Memphis and Cincy to Big 12?

[notkirkcameron]

UCONN is going to the B1G. If Rutgers football was good enough for Delaney, so is UCONN...

UConn doesnt give the Big Ten anything they don't already have. Rutgers already gave them crap football and a dubious claim to the NYC media market. I don't know the financials, but I can't imagine the Hartford TV market and having an equally dubious claim to the Boston TV market grows the pie enough to convince each of the other 14 members to take a smaller slice.

[gosports1]

UConn cant join the B1G until Buffalo does. The BIG needs a school in New York to make their territory connect.....

[Xudash]

I don't think we've mentioned another key obstacle to UCONN joining our nice little party: AAC Exit Fee. I read on the UCONN board that it equals $10 mil. On top of all their other misguided investments in football, that would be a hard pill to swallow. Then again, if the AAC does lose a couple more key teams, UCONN is looking at a road to hell if it remains aligned with that conference.

[robinreed]

UCONN is going to the B1G. If Rutgers football was good enough for Delaney, so is UCONN...

Two very different schools. Rutgers since it absorbed the medical school is now one of the biggest research schools in the country. They have a much deeper FB history and although mediocre Rutgers has been the better program since UConn has made the jump to FBS. Also NJ is a much better state to have in terms of both recruiting grounds and TV households.

Not to mention UConn isn't even AAU.

The AAU is the elephant in the room. Unfortunately UCONN is further away from AAU than several other schools in their league. UCF, Cincinnati, Houston are all closer than UCONN although the academics in general at UCONN are quite good. AAU of course pertains only to research. I know there are those on this site who disagree but if we have the chance to grab UCONN we should do it and not worry about their football. Notre Dame was a member of the old Big East for many years except in football. They contributed much to basketball in the BE during those years. Obviously any comparison between ND and UCONN is flawed, still in all we can get what we need from them despite their maintaining football as an independent.

[ElDonBDon]

UConn cant join the B1G until Buffalo does. The BIG needs a school in New York to make their territory connect.....

I'm pretty sure you are joking about Buffalo joining (at least, I hope you were). However, the B10 has said that they strongly desire a geographically-contiguous conference (though this didn't really seem true when they were supposedly looking to add UVA and GATech)

[butlerguy03]

UConn cant join the B1G until Buffalo does. The BIG needs a school in New York to make their territory connect.....

I'm pretty sure you are joking about Buffalo joining (at least, I hope you were). However, the B10 has said that they strongly desire a geographically-contiguous conference (though this didn't really seem true when they were supposedly looking to add UVA and GATech)

There used to be quite the rumor of the University of Toronto to the Big Ten. Obviously, there are some problems (such as D-1 level sports), but as an academic institution, they are a perfect fit.

Would be a good get for the Big East too.

[BigMac]

UCONN is going to the B1G. If Rutgers football was good enough for Delaney, so is UCONN...

Two very different schools. Rutgers since it absorbed the medical school is now one of the biggest research schools in the country. They have a much deeper FB history and although mediocre Rutgers has been the better program since UConn has made the jump to FBS. Also NJ is a much better state to have in terms of both recruiting grounds and TV households.

Not to mention UConn isn't even AAU.

The AAU is the elephant in the room. Unfortunately UCONN is further away from AAU than several other schools in their league. UCF, Cincinnati, Houston are all closer than UCONN although the academics in general at UCONN are quite good. AAU of course pertains only to research. I know there are those on this site who disagree but if we have the chance to grab UCONN we should do it and not worry about their football. Notre Dame was a member of the old Big East for many years except in football. They contributed much to basketball in the BE during those years. Obviously any comparison between ND and UCONN is flawed, still in all we can get what we need from them despite their maintaining football as an independent.

Nebraska isn't AAU, they were voted out by Wisconsin and Michigan (amongst others) after they joined... apparently the vote was before the B1G schools knew Nebraska was joining the Big Ten. NU had been a member since 1909 but had been on the hot seat for a decade due to lack of money and awards.

