(06-24-2021 05:27 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 05:02 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  It has been...amusing...to hear the narrative about how god-awful the AAC was for Uconn because everyone was so spread out and there were no trips that Uconn fans could get excited about. OK, granted you now pick up close trips to Providence and NYC (Saint John's) and New Jersey (Seton Hall). But beyond those, the travel is still expensive. Flying is flying and flying the 1,500 miles from Hartford to Omaha is the same as having to fly the 1,500 miles from Hartford to Wichita or Tulsa.

This isn't that hard. We like playing the other original Big East teams, and we really like the tournament at MSG. The rest of the conference could be Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, and San Francisco and it wouldn't matter. Every modern conference of significance has some travel. That X, Butler, Marquette, and Creighton are generally good at basketball makes it much easier to deal with. DePaul is DePaul, but that's life.

As a long-time DePaul fan, you might have just given me an idea for an expression to put on a T-shirt.

(06-24-2021 05:02 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 03:47 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 10:25 AM)Bogg Wrote:  Nobody said football money doesn't matter. What was said was that the $2-4 million bump that the AAC might get isn't enough to cause UConn to want to return. If the AAC is suddenly going to start distributing ACC-type money to it's members then that's different, but a couple million one way or the other isn't the end-all.

As to CUSA membership - it's already been pointed out, but UConn isn't taking their games off TV and committing a portion of their limited basketball OOC schedule so that they can play a less attractive football schedule just to satisfy people's sorting instinct.

People forget that travel expenses for UConn in the AAC were immensely higher. Fan interest were both down in football and basketball (men's and women's), as were donations, due to little historical associations with AAC membership. The AAC was also not providing the same level of basketball tournament credits that the Big East has provided, and will continue to provide, for years to come. Finances at UConn will be just fine. The course correction has already taken place by UConn moving to the Big East.

For the same reasons it left the AAC, it will not join C-USA or the MAC for football (and neither conference should really want UConn for football-only either). It's future in FBS is as an independent, where it can schedule more regional contests, buy games, along with name-brand programs that fans will be interested in, and a better path towards six wins (and possible bowl game). All other suggestions are irrelevant.

People keep asserting this, but is it really so?

Yes, and it's not even remotely close.

In AAC Basketball, there were eight teams for UConn that were over 1,000 miles away, with Temple the only other school in the American with a campus above the Mason-Dixon line. The furthest school away (Creighton) also sells out every home game with 17k fans. UConn now has five conference opponents under 350 miles away (Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova and Georgetown).

UConn was also going to be over 1,700 miles away from the AAC Men's Basketball Tournament in Ft. Worth, where there are near zero UConn fans or alumni. NYC is a drive away, and near many fans and alumni. Being in front of 18k fans is an added bonus.

It's really not that hard to comprehend. Travel and distance is definitely better for UConn in the Big East.

(06-24-2021 06:13 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  TroTBoy has made various good points —

Their posts are nonsensical. They talk about how smart the AAC was to trade money for exposure and then push the idea that UConn should take their games off TV and further kneecap attendance in hopes of getting an extra $2 million or so. It's just a bored BC fan with nothing to talk about because BC's only relevant in hockey.

(06-24-2021 04:38 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  UConn didn't draw in the AAC because:

(A) In Football, UConn has a losing record versus AAC schools

(B) In Men's Basketball, UConn ALSO has a losing record versus AAC schools (closer to .500 if you count wins that had to be vacated due to sanctions)

UConn is not unlike UNLV and UMass... (who are having trouble drawing fans and getting wins without their great coaches. It doesn't matter where they play.)

There's a difference between "one of the really important reasons UConn didn't draw in the AAC" and "the only factor in UConn's attendance in the AAC" ... sure, winning more games will give higher attendance, but at the same regular season record, there will be more attendance for games that the supporters care about because of the opponent.

(06-24-2021 06:44 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  In AAC Basketball, there were eight teams for UConn that were over 1,000 miles away, with Temple the only other school in the American with a campus above the Mason-Dixon line. The furthest school away (Creighton) also sells out every home game with 17k fans. UConn now has five conference opponents under 350 miles away (Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova and Georgetown).

UConn was also going to be over 1,700 miles away from the AAC Men's Basketball Tournament in Ft. Worth, where there are near zero UConn fans or alumni. NYC is a drive away, and near many fans and alumni. Being in front of 18k fans is an added bonus.

