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Time for Wichita State to bring their football program up to fill the void from UConn leaving?
They have talked about it for years and have a stadium already built.

(06-22-2019 11:48 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(06-22-2019 11:45 AM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  Do they just drop football?

They'll go FCS and find their way back in with Villanove and Maine etc. Good riddance...they've been an anchor for the conference in primary revenue sports for quite some time.

Come on now. That's more than a bit of hyperbole. They won a national championship just five years ago, and they're a national brand in basketball. This would be a big loss.

I feel bad for Temple, because now they're truly on an island. The conference's future, for better or worse, is south and west and that's born out by the front office move to Dallas. My first choice would be to add one basketball only and one football only school. Dayton/ VCU and Army would be my choices. If we expand, maybe now is the time to go west. For football, move Navy and/ or Memphis to the east and add New Mexico (I'm probably in the minority), Air Force and Colorado State out west. Sew up the growing Front Range of Colorado.

Aresco needs to be smart about this. Let's not water down the conference any more than it already is. We want to maximize our economics and national interest [eyes on sets/ratings/advertising] so if that means adding Boise St or Army in football only and Gonzaga or VCU in basketball only then do it. Obviously, there has to be mutual interest but leave no stone unturned. There also is the ESPN 2020 deal and I'm not sure how that fits in. Is it better to sit at 11 and split the pot with one less team? Depends on what the additions can bring. I'm sure Aresco has had contingency plans in place for some time....

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-u-conn-...00471.html

Quote:Big East spokesman John Paquette declined comment when reached on Saturday morning. UConn athletic director David Benedict didn’t return a call, nor did administrative sources there. AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco, who runs the conference UConn would be departing, didn’t return a phone call.

In other words, the wall of non-denials and silence that tends to accompany these types of events has been built. Sources indicated it’d be shocking if the move doesn’t happen.

To those in the AAC, this move comes as comes as little surprise. The biggest sign that UConn could be moving elsewhere soon was their opposition to the league’s recent television deal.

“The news isn’t catching a lot of people by surprise,” said a source within the league. “I think it’s felt imminent.”

(06-22-2019 12:22 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  Time for Wichita State to bring their football program up to fill the void from UConn leaving?
They have talked about it for years and have a stadium already built.

Have you actually seen Cessna Stadium? (I have...)

It is a dump. And, Wichita State converted it a couple of years back to be a dedicated Track and Field Stadium to host the Kansas State High School Track and Field Championship meets. Or, in other words, Cessna Stadium would require an extensive rebuild and refit to make it Football playable.

Murray State would be in a better position to make that jump...and NO, I'm not advocating for Murray State. I'm just trying to offer some perspective.

Maybe Beej can tell me if I'm way off base here...

If this is true, it's terrible for the AAC and UC. Other than UC, UCONN is really the only other marquee name school in the AAC. It cements the idea that this conference is C-USA 2.0. If this happens, UC really has to find a way into the ACC soon. I think that's the only realistic landing place.

It doesn't matter that UCONN hasn't been great for awhile, it's perception. Hopefully someone that makes decisions is smart enough not to replace them.

Add Villanova. Even swap.

(06-22-2019 12:30 PM)geef Wrote:  I feel bad for Temple, because now they're truly on an island. The conference's future, for better or worse, is south and west and that's born out by the front office move to Dallas. My first choice would be to add one basketball only and one football only school. Dayton/ VCU and Army would be my choices. If we expand, maybe now is the time to go west. For football, move Navy and/ or Memphis to the east and add New Mexico (I'm probably in the minority), Air Force and Colorado State out west. Sew up the growing Front Range of Colorado.

Hell, WE'RE on "an island." Always have been, always will be in this conference. Temple still has ECU and Navy as a functional travel partner going forward. We've got NO ONE.

And here's the truly sobering thought... Where does the "Center of Gravity" in this conference now lie? Or, in other words, where do "the majority" of members in the conference now exist? It's the Presidents who make these decisions...