[GoldenWarrior11]

I don't think we've mentioned another key obstacle to UCONN joining our nice little party: AAC Exit Fee. I read on the UCONN board that it equals $10 mil. On top of all their other misguided investments in football, that would be a hard pill to swallow. Then again, if the AAC does lose a couple more key teams, UCONN is looking at a road to hell if it remains aligned with that conference.

With all the exit fees and tournament credits that UConn, Cincinnati and USF earned when the AAC/BE split, I don't think that $10 million is that big a deal to them. I can't seem to recall the exact amount, but those 3 schools that were "left behind" got a boat load of cash - so much so that there was genuine concern at one point by the AAC schools that those 3 schools would vote to dissolve the conference (and take ALL the money) after the C7 took the name, MSG and history, and rejoin as affiliate members in some capacity. Money does funny things to people...

I think that it is widely agreed that UConn will not be getting an invite from either the B1G or the ACC anytime soon (10 years minimum). Regardless of where their football team is at present (awful, one of worst programs in nation), they are not an AAU school, they are far from it. They removes any hope of a B1G invite. There are also a number of schools that would vote against their invitation in the ACC (BC, Syracuse come to mind). Florida State, Louisville and Clemson all would be against their add as well, because they would further drain their football conference. Florida State, who went undefeated this year, wasn't even #1 or #2 in the CFP. They were #3 (and they were defending National Champions) - that says a lot of about the ACC's respect as a football conference. They won't further add to the drain by adding a program that has gone 15-31 over the past 4 years (including zero bowl appearances).

[Xudash]

I don't think we've mentioned another key obstacle to UCONN joining our nice little party: AAC Exit Fee. I read on the UCONN board that it equals $10 mil. On top of all their other misguided investments in football, that would be a hard pill to swallow. Then again, if the AAC does lose a couple more key teams, UCONN is looking at a road to hell if it remains aligned with that conference.

With all the exit fees and tournament credits that UConn, Cincinnati and USF earned when the AAC/BE split, I don't think that $10 million is that big a deal to them. I can't seem to recall the exact amount, but those 3 schools that were "left behind" got a boat load of cash - so much so that there was genuine concern at one point by the AAC schools that those 3 schools would vote to dissolve the conference (and take ALL the money) after the C7 took the name, MSG and history, and rejoin as affiliate members in some capacity. Money does funny things to people...

I think that it is widely agreed that UConn will not be getting an invite from either the B1G or the ACC anytime soon (10 years minimum). Regardless of where their football team is at present (awful, one of worst programs in nation), they are not an AAU school, they are far from it. They removes any hope of a B1G invite. There are also a number of schools that would vote against their invitation in the ACC (BC, Syracuse come to mind). Florida State, Louisville and Clemson all would be against their add as well, because they would further drain their football conference. Florida State, who went undefeated this year, wasn't even #1 or #2 in the CFP. They were #3 (and they were defending National Champions) - that says a lot of about the ACC's respect as a football conference. They won't further add to the drain by adding a program that has gone 15-31 over the past 4 years (including zero bowl appearances).

I agree with virtually everything you wrote here. Believe me, I would love for the BE to find a way to grab UCONN for membership.

Nonetheless, that $10mm probably is a bigger deal than you believe. Keep in mind the State of CT. already has shelled out over $100mm for athletic facilities related to UCONN football. Those exit fees and tournament credits didn't add up to that, so another $10mm on top of that is going to create some real heartburn.

[notkirkcameron]

There used to be quite the rumor of the University of Toronto to the Big Ten. Obviously, there are some problems (such as D-1 level sports), but as an academic institution, they are a perfect fit.

Would be a good get for the Big East too.

I hope this is facetious. Let's not forget what this conference is founded on. Basketball. Basketball basketball basketball basketball basketball.

The University of Toronto's 'Varsity Blues" are currently 2-6 this season, and lost to Illinois-Chicago in a preseason game this year by 37 points. This is the same UIC team that lost to DePaul.