It's really not that hard to comprehend. Travel and distance is definitely better for UConn in the Big East.

(06-24-2021 07:29 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  There's a difference between "one of the really important reasons UConn didn't draw in the AAC" and "the only factor in UConn's attendance in the AAC" ... sure, winning more games will give higher attendance, but at the same regular season record, there will be more attendance for games that the supporters care about because of the opponent.

Yes, it is pretty simple. Football is not king in Storrs. Men's and Women's hoops is. From UConn's perspective, which hoops teams would you rather play against?

Cincinnati
Houston
Memphis
East Carolina
Wichita St
SMU
Temple
South Florida
Central Florida
Tulsa
Tulane

Nova
Georgetown
St. John's
Seton Hall
Providence
Butler
Creighton
Xavier
Marquette
DePaul

(06-24-2021 08:05 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-23-2021 06:43 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(06-23-2021 05:50 PM)random asian guy Wrote:  Even when the old Big East splitted, they stayed with the football schools. So I guess UConn would consider BC, Cuse, or Rutgers as their peers rather than Villanova or Georgetown.

The rivals are Nova, Georgetown, and Syracuse. BC and Rutgers don't register because they were never any good for any length of time. Played a couple good football games against Rutgers at least, but BC was already gone by then.

UConn went with the AAC in the split because it was supposed to be a short layover before the next round of expansion. It became clear it was actually a 20+ year home when the Big 12 got threatened out of expanding by the networks, showing the money wasn't there anymore. That's when UConn cut their losses and went back to playing their rivals.

Don't forget the financial situation... Uconn went with the AAC because they were the ones who inherited the old Big East warchest and NCAA credits. It is also...coincidence...that when those payments ended that Uconn decided to join the C7 members.

I get it...this is a mercenary business. But it's not like Uconn was a completely innocent bystander in this whole deal. Uconn followed the money and when the money was gone, so was Uconn.

The funny part it is that they ended up giving back 17-20 million if it back to leave. I'm not sure but isn't that a big part of that money.

(06-24-2021 08:46 AM)ccd494 Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 08:05 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-23-2021 06:43 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(06-23-2021 05:50 PM)random asian guy Wrote:  Even when the old Big East splitted, they stayed with the football schools. So I guess UConn would consider BC, Cuse, or Rutgers as their peers rather than Villanova or Georgetown.

The rivals are Nova, Georgetown, and Syracuse. BC and Rutgers don't register because they were never any good for any length of time. Played a couple good football games against Rutgers at least, but BC was already gone by then.

UConn went with the AAC in the split because it was supposed to be a short layover before the next round of expansion. It became clear it was actually a 20+ year home when the Big 12 got threatened out of expanding by the networks, showing the money wasn't there anymore. That's when UConn cut their losses and went back to playing their rivals.

Don't forget the financial situation... Uconn went with the AAC because they were the ones who inherited the old Big East warchest and NCAA credits. It is also...coincidence...that when those payments ended that Uconn decided to join the C7 members.

I get it...this is a mercenary business. But it's not like Uconn was a completely innocent bystander in this whole deal. Uconn followed the money and when the money was gone, so was Uconn.

Well, a bunch of that money was from UConn's performance.

But uconn also collected a lot of money from the schools that actually cared about football.

(06-24-2021 04:38 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 10:40 AM)shizzle787 Wrote:  UConn fans show up for big opponents and regional rivals. C-USA or MAC schools are neither. When Michigan came to town in 2013, the place was packed. When UConn was in the Big East, the place was packed even if we weren't good. No UConn fan cared about the AAC schedule other than maybe Navy and Cincy (or UCF or Houston if they were ranked but even then....meh).

UConn didn't draw in the AAC because:

(A) In Football, UConn has a losing record versus AAC schools

(B) In Men's Basketball, UConn ALSO has a losing record versus AAC schools (closer to .500 if you count wins that had to be vacated due to sanctions)

UConn is not unlike UNLV and UMass... (who are having trouble drawing fans and getting wins without their great coaches. It doesn't matter where they play.)

BC is not unlike UConn with Al Skinner. Except, yeah they are different because they never won a title, much less multiple.

Is the irony lost on everyone here a BC fan saying what’s best for UConn?

…and I actually like BC!!

