(01-25-2013 05:40 PM)MUAvalanche Wrote: They would at best be a short-term solution but always looking to leave because of FB. There is no guaranty of retaining them for any length of time if the BIG / ACC / SEC / XII / PAC merry-go-round hasn't stopped. I like the games against both schools, but I don't see it working out.
That is exactly what this is supposed to be. A short term solution. The intent is not to further ties with those schools, but to give some more time to evaluate other schools.
In other words, it would be clear from the beginning that the conference is not looking for a long term relationship with those schools as full members of the conference.
Benefits to the C7:
Fulfillment of the 12-team deal with Fox
Extra time to evaluate Dayton, SLU, and others
Early boost in conference reputation
Benefits to UConn/Cincinnati:
Better conference than nBE, even without being true members
Ability to wait out BCS realignment until a good deal is designed
No need to pay exit fees if they wait until the end of the contract
I think that doing it this way would somewhat negate the problems with dealing with those schools. They wouldn't want to leave until the end of the contract, and then it would be the C7 making them leave and not the other way around.