UConn back to the Big East

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Take this with a large grain of salt for the moment....


https://twitter.com/digsportsdesk/statu ... 58912?s=21

[McKinney]

As I posted on Twitter:

It's a longtime rumor for sure, but until proven otherwise it sounds like someone is just looking for clicks.

With the AAC's new TV deal, I don't think we can call it a money grab. IIRC they'd be going from ~$6M per year to ~$4M per year in TV revenue. Compared to the P5 money that's a lateral move.

Does the tradeoff of leaving the best G5 football and multibid conference for one of if not the best basketball conferences make sense? Idk.

[BostonBert]

Mike Anthony at The Hartford Courant now reporting it as well...

I can confirm that UConn is awaiting official invitation to the Big East and a formal announcement of the move is forthcoming. First reported by @DigSportsDesk
UConn football likely lands in another conference or goes independent, starting in 2020 season.

Source:https://twitter.com/manthonycourant/sta ... 46880?s=21

[Jackson96]

Sounds like it is happening.

[BostonBert]

Pete Thamel has a story on it now too:
https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-u-conn ... 00471.html

I have zero faith we can be the pick to replace them in the AAC.

[inthescoop]

Thoughts on being the replacement to join the AAC? Would the majority be for or against it?

[m626t]

/\

what if more football games are shifted to Gillette?

[Worcester_To_Amherst]

Depending on the details I'd probably be for it, but I highly, highly doubt UMass will be invited.

[McKinney]

/\

what if more football games are shifted to Gillette?

If it's about capacity (though I'm not entirely sure why it would be), they'd only need to move one game to Gillette per year. That would give us an average capacity in line with the lower end of the AAC.

Thoughts on being the replacement to join the AAC? Would the majority be for or against it?

I'd be for it, but why would they want us? Our football has been as bad if not worse than UCONN and there are plenty of schools who would jump at the chance to join the AAC.

One of the main things we could have brought to the AAC was rivalries in UCONN and Temple. TBH I'm not sure that's even much of a draw, despite the AAC lacking many in-conference rivalries. Without UCONN it's even less so.

[UMassHoops]

"The Huskies lost their geographic relevance in basketball by leaving the Big East, as organic rivals like Providence, St. John’s and Syracuse were replaced by strangers like Tulane, East Carolina and Memphis. Passion has been replaced by apathy, as once-teeming arenas became filled with empty seats and a once-rabid fan base has turned ambivalent."

Exactly the way I feel about the A10. Too bad we can't find our way into the Big East also, imagine the regional rivalries, would be really great for the fans.

[69MG]

I have mixed feelings about the AAC without UConn. It is, however, a very strong BB conference. The top 5 or 6 teams are really good. As for football, we're outclassed at this point in time no matter where we go.


Houston Cougars
Cincinnati Bearcats
UCF Knights
Temple Owls
Memphis Tigers
Wichita State Shockers
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
South Florida Bulls
UConn Huskies
SMU Mustangs
East Carolina Pirates
Tulane Green Wave

[NilesGold]

^ Let's face it, outside of URI, UMass doesn't really have any rivalries in the A10. UMass fans should be ecstatic if we can get into the AAC.

Looking purely at recent on-field performance, the AAC wouldn't consider UMass. But as an institution, and looking at potential, I believe UMass is a strong candidate. We shall see.

[LS71]

Other than PC, UMass does not have what I'd call a "regional rivalry" with any BE school.

UConn's where it is because it was passed over by the ACC when they added BC and Syracuse, schools I would call "regional rivals", and later Louisville instead of them.

Calhoun's/UConn's problems with the NCAA made it easy for the ACC look away.

Feels like Hurley's presence after the ugly departure of Ollie factor into the school's newfound confidence as it seeks the conference change, which is not a bad thing for them at all.

AAC for UMass, I'm not sure how I feel about that. Feels like the operations budget would need a major cash infusion for travel alone.

[capezona]

AAC for UMass, I'm not sure how I feel about that. Feels like the operations budget would need a major cash infusion for travel alone.

Wouldn't there be somewhat of a cash infusion due to conference TV exposure, bowls, NCAA participation, etc? I know little about this.

[LS71]

^ I don't know enough about those things work to know.

Does the AAC play hockey of lacrosse?