(06-24-2021 10:12 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Games UConn would rather have than a CUSA/MAC schedule.

Quote:2021:
Purdue
@ Army
@ Vanderbilt
@ Clemson
@ UCF
Houston

2022:
Syracuse
@ Michigan
@ NC State
Boston College
Liberty
@ Army

2023 (schedule not complete):
Duke
NC State
@ Boston College
@ Tennessee
@ Liberty

2024 (schedule not complete):
@ Maryland
Army
@ Duke
Temple
@ Wake Forest

2025 (schedule not complete):
@ Syracuse
@ Purdue
@ Army
@ Ohio St
@ Liberty

2026 (schedule not complete):
Maryland
@ North Carolina
Indiana
@ Syracuse
@ Temple

2027 (schedule not complete):
Temple
Ole Miss
North Carolina
Syracuse
Army

UConn isn't giving up more prestigious schedules, their own tv deal, OOC scheduling slots in BB, *and* buying out contracts they've already signed for 1/16th of the CUSA CFP pie.

In other words,,,,they'd rather be violated by the "cool kids" than have a mutually comfortable relationship with the nerds that MAY be willing to give it a chance. ok then

UConn is gone. They went back to Nova, G'Town, St. Johns, and Providence. It's not the same conference anymore without Syracuse, Pitt, BC, WV, Rutgers, Miami, and VT but if they are happy leave them alone. The AAC can find better football teams and get close in men's BB with some one else, or just stay at 11 for major sports and the conference will be ok. Nail BYU FB only or all sports and UConn will be an AAC forgotten memory that is perfectly happy back in the NBE.

(06-24-2021 07:22 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 06:13 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  TroTBoy has made various good points —

Their posts are nonsensical. They talk about how smart the AAC was to trade money for exposure and then push the idea that UConn should take their games off TV and further kneecap attendance in hopes of getting an extra $2 million or so. It's just a bored BC fan with nothing to talk about because BC's only relevant in hockey.

I'm too lazy to go back and read TroyTBoy's multiple posts but do recall while originally reading them that he made some good points regarding UConn's past and current situations. Now, I do feel he strongly dislikes UConn, which would limit his ability to give UConn credit. So there may be an agenda there.

Also — and I've been consistent with this — I strongly feel (despite knowing there are some unanswered questions) UConn made the correct move in leaving the AAC for the Big East.

Maybe it's just me ... but the Big East and AAC — perhaps more than any other leagues — seem to receive the most criticism from posters on this board.

(06-24-2021 05:02 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 03:47 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 10:25 AM)Bogg Wrote:  Nobody said football money doesn't matter. What was said was that the $2-4 million bump that the AAC might get isn't enough to cause UConn to want to return. If the AAC is suddenly going to start distributing ACC-type money to it's members then that's different, but a couple million one way or the other isn't the end-all.

As to CUSA membership - it's already been pointed out, but UConn isn't taking their games off TV and committing a portion of their limited basketball OOC schedule so that they can play a less attractive football schedule just to satisfy people's sorting instinct.

People forget that travel expenses for UConn in the AAC were immensely higher. Fan interest were both down in football and basketball (men's and women's), as were donations, due to little historical associations with AAC membership. The AAC was also not providing the same level of basketball tournament credits that the Big East has provided, and will continue to provide, for years to come. Finances at UConn will be just fine. The course correction has already taken place by UConn moving to the Big East.

For the same reasons it left the AAC, it will not join C-USA or the MAC for football (and neither conference should really want UConn for football-only either). It's future in FBS is as an independent, where it can schedule more regional contests, buy games, along with name-brand programs that fans will be interested in, and a better path towards six wins (and possible bowl game). All other suggestions are irrelevant.

People keep asserting this, but is it really so? Yes, the AAC is "spread out." But so is the current (if you don't like "new") Big East. On one hand, you trade one Cincinnati trip for another (Xavier) and still have a trip to Philadelphia (Villanova). You have trips to Indianapolis (Butler), Chicago (DePaul), Milwaukee (Marquette), and Omaha (Creighton). And, if the Conference ever did expand, it would most likely be in the midwest, so you'd be adding another trip there.

