NYTimes: UConn's quest to get into a P5 conf.

[BabHorn]

Interesting history of how UConn got left out in the cold in the realignments. And of their continuing reaching out to get into a power five conference. Of interest is the quote below. I don't think it would be any different, or much anyway, to UConn about travel as widespread as the AAC is right now. It would add one more long trip to our other sports, though, besides WVU. I would love to see UConn MBB and WBB in the Big 12.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/14/s...ntentCollection=Sports&pgtype=Multimedia&_r=0

Although most of the Power 5 conferences have no expansion plans, the Big 12, which has 10 teams, is very likely to add two more this summer; a 12-team league would make it easier to hold a football championship game, which it doesn’t have. Houston and Cincinnati are openly lobbying to be those teams. More quietly, so is Connecticut. Two years ago, Herbst hired Mike Tranghese, the former Big East commissioner, to help lay the groundwork.

 

[BevoJoe]

UConn for Men's and Women's Basketball, ONLY would be fine. NOT for football!

 

[SabreHorn]

Bab,

Obviously you've never been to any sporting event at that hell-hole of a wannabe university. I assure you that you have never been treated so poorly or cussed so vehemently as you will experience there. UConn makes Ohio State fans look like a Pentecostal "dinner on the ground". Their "fans" are a major reason NO ONE WANTS THEM.

Aside from their fans, they bring absolutely NOTHING to the table for any conference, Power 5 or otherwise. No academics; no following; no travel; no televisions. no national appeal.

Again, the number one basketball draw in the country is UNC, which grossed less than $20 million for their season lat year. Women's side is far less. Adding an undesirable with horrendous fans is just another expense that is not needed when the athletic department is trying to recover from the financial fiasco known as Powers & Patterson.

 

[BevoJoe]

What Sabre said^^^

 

[BabHorn]

you are right, I have never been to their place. The UConn fans I have talked are alright. Frankly, I never said that UConn MBB was the best in the nation, just the best of the three mentioned. The UConn women are the best. I would love to see them in the Big 12.

Whether it happens or not, that is above my pay grade, so to speak. But, according to the article, they are speaking to the Big 12 about it. So who knows. WVU fans were supposed to be among the worst. Don't think that has come to pass. Of course, I primarily attend WBB in the FEC.

I thought and still do, that it was an interesting article about the problems UConn faces in trying to move to a power 5 conference. And the Big 12, at this time, is the only conference that might even be thinking about adding teams. Not surprising that they would be in contact with Big 12 officials.

 

[SabreHorn]

UConn may be reaching out to the cretins of Las Colinas, but so are Memphis, Cincinnati, University of Third Ward, SMU, every Florida directional school, BYU, Rice, Tulsa, Tulane, and God knows who else. OU and Texas will be long gone from the Big XII before UConn gets in for any sport. Economics just won't support it. Convince Plonsky to schedule a home and home every year.

It's coming down to economics, and after Chuckie NeinASS humped the puppy on Clemson and FSU, I hope there is no expansion of any kind. That deal was so done that Loseville offered to pay FSU's exit fee from the ACC if they would take them along. Fred Smith's kid was playing QB at Memphis, and he offered something similar to Tallahassee.

The Big XII tv contract is nothing like the one that Delaney negotiated for the BigTen, which is about the number of televisions in an area, not viewers or followers. UConn's administration was caught doing their usual outstanding job when Rutgers pitched their location as being closest to NYC, a huge boom for the BigTen. Like UConn, Rutgers has no tradition, academics, following, and doesn't travel (remember that UConn lost over $3 million on its only BCS bowl game ever), but they had more well behaved fans and were closer to NYC. UConn never got any consideration. Then again having the head of the Hitler Youth Corp for a football coach didn't help either.

If it helps your desire any, no one has ever demonstrated Mensa type intelligence in that office Carpenter Freeway. Unfortunately, we no longer drive that train, Dr Boren on Norman is in charge.

 

[BabHorn]

we got a home and home with UConn starting next year. Frankly, I am not that passionate when/where/who gets invited to the Big 12 or why/why not.

My opinion, I would love to see the best WBB in the Big 12 and UConn is the best. I got nothing else in response to your diatribe about UConn athletics.

 

[overseasbbfan1]

I just wish they'd make it easy and add Rice and Houston, and be done with it. But when I said that on another thread once a few posters went apoplectic. I do recall the term "Third Ward" being bandied about, the reference sounds a bit suspect to me, but hey to each their own. Perhaps a few folks are worried about the recruiting impact, but that should hardly factor into who does or doesn't get into the conference. And Houston joining the Big12 would probably impact the ags much more than it would the Horns (which in turn might actually be a positive for Texas). Other stuff like revenue, or fan base, or TV - why does that matter? We're Texas and have the Longhorn network, and the most money of any athletic department in the country. All conferences have teams at different levels, and that bring different things to the table. But I do think it's fairly certain they're going to add a couple of teams sooner rather than later, for the reason stated above.