ACC network officially happening

[billybud]

I think that we can be sure that Swofford has various scenarios and timetables to get to 16, if that is advantageous, already planned and discussed with ESPN and the Presidents.

When Maryland announced they were skedaddlin in November 2012, Louisville was added in two weeks. That is lightning speed for an expansion

From ESPN back at that time....


Swofford also said the league is comfortable staying at 14 full members with the addition of Louisville.

The ACC also considered Connecticut and Cincinnati for membership. However, sources told ESPN that the league wanted Louisville only because there is a sense among league presidents that the ACC can add more schools at a later date if the conference loses any other current members.

If the ACC feels it is advantageous to go to 16, the only thing holding them back has been Notre Dame and the awkwardness of trying to schedule unequal divisions in football and play round robin divisional play.

I have thought that the ACC's push for deregulation of the CCG was to allow them to accommodate a 16th member while the Irish remained indy in football. Delaney thought that one through and scotched the deregulation request on the off chance that it woud help the ACC accomplish that goal (IMHO)

 

[huskypantz]

I think that we can be sure that Swofford has various scenarios and timetables to get to 16, if that is advantageous, already planned and discussed with ESPN and the Presidents.

When Maryland announced they were skedaddlin in November 2012, Louisville was added in two weeks. That is lightning speed for an expansion

From ESPN back at that time....


Swofford also said the league is comfortable staying at 14 full members with the addition of Louisville.

The ACC also considered Connecticut and Cincinnati for membership. However, sources told ESPN that the league wanted Louisville only because there is a sense among league presidents that the ACC can add more schools at a later date if the conference loses any other current members.

If the ACC feels it is advantageous to go to 16, the only thing holding them back has been Notre Dame and the awkwardness of trying to schedule unequal divisions in football and play round robin divisional play.

I have thought that the ACC's push for deregulation of the CCG was to allow them to accommodate a 16th member while the Irish remained indy in football. Delaney thought that one through and scotched the deregulation request on the off chance that it woud help the ACC accomplish that goal (IMHO)

The ACC may not care, but it is possible that this is the last dance as bachelors for UConn and Cincy. I wonder if they've at least conferred with ESPN whether either addition could be made pro rata. Maybe they like the 15 team conference for sports other than football (not everyone plays every sport of course). 15 is tougher for football than bball and leaves them with a team short one conference game every year. The one thing I'll say about the ACC is that a couple of their moves have come out of nowhere (Miami-VT, Cuse-Pitt). I hope another one follows in our favor. It would not be a bad idea for the CT politicos to get ESPN's ear.

 

[billybud]

One division would play 56 conference games and the other would play 64 conference games (at 8 conference games per team).

Three pods or divisions of five could have been worked out....and that would have solved several scheduling problems.

 

[atom58]

I'm pulling for you guys to join a P5 conference this year. As the NY Times once noted in a March, 2016 story, the Big 10(14) chose "woeful Rutgers over UConn" b/c of the AAU angle, "a prestigious, if anachronistic" collection of research universities:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/14/s...l-drags-on-uconns-power-5-ambitions.html?_r=0

What I can tell you from the past several years of reading ACC news/sites and separating the wheat from the chaff based on reason and what later actually happened is the following: when Pittsburgh and Syracuse were added the ESPN contract of 2010 was renegotiated as reported in May, 2012:

ACC, ESPN agree to 15-year extension

and after ND was added as a 5/8 FB member in September, 2012 there was another contract adjustment and the average payout reached $20 million per school per year. If the ACC did add two more schools, or if it was you and ND as full members, there would be some adjustment I am sure. When Louisville replaced Maryland, there was no contract adjustment so single schools only don't matter.

There reportedly was a "channel clause" in the ACC contract with ESPN which was another reason for the ACC network - ESPN will not be paying $45 to 50 million per year long term for "nothing".

Yes, Texas did speak with the ACC who offered them an ND type deal but people inside the ACC began to realize it was just a ploy to gain leverage with the Pac 12 - there were going to be 4 schools from the Big 12 who were going to join and produce the Pac 16 you may remember but that fell apart due to the LH Network which goes to 2031 - Texas could not join as a full member with that in place. Deloss Dodds the former Texas AD also once mentioned in a speech before their boosters that Texas had had no interest in joining a midwest conference (the Big 10 rumor). I think they will keep the Big 12 going as it suits their $$$ and geographic purposes.

