If we conclude the next domino to fall is that some members of the American Conference will end up in the Big XII, or for the sake of arguments in some form of a joined conference, I can't decide which of the below is true:

1) UConn's move to the Big East - controversial at the time for essentially sacrificing their FB program for the BB program - now looks like a genius move, because they reached out the Big East before being homeless, in a position of strength, and making it look like a proactive move.

2) If UCONN were still in the American, they may have been not only in consideration for the Big XII, but possible at the top of the list for the Big XII (TV market, mens/womens BB, etc), and thus shot themselves in the foot (again) by joining the Big East and being out of sight/ out of mind in terms of expansion teams.

Anyone want to guide me in the right direction?

#1

(07-29-2021 02:03 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  If we conclude the next domino to fall is that some members of the American Conference will end up in the Big XII, or for the sake of arguments in some form of a joined conference, I can't decide which of the below is true:

1) UConn's move to the Big East - controversial at the time for essentially sacrificing their FB program for the BB program - now looks like a genius move, because they reached out the Big East before being homeless, in a position of strength, and making it look like a proactive move.

2) If UCONN were still in the American, they may have been not only in consideration for the Big XII, but possible at the top of the list for the Big XII (TV market, mens/womens BB, etc), and thus shot themselves in the foot (again) by joining the Big East and being out of sight/ out of mind in terms of expansion teams.

Anyone want to guide me in the right direction?

lol

We want nothing to do with the AAC or Big 12 at this point. If the SEC raids the ACC, UConn will be sitting at the top of the list with WVU. We're good.

It's #1. The only AAC teams that stand a chance of getting a Big 12 offer are the ones that have excelled at football over the past 5-6 years. UConn football was not in that category.

UConn did a better job of recognizing reality than a lot of schools caught up in the current mess are doing.

(07-29-2021 02:12 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  We want nothing to do with the AAC or Big 12 at this point. If the SEC raids the ACC, UConn will be sitting at the top of the list with WVU. We're good.

While there was some humor intended, this wasn't mean to knock UConn, as much as the primary reason I wrote this is UConn went from just missing out on the ACC, and thought to be next in line if the Big 12 expanded a couple of years ago, to not even being in Dave's Top Ten list now...

(07-29-2021 02:13 PM)Wedge Wrote:  It's #1. The only AAC teams that stand a chance of getting a Big 12 offer are the ones that have excelled at football over the past 5-6 years. UConn football was not in that category.

UConn did a better job of recognizing reality than a lot of schools caught up in the current mess are doing.

A top ten BB program may add more money than a top 50ish football program though. I'm just surprised at how far down the list they fell from only a few years ago

(07-29-2021 02:03 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  If we conclude the next domino to fall is that some members of the American Conference will end up in the Big XII, or for the sake of arguments in some form of a joined conference, I can't decide which of the below is true:

1) UConn's move to the Big East - controversial at the time for essentially sacrificing their FB program for the BB program - now looks like a genius move, because they reached out the Big East before being homeless, in a position of strength, and making it look like a proactive move.

2) If UCONN were still in the American, they may have been not only in consideration for the Big XII, but possible at the top of the list for the Big XII (TV market, mens/womens BB, etc), and thus shot themselves in the foot (again) by joining the Big East and being out of sight/ out of mind in terms of expansion teams.

Anyone want to guide me in the right direction?

It's #1.

Plus, I don't think being the American would have mattered one way or the other for potential Big 12 membership for UConn, anyway. Most people acknowledge that BYU is the most valuable school that's not already in a P5 conference and independence has arguably helped them in that perception.

UConn's value proposition to a P5 league is similar to Kansas: we're a flagship school that's super-elite in basketball while happening to have an FBS football program on paper. That doesn't change whether being in a conference or independent.

UConn, like the Big East (C7) before it, took an unconventional and highly questionable pathway (to a large population on this board) by choosing to prioritize basketball (and the remainder of their non-football athletic departments) and moving away from football-first decision making in conferences. There were always going to be loud and vocal critics, especially those not-affiliated with the school, that would mock and criticize that decision, mostly because these fans could not fathom their own school making a similar choice. Whether it is Texas/Oklahoma, UConn, Syracuse/Pitt, etc., schools will continue to do what is in their best interests, both short-term and long-term, for the betterment of their athletic department and institution.

Although, to this day, I remain puzzled by the many posters that defended and highlighted the potential and value UConn brought to the AAC, only to see that immediately reversed and began declaring that the AAC was actually better without UConn once they had returned to the Big East. I remember quite a few posters even predicting UConn would be returning to the Big East pre-2019, and many thought that was impossible. UConn made the best financial decision it could have in 2019. While they were likely disappointed it wasn't the ACC or B1G, they came to the realization that an invitation from either of those two leagues were simply never going to come. A hypothetical invitation to the Big 12 today, minus Texas and Oklahoma, still would not have put them in a perceived power conference, as power conferences don't lose their top members to other leagues.

As proven by the various threads over the past few days, fans will argue in support of whatever benefits their school, not necessarily what will actually happen.

(07-29-2021 02:19 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  UConn's value proposition to a P5 league is similar to Kansas: we're a flagship school that's super-elite in basketball while happening to have an FBS football program on paper. That doesn't change whether being in a conference or independent.

Well being in the BE would complicate matters because of both rights agreements (I believe they are bound for some time) AND the idea that if UConn even flirted with trying to be available, it may put them in a bad position with the BE who broke away to avoid just this situation, so they can't even try to be active to present their case. That and all of the action appears to be just between those two conferences, and no one else.