I'm guessing that any "new" member will be somewhere in the deep South or Southwest. Southern Miss, UTEP, North Texas, etc... This will not "help" UC at all. Navy will be moved over to the "East" division to rebalance the equation and someone like that will be added.

And CUSA 2.0 will keep getting more CUSA'er…

(06-22-2019 12:33 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-22-2019 12:22 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  Time for Wichita State to bring their football program up to fill the void from UConn leaving?
They have talked about it for years and have a stadium already built.

Have you actually seen Cessna Stadium? (I have...)

It is a dump. And, Wichita State converted it a couple of years back to be a dedicated Track and Field Stadium to host the Kansas State High School Track and Field Championship meets. Or, in other words, Cessna Stadium would require an extensive rebuild and refit to make it Football playable.

Murray State would be in a better position to make that jump...and NO, I'm not advocating for Murray State. I'm just trying to offer some perspective.

Maybe Beej can tell me if I'm way off base here...

Great post. Wichita's stadium is basically two massive slabs of poured concrete propped up at 45 degree angles. It makes UCF's erector set stadium look like the Mercedes Benz Dome.

From a tv contract standpoint this might hurt. They are still considered a national brand. Competition standpoint no big deal. Their fball and b-ball are terrible. Huge loss in baseball. Go after BYU.

(06-22-2019 12:38 PM)crex043 Wrote:  Add Villanova. Even swap.

Nova was toying with the idea of growing fball in the actual BE

(06-22-2019 12:38 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-22-2019 12:30 PM)geef Wrote:  I feel bad for Temple, because now they're truly on an island. The conference's future, for better or worse, is south and west and that's born out by the front office move to Dallas. My first choice would be to add one basketball only and one football only school. Dayton/ VCU and Army would be my choices. If we expand, maybe now is the time to go west. For football, move Navy and/ or Memphis to the east and add New Mexico (I'm probably in the minority), Air Force and Colorado State out west. Sew up the growing Front Range of Colorado.

Hell, WE'RE on "an island." Always have been, always will be in this conference. Temple still has ECU and Navy as a functional travel partner going forward. We've got NO ONE.

And here's the truly sobering thought... Where does the "Center of Gravity" in this conference now lie? Or, in other words, where do "the majority" of members in the conference now exist? It's the Presidents who make these decisions...

I'm guessing that any "new" member will be somewhere in the deep South or Southwest. Southern Miss, UTEP, North Texas, etc... This will not "help" UC at all. Navy will be moved over to the "East" division to rebalance the equation and someone like that will be added.

And CUSA 2.0 will keep getting more CUSA'er…

Probably the reason why I'm reluctantly supportive of going out west. Unfortunately, there are literally no expansion options outside of CUSA schools that would be travel partners. Standing pat is probably the best decision at this point.

I hate FB or BB only additions, seems small time.

That said Army FB only would be OK if a way to deal with the big money Army Navy after Conference Champ game can be resiolved.

Candidates remember TV market size matters:
MAC - Toledo then Buffalo then NIU Yes Buffalo is a Pro City but so is Cincy.
CUSA - UAB CHARLOTTE ODU USM Please no more TX schools
MW - BSU CSU AF
Indy - BYU (dirty FB players) UMass (UConn with worse BB)
We lost an East Conference School so I want an eastern team. If not eastern who would move? Navy would fight. Tulane? Nice trip, bad team.

Cancel all UConn FB games ASAP.

(06-22-2019 01:04 PM)doss2 Wrote:  I hate FB or BB only additions, seems small time.

That said Army FB only would be OK if a way to deal with the big money Army Navy after Conference Champ game can be resiolved.

Candidates remember TV market size matters:
MAC - Toledo then Buffalo then NIU Yes Buffalo is a Pro City but so is Cincy.
CUSA - UAB CHARLOTTE ODU USM Please no more TX schools
MW - BSU CSU AF

We lost an East Conference School so I want an eastern team. If not eastern who would move? Navy would fight. Tulane? Nice trip, bad team.

