Conference Realignment: UConn Coaches Stump For Move To ACC
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 10:30 AM EDT
in Conference Expansion
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University of Connecticut head coaches Jim Calhoun and Paul Pasqualoni are not being shy about their desire to see UConn join Syracuse and Pittsburgh in a move from the Big East to the ACC. Here's Pasqualoni using a supposed rivalry with his former employer to get his current employer into the ACC:
"If you are going to keep that relationship with Syracuse and try to build that long-term rivalry, and build it with Pitt, that type of thing, then the only way evidently that would happen is if Connecticut went to the ACC," he said. "That's one of the factors. I think that's a big factor in what you do."
Indeed, a Syracuse-Connecticut football series that dates all the way back to 2004 must be saved at all costs.
UConn coach Jim Calhoun was a bit more direct, and has been in UConn president Susan Herbst's ear about becoming a member of the "best conference."
"That decision will be made at a presidential level," he said. "I've talked to Susan about this and very simply, we need to do what's best for UConn. We need to look at where we fit best and what's the best for us.
[snip]
We have one of the most successful athletic departments in the country and a Top 20 school academically," he said via email. "We will be in great shape."
I attempted an internet search for "Jim Calhoun's 2012 Best Colleges Rankings" to verify UConn's claim of being a Top 20 school academically with little success. I could only find some bogus rankings from US News & World Report that listed the University of Connecticut as number 58.
President Herbst reportedly does not see remaining in the Big East as a viable option, as it doesn't sound like UConn wants any part of a rumored Big 12-Big East merger. Whether or not UConn is invited to the ACC remains to be seen, but if Syracuse and Pittsburgh really don't begin ACC play until 2014, it's hard to see an invite for 15 or 16 coming down the pike in the next few weeks. This thing may move much, much slower than UConn wants it to move.
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Top public universities
per USNWR, UConn is #19 in Public Universities. Pitt is also #19, and so is UGA . Clemson is #25.
It is not elite company
Wow
I’m surprised you aren’t falling in line with your fearless leader on the UConn bashing. Way to actually look at the website and click on that tab that says “Rankings.” Your showing more capability with the internet than you had over on the TheUConnBlog.
Also, I am not seeing Calhoun claiming anywhere in his quote that UConn is an elite academic school.
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What I don't get
Is how nobody on the UConn chatboards seems to feel they put themselves at all at a disadvantage by suing the ACC, Miami, BC and BC’s AD personally when the ACC expanded the first time. Uh, hello, that guy you sued personally is on the expansion committee and appears to even be recommending Villanova over UConn! Revenge is a dish best served cold. That said, UConn will be fine wherever they end up if they just focus on their own business and let go of the honestly weird obsession with bashing BC.
The weird obsession with bashing is a two way street here. That was the only intention of this article!
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The intention of the article was to show how UConn coaches and administrators are positioning themselves to gain entry into the ACC, which impacts Boston College.
The tone of this post is fairly innocuous compared to other stuff written on the matter, and it’s not like we are the only ones bashing this posturing. Current Big East members are doing a good job of this as well.
“UConn doesn’t think the Big East is viable and is begging to join the ACC.”
http://www.voodoofive.com/2011/9/19/2436681/ncaa-conference-realignment-big-east-big-xii-talk-merger
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Pitt was also part of the lawsuit and they got in just fine. The lawsuit will have absolutely nothing to do with whether UConn gets in or not.
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The lawsuit will not, but current ACC members may
BC and Miami were both named in the lawsuit when Blumenthal used the lawsuit for political posturing. The BC and Miami administrations are closely aligned, and both sets of administrators — Shalala and Leahy — are still at their respective schools. I wouldn’t count on either school’s vote for admission to the ACC.
If BC and Miami are persuasive enough and turn two more no-votes, UConn to the ACC is DOA.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Ok
I think this issue boils down to this question: Do you think that if the ACC determines that UConn will provide more $$$ to the conference that BC and Miami will be petty enough to reject them?
I personally do not. Which is why I don’t think the lawsuit will have any bearing on this decision.
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Objectively, I don’t believe that UConn (or Rutgers) provide an added $20m / year to the conference’s next TV deal (a ballpark figure when the ACC and ESPN renegotiate).
UConn also has to add sufficient value greater than the option value of keeping spots 15 and 16 open if a more valuable program comes calling. Expansion to Rutgers and UConn straight away shuts the door on any future ACC expansion. There is simply no telling where we will be in 5 years — the B1G could destabilize and Penn State might come calling, Kentucky and Vanderbilt may grow tired of being largely uncompetitive in football, Notre Dame or Texas may need a home. The option value in keeping two seats at the table open also has a value which I do not believe Rutgers and UConn can overcome.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Option_time_value
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I know you feel this way
But this didn’t answer my question.
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Again, I flip it back to you
Please enlighten me as to how UConn adds $20m+ a year to a TV rights contract. Need to justify the additional mouths to feed, and the conference would be foolish to expand to 16 straight away shutting the door on better expansion candidates.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Again this is a different argument. I am merely asking about whether the lawsuit has any bearing on the decision to accept UConn. I say it does not. While this
BC and Miami were both named in the lawsuit when Blumenthal used the lawsuit for political posturing. The BC and Miami administrations are closely aligned, and both sets of administrators — Shalala and Leahy — are still at their respective schools. I wouldn’t count on either school’s vote for admission to the ACC.indicates to me that you think those two schools will vote against UConn no matter what. Even if it does turn out that UConn brings value to the ACC.
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Correct
I believe BC and Miami will vote no regardless of whatever value UConn adds. The additions of Pitt and Syracuse were unanimous. The possible additions of UConn and Rutgers will not be.
Editor, BC Interruption
BC took a massive, undeserved beating in the Northeast press
…coordinated primarily by the Big East leadership and UConn, with able assistance from Rutgers. BC was not inclined to get into the muck to respond because it was appropriately focused on extricating itself with all due haste and moving on to the ACC. Miami also took a ton of hits from the same players.
This sullied BC’s, Miami’s, and the ACC’s respective reputations, and reputations very much matter to universities and colleges.
BC’s fans and students were also assaulted with rocks and bottles when they travelled to UConn.
Do I think this will be a consideration for BC, Miami, and others in conference in determining which programs to partner with for decades at a fundamental level? Hell yes. Do I think that consideration is petty? No I do not. I think it is entirely appropriate.
by CSOM_97 on Sep 20, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That’s why this expansion news is fantastic: I either get to watch the death of the UConn athletic program (as it is relegated to a Conference USA look-alike) or we are forced to cohabitate and I can enjoy this mutual dislike on an annual basis.