The Big 12 would just be replacing two teams if they expanded only to 12 - I do believe that they will add 4 which will really just be two additions from the original contract - it was Boren the OU president who mentioned just last year I think that new schools would get the same rate as the existing members who would therefore not have to give up some of their $$$ to the new schools - people outside had been unaware of that fact. You may also know that the Big 12 has trademarked the names Big 14 and Big 16, another reason other than history that the Big 10 cannot change their name.

Also tell your new AD to let the Big 12 know that despite the challenges your school faces in FBS football yours was the only team to beat Houston last year.

 

[Dooley]

Also tell your new AD to let the Big 12 know that despite the challenges your school faces in FBS football yours was the only team to beat Houston last year.

To Houston's credit, they have been very forthcoming about their 2015 loss...

 

[BoomerHusky]

ACC Network to debut in era of cost-cutting - SportsBusiness Daily | SportsBusiness Journal | SportsBusiness Daily Global


ACC Network’s first test comes next summer when ESPN starts negotiating a new affiliate deal with Altice, a negotiation that promises to be a tough sell since the cable operator has systems near New York City, which is a long way from ACC member Syracuse and not really part of the conference’s footprint. One of the few cable operators that does not carry SEC Network, Altice has been public about its desire to cut costs.

 

[whaler11]

There is no way ESPN is stupid enough to try and get those prices.

That has to be carrier reps starting their negotiations through the media.

It's not like they would have started the network if not for the $45 million penalty.

 

[billybud]

Then that was pretty smart negotiating by the ACC to get that penalty into the contract.

I may have to start upgrading my opinion of Swofford.

 

[ramses 2.0]

There is no way ESPN is stupid enough to try and get those prices.

That has to be carrier reps starting their negotiations through the media.

It's not like they would have started the network if not for the $45 million penalty.

ESPN agreed with the 45 million clause because it values the ACC's content whether most wish to accept that fact or not. The ACC has already stated that they are open to any type of distribution platform ESPN feels will add value for both parties & they have 20 years to figure it out. From a UNC point of view this deal brings stability & keeps the ACC relevant for the foreseeable future. Our Nike& multimedia contracts are up within the next 6 years & these deals have spiked in value lately. Add the eventual renovation/replacement of the Smith Center that will add luxury seating revenue & life is good

 

[The X Man]

ESPN agreed with the 45 million clause because it values the ACC's content whether most wish to accept that fact or not. The ACC has already stated that they are open to any type of distribution platform ESPN feels will add value for both parties & they have 20 years to figure it out. From a UNC point of view this deal brings stability & keeps the ACC relevant for the foreseeable future. Our Nike& multimedia contracts are up within the next 6 years & these deals have spiked in value lately. Add the eventual renovation/replacement of the Smith Center that will add luxury seating revenue & life is good

And the athletes might take real classes too!

 

[whaler11]

ESPN agreed with the 45 million clause because it values the ACC's content whether most wish to accept that fact or not. The ACC has already stated that they are open to any type of distribution platform ESPN feels will add value for both parties & they have 20 years to figure it out. From a UNC point of view this deal brings stability & keeps the ACC relevant for the foreseeable future. Our Nike& multimedia contracts are up within the next 6 years & these deals have spiked in value lately. Add the eventual renovation/replacement of the Smith Center that will add luxury seating revenue & life is good

They wrote a terrible deal. Just like the Big 12 deal that gives pro-rata increases for adding any half-arsed school in the country is a terrible deal.

You've got the revenue - maybe now y'all can afford to send the players to legitimate classes!

 

[ramses 2.0]

And the athletes might take real classes too!

TRUE!

 

[Senore]

A primary difference between the Big 12 and ACC is in the more expansive and inclusive vision of the ACC. West Virginia is only now receiving a full share of revenues having endured the humiliation of red headed step children in a conference run by bean counters at Texas for their four years of basic inequality. On the other hand, Louisville received a full measure from the very start in the ACC. It says it all, in the end.

This fact should not hurt UConn perspectives from the point of view that, it turns out, money is clearly secondary to solidarity, the well-bring of members and an eye to the future. A future, for that matter, which might act to overcome their rancor to UConn's edgy and abrasive past history with the ACC and allow then the enticing prospect of gaining another legitimate basketball contender. Make no mistake, basketball is a monstrous lure.

 

[Senore]

Yeah, that perfect APR, lol. That sounds just like the Yum! balance sheet.

Those "grades" must be the result of the accountability coming from the strong moral leadership in the Louisville athLeticia department.

