UCONN POLL

[hoyahooligan]

Steverrrr... Nice try. Gotta give u due props for pot-stirring...a good shot.

However, the 2011 Big East IS predominantly the current Big East. The footballers left for the ACC and we left the "new" big easters to form their "new" conference - the Almost American Conference (AAC).

I seriously doubt that most of the by-laws were totally redrafted. In fact most were at best, merely tweaked to excise football clauses - a simple pen & ink line drawn thru clauses to be deleted later. After all, the BE Conference never disbanded...we merely removed the remaining footballers after the mass exodus of the more prominent footballers had already abandoned ship.

There is no rift, no split, no new vs old dichotomy ( with possible exception of the elitist pricks in Foggy Bottom - but they have Always been better than everybody else - in their own minds. ). There is only the rising star of the Big East - reclaiming its' rightful place amongst the elite of collegiate basketball.

G'nite Steverrrr. Sleep tight.

Uh Georgetown is not in Foggy Bottom. George Washington is. But nice try.

I think there may be an old vs. new dichotomy among the fan bases at least on this issue (Definitely seems like the 3 additions are more opposed to adding Uconn than anyone else. I suspect it's from some insecurity about how the rest of the conference would prefer Uconn to them. Don't worry there's room in our hearts for both ). But I do not think there is a split in terms of the schools or presidents and that's all that matters.

[Hall2012]

Supposedly the Big XII is considering offering expansion candidates football only invites. While it would certainly be weird for them to take only UConn's worst sport, it would give them east coast/NYC exposure (same reason the B1G took Rutgers) without all the wasted money of shipping the Olympic sport teams up to Storrs.

So in this unlikely event (that UConn gets a Big XII invite for football only), is that good enough for us? Do we take the rest of their sports? I'd be inclined to vote yes.

[GoldenWarrior11]

If the Big 12 goes football-only with invitations, I would expect BYU and Air Force to be the selections. While that does not go with the east coast demand they have stated as seeking, it is the easiest (and best) way to do it. Giving out football-only invitations to Houston, Cincinnati, UConn, Colorado State, etc., complicates their respective athletic programs. They probably wouldn't be allowed to stay in the American/MWC.

I still think the league goes to 14, with BYU (football-only), Cincinnati, Houston and Colorado State.

[Hall2012]

If the Big 12 goes football-only with invitations, I would expect BYU and Air Force to be the selections. While that does not go with the east coast demand they have stated as seeking, it is the easiest (and best) way to do it. Giving out football-only invitations to Houston, Cincinnati, UConn, Colorado State, etc., complicates their respective athletic programs. They probably wouldn't be allowed to stay in the American/MWC.

I still think the league goes to 14, with BYU (football-only), Cincinnati, Houston and Colorado State.

Having schools with different levels of membership certainly complicates things (we saw how that worked out for the old Big East), but I'd have to think UConn would be fairly satisfied if they got football only into the Big XII as long as they could put everything else into the Big East. It gets them the P5 football they desire along with a competitive basketball conference and without the expense of regularly sending Olympic sport teams to the southwest. The only downside is developing new Big XII rivalries can be tough when the teams only see each other in the one sport. It's arguably a best case scenario for UConn.

Obviously it isn't this simple, but if I were UConn I'd have 3 main goals: P5 Football, strong basketball conference, reasonable travel expense. Of the potential scenario's, this is the only one that really checks all 3 boxes for them. I'm considering the AAC to have reasonable travel for them in this breakdown, though that's certainly debatable.

I suppose there's one other option I'm not considering, which is football and basketball to the Big XII then park the Olympic sports elsewhere, but I have a hard time seeing another conference agree to that.

Full Big XII Member:
-P5 Football - Yes
-Strong Basketball - Yes
-Reasonable travel - No

Big XII Football, rest in Big East:
-P5 Football - Yes
-Strong Basketball - Yes
-Reasonable Travel - Yes

Downgrade football, rest in Big East
-P5 Football - No
-Strong Basketball - Yes
-Reasonable Travel- Yes

Big XII Football, rest stays in AAC
-P5 Football - Yes
-Strong Basketball - No
-Reasonable Travel - Yes

Full AAC Member
-P5 Football - No
-Strong Basketball - No
-Reasonable Travel - Yes

[Barley]

Why anyone thinks the Big12 would take UCONN football only is out of their mind. And yet some hack mentions this on his paid website and people run with it. Zero chance. Not happening people.

