UConn approaching a fork in the road

[XUFan09]

The idea that the Big East needs to "move on" from UConn implies that the conference is actively looking to expand and needs to figure out a list of candidates in the near future. That's not true, though. The conference can bide its time and see how the landscape develops, concerning both UConn and any other plausible candidates.

^^^^^ exactly

No rush to expand, if we ever expand at all. Things are good right now.

Just need to monitor the situation. I have my eye on three things:
1. UConn
2. Gonzaga's viability
3. Dayton's ability to maintain some success and build their brand over the next few years

We don't need any of them to join, but good to keep window shopping in case we do want to expand down the road

"Window shopping" is a good way of putting it. What do you window shop for? Things that you don't really need right now (Dayton) and things that might never be within your reach (UConn and Gonzaga).

[NovaBall]

Agreed. bUt with window shopping shopping you might need the item some day (dayton) or it might one da become available (uconn and Gonzaga).

[XUFan09]

Agreed. bUt with window shopping shopping you might need the item some day (dayton) or it might one da become available (uconn and Gonzaga).

Yep, exactly.

[Dew]

UConn just created a meaningless rivalry game and trophy with UCF without their designated rival having any idea what the hell UConn is talking about. Sad. Just Sad.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... nt-rivalry

[Boyee]

The University of Connecticut will not be invited to any Power Five conference unless it has a decent football team. Boston College doesn't want UConn in their league because they sued them when they left the Big East Conference and they'd recruit the same area. The Big Ten Conference if they ever go to 16 would require membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) and be in a contiguous state, which they are not as Connecticut doesn't touch New Jersey. The Big 12 would likely add schools between West Virginia and the rest of the league if they add 2 more schools, which isn't likely as the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Oklahoma do not favor expansion and assuredly wouldn't add Connecticut, which would be another far flung school nowhere near any current Big 12 Conference members. Getting a better football team and convincing the Atlantic Coast Conference to make them the 16th member is likely the only option. The ACC would be comprised of 1/2 (8 of 16) former Big East schools if that happened. The current Big East Conference doesn't accept Division I FBS members.

[GoldenWarrior11]

I admire that Bob Diaco and/or the UCONN athletics department is trying to do something (anything) to create a rivalry within a conference that, for a lack of a better analogy, is an island of misfit toys. However, creating a rivalry trophy, with the name/logo/brand of a university without that school's consent, is not the way to go. If Diaco brings this makeshift trophy to their game this year, and UCF wins, what's to stop George O'Leary from taking that trophy and a) throwing it in the trash on television, b) leaving it on the benches after the game or c) destroying it?

It's a larger issue for the American than this, however. There cannot be rivalries between a school in Connecticut and school(s) in Florida (or Texas, or Oklahoma, or Louisiana for that matter). Fans/alumni in Connecticut could care less about Houston, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa, East Carolina, UCF, USF or Memphis - which is why UConn cannot grow as a football program in that conference. They will never be able to create enough interest in their football program against schools halfway across their country. Thankfully, their basketball programs were already nationally dominant before the Old Big East/American split, so they will be just fine without close rivalries in basketball. However, time will tell if their association in the American will pull that down too.

Slightly off topic, but we are so fortunate that we didn't get Mike Aresco to stay on as our commissioner. Not only is he making over $1.5 million (not unlike a power conference commissioner), but the TV deal is negotiated with ESPN for the AAC and the bowl games he got for the AAC are ATROCIOUS. Each school is making peanuts and, if all the cards align properly in the bowl games, the best bowl game the AAC can do (without a NY6 bowl) is the Military Bowl against the ACC (which will 99% likely be Navy). Avoided a disaster in that regard.

[robinreed]

Bill,
I have been posting favorable opinions and proposals for UConn to the Big East for well over a year on this site. The responses have been overwhelmingly negative by our posters. Many believe we must remain a private school conference. This seems inane to me however it seems to be the opinion of the majority of posters. Even should UConn drop FBS football or reduce their program to FCS do you believe the conference will solicit UConn? Obviously the presidents run the conference not the posters however if the opinions on this board reflect the majority of fans a UConn invite would not be welcome.

On the other hand additions of UConn and Wichita would elevate us significantly in public opinion.

[DudeAnon]

Bill,

I have been posting favorable opinions and proposals for UConn to the Big East for well over a year on this site. The responses have been overwhelmingly negative by our posters. Many believe we must remain a private school conference. This seems inane to me however it seems to be the opinion of the majority of posters. Even should UConn drop FBS football or reduce their program to FCS do you believe the conference will solicit UConn? Obviously the presidents run the conference not the posters however if the opinions on this board reflect the majority of fans a UConn invite would not be welcome.

On the other hand additions of UConn and Wichita would elevate us significantly in public opinion.

1. UCONN doesn't want the Big East until any hope of a P5 membership is gone
2. I can't imagine the BE denying UCONN under any circumstances, their basketball is just too good. And if they did get UCONN, I can imagine VCU being a good 12th addition rather than Wichita St.

[Xudash]

Bill,

I have been posting favorable opinions and proposals for UConn to the Big East for well over a year on this site. The responses have been overwhelmingly negative by our posters. Many believe we must remain a private school conference. This seems inane to me however it seems to be the opinion of the majority of posters. Even should UConn drop FBS football or reduce their program to FCS do you believe the conference will solicit UConn? Obviously the presidents run the conference not the posters however if the opinions on this board reflect the majority of fans a UConn invite would not be welcome.

On the other hand additions of UConn and Wichita would elevate us significantly in public opinion.

1. UCONN doesn't want the Big East until any hope of a P5 membership is gone
2. I can't imagine the BE denying UCONN under any circumstances, their basketball is just too good. And if they did get UCONN, I can imagine VCU being a good 12th addition rather than Wichita St.

I agree with your assessment of where UCONN currently stands in all this.

I also believe, assuming we invite them in, and with the public/private thing broken at that point, the 12th school will be another public university. Why not go for the larger fan base at that point. I just believe it should be VCU.

[hoyahooligan]

Bill,
I have been posting favorable opinions and proposals for UConn to the Big East for well over a year on this site. The responses have been overwhelmingly negative by our posters. Many believe we must remain a private school conference. This seems inane to me however it seems to be the opinion of the majority of posters. Even should UConn drop FBS football or reduce their program to FCS do you believe the conference will solicit UConn? Obviously the presidents run the conference not the posters however if the opinions on this board reflect the majority of fans a UConn invite would not be welcome.

On the other hand additions of UConn and Wichita would elevate us significantly in public opinion.

I don't think that's the view on Uconn at all. I think the majority of people would want Uconn in the conference. I think you're mistaking what some people think the conference might be thinking and maybe a few vocal bitter minorities.