I chose this post simply because of it's paradigmatic assessment of relative self worth between the schools. The myth of academic excellence has never extended to your sports teams, no matter your glowing pride over your supposed lofty status in academics for your general college population. It makes it doubly ironic that Louisville has produced Academic All Americans at a fairly predictable rate, some of whom were pursuing Graduate programs while playing, and it was hardly a case of the supposed comparative ease of the relative classes taken, in spite of what you so badly want to believe.

"Raising the academic profile" of UofL was the stated purpose in a collusion between the AD and the college president in their bid to develop a P5 worthy program. Pitino has now proudly boasted 8 consecutive semesters of 3.0 or better GPA's. It was the simplest message given to the coaching staffs at all levels. Graduate recruits or move on. It has worked.

Not only that, but Louisville's fan base is hugely and predominantly composed of highly successful adults in the largest city without a pro team to compete against in America - Vegas notwithstanding. A great majority of these people attended and graduated from UofL. And then there is the issue of a large corporate culture based there who revel in the perks following their often massive donations to the University.

The irony here? That Louisville would be faced with continuing battles for State largesse in order to build their athletic programs in a legislature of devoted UK fans. Instead, what we have done is fund raise within. The $55 Million expansion of the football stadium will now be completed by the opening of the 2018 season with Notre Dame in town. The prospect required $20 million to consider breaking ground and that amount was raised in 4 months. The baseball and state of the art soccer facilities were built with the donations of 2 individuals.

Louisville's mission was always to afford an education to local urbanites. It remains a huge part of the university's mission. But the achievements of the university in the past are utterly world class. Now, partnerships with ACC research institutions are taking place on a regular basis just as a $1 billion dollar research park is being developed hard by Churchill Downs and the Cardinal's baseball stadium.

I only play Chamber of Commerce guy for UofL occasionally. But your assumptions about your academic excellence, while noteworthy and a legit source of pride, are about 10% of any analysis of comparative value.

 

[4in16]

Glad you got that off your chest.

 

[upstater]

I chose this post simply because of it's paradigmatic assessment of relative self worth between the schools. The myth of academic excellence has never extended to your sports teams, no matter your glowing pride over your supposed lofty status in academics for your general college population. It makes it doubly ironic that Louisville has produced Academic All Americans at a fairly predictable rate, some of whom were pursuing Graduate programs while playing, and it was hardly a case of the supposed comparative ease of the relative classes taken, in spite of what you so badly want to believe.

"Raising the academic profile" of UofL was the stated purpose in a collusion between the AD and the college president in their bid to develop a P5 worthy program. Pitino has now proudly boasted 8 consecutive semesters of 3.0 or better GPA's. It was the simplest message given to the coaching staffs at all levels. Graduate recruits or move on. It has worked.

Not only that, but Louisville's fan base is hugely and predominantly composed of highly successful adults in the largest city without a pro team to compete against in America - Vegas notwithstanding. A great majority of these people attended and graduated from UofL. And then there is the issue of a large corporate culture based there who revel in the perks following their often massive donations to the University.

The irony here? That Louisville would be faced with continuing battles for State largesse in order to build their athletic programs in a legislature of devoted UK fans. Instead, what we have done is fund raise within. The $55 Million expansion of the football stadium will now be completed by the opening of the 2018 season with Notre Dame in town. The prospect required $20 million to consider breaking ground and that amount was raised in 4 months. The baseball and state of the art soccer facilities were built with the donations of 2 individuals.

Louisville's mission was always to afford an education to local urbanites. It remains a huge part of the university's mission. But the achievements of the university in the past are utterly world class. Now, partnerships with ACC research institutions are taking place on a regular basis just as a $1 billion dollar research park is being developed hard by Churchill Downs and the Cardinal's baseball stadium.

I only play Chamber of Commerce guy for UofL occasionally. But your assumptions about your academic excellence, while noteworthy and a legit source of pride, are about 10% of any analysis of comparative value.

Senore, we should all face the facts that APR is a joke. I don't care what Pitino says. APR is an outright lie.

 

[The Funster]

I chose this post simply because of it's paradigmatic assessment of relative self worth between the schools. The myth of academic excellence has never extended to your sports teams, no matter your glowing pride over your supposed lofty status in academics for your general college population. It makes it doubly ironic that Louisville has produced Academic All Americans at a fairly predictable rate, some of whom were pursuing Graduate programs while playing, and it was hardly a case of the supposed comparative ease of the relative classes taken, in spite of what you so badly want to believe.

"Raising the academic profile" of UofL was the stated purpose in a collusion between the AD and the college president in their bid to develop a P5 worthy program. Pitino has now proudly boasted 8 consecutive semesters of 3.0 or better GPA's. It was the simplest message given to the coaching staffs at all levels. Graduate recruits or move on. It has worked.

