UC / U of L / UConn to ACC?

[mjv780]

One thing that I have not seen is the possibility that UC stays in the Big East as a basketball member and all sports but football and add football to the ACC or Big 12. Is that a possibility?

I don't understand what the upside to that would be... not being critical, just wondering your reasoning?

[bearcatbret]

I read the same thing "between the lines". UC will be considered if the ACC needs to add teams. One thing that I have not seen is the possibility that UC stays in the Big East as a basketball member and all sports but football and add football to the ACC or Big 12. Is that a possibility?

[DBrentonBuck]

What makes you think they like NAVY?!

EVERYTHING I've seen about NAVY concerning this whole mess, is that NAVY was never a legitimate option...simply a rumor. Please inform me.

Both Navy and UCONN already have the support of at least a few ACC Presidents is what I read and UC has no votes as of now. In my book... they are ahead of UC on ACC's list. We are at best 3rd.

[Rational Cat]

What makes you think they like NAVY?!

EVERYTHING I've seen about NAVY concerning this whole mess, is that NAVY was never a legitimate option...simply a rumor. Please inform me.

Just plug "Navy and the ACC" into Google, and read to your hearts content.

also this: http://twitter.com/ACCSports/statuse...47091374796800

Technically- yes, rumor. But aren't they all? Isn't all the talk of us getting in just rumor at this point?

[KY Bearcat]

I'm glad that you feel good about this, and this news give you reason for optimism.

Can you please point out to me (and maybe others) to show me how to read between those lines and make it come out that we are in the ACC (pending other schools leaving)? And how many other schools need to leave? 1, 2, 3?

From what I have read today, it looks as if the ACC really likes Navy, and they have maybe moved above us on the pecking order, three of the schools really hate UConn (I mean blood hate), and that the only other afterthought lower than us seems to be USF.

What makes you think they like NAVY?!

EVERYTHING I've seen about NAVY concerning this whole mess, is that NAVY was never a legitimate option...simply a rumor. Please inform me.

[jbreeds1]

Look JBreeds, the "longtermers" on this board, of which you are not, know my history of being "ok" with UC at a par, commensurate w/ the support it gets from the community. Watching UC play ECU or USF, and going to the Liberty Bowl is NOT the end of the world.

UC has sold out Nippert x1 in the last 3 years. We have to plead w/ the Enquirer and local electronic media for coverage..... We have a stadium that is cozy for 25K, but cramped when we have bigger crowds..... We can't keep our coaches..... AND YOU WONDER WHY THE ACC TOOK LOUISVILLE OVER US??

We had a great run. Frankly, I enjoy watching FB of all types, even little kids, and if the big boys don't want us, then all the "kicking and screaming" from people on this board isn't going to matter a hill of beans.

So there.

B.C.

Holy cow. Small-minded. Just very, very small-minded.

"Longtermers"??? You've been on this board for one year longer than I have.

P.S. You aren't smarter than the rest of us.

[Rational Cat]

Everyone is blowing this whole thing out of proportion as to them accepting UL over us or UCONN. The reason they did it is because UL was being courted by the Big 12. For the ACC to remain a power, if FSU or other schools leave, is to make sure they scoop up the every top team remaining. Since UC or UCONN haven't had any offers, and UL has, they had to make sure they got them before another conference did. Which is what the ACC pretty much said on the press release. UC and UCONN will get an invite because, if you read between the lines, the ACC expects more teams to leave. This is why they took UL first. I expect news to come out about 2+ more schools leaving the ACC, possibly, FSU, Georgia Tech, and Virginia, and the ACC scooping us or UCONN up. From a higher up within UC I heard they had meetings with the ACC on Monday and this was pretty much what was discussed.

Even though UC didn't get an invite now, doesn't mean they won't get one shortly. The reason they we didn't get one now is there was no worry of the Big 10 or Big 12 getting us because we weren't part of the initial expansion talks like UL was. And people who think we won't get an invite are ignorant when it comes to UC as a whole. UC has over a $1 billion dollar endowment and has great academics with a solid sports team. Don't forget as well that we finally have an AD who is known for fundraising which will only help our athletics department. Plus we have a top 35 tv market. UC has all the groundwork to break into the ACC. It's a matter of time now when conference re-alignment hits hard again and we see more school being scooped up by other conferences. This is when we will get our invite. It's inevitable, in my opinion, so the Armageddon talk about the MAC or whatever is meaningless to me.

Take this for what its worth but if you read between the lines on what was released today we are in the ACC pending any other schools leaving, which there will be and the ACC looks like they expect it.

I'm glad that you feel good about this, and this news give you reason for optimism.

Can you please point out to me (and maybe others) to show me how to read between those lines and make it come out that we are in the ACC (pending other schools leaving)? And how many other schools need to leave? 1, 2, 3?

From what I have read today, it looks as if the ACC really likes Navy, and they have maybe moved above us on the pecking order, three of the schools really hate UConn (I mean blood hate), and that the only other afterthought lower than us seems to be USF.

[Cincatz13]

Everyone is blowing this whole thing out of proportion as to them accepting UL over us or UCONN. The reason they did it is because UL was being courted by the Big 12. For the ACC to remain a power, if FSU or other schools leave, is to make sure they scoop up the every top team remaining. Since UC or UCONN haven't had any offers, and UL has, they had to make sure they got them before another conference did. Which is what the ACC pretty much said on the press release. UC and UCONN will get an invite because, if you read between the lines, the ACC expects more teams to leave. This is why they took UL first. I expect news to come out about 2+ more schools leaving the ACC, possibly, FSU, Georgia Tech, and Virginia, and the ACC scooping us or UCONN up. From a higher up within UC I heard they had meetings with the ACC on Monday and this was pretty much what was discussed.