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Pitt was part of the lawsuit; did not lead the charge.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice
You don’t get very far suing someone who has taken a vow of poverty. They must have been suing for the gas in the pump outside of the St. Mary’s garage. Have you seen the price of oil these days??
Editor, BC Interruption
Elite?
Where did I write that Calhoun considers UConn to be an elite academic school? I wrote the above knowing full well USN&WR rankings list UConn as a top 20 public school.
But I love your “holier than thou” attitude to the above post when your fearless leader writes things like this …
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I know you didn't write "elite"
waterwater did.
And in regards to the ranking piece. I guess I missed the tongue in cheek nature of that particular statement. My apologies.
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It was very much tongue in cheek.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
"We won’t play BC after they leave here," Calhoun told the Hartford Courant for Thursday’s editions. "I have no desire to play Boston College. Not for the fact that they are leaving but how they did it. I will not play Boston College as long as I’m here."
The hypocrisy is hilarious.
Sounds like it took the school nearly a decade to agree with the inherent value in our actions…
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
USNWR
I wouldn’t put too much weight and stock on their rankings. It’s unscientific, subjective and flawed. They use dubious metrics for evaluating institutions. In other words, it’s a popularity contest or a mutual admiration society for College Presidents.
Is this an argument to say that UConn’s academic standing is understated by USN&WR?
Editor, BC Interruption
No, it’s an argument against relying on USN&WR as an “objective standard” to determine quality.
I doubt BC and Duke draw from the same pool of applicants as UConn.
Gotcha. Sorry, it’s so hard to keep track of the pro-BC and pro-UConn crowd in this thread.
I didn’t know anyone from my HS that went to UConn. Two very different sets of applicants imo.
Editor, BC Interruption
But onto the merits
It is hysterical to read the UConnBlog. They actaully are pondering which would be preferable: B1G or ACC. Hello, UConn, Hello. There is not going to be a choice. In fact, there is not going to be an invite from either league. and ain’t that a crying shame.
Also, I am starting to get itchy at the thought of Boeheim in the ACC. He is as big a horse’s ass as Calhoun. I really do not want to be hearing Boeheim’s dumb views.
There will be no B1G invite. There might be an ACC invite … at some point.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
You know my feeling on the matter, but I think UConn gets an invite if/when we go to 16.
There just aren’t many alternatives in our geographic footprint without dopping into the untenable options (’Ville, USF, etc.).
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
USF and UCF
Florida State and Miami’s obvious objection to adding an in-state member is the exact same sentiment of Boston College vis a vis Connecticut. So long as FSU and to a lesser extent, Miami, are still in the conference, UCF and USF are not joining.
There’s that, and the obvious academic and basketball red flags with adding either school to the conference.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
And there you again
Making up stories. There was one comment that might indicate this.
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who is voting against UConn?
Remember back in 2003. Initially, NC State, Duke, and UNC voted against BC and Cuse. They changed colors after a few months and it was 9-0 vote to add BC.
If Miami and BC vote against UConn for principle, who else votes against them? VT may due to Miami and BC but Duke, UNC, NC State, and Wake are going to pull hard for an added basketball power. Clemson, UVA, and GT will probably go with the Carolina schools because they don’t want to rock the boat but we’ll count them as swing. Maryland definitely wants to shift the center of gravity North. FSU appears to be a no because of football.
So let’s count 4 No, 5 Yes, 3 Swing. I think UVA and GT wouldn’t mind the addition due to hoops. Clemson is a football school through and through. I wouldn’t be surprised if they join FSU in the no. It could be down to the wire on the voting. What is the requirement for getting in? Unanimity?
I write stuff From the Rumble Seat.
Florida State and Clemson very much want to keep the value of football up. I doubt they would be in favor of adding Rutgers and UConn, which add little to the football side of things.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Market Saturation
Remember when Georgia Tech tried to coerce its way back into the SEC but Georgia protested because adding them would encroach on their market?
This is probably the same reason why Louisville isn’t in the SEC or why Florida would dissent against FSU as a prospect.
As it stands, North Carolina is over-saturated with ACC Schools.
It’s understood by the ACC that New England is BC territory.
yeah
Albeit the old people at Tech with the purse strings would probably still bolt if the SEC asked Tech to rejoin. I prefer year round athletics not JUST football.
I write stuff From the Rumble Seat.
Report came out today that Kentucky blocked Louisville as the SEC’s 14th, so this dynamic is alive and well.
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
If this standard holds true in the ACC, it’s bad news for UConn.
The difference with the Tobacco Road Schools is that they have a shared history which factored into the formation of the ACC.
It can be argued that the inclusion of Penn State in the ACC would be an ideal fit since they can renew their rivalry with Pitt and re-establish old ones with BC and ’Cuse.
Miami and FSU’s rivalry needs no explanation.
But UConn?
Unless you play the old Big East-Cuse MSG card, it won’t necessarily carry over to the ACC since it’s a different dynamic. Football trumps Basketball. And UConn barely has any substantial history in Football.
I mean, who wants to play someone who thinks law suits are “extra points”.
Agreed
UConn doesn’t have a lot going for themselves when it comes to shared history with ACC members outside of basketball. UConn and Syracuse have met 7 times on the gridiron (UConn 5-2). Same for Pittsburgh (4-3 UConn).
BC and UConn – this supposed budding national rivalry waiting to explode onto the national scene – have met just 12 times (BC 10-0-2).
UConn and Miami have played each other … once. Never played Florida State, never played Clemson.
There just isn’t a lot of shared history and rivalry to draw on here.
Editor, BC Interruption
West Virginia’s rejection, if true, is also bad news for UConn.
I think this is signalling to everyone else that the ACC is in no rush to get to 16. So long as Notre Dame, Penn State and Texas are still on the table, there’s no incentive to move to 16.
Editor, BC Interruption
It also goes to show you that BC, Syracuse and Pitt absolutely made the right moves here. Doesn’t matter who you are or your school’s football / basketball pedigree. You better be looking out for your own best interests, else you risk getting left behind.
Editor, BC Interruption
the conference may also be trying hard to achieve consensus
Two strident no votes from schools who have been good partners to the conference may be enough to cause the others to step back and evaluate other options. ’Cuse and Pitt were unanimously approved. I expect that is the goal for 15 and 16 as well – try to get people on the same page.
note the good point about football schools below. They may also have independent reasons to not be sold on UConn which could up the no votes.
Right. Syracuse and Pitt were unanimous. UConn and Rutgers will not be. I think BC/Miami dissention will be enough to cause the rest to step back and evaluate other options.