Not only that, but Louisville's fan base is hugely and predominantly composed of highly successful adults in the largest city without a pro team to compete against in America - Vegas notwithstanding. A great majority of these people attended and graduated from UofL. And then there is the issue of a large corporate culture based there who revel in the perks following their often massive donations to the University.

The irony here? That Louisville would be faced with continuing battles for State largesse in order to build their athletic programs in a legislature of devoted UK fans. Instead, what we have done is fund raise within. The $55 Million expansion of the football stadium will now be completed by the opening of the 2018 season with Notre Dame in town. The prospect required $20 million to consider breaking ground and that amount was raised in 4 months. The baseball and state of the art soccer facilities were built with the donations of 2 individuals.

Louisville's mission was always to afford an education to local urbanites. It remains a huge part of the university's mission. But the achievements of the university in the past are utterly world class. Now, partnerships with ACC research institutions are taking place on a regular basis just as a $1 billion dollar research park is being developed hard by Churchill Downs and the Cardinal's baseball stadium.

I only play Chamber of Commerce guy for UofL occasionally. But your assumptions about your academic excellence, while noteworthy and a legit source of pride, are about 10% of any analysis of comparative value.

I'm not normally a dick like this but... "Advanced Partying with Hookers" would not be an acceptable graduate level class at most major level universities.

 

[alexd]

I'm not normally a dick like this but... "Advanced Partying with Hookers" would not be an acceptable graduate level class at most major level universities.

Pitino....table for two....Mr. Pitino, table for two...

 

[Sea Goat]

I chose this post simply because of it's paradigmatic assessment of relative self worth between the schools. The myth of academic excellence has never extended to your sports teams, no matter your glowing pride over your supposed lofty status in academics for your general college population. It makes it doubly ironic that Louisville has produced Academic All Americans at a fairly predictable rate, some of whom were pursuing Graduate programs while playing, and it was hardly a case of the supposed comparative ease of the relative classes taken, in spite of what you so badly want to believe.

"Raising the academic profile" of UofL was the stated purpose in a collusion between the AD and the college president in their bid to develop a P5 worthy program. Pitino has now proudly boasted 8 consecutive semesters of 3.0 or better GPA's. It was the simplest message given to the coaching staffs at all levels. Graduate recruits or move on. It has worked.

Not only that, but Louisville's fan base is hugely and predominantly composed of highly successful adults in the largest city without a pro team to compete against in America - Vegas notwithstanding. A great majority of these people attended and graduated from UofL. And then there is the issue of a large corporate culture based there who revel in the perks following their often massive donations to the University.

The irony here? That Louisville would be faced with continuing battles for State largesse in order to build their athletic programs in a legislature of devoted UK fans. Instead, what we have done is fund raise within. The $55 Million expansion of the football stadium will now be completed by the opening of the 2018 season with Notre Dame in town. The prospect required $20 million to consider breaking ground and that amount was raised in 4 months. The baseball and state of the art soccer facilities were built with the donations of 2 individuals.

Louisville's mission was always to afford an education to local urbanites. It remains a huge part of the university's mission. But the achievements of the university in the past are utterly world class. Now, partnerships with ACC research institutions are taking place on a regular basis just as a $1 billion dollar research park is being developed hard by Churchill Downs and the Cardinal's baseball stadium.

I only play Chamber of Commerce guy for UofL occasionally. But your assumptions about your academic excellence, while noteworthy and a legit source of pride, are about 10% of any analysis of comparative value.

My Boston Terrier attended LV and made the Dean's list for 8 straight semesters. He says you're full of s!**.

 

[Senore]

Your salt is warm and tasty. Have a terrific time wherever you end up.

 

[superjohn]

I chose this post simply because of it's paradigmatic assessment of relative self worth between the schools. The myth of academic excellence has never extended to your sports teams, no matter your glowing pride over your supposed lofty status in academics for your general college population. It makes it doubly ironic that Louisville has produced Academic All Americans at a fairly predictable rate, some of whom were pursuing Graduate programs while playing, and it was hardly a case of the supposed comparative ease of the relative classes taken, in spite of what you so badly want to believe.

"Raising the academic profile" of UofL was the stated purpose in a collusion between the AD and the college president in their bid to develop a P5 worthy program. Pitino has now proudly boasted 8 consecutive semesters of 3.0 or better GPA's. It was the simplest message given to the coaching staffs at all levels. Graduate recruits or move on. It has worked.

