, we always knew hardcore UConn basketball people were in favor of the move. And I can't think of anyone more hardcore than Calhoun.

But really, Kevin Ollie is responsible for declining season ticket sales. I mean, how many season tickets is UConn women's hoops down since joining the American. Not very many, judging by their average attendance. In fact, they drew more this year and their last year in the Big East.

Pretty funny watching fans of other AAC schools try and downplay UConn's value.

UConn is the only flagship in the AAC and has easily the biggest athletic budget. I hate to admit it, but they are the most valuable school in the AAC, and yes, that includes their football.

If the B1G or ACC were forced to take an AAC school, both would take UConn without hesitation. That's the way it is.

(04-01-2018 11:41 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Pretty funny watching fans of other AAC schools try and downplay UConn's value.

UConn is the only flagship in the AAC and has easily the biggest athletic budget. I hate to admit it, but they are the most valuable school in the AAC, and yes, that includes their football.

If the B1G or ACC were forced to take an AAC school, both would take UConn without hesitation. That's the way it is.

Even funnier is you now defending them after trashing them for years.

(04-01-2018 11:41 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Pretty funny watching fans of other AAC schools try and downplay UConn's value.

UConn is the only flagship in the AAC and has easily the biggest athletic budget. I hate to admit it, but they are the most valuable school in the AAC, and yes, that includes their football.

If the B1G or ACC were forced to take an AAC school, both would take UConn without hesitation. That's the way it is.

+3 for the great April Fools post.

(04-01-2018 09:54 AM)Bogg Wrote:  

(03-31-2018 07:53 PM)ken d Wrote:  They have virtually no appeal to the ACC, which would on the surface seem to be their best hope for a P5 invite. Too many schools in the ACC would revolt if they were invited, and I doubt those who might be inclined to vote for them would fight very hard on their behalf.

That good fan base went into witness protection this year in both football and basketball. They drew less than 15K for ECU, and while it's tempting to blame that on their poor record it was only the third game of the season, when it wasn't yet clear how bad both clubs would be. But even if it was clear, that's pretty lousy fan support. In the B1G, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers were pretty weak, but they still managed collectively to average 43K fans. UConn gives the B1G nothing of value it doesn't already have enough of.

UConn had a great run for about 16 years in hoops. That was at the height of the Big East's power in basketball. The Huskies have yet to prove they can sustain that without the allure of the BE for recruits. It will be to their great credit if they can get back to those heights, but even then I don't know if it would be enough to overcome their perceived weakness in football.

Right now, they are the longest of longshots for the P5, and probably not in the top 6-8 choices to get promoted. They have a big hill to climb.

I mean, your logic is off (we saw in the last round of Big 12 expansion discussion that the "top four" in terms of merit are BYU, Houston, Cincy, and UConn, in whichever order geography dictates) but the end result isn't far off - ESPN overpaid for it's big-money properties in the last round of negotiations and doesn't intend to allow the club to expand any further. It's why they threatened the Big 12 into surrendering their pro-rata functionally for free.

As such, in my opinion your argument is actually one of the strongest arguments in favor of UConn settling into the Big East. They're at the point where they're selecting their long-term home, and their choices are probably just the AAC, Big East, or hoping for an invite to a picked-over Big 12 after the top brands leave.

At a certain point they just need to make the best decision possible for basketball. Football was supposed to be the thing necessary to keep them from winding up in the A-10 after the Big East split (the split was expected as far back as the early 90s, but the non-football schools have just kept chugging along perfectly fine). The goal wasn't to start up football because Conference USA was actually a pretty good conference in the 90s.

(04-01-2018 03:22 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  They earned an ACC invite imo but without it, they could slide down to the A-10 or even the AEC. The Big East has a good thing going with the Catholic theme, why should they change? For a school not even guaranteed to be good anymore?

Well this is just silliness. UConn leaving would be for a basketball upgrade, and UConn's easily the most valuable property available to the Big East and also has perfect geography. I think it's Creighton's AD that's on record saying UConn's the only school that could get 7 votes in the Big East right now.

All things considered, SLU and Dayton are their most valuable properties. The nBE is a Catholic/private deal. UConn is not what they were under Calhoun.

(04-01-2018 01:35 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  All things considered, SLU and Dayton are their most valuable properties. The nBE is a Catholic/private deal. UConn is not what they were under Calhoun.

I mean, this is just flat-out wrong. Not only is UConn the strongest national brand of the three, the women add a whole second set of inventory for the TV deal and the fan base is able to pack MSG for the tournament in a way that SLU and Dayton can't. Nobody brings the value UConn does, which is why UConn's the only school that could get 7 votes right now.

(04-01-2018 11:41 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Pretty funny watching fans of other AAC schools try and downplay UConn's value.

UConn is the only flagship in the AAC and has easily the biggest athletic budget. I hate to admit it, but they are the most valuable school in the AAC, and yes, that includes their football.

If the B1G or ACC were forced to take an AAC school, both would take UConn without hesitation. That's the way it is.

And you miss the point...

This thread is about Calhoun supporting UConn hoops to Big East, so the discussion of UConn Football value to the AAC is EXACTLY that. UConn football (in Calhoun's scenario ofUconn to Big East) value to the conference? Meh.

UConn in toto, as a state flagship with a MBB program that was recently relevant and a premier - no, unparalleled - WBB program? Top half of the league in value, maybe top quarter of the league.
If the mens and women's hoops go to the Big East?

Bye Felisha.

You know, it's possible the AAC end of the day may allow UConn to remain in the conference for football only. BUT, they aren't going to play that card, making UConn think if they want to make this move, they have to plan on it not being an option at all. UConn has to be able to make the move thinking football has to be either Indy or somewhere else FB only. The AAC's definitely not going to make it easy on UConn.

(04-01-2018 01:48 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(04-01-2018 01:35 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  All things considered, SLU and Dayton are their most valuable properties. The nBE is a Catholic/private deal. UConn is not what they were under Calhoun.

I mean, this is just flat-out wrong. Not only is UConn the strongest national brand of the three, the women add a whole second set of inventory for the TV deal and the fan base is able to pack MSG for the tournament in a way that SLU and Dayton can't. Nobody brings the value UConn does, which is why UConn's the only school that could get 7 votes right now.

UConn is a public school with FBS football. You think the Catholic schools want to deal with that mess again?

(04-01-2018 05:47 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(04-01-2018 01:48 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(04-01-2018 01:35 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  All things considered, SLU and Dayton are their most valuable properties. The nBE is a Catholic/private deal. UConn is not what they were under Calhoun.

I mean, this is just flat-out wrong. Not only is UConn the strongest national brand of the three, the women add a whole second set of inventory for the TV deal and the fan base is able to pack MSG for the tournament in a way that SLU and Dayton can't. Nobody brings the value UConn does, which is why UConn's the only school that could get 7 votes right now.

UConn is a public school with FBS football. You think the Catholic schools want to deal with that mess again?

Yup. Nobody's talking about them adding eight schools and sponsoring football under the Big East banner again. One or two of the right schools that have FBS football isn't a problem, the same way the AAC added Wichita as a non-football member and the MW is trying to do the same with Gonzaga.

Say the Big XII takes Cincy, Memphis, Houston & one of the FLA schools. The AAC's media value plummets and without UConn it's even worse. Their TV contract loses a lot of value and nose dives. A very good reason to be proactive in testing the BE waters.

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