By afterthought, I mean not plan A. From multiple sources, UCONN wanted to leave fball in the AAC. Joe D’Ambrosio, UCONN play by play guy, was on Memphis radio when it first broke saying independence isn’t sustainable and mentioned CUSA and SBC as possibilities. Andy Katz said in another Memphis interview Indy is the only option and they have to at least try due to politics and optics since another conference won’t take them.

A SNY deal will help keep it visible and is a good thing. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence (that Ive read or heard) that BE/Indy fball was the plan all along even though it may turn out to be good for them in the long run. I’m taking a wait and see approach cuz you never know. And, who knows maybe a conference finds value and adds them as fball only in the future.

(06-28-2019 07:41 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:38 AM)stever20 Wrote:  You wonder how many schools Aresco has heard from this week about replacing UConn......

Probably none the AAC is interested in....

You never know. Probably a lot more schools than you would think. The AAC compared to the CUSA, MAC, and Sun Belt is stronger. The AAC is stronger in hoops vs the A10.

And the thing is especially with the A10, if you are Dayton or VCU and the other gets taken by the AAC, you know you are on a sinking ship in the A10.

(06-28-2019 07:51 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  By afterthought, I mean not plan A. From multiple sources, UCONN wanted to leave fball in the AAC. Joe D’Ambrosio, UCONN play by play guy, was on Memphis radio when it first broke saying independence isn’t sustainable and mentioned CUSA and SBC as possibilities. Andy Katz said in another Memphis interview Indy is the only option and they have to at least try due to politics and optics since another conference won’t take them.

A SNY deal will help keep it visible and is a good thing. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence (that Ive read or heard) that BE/Indy fball was the plan all along even though it may turn out to be good for them in the long run. I’m taking a wait and see approach cuz you never know. And, who knows maybe a conference finds value and adds them as fball only in the future.

My guess is that their planning process was -- flawed.

But if they had a whiteboard plan:
Option A. Remain in AAC as football affiliate. They had to know that was a stretch, but it's worth asking, sounding out The American.
Option B. The American replaced UConn with a CUSA/MAC team, UConn fills the vacant slot in the MAC/CUSA.

I don't think an 11-team AAC was something UConn had a contingency for.

(06-28-2019 07:59 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:51 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  By afterthought, I mean not plan A. From multiple sources, UCONN wanted to leave fball in the AAC. Joe D’Ambrosio, UCONN play by play guy, was on Memphis radio when it first broke saying independence isn’t sustainable and mentioned CUSA and SBC as possibilities. Andy Katz said in another Memphis interview Indy is the only option and they have to at least try due to politics and optics since another conference won’t take them.

A SNY deal will help keep it visible and is a good thing. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence (that Ive read or heard) that BE/Indy fball was the plan all along even though it may turn out to be good for them in the long run. I’m taking a wait and see approach cuz you never know. And, who knows maybe a conference finds value and adds them as fball only in the future.

My guess is that their planning process was -- flawed.

But if they had a whiteboard plan:
Option A. Remain in AAC as football affiliate. They had to know that was a stretch, but it's worth asking, sounding out The American.
Option B. The American replaced UConn with a CUSA/MAC team, UConn fills the vacant slot in the MAC/CUSA.

I don't think an 11-team AAC was something UConn had a contingency for.

but that's a huge risk there, option B. because what if they then do a call up from Sun Belt, or even directly from FCS? Or especially from CUSA, what if they don't replace and go with 13?

(06-28-2019 07:59 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:51 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  By afterthought, I mean not plan A. From multiple sources, UCONN wanted to leave fball in the AAC. Joe D’Ambrosio, UCONN play by play guy, was on Memphis radio when it first broke saying independence isn’t sustainable and mentioned CUSA and SBC as possibilities. Andy Katz said in another Memphis interview Indy is the only option and they have to at least try due to politics and optics since another conference won’t take them.

A SNY deal will help keep it visible and is a good thing. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence (that Ive read or heard) that BE/Indy fball was the plan all along even though it may turn out to be good for them in the long run. I’m taking a wait and see approach cuz you never know. And, who knows maybe a conference finds value and adds them as fball only in the future.

My guess is that their planning process was -- flawed.

But if they had a whiteboard plan:
Option A. Remain in AAC as football affiliate. They had to know that was a stretch, but it's worth asking, sounding out The American.
Option B. The American replaced UConn with a CUSA/MAC team, UConn fills the vacant slot in the MAC/CUSA.

I don't think an 11-team AAC was something UConn had a contingency for.

I doubt they are that foolish.

Pretty obvious to many that AAC would neither permit UConn stay football only nor pursue any expansion to replace UConn outside a limited set of schools likely to decline an offer.

I would suspect that UConn knew the lay of the land and was hoping for the best but felt the travel savings and hopefully renewed fan interest in the cash sports would fund the survival of football. There are several indies out there with fewer resources dedicated to athletics than UConn, if NMSU and UMass can afford it, UConn can afford it.

May not be a thrive situation but at this point survival is the currency for football.