Cancel all UConn FB games ASAP.

If UC were to advocate for a replacement, I wonder who it would be?

Frankly, I like Toledo...they have been operating at a high level for a long time, at least in Football. They have had a series of successful coaches and the Glass Bowl is at least a nostalgic facility to play in. The trouble would be that would introduce a competitor to UC in recruiting...but I think it would also enhance UC recruiting by opening a part of the State that UC doesn't always get into. And it would create an instant rival for UC and the Conference. (That being said, I can't see the AAC going for Toledo.)

I can't see Army being willing or able, but I could see UC wanting them. (Despite the fact that UC always struggled with Army in the old CUSA...)

Buffalo? I'm not sure about this...UB would be well outside our "travel radius" for a natural fit.

I'm sure someone here will advocate Ohio. While I'd like to play the Bobcats, they really are a much better fit in the MAC.

Marshall would be regional...and not a terrible fit, but they really are more in the mold of a "poor, southern school." As a West Virginian, it'd be cool to see the Bearcats play in Huntington (I'm going to the game this fall...) but I don't think Marshall is a terribly good fit for this conference. Better than some (UMass...) I guess.

Again, the trouble is that the Conference is not terribly interested in helping UC. I don't think they will try and shore up our situation. I think they will look elsewhere.

Sucks because UCONN Mens and Womens basketball bring alot of cache to this conference. That matters, reppacing with VCU and Dayton is not equal.

The AAC now needs to boot Tulsa, Tulan, and ECU and just make the payouts hire for everyone. I would only expand if it is a home run like BYU. Im not a fan of moat of the other options.

(06-22-2019 01:19 PM)jarr Wrote:  Sucks because UCONN Mens and Womens basketball bring alot of cache to this conference. That matters, reppacing with VCU and Dayton is not equal.

The AAC now needs to boot Tulsa, Tulan, and ECU and just make the payouts hire for everyone. I would only expand if it is a home run like BYU. Im not a fan of moat of the other options.

I wish we could boot members out.

In regards to the Villanova suggestion above, are there any schools in the Big East that aren't happy in that conference? Could we pull a school like Creighton, who would have a natural rivalry in the conference (Wichita) and receive better exposure in the AAC? Very unlikely, but just something to throw at the wall here.

(06-22-2019 01:19 PM)jarr Wrote:  Sucks because UCONN Mens and Womens basketball bring alot of cache to this conference. That matters, reppacing with VCU and Dayton is not equal.

The AAC now needs to boot Tulsa, Tulan, and ECU and just make the payouts hire for everyone. I would only expand if it is a home run like BYU. Im not a fan of moat of the other options.

at least the flagship sport for the conference is no longer woman's hoops

(06-22-2019 01:35 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote:  

(06-22-2019 01:19 PM)jarr Wrote:  Sucks because UCONN Mens and Womens basketball bring alot of cache to this conference. That matters, reppacing with VCU and Dayton is not equal.

The AAC now needs to boot Tulsa, Tulan, and ECU and just make the payouts hire for everyone. I would only expand if it is a home run like BYU. Im not a fan of moat of the other options.

I wish we could boot members out.

In regards to the Villanova suggestion above, are there any schools in the Big East that aren't happy in that conference? Could we pull a school like Creighton, who would have a natural rivalry in the conference (Wichita) and receive better exposure in the AAC? Very unlikely, but just something to throw at the wall here.

I don't see why any team would want out of the Big East unless they were wanting to bring back their football team. For basketball only there's no reason to switch conferences.

Marshall, Dayton, VCU. Solves a lot of issues for the league. Rebuild the eastern block strong fan bases and regional opponents.

(06-22-2019 02:06 PM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  Marshall, Dayton, VCU. Solves a lot of issues for the league. Rebuild the eastern block strong fan bases and regional opponents.

I cringe when I see those teams on the non conference schedule.