It's buried at the end of his Monday Morning QB column
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k. I think the whole college conference realignment thing is out of my league. I haven't followed it much, but this passage from Pete Thamel's Thursday column in the New York Times snapped me to attention, about the team in my native state, the UConn Huskies.
"UConn, which has no athletic director and a new president, may have nowhere to go. Because most realignment decisions are driven by football, joining Massachusetts in the Mid-American Conference could be UConn's best available option at this point.'' Eight observations:
• Wow.
• I bet Paul Pasqualoni has a stronger word than that.
• If I were UConn, I'd rather play as an independent.
• In 2010, the UConn season began in front of 113,909 people in Ann Arbor (University of Michigan) and finished on New Year's Day in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. In the MAC, the UConn season could begin in Ypsilanti, Mich. (Eastern Michigan) and finish in Mobile, Ala., at the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
• I just can't imagine the UConn press corps going to Athens, DeKalb, Mount Pleasant and Muncie. And Kent.
• Now I know why former coach Randy Edsall left for what appeared at the time to be a parallel job, at Maryland.
• I love the MAC. I went to Ohio U. I covered the MAC track championships in Ypsilanti once. But to think of UConn playing in it ... well, that's about the biggest headline of any of these conference changes to me.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/wr...ek3/4.html
sounds like a temple fan...
(09-26-2011 02:40 PM)zrb2 Wrote: [ -> ]• I love the MAC. I went to Ohio U.
I'm not sure that's love.
So does he think that UConn and Michigan play in the same conference? If he knows better than that then he should know that they still could start the season in Ann Arbor or any other college. Someone might also want to point out that the Huskies played a MAC team this past Saturday and play another one this Saturday. Just sayin...
Quote:• In 2010, the UConn season began in front of 113,909 people in Ann Arbor (University of Michigan) and finished on New Year's Day in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. In the MAC, the UConn season could begin in Ypsilanti, Mich. (Eastern Michigan) and finish in Mobile, Ala., at the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
It began if front of 113,909 MICHIGAN fans and ended with them eating 13,000 Fiesta Bowl tickets that their own fans didn't buy.
(09-26-2011 05:55 PM)Chappy Wrote: [ -> ]Quote:• In 2010, the UConn season began in front of 113,909 people in Ann Arbor (University of Michigan) and finished on New Year's Day in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. In the MAC, the UConn season could begin in Ypsilanti, Mich. (Eastern Michigan) and finish in Mobile, Ala., at the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
It began if front of 113,909 MICHIGAN fans and ended with them eating 13,000 Fiesta Bowl tickets that their own fans didn't buy.
and one important part he left out was that in between those two points UCONN played a MAC team and got BEAT.
Damn, Peter, I used to be proud that you were a Bobcat. how shameful.
Go Broncos!
The UCONN FB program got into the BE because of it BB program and that same BB program may be able to save the FB progam's bacon yet once again before this is over.
UConn and Rutgers in the MAC with Temple, Buffalo and UMass would give the MAC a strong northeast market. Strong academics and regional fit. You have Akron, Ohio and Kent State in the east division and moving Miami and BGSU to the west and both divisions get stronger.
Crossover games
Miami-Ohio
NIU-Rutgers
BGSU-Temple
Toledo-UConn
EMU-Kent State
CMU-Akron
WMU-UMass
Ball State-Buffalo
This way you reward those schools with solid attendance with the most attractive crossover draws.
another successful product of OUr awesome school of journalism!
(09-27-2011 10:29 AM)CHIPPEWA ENEMA Wrote: [ -> ] (09-26-2011 09:41 PM)Doc KSU Wrote: [ -> ] (09-26-2011 04:12 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote: [ -> ] (09-26-2011 03:32 PM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ] (09-26-2011 02:40 PM)zrb2 Wrote: [ -> ]• I love the MAC. I went to Ohio U.
I'm not sure that's love.
:muttering:
Stockholm syndrome
That, and too much leprechaun meat in his Lucky Charms!
http://www.ubbullrun.com/2011/9/27/24526...aq-schools
Quote:Quote: • In 2010, the UConn season began in front of 113,909 people in Ann Arbor (University of Michigan) and finished on New Year's Day in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. In the MAC, the UConn season could begin in Ypsilanti, Mich. (Eastern Michigan) and finish in Mobile, Ala., at the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
You are aware that Michigan is not in the Big East right? Hell, Appalachia has opened up a season in front of 100,000 plus people. Playing a Big Ten team on the road in your season opener? That's no accomplishment! If your goal is to play at the Big house, or in the swamp you dont need to be an AQ School.
Heck Akron opened up at Ohio State this season, Kent at Alabama, and Western Michigan at Ann Arbor. Temple hosted Penn State, UB Hosted UConn (yes I know not as nice as playing at Michigan but well take what we can get).
I understand that you are trying to say those in conference games at Eastern Michigan are not as attractive as going to Cincinnati or West Virginia. And I'll give you that, but do you really think an independent UConn is going to swing a notre dame type of schedule, really?
What about when West Virginia or Cincinnati finds a new home. Those in conference Big East opponents are getting less and less prestigious by the year.
Regarding that Fiesta Bowl Trip: Nothing like eating 13,000 tickets and losing 2.5 Million dollars just so OU could pound UConn into the ground. In the most down year an AQ conference has ever had you snuck into a bowl that cost your athletic program millions of dollars and served as a sign post as to just how far the Big East has fallen. Bravo sir!
UConn isn't ever joining the MAC. If we somehow get locked out of conference realignment, we'll go independent or join C-USA.
(09-27-2011 03:14 PM)uconnbaseball Wrote: [ -> ]UConn isn't ever joining the MAC. If we somehow get locked out of conference realignment, we'll go independent or join C-USA.
well if you want to cut off your nose to spite your face have at it!
