(05-16-2023 04:43 PM)Johnnychimpo Wrote:  Can someone remind me what UCONN's rationale was in football to drop out of AAC and go independent? Why would Big 12 or if ACC loses members want them for football? If they couldn't handle AAC play in football it would seem weird for a P5 to want their football talents? Why didn't UCONN just have their basketball team compete in AAC if they had interest in keeping football in a good conference? AAC was plenty is plenty good in basketball to interest UCONN.

Because they make a whole lot more money in the BE then they did in the AAC through fan engagement. Same reason many are excited about the SB, it's focused on fan interest rather than markets and whatnot. But in UCONN's case it was strictly for basketball. Their FB would suck regardless.

UConn couldn't keep up with Marshall and it wasn't even a close game. At one point it was 28-0 and everyone on social media was tearing the Huskies a new one over it. Their "golden era" was 2007-2010. It could be argued that their golden era was their only era. It may never happen again.

Their basketball is clearly superior without question, but football drives the bus. Put them in the Big 12 and UConn will become the new Kansas: Continued basketball power and perennial football doormat. The university gives this vibe that they're not a football school to begin with.

(05-21-2023 11:56 PM)BnG_Jacket Wrote:  UConn couldn't keep up with Marshall and it wasn't even a close game. At one point it was 28-0 and everyone on social media was tearing the Huskies a new one over it. Their "golden era" was 2007-2010. It could be argued that their golden era was their only era. It may never happen again.

Their basketball is clearly superior without question, but football drives the bus. Put them in the Big 12 and UConn will become the new Kansas: Continued basketball power and perennial football doormat. The university gives this vibe that they're not a football school to begin with.

Who was in that conference during their "Golden era?" I mean they had to get wins somewhere

(05-22-2023 02:37 AM)MUther Wrote:  

(05-21-2023 11:56 PM)BnG_Jacket Wrote:  UConn couldn't keep up with Marshall and it wasn't even a close game. At one point it was 28-0 and everyone on social media was tearing the Huskies a new one over it. Their "golden era" was 2007-2010. It could be argued that their golden era was their only era. It may never happen again.

Their basketball is clearly superior without question, but football drives the bus. Put them in the Big 12 and UConn will become the new Kansas: Continued basketball power and perennial football doormat. The university gives this vibe that they're not a football school to begin with.

Who was in that conference during their "Golden era?" I mean they had to get wins somewhere

I know what you're getting at, but would it shock you if I said I attended all of the schools I root for? I love all three for different reasons and brag about it when I'm able to.

I'm more likely to go to Huntington than Morgantown for a game. Not just because it's closer, but because I almost graduated from Marshall but had to stay closer to home.

I say no love is lost in the most wholesome way.

(05-18-2023 08:00 AM)VB Monarch Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 08:56 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(05-16-2023 06:56 PM)Porcine Wrote:  I think mostly wishful thinking. However, IMO, each time ECU gets passed up, it gets a little more real.

And they'll keep getting passed on. The moment UNC-Charlotte joined the AAC, they jumped ahead of ECU in the pecking order.

- Charlotte metro population: 2.6M
- Greenville metro population: 170K

- UNCC is the 2nd largest school in the state.
- ECU is the 4th largest school in the state.

Both UNCC and ECU are R2 institutions, but:

- UNCC plans to be R1 by 2030.
- ECU has no plans to be R1.

Several years ago I read an article saying ECU was not in good financial condition. Dwindling enrollment coupled with expense of having both a med school and law school.

ECU has a med and dental school but no law school.

(05-18-2023 09:59 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(05-18-2023 08:00 AM)VB Monarch Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 08:56 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(05-16-2023 06:56 PM)Porcine Wrote:  I think mostly wishful thinking. However, IMO, each time ECU gets passed up, it gets a little more real.

And they'll keep getting passed on. The moment UNC-Charlotte joined the AAC, they jumped ahead of ECU in the pecking order.

- Charlotte metro population: 2.6M
- Greenville metro population: 170K

- UNCC is the 2nd largest school in the state.
- ECU is the 4th largest school in the state.

Both UNCC and ECU are R2 institutions, but:

- UNCC plans to be R1 by 2030.
- ECU has no plans to be R1.

Several years ago I read an article saying ECU was not in good financial condition. Dwindling enrollment coupled with expense of having both a med school and law school.

UNCC saw an enrollment decline in 2022 for the first time, but ECU's enrollment declined in 2020, 2021, and 2022. I'm not sure how to explain that. Even App's enrollment dipped slightly in 2022.

It's weird to think about declining enrollment in the context of conference realignment today. It makes the whole thing feel less stable unless you position yourself in a regional conference, where the fall might not hit the athletic finances as hard.

Enrollment decline likely due to changing demographics and covid. ECU was also an early leader in online degrees and now most all schools have online degree programs. I don't think the medical school is a money loser but the regional hospital in Greenville has been losing money. One issue with North Carolina hospitals is the State Legislature refused until recently to expand medicaid. As far as the Sunbelt is concerned it would be a great landing spot for ECU if the AAC doesn't pan out.

We'll all likely see enrollment declines or lower selectivity in coming years simply because the population of college aged students is shrinking with each coming class. Add in that many flagships are building more and more dorms and expanding, rising costs, and that other education options (trade schools, certificates, online credentials) are increasing in popularity, and its not surprising the non-flagships will be fighting declining enrollment over the next decade or more.