UConn Football

[Nova09]

Maybe there's another thread somewhere and maybe mods will move this, but I think it is (potentially) relevant to FCS. Rothstein is reporting UConn to Big East for all sports but football is done deal IF UConn can figure something else for football and get out of American. For what it's worth, BE denies there have even been discussions.

For our sake of wild speculation, does it make sense for UConn to bite the bullet and go FCS to get their other sports in BE?

[Laker]

This is the article that I saw about it. I would be surprised if they went FCS. Maybe they will do what Navy does- in football for one sport, in another for everything else.

http://www.fanragsports.com/cbb/rothstein-uconn-big-east-recent-discussions-expansion/

[bostonspider]

No. They would likely go FBS independent like UMass before dropping down to FCS.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

If it isn't a current FCS thing Nova I would appreciate you starting it in "Other Sports". I can see what you are going for but until there is some information indicating they were doing that it just doesn't go here. I'll leave it for a day to get traction but in the future if you keep me from having to go through this process I'd really appreciate the help.xthumbsupx

[clenz]

They will try to toil as indy for a while before ultimately axing the program.

[RootinFerDukes]

If uconn or umass ever came crawling back to Fcs, I say the caa should take them back without hesitation.

[REALBird]

How much did that stadium cost? I think with the investment made in Football they stay FBS as an Independent.

[RootinFerDukes]

If it's true they join the big east for all sports but football, talk about ironic to have to crawl back to the conference you just couldn't wait to get away from. A humbling for them that no P5 conferences want them.

If this happens, there's a rumor they may want a football only membership in the MAC. If this happens, JMU could be in play. I doubt it though.
After this rumor, the most likely scenario is FBS independence as long as they can justify it. I also see them dropping the program entirely as more likely than tucking their tails between their legs and going back to FCS. Unlike Idaho, their athletic program has a lot more pride and is higher profile. It could kill their perception to downgrade back to Fcs.

[Nova09]

If it isn't a current FCS thing Nova I would appreciate you starting it in "Other Sports". I can see what you are going for but until there is some information indicating they were doing that it just doesn't go here. I'll leave it for a day to get traction but in the future if you keep me from having to go through this process I'd really appreciate the help.xthumbsupx

Ok how bout if I phrase it like this:

D coordinator of reigning fcs number 1 defense took a job at uconn, could it end up an fcs job anyway?

[GodHelpTheBears]

Football is the third most popular sport UConn sponsors. They play in a stadium 30 minutes from their campus. Their last coach tried to start the most contrived rivalry in college sports history, and the team they picked as their "rival" left the trophy on a bench after they won last year. Their athletic department is so completely unimaginative that they hired Randy Edsall.

No, wait. They rehired Randy Edsall. They had hired him once, he left and insulted the university on the way out, and they brought him back.

At this point, it's like a steamroller going one on one with an empty Dr Pepper can. UConn football never should have existed at the FBS level, and it sure as hell shouldn't exist up there today. They're a basketball school, a real one with national championships and stuff. There's no shame in embracing that.

[aceinthehole]

Under no circumstances will the State of Connecticut let the football program reclassify back to FCS. They will subsidize the program, stadium, etc for as long as it takes. This is not Idaho.

They may not stay in the American and may be relegated to play football in another G5 conference or even as an Independent, but they will never drop down a level.

[Go...gate]

I can certainly see them as an Independent or a football-only member of the AAC (like Navy).

[Franks Tanks]

They will try to toil as indy for a while before ultimately axing the program.

Yeah no. CT has 500k more people than Iowa, and they are located in a much smaller area. The state can certainly support an FBS team, and there are enough players to field a competitive team in a conference like the AAC.

[clenz]

Yeah no. CT has 500k more people than Iowa, and they are located in a much smaller area. The state can certainly support an FBS team, and there are enough players to field a competitive team in a conference like the AAC.

So....what's stopped that from happening already?

[PAllen]

So, UConn, UMass, JMU, Nova, Delaware, and who? Does Temple bite?

[Franks Tanks]

So....what's stopped that from happening already?

Nothing. They have pretty good support, but haven't been very good lately due some bad coaching hires. They were quite successful in the first Edsall era. Not sure if he can do it again, but UCONN can and will win again at the FBS level.

[RootinFerDukes]

I can certainly see them as an Independent or a football-only member of the AAC (like Navy).

Yeah I hadn't thought about that scenario. I can see the AAC being desperate enough to keep any name brand program to the point of being willing to just let them stay as a football only member.

[Anthony215]

I can certainly see them as an Independent or a football-only member of the AAC (like Navy).

The only way I see this happening is if they pay a large exit fee to the AAC for the loss of basketball revenue, then agree to play 3-4 AAC teams each season in basketball for 5-10 years. UConn going Independent won't work for many reasons, namely the travel fee as independent schools generally have to travel on the West Coast at least 2-3 times each season to find games in October/November, Army has the federal government supporting them so budgets don't matter to them, plus they have built in rivals (Wake Forest, Rice, Air Force).