(01-17-2013 12:05 PM)UHCougar Wrote:  . . . I have come to conclusion that UConn and/or Cincinnati putting their basketball in the Catholic 7 and putting their football in either (1) the Big East; (2) MWC; (3) MAC; or (4) Sunbelt is inevitable regardless of what effect this may have on their football product . . . maybe not this year, but this will happen . . . I've come to the conclusion that UConn and Cincinnati have come to the conclusion that their invite the ACC or BIG will have nothing to do with where their football is playing in the next 5 years . . . in 5 years if the offer doesn't come; it won't matter anyway . . . and to keep their basketball nationally relevant and keep their alumni, northeast fan base, and other relationships (Madison Square Garden, etc.), they are coming to the conclusion the C7 makes sense . . . I believe the C7 thought this through when they left, and it's one reason the choose to leave . . . and finally, I've come to the conclusions this is what ESPiN wants . . .

I think it may be what they want- but 2 big things-
1- the C7 don't want the headache. See comments from Marquette's AD yesterday.
2- the C7 looks like heading to Fox. Hardly what ESPN wants. Why would they want to lose 2 properties?

(01-17-2013 12:05 PM)UHCougar Wrote:  ... I believe the C7 thought this through when they left, and it's one reason the choose to leave . . .

I have to disagree. I really don't think anyone in the C-7 expected that there would be a snowball's chance in hell things got so bad over on your side that UConn would consider joining us. If any of us saw that coming, the split would have started in the fall of 2011 instead of 2012.

That said, I think we'll TAKE UConn if they ask. (Although it's not a lock. Marquette and the new members don't get misty-eyed about Big East history.) We're not going to chase UConn, though.

(01-17-2013 12:15 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 12:05 PM)UHCougar Wrote:  ... I believe the C7 thought this through when they left, and it's one reason the choose to leave . . .

I have to disagree. I really don't think anyone in the C-7 expected that there would be a snowball's chance in hell things got so bad over on your side that UConn would consider joining us. If any of us saw that coming, the split would have started in the fall of 2011 instead of 2012.

That said, I think we'll TAKE UConn if they ask. (Although it's not a lock. Marquette and the new members don't get misty-eyed about Big East history.) We're not going to chase UConn, though.

I see a lot of vivid imaginations in this thread.

I don't see UConn or Cincinnati throwing away the exit fee money or going through the trouble to park football for what most people believe would be another temporary stop. If things get really desperate in this conference then it becomes a viable option but right now I view it as a backup plan if everything breaks down.

Right now this conference allows schools to recruit in Texas, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. Those are big time football recruiting states. Playing in the MAC or Mountain West closes those doors.

(01-17-2013 12:05 PM)UHCougar Wrote:  . . . I have come to conclusion that UConn and/or Cincinnati putting their basketball in the Catholic 7 and putting their football in either (1) the Big East; (2) MWC; (3) MAC; or (4) Sunbelt is inevitable regardless of what effect this may have on their football product . . . maybe not this year, but this will happen . . . I've come to the conclusion that UConn and Cincinnati have come to the conclusion that their invite the ACC or BIG will have nothing to do with where their football is playing in the next 5 years . . . in 5 years if the offer doesn't come; it won't matter anyway . . . and to keep their basketball nationally relevant and keep their alumni, northeast fan base, and other relationships (Madison Square Garden, etc.), they are coming to the conclusion the C7 makes sense . . . I believe the C7 thought this through when they left, and it's one reason the choose to leave . . . and finally, I've come to the conclusions this is what ESPiN wants . . .

No inside info at the moment, but as a UConn guy, I can tell you this is pretty close to the mark. Basketball is still our baby, and we must protect it. NYC/MSG is a huge part of what UConn is. Whether it's pulling New York's best basketball players (Ben Gordon, Kemba Walker), or jamming the Garden for the tourney AND/OR non-conference "Neutral site" games...New York City is very important to the Huskies. It is also part of what will make us attractive to one of the B10/ACC/B12 one day (we hope). UConn has always had a tremendous presence in the Garden. I can't see giving that up.

I have been a rah-rah NBE guy, until now. I think UConn should leave it's Olympics in the C7, especially with the rumored additions. Then shop football. Choices : NBE first. MWC second. MAC third.

(01-17-2013 12:45 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  I don't see UConn or Cincinnati throwing away the exit fee money or going through the trouble to park football for what most people believe would be another temporary stop. If things get really desperate in this conference then it becomes a viable option but right now I view it as a backup plan if everything breaks down.

Right now this conference allows schools to recruit in Texas, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. Those are big time football recruiting states. Playing in the MAC or Mountain West closes those doors.

Some valid points and concerns for UConn to think about...

(01-17-2013 12:45 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  I don't see UConn or Cincinnati throwing away the exit fee money or going through the trouble to park football for what most people believe would be another temporary stop. If things get really desperate in this conference then it becomes a viable option but right now I view it as a backup plan if everything breaks down.

Right now this conference allows schools to recruit in Texas, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. Those are big time football recruiting states. Playing in the MAC or Mountain West closes those doors.

So much reality and common-sense in that post... some heads around here would explode if they read it.

I am not sure that having a team in your conference from that state is necessary to recruit there. For example Louisville has traditionally always recruited Florida, Georgia, and Alabama infootball and NY, NJ, California, Georgia, Indiana, and Illinois in basketball, despite not being in a conference with a team from Florida until 2001, Indiana, NY or NJ until 2005, or Illinois and Alabama until 1995. We've never been in a conference with a team in California, and haven't been in a conference with a team from Georgia since 1971. Meanwhile we've been in conferences with teams from Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia before, and never really had success recruiting those areas.

