ALL BS aside, can't imagine being stuck in the Big east

[zls44]

I actually appreciate that you guys took the time out to make a thread like this, and actually mean it too. Ithica, Tom, Max, xc, and to be honest 90% of you have been pretty decent about this. You're understandably happy about where you guys are going and how stable you are- but you aren't taking any joy in our suffering, either.

What kills me is that we tried at all this. We really, legitimately tried. We didn't just cash the checks like some otheRU schools. Built a reasonably sized football stadium, privately funded on-campus facilities, made the ACTUAL UNIVERSITY better without going through massive unfunded bond expenditures. We gave it a go at everything. Football took a sea change, but they spent a decade trying to get it there, and they got it there. But you can't make up for a century.

"Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." - St. Francis

That helps me get through this news. That and scotch. Lots of sweet, delicious, scotch.

 

[DoctorBombay]

UConn is like the family that was in line to see Mickey Mouse at Disney World, and just when they got to the front of the line, Mickey leaves.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I don't know if Rutgers or UConn or any school in a split off conference of football schools orphaned by the basketball schools (as outlined above) can survive financially playing football at the highest level. The only way to make it work is to subsidize the program millions of dollars every year, or to drop funding down to the level of a MAC or CUSA school.

If the Big Ten wanted Rutgers or UConn, they would have taken them by now. They ran their numbers and found it would cost them money to take either program. Why would they decide to take them now? To be kind?

I am not gloating about this. A lot of good fans got screwed in this deal, and if things were only a little different, it could have been us on the outside looking in.
I feel for the people who root for these programs. It sticks. It really does.

I don't see any scenarios where UConn and Rutgers are going to be able to escape to higher ground. Splitting up the Big East, which looks like it is going to happen, just makes a bad situation worse for them. I hope they can work to keep the conference together. It was something special for a long time.

Actually the death of the Big East - via splitsville of the remnants because the TV money isn't there - would perhaps open the Garden back up to be in a rotation for the ACC hoops conference championship. Would the Garden really stick with a hoops only conference that didn't even have UConn? What kind of draw would that be?

 

[Cuseman78]

Actually the death of the Big East - via splitsville of the remnants because the TV money isn't there - would perhaps open the Garden back up to be in a rotation for the ACC hoops conference championship. Would the Garden really stick with a hoops only conference that didn't even have UConn? What kind of draw would that be?

I still contend that the ACC Tourney will be played at the Garden at some point within the next decade.

SU vs Duke, UNC vs Pitt semi-final Friday. Yes, please

 

[xc84]

That must be your tongue-in-cheek response, Tom. Rutgers isn't dropping football. They just about sold out the stadium for the Howard game.

Well, if Syracuse scheduled Howard Stern, I am sure it would sell out too.

 

[KaiserUEO]

Actually the death of the Big East - via splitsville of the remnants because the TV money isn't there - would perhaps open the Garden back up to be in a rotation for the ACC hoops conference championship. Would the Garden really stick with a hoops only conference that didn't even have UConn? What kind of draw would that be?

the bigeast tournament is about to look like the maac attendence wise, complete with multiple locations...the rock, the donut, the phone booth and yes the Garden.

the ACC will be here, whether its the Garden or the Barclays.

Oh Lord

 

[Toga]

I think the BE devolves- the hoops-onlies filter out to the MAAC and Atlantic 10 or some amalgamation.

I think in football, the Big East names or schools still trump C-USA in terms of brand/value.

An East-coast MAC emerges with UConn, UMass, Rutgers, Temple, USF, ECU, Army, Navy, UCF, whomever.

The old Metro conference schools get the band back together with Louisville, Memphis, Cincy, Southern Miss, Tulane and instead of the original bass and keyboard players, they get some old pals from C-USA like Marshall and Tulsa.

Or, hell, maybe they just up and join C-USA. Who really cares. I say we take their whiskey and their women, push their (Rutgers and UConn) raft out to sea, and launch flaming arrows at it.

They have women?

 

[TexanMark]

This is all working out the way I thought it might years ago when I thought there would eventually be an all-eastern seaboard conference. I still think, pardon me, that it needs rutgers or uconn to make that happen.

I'd happily take one but not both...zero sum game. Only so many BCS level recruits in the Tri State.

 

[RMH44]

The basketball board is the worst.

No offense to the mods, you run an awesome site.

But that board is awful.

If I could like this post more than once...I would. The hoops board is very newspaper-like.

 

[Millhouse]

Rutgers has a shadow? We were never in Rutgers' shadow. The Grob era happened.

we act like we're the first good program to ever have some years where they suck. grand scheme of things, it was a blip. a blip that made me want to waterboard myself, but still a blip.

 

[DoctorBombay]

One of the reasons BC left the BE was to escape the shadow of UConn. One of the reasons SU left the BE was to escape the SHADOW of Rutgers. I have to believe this is working out just the way they planned it.

