(11-15-2023 12:02 PM)msm96wolf Wrote:  Problem for UCONN is by the time a conference needs them, it will likely be carved up and become a non power conference. My guess is in 2030 (At the earliest) when I expect the ACC to carve up, I believe the CFP leaving an option to adjust in the new deal that allows them to go to 4 conference bids and 8 at large. As the CFP learned from the BCS's weak points, the new CFP will learn from the old Model.

There is also the possibility the ACC gets hammered to the point the the BE invites BC and a few others to restart BE football.

BC, Pitt, Cuse, Duke, Wake and whomever else that is left over from the ACC.

18 overall schools to accommodate FB if asked 10 years ago seemed like a monstrosity but now seems quite reasonable.

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they just get booted from the AAC?

Absolutely. Focus on hoops.

(11-15-2023 01:22 PM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they just get booted from the AAC?

???

UConn voluntarily left the AAC for the Big East. They had to withdraw football, too.

(11-15-2023 12:20 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 11:48 AM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 11:20 AM)esayem Wrote:  No, but a CUSA football-only membership would be worth pursuing. Especially if UMass joins.

Also, if the Pac is able to snare a few MWC schools then the MWC might look towards UTEP, NMSU, Sam Houston etc. That would really bend CUSA eastward.

But if you read Frank The Tank's "slant" then you can glean what UConn's goal is: admission to a P4, not a G5. Like I said, UConn spends all the $$$$ on FBS without the results. UMass spends next to nothing on facilities and coaches. Mora makes 2x what Don Brown does. I guess it boils down to Connecticut not having pro sports so UConn sports is their version of NFL/NHL/NBA/MLB. For at least this UMass fan, not being in ESPN Bottom 10 is like winning the National Championship

Yes, that’s exactly what I believe their goal is… which is why your original post doesn’t make sense at all. UConn inherently needs FBS football to get into a P4 league. It’s clear that basketball alone isn’t enough or else they’d be in a P4 league already. (If 5 national championships in the last 25 years with a significant NYC fan base isn’t enough, then *nothing* is enough basketball-wise. FBS football is required.) Where I seem to disagree with a lot of people is that getting to a P4 league somehow requires UConn to join a G5 league in the interim, which I don’t believe at all. As I’ve said elsewhere, UConn’s situation is more like BYU over the past decade where being independent is better for their branding compared to a G5 league. Think about it: the *worst* thing for UConn’s football branding would be to go to a G5 league and *still* lose games, which would kill any P4 interest entirely. Independence allows the imprimatur that you’re above the fray because of generally better schedules without the G5 label anchor, so the poor records aren’t punished the same way.

Ultimately, 99% of schools will *never* have a chance to get into the Big 12, ACC or other P4 league. At least UConn is in that 1% - they might still never get there, but they’re at least in the ballgame. No one would tell, say, Memphis to drop down to FCS even though UConn is generally in better position to get a P4 invite by comparison. So, I find it disingenuous when people suggest (often fans from schools that have ZERO chance at the P4) that schools like UConn should drop down. (It was like all of the people telling Stanford and Cal to drop football even though they got into the ACC and actually had a viable chance at the Big Ten. It’s a way for fans of schools that are clearly lower on the realignment pecking order to try to feel superior.)

I 99% to 100% agree with your theories (as opposed the poster who said "you were being obtuse"). But if UConn really wanted to be in P4, then wouldn't they do better than 1-9? That is what doesn't make sense. Take for example Randy Edsall 2.0: they were giving him $$$$ for ridiculous "accomplishments" like scoring first, etc. The reason no one tells Memphis to drop "back" down to FCS is that they were never FCS to begin with. Maybe the taxpayers of CT are all for FBS at any cost. There's a sunk cost for the stadium that is only used a few days a year; there's exorbitant coaches salaries for losing seasons.....
However, if UConn wins another MBB national championship this year then yes, a P4 will take them regardless of 1-11, 3-9, etc. My take on UMass football is that the bar is so low, that even winning a couple games a year and NOT being in ESPN Bottom 10 is cause for celebration.
You cite Cal and Stanford as examples of FBS dropping down but those are two storied and prestigious programs. The fact UConn rejoined the new Big East and left football as an indy shows it has some issues. In the discussion of FBS indy scheduling, the mere fact that there remains only TWO FBS indys left brings out the fact that scheduling in November becomes nearly impossible. It will entail multiple bye weeks and sometimes back to back bye weeks.

