Time to Eat Crow

[xusandy]

I've posted many times in the past few years that UConn would never be invited back into the BE, due to it being a public university with an athletics program driven by football, etc. etc. I do understand that there's the potential for (a lot?) more $$$ with this move, but I've clearly been naïve in believing that chasing those $$$ isn't the only thing that matters today at the D-1 level. I just grossly overestimated the value of "institutional fit" and grossly underestimated the extent to which the almighty dollar drives what happens in college athletics today, even in a league of "values-driven" institutions. Mea culpa.

I still worry that UConn's inclusion in the BE will eventually create big problems for the rest of us (additional financial disclosures by the league may now be required, our "academics and social values" reputations are damaged, more control by those who wave media $$S at us, pressure for additional expansion that makes even less institutional sense than adding UConn, etc. etc.)

So I don't like it, but it's a done deal, and WTF, let's just get on with another exciting BE season! The early polls suggest that a lot of our teams are gonna be pretty darn good this time around.

[ecasadoSBU]

I think Uconn impact will be limited... It will be the sole public school. But if the B.E were to add more publics down the line I could see a potential competitive disadvantage for the private schools.

Nonetheless, UConn is a great add IMO

[Bogg]

Man, we were already living here back when you were sharing the Midwestern City Conference with Oral Roberts. Villanova just sublet you some of our space while we spent time backpacking the South and really finding ourselves spiritually.

[scoscox]

Man, we were already living here back when you were sharing the Midwestern City Conference with Oral Roberts. Villanova just sublet you some of our space while we spent time backpacking the South and really finding ourselves spiritually.

I will not stand for this slander of the MCC. That was a wonderful conference that provided us with many an automatic bid.

[NJRedman]

I think Uconn impact will be limited... It will be the sole public school. But if the B.E were to add more publics down the line I could see a potential competitive disadvantage for the private schools.

Nonetheless, UConn is a great add IMO

Where was that disadvantage when UConn took a decade before they finally made the NCAA's as a member of the Big East? All their success came because of a great coach. There is no reason to believe just being public gives some huge advantage. If that were the case we wouldn't be a top tier conference today. Almost all of our main competitors are large public universities. If we cower away from that then how are we going to compete nationally?

[jbarajas0490]

I think they will be gone in less than 10 years. B1G and ACC most likely.

[TheBasketballOpinion]

I think they will be gone in less than 10 years. B1G and ACC most likely.

I doubt anyone is taking that football program

[Westbrook#36]

I think they will be gone in less than 10 years. B1G and ACC most likely.

I doubt anyone is taking that football program

Yeah I was going to post something similar. If UConn is going to get a P5 invite, their football program is gonna have to go Scott Bakula and take a quantum leap.

[GoldenWarrior11]

I think they will be gone in less than 10 years. B1G and ACC most likely.

What about UConn's situation (that prevents them from serious consideration from either power conference) will change in ten years?

B1G
- Not AAU
- Would have second lowest enrollment (only to Northwestern)
- Has low endowment
- Has historically poor football program
- Does not add value to TV deal or add additional exposure to large state
- Does not add valuable recruiting territory for football/basketball

ACC
- Football schools denying expansion for weak addition (out of fear FSU/Clemson/Miami would bolt)
- 2003 lawsuit against ACC still (by accounts) holds grudges against UConn
- Would match up well enrollment/endowment wise with Private schools, but not with state institutions
- #16 is forever being held open for Notre Dame (and Notre Dame would have a say with any future addition)
- ACC chose against UConn in favor of Louisville in 2012 (when UConn had higher academics and longer relationships with ACC membership)

Inevitably, if UConn returns to its status as a basketball power (which it should, given its return to its NE roots) and once again is competing for national championships, the B1G is absolutely not going to pursue a non-football membership for UConn (and if it wanted a full member in the vein of UConn, it would simply add Kansas - which is AAU). The ACC MIGHT consider a non-football membership for UConn, but it would have to give the expected $6 million annually as a non-football member, and then UConn once again moves away from the NE to the Tobacco Road schools (which it struggled with being in the AAC).

Bottom line, as long as the money is right for UConn in the Big East (which it will be) and the travel and association with NYC is there, it would take a lot of value to try and pry UConn away from the Big East. IMO, the ACC is the only conference capable of such a pursuit, but even that - as mentioned - as serious obstacles in the way. UConn is very much now associated with like-minded membership, and should be hesitant to mess with that again.

[Django]

I think they will be gone in less than 10 years. B1G and ACC most likely.

What about UConn's situation (that prevents them from serious consideration from either power conference) will change in ten years?

B1G
- Not AAU
- Would have second lowest enrollment (only to Northwestern)
- Has low endowment
- Has historically poor football program
- Does not add value to TV deal or add additional exposure to large state
- Does not add valuable recruiting territory for football/basketball

ACC
- Football schools denying expansion for weak addition (out of fear FSU/Clemson/Miami would bolt)
- 2003 lawsuit against ACC still (by accounts) holds grudges against UConn
- Would match up well enrollment/endowment wise with Private schools, but not with state institutions
- #16 is forever being held open for Notre Dame (and Notre Dame would have a say with any future addition)
- ACC chose against UConn in favor of Louisville in 2012 (when UConn had higher academics and longer relationships with ACC membership)

Inevitably, if UConn returns to its status as a basketball power (which it should, given its return to its NE roots) and once again is competing for national championships, the B1G is absolutely not going to pursue a non-football membership for UConn (and if it wanted a full member in the vein of UConn, it would simply add Kansas - which is AAU). The ACC MIGHT consider a non-football membership for UConn, but it would have to give the expected $6 million annually as a non-football member, and then UConn once again moves away from the NE to the Tobacco Road schools (which it struggled with being in the AAC).

Bottom line, as long as the money is right for UConn in the Big East (which it will be) and the travel and association with NYC is there, it would take a lot of value to try and pry UConn away from the Big East. IMO, the ACC is the only conference capable of such a pursuit, but even that - as mentioned - as serious obstacles in the way. UConn is very much now associated with like-minded membership, and should be hesitant to mess with that again.

Football could very become a Four-Conference league with a semi-pro type deal with (most importantly) money going for lifetime medicare for all scholarship players... which will eat more money that until then universities have been throwing into basketball and olympic sports to pay coaches (which I think is B.S., the football money should go more to the players than already wealthy head basketball coaches). They would have complete autonomy and they could style it more like the NFL. They could possibly get rid of the conferences as they know it but just have East and West Divisions (PAC, Big12, Western B1G in the West, SEC, ACC and Eastern B1G in the East). there would be a playoff on home fields and a "College Super Bowl" etc. etc.

Power college football would completely separate from the NCAA, which could invest more in a playoff with all the remaining G5 schools, up-and-coming FCS schools and independents (like UCONN) and distribute the money like they do with March Madness. All teams would get something like 8-9 mil a year... better than what the AAC gets now and WWAAAAAY more than any of the other G5 schools like the MAC and MWC.

The NCAA too powerful to let go of any of their properties, unfortunately, but hopefully they can also add some health programs, more education perks (lifetime free classes) and such. I for one would indeed watch both the College Pro league as well as a football "December Madness"