For every reason that people are unhappy about Memphis joining the Big East, I can only imagine the commentary from Ohio State, Michigan, or Clemson should Uconn be invited to the Big10 or ACC... Frankly, I'd put Providence and Memphis over Storrs/E. Hartford any day of the week if we're talking cities.
There is always the inevitable intellectual debate about how big the impact was of our athletic success on the substantial upgrade in UConn's physical plant and academic standing. Some like to argue for and against that premise. For me its much simpler. Before we were a Big East basketball power, before the late 80's, I can't ever remember wearing UConn shirts or hats when I ventured out in other parts of the country. When asked where I went to school I would answer The University of Connecticut, using formality in a shallow attempt to give it more prestige. But once we won the NIT and started contending for Big East titles and higher NCAA seedings, I walked a little taller, wore more of the paraphanalia and proudly answered "UConn" when asked where I'd gone to school. And it wasn't just me. It was also our state legislators and Governors. The purse strings were loosened with a lot more pride. For me its not even close. Our athletic success, specifically Jim Calhoun's basketball success, did more than anything else to propel UConn forward.
Anyone remember before Calhoun there was debate as to whether we should leave the Big East and go to the Yankee Conference?