I think it is overblown.

(01-17-2013 06:13 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 11:38 PM)Ctfan Wrote:  STORY: As the Big East Conference fades into irrelevancy and potential destruction, UConn and Cincinnati are looking for a way to save their illustrious athletic programs. According to a report from Sporting News, the two schools are in talks about the possible creation of a nationwide conference, consisting of teams from the Big East and the Mountain West Conference.[quote='Ctfan' pid='8846734' dateline='1358396986']
From the following story Uconn Cincy & South Florida would try to get Memphis Temple and Central Florida to join 6 schools from the MWC to form their own conference not sure if they can pull it off but anything at this point is worth a try and WDRC did report last week that Uconn was in talks about leaving the Big East conference.

I'd be ok with this....I'd say I don't see it happening but anymore, who the heck knows. Welcome to the board.

By "illustrious" I assume the poster means the basketball programs at UC and UConn. Taking your Olympics to the c7 and moving football to the MAC or the MWC or wherever other than a BCS league doesn't make any sense. Take a breath everyone. Until the call comes from a BCS league all the schools in the NBE are better off staying together (that includes you UC and UConn) and continue to win and improve your standing.

Playing in the MWC or MAC will send our FB attendance in the toilet. UConn isn't going to impress the Big 10 or ACC with an average FB attendance between 20,000 and 25,000. And if we only have FB in the Big East, we'll be between 25,000 and 30,000. That's not much better.

Unless we stay fully in the Big East, our FB will be dead. And isn't FB driving realignment? The Big 10 and the ACC won't want any part of us if we kill FB.

(01-17-2013 11:02 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Playing in the MWC or MAC will send our FB attendance in the toilet. UConn isn't going to impress the Big 10 or ACC with an average FB attendance between 20,000 and 25,000. And if we only have FB in the Big East, we'll be between 25,000 and 30,000. That's not much better.

Unless we stay fully in the Big East, our FB will be dead. And isn't FB driving realignment? The Big 10 and the ACC won't want any part of us if we kill FB.

The BIG doesn't care . . . they acknowledge what some foolish individual schools can't admit . . . you get an admit to the BIG, your attendance goes through the roof with games against Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Ohio State, etc. . . . you'll be fine.

Would be an awful move for UConn. We are hardly above competing in football in this conference, and football drives the bus. Plus, I sort of WANT to play the likes of UH and Memphis. With that said, our AD has already shot this idea down.

(01-18-2013 01:43 AM)uconnbaseball Wrote:  Would be an awful move for UConn. We are hardly above competing in football in this conference, and football drives the bus. Plus, I sort of WANT to play the likes of UH and Memphis. With that said, our AD has already shot this idea down.

. . . and again, not saying this is going to happen with UConn, but the Boise State folks went public in November, loudly denying they were talking to the MWC . . . a month later, they bolted . . . when they said it in November, they were lying . . .

I'm all for thinking outside the box. But, I can't see how jumping from AQ past major, mid major, even minor FBS teams to join up with FCS or even schools that can't sponsor football is a move up.

(01-18-2013 12:16 PM)nastar36 Wrote:  I'm all for thinking outside the box. But, I can't see how jumping from AQ past major, mid major, even minor FBS teams to join up with FCS or even schools that can't sponsor football is a move up.

4 million for just basketball > 3 million for basketball AND football. In other words, when the nBE tv contract comes in we will know if its a move up or not.

(01-18-2013 12:22 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-18-2013 12:16 PM)nastar36 Wrote:  I'm all for thinking outside the box. But, I can't see how jumping from AQ past major, mid major, even minor FBS teams to join up with FCS or even schools that can't sponsor football is a move up.

4 million for just basketball > 3 million for basketball AND football. In other words, when the nBE tv contract comes in we will know if its a move up or not.

Well I guess we know now.

as I said on the UC board...the MAC is not an option.

At least in the new big east we go to usf/ucf/temple/houston etc....ie large metro area's and esp Florida which = good recruiting.

the mac schools are not in recruiting area's of note.

it would be a major bad move...period

(02-10-2013 06:01 PM)UABGrad Wrote:  

(01-18-2013 12:22 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-18-2013 12:16 PM)nastar36 Wrote:  I'm all for thinking outside the box. But, I can't see how jumping from AQ past major, mid major, even minor FBS teams to join up with FCS or even schools that can't sponsor football is a move up.

4 million for just basketball > 3 million for basketball AND football. In other words, when the nBE tv contract comes in we will know if its a move up or not.

Well I guess we know now.

Love how CUSA fans are scampering around like cockroaches.

(02-10-2013 06:04 PM)BigEastHomer Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 06:01 PM)UABGrad Wrote:  

(01-18-2013 12:22 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-18-2013 12:16 PM)nastar36 Wrote:  I'm all for thinking outside the box. But, I can't see how jumping from AQ past major, mid major, even minor FBS teams to join up with FCS or even schools that can't sponsor football is a move up.

4 million for just basketball > 3 million for basketball AND football. In other words, when the nBE tv contract comes in we will know if its a move up or not.

Well I guess we know now.

Love how CUSA fans are scampering around like cockroaches.

LOL...I'm a self-confessed realignment junkie and this has been an awesome year for my habit. I was just thinking this thread might be more relevant than most thought.

Which CUSA fans are melting?

the nBE version of CUSA or the new watered down sunbelt version of CUSA?

From what I can tell both versions of CUSA seem to be melting.