A new TV deal in the $8M/year range per school will put this kind of talk to rest.

In 5 years, the American has had a Top 25 football team every year. Average two per year. Had three Top 10 teams.

Need to start making noise again in the NCAA tournament, and we'll be negotiating from a much stronger position this time around.

If Memphis and Uconn would hold up their end the league would be absolutely loaded this year.

(01-09-2018 11:22 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  A new TV deal in the $8M/year range per school will put this kind of talk to rest.

In 5 years, the American has had a Top 25 football team every year. Average two per year. Had three Top 10 teams.

Need to start making noise again in the NCAA tournament, and we'll be negotiating from a much stronger position this time around.

You rang...

i'm all for our conference mates who are pulling their weight complaining, but uconn basketball is leaving it to cincy, smu and wichita st to carry the flag. if uconn and memphis performed at the levels expected from them then our league would be more respected. it's that simple. you don't see duke and unc blaming the acc for any dropoff ... because they didn't drop off. memphis almost won a title as a c-usa member, butler went to back to back championship games. basketball is the last sport a school should be using conference as an excuse for their failings. if you aren't performing it's on you.

and in football using ucf not getting a sniff at the playoffs is a bit rich when they point to games against weak opposition like uconn as a reason to disrespect the schedule. if uconn was 2014 uconn in bball and doing what ucf is doing in football then i would sympathize with their plight, but they just aren't holding up their end to be so loud in their woe is us bitching.

(01-09-2018 11:24 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  If Memphis and Uconn would hold up their end the league would be absolutely loaded this year.

This ... This is a 3-5 bid possible league this year with the 2 biggest historical names in the toilet. If UCONN and Memphis steps up and USF and ECU can just not be horrible (closer to 200RPI rather than 300), our RPI would be comparable to the NBE.

(01-09-2018 11:21 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 11:18 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Just saw that the columnist goes by BCgenius on Twitter. He's a BC grad/fan. Quality hands-free trolling by getting all of you do his dirty work for him.

True, but how many of your fans agree with him? A LOT.

Right now, yes, but hire a new coach to get UCONN back to the NCAA tourney and that number drops significantly. They are blinded by the Fake News that the conference is the problem. But have no fear... I am here to educate them on what is holding UCONN back... #FireOllie

Let's also not act like BCFanboy wrote this column because he cares about UCONN Athletics. He'd be rubbing one out right now reading this thread.

Loser mentality.

(01-09-2018 12:35 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  Loser mentality.

You would know.

The arguments that the AAC would be better if UConn was better are kind of beside the point, because any conference would benefit if they added a UConn program that was back to being a perennial top-25 team - it applies just the same to the Big East.

(01-09-2018 12:56 PM)Bogg Wrote:  The arguments that the AAC would be better if UConn was better are kind of beside the point, because any conference would benefit if they added a UConn program that was back to being a perennial top-25 team - it applies just the same to the Big East.

You are correct that it's besides the point. The point is that going to the Big East won't make UCONN better in any way.

(01-09-2018 10:33 AM)Bearcat2012 Wrote:  https://www.theday.com/sports-columns/20...onn-in-aac


How much more of this are we going to take?

How much more time is UConn going to spend in the American Athletic Conference before realizing that, even with well-meaning people and successful teams, the American’s wheels spin furiously but with no traction?

How long till we have earnest conversations with each other questioning the long term viability of football and whether there’s a legitimate chance of rejoining the Big East to save basketball?

They played for the national championship in college football Monday night. Georgia vs. Alabama, two teams that lost to Auburn. Except that War … Damn … Eagle (Auburn) lost to Central Florida in the Peach Bowl last week. That’s undefeated UCF of the American. That didn’t get a sniff of the playoffs.

So when, exactly, do you think the American will get a seat at the table if an undefeated team that beat the team that beat The Teams is still an afterthought?

We can lament the unfairness of it all and unburden ourselves with rhetoric till we hyperventilate. All moot. Because why would the Power Five want to share anything with anybody else? They seem to be doing just fine, no?

Heck, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby all but mocked UCF the other day when he was quoted as saying beating Auburn once isn’t the same as preparing to play the likes of Auburn every week. And there it is. Poof. The American’s undefeated team? Dismissed like a caller to Mike Francesa.

