we were in the Fiesta bowl in January 2011. in 2007 we were ranked #16. We beat RGIII both home and away. He said we were the loudest stadium, we always sold out almost 40k. We can bring in a lot more money if in a power conference. We will go Big 12 if they will take a chance on us. We really wanted the ACC but they kept saying no, and aren't as attractive as Big 12 now
at the end of the day college sports is a business and Uconn is a product that people watch especially here in the northeast not only basketball but the hockey and baseball team are doing well also is a matter of time that football will be a product to watch people get mad about leaving the big east but if any of those schools are giving the change to move to the big 12 they will jump in a hearth beat, this is good for uconn to have that opportunity to be in a power conference .
Long time UCONN fan, a move to the Big Twelve Conference is not a easy sell for UCONN as a New England Institution, its fan base, alumni, boosters, financial donors, corporate sponsors, media. Hide site is 2020, but if the Big Ten Conference was coherent they should realize UCONN is a great fit geographically, academically and most importantly UCONN’s brand in the New York, northeast, New England media market. The Big Ten Conference decision to add Rutgers was a poor decision. UCONN is by far a superior institution and brand in the North East media landscape.
Case in point, any time UCONN plays in Madison Square Garden it’s a sellout. Name any national program, UNC, Duke, Kentucky, Saint John’s and Syracuse. Schedule a game versus UCONN at the Garden and you will be out numbered big time. Rutgers is a non-entity in NYC and the Garden.
For the past 15 years realignment has been moving toward football money and a larger national footprint. From a UConn standpoint, it feels like they've done the best they could without a major football conference. It's hard to imagine UConn building or sustaining their teams without that move. UConn football had glimmers of potential when they had the resources of Big East football. As a Uconn fan, it's hard to think UConn couldn't get back to the level Duke football has gotten to. They have the facilities, coaching staff and brand. It almost feels like UConn needs this soon to solidify their top-tier athletic program.
As a UConn fan, what are your thoughts about UConn leaving the Big East for the Big 12? Do you like it or disagree with it? And, do you think UConn should stay in the Big East? As a Houston fan, I do watch the Big East passively and UConn leaving wouldnt definitely hurt but I think it will just make the Big 12 all that much greater. Curious about your thoughts.
@RaunnHD Rejoing the Big East never seemed long term. It gave them a chance to keep their basketball teams top of sport. Football has been in limbo while independent, but they've been positioning to move to a major football conference. Big East has nostalgia for UConn, but it's going to be hard to keep up with NIL and football needs a big-time conference to rebuild. No conference will add them football only, so a move needs to happen soon. ACC would make sense regionaly and for rivalries, but they shouldn't wait around for that mess to sort out if the Big 12 offers.
We desperately need to move to an all sports conference. The zing East won’t it for our long term athletic survival. We can schedule early non conference games against Providence Seton Hall etc. Unfortunately, I didn’t hear you advocating hard enough for football. Inclusion into the Big12 or reconstituted ACCwould dramatically raise our football profile. Gonzaga is not the optimal conference partner. Duke would be much better as it’s a quality school with a strong BBall pedigree and a football program more akin to UConn’s. And, with all due respect, if you’re going to be UConn’s advocate, be more informed about our football program. Our Fiesta Bowl wasn’t in 2004. That was our first bowl game (Motor City Bowl).
As a die hard UConn fan that now lives in Oklahoma this would be amazing. I would get to see them live at least once a year when they play OSU! I also think it’s the right move as the BE will get run over without football.
Awful news UConn football will never be able compete or be worth it. And basketball rivalries with other NE schools are the pillar of UConn hoops’ history. I’d rather see a downgraded football program and a solid basketball power than UConn going 2-10 in perpetuity in football and then having UConn go back to the AAC days hoopwise. This may be a move that has to happen financially, but I don’t have to like it.
