ACC proved out of UC's league
UC heads tried their hardest to reposition the athletics program, but, for now, they're stuck where they are
May 11, 2013 5:25 PM


Basketball coach Mick Cronin says former President Greg Williams was exploring options other than the Big East. enquirer file

Written by
Bill Koch

Monday
» Why has UC struggled historically to find a conference home for its athletics program?
Tuesday
» A look at UC’s conference affiliations through the years.
Wednesday
» A look at how UC stacks up in the American Athletic Conference.
Thursday
» What does the UC athletic department have to sell to a major conference?

Former University of Cincinnati president Greg Williams said he did everything he could to keep the school in one of the nation’s major leagues, including seeking alternatives beyond the Big East Conference.

Williams, who resigned suddenly last August and now lives in New York, has been criticized by some for putting too much effort into keeping the Big East afloat in what turned out to be a lost cause, but in an interview with The Enquirer last week, he said he was pursuing other options for UC even as he was working to keep the Big East intact.

He declined to give details about what those options were.

Williams acknowledged that he spent the bulk of his time trying to salvage the Big East because that’s where his athletic director and most of UC’s coaches wanted the school to be.

“It seemed like the best place for us,” Williams said. “At the same time, it was always clear to us that we were talking about a rapidly changing situation. We always had to try to position Cincinnati as best we could. There were always multiple scenarios going on at the same time. Some things were public. Some things weren’t. People were holding their cards close to their chest.”

UC basketball coach Mick Cronin said he knows that Williams was pursuing other options.

“It’s a fallacy that because President Williams was trying to save the Big East that he wasn’t also looking at other options,” Cronin said. “That’s why I would caution people just because you read something, don’t think, ‘Well, they were banking on that,’ because I know he was looking at every possible option for our university. … That kind of stuff is not going to play out publicly, but it doesn’t mean that people aren’t working on it every day.”

Asked if he would have done anything differently, Williams said, “Hindsight is always 20-20. We were doing the best we could do at the time trying to figure it out and realizing that we had to be on multiple fronts at the same time, but the No. 1 goal was to see if we could keep the Big East together. It was very clear to us that conference realignment was rapidly changing and no one could bet on anything. We had to think about different strategies.”

Unfortunately for UC, Williams’ efforts to save the Big East failed and UC has ended up in the new American Athletic Conference.

After he left UC, Big East members Louisville and Notre Dame were gobbled up by the ACC and Rutgers by the Big Ten. Before long, the Big East’s seven Catholic basketball schools, weary of having their fates dictated by the football schools, decided they would leave to form their own basketball conference, taking the Big East name with them.

UC did make an aggressive pitch to join the ACC last fall with an impressive presentation, according to an official from an ACC school who asked that his name not be used. But UC simply couldn’t offer the league what Louisville had – state-of-the-art football and basketball venues, an $84 million athletics budget and successful programs in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball in addition to solid programs in the Olympic sports.

When the Cardinals won the national championship in men’s basketball this past season and lost in the national championship game in women’s basketball, it was hard to argue with the ACC’s decision.

Although no vote was taken that would have determined whether UC or Connecticut was next in line, the official said it was clear from the tone of the discussions that Connecticut was viewed more favorably than UC.

In the end, UC, Connecticut and South Florida were left behind in the Big East and now in The American. And when the ACC announced recently that all of its members have agreed to allow the league to retain media rights for any school that leaves the conference, the odds that the ACC will have a reason to seek new members in the near future were greatly reduced.

The new league in 2013-14 will include UC, Connecticut, South Florida, Central Florida, Houston, Memphis, SMU, Louisville, Rutgers and Temple. After Louisville and Rutgers leave in 2014, Tulane, East Carolina and Tulsa will join the league.

“I think we have a great opportunity to be the marquee program of the new league,” said UC athletic director Whit Babcock.

But UC fans would prefer to see the Bearcats headed to the ACC or the Big 12 to assume what they believe is the school’s rightful place among the nation’s major players in collegiate athletics. That seems unlikely, at least in the near future, leaving UC officials to make the best of their situation.

What it means for the school is that after the Bowl Championship Series dissolves this year, the Bearcats will no longer have a direct path to the new playoff football system and the major bowl games. More importantly, it also means that as a member of The American, the school will receive about $1.8 million in annual television revenue compared with $18 million to $20 million the ACC schools receive.

