Xavier AD says expanding to 12 schools within 5 years

[TheHall]

your wife was leaving you. she was chasing after men with a lot more money than you have to offer. any interest in you is only to use you for money until she leaves you for the next suitor. the sad thing is you are begging her to use you again and she has made no attempt to come back, its pathetic, sorry and sad. just let her go... she is never coming back and you will be better off for it. The faster you realize this the better off you are. It does not matter where you go from here just that you can't go back to the past. you cannot simply remarry and return to the better days of yesteryear. your bride is gone. You can sit here and mope or move on either alone or with someone else. the choice is yours.

er, ok. nice analogy. i think maybe the prodigal son would be a more appropriate parable for a Catholic based league.

Add UConn.

I'd guess UConn needs to give us 10 or so Our Fathers, a half dozen Hail Marys, and several Act of Contritions. And toss a little something in the poor box. And don't forget bringing something on bingo night and to St Rocco's Feast. And come to think of it, the rock salt has torn up the steps, maybe they could do something about that too, you know? I'm not saying, i'm just saying. That might get them in the appointment book.

That's a reasonable starting point for negotiations...

[Bluejay]

Can someone explain to me the worst case scenario for adding UCONN?

Sure. But first, can somebody explain to me each of the following:

1) Why there is a belief that UConn is even in play;
2) Why the AAC would willing keep UConn's lousy football program while giving up their lucrative basketball program;
3) Which conference would house UConn's football team if they joined the BE;
4) Why there is a belief that UConn would even be interested in such a move (their loudmouthed AD has a history of begging for admission to conferences, but I've yet to see any comment indicating they want to move to the BE).

UConn ain't coming. Further, constant lobbying on the part of two posters here isn't going to change that situation either.

[DudeAnon]

Can someone explain to me the worst case scenario for adding UCONN?

Sure. But first, can somebody explain to me each of the following:

1) Why there is a belief that UConn is even in play;
2) Why the AAC would willing keep UConn's lousy football program while giving up their lucrative basketball program;
3) Which conference would house UConn's football team if they joined the BE;
4) Why there is a belief that UConn would even be interested in such a move (their loudmouthed AD has a history of begging for admission to conferences, but I've yet to see any comment indicating they want to move to the BE).

UConn ain't coming. Further, constant lobbying on the part of two posters here isn't going to change that situation either.

Fine, substitute UCONN for "School with Football".

I just don't see the downsides to it. The P5 is set, they might poach another school or two, but the Big East isn't going to repeat what happened with realignment, there simply aren't enough good schools available.

[Dave]

Can someone explain to me the worst case scenario for adding UCONN?

Sure. But first, can somebody explain to me each of the following:

1) Why there is a belief that UConn is even in play;
2) Why the AAC would willing keep UConn's lousy football program while giving up their lucrative basketball program;
3) Which conference would house UConn's football team if they joined the BE;
4) Why there is a belief that UConn would even be interested in such a move (their loudmouthed AD has a history of begging for admission to conferences, but I've yet to see any comment indicating they want to move to the BE).

UConn ain't coming. Further, constant lobbying on the part of two posters here isn't going to change that situation either.

1) Best of the programs that is not in the ACC, b10, b12, PAC, or SEC.
2) The AAC is built on FBS revenue. It does not pay as well on hoops. If UConn left for hoops, they would be better off keeping them for FB than nothing. They are a past conference FB champ.
3) The AAC. There are other options, but probably not necessary.
4) Money. Best of both worlds. Basketball centric alumni.

Add UConn

[ElDonBDon]

Anybody wanna take a holylandofhoops field trip over to the UCONN board and see how the 'go back to BE for bball, stay in AAC for football' proposal goes over with those guys?

[TheHall]

Sure. But first, can somebody explain to me each of the following:

1) Why there is a belief that UConn is even in play;
2) Why the AAC would willing keep UConn's lousy football program while giving up their lucrative basketball program;
3) Which conference would house UConn's football team if they joined the BE;
4) Why there is a belief that UConn would even be interested in such a move (their loudmouthed AD has a history of begging for admission to conferences, but I've yet to see any comment indicating they want to move to the BE).

UConn ain't coming. Further, constant lobbying on the part of two posters here isn't going to change that situation either.

The only question on your list that may be prove a deal-closer is question #1. But the answer is we don't know and neither do you. So besides hating what's your point. As a Creighton supporter one would think you're well aware that no one knew your school was in play this time last year either though...Glad the Jays did get into play eventually, solid program.

[TheHall]

Anybody wanna take a holylandofhoops field trip over to the UCONN board and see how the 'go back to BE for bball, stay in AAC for football' proposal goes over with those guys?

I'm game, but how about we take that trip to FOX HQ instead...

[marquette]

Can someone explain to me the worst case scenario for adding UCONN?

To me it sounds like they might leave in a few years (and probably have to pay a penalty.)

Or other are proposing it would cause a snowball effect of adding more football schools similar to before. In which case, the Big East was the premier basketball conference for 10-20 years. I will take that scenario as well.

I guess worst case scenario is that UConn comes in, wins the league 5 years in a row, other teams under-perform in the tourney, and then UConn leaves for the ACC devaluing the entire conference in the process. Likely? No. The presidents are paranoid though. They'd probably rather bring in schools with a potentially large upside than a school with a massive downside (even if the possibility is remote).

As to why people believe UConn is in play; the simple reason is that FS1 is giving the Big East a lot more money than ESPN is giving the AAC. Almost twice as much per school, to be more precise. The flaw in this logic is that it doesn't account for game theory. UConn has already made the bad investment in FBS football, they will likely let it ride until it ruins them. They will hold out for more money from the P5 until they either get into the ACC, or their football team becomes completely unsustainable (whether due to taxpayer outrage or just loss of revenue).

[Dew]

Is it plausible that Uconn could move to the MAC for football only? Frankly that football league will be as good as the AAC.

[marquette]

Is it plausible that Uconn could move to the MAC for football only? Frankly that football league will be as good as the AAC.

Seems unlikely. The AAC is still, technically, a BCS league with a BCS bid.