Espn promoting Power 5

[Mr Blueskin]

College football live interviewed the acting Big East commish today and mentioned the "Power 5" conferences about 10 times during the interview. I assume the "Big 4" talk is all but dead thanks to Espn helping out the poor ACC and trying to diminish the Big East and cheapen the product. Does the Espn brass actually tell Joe Tesatore to mention the words "Power 5" as many times as possible?

 

[Hoophound]

A commissioner with a spine would really have fun with these interviews. You could throw haymakers at the other conferences using facts and you could really bust ESPN's chops too.

 

[pj]

Does the Espn brass actually tell Joe Tesatore to mention the words "Power 5" as many times as possible?

Yes.

 

[sportsart]

Another balless wonder leading the conference.

 

[zls44]

Look at the five conferences. Then look at the Big East.

If you think the Big East is on the same level with the other five, you are out of your mind. Yes, Boise is a great program. But if/when Petersen leaves, then what? For all the failures of the ACC, FSU/Clemson/UNC/Miami are all still major programs, recruiting major players, with large fanbases and national appeal. You can whine and moan and bring up OOC records and BCS game records, but the truth is, nobody gives a about Cincinnati-Rutgers.

 

[Vowelguy]

Look at the five conferences. Then look at the Big East.

If you think the Big East is on the same level with the other five, you are out of your mind. Yes, Boise is a great program. But if/when Petersen leaves, then what? For all the failures of the ACC, FSU/Clemson/UNC/Miami are all still major programs, recruiting major players, with large fanbases and national appeal. You can whine and moan and bring up OOC records and BCS game records, but the truth is, nobody gives a about Cincinnati-Rutgers.

The gap between conference #4 and the ACC is far wider than the gap between the ACC and the BE. The BE needs to get its ducks in a row and put together the stats that prove that point. Then launch an aggressive media campaign.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Look at the five conferences. Then look at the Big East.

If you think the Big East is on the same level with the other five, you are out of your mind. Yes, Boise is a great program. But if/when Petersen leaves, then what? For all the failures of the ACC, FSU/Clemson/UNC/Miami are all still major programs, recruiting major players, with large fanbases and national appeal. You can whine and moan and bring up OOC records and BCS game records, but the truth is, nobody gives a about Cincinnati-Rutgers.

Upstater is irrationally defensive about Penn State. About 20% of the regular posters jump to ND's defense if anyone says anything remotely negative. And then there is Z, who defends ESPN's relentless and meanspirited trashing of the Big East and UConn. I can get being a long time fan of another school and having trouble giving that up when it comes to UConn, but who roots for a corporation against a school?

 

[zls44]

The gap between conference #4 and the ACC is far wider than the gap between the ACC and the BE. The BE needs to get its ducks in a row and put together the stats that prove that point. Then launch an aggressive media campaign.

They should have been aggressive years ago. It's too late.

There are more fans of NC State football than there are of Rutgers football. It is what it is.

 

[Dann]

all the power 5 talk is espn knowing that they are losing the nbe to another tv spot. so they are going to devalue it and trash it. all it takes is this year or next year for 1 of uconn/cincy/lville/usf/rutgers to make a bcs run and WIN a bcs game and 1 of ucf/bsu to make a bcs game. IT WILL HAPPEN. then all of the power 5 stuff will be garbage when the acc takes anotherbcs beating and the nbe looks a ok.

 

[zls44]

Upstater is irrationally defensive about Penn State. About 20% of the regular posters jump to ND's defense if anyone says anything remotely negative. And then there is Z, who defends ESPN's relentless and meanspirited trashing of the Big East and UConn. I can get being a long time fan of another school and having trouble giving that up when it comes to UConn, but who roots for a corporation against a school?

Because the idea of ESPN in the conspiracy against the Big East isn't logical. You know why they bash Big East football? Because it stinks. Compared to the rest of the major conferences, it's garbage. Let's see, the current crop of schools includes one Heisman, won in 1989, no national championships, a bunch of commuter schools, the unquestioned worst program in America, the longtime unquestioned worst program in America, and three schools who didn't even play FBS football 15 years ago. Three of the programs in the conference (Temple, Memphis, San Diego State) have strongly considered DROPPING FOOTBALL ENTIRELY in the last 15 years due to turgid results on the field and a complete lack of any fan interest whatsoever.

And ESPN's the problem for not treating it on the same level as the other five? Really? get OVER yourself.

Talk to fans from around the country. Of other schools. From other conferences. They all think the Big East is a joke. Do you think this is some grand conspiracy?

When everyone else is telling you you're wrong, the problem isn't them. Get a hint.