Modern sports is like a pushing a franchise…therefore territory matters…so planting a BIG 12 flag in the northeast is like bringing a Midwest franchise to the northeast…aka I can remember when Chic fila up to the northeast…lines were around the building…
@@J-bw4sr Yes, business is business. Unfortunately, UCONN was misled to commit to upgrading their football program, investment in on campus facilities and a stadium. Millions of dollars. UCONN was very competitive in the Big East football conference. Today, UCONN’s brand is still strong in the north east region. Arguably the best sports market in the country. Not to disparage other former Big East programs, the truth is UCONN was closing the gap from a football standpoint and already bypassed traditional north East brands.
This is probably the reason beknown to coach Hurley of why he ditched LA. The economics of scale will favour Uconn immensely. It will increase NLI money( Thomas is in the bag), maybe not immediately, the football recruiting will benefit greatly, etc. The monetary, recruiting, NIL, TV contacts, everything will soar to new heights. Uconn basketball can now afford and attract multiple 5-star high school recruits. Not sure, if I would enjoy more than 3 of 1- and-dones, unless it helps Uconn to the Final Four every year. This might possibly also influence Paige Buecker to stay 1 more year and snag huge NIL money. After all, she can use the covid eligibility.
Fiesta Bowl was 2010 season. UConn also tied for BE Football Championship 2007, after moving to the Rent in 2003. Football success is possible with increased revenue & B12 names on schedule. Revenue #'s for ACC schools are largely based on ACC affiliation (not self generated?). UConn revenues suffer as Independent & limited TV$$ for football. I do not see UConn moving for hoop only - maybe it could work if B12 football teams made a significant scheduling agreement. UConn hoops carry a top TV market & entry into Northeast for B12. Sad to see BE days go (again), but move to B12 or ACC is required for finances & long term success.
Yeah it was. I honestly though it was in 04 but yeah, in 2010 i was on a cruise, the last one i ever took, and that game was on. I agree on the finances and i think this is the reason for urgency. To be fair even with the new Big East Rights money it's only netting them an additional 6-10 mil a year tops.
Forged in the fire 🔥 of the Big 12. Sounds like an upgrade. If you watched UCONN hoops in the 80s they got beat up for many years before the rise. Let Football have a chance. Also we used to be in the AAC......real History matters
Out of the Big conferences, the ACC or BIG 10 are the only conferences that make sense regionally if you were going to include football. Regional rivalries matter. The East Coast, Mid Atlantic, Northeast regions need power 5 representation. The Big 12 isn't it unless it is able to form an east coast, northeast division that includes natural rivalries for UCONN. The Administration better figure something out make sure they do not skrew this up this time. They've had several cracks at this before the old Big East imploded.
Looking into the future, the ACC makes no sense and the BIG 10 is just a pipe dream! You've got FSU and Clemson fighting to get out of the ACC, and it's just a matter of time before two to four other schools, including UNC and UVA, are snapped up by the SEC or BIG 10.
Yes, we do need to move - the differential on income from BB to FB is staggering. It's like the budget for the grammys after parties vs your kids 10th bday party. If it was going to work with FB joining the BE, it would have happened by now. But only if FB is invited to the party, should we move and it should be a "Big" other than the East.
Houston, Baylor, Kansas, Iowa St., Arizona, UConn?? Maybe adding Duke or Gonzaga also along with all other Big 12 schools? Just call the Big 12 a G-League. lol
Could consider Memphis - not necessarily a close traveling partner but historically sound in both sports. Besides, adds new market and great corporate sponsor.
Soon the SEC and the Big 10 may be the only conferences left anyway. UConn will have to navigate it to stay alive as a sports program or go back to the Patriot League. Kicking the hell out a few more teams in the midwest might just need to happen.
If you're looking solely at revenue, then a deeper dive must be done with UConn, and how it compared to other old Big East programs that are now P4 - Syracuse, Cincy, Rutgers, Pitt, BC, Louisville (especially when UConn was attracting 40,000 for their football games during the mid/late 2000s). Would be interested to see if revenue would be more comparable, and look more favorably on UConn as a revenue-generating candidate.