It has been...amusing...to hear the narrative about how god-awful the AAC was for Uconn because everyone was so spread out and there were no trips that Uconn fans could get excited about. OK, granted you now pick up close trips to Providence and NYC (Saint John's) and New Jersey (Seton Hall). But beyond those, the travel is still expensive. Flying is flying and flying the 1,500 miles from Hartford to Omaha is the same as having to fly the 1,500 miles from Hartford to Wichita or Tulsa.

And, remember, in the AAC you weren't making the "round robin" to "all the schools." The Conference tried to make schedules to keep the "Eastern" schools by-and-large "East" and the "Western" schools "West." But in the current BE, Uconn WILL be making an annual trip to Omaha...and Milwaukee...and Chicago...and Indianapolis. For both their men's and women's teams. It doesn't look all that much better.

But, doubtless, you will disagree.

Yes I will.

Take UConn out

Big East: Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova, Georgetown, Xavier, Butler, DePaul, Marquette, Creighton

AAC: Temple, Cincinnati, East Carolina, UCF, South Florida, Memphis, Tulane, Wichita State, Tulsa, Houston, SMU

In terms of travel,

The only Northeast school in the AAC is Temple, the Big East has five Northeast schools. UConn can drive to Providence, St. John's, and Seton Hall easily, and Villanova reasonably (Georgetown is a stretch). The only AAC school UConn can reasonably drive to is Temple. The only Big East school West of the Mississippi is Creighton. The AAC has four schools West of the Mississippi plus Tulane on the Mississippi. In addition, the AAC has a lot of southern schools while the furthest south UConn would travel in the Big East is Georgetown.

"The Conference tried to make schedules to keep the "Eastern" schools by-and-large "East" and the "Western" schools "West." "

In 2020, UConn played Wichita State, SMU, East Carolina, and UCF twice and the SMU game was at SMU. If they really wanted to keep Eastern schools East and Western schools west, then why wouldn't UConn play East Carolina and UCF twice?

Finally, the Big East Tournament will be at New York for years to come. This year's and next year's AAC Tournament will be at Fort Worth, TX.

Do you still believe the Big East "isn't much better" than the AAC for UConn? You wouldn't rather Cincinnati be in the Big East for men's basketball than the AAC?

(06-25-2021 09:33 AM)schmolik Wrote:  Do you still believe the Big East "isn't much better" than the AAC for UConn? You wouldn't rather Cincinnati be in the Big East for men's basketball than the AAC?

Caveat: I despise the AAC. I really do. So, let's leave the "personal" (i.e. "Wouldn't you rather...") there. That being said, I really love college football, and so...NO...the current Big East would not be a viable option. (Which it isn't, anyway...so why bother crying over something that isn't possible?)

Second Caveat: I think Uconn made the RIGHT choice. 100%. I don't blame them for a moment. It was the right choice...FOR Uconn.

Those caveats recognized, I don't think one has to either (a) not like the AAC, or (b) think Uconn made the right choice to see that it's not all "skittles and beer." I get that we're all "fan bois" on this forum and "fan bois" are not that good at recognizing subtlety. The Big East fans are going to point out how good their conference is and how decrepit the AAC is, and obviously Uconn leaving the AAC for the BE is somehow a validation of the BE. The AAC fans are going to point out how Uconn never really fit into their conference, had different values than the rest of the AAC, and how they don't really "miss" Uconn...in fact how much happier they are that Uconn is gone. The Uconn fans are going to argue that they were the ones who dumped the AAC, how unhappy they were with the AAC opponents and the travel, and how much happier and better they're doing with their new girlfriend. Typical "fan boi" stuff, it is what it is. But the irony is that Uconn still has many of the same issues to deal with that they always had.

Uconn isn't ever coming back to the AAC and that's fine. The AAC is moving in a different direction...that's fine too.

(06-25-2021 09:54 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-25-2021 09:33 AM)schmolik Wrote:  Do you still believe the Big East "isn't much better" than the AAC for UConn? You wouldn't rather Cincinnati be in the Big East for men's basketball than the AAC?

Caveat: I despise the AAC. I really do. So, let's leave the "personal" (i.e. "Wouldn't you rather...") there. That being said, I really love college football, and so...NO...the current Big East would not be a viable option. (Which it isn't, anyway...so why bother crying over something that isn't possible?)

Second Caveat: I think Uconn made the RIGHT choice. 100%. I don't blame them for a moment. It was the right choice...FOR Uconn.