Football in the NE is very difficult, I don't think there has been a very successful college football team there for a very long time.

(11-15-2023 01:37 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:22 PM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they just get booted from the AAC?

???

UConn voluntarily left the AAC for the Big East. They had to withdraw football, too.

Not quite.......they wanted to remain in football as football-only. I get the move to the New Big East but the AAC said you stay as all-sports or you're gone.

(11-15-2023 01:41 PM)hburg Wrote:  Football in the NE is very difficult, I don't think there has been a very successful college football team there for a very long time.

Absolutely, yes BC had the Flutie years and the Miracle in Miami but those days are long gone. You have to go back generations to get to when the Northeast was successful in college football. Almost to the 30's and 40's with Fordham and 7 Blocks of Granite.

(11-15-2023 01:43 PM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:37 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:22 PM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they just get booted from the AAC?

???

UConn voluntarily left the AAC for the Big East. They had to withdraw football, too.

Not quite.......they wanted to remain in football as football-only. I get the move to the New Big East but the AAC said you stay as all-sports or you're gone.

And the response from UConn was "Okay we'll remove football too" - they weren't kicked out of the conference, they voluntarily left for the sake of basketball.

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

I do acknowledge these items. I just think fans waaaaay overrate the importance or relevance of those items compared to athletic department branding and status. (I’d push back against #3 in particular - if UConn didn’t build football rivalries in the old AAC that had fairly good football teams like Houston, Cincinnati and UCF along with local schools like Navy and Temple, they certainly aren’t getting them in the MAC or C-USA or even the current AAC.) My main surprise is that people are still surprised by this after everything that we have seen in conference realignment. This is academia - the entire industry is BASED on elite status and that applies to sports just as much as academics.

Everyone always asks whether a school should choose to seek higher status despite losing games, losing rivalries, bad geography, and higher travel costs… and the answer is always, “YES - SIGN ME UP.”

I’m just reflecting reality. Most people on this forum actually do a pretty good job of dealing with that reality compared to the typical college sports fan, but UConn is a weird blind spot for some reason.

Here’s the bottom line: Brett Yormark straight up said that the Big 12 was going to invite UConn if the Pac-12 held together and signed the Apple deal. If you swapped UConn’s name with Memphis, Boise State, San Diego State or any other school where they were legitimately NEXT IN LINE to get into a P4 league and then suggested that they should now drop to FCS, that would hopefully be called asinine on this forum. That would be completely stupid. Yet, a lot of people here are applying that to UConn. That makes zero sense.

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

But that was possible 10, 20, 30 years ago "to stay the course as an FBS Indy" but not in 2024. There remains all of TWO FBS Indys right now and it is IMPOSSIBLE to schedule 12 games as an indy. Army is gone to the AAC and UMass will be gone to any G5 that will take them (all sports or football only). If UMass is no longer an Indy then how in God's name will UConn schedule 12 games thru November??? Even with Zero Week and multiple bye weeks like UMass has to do now. NMSU and Liberty for their years as an indy after NMSU got booted from the Sun Belt played each other twice for a couple seasons.

(11-15-2023 01:46 PM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  Absolutely, yes BC had the Flutie years and the Miracle in Miami but those days are long gone. You have to go back generations to get to when the Northeast was successful in college football. Almost to the 30's and 40's with Fordham and 7 Blocks of Granite.

Pitt won the national championship in 1976, Penn State in 1982 and 1986.