The XII is throwing around some big bucks for NIL in BB...if UCONN wants to keep competing in the future (5yrs) they better join a P4/P3 now. The money gap will be too big in a few years and UCONN wont be able to pay the great players enough. UCONN might threepeat but its probably all downhill after that without joining a P4/P3. UCONN in the XII would be insane. Get rid of the XII conference tourny and give the teams two weeks rest for march madness.
The main reason you'd schedule against teams better than you is recruiting! UCONN in men and women basketball draw sold out crowds on the road, and network TV money for a conference! Only a few teams like Duke, NC, Kentucky, and maybe Kansas for just the men can say that, UCONN does it with the men and women!
Great pod. I hate the thought of leaving the Big East, but I can’t stand the thought of being left behind (again). The BIG12 move makes sense for both parties although I’d prefer a basketball super conference that includes the Carolina teams.
@@davoflatts7917 the wider the divide gets with football revenues we will fall behind. Covid years are over so no more 5th year guys. Gotta build with freshman and some transfers and it costs now. We make 24 mil in bb revenue. Syracuse football plays 40 mil last year NC State 34 million. I hate this shit but it’s a neccesary evil
How about big twelve becomes big 18 or big 20? Two 10 team divisions east and west. The heavy travel is what I don’t like about this. Like these guys were saying, by the time the tournament rolls around, these teams are beat to a pulp. Not to mention,not a lot of UConn fans are going to travel for an away game against Oregon State. In the big east,a lot of away games were a couple hours in the car.
@@daviddenegre2083 I’ll Ask you this question David cause you came at this reasonable. What does that have to do with a source telling me they are heading to the big 12 to secure their future in all sports? Conferences change and more rapidly nowadays. We’re at our peak in basketball. And football seems to have the right mindset to have a solid year. Why would this not make sense?
I hate that in the current climate, UConn probably needs to try this. PAC 12 was a wake up call that you can't just ride on tradition. With so much changing with NIL and compensation packages for universities with media deals, only the largest ships are going to compete and survive not getting relegated to pseudo Div II status. As much as I love the Big East, it would just be riding out its swan song to stay. With a nonexistent football program, they need to cash in while their value is highest with Hurley and Auriemma still on board. That window is immediately.
Can’t imagine that many fans want UConn to leave the big east. But, if they’re going to survive in the new college era, they need the finances that a conference like the Big 12 provides.
They built the football stadium in East Hartford and not on campus big mistake. There is talent in Football in Connecticut however they rather play elsewhere, their program needs to recruit big time for a football program to happen.
They may in a few years, football money more important every year. BE is so weak for CWBB too. Unfortunately it appears this is just what needs to happen.
UCONN is an original founding member of the BIG EAST which is won 5 of the past 10 basketball NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. The lame 12 has only won 2 in the same time frame. It"s really sad for it to be all about $$$. 😒
@@brunobagofdonuts9304 all facts but let’s not pretend big 12 hasn’t won the title on 22, 21 and had tech in the final on 19, Kansas who I hate was a prohibitive fav in 2020
@@LockedOnUConn why would they . All sports but football . And football wouldn't be until 2031 . And for a partial share of revenue. Makes zero sense . Uconn alumni still believe they are university first. They love driving a few hours to see basketball. The state will not spend another penny to add capacity to the football stadium. Why would the big 12 want uconn . The ACC is ready to crumble . This is more about stirring the pot hoping to get movement from a few schools in the ACC. Uconn would rather join the remaining ACC schools.
@@LockedOnUConn Looks like it's happening, used to live in Connecticut. Now in Tennessee. Wonder who comes with them.? BC , PIttsburg , Syracuse Virginia Tech. Duke, Then the SEC and Big Ten split the rest .
Football is so gross. Being a cross country and long distance runner I never respected fat boy football. Hut hike stop play, hut hike stop play, hut hike stop play, off to the side lines for a rest. "Our sport is your sports punishment"~cross country T-shirt.
