In the Big Money Game, Why The Big East May Be Well Positioned - Kevin Stacom
Kevin Stacom, Sports Analyst
In the Big Money Game, Why The Big East May Be Well Positioned - Kevin Stacom
I know that NFL football is king in terms of overall viewing numbers, but for many local sports fans in Rhode Island, College basketball, whether at URI or Providence, holds a special place in terms of a more personal and immediate interest.
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It is with this in mind I thought it would be worthwhile to give an update on the UConn situation of possibly leaving the Big East and how in trying to analyze all the complexities involved, it shed light on some of the impending variables colliding to expose the fragile underpinnings of college athletics now that the thin veneer of amateurism has been ripped off like the epidermis of a torture victim. As of late this past week, UConn was taking a break from talk of leaving the Big East for the Big 12. But the Big 12 Commissioner was still sweet-talking the Huskies. The two claim the discussions have "paused."
In researching this topic, it’s clear that on a couple of fronts at least some of the initial enthusiasm expressed by the Governor and the UConn AD has been at least modified by people in key positions of political importance.
First, the initial response of Connecticut's Governor Ned Lamont, as reported in the local media:
“Obviously, there is an enormous realignment of these leagues and you don’t want to be left behind. I understand where they are coming from there. TV revenues are important as well. I think I’m going to rely upon Dave Benedict (AD) to do the right thing”
The most likely way of interpreting that statement is that the Governor was, at least initially, sold a fairly rosey bill of goods on the benefits of such an alignment, probably by the AD and the Big 12 commissioner, Brett Yormack.
It also reflects one of the vulnerabilities that a sophisticated and very aggressive promoter such as the Big 12 commissioner can take advantage of- a fear that in all this musical chairs of conference realignment that you can be left behind in no man’s land as UConn experienced not that long ago in the wilds of the American Athletic Conference.
A more sobering, succinct, and opposite opinion was offered by Connecticut US Senator Chris Murphy: “I’ve always believed UConn should stay in the Big East. Our athletes and fans have a great regional conference that clearly works for our highest-profile sport, basketball. Chasing football relevance is a mistake. We will get burned.”
In addition,Connecticut Speaker of the House, Matt Ritter, has expressed strong reservations about the move by adopting the approach of one of the former Big 12 members, Missouri- the “Show Me” State, stating that he’d have to be shown a serious detailed breakdown of the real economic metrics involved, before jumping on the bandwagon.
Patrick Connolly, Historian Laureate of RI and longtime History professor at Providence College from 1963- 1994, told me a long time ago that the way the founding fathers structured the original colonies in their quest to avoid power being concentrated in the hands of a few, dispersed said power as best they could in the State legislature, the House specifically who they felt had the closest contact with the people they represented. The House side of the legislatures in New England is where the pursestrings lie and all budgets are negotiated and finalized. The fact that the Speaker wasn’t at least briefed on the basic economics involved before such an important presentation was given is very suspect.
A Quick Look at what an all-in commitment to a Big 12 football program would entail would give any rational person pause to consider.
The NCAA, as part of the new pending legal agreement between it and the Power Conference representatives, has granted colleges the right to increase football scholarships from 85 to 105, an addition of 20 scholarships. It’s expected that all the Power conferences will take advantage of that increase. That will, of course, trigger the Title IX gender equity provisions for those schools who must now by law have to go out and find 3 or 4 additional women’s sports programs to fund, including the necessary coaches and support staff salaries. Also, how about the expense of the NIL money possibly moving in-house coming directly from the schools, trying to fund 22 starters, special teams, subs, etc, and all those Title IX issues that would come into play?
The litany of obstacles never seems to end. The New England area, of course, produces its modest share of Division 1 football talent but not in the numbers to consistently field a roster to compete at the Big 12 level, the necessary investment in facilities, the large student size and alumni base to fill a large football stadium on a regular basis, the increase in travel expenses, not just for basketball and football but also for the other “minor” sports involved.
Considering all those real-world obstacles, maybe the positives of being in an all-basketball conference like the Big East aren’t so bad after all. Let us count the ways.
First of all, a good friend of mine who’s been involved in college sports administration on the Conference level for many years feels there is an exaggerated fear of impending doom that if you don’t jump on the football juggernaut that they’ll steamroll everything else in their path and leave you out in the cold. He doesn’t believe that. He’s been around those people involved for many years and feels they’re quite content Lording over their present kingdom.
The Big East presently enjoys long-established rivalries, and with only 11 teams, have a natural round-robin scheduling format where you get to see just about every team on your home court every year on a regular basis. That’s a far cry from a 16-member conference, where it can take almost three years before you get to see every team play
As enticing as the lure of the large gross numbers of potential Big 12 football TV money might seem, perhaps the more manageable, modest business model of acquiring 7 or 8 key players necessary for a successful basketball program is the way to go, rather than the 40 to 50 lynchpin guys for a big time football program. There are fewer NIL complications, less dramatic Title 9 implications, and, as mentioned, travel expenses are much less complicated and expensive. In business, it’s an accepted fact of life that it’s not what you gross but what you can bring to the bottom line that counts.
Finally, I don’t think you can underestimate the advantage of being in an all-basketball conference in terms of recruiting. We only have to look about 50 miles to the north when Boston College, after joining the ACC took coach Al Skinner for granted ( who made the NCAA 7 out of 10 years) made a coaching change, not realizing how difficult it is to recruit for basketball at a school where you’re probably 3rd on the pecking order behind hockey and football. I’m sure it’s an advantage that a savvy and personable coach like Kim English takes advantage of when competing for some of the top talent- you come here and basketball is it- don’t worry about the attention and commitment level of the school and the community as a whole.
As mentioned, the commissioner of the Big 12, is a high profile aggressive operator with a very successful entrepreneurial background. He’s also a New Jersey native very aware of the history and excitement of the Big East tournament in MSG and the prominent role UConn has played in that. I guess you can’t blame him for trying to cherry-pick a premier team and recent two-time NCAA Champion from the Big East. But whose interests would be best served by that decision? Probably not UConn’s or Fox Sports, who presently has both conferences already under contract
Another good friend of mine who happens to be in touch with a number of ADs in the Big 12 says at this time he doesn’t feel there’s a lot of support for UConn’s inclusion, who, as previously mentioned, would need 12 out of 16 votes to gain admission. They don’t think the football program can realistically ever be at their level and they feel they already enjoy a premier basketball conference with a media deal in place till 2031
Of course, in the topsy-turvy present world of college athletics, anything is possible, but when you combine some highly placed political resistance, huge uncertain fiscal consequences, a mandatory 27-month waiting period that would be triggered by UConn leaving their Big East contract, along with a 15 million dollar penalty, I think at this point it’s a good bet that UConn will remain for now in the Big East.
They just have to ignore all the fear-mongering. Another one of Red Auerbach’s few dictums - “Panic is a very unproductive response”, and as another old friend, Don Nelson said, “You know, Red wasn’t wrong about much.”