(11-15-2023 01:52 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

I do acknowledge these items. I just think fans waaaaay overrate the importance or relevance of those items compared to athletic department branding and status. (I’d push back against #3 in particular - if UConn didn’t build football rivalries in the old AAC that had fairly good football teams like Houston, Cincinnati and UCF along with local schools like Navy and Temple, they certainly aren’t getting them in the MAC or C-USA or even the current AAC.) My main surprise is that people are still surprised by this after everything that we have seen in conference realignment. This is academia - the entire industry is BASED on elite status and that applies to sports just as much as academics.

Everyone always asks whether a school should choose to seek higher status despite losing games, losing rivalries, bad geography, and higher travel costs… and the answer is always, “YES - SIGN ME UP.”

I’m just reflecting reality. Most people on this forum actually do a pretty good job of dealing with that reality compared to the typical college sports fan, but UConn is a weird blind spot for some reason.

Here’s the bottom line: Brett Yormark straight up said that the Big 12 was going to invite UConn if the Pac-12 held together and signed the Apple deal. If you swapped UConn’s name with Memphis, Boise State, San Diego State or any other school where they were legitimately NEXT IN LINE to get into a P4 league and then suggested that they should now drop to FCS, that would hopefully be called asinine on this forum. That would be completely stupid. Yet, a lot of people here are applying that to UConn. That makes zero sense.

Respectfully disagree. Memphis, Boise and SD State are in growing demographic areas. Lets get real, CT and the Northeast isn't exactly "growing". why do you think C-USA took Kennessaw State and Jax State?? Not for their AAU status.....Brett Yormack takes his marching orders from the College Prezs and AD's. The Big 12 wanted at least somewhat geographic neighbors...

(11-15-2023 02:00 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:46 PM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  Absolutely, yes BC had the Flutie years and the Miracle in Miami but those days are long gone. You have to go back generations to get to when the Northeast was successful in college football. Almost to the 30's and 40's with Fordham and 7 Blocks of Granite.

Pitt won the national championship in 1976, Penn State in 1982 and 1986.

47 years ago and 41 and 37 years respectively. A couple generations. Papa Joe might as well be with Knute Rockne and George Halas. Point being New England is not exactly a college or high school football hotbed. I live down the street from BC and you would never know BC had an ACC football team from going into local stores or signs around Chestnut Hill. Hell, BC games are not even on local TV networks on Saturdays. The Globe or Herald coverage is nil.

(11-15-2023 11:45 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 11:43 AM)shizzle787 Wrote:  LOL. To be fair, if anyone were to drop football or go FCS, it would be more likely to be UMass than UConn. UConn football has about 3x the support UMass football has.

3x0=

No fair rounding first and multiplying after.

I guess the question for UConn is where will everyone eventually?

Working the latest SEC rumor:

SEC (FSU, Clemson, UVA, UNC)
XII (Louisville, VT, NCST, GT)
Big East (BC, Syracuse, Pitt, Duke, Wake, Miami, SMU?)

The Big East could invite 7 to rebuild to the required number of 8 and all of the sudden UConn is once again back in the Big East FB conference.

I know the Big East wanted to get a way from hosting FB before but they were fine when Syracuse and Pitt were in the conference with FB.

Revived BE would be the 4th best FB conference behind the SEC/B1G/XII.

(11-15-2023 02:04 PM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:52 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

I do acknowledge these items. I just think fans waaaaay overrate the importance or relevance of those items compared to athletic department branding and status. (I’d push back against #3 in particular - if UConn didn’t build football rivalries in the old AAC that had fairly good football teams like Houston, Cincinnati and UCF along with local schools like Navy and Temple, they certainly aren’t getting them in the MAC or C-USA or even the current AAC.) My main surprise is that people are still surprised by this after everything that we have seen in conference realignment. This is academia - the entire industry is BASED on elite status and that applies to sports just as much as academics.

Everyone always asks whether a school should choose to seek higher status despite losing games, losing rivalries, bad geography, and higher travel costs… and the answer is always, “YES - SIGN ME UP.”

