(02-06-2017 07:19 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 06:45 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 05:42 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  If I were UConn's BOR, I would go to the Big East for all sports but football if a few criteria are met:
1. The double round-robin stays in place and we play 20 conference games.
2. UConn gets to keep their Tier 3 rights.
3. Football stays in the AAC or goes independent (more on that later).
4. FOX agrees to show around 6 UConn NBE games on big FOX (it will help their ratings anyway).

As far as going independent, there are a few issues:
1. Scheduling (it is hard to schedule the second half of the season).
2. Finding any bowl tie-in.

As far as scheduling, I believe it is doable. The more teams that go independent, the better for independents. With that said, I could see Navy leaving the AAC as well as it would have enough opponents if it scheduled P5 schools the first four to five weeks to fill out its schedule with Army, ND, AF, FCS, UConn, BYU, UMass, maybe NMSU.

Whether or not Navy goes back to being independent, UConn could make it if FOX helped out a tad. As far as a potential schedule:
1. @Kentucky
2. Illinois (UConn is considered P5 for them)
3. @Indiana (ditto)
4. WVU
5. @Rutgers
6. Cincy (they could do basketball/football series)
7. FCS
8. @Army
9. BYU
10. @UMass
11. BC
12. NMSU/Navy

Why would the BE or Fox agree to those demands? UConn fans say how much their T3 rights are worth then if UConn keeps them what value would they bring to the BE? Also Fox only has so many OTA slots available. Why would they give the majority of them to UConn? Why would the rest of the schools agree to that? Why would Fox agree to pigeon hole themselves like that especially if UConn struggles in the league?

Going to 20 games increases volume as far as conference games=more viewers. Even if UConn keeps Tier 3 rights, there are plenty of MBB and WBB that are considered Tier 1 or 2 with ESPN/CBSSports now that would go to FOX. FOX already showed a UConn game this year and UConn is not even in the conference. They would put UConn on FOX because they bring in viewers, would be the flagship of the conference, and FOX doesn't have that much going on in January and February on Saturdays.

Once again, why would the other teams agree to forgo games of theirs on Fox OTA so UConn can get more national air time? It's questionable that Fox would even want to show UConn that much until they return to prominence. I don't know how UConn would be the flag bearer in the league when this season they'd be sitting at 7th place or worse.

Yes, going to 20 games increases volume but your value as a program is your T3 rights. Why would Fox or the BE let you keep them when they already agreed to hand theirs over to Fox?

(02-06-2017 07:34 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:19 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 06:45 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 05:42 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  If I were UConn's BOR, I would go to the Big East for all sports but football if a few criteria are met:
1. The double round-robin stays in place and we play 20 conference games.
2. UConn gets to keep their Tier 3 rights.
3. Football stays in the AAC or goes independent (more on that later).
4. FOX agrees to show around 6 UConn NBE games on big FOX (it will help their ratings anyway).

As far as going independent, there are a few issues:
1. Scheduling (it is hard to schedule the second half of the season).
2. Finding any bowl tie-in.

As far as scheduling, I believe it is doable. The more teams that go independent, the better for independents. With that said, I could see Navy leaving the AAC as well as it would have enough opponents if it scheduled P5 schools the first four to five weeks to fill out its schedule with Army, ND, AF, FCS, UConn, BYU, UMass, maybe NMSU.

Whether or not Navy goes back to being independent, UConn could make it if FOX helped out a tad. As far as a potential schedule:
1. @Kentucky
2. Illinois (UConn is considered P5 for them)
3. @Indiana (ditto)
4. WVU
5. @Rutgers
6. Cincy (they could do basketball/football series)
7. FCS
8. @Army
9. BYU
10. @UMass
11. BC
12. NMSU/Navy

Why would the BE or Fox agree to those demands? UConn fans say how much their T3 rights are worth then if UConn keeps them what value would they bring to the BE? Also Fox only has so many OTA slots available. Why would they give the majority of them to UConn? Why would the rest of the schools agree to that? Why would Fox agree to pigeon hole themselves like that especially if UConn struggles in the league?

Going to 20 games increases volume as far as conference games=more viewers. Even if UConn keeps Tier 3 rights, there are plenty of MBB and WBB that are considered Tier 1 or 2 with ESPN/CBSSports now that would go to FOX. FOX already showed a UConn game this year and UConn is not even in the conference. They would put UConn on FOX because they bring in viewers, would be the flagship of the conference, and FOX doesn't have that much going on in January and February on Saturdays.