Even with Pitt and Syracyse gone a membership in Big East Basketball is worth more than a full membership in Conference USA. Assuming Cincinnati and West Virginia go anywhere but Conference USA the Big East hoops is still worth more.
Have I mentioned that Conference USA does not allow partial memberships but the MAC does? So yea if you want a serious downgrade in hoops go al in to conference usa.
As to independence? Are you seriously so deluded that you think UConn would prosper as an independent football entity? You don't have a national following like ND, Navy, Army, or BYU.
You would make less as an independent than you would as a partial MAC member and you would spend a ton more in travel.
(09-27-2011 06:46 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote: [ -> ] (09-27-2011 03:14 PM)uconnbaseball Wrote: [ -> ]UConn isn't ever joining the MAC. If we somehow get locked out of conference realignment, we'll go independent or join C-USA.
well if you want to cut off your nose to spite your face have at it!
Even with Pitt and Syracyse gone a membership in Big East Basketball is worth more than a full membership in Conference USA. Assuming Cincinnati and West Virginia go anywhere but Conference USA the Big East hoops is still worth more.
Have I mentioned that Conference USA does not allow partial memberships but the MAC does? So yea if you want a serious downgrade in hoops go al in to conference usa.
As to independence? Are you seriously so deluded that you think UConn would prosper as an independent football entity? You don't have a national following like ND, Navy, Army, or BYU.
You would make less as an independent than you would as a partial MAC member and you would spend a ton more in travel.
I agree.
UConn can't stand on its own 2 feet as a football independent. They only draw 35,000 a home game. If left out they'll need to join the MAC.
UConn football would be another NIU or Temple for the conference, a regular 8 win type program. Definitely would not dominate the MAC and recruiting would be affected negatively more so than Temple because UConn uses more out of state recruits.
The MAC with UConn could reasonably take a look at Army as a 16 to create a nice regional niche in the Northeast.
no thanks. UCONN couldn't beat Temple last year and they won't beat WMU this weekend. If we're going to ad more teams to the MAC let's make it an upgrade.
(09-27-2011 06:46 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote: [ -> ] (09-27-2011 03:14 PM)uconnbaseball Wrote: [ -> ]UConn isn't ever joining the MAC. If we somehow get locked out of conference realignment, we'll go independent or join C-USA.
well if you want to cut off your nose to spite your face have at it!
Even with Pitt and Syracyse gone a membership in Big East Basketball is worth more than a full membership in Conference USA. Assuming Cincinnati and West Virginia go anywhere but Conference USA the Big East hoops is still worth more.
Have I mentioned that Conference USA does not allow partial memberships but the MAC does? So yea if you want a serious downgrade in hoops go al in to conference usa.
As to independence? Are you seriously so deluded that you think UConn would prosper as an independent football entity? You don't have a national following like ND, Navy, Army, or BYU.
You would make less as an independent than you would as a partial MAC member and you would spend a ton more in travel.
If it reached the point where UConn can't stay in the Big East, it's because the basketball schools chose to take their ball and go home because they're sick of dealing with football, leaving UConn out in the cold in all sports.
(09-27-2011 06:46 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote: [ -> ] (09-27-2011 03:14 PM)uconnbaseball Wrote: [ -> ]UConn isn't ever joining the MAC. If we somehow get locked out of conference realignment, we'll go independent or join C-USA.
well if you want to cut off your nose to spite your face have at it!
Even with Pitt and Syracyse gone a membership in Big East Basketball is worth more than a full membership in Conference USA. Assuming Cincinnati and West Virginia go anywhere but Conference USA the Big East hoops is still worth more.
Have I mentioned that Conference USA does not allow partial memberships but the MAC does? So yea if you want a serious downgrade in hoops go al in to conference usa.
As to independence? Are you seriously so deluded that you think UConn would prosper as an independent football entity? You don't have a national following like ND, Navy, Army, or BYU.
You would make less as an independent than you would as a partial MAC member and you would spend a ton more in travel.
To me, C-USA as a full member would be more attractive than the MAC because we'd get a recruiting edge by playing southern teams. Basketball takes a back seat in expansion matters. None of this will matter anyway as our president is confident that UConn will be added to a BCS conference soon. Unless we are Missouri east, I will take our president at her word.
I am not trying to rip the MAC. After watching UConn get rocked by Temple last year, there really isn't much I can say to you guys. Anyway, I expect WMU-UConn to be a good game. Should be better than the 2008 Texas bowl anyway; UConn has nothing close to Chase Clement at quarterback.
(09-27-2011 07:58 PM)bronconick Wrote: [ -> ] (09-27-2011 06:46 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote: [ -> ] (09-27-2011 03:14 PM)uconnbaseball Wrote: [ -> ]UConn isn't ever joining the MAC. If we somehow get locked out of conference realignment, we'll go independent or join C-USA.
well if you want to cut off your nose to spite your face have at it!
Even with Pitt and Syracyse gone a membership in Big East Basketball is worth more than a full membership in Conference USA. Assuming Cincinnati and West Virginia go anywhere but Conference USA the Big East hoops is still worth more.
Have I mentioned that Conference USA does not allow partial memberships but the MAC does? So yea if you want a serious downgrade in hoops go al in to conference usa.
As to independence? Are you seriously so deluded that you think UConn would prosper as an independent football entity? You don't have a national following like ND, Navy, Army, or BYU.
You would make less as an independent than you would as a partial MAC member and you would spend a ton more in travel.
If it reached the point where UConn can't stay in the Big East, it's because the basketball schools chose to take their ball and go home because they're sick of dealing with football, leaving UConn out in the cold in all sports.
...and Rutgers, USF, WVU, Louisville, and Cincy. I would welcome a split, especially if it forces Notre Dame to join a conference.