 

[UCFBfan]

If anyone watched the interview with Joe Bailey they should be greatly concerned that the Big East has not found a new leader with a football vision. When asked about the Big East no longer having a BCS type tie in his response was that he believes the system will be merit-something and reward teams in conferences like the BE when they have great seasons. Any fan of our program or any Big East program should be outraged by such garbage talk! I was in shock listening to him bumbling on. If anyone is naive to believe that the Big East Champion will be rewarded with one of the bowl spots given out by the bowl selection committee over a 2 loss SEC or B1G school is dreaming. Clearly our interim commish feels that this train of thought will be successful for the Big East. What a crock.

I for one am more worried about the state of this conference and our program as part of it more than ever before. This playoff system is going to separate the Top 5 conferences more than every before. (The ACC only getting into the Top 5 because of their Orange Bowl Tie-In) The amount of money that will be thrown at these 6 bowl games will be unprecedented and I can't see the BE yearly getting a team into these bowls, especially based on the past few seasons in which the BE champ has had 3+ losses the past few years. What worried me the most is the lack of leadership and knowledge that is leading or not leading, this conference. Why is there not a new commish in place or talk of one? Who in their right mind is truly believing that we're going to land a good TV deal with this bumbling idiot leading the conference?

I was just floored by that interview with him......

 

[zls44]

How about that, from the beginning, he went out of his way to say he didn't want the job? That was a HUGE red flag.

Joe, do the conference a friggin' service: pretend you give a shit.

 

[metsfan2323]

The Big East was the sixth best conference in 2004 when we joined. It is still the sixth best conference. The eight team conference we have been in was mediocre at best, the new conference has a good chance of being much better with a better TV contract.

Houston, Boise, SMU, SanDiego State, UCF, Navy and either BYU or Air Force > (ex)Cuse , WV, SPitt

Life is too short to keep bringing up the same garbage. Sports is supposed to be fun.

Last but not least people in this forum worry way to much about UCONN's finances and falling behind our neighbors. You can't pay the players, you can't pay the players, and let me close by saying you can't pay the players.

 

[pj]

You know why they bash Big East football?

I know why ESPN bashes it. I don't get why you do.

 

[UConnDan97]

Does the Espn brass actually tell Joe Tesatore to mention the words "Power 5" as many times as possible?

Unfortunately, Joe Tessitore needs no instruction in being a . It comes naturally to him. (I still harbor bad feelings about him when he was an up and coming tv sports guy and he made his name by $#itting on the Whalers)

Go back to boxing color commentary...

 

[The Funster]

The Big 12 went out and got Chuck Neinas to be the interim commissioner. The Big East just went with some schmuck named Joe Bailey. I'm pissed as anyone that Cuse, Pitt and WVU left but given the fact that this conference's leadership is so vapid, I can't blame them and I wish we could leave too. The situation is dire and the decision making is pathetic.

 

[UCFBfan]

Last but not least people in this forum worry way to much about UCONN's finances and falling behind our neighbors. You can't pay the players, you can't pay the players, and let me close by saying you can't pay the players.

Honestly, what does that have to do with anything? Money brings prestige and it brings new facilities for teams besides UConn. It brings things that lead to better recruits coming to your school and other Big East schools. There's a reason MAC schools and Sun Belt schools are where they are on the pecking order. Not being in a bCS conference and getting a piece of the pie is exactly it. Did any of these schools pay players during that time frame? There's a reason Boise St left their own time zone to play the majority of their games on the east coast and it wasn't because they needed the money to pay players. You're delusional if you think not getting more money will not impact UConn and the Big East.

 

[metsfan2323]

Honestly, what does that have to do with anything? Money brings prestige and it brings new facilities for teams besides UConn. It brings things that lead to better recruits coming to your school and other Big East schools. There's a reason MAC schools and Sun Belt schools are where they are on the pecking order. Not being in a bCS conference and getting a piece of the pie is exactly it. Did any of these schools pay players during that time frame? There's a reason Boise St left their own time zone to play the majority of their games on the east coast and it wasn't because they needed the money to pay players. You're delusional if you think not getting more money will not impact UConn and the Big East.

Well you should go buy Yale season tickets because they have a ton of money and prestige and a truly historic football stadium. Buy some Duke, Northwestern and Indiana tickets too. And how did Boise and TCU have so much success coming from a conference that had a terrible TV contract?

Fortunately for UCONN football fans we won't need a stadium or facilities for a long time.

And BTW Boise will be playing two games per year tops on the east coast. Far from a "majority". Someone who worries about finances should be better in math then that

 

[Marty Jackson]

Look at the five conferences. Then look at the Big East.

