If (when) the B1G expands again, would you be fine w/UConn?
After last night, being at the game, I think UConn could be a halfway decent program in the B1G.
I would say last night was probably 60/40 UConn fans.
They already have had more recent success than Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Purdue. As well as Rutgers and Maryland. They don't have the biggest stadium, but neither does northwestern and I think we can all agree they have a pretty damn good team after literally starting from nothing.
UConn has been this shitty and is this shitty because Randy Edsall skipped town at the perfect time and left Pasqualoni with pretty much nothing.
UConn has a national championship in basketball this decade, a dynasty in women's basketball and a hockey program which would boost the new B1G hockey conference's numbers. And by talking to some alums at the game yesterday, UConn is making a big push to get into the AAU.
It would also give East coast Michigan fans/alums more chances to see Michigan.
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^
Isn't it bad enough we have Rutgers and Maryland coming in?
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:59 PM ^
Eh, if the B1G expands again, it's gonna be when other conferences expand into super-conferences. 20 team leagues, each with 2 x 10 team divisions. You play the other 9 conference teams then there's a championship, which is a defacto national quarterfinal. 4 winners then go to a 4 team playoff. That's what's gonna happen. So, if we add 6 teams, I have a feeling the Big East will get split up into Pac and B1G with some teams left out. I think the ACC will pick up UConn probably. There will also be some restructuring I imagine.
September 23rd, 2013 at 6:39 AM ^
no offense, but that's completely crazy
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:00 PM ^
My own opinion on this is that the Big Ten already has already established the nature and direction of its East Coast presence, and I am not sure that UConn is necessarily in line with that being that football and potential television revenue seem to be the primary drivers. I would have to think that - if there is further expansion - they go south along the coast before they go north.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:00 PM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:00 PM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:06 PM ^
There are better options. Not expanding is at the top of the list.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:06 PM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:08 PM ^
Seeing as we are now a basketball conference, I'm fine with it.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:09 PM ^
have Miami(Ohio) and thats way down the list.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:20 PM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:21 PM ^
No. They don't belong (but then, neither do Rutgers and Maryland and arguably Penn State and Nebraska, which is, I believe, the lowest-rated institution academically in the B1G).
Their football program is absolutely miserable, there's no other way to see it, and this misery isn't saved by any of the tradition that other B1G programs have.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:22 PM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:23 PM ^
that I would rather have based on Academics (UVa, UNC), regeneration of forgotten rivalries (Mizzou, Pitt), or to piss of OSU (Cinci). UConn adds absolutely nothing to the table, aside from a good basketball program, to in intrigue me.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:30 PM ^
I'm not sure about their other sports, but with the additiona of Rutgers and Maryland, we don't gain a lot football wise with UConn. They have a very small stadium and we'll already have a new england presence with Rutgers. Basketball could benefit from a competition standpoint, but I think that's about it. I also don't know where they stand academically which is a big factor in B1G admittance.
Ideally, we wouldn't expand any further, but it will most likely happen at some point with mega-conferences. If that's the case, I think the SEC is going to pilfer the ACC and B12 while the PAC will look to steal B12 teams again. Given that scenario, I think it would be best to steal some southeastern schools and maybe a B12 team or two. Again, I don't know the academics, other sports, etc.... I would like to see the short list containing teams like Oklahoma,Texas, Va Tech, and god a FLA school like Miami or FSU would be a major recruiting opportunity.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:06 PM ^
As if construction can't happen in the richest state in the country. 15-20,000 seats can be added during an offseason, the stadium was built with that in mind to easily add another level spanning from around each side of the press boxes/suites all the way around. It was part of the original planning of the stadium and is included in the blue prints. If Delaney had an issue, CT governor was sign approval and it would be a 55-60,000 seat stadium in a year.
UCONN athletic department offers athletic success across the board. No other realignment candidate comes close when it comes to on field success, academic rankings and television markets which is what is driving expansion in the first place.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:41 PM ^
but if UConn is so great why are you guys in the AAC? Why did the Big Ten and ACC pass you over?
September 23rd, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
Why hasn't it happened?
You still need people to show up for games.
And when you say no other realignment candidate come close...which ones are you considering? North Carolina? Virginia? GT? Heck, even Duke. All those are better academically and get into bigger markets than the 30th sized Hartford & New Haven. And all but Duke probably have better football programs, and the Carolina teams have better basketball programs. Who knows how good U-Conn's basketball program will be post-their one great coach and in a nothing conference.
September 23rd, 2013 at 5:47 AM ^
One correction, Rutgers gets you nothing in New England.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:38 PM ^
If we're talking 16 teams, Pitt, Mizzou, and either [VaTech and UVA], or [Oklahoma and Oklahoma State]. The former two-pair are obvious package deals. I'd take Kansas and K-State over UConn and who knows. Maybe even Iowa St and Cinci.
*Latter two.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^
Make the Fiesta Bowl a couple years ago, which is more than like 11 or 12 (of the 14) teams in the big 10 can say...
But no. HOWEVA: They could come as a basketball-only member and I would like that
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:00 PM ^
There, everyone is happy.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:02 PM ^
Only reason they would be invited is because of basketball.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:02 PM ^
I'd rather have UVa, Va Tech, UNC, Ga Tech, and maybe Mizzou or Kansas.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:06 PM ^
Plus culturally I think those schools that listed have more in common then the southern schools. I also think they be more inclined to stay within the ACC (which I think if FSU, Clemson, and Va Tech continue there success will be around for a while boasting decent athletic programs with very good to great academics Duke, UNC, UVA , etc) then come here.