I’m just reflecting reality. Most people on this forum actually do a pretty good job of dealing with that reality compared to the typical college sports fan, but UConn is a weird blind spot for some reason.

Here’s the bottom line: Brett Yormark straight up said that the Big 12 was going to invite UConn if the Pac-12 held together and signed the Apple deal. If you swapped UConn’s name with Memphis, Boise State, San Diego State or any other school where they were legitimately NEXT IN LINE to get into a P4 league and then suggested that they should now drop to FCS, that would hopefully be called asinine on this forum. That would be completely stupid. Yet, a lot of people here are applying that to UConn. That makes zero sense.

Respectfully disagree. Memphis, Boise and SD State are in growing demographic areas. Lets get real, CT and the Northeast isn't exactly "growing". why do you think C-USA took Kennessaw State and Jax State?? Not for their AAU status.....Brett Yormack takes his marching orders from the College Prezs and AD's. The Big 12 wanted at least somewhat geographic neighbors...

The Big 12 presidents clearly wanted Pac-12 schools if they could get them, which is what ultimately happened.

However, Yormark said that they were prepared to invite UConn when there was that moment in time that it looked like the then-Pac-9 were going to hold together. There are NO geographic requirements in the Big 12 - this is a league that now goes from Orlando to Morgantown to Tucson.

So, it still stands that UConn was on the cusp of a Big 12 invite. Like I’ve said, if it were Memphis that was in those stories from 3 months ago (or San Diego State or Fresno State or anyone else), the LAST thing that anyone here would be saying is that those schools should drop down to FCS.

And yeah, if I’m being honest, I have respect for what UConn is doing just like I had a respect for what BYU did for the past decade. Instead of being pigeon-holed in the binary P5/G5 dichotomy, they’ve attempted to not get boxed in or defined by it. Just like I respect what SMU did to get into the ACC - instead of whining about the power conferences, take control of what’s actually in your control. UConn has a schedule that all other G5 schools would trade for in a heartbeat if you gave them truth serum. (Any G5 fan that says that they don’t want a regular stream of Big Ten, SEC and ACC schools actually visiting their stadium is a flat out liar or completely in denial.) Those other schools just don’t have the security of the Big East for basketball or the wherewithal to even consider independence for it to even be an option, so I really do think there’s a subconscious (or maybe flat out blatant) desire for those schools to try to knock UConn down to their level.

Once again, BYU is the relevant comparison here. The ability to win G5 titles or any ease of scheduling simply didn’t mean crap to BYU and it doesn’t mean crap to UConn. The goal is P4 membership and they’re legitimately in the running for it. If G5 football doesn’t aid in getting P4 membership (and I don’t think it does) and certainly FCS status is a total disqualifier, then people aren’t being genuine in looking at what UConn actually wants to accomplish when they suggest either of those paths.

UConn doesn't need to drop FB but they do need to probably seek to affiliate with a G5 league such as CUSA or MAC with UMass (and potentially UDel) to help them build a program. If they are just affiliate membership then they can more easily get out of it to join the ACC or XII if the call ever comes.

(11-15-2023 02:44 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 02:04 PM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:52 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

I do acknowledge these items. I just think fans waaaaay overrate the importance or relevance of those items compared to athletic department branding and status. (I’d push back against #3 in particular - if UConn didn’t build football rivalries in the old AAC that had fairly good football teams like Houston, Cincinnati and UCF along with local schools like Navy and Temple, they certainly aren’t getting them in the MAC or C-USA or even the current AAC.) My main surprise is that people are still surprised by this after everything that we have seen in conference realignment. This is academia - the entire industry is BASED on elite status and that applies to sports just as much as academics.

Everyone always asks whether a school should choose to seek higher status despite losing games, losing rivalries, bad geography, and higher travel costs… and the answer is always, “YES - SIGN ME UP.”

I’m just reflecting reality. Most people on this forum actually do a pretty good job of dealing with that reality compared to the typical college sports fan, but UConn is a weird blind spot for some reason.