The ACC is in an incredible position of strength at the moment. Why would the members take an action that is far from unanimous and ruffle feathers?
Editor, BC Interruption
exactly
The ACC has been very, very smart about this. It has been preparing for this for over a year, and has studies and data ready to evaluate all options. Every school has been involved, and presidents, ADs, and academics all have had input. It has been very impressive.
This isn’t a random, panicked move. This is a well thought out surgical strike. Whichever national writer called it ninja is correct. The ACC knows what it is doing here.
UConn is trying full-court-public-press-2.0 through the media again. That isn’t going to work any better this time than it did last time. The only public statements inside the ACC calling for UConn’s inclusion have been from Coach K (and Boeheim), and let’s just say they didn’t prove themselves last go-around to be insightful visionaries regarding expansion.
The only public statements inside the ACC calling for UConn’s inclusion have been from Coach K (and Boeheim)
Just what we need, more basketball-first minds trying to direct long-term conference growth. How’d that work out for you BE?
Glad that’s a minority voice at the moment…
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Neither makes decisions for the conference, and I believe Boeheim said he hasn’t even spoken to Doc Gross about this yet.
Either way, nearly all the public statements at present are coming from the media and not decision-makers.
Editor, BC Interruption
I don't know if I used it first, but ...
“The best part of the report is while it appears as though Swofford ninja’d conference expansion-palooza 2k11, according to one anonymous Big East official, there was word about Syracuse and Pittsburgh potentially joining the ACC three weeks ago.”
Editor, BC Interruption
WELCOME TO THE MAC!
As a proud alumnus of the University of Massachusetts I want to extend a warm welcome to the University of Connecticut, the MAC’s newest member!
You can join us with the why-didn’t-we-go-FBS-30 years-ago debate.
BC, please keep Conn out of the ACC!
by Go Minutemen on Sep 20, 2011 11:07 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
ND: The Real Target
I never thought ND was a legitimate ACC option, but the more I read, the more I think it actually is plausible. The conference landscape would have to break the right way, namely, UT,TT,OU,OSU to the PAC-X, and a merger of the remaining Big 12 and BE…
But if that were to transpire, ND’s non-football slate in the BE would be unsustainable (which, at minimum, would reopen internal ND discussion of conference affiliation). Diminished alternatives would literally leave B1G and the ACC as the only plausible landing spots.
The B1G’s geographic proximity always made it the logical home for the Irish, but in many ways, the ACC is as much of a viable choice:
- Strong presence in metro areas of high ND alumni/fan density (Bos, NYC, DC).
- Continued recruiting exposure from NY to Florida.
- Decent history with us, ‘Cuse, Pitt; older ties with GT and the Florida schools. Old rivalries could be preserved through OOC scheduling: USC, Navy annually, and a rotation of Michigan, MSU, Purdue.
- Phenomenal fit for non-revenue sports: Baseball, Lacrosse (M/W), Soccer (M/W), Basketball (W), etc. all are elite.
- Academically, a better fit with various other elite schools, both private and public. Most schools, like ND, are driven by undergraduate education (v. the B1G that is predominantly large research institutions).
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 11:42 AM EDT reply actions
GT
How do you guys not have a soccer team?
Feel like it would be a boon for an actual southern school (Duke, UNC are still mid-atlantic) to promote their club lacrosse program to D1. Would be like Denver- the only legitimate program in an entire region.
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
We lost soccer because of Title IX
that and wrestling used to be pretty big at Tech. Club Lacrosse is pretty good at Tech ’cause we have so many Northeast kids at Tech playing against Southern legacy-type colleges.
I write stuff From the Rumble Seat.
Title IX
That’s a shame: Title IX is also why we dropped our lacrosse program (though it would be a huge cultural fit now, both in terms of where we draw students- tristate area- and the lax-proclivity of our ACC brethren).
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Though BC would get crushed annually in ACC lax. We know have arguably the five best programs in the country.
Editor, BC Interruption
Obstacles for UConn
Here are the obstacles for UConn:
1. It’s a one-trick pony with an uncertain future. See: deplorable violations.
2. The focus on Basketball Schools may eventually endure a backlash from Football Schools like VT, FSU, Miami and Clemson. So the pendulum will likely sway back the other direction.
3. Past law suits may not entirely factor into the decision-making process but it certainly can’t help UConn’s prospects.
4. Redundancy. UConn claims a share of the NYC market but it’s mainly predicated on Basketball. Since ‘Cuse will cover this slice of the market once they officially join, this would negate whatever shred of viewership UConn boasts. Therefore, it’s not added-value.
5. UConn is low on the totem pole of schools to give a shit about. With ’Cuse and Pitt, the ACC will have 14 Schools. As others have noted, there is no urgency to expand into a 16 team juggernaut conference. Unless the ACC is compelled to act because of the market environment, I doubt UConn is their first choice.
So there you go. The ACC is dealing from a position of strength not weakness. Strong business models result from sound business decisions based on solid fundamental planning. To create an Eastern hegemony in College Athletics, the goal is to recruit brand-name Schools like Notre Dame, Penn State or Texas into the fold. It’s not to fill holes—unless you’re a Progressive Democrat.
by epperson on Sep 20, 2011 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
UCONN bashing
I won’t hide behind well thought out arguments. I get extreme pleasure in seeing UCONN struggle and look for shelter. They overreacted when we left, and took it too far. Fine be upset we are leaving, not personally sue us or make outrageous claims never to play us again. Now what uconn? A public apology might be a start- haha.
Calhoun is guilty of throwing assistant coaches under the bus and running a dirty program. Let’s not forget that. UCONN provides talent in basketball for both women and men’s, but outside of that they offer nothing more than any other program that would be up for consideration.
Whether that will factor in how the ACC members vote, who knows. Either way I don’t need or want to see UConn in our conference. Bring on WVU.
But if they do make it, i will take pleasure in smacking around their football program. Yes i know we’re 0-3, but losing to UCONN… please
Much like conference expansion, this discourse is escalating quickly…
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s not to fill holes—unless you’re a Progressive Democrat.
ah! so now I know why the dems ar so keen on stimulous — porkulous — for road projects. The Dems are out there filing holes!
Filling Holes
Dig a hole. Fill it back up.
This is the M.O. for Progressives. They call it “job creation”.
Economists call it a violation of Gresham’s Law.
Is Uconn a football or basketball school?
That may be a big factor is how UConn is viewed with expansion. I think we assume BC, Miami, FSU, Cuse and Pitt don’t want the balance of conference power to tip toward basketball – that’s what got the BIg East into this mess to begin with.
