Cincy and UConn to join C7?

[chapman]

.... that hurts feelings? Who cares? They use us a place to park their programs for a few years (maybe longer... who knows), we use them to help retain the BE name, get a more lucrative TV deal, possibly avoid BE exit fees, create a minor windfall of exit fees when they do leave and improve leverage would other would-be members.
Everybody wins.

It's not like that at all. You guys need to look at this through the eyes of a business person, not a jilted teenage girl (I'm looking at you, Taylor Swift fans).

This.  I don't believe this will happen, but some of you sure are little girls about it.

So how is it good for business to have two schools that don't want to be long-term partners with the C7—and will be looking to bail the moment they join?  Will it be good for business to have every media outlet reporting on UConn's and Cincy's constant attempts to join another conference? Will it be good for business to have those same media outlets constantly speculating as to when UConn and Cincy will finally hook up with another conference? Will it be good for business to have the C7 suddenly drop two teams—and then be forced to scramble for two replacements?

Yes, because the C10 will get enough dollars and positive attention out of the +2 to make it worthwhile, and it would hardly be crippling to a league that the two members everyone knows will leave finally do.  Let's be realistic, the media will be reporting on the Big Ten or Big 12's big day when they raid the ACC, and the world will give a collective yawn at the afterthought of UConn and Cincy moving to fill the void and the C10 backfilling for them.

[jsglow]

An interesting twist.

At a minimum I'd use this as leverage with Xavier if they get uppity.  I could imagine building a scenario where UConn and Cincy get to join.  Candidly, I've always believed that they've acted prudently in this entire situation.  They're joining MUST mean a 12-14 team league out of the box with language within the Fox package that contemplates their departure and extracts huge fees from them if they do.

One way to think about this is like a baseball mid season rental.  If they get you a World Series ring...

Man the lawyers are making coin right now.  But as long as they get it right.

[Groin_pull]

An interesting twist.

At a minimum I'd use this as leverage with Xavier if they get uppity.  I could imagine building a scenario where UConn and Cincy get to join.  Candidly, I've always believed that they've acted prudently in this entire situation.  They're joining MUST mean a 12-14 team league out of the box with language within the Fox package that contemplates their departure and extracts huge fees from them if they do.

One way to think about this is like a baseball mid season rental.  If they get you a World Series ring...

Man the lawyers are making coin right now.  But as long as they get it right.

If they get uppity??? Why is Xavier suddenly the bad guy? Why is everyone looking to put the screws to them? UConn and Cincy get a hero's welcome—but Xavier is forced to grovel. Makes perfect sense. 

[jsglow]

If they get uppity??? Why is Xavier suddenly the bad guy? Why is everyone looking to put the screws to them? UConn and Cincy get a hero's welcome—but Xavier is forced to grovel. Makes perfect sense.  

I'm not suggesting for one moment that Xavier is acting uppity.  Nor am I suggesting that UConn or Cincy be welcomed with open arms.  BEast 2.0 is the hottest New York nightclub right now.  And the C7 decides on all those pretty girls in line.  The more super models we let in, the more we can charge for a gin and tonic at the bar.

And to add to my analogy, you know who's the bouncer in my little story??  The one and only Chumlee from Pawn Stars in his role as DePaul.

[Groin_pull]

I'm not suggesting for one moment that Xavier is acting uppity.  Nor am I suggesting that UConn or Cincy be welcomed with open arms.  BEast 2.0 is the hottest New York nightclub right now.  And the C7 decides on all those pretty girls in line.  The more super models we let in, the more we can charge for a gin and tonic at the bar.

Accept some of those pretty girls are only at your club because they're waiting for the one next door to open. When it does, they instantly bolt and you're standing there wondering what just happened.

[jsglow]

Accept some of those pretty girls are only at your club because they're waiting for the one next door to open. When it does, they instantly bolt and you're standing there wondering what just happened.

Right.  That's how the guys at Studio 51 made a kajillion dollars.  Iron is hot now. Remind me not to ask you for business advice groin.

[Pakuni]

Accept some of those pretty girls are only at your club because they're waiting for the one next door to open. When it does, they instantly bolt and you're standing there wondering what just happened.

Why are you so hung up on UConn's and Cincy's eventual departure? If having them, even if only temporarily, means a better TV deal, means keeping the Big East name without a big price, means not paying the BE exit fees, means a better conference, etc., then it's a no brainer.
It seems to me the only negative being offered here is "They'll want to leave us and that reminds me of a girl who broke my heart once."
So what?

[4everwarriors]

To quote Miss Taylor Swift, we knew that Cincy and Uconn were trouble when they walked in.

Gotta read what BeeJay thinks of Taylor's white Ralph Lauren gown.

[jsglow]

Why are you so hung up on UConn's and Cincy's eventual departure? If having them, even if only temporarily, means a better TV deal, means keeping the Big East name without a big price, means not paying the BE exit fees, means a better conference, etc., then it's a no brainer.
It seems to me the only negative being offered here is "They'll want to leave us and that reminds me of a girl who broke my heart once."
So what?

And in the meantime a G&T is $20.