Not only that, but Louisville's fan base is hugely and predominantly composed of highly successful adults in the largest city without a pro team to compete against in America - Vegas notwithstanding. A great majority of these people attended and graduated from UofL. And then there is the issue of a large corporate culture based there who revel in the perks following their often massive donations to the University.

The irony here? That Louisville would be faced with continuing battles for State largesse in order to build their athletic programs in a legislature of devoted UK fans. Instead, what we have done is fund raise within. The $55 Million expansion of the football stadium will now be completed by the opening of the 2018 season with Notre Dame in town. The prospect required $20 million to consider breaking ground and that amount was raised in 4 months. The baseball and state of the art soccer facilities were built with the donations of 2 individuals.

Louisville's mission was always to afford an education to local urbanites. It remains a huge part of the university's mission. But the achievements of the university in the past are utterly world class. Now, partnerships with ACC research institutions are taking place on a regular basis just as a $1 billion dollar research park is being developed hard by Churchill Downs and the Cardinal's baseball stadium.

I only play Chamber of Commerce guy for UofL occasionally. But your assumptions about your academic excellence, while noteworthy and a legit source of pride, are about 10% of any analysis of comparative value.

I get that you are Louisville's #1 cheerleader but Louisville sucks as a University compared to UConn.

 

[NickyNewark]

I'm pulling for you guys to join a P5 conference this year. As the NY Times once noted in a March, 2016 story, the Big 10(14) chose "woeful Rutgers over UConn" b/c of the AAU angle, "a prestigious, if anachronistic" collection of research universities:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/14/s...l-drags-on-uconns-power-5-ambitions.html?_r=0

What I can tell you from the past several years of reading ACC news/sites and separating the wheat from the chaff based on reason and what later actually happened is the following: when Pittsburgh and Syracuse were added the ESPN contract of 2010 was renegotiated as reported in May, 2012:

ACC, ESPN agree to 15-year extension

and after ND was added as a 5/8 FB member in September, 2012 there was another contract adjustment and the average payout reached $20 million per school per year. If the ACC did add two more schools, or if it was you and ND as full members, there would be some adjustment I am sure. When Louisville replaced Maryland, there was no contract adjustment so single schools only don't matter.

There reportedly was a "channel clause" in the ACC contract with ESPN which was another reason for the ACC network - ESPN will not be paying $45 to 50 million per year long term for "nothing".

Yes, Texas did speak with the ACC who offered them an ND type deal but people inside the ACC began to realize it was just a ploy to gain leverage with the Pac 12 - there were going to be 4 schools from the Big 12 who were going to join and produce the Pac 16 you may remember but that fell apart due to the LH Network which goes to 2031 - Texas could not join as a full member with that in place. Deloss Dodds the former Texas AD also once mentioned in a speech before their boosters that Texas had had no interest in joining a midwest conference (the Big 10 rumor). I think they will keep the Big 12 going as it suits their $$$ and geographic purposes.

The Big 12 would just be replacing two teams if they expanded only to 12 - I do believe that they will add 4 which will really just be two additions from the original contract - it was Boren the OU president who mentioned just last year I think that new schools would get the same rate as the existing members who would therefore not have to give up some of their $$$ to the new schools - people outside had been unaware of that fact. You may also know that the Big 12 has trademarked the names Big 14 and Big 16, another reason other than history that the Big 10 cannot change their name.

Also tell your new AD to let the Big 12 know that despite the challenges your school faces in FBS football yours was the only team to beat Houston last year.

Another word we use for the ACC contract adjustment is "whiners welfare''.....it certainly wasn't earned and you're only real footprint is Tobacco Rd.....NC/VA.....boy I'll be espin never realized the headaches they'd get owning you..

 

[The X Man]

A Rutger fan talking about welfare. Now I've seen everything

 

[atom58]

Another word we use for the ACC contract adjustment is "whiners welfare''.....it certainly wasn't earned and you're only real footprint is Tobacco Rd.....NC/VA.....boy I'll be espin never realized the headaches they'd get owning you..

Hardly - it's almost the entire East Coast. You're just worried b/c we're getting a TV network.

All that internet chatter about UVa, UNC, Ga Tech (and even FSU) going to the Big 10(14) - dead, dead, dead.

 

[CL82]

The myth of academic excellence has never extended to your sports teams...

Some might say otherwise:

Regarding the relative merits of our two respective institutions:

US News and World Report:

UConn #57
Louisville #168

Thank you for your interest in the University of Connecticut.