(06-28-2019 08:17 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:59 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:51 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  By afterthought, I mean not plan A. From multiple sources, UCONN wanted to leave fball in the AAC. Joe D’Ambrosio, UCONN play by play guy, was on Memphis radio when it first broke saying independence isn’t sustainable and mentioned CUSA and SBC as possibilities. Andy Katz said in another Memphis interview Indy is the only option and they have to at least try due to politics and optics since another conference won’t take them.

A SNY deal will help keep it visible and is a good thing. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence (that Ive read or heard) that BE/Indy fball was the plan all along even though it may turn out to be good for them in the long run. I’m taking a wait and see approach cuz you never know. And, who knows maybe a conference finds value and adds them as fball only in the future.

My guess is that their planning process was -- flawed.

But if they had a whiteboard plan:
Option A. Remain in AAC as football affiliate. They had to know that was a stretch, but it's worth asking, sounding out The American.
Option B. The American replaced UConn with a CUSA/MAC team, UConn fills the vacant slot in the MAC/CUSA.

I don't think an 11-team AAC was something UConn had a contingency for.

I doubt they are that foolish.

Pretty obvious to many that AAC would neither permit UConn stay football only nor pursue any expansion to replace UConn outside a limited set of schools likely to decline an offer.

I would suspect that UConn knew the lay of the land and was hoping for the best but felt the travel savings and hopefully renewed fan interest in the cash sports would fund the survival of football. There are several indies out there with fewer resources dedicated to athletics than UConn, if NMSU and UMass can afford it, UConn can afford it.

May not be a thrive situation but at this point survival is the currency for football.

Not that long ago, Aresco was saying that if they lost two, they would stand pat, if they lost one, they would backfill. Largely because of the difficulties the rules pose for scheduling 11 teams and having a CCG. It was a very reasonable prediction that, just like with Tulsa, Tulane and ECU, the American would have to take the best available replacement to fill the slot.

From UConn's perspective, there's no point running a UMass-style football program. Heck, without the prospect of eventual conference membership, I'm not sure there's a point to UMass running a football program, but I expect that most of the UMass decision-makers who approved the FBS move, and then elected to stay in the A-10 instead of join the MAC, are still around and will have problems admitting their mistake.

Despite Aresco's confidence, the AAC is still not a lock to get a waiver to play a CCG with 11 games without wildly untraditional scheduling. And UConn still hasn't given their Notice of Withdrawal to Aresco.

(06-28-2019 08:44 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 08:17 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:59 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:51 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  By afterthought, I mean not plan A. From multiple sources, UCONN wanted to leave fball in the AAC. Joe D’Ambrosio, UCONN play by play guy, was on Memphis radio when it first broke saying independence isn’t sustainable and mentioned CUSA and SBC as possibilities. Andy Katz said in another Memphis interview Indy is the only option and they have to at least try due to politics and optics since another conference won’t take them.

A SNY deal will help keep it visible and is a good thing. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence (that Ive read or heard) that BE/Indy fball was the plan all along even though it may turn out to be good for them in the long run. I’m taking a wait and see approach cuz you never know. And, who knows maybe a conference finds value and adds them as fball only in the future.

My guess is that their planning process was -- flawed.

But if they had a whiteboard plan:
Option A. Remain in AAC as football affiliate. They had to know that was a stretch, but it's worth asking, sounding out The American.
Option B. The American replaced UConn with a CUSA/MAC team, UConn fills the vacant slot in the MAC/CUSA.

I don't think an 11-team AAC was something UConn had a contingency for.

I doubt they are that foolish.

Pretty obvious to many that AAC would neither permit UConn stay football only nor pursue any expansion to replace UConn outside a limited set of schools likely to decline an offer.

I would suspect that UConn knew the lay of the land and was hoping for the best but felt the travel savings and hopefully renewed fan interest in the cash sports would fund the survival of football. There are several indies out there with fewer resources dedicated to athletics than UConn, if NMSU and UMass can afford it, UConn can afford it.

May not be a thrive situation but at this point survival is the currency for football.

Not that long ago, Aresco was saying that if they lost two, they would stand pat, if they lost one, they would backfill. Largely because of the difficulties the rules pose for scheduling 11 teams and having a CCG. It was a very reasonable prediction that, just like with Tulsa, Tulane and ECU, the American would have to take the best available replacement to fill the slot.

From UConn's perspective, there's no point running a UMass-style football program. Heck, without the prospect of eventual conference membership, I'm not sure there's a point to UMass running a football program, but I expect that most of the UMass decision-makers who approved the FBS move, and then elected to stay in the A-10 instead of join the MAC, are still around and will have problems admitting their mistake.

Despite Aresco's confidence, the AAC is still not a lock to get a waiver to play a CCG with 11 games without wildly untraditional scheduling. And UConn still hasn't given their Notice of Withdrawal to Aresco.

Give it in August. That way 27 months would cover three football seasons and only 2 basketball seasons

(06-28-2019 08:51 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 08:44 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 08:17 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:59 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:51 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  By afterthought, I mean not plan A. From multiple sources, UCONN wanted to leave fball in the AAC. Joe D’Ambrosio, UCONN play by play guy, was on Memphis radio when it first broke saying independence isn’t sustainable and mentioned CUSA and SBC as possibilities. Andy Katz said in another Memphis interview Indy is the only option and they have to at least try due to politics and optics since another conference won’t take them.