All due respect, but whatta u, 12 years old?
Since when has SU EVER been shadowed by RU, and looked to "escape" them?
What is going on w/ this Rutgers obsession anyway, doesn't history matter at all?
Just the last 10 years are important, and nothing else?
This is a MASSIVE FAIL. :bang:

 

[kingtidge]

One of the reasons BC left the BE was to escape the shadow of UConn. One of the reasons SU left the BE was to escape the shadow of Rutgers. I have to believe this is working out just the way they planned it.

But UCONN can't escape the shadow of Syracuse... run, run, pass, punt... The P&D show is now back online straight out of Storrs, CT...

 

[Noexcuse]

we act like we're the first good program to ever have some years where they suck. grand scheme of things, it was a blip. a blip that made me want to waterboard myself, but still a blip.

The thing is, as dark as those 5 years were, DG kept the ball moving in a lot of other ways. Positioning SU in NYC, on-going facilities upgrades and improving the non-revenue sports all played a part in making SU an attractive addition to the ACC, imo. Plus, continued excellence in basketball (thanks JB) and lacrosse and the crowds that follow those teams wherever they play, also played a major role. In my mind, DG was busy in a lot of other areas to improve the SU brand while waiting for football to catch up.

 

[OttoMets]

I'm just surprised that so many people make a distinction between the basketball and football boards. Never considered them separate entities or really noticed any differences in content or tone (though I suppose people are a bit angrier on this side).

 

[Alsacs]

The Big East Conference is officially closed.

 

[All4SU]

One of the reasons BC left the BE was to escape the shadow of UConn. One of the reasons SU left the BE was to escape the shadow of Rutgers. I have to believe this is working out just the way they planned it.

Buttgers doesn't cast a shadow. Please.

 

[All4SU]

What kills me is that we tried at all this. We really, legitimately tried. We didn't just cash the checks like some otheRU schools. Built a reasonably sized football stadium, privately funded on-campus facilities, made the ACTUAL UNIVERSITY better without going through massive unfunded bond expenditures. We gave it a go at everything. Football took a sea change, but they spent a decade trying to get it there, and they got it there. But you can't make up for a century.

Well, as you admit. You waited too long. While the other BE teams were investing heavily in football and a future at the Big Boy table, UConn sat back and let others -- namely Miami, VT, SU, Pitt, BC and WVU do the heavy lifting. Once it was a success, UConn wanted in. I'm sorry, but that lack of foresight and commitment contributed to both the demise of the BE, and the situation UConn currently finds itself.

 

[zls44]

Well, as you admit. You waited too long. While the other BE teams were investing heavily in football and a future at the Big Boy table, UConn sat back and let others -- namely Miami, VT, SU, Pitt, BC and WVU do the heavy lifting. Once it was a success, UConn wanted in. I'm sorry, but that lack of foresight and commitment contributed to both the demise of the BE, and the situation UConn currently finds itself.

Lew Perkins started negociating for UConn to add football a decade before they did. He had to beat the legislature over the head about it for, literally, ten years.

 

[Jeepers]

When did Robert Burton start donating to UConn? I'd imagine they couldn't have moved up without his help.

 

[baggerbob]

There is no way Swarbrick and Swofford just cooked this up. Pitt and Notre Dame killed the Big East football contract, Pitt,Syracuse got a lifeboat out now here comes Notre Dame. Swarbrick gets better then half, the all in conference games and all other sports into the ACC. After a couple years of almost being a member, he has leverage to go all in, and here comes Uconn. All this done by Notre Dame to have a conference to their liking.

 

[Scooch]

Lew Perkins started negociating for UConn to add football a decade before they did. He had to beat the legislature over the head about it for, literally, ten years.

Yep. And I give UConn credit for moving ahead with the plans to upgrade even after the Hartford stadium deal with the Patriots fell apart. Would have been easier, and cheaper, to pack it in after that.

I'm sympathetic to UConn.

 

[javadoc]

I actually appreciate that you guys took the time out to make a thread like this, and actually mean it too. Ithica, Tom, Max, xc, and to be honest 90% of you have been pretty decent about this. You're understandably happy about where you guys are going and how stable you are- but you aren't taking any joy in our suffering, either.

If we do expand, then I wouldn't mind adding UConn, by all means.

 

[javadoc]

we act like we're the first good program to ever have some years where they suck. grand scheme of things, it was a blip. a blip that made me want to waterboard myself, but still a blip.

How does that work? If you want to stop, do you?

 

[javadoc]

. A big to Rutgers.

A-freaking-men. May the stink of Schiano accompany them all the way to Dis.

 

[orangecuse]

Yep. And I give UConn credit for moving ahead with the plans to upgrade even after the Hartford stadium deal with the Patriots fell apart. Would have been easier, and cheaper, to pack it in after that.

I'm sympathetic to UConn.

I have no sympathy whatsoever for UConn. Their hoops program significantly benefited from our hoops probation period (Donyell Marshall was a lock for us otherwise) and their football greatly benefited from our Little Engine that couldn't coach and its ensuing damage...