With reports that the The UConn Huskies could hope to join the Big 12 through expansion, a key UConn voice has spoken out.
Marc D’Amelio, a Norwalk native and 1991 UConn graduate, has become an increasingly prominent figure in the UConn sports world. With name, image and likeness (NIL) changing the collegiate sports landscape, D’Amelio stepped up for his alma mater and founded the D’Amelio Huskies Collective.
On Sunday, D’Amelio expressed his support for a move to the Big 12, saying in part: “We have to take our destiny into our own hands and it seems like the Big 12 is the right and only opportunity we have if we believe that football is part of the future of college sports.”
His full post on X is below.
Who is Marc D’Amelio?
CTInsider has written about D’Amelio’s story. D’Amelio and his family rose to fame after their youngest daughter Charli went viral on TikTok in 2019. Her follower count has reached over 150 million on TikTok and over 48 million on Instagram.
Marc and his wife Heidi have capitalized on their growing fan base and built a D’Amelio empire, which includes their own reality TV show on Hulu called “The D’Amelio Show.”
Marc now has 10.4 million followers on TikTok and 1.5 million on Instagram, while Dixie, the eldest daughter, has over 80 million on Instagram and TikTok combined. Dixie has become a well-known singer in her own right.
Needless to say, this kind of support for UConn potentially joining the Big 12 Conference goes a long way in favor of the Huskies potentially moving. It has also been reported that basketball head coach Danny Hurley is not opposed to the potential move.
