Crazy Thought

[UConnSportsGuy]

Any chance that the hold up in the split between the C7 and the NNNNBE is a strategic move by UConn/Cincy/USF to ditch ESPN? Is there any chance that instead of selling the Big East name to the C7, they are trying to make it so that the C7 'stay in the Big East' and UConn/Cincy/USF are leaving to form a 'new conference' with the other NNBE schools? Aresco and the NNNNBE were very dissapointed when ESPN matched the NBC media deal...so if they instead 'form a new conference' then ESPN does not have the right to match any offer since the old BE contract would not apply.

Not sure of the legal rules here or if this is a possibility. But the thought crossed my mind as it would be an very strategic move by UConn/Cincy/USF to shed the ESPN deal they were forced to take over the NBC deal. Haven't seen it talked about like this anywhere, but you never know.

 

[MTHusky]

They would be leaving a ton of money on the table if they did this.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

They would be leaving a ton of money on the table if they did this.

And that would be the negotiations with the C7. Basically...you help us, we help you. You want the BE name and want it done now so that you can announce it on Tuesday with Fox....then you make it so that legally we are not the 'Big East', but we keep the money that we would normally get with the BE name. That could be the negotiations that are going on now.

 

[metsfan2323]

How would this help us? We go out in the open market again but what network is now going to suddenly make us a great offer?

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

How would this help us? We go out in the open market again but what network is now going to suddenly make us a great offer?

This wouldn't be about getting more money obviously. It would allow us to accept the NBC offer instead of the ESPN offer. Aresco and the NNNBE wanted the NBC offer over the ESPN offer because they thought it would get them more exposure...obviously the same amount of money. But they were forced to take the ESPN offer because of the prior BE contract giving ESPN the right to match. So this manuever would get the NNNNBE off of ESPN (where we are likely to be buried on ESPN3 or non-primetime games) and on NBC which would promote the NNNNBE conference.

 

[Hoophound]

Not sure how any of these scenarios would work. I am just hoping for a good surprise of some sort to come out of these meetings. We haven't had one in years.

 

[uconnfan68]

This wouldn't be about getting more money obviously. It would allow us to accept the NBC offer instead of the ESPN offer. Aresco and the NNNBE wanted the NBC offer over the ESPN offer because they thought it would get them more exposure...obviously the same amount of money. But they were forced to take the ESPN offer because of the prior BE contract giving ESPN the right to match. So this manuever would get the NNNNBE off of ESPN (where we are likely to be buried on ESPN3 or non-primetime games) and on NBC which would promote the NNNNBE conference.

For a supposed TV guru, Aresco pulled an absolute boneheaded move with a 6 year contract.

 

[MTHusky]

Doesn't the NCAA have a rule that a new conference has to wait xx years before getting an automatic qualifying slot in tournament. If so and we give up the name, won't we be considered a new conference. Of course, hopefully most years we should qualify for an at large, but still a risk.

 

[Fishy]

Any chance that the hold up in the split between the C7 and the NNNNBE is a strategic move by UConn/Cincy/USF to ditch ESPN?

No.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The NNBE will not have an automatic bid next year, and I believe the only way it gets one for 2015 is because 6 schools, ECU, Tulane, UCF, Memphis, SMU and Houston, have been in a league together for 5 years. in other words, we are hacking CUSA's bid.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

It looks like the NCAA scrapped the continuity of membership rule to save the WAC's bid a couple of years ago, so the auto-bid is not in jeopardy.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Any chance that the hold up in the split between the C7 and the NNNNBE is a strategic move by UConn/Cincy/USF to ditch ESPN? Is there any chance that instead of selling the Big East name to the C7, they are trying to make it so that the C7 'stay in the Big East' and UConn/Cincy/USF are leaving to form a 'new conference' with the other NNBE schools? Aresco and the NNNNBE were very dissapointed when ESPN matched the NBC media deal...so if they instead 'form a new conference' then ESPN does not have the right to match any offer since the old BE contract would not apply.

Not sure of the legal rules here or if this is a possibility. But the thought crossed my mind as it would be an very strategic move by UConn/Cincy/USF to shed the ESPN deal they were forced to take over the NBC deal. Haven't seen it talked about like this anywhere, but you never know.

The C7 have a deal with Fox, so no chance.