[Groin_pull]

Why are you so hung up on UConn's and Cincy's eventual departure? If having them, even if only temporarily, means a better TV deal, means keeping the Big East name without a big price, means not paying the BE exit fees, means a better conference, etc., then it's a no brainer.
It seems to me the only negative being offered here is "They'll want to leave us and that reminds me of a girl who broke my heart once."
So what?

Of course, this monster TV deal you expect because UConn and Cincy are gracing us with their presence will remain—even when they leave, right?   I'm sure Fox (or CBS) wouldn't cover themselves against the eminent departures of UConn and Cincy.

[jsglow]

Of course, this monster TV deal you expect because UConn and Cincy are gracing us with their presence will remain—even when they leave, right?   I'm sure Fox (or CBS) wouldn't cover themselves against the eminent departures of UConn and Cincy.

Groin, we understand that this might be a temporary 'marriage of convenience'.  We're just saying that more options is better than fewer.  Everyone has their eyes open.  And I'll trust the C7 to do the smart thing.  Heck, UConn and Cincy might be nothing more than C7 stalking horses.

[real chili 83]

This just sounds a little too much like: "Let's get back together, so I can leave you, instead of you leaving me."

Sounds like the lyrics from a bad country and western song.

Proabably is.

[jficke13]

This is a joke. If we take UCONN/Cincy back we're just saying: "I know you're planning to stab us in the back, but if we could just be friends until you do..."

Seriously, whatever short-term benefits to adding them are not outweighed by the long-term negatives of HAVING TO DO THIS EVERY FRACKING YEAR

[buckchuckler]

Why would X want to have Cinci join, they are in the same media market.  Kinda the same issue VU has with Temple.

UNC and Duke seem to make it work...

[honkytonk]

UConn has more national cache than just about every C7 school COMBINED. Plus, they get a piece of the NYC market....a bigger piece than SJU does. SJU is largely considered a commuter school and the problem with that is that their alums are very apathetic when it comes to supporting the school (see: attendance and endowment).

I doubt they join. It's almost a ridiculous idea. Same goes for UC.

[TallTitan34]

When the next tv contract comes up, won't companies offer significantly less because "we don't have uconn and Cincy?"

[billyjack]

So how is it good for business to have two schools that don't want to be long-term partners with the C7—and will be looking to bail the moment they join?  Will it be good for business to have every media outlet reporting on UConn's and Cincy's constant attempts to join another conference? Will it be good for business to have those same media outlets constantly speculating as to when UConn and Cincy will finally hook up with another conference? Will it be good for business to have the C7 suddenly drop two teams—and then be forced to scramble for two replacements?

Friar fan here, my first post on this site.  I agree with Groin's thinking.  PR-wise, this would kill our momentum, having to constantly fend off talk of these two schools leaving.  Also, some have mentioned this helping with Xavier negotiations, but there isn't anything to discuss with them... they'll be equal partners with all of us within a max of just a couple of years if that long.  Our goal is to have everyone in this conference have strong, growing programs. 

I would imagine it would help Xavier recruiting wise if they owned their city alone, and could exclusively offer their recruits our tourney in MSG NYC for example.  The key is to remember that UConn and Cincy would leave 5 minutes from now to join our biggest rival ACC conference... so we shouldn't actively allow them to keep their programs strong and allow them to compete with us for recruits.

[billyjack]

By the way, thanks for allowing me to post here.  All of you are welcome to visit our board.  Be good to get your opinions over there.

[Brewtown Andy]

Why is this conversation still going on? The UConn AD already shot this stupid idea down.

http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-big-east-meetings-0112-20130111,0,5944129.story

[Eldon]

Yea I think the Conn-Cincy thing is a moot point, it's not going to happen.

What do people think about VCU over SLU?  I would much rather see SLU because they are a better fit (academically especially), despite the final four appearance of VCU. 

This guy always has pretty good info on fball realignment and the like

http://frankthetank.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/new-years-conference-realignment-faq-big-ten-mountain-west-big-east-and-catholic-7/

[MU82]

It's not gonna happen. But I'd be fine with UConn, Cincy and any other good basketball schools that also have football.

As long as they'd agree to an iron-clad, no-loopholes, $100 million per school exit fee.

[mileskishnish72]

Looking at the Hangin' at the Al board topic listing, I noted that this topic was listed very near the YOU CAN'T BE THAT STUPID AGAIN thread and I figured it wasn't an accident.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

This guy is a hack and just spouting the first thing that comes into his head.

[Lennys Tap]

I'll believe this whole UC + UCONN angle when I see it.  The basketball only schools have the leverage (both the C7 and the invitees), why give some of that up.  This is like rebound with your ex girlfriend who you don't even like anymore and it wasn't good to begin with.  You end just kind of saying..eh.

I agree it's a longshot. Disagree beyond that. This would solidify the C7's leverage and eliminate whatever bit of leverage the "invitees" have - you don't like that but it's good for MU. Also, to say that the whole Big East thing wasn't good to begin with? I thought it was awesome.

[MUfan12]

This guy is a hack and just spouting the first thing that comes into his head.

Blaudschun was the first one to break the C7 decision to split. He worked for USA Today for a long time writing on college football.

Far from a hack.