I feel like the rise of basketball programs are much more a function of the cult of personality associated with a coach than in football which is primarily driven by institutional factors (facilities, fanbase size, fanbase wealth, etc.).
As a result, I think it’s dangerous to invest in these basketball first, one-trick ponies. Though I hate Calhoun, he did build their program from nothing, but what happens when he retires in 5 years? A conference would be left with a fledgling football program and a rudderless basketball program.
It’s a shame we can’t merge G’Town’s academics with WVU football, UConn basketball, ‘Nova’s fans, and Rutgers’ location for the ideal northeast candidate.
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
UConn is a basketball school.
Period.
As I’ve said before, UConn is Villanova with a 12 year head start in football. They don’t own their own football stadium, which is on the smaller side anyway and nowhere near campus. They lucked into a BCS bowl when the rest of the Big East was WAY down and they attempt to schedule themselves to 6 wins and a bowl annually, which has backfired this year with losses to lowly Iowa State and Vanderbilt.
As has been mentioned above, the long-term prospects of UConn basketball post-Calhoun is a serious question, and women’s basketball is not driving the conference expansion party bus.
If we continue to load up on basketball-first schools, FSU and Clemson administrators will balk. No question in my mind.
Editor, BC Interruption
Clearly a football school. UConn went to the BCS last year! Which is something that hockey school in Chestnut Hill hasn't done.
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Bah
Clearly a football school. UConn went to the BCS last year! Which is something that hockey school in
Chestnut Hill hasn't done.
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And to think I always thought you UConn fans were a comic sans lot…
/Dan Gilbert’d
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Meh
When Dan Gilbert made that statement, it required him needing to get an NBA basketball team to replace that D-league team they are trotting out. I am just being as optimistic as him.
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BC has played in major bowls in the past. You wouldn’t know about this though because your football program was too busy losing to the Rhode Islands, New Hampshires, UMasses, Maines, Wesleyans and the US Coast Guard.
Editor, BC Interruption
consider this UConn -- reap what you sow....
The suit makes several tort claims, including unfair trade
practices, civil conspiracy and breach of contract, Blumenthal
said. As in the suit against Miami, the Big East schools seek
unspecified damages.
The suit singles out DeFilippo for allegedly using his role as a
conference director with Big East to manipulate discussions between
BC, Miami and the ACC, Blumenthal said.
“One of the key reasons that BC and DeFilippo were able to
engage in this secret scheme with Miami and the ACC is that they
had access to sensitive and confidential information from the Big
East and its member schools,” Blumenthal said.
He said Boston College’s defection strengthened the case.
“The more we learn, the more appalled and astonished we are by
the depth and breadth of the illegality,” Blumenthal said.
UConn also personally sued Swofford -- that can't help.. tsk tsk
Unlike the original lawsuit, BC Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo was named as a defendant for misusing his role as President of the Big East Conference. As Big East President, DeFilippo presided over several meetings in which the Big East discussed plans for the future and ways to strengthen the conference after the departure of Virginia Tech and the University of Miami. DeFilippo and BC were privy to the most sensitive information concerning the Big East, which, if turned over to the ACC will only further injure the remaining Big East schools, the lawsuit alleges.
Blumenthal also filed suit against ACC Commissioner John Swofford, ACC President Carolyn Callahan, ACC Vice President Donn Ward, and ACC Treasurer Cecil Huey.
I noticed in all of those that quotes that UConn wasn't mentioned once
Because this was a power trip by Blumenthal. It was he who led and championed these lawsuits.
Again, for the hundredth time, the people involved in that lawsuit on the UConn side are gone. As much as you want it to be, the university isn’t some faceless entity.
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It’s not like Blumenthal held the UConn Administration at gun point and demanded absolute acquiescence. They complied and went along with it. Calhoun repudiated BC. UConn Students and Fans pelted BC Students and Fans with bottles and vulgarity. The Media lambasted BC in one-sided pieces.
So not only was UConn proactively involved in the transition, they poured gasoline all over the fire.
UConn Students and Fans pelted BC Students and Fans with bottles and vulgarity.
Seriously? The actions of a few people in a football crowd ten years ago are going to have an impact on whether CT gets into the ACC?
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By all accounts, the appalling behavior on the part of UConn Students and Fans during BC’s last visit to the Rent was not isolated.
Along with the aforementioned law suit, media hit jobs and Calhoun’s acrimony, you have a consistent picture of UConn.
After all this and some internet revisionist history, UConn now wants an invite to the ACC?
Shameful.
It’s not like Blumenthal held theUConnPittsburgh Administration at gun point and demanded absolute acquiescence. They complied and went along with it.
I find it interesting that Pittsburgh can be excused from this lawsuit because they weren’t the “leader.” And the best part is, the guy who was in charge of Pitt at the time is still there…
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Sure hope nothing duplicitous is said by the UConn camp tonight in your top secret NYC meeting.
Editor, BC Interruption
I find it interesting that Pittsburgh can be excused from this lawsuit because they weren’t the "leader." And the best part is, the guy who was in charge of Pitt at the time is
You find it “interesting” because you’re not privy to behind the door conversations on the build-up to Pitt’s candidacy.
I disagree with GDF on a fundamental level on Football decisions but if the Coach Jag episode is any indication of his principles, it showed that he can offer forgiveness. People make mistakes. Jag apologized to him over the phone and he accepted.
There goes your charge of a double-standard.
I’m not charging GDF with a double standard. I am charging the members of this community with a double standard. Numerous people here have claimed that BC would NEVER vote yes because of the lawsuit. No way no how.
It does appear however that at least you leave open this possibility for BC to vote yes as long as the “school” apologizes like Pitt must have done in order to get accepted (and adding UConn provides enough value).
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I am charging the members of this community with a double standard. Numerous people here have claimed that BC would NEVER vote yes because of the lawsuit. No way no how.
The law suit was the precursor to the litany of repugnant behavior on the part of UConn. This is why it’s usually referenced in these discussions.
It’s the nature of the law suit which BC folks find reprehensible. Blumenthal used the episode to enhance his political career by trying to destroy people’s reputation.
So it depends on who you ask here.
From my subjective point of view, I’d rather see other schools in the ACC instead of UConn.
But
Objectively, you can at least see where BC could vote to allow UConn into the ACC?
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If the premise is Football-driven, there are no plausible reasons to vote i favor of UConn or Rutgers.
’Cuse and Pitt bring stellar Basketball programs to the table along with good Football histories.
Sure, Captain Calhoun won a few but it came with some baggage.
So unless a more compelling argument comes along in favor of UConn, I don’t see the upside.
