Runaway Train to the Big East…
The Story: The Big East voted to extend UConn an invitation and the Board of Trustees is expected to approve a move out of the American Athletic Conference on Wednesday.
NO STOPPING THIS TRAIN: UConn will be in the Big East on Wednesday. Reports suggest UConn will pay an exit fee of about $12 million to AAC and then an entry fee of about $2.5 million to the Big East.
CAN WE GET SOME SPECIFICS? We are maintaining a neutral stance on the move to the Big East pending specifics. We don’t like what is happening to football — it makes us uneasy — but we love the Big East for basketball. UConn is a basketball school, but the role football can play is even bigger than it was when Lew Perkins imagined bringing UConn into then-Division I-A over 20 years ago. Football wags the dog with the NCAA and having that powerful football seat is critical for protecting the athletic department for generations to come. The money in college football is insane and with paying players and licensing fees coming, is going independent without any revenue floor really the way to run a department? This is a lot of risk to take on.
UNEASY FEELING: What has us spooked here in the offices of the Daily is the lack of specifics. Mike DiMauro of The Day of New London had us more spooked with his column. We know these things happen behind closed doors, but what we want to know is who was behind those closed doors making decisions? Does Randy Edsall, in good conscience, ask the Chris Fraser family for $1 million to redo the locker rooms and weight room if he knew this? It seems like something a major donor would want to know. On a side note, how uncomfortable was Edsall’s Twitter feed on Saturday and Sunday? He was tweeting about brand new facilities and commitments with the school essentially throwing football in the trash bin. It does not seem like a cohesive and unified athletic department.
WE NEED A PLAN: So, what is really going to happen to UConn football? The thought of UConn remaining in the AAC for football was called “delusional” by AAC conference mates. If this was something that UConn and AD Dave Benedict were going to broach, well, let’s hope they have a plan B, C and D. Actually, how about plan A?
What is UConn projecting now in revenue with moving conferences? Is revenue going to rise or fall with the move? How is this beneficial to the athletic department as a whole? Will revenue or cost reductions help cut into the approximately $41 million subsidies the department receives? UConn athletics has received about $100 million in subsidies the past three years. Is that going to change?
All we have heard so far is platitudes about restoring the brand, some warm and fuzzy nostalgia about the Big East and then a worthless verbal commitment by UConn to football. We heard just on Saturday that UConn was committed to the American Athletic Conference and was a proud member. Today, they are set to leave the AAC.
BIG EAST ISN’T WHAT IT WAS: You know what else is disconcerting? Geno Auriemma, who we are sure is in favor of the move, said fans should realize it isn’t the Big East as we know it. There is no Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Notre Dame or Boston College. There are games at Creighton and Butler. Geno isn’t one to mince words, but does he have to give us that reality that quick? Talk about raining on a parade.
BOTTOM LINE: These things move fast. Let’s hope there is some transparency after this is a done deal and that we were just being a bunch of cynical nervous nellies. UConn is tight-lipped about this move and maybe this is coordinated at high levels and there are other shoes to drop. Or maybe this is the rope we are using to eventually hang UConn football out to dry. Could be either one. We just don’t know.
Dangerfield, Westbrook Getting Better
The Story: Crystal Dangerfield (hip) and transfer Evina Westbrook (knee) are still out of summer practice with injuries, but are right on schedule for the start of the season. The duo are expected to be out of full basketball activities for fourth months.
WESTBROOK REHAB GOING WELL: Westbrook transferred from Tennessee and had knee surgery on June 4. Her status for the season still remains in question as she seeks a waiver to play this year. She averaged 14.9 points per game last season as a sophomore.
DANGERFIELD ITCHING TO GO: Dangerfield had hip surgery on May 30 and has been unable to participate in any summer sessions. Dangerfield is expected to proide senior leadership as well as bolstering her junior year averages of 13.7 points and 6.2 assists per game.
Morning Read
LAMONT SPEAKS ON BIG EAST MOVE: Governor Ned Lamont was at a brewery and we hoped he would have had a couple of more cold ones before he started talking about sports. (WTNH)
HOW UCONN’S MOVE IMPACTS COLLEGE ATHLETICS: UConn kicked off the latest round of conference realignment with its move back to the Big East. (Stadium)
JONES COMES HOME: Byron Jones, who played at St. Paul in Bristol, was back in New Britain this week visiting home and doing a football clinic. The former UConn standout is an All-Pro corner with the Cowboys. (Hartford Courant)