Once again, why would the other teams agree to forgo games of theirs on Fox OTA so UConn can get more national air time? It's questionable that Fox would even want to show UConn that much until they return to prominence. I don't know how UConn would be the flag bearer in the league when this season they'd be sitting at 7th place or worse.

Yes, going to 20 games increases volume but your value as a program is your T3 rights. Why would Fox or the BE let you keep them when they already agreed to hand theirs over to Fox?

This season they literally have six scholarship players dressed every game so I think we can give them a pass for that. The other teams wouldn't have a choice if FOX has a say and there is a slight fee rights increase for everyone in the conference. The value for Tier 3 is important but that is mainly crappy non-conference MBB games and most non-important conference WBB games. Tier 1 and 2 is fine for the BE if everyone still makes the same or a little more.

(02-06-2017 07:50 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:34 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:19 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 06:45 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 05:42 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  If I were UConn's BOR, I would go to the Big East for all sports but football if a few criteria are met:
1. The double round-robin stays in place and we play 20 conference games.
2. UConn gets to keep their Tier 3 rights.
3. Football stays in the AAC or goes independent (more on that later).
4. FOX agrees to show around 6 UConn NBE games on big FOX (it will help their ratings anyway).

As far as going independent, there are a few issues:
1. Scheduling (it is hard to schedule the second half of the season).
2. Finding any bowl tie-in.

As far as scheduling, I believe it is doable. The more teams that go independent, the better for independents. With that said, I could see Navy leaving the AAC as well as it would have enough opponents if it scheduled P5 schools the first four to five weeks to fill out its schedule with Army, ND, AF, FCS, UConn, BYU, UMass, maybe NMSU.

Whether or not Navy goes back to being independent, UConn could make it if FOX helped out a tad. As far as a potential schedule:
1. @Kentucky
2. Illinois (UConn is considered P5 for them)
3. @Indiana (ditto)
4. WVU
5. @Rutgers
6. Cincy (they could do basketball/football series)
7. FCS
8. @Army
9. BYU
10. @UMass
11. BC
12. NMSU/Navy

Why would the BE or Fox agree to those demands? UConn fans say how much their T3 rights are worth then if UConn keeps them what value would they bring to the BE? Also Fox only has so many OTA slots available. Why would they give the majority of them to UConn? Why would the rest of the schools agree to that? Why would Fox agree to pigeon hole themselves like that especially if UConn struggles in the league?

Going to 20 games increases volume as far as conference games=more viewers. Even if UConn keeps Tier 3 rights, there are plenty of MBB and WBB that are considered Tier 1 or 2 with ESPN/CBSSports now that would go to FOX. FOX already showed a UConn game this year and UConn is not even in the conference. They would put UConn on FOX because they bring in viewers, would be the flagship of the conference, and FOX doesn't have that much going on in January and February on Saturdays.

Once again, why would the other teams agree to forgo games of theirs on Fox OTA so UConn can get more national air time? It's questionable that Fox would even want to show UConn that much until they return to prominence. I don't know how UConn would be the flag bearer in the league when this season they'd be sitting at 7th place or worse.

Yes, going to 20 games increases volume but your value as a program is your T3 rights. Why would Fox or the BE let you keep them when they already agreed to hand theirs over to Fox?

This season they literally have six scholarship players dressed every game so I think we can give them a pass for that. The other teams wouldn't have a choice if FOX has a say and there is a slight fee rights increase for everyone in the conference. The value for Tier 3 is important but that is mainly crappy non-conference MBB games and most non-important conference WBB games. Tier 1 and 2 is fine for the BE if everyone still makes the same or a little more.

Wait, you are still prosing a deal where UConn gets everything it wants and at best the current BE schools would get what they are already getting? Once again, why would the BE go for this deal? Even before this year they finished in 6th place the last 3 years in the AAC which was the 7th best conference. The BE is the one negotiating from a position of power, not UConn. The BE schools would definitely have a say if thats part of the negotiations of UConn joining the league. They could deny UConn entry into the conference.

Not that any of this matters because the BE isn't adding UConn while they play FBS FB.