If you think the Big East is on the same level with the other five, you are out of your mind. Yes, Boise is a great program. But if/when Petersen leaves, then what? For all the failures of the ACC, FSU/Clemson/UNC/Miami are all still major programs, recruiting major players, with large fanbases and national appeal. You can whine and moan and bring up OOC records and BCS game records, but the truth is, nobody gives a about Cincinnati-Rutgers.

I'm sorry but that is a stupid comment. Look at Alabama without Saban. Take Urban Meyer away from Florida and look what's happened. Miami hasn't been relevant since Johnson left.
For 10 years, Boise has been one of the winningest programs, and whenever they've been given the shot to play with the 'big boys' they've competed very well. Peterson has had tons of offers and he doesn't appear to be moving.
Alabama sucked before Saban and quite frankly, the country didn't seem to care. Miami sucks, and could be headed for the death penalty. Yet we still manage to get by. Texas has been out of the debate for a couple seasons and they've been pushed to the back-burner.
People want to watch good matchups. And if a good Boise team ranked #2 is playing a top ranked LSU, people are going to watch. I also bet a top 10 ranked Cincy playing a top 10 ranked RU will get some national attention as well.

 

[Marty Jackson]

The Big East was the sixth best conference in 2004 when we joined. It is still the sixth best conference. The eight team conference we have been in was mediocre at best, the new conference has a good chance of being much better with a better TV contract.

Houston, Boise, SMU, SanDiego State, UCF, Navy and either BYU or Air Force > (ex)Cuse , WV, SPitt

Life is too short to keep bringing up the same garbage. Sports is supposed to be fun.

Last but not least people in this forum worry way to much about UCONN's finances and falling behind our neighbors. You can't pay the players, you can't pay the players, and let me close by saying you can't pay the players.

I don't mean to insult you, but you're an idiot. You keep preaching about money and not paying players. What does that even mean?
In all seriousness, is your mother Doris Day?

 

[metsfan2323]

What does that even mean?

Proof that it take one to know one.

 

[CL82]

Because the idea of ESPN in the conspiracy against the Big East isn't logical.

Conspiracy Kitty says:
Or is it? Is it so logical, that you fail to see its logic due to the purity of its logic?

 

[Mr.Phat]

Look at the five conferences. Then look at the Big East.

If you think the Big East is on the same level with the other five, you are out of your mind. Yes, Boise is a great program. But if/when Petersen leaves, then what? For all the failures of the ACC, FSU/Clemson/UNC/Miami are all still major programs, recruiting major players, with large fanbases and national appeal. You can whine and moan and bring up OOC records and BCS game records, but the truth is, nobody gives a about Cincinnati-Rutgers.

or for that matter, UConn versus Rutgers

 

[SAMCRO]

ZLS, all the BCS computer rankings would disagree w/ your argument that this league stinks. Perception wise and historically, you're correct, but based on actual results and how teams performed, you're wrong. Just like after the inital raid in '04, the teams coming into the league are on par or better than the teams leaving (in actual performance). Boise and WVU are a wash (and dont give me that if Peterson left Boise will fall apart. Same thing was said about Hawkins leaving BSU), SMU, Houston, UCF, Temple, and Navy are all better than - or at least on par with - SyraPitt. Memphis is the only dog joining the league.

Unfortunately for the BE (and UConn as long as it remains in the BE) perception is the rule. I want us outta the BE too, but the actual on the field product is not going to be the flea ridden dog ESPiN is making it out to be.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Because the idea of ESPN in the conspiracy against the Big East isn't logical. You know why they bash Big East football? Because it stinks. Compared to the rest of the major conferences, it's garbage. Let's see, the current crop of schools includes one Heisman, won in 1989, no national championships, a bunch of commuter schools, the unquestioned worst program in America, the longtime unquestioned worst program in America, and three schools who didn't even play FBS football 15 years ago. Three of the programs in the conference (Temple, Memphis, San Diego State) have strongly considered DROPPING FOOTBALL ENTIRELY in the last 15 years due to turgid results on the field and a complete lack of any fan interest whatsoever.

And ESPN's the problem for not treating it on the same level as the other five? Really? get OVER yourself.

Talk to fans from around the country. Of other schools. From other conferences. They all think the Big East is a joke. Do you think this is some grand conspiracy?

When everyone else is telling you you're wrong, the problem isn't them. Get a hint.

The power of marketing to distort reality never ceases to amaze me. Of the 7 Big East championships since the last realignment, 4 were won by programs still in the league. Pitt and Syracuse have been mediocre and terrible respectively since 2005, and if you are looking at it purely from a football quality standpoint, their departure should be considered irrelevant in terms of conference perception.