Even though UC didn't get an invite now, doesn't mean they won't get one shortly. The reason they we didn't get one now is there was no worry of the Big 10 or Big 12 getting us because we weren't part of the initial expansion talks like UL was. And people who think we won't get an invite are ignorant when it comes to UC as a whole. UC has over a $1 billion dollar endowment and has great academics with a solid sports team. Don't forget as well that we finally have an AD who is known for fundraising which will only help our athletics department. Plus we have a top 35 tv market. UC has all the groundwork to break into the ACC. It's a matter of time now when conference re-alignment hits hard again and we see more school being scooped up by other conferences. This is when we will get our invite. It's inevitable, in my opinion, so the Armageddon talk about the MAC or whatever is meaningless to me.

Take this for what its worth but if you read between the lines on what was released today we are in the ACC pending any other schools leaving, which there will be and the ACC looks like they expect it.

[bearcatbmr]

Why is everyone saying that this makes the road the BCS easier? The BCS is gone by the time this happens correct? The Big East wasn't included in the Top 5 conferences that get automatic inclusion anyway. I think in time UC will end up in the ACC or the Big 12, not sure how long it will be though. If the Big 12 decides to actually expand to 12 I am thinking that UC would be left out in favor of Boise and BYU anyway, unless WVU can do some negotiating about needing a travel buddy. I think the B1G will stay where they are until the SEC makes another move so I feel this could be the end of this go round for now. Just have to wait and see I guess.

[bearcatsam]

Four years ago I missed out on the opportunity to go to the Orange Bowl. The next year I had the opportunity to take my son to the Cincy-Pitt game in pittsburgh for the Big East title. It was an incredible father/son trip and was the single most exciting game I have ever attended, and something me and my son still talk about and watch youtube videos of. My son is probably a bigger fan of UC now than I was at his age.

A month later I did NOT miss out on the opportunity to go to the Sugar Bowl. At the time, not only was I following my bearcats to watch them play in the biggest UC sports event since the 1992 Final Four, I was happy to have the opportunity to watch them play my second favorite team, the Florida Gators and a chance to watch Tim Tebow in person.

My point of this is...I am glad I had the opportunity to do those things with my bearcats, something I dont know if my son will ever be able to do after this year (here's hoping to a magical basketball season), and that makes me very sad and disheartened. He is a loyal bearcat fan and I hope that somehow and someway the bearcats do not get left out of the conference realignment shuffle...these last several years could be the last chance we get to see the bearcats a field goal miss away from the national championship game. With us sticking in Conference USA without a louisville, we may never see the athletes come to this school to get us back there. I hope I am wrong!! GO CATS!!

[nolte50uc]

show of hands - who thinks conference realignment is now over?

[bg703]

All this means are more dominoes needs to fall for UC to join the ACC or Big 12. To me there are two potential events on the horizon that could lead to further big conference realignment.

1. The ACC's court case against Maryland over the $50 million exit fee. You have to believe schools like Florida State and others are watching intently at that outcome and perhaps eyeing a move.
2. The Big 10 goes to 16.

There are so many permutations but those are the two big ones. The 7 remaining catholic schools could vote to dissolve the conference but I don't see that happening, they get more TV money being tied in with FBS schools.

UC is in as good a position as could be expected. If the ACC needs to add again there are really only four targets: UC, USF, UConn and Navy football. Also, should the Big 12 look to expand they could be a target there as well, although that is less likely, and you have to figure BYU would get another look from them. But none of these schools, including UC, add revenue to the existing member schools. Louisville won't add revenue for the ACC. But as we're seeing with the Big East, when you're being raided it's foremost about survival.

Here's my big prediction, there are still more moves coming in conference realignment. And it's the ACC that's in the greatest danger of losing members. If UC just remains patient things should work out for them. I trust that President Ono and Whit Babcock are doing everything they can to make sure UC athletics aren't relegated to something akin to Conference USA.

[Bearcat Chris]

This leaves UC and USF as the only remaining BEast members when UC joined. And, the recent additions of the football schools only makes it at or slightly above C-USA football as it was when UC left. This is a sad day for UC athletics. Hopefully, the gods of conference realignment shine on UC and they are invited to the party.

UCONN still around!

B.C.

[Banter]

I have been optimistic through all of this, and thought that we could get a nod to join the ACC, but this may be the last straw...I am holding onto my last hopes of something big in the works.

[bearcatgary]

"The ACC also considered UConn and Cincinnati for membership. However, sources told ESPN the league only wanted Louisville because there is a sense among league presidents that the ACC can add more schools at a later date if the ACC lost any other schools."

Adding Louisville reduced each ACC member's revenue share. Adding UCONN and UC will reduce them further. That is why they did not move more aggressively. There are no more revenue positive moves to be made. Each move from now on will be done in a more strategic manner from the 4 biggest conferences. The ACC will be forced to react much like the Big East has been doing for the last 7 or 8 years.

Since UL is replacing Maryland, I think it is a revenue neutral move. UL will just get the share that would have gone to Maryland.