“I feel sorry for them,” said former UC athletic director Bob Goin, who engineered UC’s move from Conference USA to the Big East in 2003. “They’ll bounce back somewhere, but the only chance they’ve got now is having (the ACC) say we’re better off adding somebody. It does hurt me. I was really proud that our football team was playing in the Orange Bowl and the Sugar Bowl and now the basketball team is going to the NCAA. They have things going. Now we’re back to Memphis coming to town, Tulane coming to town and SMU. The city’s not going to buy into that.”

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130...C-s-league

I'm not just being a homer Bearcat fan when I say this, but I strongly feel that the ACC missed a great opportunity by not adding UC. UC's football and basketball program is alot better than many of the programs they already have. And it would have given them a location in B1G area.

UC is a much improved school in all areas, not just sports. A missed opportunity that would have made the ACC probably the best b-ball conference and a much improved football conference.

In my opinion, that headline epitomizes this area's inability to present UC in a favorable light. How about something like "ACC Failes to Recognize UC's Value to League".

Goin's last sentence is 100% spot on. Any more than 2 years in this league could be a death penalty.

Clock is ticking. Coach Tubs has zero wiggle room. No time to ramp up.

Koch doesn't write the headlines so I'm not blaming him as much as the Enquirer but this is a huge problem in this city. No other city newspaper is going to paint the local university in such a negative light. And I don't want to hear its not the local medias role to promote the local university, go elsewhere and it's EXPECTED that the media paints the local university in a positive light.

(05-12-2013 07:57 AM)BearChatter v2.0 Wrote:  I'm not just being a homer Bearcat fan when I say this, but I strongly feel that the ACC missed a great opportunity by not adding UC. UC's football and basketball program is alot better than many of the programs they already have. And it would have given them a location in B1G area.

UC is a much improved school in all areas, not just sports. A missed opportunity that would have made the ACC probably the best b-ball conference and a much improved football conference.

You could make the case that UC is better NOW than half the teams in the Power 5, problem is in the past the adm. was content to sit in the Mo. Valley, Metro, Great Midwest and C-USA instead of ramping up and trying for admission in the 1970's,1980's or 1990's into one of these Power 5 conferences. AS always, as one great writer once said, Cincy is 50 years behind time. For once, Koch hit it spot on today, we are where we are, apparently we were not even next in line ( as most thought ), for entrance into the ACC. Unless the Big XII is forced to expand to have a league championship, UC is surely stuck in this new league of havenots and will, unfortunately, regress because of the huge disparity of money between the haves and havenots.

Quote:Although no vote was taken that would have determined whether UC or Connecticut was next in line, the official said it was clear from the tone of the discussions that Connecticut was viewed more favorably than UC.

I tried to tell people this and I was labeled a Louisville fan troll. Sucks that I was right though. Connecticut is clearly favored more than Cincinnati and if/when the ACC decides to expand to 16 (I also told you guys the ACC wouldn't be raided), UConn would be the favorite.

Get used to the American guys, it is our new home.

If they don't get into a different conference, I expect Tubberville to bolt in 2 years. Would you blame him? I wouldn't.

(05-12-2013 02:59 AM)ctipton Wrote:  Although no vote was taken that would have determined whether UC or Connecticut was next in line, the official said it was clear from the tone of the discussions that Connecticut was viewed more favorably than UC.

First of all, I must give props to Koch for the article. Learned two things - neither of which I'm happy about.

The quote above, if accurate, is indicative of the poor positioning that UC finds itself today. Those selling UC are simply not getting it down. UC needs to invest in a consultant that is a full time professional in brokering deals.

The second piece of information is even more disturbing.

“I think we have a great opportunity to be the marquee program of the new league,” said UC athletic director Whit Babcock.

What? We would be the marquee program in the MAC or the Sunbelt too, but that's nothing to be excited about. Is he beginning to be resigned to UC's fate? Please Mr. Babcock, don't try to sell me on the AAC.

(05-12-2013 11:11 AM)Kenyon#4 Wrote:  If they don't get into a different conference, I expect Tubberville to bolt in 2 years. Would you blame him? I wouldn't.

I wouldn't blame him but I don't know if programs will be lining up to hire a 60 year old coach.

IMO, the biggest issue Cincinnati has is that other schools have made the jump up to become their conference equals. The longer UC has to sit in the "minor leagues", the more time those schools have to catch up to Cincinnati in the areas where they are currently deficient, potentially passing UC in the pecking order.

(05-12-2013 02:19 PM)BearcatShane09 Wrote:  I wouldn't blame him but I don't know if programs will be lining up to hire a 60 year old coach.