[Hall2012]

Why anyone thinks the Big12 would take UCONN football only is out of their mind. And yet some hack mentions this on his paid website and people run with it. Zero chance. Not happening people.

You're right, getting its football league more attention in the world's #1 media market and most densely populated area of the country couldn't possibly provide any financial benefit to the Big XII. No chance they would ever consider it. How stupid I am for even mentioning it as an option...

[Bill Marsh]

Supposedly the Big XII is considering offering expansion candidates football only invites. While it would certainly be weird for them to take only UConn's worst sport, it would give them east coast/NYC exposure (same reason the B1G took Rutgers) without all the wasted money of shipping the Olympic sport teams up to Storrs.

So in this unlikely event (that UConn gets a Big XII invite for football only), is that good enough for us? Do we take the rest of their sports? I'd be inclined to vote yes.

I think you make a valid point, but timing is all wrong for UConn to be considered for football-only. Their football program has deteriorated and attendance has dropped under 30,000. When Rutgers was taken by the B1G, their football program had established a reasonably good track record for a decade and attendance was around 50,000 fans. With them as the flagship of a state of 9 million, they were pretty bankable for the B1G network. Although UConn has a reasonably high ceiling for football, I think they present value only for basketball right now, so it's all sports or nothing until football improves and attendance increases.

Just my 2 cents.

[_lh]

Supposedly the Big XII is considering offering expansion candidates football only invites. While it would certainly be weird for them to take only UConn's worst sport, it would give them east coast/NYC exposure (same reason the B1G took Rutgers) without all the wasted money of shipping the Olympic sport teams up to Storrs.

So in this unlikely event (that UConn gets a Big XII invite for football only), is that good enough for us? Do we take the rest of their sports? I'd be inclined to vote yes.

I think you make a valid point, but timing is all wrong for UConn to be considered for football-only. Their football program has deteriorated and attendance has dropped under 30,000. When Rutgers was taken by the B1G, their football program had established a reasonably good track record for a decade and attendance was around 50,000 fans. With them as the flagship of a state of 9 million, they were pretty bankable for the B1G network. Although UConn has a reasonably high ceiling for football, I think they present value only for basketball right now, so it's all sports or nothing until football improves and attendance increases.

Just my 2 cents.

While the timing might be bad for UCONN the options are bad for the B12. If any of them were slam dunks they would already be in the B12. Each of the last 6-8 school under consideration has major warts. I continue to see no reason for the B12 to expand at this time. They can identify their best two options with this dog and pony show and wait 2-10 years to add them. None of them are great additions. 2-4 are just okay additions at best.

[Barley]

Why anyone thinks the Big12 would take UCONN football only is out of their mind. And yet some hack mentions this on his paid website and people run with it. Zero chance. Not happening people.

You're right, getting its football league more attention in the world's #1 media market and most densely populated area of the country couldn't possibly provide any financial benefit to the Big XII. No chance they would ever consider it. How stupid I am for even mentioning it as an option...

Time will bear out who's right and who's wrong, but I would be willing to put a substantial wager in Vegas on UCONN football not solely being invited to the Big12. In fact, I'd wager similarly on UCONN not being invited at all. The Big12 hates having West Virginia on an island by itself and we think they will want UCONN football?

[_lh]

Why anyone thinks the Big12 would take UCONN football only is out of their mind. And yet some hack mentions this on his paid website and people run with it. Zero chance. Not happening people.

You're right, getting its football league more attention in the world's #1 media market and most densely populated area of the country couldn't possibly provide any financial benefit to the Big XII. No chance they would ever consider it. How stupid I am for even mentioning it as an option...

Time will bear out who's right and who's wrong, but I would be willing to put a substantial wager in Vegas on UCONN football not solely being invited to the Big12. In fact, I'd wager similarly on UCONN not being invited at all. The Big12 hates having West Virginia on an island by itself and we think they will want UCONN football?

I don't think the B12 cares if WVU is on an island. WVU cares.