Here’s the bottom line: Brett Yormark straight up said that the Big 12 was going to invite UConn if the Pac-12 held together and signed the Apple deal. If you swapped UConn’s name with Memphis, Boise State, San Diego State or any other school where they were legitimately NEXT IN LINE to get into a P4 league and then suggested that they should now drop to FCS, that would hopefully be called asinine on this forum. That would be completely stupid. Yet, a lot of people here are applying that to UConn. That makes zero sense.

Respectfully disagree. Memphis, Boise and SD State are in growing demographic areas. Lets get real, CT and the Northeast isn't exactly "growing". why do you think C-USA took Kennessaw State and Jax State?? Not for their AAU status.....Brett Yormack takes his marching orders from the College Prezs and AD's. The Big 12 wanted at least somewhat geographic neighbors...

The Big 12 presidents clearly wanted Pac-12 schools if they could get them, which is what ultimately happened.

However, Yormark said that they were prepared to invite UConn when there was that moment in time that it looked like the then-Pac-9 were going to hold together. There are NO geographic requirements in the Big 12 - this is a league that now goes from Orlando to Morgantown to Tucson.

So, it still stands that UConn was on the cusp of a Big 12 invite. Like I’ve said, if it were Memphis that was in those stories from 3 months ago (or San Diego State or Fresno State or anyone else), the LAST thing that anyone here would be saying is that those schools should drop down to FCS.

And yeah, if I’m being honest, I have respect for what UConn is doing just like I had a respect for what BYU did for the past decade. Instead of being pigeon-holed in the binary P5/G5 dichotomy, they’ve attempted to not get boxed in or defined by it. Just like I respect what SMU did to get into the ACC - instead of whining about the power conferences, take control of what’s actually in your control. UConn has a schedule that all other G5 schools would trade for in a heartbeat if you gave them truth serum. (Any G5 fan that says that they don’t want a regular stream of Big Ten, SEC and ACC schools actually visiting their stadium is a flat out liar or completely in denial.) Those other schools just don’t have the security of the Big East for basketball or the wherewithal to even consider independence for it to even be an option, so I really do think there’s a subconscious (or maybe flat out blatant) desire for those schools to try to knock UConn down to their level.

Once again, BYU is the relevant comparison here. The ability to win G5 titles or any ease of scheduling simply didn’t mean crap to BYU and it doesn’t mean crap to UConn. The goal is P4 membership and they’re legitimately in the running for it. If G5 football doesn’t aid in getting P4 membership (and I don’t think it does) and certainly FCS status is a total disqualifier, then people aren’t being genuine in looking at what UConn actually wants to accomplish when they suggest either of those paths.

I am the fan of a G5 school and I think UConn should keep doing what they're doing. Or stop doing it, if they prefer (and have the option).

And yeah, averaging a P5 home game and a half would be great. Nice for them that they can do that (and it does almost certainly depend on the flexibility of being independent).

I do not see why any G5 would be willing to accept them for football only anyway, so it's cool from that side, too. Win-win!

It's fun for college football to have some variety. It's fun to have a couple of independents (maybe not fun for them, but I'm not in the fanbase for either of them).

(11-15-2023 02:44 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 02:04 PM)ZooMass84 Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:52 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-15-2023 01:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  UConn simply needs to stay the course as an FBS independent and hope to eventually land all its athletics in a quality all-sports conference. I've posted many times that UConn might the right move with Big East/FBS indy.

As to Frank the Tank's point about UConn not needing to join a G5 league in the interim so as to improve its chances of an eventual P4 invite ... yes, I get how UConn doesn't want the "stink" of any "G" association (as a Memphis fan, I don't like that perception either). But Frank seemingly rarely notes that despite the positives that have come with indy Husky football, there are some MAJOR negatives: 1. UConn coaches and players not be able to contend for all-conference honors; 2. essentially zero chance of ever competing for a bid to the 12-team playoff; and 3. a lack of in-conference rivalries.

In some respects, UConn football would be better off as a football-only member of the AAC.