(02-06-2017 01:58 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 11:22 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 11:18 AM)p23570 Wrote:  I always get a kick out of the UConn fans who think they are too good for the AAC, even though in reality they are not even competitive in the confernce. Yet they think they belong in the B1G.

The NBE is a joke of a conference and most people have no idea who is in the conference and if you gave them a list they probably couldn't' even tell you the state let alone the city the schools are in. The NBE is simply not what the OBE was and never will be again. All the big name programs are gone and all you are left with is little schools nobody cares about. The reality is you can ask random fans across the country and most couldn't even name a coach of player in the NBE. I remember how disappointed I was last year when OU played a NBE team in the final four. Most OU fans had no idea where that team was even from.

Hopefully the ACC or Big 12 will pick up UConn but they need to focus on winning the AAC as opposed to pretending they are too good for it. FB indy and everything else in the NBE is a huge step back for the program and AD.

UConn simply needs to accept that they are the reason they are not in the p-5. They chose to build and off campus stadium. They chose to play FCS until 1990. They only have 20k fans show up for FB games.

None of those problems are AAC problems. They are UConn problems.

Maybe you should have been disappointed at how badly that poor NBE team whipped your sorry Sooners asses. What was it- 95-51?

You'd have to live under a rock of stupidity to not know who Marquette, Villanova, and Georgetown are. You'd have to be young to not know who St. John's is. And lastly, you'd have to not be a basketball fan to not know who Butler and Creighton are.

and not very bright or lets say not well educated, if your don't know what state the city of Providence is in

(02-06-2017 07:59 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:50 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:34 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:19 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 06:45 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  Why would the BE or Fox agree to those demands? UConn fans say how much their T3 rights are worth then if UConn keeps them what value would they bring to the BE? Also Fox only has so many OTA slots available. Why would they give the majority of them to UConn? Why would the rest of the schools agree to that? Why would Fox agree to pigeon hole themselves like that especially if UConn struggles in the league?

Going to 20 games increases volume as far as conference games=more viewers. Even if UConn keeps Tier 3 rights, there are plenty of MBB and WBB that are considered Tier 1 or 2 with ESPN/CBSSports now that would go to FOX. FOX already showed a UConn game this year and UConn is not even in the conference. They would put UConn on FOX because they bring in viewers, would be the flagship of the conference, and FOX doesn't have that much going on in January and February on Saturdays.

Once again, why would the other teams agree to forgo games of theirs on Fox OTA so UConn can get more national air time? It's questionable that Fox would even want to show UConn that much until they return to prominence. I don't know how UConn would be the flag bearer in the league when this season they'd be sitting at 7th place or worse.

Yes, going to 20 games increases volume but your value as a program is your T3 rights. Why would Fox or the BE let you keep them when they already agreed to hand theirs over to Fox?

This season they literally have six scholarship players dressed every game so I think we can give them a pass for that. The other teams wouldn't have a choice if FOX has a say and there is a slight fee rights increase for everyone in the conference. The value for Tier 3 is important but that is mainly crappy non-conference MBB games and most non-important conference WBB games. Tier 1 and 2 is fine for the BE if everyone still makes the same or a little more.

Wait, you are still prosing a deal where UConn gets everything it wants and at best the current BE schools would get what they are already getting? Once again, why would the BE go for this deal? Even before this year they finished in 6th place the last 3 years in the AAC which was the 7th best conference. The BE is the one negotiating from a position of power, not UConn. The BE schools would definitely have a say if thats part of the negotiations of UConn joining the league. They could deny UConn entry into the conference.

Not that any of this matters because the BE isn't adding UConn while they play FBS FB.

The other BE schools could get their Tier 3 rights back as well. They would go for the deal because UConn would officially put the Big East back on the map, and maybe ESPN might try to get the contract at the next go around. The BE has already extended a de facto invite to UConn. The proof of this is in the documents UConn submitted to the Big 12 where one of the options was UConn going to the Big 12 for football-only and the Big East for everything else. The BE wouldn't have allowed UConn to put that in their application if a de facto invite wasn't there.

(02-06-2017 08:06 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:59 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:50 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:34 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:19 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  Going to 20 games increases volume as far as conference games=more viewers. Even if UConn keeps Tier 3 rights, there are plenty of MBB and WBB that are considered Tier 1 or 2 with ESPN/CBSSports now that would go to FOX. FOX already showed a UConn game this year and UConn is not even in the conference. They would put UConn on FOX because they bring in viewers, would be the flagship of the conference, and FOX doesn't have that much going on in January and February on Saturdays.