They should stick with the Big East. Hope it works out and develop a clean, winning Football programs and revisit the topic a few years or decades down the road, yeah?
Way to continually skirt the question.
I am only talking about the relevancy of the lawsuit and its bearing on UConn’s acceptance by BC. I say it has zero. Nearly everyone here claims that because of a lawsuit ten years ago that BC brass would never accept UConn even if UConn was valued at $20 m/year to the ACC.
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The law suit may or may not factor in. Explanations for rejections can be cloaked in dense, opaque language without actually disclosing the motivation.
If the law suit was never filed, UConn punks never threw bottles and Calhoun held himself to a level of composure and dignity, I think the conversation would be different today.
Compare our relationship with ’Cuse.
NCAA investigations
The ACC also is currently getting hit by the NCAA with investigations into Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Miami programs. FSU, North Carolina and Georgia Tech have all recently vacated football wins, with Miami sure to follow.
The conference may simply have no interest in taking on a basketball program that hasn’t exactly been above board the past few seasons under Calhoun. Isn’t Calhoun suspended for the first three games next season, and former players are starting to speak up about receiving improper benefits in the past?
Editor, BC Interruption
This is a good point and should be examined in perhaps a piece on this blog.
Other Coaches have lost their jobs over such investigations. Programs were forced to vacate victories, scale back on scholarships and erect walls between Boosters and Athletes.
This little slap on the wrist really doesn’t explain how such repeated offenses happen to go unnoticed by Captain Calhoun again and again.
“the people involved in that lawsuit on the UConn side are gone.”
Yet the people on the other end of that lawsuit are not gone, and are still very much involved in the decision-making of the conference.
Editor, BC Interruption
Blumenthal = UConn
Blumenthal represented Uconn’s interest and was directed and controlled by his client — UCONN
UConn cannot so easily walk away from the spectre of accusing a priest, Fr Leahy, BC’s AD, and the ACC commisionsion with being thieves and liars and manipulators.
I am sure Swofford is not forgetting either
Karma for Connecticut
Unless ESPN puts its foot down (or has something to blackmail ACC schools before voting), Connecticut’s not getting in. The lawsuit, a desire to give BC New England ACC exclusivity, and Calhoun’s underhanded recruiting will relegate the Huskies to the conference of misfit toys known as the Big East/Big 12 blend. That football game with ISU last Friday may be the start of a long series.
To be frank, this season isn’t looking too hot for either of our programs…
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 20, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
No
Blumenthal=people running UConn. Who are all gone. Stop making the university into a faceless entity.
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Well, except for Calhoun I guess.
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Sorry, but you don’t get to just wipe the slate clean of Blumenthal’s actions because all the players have moved on. Blumenthal’s self-serving move affects more than just his political candidacy; it also reflects on the reputation and the brand of the institution that went along with it.
Editor, BC Interruption
Written in May 2005 ...
While Blumenthal’s lawsuit against Boston College, Miami and the ACC never went to trial, his decision to bring suit could have a profound impact on the future of UConn athletics.
Fast forward to present day. The Big Ten Conference has been shopping the idea of conference expansion for several months, a move that could trigger a tectonic shift in college football’s conference alignment. What first started as idle offseason speculation has quickly snowballed into serious consideration on the part of the Big Ten to expand the conference from anywhere from one to five programs.
The problem for UConn is that, even under the most ambitious Big Ten Conference expansion proposals – 5 team expansion to a 16 team mega-conference – UConn hasn’t made the Big Ten’s short list.
In fact, if the Big Ten decides that expanding to 14 or 16 teams is in their best interest, this likely means the death of the Big East as a football conference. High on the Big Ten’s expansion wish list are Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Syracuse. If all three of these Big East programs decide to make the move to the Big Ten, UConn could quickly find themselves without a home in college football.
In order to protect their football investment, UConn would be left with precious few options in terms of joining another conference. Big East football would likely cease to exist, and the only remaining BCS conferences that represent any sort of geographical fit would be the ACC or the SEC. Less desirable options would include joining Conference USA, the MAC or becoming a football independent. However, joining a lesser conference such as Conference USA or the MAC would prove costly to UConn, as these avenues would preclude the Huskies from profiting from the financial windfall that comes from being a member of one of college football’s six BCS conferences.
It’s entirely plausible that in a scenario where the Big Ten poaches three current Big East programs, UConn could find itself going back to the ACC, hat in hand, asking to join the conference they once sued.
When the ACC decided to expand back in 2003, the league required that two-thirds of the school presidents vote in favor of expansion. If UConn decided to pursue joining the ACC, it seems unlikely that they would garner the necessary votes to be admitted to the conference; especially with the bad blood between BC and UConn stemming from the Blumenthal lawsuit.
Without a BCS conference home, the long-term viability of BC’s neighboring New England football program would be very much in doubt. Blumenthal’s decision to sue the ACC could ultimately cost the UConn football program much more than the legal fees incurred in the original lawsuit.
http://www.bcinterruption.com/2010/5/1/1454255/bad-blood-old-lawsuits-could
Editor, BC Interruption
2005?
The date on that article is 2010.
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BC Elitist
Wow….I can’t believe the BC aire of superiority and elitism here. Be proud of your school, but how childish and arrogant to hold on to grudges. College football is a business. Get over it. People get sued all the time. This isn’t new.
OK..so Connecticut isn’t considered a “football” school. Well…there are teams already in the ACC that also fit into that description. And yea…Uconn has recently had some losses that don’t reflect kindly, but hey there’s a lot of that going around right now.
From reading these posts, you would think BC football has been a hot ticket and that they are the Kings of New England. I like BC football, but if it were not for a “hail mary” pass I wouldn’t know who they were. Don’t start with the …we’ve been to a bowl game every year crap. There’s so many bowls I’m surprised there isn’t a cereal bowl! Uconn football is growing on me, but I definitely am a Uconn basketball fan.
Uconn is an up and coming football program that in recent years really hasn’t done all that bad. In fact, in recent years, they proably had more players drafted into the NFL than BC. So please with the aire of superiority stuff.
And perhaps they can’t at this time bring in the money that the ACC expects, they most certainly are Elite when it comes to men and womens basketball. Academically, they may not be the cream of the crop, but they are far from a depleted institution. In the real world, not everyone can afford the tuition at a private institution. And for those who can, that hardly makes you more accomplished. Reserve that for after graduation accomplishments.
Maybe Uconn should consider becoming an independent like Notre Dame. They may not have the football history, but they do have the basketball history. Maybe they can use their basketball program as leverage to schedule better football competition as an independent. In other words, don’t play a school in basketball if they don’t consider putting you on their football schedule from time to time..to start with anyway.