A SNY deal will help keep it visible and is a good thing. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence (that Ive read or heard) that BE/Indy fball was the plan all along even though it may turn out to be good for them in the long run. I’m taking a wait and see approach cuz you never know. And, who knows maybe a conference finds value and adds them as fball only in the future.

My guess is that their planning process was -- flawed.

But if they had a whiteboard plan:
Option A. Remain in AAC as football affiliate. They had to know that was a stretch, but it's worth asking, sounding out The American.
Option B. The American replaced UConn with a CUSA/MAC team, UConn fills the vacant slot in the MAC/CUSA.

I don't think an 11-team AAC was something UConn had a contingency for.

I doubt they are that foolish.

Pretty obvious to many that AAC would neither permit UConn stay football only nor pursue any expansion to replace UConn outside a limited set of schools likely to decline an offer.

I would suspect that UConn knew the lay of the land and was hoping for the best but felt the travel savings and hopefully renewed fan interest in the cash sports would fund the survival of football. There are several indies out there with fewer resources dedicated to athletics than UConn, if NMSU and UMass can afford it, UConn can afford it.

May not be a thrive situation but at this point survival is the currency for football.

Not that long ago, Aresco was saying that if they lost two, they would stand pat, if they lost one, they would backfill. Largely because of the difficulties the rules pose for scheduling 11 teams and having a CCG. It was a very reasonable prediction that, just like with Tulsa, Tulane and ECU, the American would have to take the best available replacement to fill the slot.

From UConn's perspective, there's no point running a UMass-style football program. Heck, without the prospect of eventual conference membership, I'm not sure there's a point to UMass running a football program, but I expect that most of the UMass decision-makers who approved the FBS move, and then elected to stay in the A-10 instead of join the MAC, are still around and will have problems admitting their mistake.

Despite Aresco's confidence, the AAC is still not a lock to get a waiver to play a CCG with 11 games without wildly untraditional scheduling. And UConn still hasn't given their Notice of Withdrawal to Aresco.

Give it in August. That way 27 months would cover three football seasons and only 2 basketball seasons

I wonder if the Notice of Withdrawal is not going to be officially filed until a handshake deal is worked out on UConn's exit timeframe.

And the conference years run July 1 to June 30--you're not going to see UConn football in the AAC and basketball in the Big East for a year based on timing the exit exactly right.

(06-28-2019 08:51 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 08:44 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 08:17 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:59 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(06-28-2019 07:51 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  By afterthought, I mean not plan A. From multiple sources, UCONN wanted to leave fball in the AAC. Joe D’Ambrosio, UCONN play by play guy, was on Memphis radio when it first broke saying independence isn’t sustainable and mentioned CUSA and SBC as possibilities. Andy Katz said in another Memphis interview Indy is the only option and they have to at least try due to politics and optics since another conference won’t take them.

A SNY deal will help keep it visible and is a good thing. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence (that Ive read or heard) that BE/Indy fball was the plan all along even though it may turn out to be good for them in the long run. I’m taking a wait and see approach cuz you never know. And, who knows maybe a conference finds value and adds them as fball only in the future.

My guess is that their planning process was -- flawed.

But if they had a whiteboard plan:
Option A. Remain in AAC as football affiliate. They had to know that was a stretch, but it's worth asking, sounding out The American.
Option B. The American replaced UConn with a CUSA/MAC team, UConn fills the vacant slot in the MAC/CUSA.

I don't think an 11-team AAC was something UConn had a contingency for.

I doubt they are that foolish.

Pretty obvious to many that AAC would neither permit UConn stay football only nor pursue any expansion to replace UConn outside a limited set of schools likely to decline an offer.

I would suspect that UConn knew the lay of the land and was hoping for the best but felt the travel savings and hopefully renewed fan interest in the cash sports would fund the survival of football. There are several indies out there with fewer resources dedicated to athletics than UConn, if NMSU and UMass can afford it, UConn can afford it.

May not be a thrive situation but at this point survival is the currency for football.

Not that long ago, Aresco was saying that if they lost two, they would stand pat, if they lost one, they would backfill. Largely because of the difficulties the rules pose for scheduling 11 teams and having a CCG. It was a very reasonable prediction that, just like with Tulsa, Tulane and ECU, the American would have to take the best available replacement to fill the slot.

From UConn's perspective, there's no point running a UMass-style football program. Heck, without the prospect of eventual conference membership, I'm not sure there's a point to UMass running a football program, but I expect that most of the UMass decision-makers who approved the FBS move, and then elected to stay in the A-10 instead of join the MAC, are still around and will have problems admitting their mistake.

Despite Aresco's confidence, the AAC is still not a lock to get a waiver to play a CCG with 11 games without wildly untraditional scheduling. And UConn still hasn't given their Notice of Withdrawal to Aresco.

Give it in August. That way 27 months would cover three football seasons and only 2 basketball seasons

Except for the fact that July 1 is the season determining date. Where you are on July 1 is where you are for the year.