(04-17-2015 10:53 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 10:45 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 10:08 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 10:02 AM)UConnFB Wrote:  I think that you're underestimating the difficulty of scheduling that many games as an independent. Even with a network helping BYU, BYU already has an easier time scheduling, because BYU.

Fair enough.

Just seems like at least a reasonable option to me, if UConn football is always going to be on the outside looking in.

The biggest problem with indy is scheduling late season games. UConn might could get 4 or 5 P5 games a year as an indy---but most would be early in the season and more than half would be on the road due to need to agree to some 2-for-one deals to get those P5 games. BYU is a way bigger football brand than UConn and they only have 4 P5 games in 2015 (none at home), 5 P5's in 2016 (2 at home), 3 P5's in 2017 (1 at home), 5 P5's in 2018 (1 at home), and 4 P5's in 2019 (2 at home). So as you can see, BYU plays more P5's, but their home schedule isn't much better than an AAC school. Its tough out their for indy teams.

Those late season games may be easier to schedule now. BYU and UMass signed a 2 games late season series. I'd think the BYU and UMass, UConn and perhaps Army will be able to help out each other for late season games. Throw in Hawaii, and November is taken care of each year.
Not saying it'll happen, but the coordination could be done to alleviate the late season issues.

There are other issues. For instance, other than the national championship, what exactly is BYU playing for each year? A conference race tends to generate excitement and interest. If you are not in the national championship race, then an indy schedule is essentially just 12 exhibition games. As a fan of a school that has spent a significant amount of time as a indy, it definitely has its draw backs---even if you get a better schedule (which is not a given). Honestly, if you think UConn can get more P5 games, why not do that now? UConn can schedule 4 P5's as a member of the AAC. That's roughly what BYU is getting as an indy. It aint as easy as you think.

(04-15-2015 09:54 AM)mlb Wrote:  I don't see UConn leaving the AAC *unless* they know other defections are coming.

Good point


I know HOUSTON deserves better $$$

(04-15-2015 10:50 AM)bluesox Wrote:  I don't see the AAC allowing UCONN that option. I guess i could see Uconn join the big east and maybe join CUSA for football only as a replacement for UAB. Yet, i think uconn would only do it if it felt it had no chance of getting an ACC or big 10 invite anytime soon.

I agree

UConn football to CUSA could be a perfect fit for both them two.

(04-17-2015 12:09 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 10:53 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 10:45 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 10:08 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 10:02 AM)UConnFB Wrote:  I think that you're underestimating the difficulty of scheduling that many games as an independent. Even with a network helping BYU, BYU already has an easier time scheduling, because BYU.

Fair enough.

Just seems like at least a reasonable option to me, if UConn football is always going to be on the outside looking in.

The biggest problem with indy is scheduling late season games. UConn might could get 4 or 5 P5 games a year as an indy---but most would be early in the season and more than half would be on the road due to need to agree to some 2-for-one deals to get those P5 games. BYU is a way bigger football brand than UConn and they only have 4 P5 games in 2015 (none at home), 5 P5's in 2016 (2 at home), 3 P5's in 2017 (1 at home), 5 P5's in 2018 (1 at home), and 4 P5's in 2019 (2 at home). So as you can see, BYU plays more P5's, but their home schedule isn't much better than an AAC school. Its tough out their for indy teams.

Those late season games may be easier to schedule now. BYU and UMass signed a 2 games late season series. I'd think the BYU and UMass, UConn and perhaps Army will be able to help out each other for late season games. Throw in Hawaii, and November is taken care of each year.
Not saying it'll happen, but the coordination could be done to alleviate the late season issues.

There are other issues. For instance, other than the national championship, what exactly is BYU playing for each year? A conference race tends to generate excitement and interest. If you are not in the national championship race, then an indy schedule is essentially just 12 exhibition games. As a fan of a school that has spent a significant amount of time as a indy, it definitely has its draw backs---even if you get a better schedule (which is not a given). Honestly, if you think UConn can get more P5 games, why not do that now? UConn can schedule 4 P5's as a member of the AAC. That's roughly what BYU is getting as an indy. It aint as easy as you think.

My statement wasn't about scheduling P5 teams, it was about late season games in which my comment above would resolve the bigger issue.

(04-17-2015 12:56 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  

(04-15-2015 10:50 AM)bluesox Wrote:  I don't see the AAC allowing UCONN that option. I guess i could see Uconn join the big east and maybe join CUSA for football only as a replacement for UAB. Yet, i think uconn would only do it if it felt it had no chance of getting an ACC or big 10 invite anytime soon.

I agree

UConn football to CUSA could be a perfect fit for both them two.

So where are you coming from on this? That with a football only member, UAB gets to stay in C-USA for all other sports? Or that UConn would more than make up for the loss of the Birmingham market in the television negotiations?

Because I don't see UConn making geographic sense for C-USA. UAB was slotted to the West along with UTEP, UTSA, Rice, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, and Southern Mississippi. I see six big NOs there if UConn football would play within C-USA West.

We've discussed this to death within C-USA. Any eastern add messes up the East-West dynamics of the conference. Split the Florida schools instead, and make one of them go West? Most of our western teams don't recruit Florida. Divide true rivals Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky? We need to maintain what rivalries we have, not make it harder.

And many of us C-USAers see the cards lining up that UAB can't stay without football, no matter how sad that makes us for the UAB fans.

(04-17-2015 01:21 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 12:56 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  

(04-15-2015 10:50 AM)bluesox Wrote:  I don't see the AAC allowing UCONN that option. I guess i could see Uconn join the big east and maybe join CUSA for football only as a replacement for UAB. Yet, i think uconn would only do it if it felt it had no chance of getting an ACC or big 10 invite anytime soon.

I agree

UConn football to CUSA could be a perfect fit for both them two.

So where are you coming from on this? That with a football only member, UAB gets to stay in C-USA for all other sports? Or that UConn would more than make up for the loss of the Birmingham market in the television negotiations?

Because I don't see UConn making geographic sense for C-USA. UAB was slotted to the West along with UTEP, UTSA, Rice, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, and Southern Mississippi. I see six big NOs there if UConn football would play within C-USA West.

We've discussed this to death within C-USA. Any eastern add messes up the East-West dynamics of the conference. Split the Florida schools instead, and make one of them go West? Most of our western teams don't recruit Florida. Divide true rivals Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky? We need to maintain what rivalries we have, not make it harder.

And many of us C-USAers see the cards lining up that UAB can't stay without football, no matter how sad that makes us for the UAB fans.

I was simply taking a stab at UConn joining the new big east 3.0, huge mistake IMO, all while the AAC kicks them out all together afterwards.