I wish I could say don’t judge BC people based on this blog, but unfortunately I can’t. Having spent 4 years at the school, I can attest that the personality/attitude displayed here is a perfect reflection of the tools I dealt with every day on campus. There are a few of us who are normal (refused to wear the stupid superfan shirts, etc.), but believe me, we were a small minority.
This embarrassing video is the epitome the extreme lameness of BC kids:
Wow….I can’t believe the BC aire of superiority and elitism here.
I think you’re conflating “elitism” with principles and objective standards.
From reading these posts, you would think BC football has been a hot ticket and that they are the Kings of New England.
My suggestion: develop reading comprehension skills. Go back a few pages and read the piece on firing GDF/Spaz.
Maybe Uconn should consider becoming an independent like Notre Dame
Let me know how that works out for UConn.
Maybe they can use their basketball program as leverage to schedule better football competition as an independent. In other words
Under your logic, UNLV should have been a Football juggernaut in the 80’s if only they marketed their Hoops success, right?
Sorry, have to disagree here
This is not a one-sided bashing, nor is it based simply on a frivolous lawsuit back in 2003-4.
As epperson noted above,
“The Media lambasted BC in one-sided pieces. So not only was UConn proactively involved in the transition, they poured gasoline all over the fire.”
Blumenthal and by proxy, UConn and the media did their best to drag Boston College’s reputation through the mud back in 2003-4. They named our school’s president, a Jesuit who has taken a vow of poverty, personally in the lawsuit.
As a proud alumni of this school, I want no part in watching the conference throw a life raft to a school that attempted to drag down the reputation of my undergraduate institution. Nor do I want to see the ACC prop up a regional rival which does not benefit Boston College athletics in the long-run.
BC is going through a bad, bad football season. So is UConn. But the fact remains that UConn is Villanova with 12 years of football history. BC is the fourth winningest private school in college football history. UConn lucked into a BCS AQ conference by virtue of its Big East basketball affiliation. Without that, UConn football would have had to take the much longer road traveled that programs like UMass and Temple find themselves taking.
There’s a clear difference between the quality of the football product between the two schools, which is not based on elitism or condescension.
Editor, BC Interruption
It's ok if you disagree...
If it’s not simply about the lawsuit, then why is that the first thing that’s pointed out? Let’s be honest. There’s bad blood. As I stated earlier, lawsuits come a dime a dozen and it’s part of business and protecting one’s interest. I can’t speak for why your school’s President was personally named and I’m not sure why you think his vows are relevant. I suppose you are inferring he’s a nice guy. Point taken, but nice guys get sued too. Far and away from the gridiron is a cut throat business.
I’m not confusing elitism with anything. My reading comprehension is just fine. I’m well aware of BC’s football history, however, when you look at the here and now, and considering that historically Uconn has been basketball focused versus football, then BC should be leaps and bounds ahead in the success of their football development. So simply saying that BC football is better, when they have every reason to be isn’t something I would necessarily speak of with the arrogance I have witnessed in some of these posts. Today…or even last year, is BC that much better than Uconn, despite history? I certainly don’t disagree that there are stronger candidates for ACC inclusion, but the notion that Uconn would bring down the standards of ACC football just aint so when you look at some of the current members. I don’t see them getting steam rolled by even half of the current members. So…when you speak of “standards and principles” include these in the conversation.
A lawsuit is not a standard or a principle. It’s business regardless of whether you or I find it frivilous.
And I did not say that Uconn would necessarily be successful in venturing out as an independent, but it is an option. Note the use of the words “maybe” and “consider”. I would definitely leave such an option on the table before I would ever be seen as “begging” the ACC for membership.
I consider myself pretty objective in all this. I’m an SU alumni and CT resident who enjoys BC athletics as well as Uconn athletics. I’m all for school pride, on and off the playing surfaces, but this is getting ridiculous and even nasty.
If it’s not simply about the lawsuit, then why is that the first thing that’s pointed out?
It was the precursor the untrammeled shit storm unleashed by Blumenthal and his allies at UConn in the mainstream media.
I’m not sure why you think his vows are relevant.
Fr. Leahy is a Jesuit. Jesuits are missionaries who accept no salaries because they seek the higher things in life not selfish material gain. They would sooner sacrifice their own limbs than to mislead anyone.
The fact that he was named personally in the law suit demonstrates the utter lack of reason and good sense on the part of the former AG. He was merely looking to score some cheap political points at the expense of people’s reputations.
I’m not confusing elitism with anything
Elitism is a malady of the mind. The constant criticism levied against GDF and Spaz by BC folks are not exactly textbook examples of hubris.
BC should be leaps and bounds ahead in the success of their football development
The assumption is that its a level playing field. This isn’t the case. BC has a rigid academic requirements for student athletes; hence, the graduation rates being ranked perennially in the top 3.
Sure, BC can recruit thugs and morons to play ball but at what cost? Success? SI Limited Edition goodie? Internet bragging rights?
So…when you speak of "standards and principles" include these in the conversation.
I’m appealing to objective standards. It’s what the ancients believed. It’s what the BC family believes. We make mistakes as an institution but for most part, we usually own up to it.
Can you cite a reliable source where a UConn Administrator apologized for their part in the mess?
but this is getting ridiculous and even nasty.
Corporations, business entities and individuals get sued all the time. It happens. I’m sure BC allocates a chunk of change to retain high-priced lawyers for varied reasons.
The falling fact is that Blumenthal named a priest and employee personally in the law suit. He was motivated to destroy their reputations and business integrity over College realignment.
I guess my point is this...
why doesn’t BC just take the high moral ground here and bury the past? I get it. You don’t like the way Blumenthal handled the case. Sure he represented Uconn, but realistically I wouldn’t assume that his motivations were synonymous with those of Uconn. I won’t even get into academic standards because I don’t have enough knowledge to defend either school. Neither is failing to put out good students. I know that much.
BC is very capable of it. Without forgiveness, there is no grace. The possibility is understood in the Christian context.
This topic is driven by two different things.
1. Football. The ACC wants to go for it all. UConn and Rutgers are not “Football Schools” in the eyes and minds of the ACC Execs. They don’t have any natural rivalry, shared histories or tradition.
2. Academics. UConn is so-so. Rutgers is an AAU so they would be more appealing to the Big 10.
Therefore, there’s no immediate incentive to recruit UConn when the ACC has its eyes on bigger things.
....