Exactly, and 61 early into that season. Good programs want someone who can realistically be around for awhile, not someone who's approaching retirement.

I am waiting for my apologies from the usual suspects who berated me on the Realignment Thread.

(05-12-2013 02:46 PM)kobe Wrote:  I am waiting for my apologies from the usual suspects who berated me on the Realignment Thread.

Sure thing... I'm sorry you're such a glass half empty toolbag.

(05-12-2013 02:09 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  

(05-12-2013 02:59 AM)ctipton Wrote:  Although no vote was taken that would have determined whether UC or Connecticut was next in line, the official said it was clear from the tone of the discussions that Connecticut was viewed more favorably than UC.

First of all, I must give props to Koch for the article. Learned two things - neither of which I'm happy about.

The quote above, if accurate, is indicative of the poor positioning that UC finds itself today. Those selling UC are simply not getting it down. UC needs to invest in a consultant that is a full time professional in brokering deals.

The second piece of information is even more disturbing.

“I think we have a great opportunity to be the marquee program of the new league,” said UC athletic director Whit Babcock.

What? We would be the marquee program in the MAC or the Sunbelt too, but that's nothing to be excited about. Is he beginning to be resigned to UC's fate? Please Mr. Babcock, don't try to sell me on the AAC.

He is probably resigned to out lot. I am, too.

The GOR vote told me all I needed to know about the prospectus of UC getting a lifeline out of this second class conference any time soon. Get comfortable.

Ah, the halcyon days of conference home game tilts against Memphis, Tulane, ECU, Houston, et al.

Well, I really don't care how "right" Bob Goin is, and it is hard to argue, unless you have a lot of optimism.

But, why feel the need to blab it out? Goin should just STFU. His statement does NO GOOD. If an alcoholic comes into a job interview after having a few, and states to the interviewer, "Oh... by the way, I'm a F***ING DRUNK," what good has it done? This is a 24/7 sell job and we don't need a message-board-esque Chicken Little to go public with a predicted eulogy to UC athletics. Goin should know better.

Shoulda called this the prozac thread. Each if you needs about 80 mg pr. Whatever conference we are in it wont stop me buying tickets. Support your alma mater, thats the only possible way we have of stopping this from getting worse.

(05-12-2013 03:30 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(05-12-2013 02:46 PM)kobe Wrote:  I am waiting for my apologies from the usual suspects who berated me on the Realignment Thread.

Sure thing... I'm sorry you're such a glass half empty toolbag.

...who has been correct on every element of realignment regarding the ACC.

(05-12-2013 06:11 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  Shoulda called this the prozac thread. Each if you needs about 80 mg pr. Whatever conference we are in it wont stop me buying tickets. Support your alma mater, thats the only possible way we have of stopping this from getting worse.

Well, duuuuhh... I never planned any differently, and I hope most on this board would do the same. There is a difference between withdrawing support and expressing concern.

And keep those donations coming (IF you can).

(05-12-2013 06:27 PM)kobe Wrote:  

(05-12-2013 03:30 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(05-12-2013 02:46 PM)kobe Wrote:  I am waiting for my apologies from the usual suspects who berated me on the Realignment Thread.

Sure thing... I'm sorry you're such a glass half empty toolbag.

...who has been correct on every element of realignment regarding the ACC.

show me where you called Syracuse/Pitt to the ACC. Show me where you said Maryland was going to leave the ACC. Show me where you said the ACC would get a Grant of Rights signed. Been correct on every element of realignment regarding the ACC? Come on. You are just as clueless about realignment as everyone else is, right up until something happens.

(05-12-2013 06:58 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(05-12-2013 06:27 PM)kobe Wrote:  

(05-12-2013 03:30 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(05-12-2013 02:46 PM)kobe Wrote:  I am waiting for my apologies from the usual suspects who berated me on the Realignment Thread.

Sure thing... I'm sorry you're such a glass half empty toolbag.

...who has been correct on every element of realignment regarding the ACC.

show me where you called Syracuse/Pitt to the ACC. Show me where you said Maryland was going to leave the ACC. Show me where you said the ACC would get a Grant of Rights signed. Been correct on every element of realignment regarding the ACC? Come on. You are just as clueless about realignment as everyone else is, right up until something happens.

I was ridiculed on the Realignment Thread for saying the ACC wouldn't get raided when everyone thought it was a foregone conclusion. I also tried to explain the reasons why UConn was considered much more favorably than UC but I was called a Louisville fan and a troll...