So is there anyone out there who can provide some evidence this is going to change?

Meanwhile, UConn sports, through bad leadership and some external circumstances, are suffering. Clearly, UConn poohbahs have made bad decisions. Bob Diaco was a disaster. Kevin Ollie needs an offensive coordinator. We get that. And the AAC is making it worse.

No one’s saying the AAC isn’t respectable in football and men’s basketball. Two things, though: The Power Five doesn’t care and doesn’t need to; and quality competition doesn’t move the needle in Connecticut as much as sex appeal.

The AAC has some good basketball teams in Wichita State, Cincinnati and SMU. But when you grow up on The Big East — whose geography and rivalries resonate with fans from Stamford to Stonington — it’s hard to get even the most ardent UConn fans excited about Tulane and East Carolina.

That’s kind of the deal. AAC people get irritated at the criticism. It’s no reflection on them or their teams. It’s just that nobody in Connecticut has any frame of reference whatsoever to what the league’s selling. Come see the Huskies play … Tulsa?

Look at it this way: The three biggest names in New England college basketball — UConn, Providence and Boston College — played home games this past Saturday afternoon. When’s the last time UConn played the least desirable game to watch? Providence played nationally ranked Xavier and BC played Wake Forest. Meanwhile, UConn played East Carolina before more than 8,000 empty seats at the XL Center.

There is no joy in these words. The AAC has some nice people. The mere suggestion that UConn drop football is disrespectful to Randy Edsall, a good man for whom my son would play any day. And I have no idea about exit fees, bad blood or whether the Big East would take UConn back in the first place.

This much I do know, however: I’ve talked to a few donors in recent weeks who can’t take much more of this. They see the same thing as I do, the power structure failing to take the AAC seriously. UConn’s bad hires affecting the current product. And the need to begin some uncomfortable conversations.

Uconn people are delusional. Your football teams suck and your basketball now is not great. If you are so awesome and can leave for greener pastures please go.

Buh-bye

Otherwise stop pining over the bye gone days of the old Big East (which are never coming back) and get back to winning.

How much longer does the AAC have to suffer being UConn's scapegoat?

At least put a decent team on the court and on the field before bemoaning the conference. And you sure as hell should dominate the conference before claiming you're too big for it.

(01-09-2018 12:59 PM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  You are correct that it's besides the point. The point is that going to the Big East won't make UCONN better in any way.

Well, yes and no. UConn has its own on-court issues that will be there until they sort them out themselves regardless of what conference they're in. However, recruiting to the Big East is easier than to the AAC, and for people in southern New England the fan experience is better which helps with attendance. It's a matter of whether UConn's priority is to be in a good enough basketball conference that also provides a home for the football program or to be in the best possible conference for the basketball program at the expense of football having to fend for itself.

That all being said, the idea that any school has to dominate a conference before they even begin to consider what options are open to them is message board nonsense. If the Big 12 extended an offer to Rice tomorrow they aren't turning it down because they haven't outpaced the field in CUSA, and thus should just sit put until they do. Rutgers didn't turn down a B1G invite just because they're bad at everything they do. You make decisions based on your options, not what you "deserve".

There is a really easy fix: win more games.

Playing is lower profile leagues doesn't seem to bother Butler, Gonzaga or until this year Wichita State. If anything else, the AAC is considered a high major league by ESPN....so if these programs can do it, why can't UCONN that is rich in history, has great facilities and recent success. It also ignores that Cincy has not seen a dropoff in their hoops program since the BigEast either...

This is a cope out and reluctance to do what must be done: they have to fire Ollie and replace him with an up-and-coming coach...or if they can't find the right fit, beg Calhoun to come back for a year or two to right the ship and save his legacy.

(01-09-2018 01:30 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 12:59 PM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  You are correct that it's besides the point. The point is that going to the Big East won't make UCONN better in any way.

Well, yes and no. UConn has its own on-court issues that will be there until they sort them out themselves regardless of what conference they're in. However, recruiting to the Big East is easier than to the AAC, and for people in southern New England the fan experience is better which helps with attendance. It's a matter of whether UConn's priority is to be in a good enough basketball conference that also provides a home for the football program or to be in the best possible conference for the basketball program at the expense of football having to fend for itself.