Those caveats recognized, I don't think one has to either (a) not like the AAC, or (b) think Uconn made the right choice to see that it's not all "skittles and beer." I get that we're all "fan bois" on this forum and "fan bois" are not that good at recognizing subtlety. The Big East fans are going to point out how good their conference is and how decrepit the AAC is, and obviously Uconn leaving the AAC for the BE is somehow a validation of the BE. The AAC fans are going to point out how Uconn never really fit into their conference, had different values than the rest of the AAC, and how they don't really "miss" Uconn...in fact how much happier they are that Uconn is gone. The Uconn fans are going to argue that they were the ones who dumped the AAC, how unhappy they were with the AAC opponents and the travel, and how much happier and better they're doing with their new girlfriend. Typical "fan boi" stuff, it is what it is. But the irony is that Uconn still has many of the same issues to deal with that they always had.

Uconn isn't ever coming back to the AAC and that's fine. The AAC is moving in a different direction...that's fine too.

Well said. From a strictly basketball standpoint, of course, UConn made the correct decision. Travel, money, rivalries, fan interest, location of conference tournament, and so forth. Of course, the Big East is better in hoops than the AAC.

Basketball (men & women) is the 99% stated purpose of the league ... and they did a great job with that for sure. I'll give 1% to college baseball since I am thoroughly enjoying the CWS --- and UConn has a fine program for the that (too bad for the diamond Huskies that when Big East baseball improves 10-fold, it will attain the level of mediocrity).

Compared the south, New York & New England, collectively does not even care to expend the energy to YAWN at college football. It is all NFL. And at the same time, I think it is fine to say that UConn, by their actions, is NOT fully committed to their football program. That is not me, but the roundabout way that Randy Edsall was commenting when the announcement was approaching.

I think it is disingenuous to state that from a football standpoint that their standing has remained constant (or, gasp, improved) --- not when they depart a league with a total record that would make even Vanderbilt blush at 11-45.

Quote:Would UConn reconsider?

Why would we (the AAC) want them to? This is a football league. UConn has no interest in competing in football at this level along with very little ability to do so even if they so desired.

(06-25-2021 09:54 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-25-2021 09:33 AM)schmolik Wrote:  Do you still believe the Big East "isn't much better" than the AAC for UConn? You wouldn't rather Cincinnati be in the Big East for men's basketball than the AAC?

Caveat: I despise the AAC. I really do. So, let's leave the "personal" (i.e. "Wouldn't you rather...") there. That being said, I really love college football, and so...NO...the current Big East would not be a viable option. (Which it isn't, anyway...so why bother crying over something that isn't possible?)

Second Caveat: I think Uconn made the RIGHT choice. 100%. I don't blame them for a moment. It was the right choice...FOR Uconn.

Those caveats recognized, I don't think one has to either (a) not like the AAC, or (b) think Uconn made the right choice to see that it's not all "skittles and beer." I get that we're all "fan bois" on this forum and "fan bois" are not that good at recognizing subtlety. The Big East fans are going to point out how good their conference is and how decrepit the AAC is, and obviously Uconn leaving the AAC for the BE is somehow a validation of the BE. The AAC fans are going to point out how Uconn never really fit into their conference, had different values than the rest of the AAC, and how they don't really "miss" Uconn...in fact how much happier they are that Uconn is gone. The Uconn fans are going to argue that they were the ones who dumped the AAC, how unhappy they were with the AAC opponents and the travel, and how much happier and better they're doing with their new girlfriend. Typical "fan boi" stuff, it is what it is. But the irony is that Uconn still has many of the same issues to deal with that they always had.

Uconn isn't ever coming back to the AAC and that's fine. The AAC is moving in a different direction...that's fine too.

This is one of the best posts regarding the UConn/Big East/AAC topic I've ever read on the board.

I agree fully (though I like the AAC).

Well done, BearcatJerry.

(06-25-2021 10:43 AM)MemTGRS Wrote:  

(06-25-2021 09:54 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-25-2021 09:33 AM)schmolik Wrote:  Do you still believe the Big East "isn't much better" than the AAC for UConn? You wouldn't rather Cincinnati be in the Big East for men's basketball than the AAC?

Caveat: I despise the AAC. I really do. So, let's leave the "personal" (i.e. "Wouldn't you rather...") there. That being said, I really love college football, and so...NO...the current Big East would not be a viable option. (Which it isn't, anyway...so why bother crying over something that isn't possible?)