As you've always said, the teams most likely to be added are the ones who've been in the longest. Even though UConn has only been FBS for just under 20 years, they were a BCS team before anyone that is left in the AAC (well I guess other than Temple). But you can't get the job if you cannot email your resume.

(07-29-2021 02:16 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(07-29-2021 02:12 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  We want nothing to do with the AAC or Big 12 at this point. If the SEC raids the ACC, UConn will be sitting at the top of the list with WVU. We're good.

While there was some humor intended, this wasn't mean to knock UConn, as much as the primary reason I wrote this is UConn went from just missing out on the ACC, and thought to be next in line if the Big 12 expanded a couple of years ago, to not even being in Dave's Top Ten list now...

I'm not mad at all. IMO, everything is looking up for UConn. We are in a power conference in basketball and play an independent schedule with at least 4 P5 games per year going forward. I believe within the next decade, the SEC will raid the ACC, and UConn and WVU will be scooped up.

(07-29-2021 02:33 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(07-29-2021 02:19 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  UConn's value proposition to a P5 league is similar to Kansas: we're a flagship school that's super-elite in basketball while happening to have an FBS football program on paper. That doesn't change whether being in a conference or independent.

Well being in the BE would complicate matters because of both rights agreements (I believe they are bound for some time) AND the idea that if UConn even flirted with trying to be available, it may put them in a bad position with the BE who broke away to avoid just this situation, so they can't even try to be active to present their case. That and all of the action appears to be just between those two conferences, and no one else.

As you've always said, the teams most likely to be added are the ones who've been in the longest. Even though UConn has only been FBS for just under 20 years, they were a BCS team before anyone that is left in the AAC (well I guess other than Temple). But you can't get the job if you cannot email your resume.

Being in the Big East with their actual long-term rivals and the MSG tournament is flat-out better than being in a backfilled Big 12 for UConn, no qualifiers needed.

Joining a plains states conference for $40+ million a year was an entirely different proposition than what it's going to be sans UT/OU/whomever else.

UCONN made the correct decision, prioritized the things that were important to them, and maybe it ends their football program but they walked into the decision knowing that was a possibility and seem to be fine with it. Good for them.

(07-29-2021 02:03 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  If we conclude the next domino to fall is that some members of the American Conference will end up in the Big XII, or for the sake of arguments in some form of a joined conference, I can't decide which of the below is true:

1) UConn's move to the Big East - controversial at the time for essentially sacrificing their FB program for the BB program - now looks like a genius move, because they reached out the Big East before being homeless, in a position of strength, and making it look like a proactive move.

2) If UCONN were still in the American, they may have been not only in consideration for the Big XII, but possible at the top of the list for the Big XII (TV market, mens/womens BB, etc), and thus shot themselves in the foot (again) by joining the Big East and being out of sight/ out of mind in terms of expansion teams.

Anyone want to guide me in the right direction?

I vote for #1. I think UConn feels much more at home in the Big East than they would in a combined L8/AAC setup.

But I am not UConn, so ....

Hands down No. 1.

UConn is right where it needs to be at this point in its athletics evolution. The end game for the university (as I've long seen it) is membership in an all-sports league with various members of the ACC (which could happen if massive realignment hits). A league comprised of UConn and, for example, a majority of the following — Duke, Buffalo, Syracuse, UMass, Boston College, Wake Forest, Navy, Temple, Pitt, West Virginia, Louisville, Miami, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, etc. — would be great for UConn football, hoops and baseball.

Conference realignment is not over. Eventually, there will be more major shifts and such a league as I outline could arise. And that future conference is where UConn will want to be in the end — and not the Big East. Just like the Big East is where UConn wants to be now and not the AAC. It's very simple.

(07-29-2021 02:19 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(07-29-2021 02:03 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  If we conclude the next domino to fall is that some members of the American Conference will end up in the Big XII, or for the sake of arguments in some form of a joined conference, I can't decide which of the below is true:

1) UConn's move to the Big East - controversial at the time for essentially sacrificing their FB program for the BB program - now looks like a genius move, because they reached out the Big East before being homeless, in a position of strength, and making it look like a proactive move.

2) If UCONN were still in the American, they may have been not only in consideration for the Big XII, but possible at the top of the list for the Big XII (TV market, mens/womens BB, etc), and thus shot themselves in the foot (again) by joining the Big East and being out of sight/ out of mind in terms of expansion teams.

Anyone want to guide me in the right direction?

It's #1.

Plus, I don't think being the American would have mattered one way or the other for potential Big 12 membership for UConn, anyway. Most people acknowledge that BYU is the most valuable school that's not already in a P5 conference and independence has arguably helped them in that perception.

UConn's value proposition to a P5 league is similar to Kansas: we're a flagship school that's super-elite in basketball while happening to have an FBS football program on paper. That doesn't change whether being in a conference or independent.

This. Being in the AAC wouldn't make UConn more attractive to the B12 or any other P5 league. UConn is a known quantity and if a P5 conference determines inviting UConn would be beneficial, they'll do it. I'm not sure UConn would turn down the B12 if they decided to show interest. I'm not sure I'd want UConn anywhere near that conference right now but the TV contract doesn't expire for 4 years and as things stand now, Texas and OU will be in the conference for another 4 years. It would certainly boost fan interest in UConn football for a few years and bring in a lot of money short term.