That all being said, the idea that any school has to dominate a conference before they even begin to consider what options are open to them is message board nonsense. If the Big 12 extended an offer to Rice tomorrow they aren't turning it down because they haven't outpaced the field in CUSA, and thus should just sit put until they do. Rutgers didn't turn down a B1G invite just because they're bad at everything they do. You make decisions based on your options, not what you "deserve".

You are already recruiting better than everyone in your own conference ... and aren't winning. That argument is flawed.

(01-09-2018 01:34 PM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 01:30 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 12:59 PM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  You are correct that it's besides the point. The point is that going to the Big East won't make UCONN better in any way.

Well, yes and no. UConn has its own on-court issues that will be there until they sort them out themselves regardless of what conference they're in. However, recruiting to the Big East is easier than to the AAC, and for people in southern New England the fan experience is better which helps with attendance. It's a matter of whether UConn's priority is to be in a good enough basketball conference that also provides a home for the football program or to be in the best possible conference for the basketball program at the expense of football having to fend for itself.

That all being said, the idea that any school has to dominate a conference before they even begin to consider what options are open to them is message board nonsense. If the Big 12 extended an offer to Rice tomorrow they aren't turning it down because they haven't outpaced the field in CUSA, and thus should just sit put until they do. Rutgers didn't turn down a B1G invite just because they're bad at everything they do. You make decisions based on your options, not what you "deserve".

You are already recruiting better than everyone in your own conference ... and aren't winning. That argument is flawed.

Not when all those top recruits are injured and/or transferring out.

Y'all getting punk'd by a BC fanboy author. Kind of like quo posting something and everybody hating on USF.

(01-09-2018 01:42 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 01:34 PM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 01:30 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 12:59 PM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  You are correct that it's besides the point. The point is that going to the Big East won't make UCONN better in any way.

Well, yes and no. UConn has its own on-court issues that will be there until they sort them out themselves regardless of what conference they're in. However, recruiting to the Big East is easier than to the AAC, and for people in southern New England the fan experience is better which helps with attendance. It's a matter of whether UConn's priority is to be in a good enough basketball conference that also provides a home for the football program or to be in the best possible conference for the basketball program at the expense of football having to fend for itself.

That all being said, the idea that any school has to dominate a conference before they even begin to consider what options are open to them is message board nonsense. If the Big 12 extended an offer to Rice tomorrow they aren't turning it down because they haven't outpaced the field in CUSA, and thus should just sit put until they do. Rutgers didn't turn down a B1G invite just because they're bad at everything they do. You make decisions based on your options, not what you "deserve".

You are already recruiting better than everyone in your own conference ... and aren't winning. That argument is flawed.

Not when all those top recruits are injured and/or transferring out.

Injuries would still happen in the Big East ....

Transferring out is more a sign of a dysfunctional program rather than conference affiliation.

(01-09-2018 01:30 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 12:59 PM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  You are correct that it's besides the point. The point is that going to the Big East won't make UCONN better in any way.

Well, yes and no. UConn has its own on-court issues that will be there until they sort them out themselves regardless of what conference they're in. However, recruiting to the Big East is easier than to the AAC, and for people in southern New England the fan experience is better which helps with attendance. It's a matter of whether UConn's priority is to be in a good enough basketball conference that also provides a home for the football program or to be in the best possible conference for the basketball program at the expense of football having to fend for itself.

That all being said, the idea that any school has to dominate a conference before they even begin to consider what options are open to them is message board nonsense. If the Big 12 extended an offer to Rice tomorrow they aren't turning it down because they haven't outpaced the field in CUSA, and thus should just sit put until they do. Rutgers didn't turn down a B1G invite just because they're bad at everything they do. You make decisions based on your options, not what you "deserve".

I agree, but this issue isn't about turning down opportunities. If UConn gets a Big East invite tomorrow, I will wish them well and offer congratulations. But in the meantime, don't blame the AAC for the school's struggles.

UConn's basketball roster is full of freaking 4 and 5 star recruits. Seems like they're recruiting just fine. They should be dominating. I actually want UConn to be the national title contenders they should be every year--it makes the conference stronger.

If UConn isn't happy with the AAC, that's fine. But stop the scapegoating. It's not the AAC's fault that Ollie can't coach recruits the rest of us would sell our mothers to have.

Lots of trolling here. I hope y'all enjoy your 72 hour vacations!