(04-02-2018 11:36 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(04-02-2018 10:19 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(04-02-2018 09:24 AM)orangefan Wrote:  Finally, it's quite possible the AAC would let UConn stay as football only. They really don't have many other options. That said, UConn's decision has to assume that they would need to go independent.

I think they would. Heck, I wonder if by the conference bylaws they could even kick them out if they wanted? The Navy and WSU precedents could make the difficult, legally and in the eyes of the public.

But yes, the AAC certainly would bluster that if UConn removed their hoops all other sports must go as well, so like you say, they would have to plan for a worst-case scenario of independent football.

This is like saying the AAC would keep ECU basketball around if ECU decided to go independent in football. UConn has tremendous brand value in basketball. on the other hand---UConn was playing FCS football less than 20 years ago. Its football brand is far far less developed than their basketball brand. If I were UConn, I'd assume football independence would be necessary in a move to Big East.

ECU really has no brand value of any kind these days, football or basketball.

UConn is UConn, the brand they built in hoops has rubbed off to an extent on football. Plus, they are a good academic school, a flagship, and have easily the biggest athletic budget. Not comparable to ECU in any way.