Once again, why would the other teams agree to forgo games of theirs on Fox OTA so UConn can get more national air time? It's questionable that Fox would even want to show UConn that much until they return to prominence. I don't know how UConn would be the flag bearer in the league when this season they'd be sitting at 7th place or worse.

Yes, going to 20 games increases volume but your value as a program is your T3 rights. Why would Fox or the BE let you keep them when they already agreed to hand theirs over to Fox?

This season they literally have six scholarship players dressed every game so I think we can give them a pass for that. The other teams wouldn't have a choice if FOX has a say and there is a slight fee rights increase for everyone in the conference. The value for Tier 3 is important but that is mainly crappy non-conference MBB games and most non-important conference WBB games. Tier 1 and 2 is fine for the BE if everyone still makes the same or a little more.

Wait, you are still prosing a deal where UConn gets everything it wants and at best the current BE schools would get what they are already getting? Once again, why would the BE go for this deal? Even before this year they finished in 6th place the last 3 years in the AAC which was the 7th best conference. The BE is the one negotiating from a position of power, not UConn. The BE schools would definitely have a say if thats part of the negotiations of UConn joining the league. They could deny UConn entry into the conference.

Not that any of this matters because the BE isn't adding UConn while they play FBS FB.

The other BE schools could get their Tier 3 rights back as well. They would go for the deal because UConn would officially put the Big East back on the map, and maybe ESPN might try to get the contract at the next go around. The BE has already extended a de facto invite to UConn. The proof of this is in the documents UConn submitted to the Big 12 where one of the options was UConn going to the Big 12 for football-only and the Big East for everything else. The BE wouldn't have allowed UConn to put that in their application if a de facto invite wasn't there.

Yep, rose colored glasses.

(02-06-2017 02:48 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Stever raised a great point about how the American has not hurt UConn in recruiting, as proven by the rankings. Arguments can be made about whether Ollie is a good head coach, but I won't go into that. UConn rose to a national power in the old Big East, under Calhoun, by feeding off the rivalries and exposure in the Northeast - which the American has zero of. UConn regularly faced Boston College, Syracuse, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. Johns, Seton Hall, Georgetown and Villanova. They were part of a strong regional conference where all the schools would benefit by playing each other.

Today, and it is what it is, UConn's closest conference opponent is Temple. There are no other Northeast teams - and they regularly face teams from Florida (UCF, USF), Texas (Houston, SMU), Oklahoma (Tulsa), Louisiana (Tulane), Tennessee (Memphis) and North Carolina (ECU), all of whom are not regional or local in the slightest for UConn. To be clear, this is not the American's (or any team in the AAC) fault, but it is a lot easier to get through a down season when you are with regional peers. UConn is not.

Adding a Wichita State, IMO, helps the American, but doesn't necessarily help the issues that UConn currently face. Adding a VCU would definitely be beneficial for them, but again, one school cannot change the footprint and location of a conference - and that's why I think UConn will always have feelers out to the Big East, because they desire to be with regional rivals again in order to help boost their men's basketball program when it is down.

I know it isn't as easy as it sounds but UConn IMO should at the very least regularly schedule BC, PC and STJ (or Cuse in MSG) That should create regional interest

UConn needs the Big East more than the Big East needs UConn right now. There are a lot of reasons to think it can be a mutually beneficial relationship, but any negotiation that starts with UConn dictating terms to the Big East and Fox would rightly be laughed out of the room.

(02-06-2017 08:06 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 01:58 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 11:22 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 11:18 AM)p23570 Wrote:  I always get a kick out of the UConn fans who think they are too good for the AAC, even though in reality they are not even competitive in the confernce. Yet they think they belong in the B1G.

The NBE is a joke of a conference and most people have no idea who is in the conference and if you gave them a list they probably couldn't' even tell you the state let alone the city the schools are in. The NBE is simply not what the OBE was and never will be again. All the big name programs are gone and all you are left with is little schools nobody cares about. The reality is you can ask random fans across the country and most couldn't even name a coach of player in the NBE. I remember how disappointed I was last year when OU played a NBE team in the final four. Most OU fans had no idea where that team was even from.

