FanPost

So why DID the ACC pick Louisville over UConn?

Louisville vs UConn

If you lived through it, sweated it, agonized over it, you likely still remember it like it was yesterday... but every year new fans come along who don't know how close things came to disaster (both both Louisville and the ACC!). They don't know the story of WHY... this is that story.

https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2020/04/why-did-acc-add-louisville-instead-of.html

Highlights:

The University of Connecticut had a few things going for it to be sure:

  • A men's basketball program just coming off a national championship (2011).
  • An appearance in the 2010-11 Fiesta Bowl as the Big East co-champ.
  • A state flagship program vs. a "city college".
  • #30 TV market (Hartford/New Haven) vs. #48 for Louisville
  • Strong relationship with SNY for access to the NYC television market
  • Better academic reputation (#63 in US News vs. #160 for Louisville).

At one point many people thought UConn was a "slam dunk" to be invited to the ACC to replace Maryland when the Terps announced they were leaving to join the Big Ten in 2012. However, beneath the shiny exterior of UConn athletics there were definitely some problems... and of course, Louisville had a few things going for it as well!

this is what Louisville had going in its favor:

  • Basketball good enough to compete and win in the ACC (definitely NOT a liability)
  • Football was 9-2 (although one loss was to UConn)
  • The Cardinals had a 55,000-seat stadium and averaged 49,991 in 2012...
  • ...and Cardinal fans had a reputation for selling-out bowl allotments.
  • While Connecticut might be a bigger TV market, it was perceived as a professional sports market, while Louisville was seen as "collegiately-driven"
  • While the ACC's basketball-first schools might have slightly preferred UConn, the football-first schools strongly insisted on Louisville (in fact, it was reported that Clemson and Florida State were ready to leave the ACC if it chose UConn over Louisville!)
  • Finally, it was thought that if the ACC didn't take Louisville then the Big XII would, while UConn would still be available later if necessary.

There's even more where that came from (although this is a fair bit right here - reproduced with the author's permission, of course!) Check it out - I think you just might like it!