Why does ESPN get so caught up in conference affiliation anyway? And why would ESPN advocate that some schools not even be allowed to compete? Why does a news organization care? Well, because they are not a news organization. ESPN is an advocate for those conferences with which it has television contracts.

Most people's problem with ESPN is that is worked with other leagues to destroy the Big East and then had it's "news" anchors say the remaining teams suck because of the departures that ESPN financed. Now ESPN wants the Big East excluded from even being allowed to compete. ESPN can be in the entertainment business or be a news organization. It has clearly picked which it wants, and is acting in a staggeringly unethical fashion by not disclosing that to its news viewers.

 

[Santini35]

Upstater is irrationally defensive about Penn State. About 20% of the regular posters jump to ND's defense if anyone says anything remotely negative. And then there is Z, who defends ESPN's relentless and meanspirited trashing of the Big East and UConn. I can get being a long time fan of another school and having trouble giving that up when it comes to UConn, but who roots for a corporation against a school?

It's because he works there

 

[emshorts]

Because the idea of ESPN in the conspiracy against the Big East isn't logical. You know why they bash Big East football? Because it stinks. Compared to the rest of the major conferences, it's garbage. Let's see, the current crop of schools includes one Heisman, won in 1989, no national championships, a bunch of commuter schools, the unquestioned worst program in America, the longtime unquestioned worst program in America, and three schools who didn't even play FBS football 15 years ago. Three of the programs in the conference (Temple, Memphis, San Diego State) have strongly considered DROPPING FOOTBALL ENTIRELY in the last 15 years due to turgid results on the field and a complete lack of any fan interest whatsoever.

And ESPN's the problem for not treating it on the same level as the other five? Really? get OVER yourself.

Talk to fans from around the country. Of other schools. From other conferences. They all think the Big East is a joke. Do you think this is some grand conspiracy?

When everyone else is telling you you're wrong, the problem isn't them. Get a hint.

they didn't just start calling us the BIG LEAST yesterday or bcuz the current schools just joined. it's been going on for yrs even when we had teams ranked in the top 20.

 

[businesslawyer]

ZLS, all the BCS computer rankings would disagree w/ your argument that this league stinks. Perception wise and historically, you're correct, but based on actual results and how teams performed, you're wrong. Just like after the inital raid in '04, the teams coming into the league are on par or better than the teams leaving (in actual performance). Boise and WVU are a wash (and dont give me that if Peterson left Boise will fall apart. Same thing was said about Hawkins leaving BSU), SMU, Houston, UCF, Temple, and Navy are all better than - or at least on par with - SyraPitt. Memphis is the only dog joining the league.

Unfortunately for the BE (and UConn as long as it remains in the BE) perception is the rule. I want us outta the BE too, but the actual on the field product is not going to be the flea ridden dog ESPiN is making it out to be.

I think people are missing a key part of this. On the initial moves, I made that argument repeatedly. And still believe it. But what we had going for us was the bottom of our conference being stronger than the bottom of the other big conferences. The addition of Memphis and Temple changed the equation in terms of computer rankings (even before you get to market share and prestige and history).

 

[RS9999X]

ESPN is an advocate for those conferences with which it has television contracts.

Most people's problem with ESPN is that is worked with other leagues to destroy the Big East and then had it's "news" anchors say the remaining teams suck because of the departures that ESPN financed. .

It's to ESPN's benefit to pimp its own programming. The questions are whether ESPN was miffed because the BE didn't take their first offer and whether ESPN will bid for the BE. Given the current promotion and the number 5, I'd say the answer is they will not offer a decent bid and the BE needs NBC to step in. Of course that's part of the psychology. Disparage the BE verbally before the negotiations in 2 months.

One thing is certain: ESPN isn't afraid to make enemies in CT. The good news: A great inaugral season by Houston or Boise could happen and really force the issue with 7 true at-large slots. The bad news again: it seems the old bowl system is in play: Attendance, Attendance and Attendance and Ratings!

 

[pj]

I think people are missing a key part of this. On the initial moves, I made that argument repeatedly. And still believe it. But what we had going for us was the bottom of our conference being stronger than the bottom of the other big conferences. The addition of Memphis and Temple changed the equation in terms of computer rankings (even before you get to market share and prestige and history).

It works both ways. Parity in the conference due to a strong bottom meant the champions had relatively poor records, and since many fans only pay attention to the bowl teams, our bowl teams looked worse than other conferences. The top teams in the Big 12, Big Ten, Pac 12, and ACC really benefit in terms of prestige by having a big group of weak teams to run up their records against.

In any case computer rankings are being replaced by a selection committee, so even if the lack of weak teams in the old conference was beneficial in the past, it may not be so in the future.