If I were betting man I think the Big 12 will fall apart first before the ACC. They're a lot tougher then I think most believe especially if those aforementioned schools can recruit athletes in SEC country and offer the academics the SEC doesn't hold in much regard.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:32 PM ^
oops. Replied in the wrong place.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:39 PM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:43 PM ^
UConn adds nothing of additional value, much like my opinion on this thread.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:51 PM ^
mentioned a lot as a reason for expansion. What makes anyone think UConn is going to be able to continue the kind of success they had without Jim Calhoun and being a severly watered down Big East for basketball?
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:01 PM ^
Thanks but no thanks. Much as I love women's basketball, it would be the only positive in the mighty huskies joining the B1G. It's bad enough we are going to have to deal with Rutgers (loved watching them beat Bielema and his widow's peak) and Maryland. Stop the madness.
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:17 PM ^
What matters now is big media markets for basic cable, never mind that cable itself is becoming increasingly problematic. UConn doesn't bring that. When the B1G steps up to become the B16, it's going to be Georgia Tech and Miami (the U, not NTM).
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:28 PM ^
A lot of posters offer good reasons for them to join and to be excluded but whatever happened to people that enjoy the Midwestern values behind the big ten? We already get our east coast bias filled with the Nitty Lions and adding Maryland and Rutgers isn't of much value. The B1G should never expand and do the following:
- Put Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana and Purdue in the east
- Put Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa and Northwestern in the west
- Reject admission for the two newest memebers (I still can't believe they're in)
In this realm of college football: money, greed and cable deals > tradition. Sigh.
As for Uconn, do not want in the big ten.
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:30 PM ^
69 days til The Game
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:42 PM ^
Me, I'd prefer if we turned the clock back to 1949 and, instead of MSU, invited Pitt as the replacement for Chicago.
If there is going to be 2 more teams added Pitt and Missouri makes the most sense geographically, Texas and Notre Dame make the most sense financially, and Virginia and North Carolina make the most sense realistically.
UConn adds nothing that the Big 10 needs...which probably means that it will be at the top of the list for what actually happens.
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:42 PM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:50 PM ^
Put 'em in the cool blue and other colors division. We've just added two more ugly-ass red teams.
September 23rd, 2013 at 12:15 AM ^
freaking way.
Delaware should join the BIG10 before that, or when hell freezes over.
September 23rd, 2013 at 5:55 AM ^
Barring a major change, not many schools are available. The ACC took a poison pill so that any teams that leave do not have their media rights. Not sure if the Big 12 did the same.
Given that, who is available to be the 15th & 16th teams we would add? With a reduced list of possibilities, I think UConn fits better than most. Realistically, the B1G will only grow, not shrink.
Also, UConn is pursuing AAU membership I believe and is building a new biomedical research faculty that should help up the $ count.
September 23rd, 2013 at 7:09 AM ^
All the talk about inevitable expansion is not based on five super conferences, but four. It will be fueled by the disintegration of the Big 12 or the ACC. There is no way in the world the big five conferences are going to collectively add sixteen more schools. UConn's best hope is that the Big 12 falls apart. They might be a better fit in the ACC or the Big Ten than the leftovers from there.
September 23rd, 2013 at 6:40 AM ^
September 23rd, 2013 at 7:09 AM ^
Absolutely not. If the Big Ten insists on expanding again, they should only do so if they can add quality football programs. Uconn barely deserves to be in D1A. We don't need another bottomfeeder dragging overall strength of schedule down.
September 23rd, 2013 at 8:09 AM ^
In any language. No
September 23rd, 2013 at 8:30 AM ^
It wasn't that long ago that their football program was D-1AA. Their facilities are not big enough to handle football. I know Purdue and Indiana are small but they have been in the B1G forever. UConn brings nothing to the table. The NFL dominates the Northeasternarea of the U.S. College traditions is lacking big time!
September 23rd, 2013 at 8:47 AM ^
wait until we play them again, beat them by 30, and then ask the MGOBLOGGERS. It's been a rough two weeks around here, friend.
September 23rd, 2013 at 9:09 AM ^
I'm still for UVA and UNC. Takes us into the south with two good schools, good hoops, could suggest that the B1G is about something a little more than eyeballs for football. With the move I would like to see some initiative to make the conference alliance mean something academically--200 million from the ESPN money for an initiative to defeat hunger in all ten whatever states, etcetera. Football is eating our children, and the Big Ten needs to distinguish itself from the ugly here soon or just go down as a bad football conference.
And then it needs to start policing itself--obviously, the NCAA can't do it. If PSU is not just eating our children but worse; if MSU is paying its players, let the conference impose something real and deal, and give the damned thing back a bit of integrity. Then when people say the Big Ten sucks, we can honestly say that we don't play by SEC rules.
Dunno if anyone posted this in the past, but it's about as succinct a statement of the current landscape for the Big Ten as you could want:
September 23rd, 2013 at 9:13 AM ^
I'll accept UCONN only if we also get Akron and Appalachian State first.
September 23rd, 2013 at 10:20 AM ^
Get f'ing real.