Hopefully the ACC or Big 12 will pick up UConn but they need to focus on winning the AAC as opposed to pretending they are too good for it. FB indy and everything else in the NBE is a huge step back for the program and AD.

UConn simply needs to accept that they are the reason they are not in the p-5. They chose to build and off campus stadium. They chose to play FCS until 1990. They only have 20k fans show up for FB games.

None of those problems are AAC problems. They are UConn problems.

Maybe you should have been disappointed at how badly that poor NBE team whipped your sorry Sooners asses. What was it- 95-51?

You'd have to live under a rock of stupidity to not know who Marquette, Villanova, and Georgetown are. You'd have to be young to not know who St. John's is. And lastly, you'd have to not be a basketball fan to not know who Butler and Creighton are.

and not very bright or lets say not well educated, if your don't know what state the city of Providence is in

True.

(02-06-2017 08:06 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 01:58 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 11:22 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 11:18 AM)p23570 Wrote:  I always get a kick out of the UConn fans who think they are too good for the AAC, even though in reality they are not even competitive in the confernce. Yet they think they belong in the B1G.

The NBE is a joke of a conference and most people have no idea who is in the conference and if you gave them a list they probably couldn't' even tell you the state let alone the city the schools are in. The NBE is simply not what the OBE was and never will be again. All the big name programs are gone and all you are left with is little schools nobody cares about. The reality is you can ask random fans across the country and most couldn't even name a coach of player in the NBE. I remember how disappointed I was last year when OU played a NBE team in the final four. Most OU fans had no idea where that team was even from.

Hopefully the ACC or Big 12 will pick up UConn but they need to focus on winning the AAC as opposed to pretending they are too good for it. FB indy and everything else in the NBE is a huge step back for the program and AD.

UConn simply needs to accept that they are the reason they are not in the p-5. They chose to build and off campus stadium. They chose to play FCS until 1990. They only have 20k fans show up for FB games.

None of those problems are AAC problems. They are UConn problems.

Maybe you should have been disappointed at how badly that poor NBE team whipped your sorry Sooners asses. What was it- 95-51?

You'd have to live under a rock of stupidity to not know who Marquette, Villanova, and Georgetown are. You'd have to be young to not know who St. John's is. And lastly, you'd have to not be a basketball fan to not know who Butler and Creighton are.

and not very bright or lets say not well educated, if your don't know what state the city of Providence is in

Read his other comments. He's a troll. He's also very young or very new to college athletics.

Cheers!

(02-06-2017 01:14 PM)megadrone Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 12:25 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  Dunno why they don't want to rejoin their former brethren in the ACC.

They do. One has to be invited in, though.

Not according to ACC sportswriters. To hear them tell it, Syracuse invited itself to join the ACC. Although to be fair to these clueless reporters, they said Syracuse "applied" to join the ACC. Not really sure what the difference is/was, but huzzah.

(02-06-2017 01:50 PM)jaredf29 Wrote:  Hilarious, hope this happens.

You're funny, I hope you hold your breath until it does happen.

New ACC:
Army
Temple
Cincinnati
Navy
Virginia Commonwealth
East Carolina
Central Florida
South Florida
Memphis
Tulane
Houston
Southern Methodist
New Mexico
Air Force
Boise State
Brigham Young

I think that UConn would be better off in the BIG EAST. It's football could either go in the MAC or go Indy. Either scenario would be an upgrade to the current status quo IMHO.

I also think that the AAC would be well served by pivoting into a regional conference. If UConn and UC ever leave, I'd take a hard look at Rice and USM.

IMHO UConn shouldn't accept any Big East invitation that involves ceasing to play FBS football. The Big East knows that football in a concern for UConn and that the ACC is their ideal conference and shouldn't act surprised that someday down the road that if an invitation were to materialize they'd want to jump on in it.

In an ideal world, UConn be a full ACC member but perhaps they could get admitted for Olympic sports and get the 5 game arrangement that Notre Dame gets for football.

Another thought would be to consult with Temple and let them know they are thinking about going to the Big East and gauge where the Owls are at. If Temple feels uncomfortable with an American without UConn maybe they'd like to return to the A-10 and be a fellow football independent with UConn. UConn, Temple, and UMass could form a November scheduling alliance and try to work some deals with Army, BYU and NMSU for some games too. Even year games in October in The northeast in exchange for odd year November games in Las Cruces might not be a bad arrangement. If Navy eschews its relationship with the American as well that's another team they can work into the schedule.

