UConn back to Big East?

mauf

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UConn just gets very aggressive about kicking you out (or more accurately, in -- the stadium). Very insecure of them on their part.
It’s more about curbing excessive drinking than getting asses in the seats. B.C. does the same thing as UConn, but it’s not like they make sure you enter the stadium (which in Chestnut Hill isn’t the only alternative to hanging out in the parking lot like it is at the Rent).
 

Doug Beerabelli

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Yeah, that too. That being said, I'd be curious how many UConn tailgaters wouldn't go into the stadium at all if that was permitted. I'm just surmising the school wants as many fannies in the seats as possible due to optics.

How is the BC tailgate scene anyway? It was a real PIA if you weren't a big time donor or didn't live on campus when I was there in mid 90s. We used to be able to get a parking spot on the road around the reservoir that connects the campus to Comm Ave/Chesnut Hill Ave, IIRC. But not a lot of open fields, and parking was banned within about a mile of the stadium in CH/Newtown area back then.
 

mauf

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Yeah, that too. That being said, I'd be curious how many UConn tailgaters wouldn't go into the stadium at all if that was permitted. I'm just surmising the school wants as many fannies in the seats as possible due to optics.

How is the BC tailgate scene anyway? It was a real PIA if you weren't a big time donor or didn't live on campus when I was there in mid 90s. We used to be able to get a parking spot on the road around the reservoir that connects the campus to Comm Ave/Chesnut Hill Ave, IIRC. But not a lot of open fields, and parking was banned within about a mile of the stadium in CH/Newtown area back then.
All the parking on or adjacent to campus is still reserved for donors to the Flynn Fund. If you know a donor well enough to crash their tailgate party (not a super-high standard if you bring something), it’s a decent scene. If you don’t know someone with a campus spot, tailgating options are basically non-existent.
 

RedOctober3829

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All the parking on or adjacent to campus is still reserved for donors to the Flynn Fund. If you know a donor well enough to crash their tailgate party (not a super-high standard if you bring something), it’s a decent scene. If you don’t know someone with a campus spot, tailgating options are basically non-existent.
Did they expand the tailgating lots now that the baseball field is permanently out of there? I remember having to park in the parking deck and tailgate there for a BC-ND game.
 

mauf

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Did they expand the tailgating lots now that the baseball field is permanently out of there? I remember having to park in the parking deck and tailgate there for a BC-ND game.
Not sure — I didn’t make it to a game last fall.

But spots on the field command a $5,000 donation, compared to $1,500-$2,500 for a garage spot. And while I believe limited single-game garage spots are available (which I assume is what you did), the same isn’t true for the field or other open-air parking on/near campus. So even if they’ve expanded Shea Field, you’d be in the same boat.
 

RedOctober3829

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Not sure — I didn’t make it to a game last fall.

But spots on the field command a $5,000 donation, compared to $1,500-$2,500 for a garage spot. And while I believe limited single-game garage spots are available (which I assume is what you did), the same isn’t true for the field or other open-air parking on/near campus. So even if they’ve expanded Shea Field, you’d be in the same boat.
My sister worked for BC, so that is how I got a garage spot.
 

kenneycb

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It’s basically dead outside of 20 or whatever cars. They all moved to Brighton. They do have single games available but it’s a lot easier to get them for Holy Cross than, say, Clemson. Jarmond has made tailgating better but the biggest issue is still the product on the field. Win and people will show up, like the Clemson game last year. Lose and play Kansas and who cares.
 

Humphrey

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They did (re) construct an outdoor grass field between the building and the reservoir. I doubt they went to the time and effort to turn around and ruin it by allowing parking there during football games. Then again, anything for a buck.

The new baseball and softball venues on the other side of Comm. Ave are quite impressive.
 

mauf

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Do we really think the AAC will remain at 11 teams when UConn leaves? I thought you needed 12 to have a CCG, and I would think the TV money associated with that would be enough for the AAC to snap up a 12th member, even if there’s no one out there that they truly covet.

Incidentally, nice job by UConn negotiating the quicker exit (one more year in the AAC instead of three) and the reduced exit fee ($17 million instead of $30 million).
 

RedOctober3829

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Do we really think the AAC will remain at 11 teams when UConn leaves? I thought you needed 12 to have a CCG, and I would think the TV money associated with that would be enough for the AAC to snap up a 12th member, even if there’s no one out there that they truly covet.

Incidentally, nice job by UConn negotiating the quicker exit (one more year in the AAC instead of three) and the reduced exit fee ($17 million instead of $30 million).
I believe the big 12 has 10 teams and has a CCG.
 

StuckOnYouk

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They will have to get rid of divisions though no?

Anyway if UConn could put together a decent football schedule this move will go from already great to laughably great.
 

BaseballJones

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They will have to get rid of divisions though no?

Anyway if UConn could put together a decent football schedule this move will go from already great to laughably great.
UConn outside a P5 conference has zero zero zero zero zero shot at the playoffs. And they won't bring in much money for football. But that's ok. They could make bowl games and have successful seasons. They just need to have relatively modest hopes for their program, enjoy the gains from being in the Big East, and be happy.
 