Clearly…it’s more about football,money,and politics and not academics. Syracuse, which is private, is rated lower than Uconn and Pitt is rated more or less the same as Uconn by USNews. Having said that…these rankings are also about money and politics. And within a university itself, there are often average programs of study on up to world class curriculums. I’m not certain a relative few below average students, athletes or otherwise, necessarily impact sports programs or an institutions academic reputation in the long run. There have been many examples in the past few years alone of athletes from traditionally strong academic institutions who have not been altar boys when it comes to behavior. And yea…some of it is quite petty and in my opinion, warrants revisiting some of the NCAA rules. Having said that…I have no objection to schools upholding high standards, if in fact, that truly is their motivation.
I’m convinced, that money is always the first, and sometimes only factor.
Syracuse and UConn are very close in whatever academic ranking you hold near and dear to your heart — USN&WR, Forbes, ARWU.
I believe there is a bit of prestige, however, in being a Eastern private school with D-IA athletics … a private school that fits in culturally with BC, Duke, Wake Forest and Miami in the conference. UConn isn’t as good a cultural fit as Syracuse. The closest match in conference is Maryland … maybe.
Add a longer track record of basketball and football success and a large alumni base in NYC, and its clear (to me, anyway) why Syracuse was picked off while UConn was left behind.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 21, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
....this is a
fine example of what ails sports these days. We’re more focused on all the extracurriculars and less on the game and sportsmanship. I believe when we start talking about the notion of sports within the framework of cultural compatibility (whatever that is to you), then we need a timeout. Sports, and there is no better example than the Olympics, should be a catalyst to integrate and welcome cultural diversity..not mix and match it like a drawer full of old socks. Where’s the excitement in that?!
Yep…I can buy the history stuff for whatever it’s worth.
How can you argue that the cultural fits between academic institutions don’t matter? This is what makes college sports great; not what is bringing the sport down.
Cultural similarities and shared histories breed rivalry. Rivalry is not born out of some ridiculuous notion of geographic proximity. UConn and BC will never share as much history or cultural fit as BC and Syracuse, two Eastern private schools that share a long history on the gridiron and the hardwood. Why would we throw that away just for the sake of being inclusive?
Are you next going to argue that the PAC-12 needs to take a long hard look at itself in the mirror and strive to be more inclusive, mix and match socks and invite San Jose State, San Diego State, Sacramento State and Colorado State to get to 16, all so we can get more excited about regional west coast intercollegiate athletics?
Your argument here has officially jumped the shark.
Editor, BC Interruption
first..
be more specific in your use of the term “culture fits”. You’re a talented writer. What does that mean? If rivilaries are of concern, and I never said or implied that it shouldn’t be, then why wouldn’t you bring in multiple big Big east schools that already have a more defined historical relationship? I really don’t care so much about who they bring in as much as I think it’s telling in regards to all the excuses. In my opinion, and in this instance, it’s about adults behaving like children and money.
I think you keep forgetting not only is there opposition to taking Uconn, the ACC has already chosen Pitt along with Syracuse. If I apply your rivalry standard to Pitt…it doesn’t hold up. If you apply the academic standard…it’s no different than SU or Uconn. And Pitt is a public school just like Uconn, though I don’t think that should matter. It’s money and market share. I get it.
The culture element….sounds more like a social standard that must be met to gain admission to the country club. I bet you it never is spoken of in such terms in these negotiations. You know why? Because it simply does not belong in this discussion. It’s poison.
Talk academic standards, location, strength of program, money and the market, rivalries, and potential, but not this culture thing.
Poison? This is business.
Sorry, brand, culture, call it whatever you want … matters. We can all pretend to hold hands around the campfire and sing Kumbaya with our old Big East brethren. Hell, let’s invite UMass, UNH, UVM and Maine and really corner the New England TV market.
The fact remains that college athletics and by extension, higher education, is big business. These conference moves are the equivalent of corporate mergers & acquisitions. It is eat or be eaten. There is no room in business for making decisions and not factoring in things like the brand of the institution, cultural fit, etc. None.
This is not poison; it’s called sound business sense.
I’m sorry UConn got caught with its pants down, and the public positioning and begging, for a lack of a better term, is comical and hypocritical to me.
Forget about the lawsuit for a moment. Why would a school like BC want to prop up a regional rival by inviting them to the country club, when it clearly is not in the long-term interest of the school’s athletic programs to do so?
Like I’ve said, this would be the equivalent of FSU and Miami agreeing to let USF in (despite the academic red flags and general commuter school-ishness) or even UCF. Or your local Starbucks signing off on Starbucks putting another franchise across the street in a place other than New York. This is why the supposed “Gentlemen’s Agreement” is in place for the SEC with Florida, Georgia and South Carolina agreeing to block SEC entry for Florida State, Georgia Tech and Clemson, respectively. Simply does not make business sense.
Again, lawsuit aside, BC has every reason to block a move by UConn to the ACC. They will likely recruit Miami to join them. At present, the conference, operating from a position of strength, is not going to make a move that is not unanimous, lest they engender the same sort of feelings within its member institutions that led to the breaking apart of the Big East (and possibly the Big 12’s demise).
Editor, BC Interruption
Turf wars ...
Storrs to Boston – 84 miles
Storrs to New York – 150 miles.
UConn is covered by SB Nation Boston on this network, not SB Nation New York.
This has everything to do with territorial exclusivity. The lawsuit and the way UConn (by proxy), Blumenthal and the Big East handled the last conference shakeup only compounds the issue.
Pittsburgh gives the conference a Top 25 TV market. Syracuse’s alumni footprint in NYC is very large with 44,000 alumni living in the city. Those moves make business sense. Adding UConn, stuck between two major TV markets that the ACC now at least partially controls, does not.
Editor, BC Interruption
Money is a primary factor, but these decisions go well beyond just the short-term gains made from increased athletic revenues. The value in the association between universities and colleges is worth well more than simply the athletic value of the same association.
The US higher education industry is run on a free-market, not on a collective and planned central system.
Iowa State and Norern Iowa to the Big Ten! Jacksonville State to the SEC! Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and BC back to the Big East!
If you want intercollegiate athletics to be run like the Olympics, then I think you have bigger concerns than a couple Internet threads about the acrimonious BC-UConn relationship.
Editor, BC Interruption
I really don’t get the UConn bashing. It seems to be all based on the lawsuit, which is a joke since Pitt was a plaintiff in that same lawsuit. I was at BC at the time the original defections went down, and when Miami and Va Tech got invited but not us, we were trashing those schools for leaving. It’s just hypocrisy that I’m seeing here.
