RE: What happens to the AAC if UConn goes independent in football
(10-27-2017 05:26 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:
(10-27-2017 02:12 PM)YNot Wrote: I think UConn could make football independence work. Without any need created by independence, the Huskies already have Boston College scheduled three times in November ('17, '22, '23) and HOST Missouri this weekend (late October...). They would be a perfect filler for a ACC scheduling gap created by the Notre Dame affiliation. UMass as an annual game is a no-brainer. They could likely get somewhat consistent later season games against Army, BYU, and Liberty and even Notre Dame on occasion. Fill in some gaps with AAC and MAC schools and....done.
If needed, the AD could use UConn 's OOC basketball schedule as a negotiation tool to get late season games against decent football opponents.
The schedule could look something like this:
8/31 - Holy Cross (FCS) 9/9 - Illinois
9/16 - at Virginia 9/23 - Temple 9/30 - at Northern Illinois 10/7 - at Cincinnati 10/14 - Buffalo 10/21 - at Liberty/BYU/Army
10/28 - Missouri 11/4 - BYE 11/11 - at Pitt
11/18 - v. Boston College (Fenway Park) 11/25 - UMass
HOME: Holy Cross, Illinois, Temple, Buffalo, Missouri, UMass
ROAD: Virginia, Northern Illinois, Cincinnati, Liberty/BYU/Army, Pitt, Boston College (Fenway)
I dont think scheduling would be the big problem. Attractive home scheduling would be an issue. Late season scheduling would be an issue. Little chance at an access bowl and only limited access to any bowl at all would be issues. Both of these issues would tend to have negative consequences on recruting--which would further make it more difficult to build the program.
Like I said, I think UConn will be in the AAC unless the new tv deal is a total bust---which would require it being less than 3 million a team (and even then, Im not sure UConn would be willing to damage a program that needs to look pretty decent if they hope to be a strong P5 expansion candidate when/if realignment restarts in the mid-2020's. That said, if they could swing a football only deal with the MAC---leaving is much more viable---but--even then---I still think the AAC is the best overall platform for UConn until a P5 offer comes along.
I think coug is spot on. Uconn could do it if they needed to probably as well as BYU if not better but the benefit to do so won't exceed the AAC benefit.
A season ending game with UMass would be obvious. They would likely need to bump their FCS game back to November as well. If they could get something going consistently with Army that would be beneficial as well for November. I think Umass Uconn and Army working together to provide each school one solid home draw in November would help all out. If fox wants Uconn in the Big East I agree they will need to pony up for a BYU level contract. The bowl issue would remain but I'm sure they would get in if they won 6 games as pretty much everyone does
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What happens to the AAC if UConn goes independent in football