StuckOnYouk

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UConn outside a P5 conference has zero zero zero zero zero shot at the playoffs. And they won't bring in much money for football. But that's ok. They could make bowl games and have successful seasons. They just need to have relatively modest hopes for their program, enjoy the gains from being in the Big East, and be happy.
Uconn football - along with the vast majority of 130 football programs have fairly close to zero shot at the playoffs. College football is a beast unlike any other.
 

BaseballJones

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Uconn football - along with the vast majority of 130 football programs have fairly close to zero shot at the playoffs. College football is a beast unlike any other.
Agreed. But if you’re in a P5 conference at least you have a chance at one of those magical seasons. UCF has shown that even in a legit conference a magical season gets you bupkis because the AAC is not a P5 conference. An independent like UConn? Literally zero. None. Not even a prayer of a chance of a hope of a wish of a dream.

And that’s ok. Put together a fun schedule, hope to make bowl games, and focus on other sports.
 

BaseballJones

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kenneycb

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The ability to make the playoffs as an independent is a function of who you are able to schedule. Obviously ND has more scheduling juice than any of the other independents and has the ACC deal but I wouldn't be shocked if BYU were up for a playoff berth if they went undefeated in a PAC-12 heavy schedule with a couple of other strong games in there like Boise and ND. Shittiness of the football program is a different story altogether, though.
 

Awesome Fossum

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Their playoff chances are unchanged -- UCF proved that even teams in the #Power6 just aren't getting a spot. Within the realm of possibility, what's lost is the access bowl spot that goes to the highest ranked G5 champion (rather than the highest rate G5 champion OR independent).
 
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Plantiers Wart

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What's lost is the conference tie-ins with the lesser bowls.

Jared Birmingham Bowl vs. SEC
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparillia Bowl vs. Conference USA
Hawaii Bowl vs. BYU or Mountain West
Military Bowl presented by Northrup Grumman vs. ACC
Cheribundi Tart Cherry Bowl vs. Conference USA
AutoNation Cure Bowl vs. Sun Belt
Frisco Bowl vs. At-Large
The American Athletic has secondary partnerships with the AutoZone Liberty and Walk-On’s Independence, to fill if the main affiliations can’t fill their slots.

Unless there is a shortage of bowl eligible teams, UConn may have a tough time finding a slot without a tie in.
 

Clears Cleaver

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the only thing the lower tier bowls bring is the extra practice time allotted and the nominal value in recruiting. they are money losers for the most part

UConn's model looks to be to have SNY offer up their 4-5 home games and pay them maybe $2M for the rights to see UConn play at home against 1-2 P5 teams, 1-2 G6 teams and an FCS team every year. TBD. I'm not sure how this is going to play out

fox may be helping them schedule to fill in, so likely would have some B12 and B10 teams.

The media who met with AD hinted that the economics of buy-in games has worsened for the P5 teams, as attendance is not 100% for crap teams, enabling UConn to get more home and homes than was originally thought. I suspect BC and Syracuse will be on the schedule every other at some point. But the math could actually work for UConn is they get SNY and get $3-4M by being a patsy buy-in game. Plus, word is that Fox will re-open the Big East contract and perhaps give each school an additional $2M per and extend the contract. That, plus the ability to keep their Tier 3 rights (women's BBall tier 3 rights were worth more to them than the AAC TV contract) makes the deal and $17M payout work economically for UConn over the long run.
 

Doug Beerabelli

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What's lost is the conference tie-ins with the lesser bowls.

Jared Birmingham Bowl vs. SEC
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparillia Bowl vs. Conference USA
Hawaii Bowl vs. BYU or Mountain West
Military Bowl presented by Northrup Grumman vs. ACC
Cheribundi Tart Cherry Bowl vs. Conference USA
AutoNation Cure Bowl vs. Sun Belt
Frisco Bowl vs. At-Large
The American Athletic has secondary partnerships with the AutoZone Liberty and Walk-On’s Independence, to fill if the main affiliations can’t fill their slots.

Unless there is a shortage of bowl eligible teams, UConn may have a tough time finding a slot without a tie in.
This would imply that UConn may actually have the ability to make a good decision in regard to its football program.

Who knew?!?!?!?
 

Ale Xander

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Can you guys remind me why the stadium isn't on campus or walking distance from it?
 

Dan Murfman

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It’s convenient but it’s not the reason. There is no evidence that without the Patriot proposal there would be this great effort to build on campus. The town of Mansfield NIMBY any thought of building a stadium. And the state was happy to take the land from P&W to build in East Hartford.
 

BJBossman

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UConn is going to need to leverage their hoops brands to get football games scheduled (i.e. OOC hoops games with P5 opponents to get them on their schedules).

The good news is you have enough Indy's now to help fill out the schedule. Although the travel to some will suck.
 

BJBossman

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Travel not much worse than for AAC for football. Much better for non revenues
No question. It's big savings there. Thats why they accelerated the buyout.

But football will probalby need to go to like...Utah or New Mexico every other year to make sure they have a full schedule.
 

Plantiers Wart

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Is that a pulse I hear emanating from Storrs? UConn beats #15 Florida before a sparse lower bowl Gampel Crowd.

At least the students didn’t storm the court.
 

StuckOnYouk

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This will be the best team they've had since their 2014 championship. Their athleticism will be ridiculous. Perfect timing for the Big East part 2.

Now lets just hope there is a season!