Second Caveat: I think Uconn made the RIGHT choice. 100%. I don't blame them for a moment. It was the right choice...FOR Uconn.

Those caveats recognized, I don't think one has to either (a) not like the AAC, or (b) think Uconn made the right choice to see that it's not all "skittles and beer." I get that we're all "fan bois" on this forum and "fan bois" are not that good at recognizing subtlety. The Big East fans are going to point out how good their conference is and how decrepit the AAC is, and obviously Uconn leaving the AAC for the BE is somehow a validation of the BE. The AAC fans are going to point out how Uconn never really fit into their conference, had different values than the rest of the AAC, and how they don't really "miss" Uconn...in fact how much happier they are that Uconn is gone. The Uconn fans are going to argue that they were the ones who dumped the AAC, how unhappy they were with the AAC opponents and the travel, and how much happier and better they're doing with their new girlfriend. Typical "fan boi" stuff, it is what it is. But the irony is that Uconn still has many of the same issues to deal with that they always had.

Uconn isn't ever coming back to the AAC and that's fine. The AAC is moving in a different direction...that's fine too.

Well said. From a strictly basketball standpoint, of course, UConn made the correct decision. Travel, money, rivalries, fan interest, location of conference tournament, and so forth. Of course, the Big East is better in hoops than the AAC.

Basketball (men & women) is the 99% stated purpose of the league ... and they did a great job with that for sure. I'll give 1% to college baseball since I am thoroughly enjoying the CWS --- and UConn has a fine program for the that (too bad for the diamond Huskies that when Big East baseball improves 10-fold, it will attain the level of mediocrity).

Compared the south, New York & New England, collectively does not even care to expend the energy to YAWN at college football. It is all NFL. And at the same time, I think it is fine to say that UConn, by their actions, is NOT fully committed to their football program. That is not me, but the roundabout way that Randy Edsall was commenting when the announcement was approaching.

I think it is disingenuous to state that from a football standpoint that their standing has remained constant (or, gasp, improved) --- not when they depart a league with a total record that would make even Vanderbilt blush at 11-45.

I know you are exaggerating regarding BE baseball. But I'll note ...

... Big East baseball offers eight programs. At least three of those (Xavier, St. John's and UConn) have been fairly strong recently (with St. John's a damn strong program historically). So I would consider the league "average" to "below average" currently (and vastly inferior to AAC baseball). Landing UConn could help spur some of the other BE baseball programs to "up their game." I would like to see that for the league (even though the two BE schools I root for — DePaul has no program and Georgetown's program has been rather poor for years — are non-factors).

But I don't expect to see BE baseball ever be nationally relevant — at least as a collective whole.

Jesus Christ, this thread has devolved into a group of catty women discussing the Brad Pitt/Jennifer Anniston divorce.



I'll let you all decide which one ended up getting married to a psycho with a bunch of adopted kids...

USFFan

(06-25-2021 09:54 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  ... The Big East fans are going to point out how good their conference is and how decrepit the AAC is, and obviously Uconn leaving the AAC for the BE is somehow a validation of the BE. The AAC fans are going to point out how Uconn never really fit into their conference, had different values than the rest of the AAC, and how they don't really "miss" Uconn...in fact how much happier they are that Uconn is gone. The Uconn fans are going to argue that they were the ones who dumped the AAC, how unhappy they were with the AAC opponents and the travel, and how much happier and better they're doing with their new girlfriend. ...

Yeah, that's how you get a ten page forum thread where it seems like 90%+ of people in the thread agree that the answer to the OP is "No".

_____________________

(06-25-2021 11:33 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  But I don't expect to see BE baseball ever be nationally relevant — at least as a collective whole.

Yes, among the second tier "break-even" sports, the Big East is never going to sponsor Hockey, their baseball exists because a majority of their schools play, but the better schools are always going to have to build their SOS on OOC games, and it's actually in Lacrosse where, despite only having five full member schools playing, there may be some opportunity to build some momentum as a conference.

The ack! (And I will call it such until the Nbe nonsense stops) has a team that won a couple championships in the 60s. We have championships from 4 teams from the 80s and 90s too numerous to mention. People say but Villanova and I ask who in the Big 10 or PAC 10 and I get no answer.