Going back to the earlier argument:

Maybe the game could have been aired on ESPN at 5:30. But that's where ESPN had to shoe-horn in the AZ State/Oregon.

All because ESPN decided four months ago to air USC in primetime this weekend. And show UCLA during the day.

Far be it from me to stick up for the WWL, but Tirico made an excellent point about this yesterday; you don't have the track record. Play at the same level for another 2-3 years, and then maybe you have a right to bitch. Get over it.

UConn needs to shut up..Every game cant't be on ESPN and ESPN2. It's not like this game was on ESPN and then moved to ESPNU at the last minute. Who cares? Go to a sportsbar. I think Rutgers is going to lay the smackdown on UConn this week. Teams that complain about TV coverage end up getting smacked in the face by the Football Gods.

The more curious aspect of this is the fact that the freakin' AD is beginning to sound like dupey fans and their typical reactionary comments.

As Bruce said, far be it for me... But cripes, this piling on the WWL over every decision is getting old and just isn't fun anymore.

It's freakin' UCONN vs. freakin' Rutgers. That's ESPNU material if I ever saw one, especially given the options.

Both teams are nice stories and all that, but c'mon.

As a UConn fan, let me add context. The AD is NOT mad about the UConn/Rutgers game because that was made before the USF game. He is mad about the Nov. 10th game against Cincinnati at ESPNU, and that decision was mad Monday.

I think his points are valid. Comcast has a virtual monopoly in Connecticut. What other first-place team would ESPN banish to the U?

Thanks for that Sean. I missed that info.

As much as I would like to slam ESPN, anything that gets ESPN and Comcast to the table regarding ESPNU is good in my book. The local Comcast vice president here told me at an event that they would love to add ESPNU, but the decision for that network (and not having it) was at the national level.

Normally, I would chalk that up to deflecting customer complaints, but I know this guy pretty well personally.

"What other first-place team would ESPN banish to the U?"

A number of Boston College & Virginia games have been on ESPNU this season. Not to mention the Big 10 conference games that ESPNU poached last season from ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN Plus.

I think i would have rather seen this game as an ESPN plus game. That way it would have been carried by WCTX in CT and MSG so people in Jersey and CT, probably the only people in the country who care, could have actually seen this game.

Sean-

That game next week is also at 330. Which means thats the ABC window. What games are ESPN/ESPN2 showing at that time? Any?

Not to be harsh but I don't see anyone outside of Uconn/cincy watching that game.

I hate ESPN, but this is a little ridiculous.

And this point becomes moot if Rutgers wins this week.

Consider it payback for constantly being subjected to their sorry-ass basketball team last season :)

Anon @ 859: The women are actually pretty good :)

ESPN since the battle over ESPN U has stared with the Comcast and Time Warner has consistantly scheduled games on the U in markets where the U is not fully available. This is a ploy to add that pressure that was spoken of. if not why not make it an ESPNPlus game?

ESPN did this last year to my friends in Cincy with the crosstown shootout and put it on the U.

rs27 -

I don't think it's ridiculous. ESPN has lots of open slots to put on the UConn game, it didn't have to be at 330. Or on ABC. I'd settle for 11am on ESPN2. The point is that it's clearly a bargaining chip. I'm mad at ESPN. I'm mad at Comcast. They both suck in my opinion, both sides are out of line. People just want to watch football and they can't agree.

If it was your team in the midst of a possible dream season, you might be upset too.

Moving to a weeknight is always an option...I know, I know the Big MAC err.. BIG EAST is loathe to do that, it's above the standing of a legitimate BCS conference...way too take it to Temple...

Seriously, you lost to Temple...

Moving that game to 11 is not ESPN's call, It's Cincy's. Your venom is directed in the wrong direction. The home team dictates what time the game starts outside of CBS' 6 day thing they have with the SEC.

Sorry this one is not ESPN's fault.

I should add that the game will be simulcast on ESPN in the West Coast states, because FSN has the exclusive rights to the Arizona State-Oregon game in that territory.

The confusion over the coverage of the big game would be a post in itself if the AA webmaster didn't have to quit early to go to the Wisconsin-Ohio State game. (I still don't know his name but I guess I know that he goes to UW-Madison.)

Also worth mentioning...Big East games on ESPN/ESPN2/ABC get each school $100,000.

Games on the U? Nada.

UConn has- as of right now- four games on ESPNU this season. That's a third of the season, and they aren't getting compensated for it. At all.

I'd be worried if Hathaway WASN'T ticked off, and you'd feel the same way about your AD's.

PS- College Football Live had a local TV angle that ***CLEARLY*** showed the Temple guy didn't have posession (though UConn had 50 seconds and 2 timeouts). If you want to say they shouldn't have been in that position against Temple, I agree, but to say they lost, when the evidence says the call was correct, is idiotic. Or it makes you Robert Smith, either/or.

Comcast really needs to add ESPN U. Hopefully that will happen soon...