If Cincy and UCONN jump to the ACC (and I hope they do) the American should merge with CUSA or the SBC.

I don't know, but this whole thread is silly to me. First off Uconn ain't going back to the NBE no matter what that whiny troll shizzle says and neither is cincy sorry. Secondly this rush to say AAC bball is dead with only four seasons of data is only wishful thinking by some, because I'm sure those same people realize that the foundation is there. The AAC is basically a brand new conference that has been focusing on the only sport that actually matters to the networks when it comes to pure ratings and money(and we happen to be surprising a lot of people as well as network execs). Now were we caught in a down cycle, yes. Do a lot of these critics honestly think we'll stay down, I don't know but I can promise you they would be wrong. In the first four years of our existence we have a men's bball championship(same as the NBE), 4 women ncaa championships, 2 ny6 bowl wins and some CWS contenders. Those are p5 results. Will it materialize into a much better payday , I think so because whether ESPN wants to acknowledge our ratings over these few seasons, I can garuantee you that the other networks have. I just think some of the haters need to wait maybe 2 years as our second contract is negotiated before starting up this same tired @@s AAC vs NBE thread. WE FOOTBALL CENTRIC. YOU BBALL CENTRIC lol. However I think in the next year or two the AAC bball powers should be back to normal now that football is rising.

(02-06-2017 09:59 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  If Cincy and UCONN jump to the ACC (and I hope they do) the American should merge with CUSA or the SBC.

If cincy and Uconn jump to the ACC you had better hope you no one wakes you up to early for work in the morning so you can enjoy that dream

(02-06-2017 09:59 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  If Cincy and UCONN jump to the ACC (and I hope they do) the American should merge with CUSA or the SBC.

Don't think both will get in...due to the Notre Dame problem. Basically UConn is the stronger Olympic Sports add (over Cincy)...they could get a 5 game scheduling agreement with the ACC for FB. UConn could then go Indy...but the ACC could fill some of the tougher to fill Oct/Nov slots.

When Notre Dame decides to join full time...UConn would make perfect sense to join full time too.

(02-06-2017 03:10 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 01:39 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  UConn won a national title in the American. I don't feel they are persecuted but understand wanting better b'ball quality. So do I.

The new Big East is a fine b'ball league, obviously. But if we add Wichita State (which I really hope happens but not holding my breathe), I don't see nearly enough disparity in the Big East with the AAC in the long term to just sacrifice their football program which did win at least one BE title and go to a BCS bowl game.

Georgetown (is JT3 finally on the hot seat?) and St. John's emerging from their long funks might change my mind on that statement, though.

The American and UConn was just 1 year removed from the Big East. Since then, the AAC hasn't been able to use the prior Big East platform to keep the status of the Big East and has slipped down each passing year, while the Big East has elevated each passing year.

I'll say this for NBE members Butler and Creighton: they were blue-collar basketball programs back in the day, and they still have a blue-collar attitude now, although now one can definitely say they are NCAA elite now. IMO, they are a poor man's Georgetown and Villanova, but that's fine with me because I love seeing the underdog win anyway!! And give Creighton credit, they are trying to find way to improve the NBE even more, and they're trying to look out for an old friend, Wichita State. Most OBE teams wouldn't do that, but I like that Creighton is.

What UConn needs to do, IMO, is be more pro-active. Complaining about the AAC is getting them nowhere, and they really need to be seeing what they can do on their end. What about an AAC vs Big East challenge? I'm sure Memphis and Temple would be up for that, for sure, along with a lot of other teams. Maybe UConn could even look doing a home and away with some of its old BE rivals. This is something UTEP does with NMSU in basketball, and I really wish my UGa Dawgs would do it with GT and Clemson in basketball as well. The way it looks is like the UConn AD would schedule a game @ Georgetown on Nov 17 and then he would have Georgetown paying UConn a visit on Jan 23. Basically, it's like treating your OOC rivals like a key conference series. The only bad part about is that it uses up a big portion of your OOC schedule, but I'd say in UConn's case and even UGa's case, why not? Also, and this is something Temple needs to look at doing too, IMO, is scheduling regional rivals for Olympic sports. If they're not doing it already, they need to start.