I do acknowledge these items. I just think fans waaaaay overrate the importance or relevance of those items compared to athletic department branding and status. (I’d push back against #3 in particular - if UConn didn’t build football rivalries in the old AAC that had fairly good football teams like Houston, Cincinnati and UCF along with local schools like Navy and Temple, they certainly aren’t getting them in the MAC or C-USA or even the current AAC.) My main surprise is that people are still surprised by this after everything that we have seen in conference realignment. This is academia - the entire industry is BASED on elite status and that applies to sports just as much as academics.

Everyone always asks whether a school should choose to seek higher status despite losing games, losing rivalries, bad geography, and higher travel costs… and the answer is always, “YES - SIGN ME UP.”

I’m just reflecting reality. Most people on this forum actually do a pretty good job of dealing with that reality compared to the typical college sports fan, but UConn is a weird blind spot for some reason.

Here’s the bottom line: Brett Yormark straight up said that the Big 12 was going to invite UConn if the Pac-12 held together and signed the Apple deal. If you swapped UConn’s name with Memphis, Boise State, San Diego State or any other school where they were legitimately NEXT IN LINE to get into a P4 league and then suggested that they should now drop to FCS, that would hopefully be called asinine on this forum. That would be completely stupid. Yet, a lot of people here are applying that to UConn. That makes zero sense.

Respectfully disagree. Memphis, Boise and SD State are in growing demographic areas. Lets get real, CT and the Northeast isn't exactly "growing". why do you think C-USA took Kennessaw State and Jax State?? Not for their AAU status.....Brett Yormack takes his marching orders from the College Prezs and AD's. The Big 12 wanted at least somewhat geographic neighbors...

The Big 12 presidents clearly wanted Pac-12 schools if they could get them, which is what ultimately happened.

However, Yormark said that they were prepared to invite UConn when there was that moment in time that it looked like the then-Pac-9 were going to hold together. There are NO geographic requirements in the Big 12 - this is a league that now goes from Orlando to Morgantown to Tucson.

So, it still stands that UConn was on the cusp of a Big 12 invite. Like I’ve said, if it were Memphis that was in those stories from 3 months ago (or San Diego State or Fresno State or anyone else), the LAST thing that anyone here would be saying is that those schools should drop down to FCS.

And yeah, if I’m being honest, I have respect for what UConn is doing just like I had a respect for what BYU did for the past decade. Instead of being pigeon-holed in the binary P5/G5 dichotomy, they’ve attempted to not get boxed in or defined by it. Just like I respect what SMU did to get into the ACC - instead of whining about the power conferences, take control of what’s actually in your control. UConn has a schedule that all other G5 schools would trade for in a heartbeat if you gave them truth serum. (Any G5 fan that says that they don’t want a regular stream of Big Ten, SEC and ACC schools actually visiting their stadium is a flat out liar or completely in denial.) Those other schools just don’t have the security of the Big East for basketball or the wherewithal to even consider independence for it to even be an option, so I really do think there’s a subconscious (or maybe flat out blatant) desire for those schools to try to knock UConn down to their level.

Once again, BYU is the relevant comparison here. The ability to win G5 titles or any ease of scheduling simply didn’t mean crap to BYU and it doesn’t mean crap to UConn. The goal is P4 membership and they’re legitimately in the running for it. If G5 football doesn’t aid in getting P4 membership (and I don’t think it does) and certainly FCS status is a total disqualifier, then people aren’t being genuine in looking at what UConn actually wants to accomplish when they suggest either of those paths.

BYU is the relevant comparison but not a realistic one because BYU has a national Mormon following like Notre Dame for Catholics. It also has a football National Championship. Its apples and oranges. UConn is a flagship state university of a New England state that is 29th in population. I commend UConn for its aspirations (without it UMass probably wouldn't have made the jump) but it seems to be the school that everybody hates. Looked down on by P4, resented by G5, but like I said if they can pull of another MBB national championship this year 2023-2024 then the invites will come their way regardless of football futility.