Obviously the ACC prefers Notre Dame and Texas, and won’t be inviting UConn and Rutgers until they get a definitive “no” from both schools. But it seems likely that UConn and Rutgers are the first backup choices. Given that ND are Texas are unlikely to join the ACC (just an objective guess), UConn and Rutgers should feel fairly comfortable that they will join the ACC once ND and Texas are 100% unavailable.
I really don’t get the UConn bashing. It seems to be all based on the lawsuit, which is a joke
This is the talking point of UConn—spin it to suit their revisionism.
It’s obnoxious, violent fan behavior on the part of UConn. It’s naming BC’s AD personally in the law suit. It’s the appalling hypocrisy of UConn’s “face” in Captain Calhoun—calling out BC when he can’t control his pent-up rage and lauding expansion when its convenient.
Do you see any bloggers on Boston Globe writing petulant comments about UConn or any other school? Yet no UConn fans ever demand a modicum of objectivity from Desmond Conner.
UConn and Rutgers should feel fairly comfortable that they will join the ACC
Why do you think this is a foregone conclusion? The ACC worked out an arrangement with Pitt and ‘Cuse before rumors of the deal was even leaked. This is call strategic planning. The fact that UConn wasn’t a part of it should be revealing.
Pitt was a plaintiff in that same lawsuit. How many times does this have to be repeated?
UConn not being part of it is revealing to the extent that obviously the ACC would prefer ND and Texas. It doesn’t mean they’ll never be part of the ACC (they may never, but not getting invited with Pitt and Cuse is not a nail in the coffin).
I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that they’re in, I just think it’s highly possible.
This assumes that 16 is the end-game. Until Notre Dame joins a conference, I maintain that both the ACC and the B1G Ten will leave a spot open for the Irish and will not shut the door on further expansion.
Editor, BC Interruption
And the Pac-12 is not expanding, so there you go.
And I believe the SEC (and ACC) will both stop at 14 and make that work before hastily expanding to 16.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 21, 2011 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Right
Blumenthal publicly and repeatedly described GDF as a thief, fraud and conniver — basically a criminal who illegaly stole confidential inside information from BE and used it to BC financial advantage, and BC conspired with Swofford etc to rip off the BE
And all of the allegations were utterly baseless.BASELESS. Instead of Blumenthal being disbarred he is elected US Senator.
So, please, This was not just a garden-variety business dispute that wound up in court. This was character assassination by the chief legalnofficer for CT and UConn.
To see the long term damage to BC and GDF you need only read Des and fellow UConn bloggers who believe all the lies and keep repeating the lies to again disparage GDF and BC
So UConn crawl back into your hole and stay there.
To see the long term damage to BC and GDF you need only read Des and fellow UConn bloggers who believe all the lies and keep repeating the lies to again disparage GDF and BC
This seems to be an incorrigible flaw with UConn. Great institutions and their people can admit their mistakes.
I’ve never read any comment resembling an acknowledgement of UConn’s abhorrent behavior.
Their response: “Yeah but Pitt….”.
This is why you can’t reason with them.
Pitt was a plaintiff in that same lawsuit. How many times does this have to be repeated?
This is a very superficial talking point which you and like-minded others repeat on the internet.
I addressed it.
1. GDF’s relationship with Jag went from benevolent to acrimonious to civil. Why? Jag apologized for his duplicity.
2. It’s not a huge leap to suggest that conversations took place behind closed doors which reconciled past tensions. It would be untenable for a productive relationship in the Conference to happen without this assumption. You follow?
UConn not being part of it is revealing to the extent that obviously the ACC would prefer ND and Texas. It doesn’t mean they’ll never be part of the ACC
Anything could happen when money is involved.. It would be foolish and naive to think otherwise. The point which UConn apologists are not grappling with is that if the ACC were as interested in them, the announcement would have happened already. The best candidates are usually recruited. UConn is making a mockery of itself by publicly begging.
yea!
If the pitch works, then where’s the damage? The pomises have already been made. Their responsibility is to make good on them. They have little to no choice except to make something positive happen. What would you do if you were Uconn or even Rutgers for that matter?
The damage? It means you can’t trust the institution. They’ll say anything to score a few points based on what? Empty promises? Media exposure?
If I were an Administrator at UConn, I would do what any smart businessman would do—keep the cards close to my vest.
This is what ’Cuse and Pitt did. They negotiated a deal before the rumors leaked. It worked.
What’s the upside in telling the world of your intentions if it’s out of your hands? And what do you think about the long term credibility of people openly make such comments?
In all seriousness, I’m wondering why UConn officials didn’t attend tonight’s Big East meeting in NYC. Seems sort of silly to rule out staying in the Big East, no?
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions
The school instead some “well-known figure” in state politics instead of sending the University president.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 20, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
“Our students have to go to class,” she said. “We have to figure out how to balance all of that [travel, class schedules]. We need to fit athletic prowess with academic prowess.” – UConn president Susan Herbst
So now the school is balking at a Big 12-Big East merger when its athletic programs already play in Louisville, Chicago, Milwaukee, Tampa, South Bend, Cincinnati and soon Fort Worth?
Editor, BC Interruption
...
Staying I suppose is an option they felt they don’t need to sit and talk about OR they know something we don’t. If wouldn’t have hurt them to attend.
I think it’s a foregone conclusion what a school like Uconn or Rutgers would like to do, especially after the other defections. I don’t think it hurt them to say…we want to leave or are considering leaving….not at this point in the juncture anyway.
It’s like third and long from a Uconn perspective…it’s time for a pss play and everyone already can figure that out. It’s way past the point of any tactical negotiations. They seem to have been caught off guard. Why is that? I’m not sure.
If they don’t deliver, the further damage, for football anyway, is defection. No doubt about it they’re in a tough spot.
I understand where you’re coming from but the reality is, UConn and Rutgers are not dealing from a position of strength. The only scenario that would bolster their prospects is if a competing conference announces a 16 team roster.
Suppose Swofford’s statements on expansion were accurate—that the ACC is comfortable at 14 but would not be philosophically opposed to 16. To me, this means, he would rather wait for the big kahuna. He’s draining his opponents and working them like a speed bag. Instead of another run down the middle, he calls play-action and throws a dart down the field.
He’s going for it. The ACC is thinking big. They have one chance to get this right.
It’s Notre Dame, Texas or Penn State.
Yep
And with the Pac-12’s statement today, it doesn’t look like 16 is the immediate end-game.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 21, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry, but your school’s president shows up to that meeting with bells on. UConn and Rutgers are simply not in a position of strength. Read my most recent post. UConn is putting it all out there and if they whiff, it may not end well for the Huskies.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 21, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
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