IF there is Big 12 Expansion

[FDNY99]

There is zero market for a Big 12 network and no media partner who is willing to spend the money to build it.

It doesn't even make any sense for a school like Kansas to lose/share their T3 money with TCUs, Baylors and Iowa States of the world.

I guess I wasn't clear about my point.....because you totally took my post wrong...my point wasn't a B-12 network...I used that as an example of it being easier to set up if there was a need due to the 2nd and 3rd tier rights still being available. It is VERY well known that the B-12 schools all do very well with their 2nd and 3rd tier rights on their own (each school). It has been written about since day 1 talk of the ACCN (which was before the boat sailed) that it would most likely NEVER get off the ground because Swofford sold the 2nd and 3rd tier rights to Raycom, and that there was no way ESPN was going to buy back what they were basically already paying to produce. You have to admit those 2 items are on point.

 

[billybud]

I guess I wasn't clear about my point.....because you totally took my post wrong...my point wasn't a B-12 network...I used that as an example of it being easier to set up if there was a need due to the 2nd and 3rd tier rights still being available. It is VERY well known that the B-12 schools all do very well with their 2nd and 3rd tier rights on their own (each school). It has been written about since day 1 talk of the ACCN (which was before the boat sailed) that it would most likely NEVER get off the ground because Swofford sold the 2nd and 3rd tier rights to Raycom, and that there was no way ESPN was going to buy back what they were basically already paying to produce. You have to admit those 2 items are on point.

WVU makes about the same from their 2nd and 3rd tier rights as UConn....and that's for the whole ball of wax, stadium advertising, radio, coaches shows, and their one really bad football match.

 

[FDNY99]

WVU makes about the same from their 2nd and 3rd tier rights as UConn....and that's for the whole ball of wax, stadium advertising, radio, coaches shows, and their one really bad football match.

Add that to their B-12 payout and that's a nice chunk of change...like Whaler said pool that with other schools and it drops.

 

[whaler11]

I guess I wasn't clear about my point.....because you totally took my post wrong...my point wasn't a B-12 network...I used that as an example of it being easier to set up if there was a need due to the 2nd and 3rd tier rights still being available. It is VERY well known that the B-12 schools all do very well with their 2nd and 3rd tier rights on their own (each school). It has been written about since day 1 talk of the ACCN (which was before the boat sailed) that it would most likely NEVER get off the ground because Swofford sold the 2nd and 3rd tier rights to Raycom, and that there was no way ESPN was going to buy back what they were basically already paying to produce. You have to admit those 2 items are on point.

I don't think the Big 12 schools own tier 2. They only keep T3 which includes one home football game.

Nobody would start an ACC network anyway but you are right that the fact it's already sold makes it an impossibility.

When ESPN proper is fighting subscriber losses... nobody is investing in fringe networks that only have regional interest.

 

[pj]

WVU's influence in the Big 12 can be measured in Dood Units.

WVU's current influence level is negative eleventy Doods.

So it's strongly positive then?

 

[FDNY99]

Just for the record I'm all for UCONN keeping their 2nd and 3rd tier rights.

 

[dayooper]

Add that to their B-12 payout and that's a nice chunk of change...like Whaler said pool that with other schools and it drops.

The Big12 homers always claim that they get $6-$7 million on their tier three. Most P5 schools get that from their coaches show, radio broadcasts, ect. Most Big10 schools make as much as WVU does without any TV media included. It's one the Dude's talking points about how great the Big12 is, but it's just misdirection.

 

[FDNY99]

The Big12 homers always claim that they get $6-$7 million on their tier three. Most P5 schools get that from their coaches show, radio broadcasts, ect. Most Big10 schools make as much as WVU does without any TV media included. It's one the Dude's talking points about how great the Big12 is, but it's just misdirection.

We make $8 Mill/yr from IMG for our radio rights/marketing/coaches shows (radio)
http://www.imgcollege.com/news/2008/uconn-and-img-college-form-athletics-multi-media-r
I think Michigan as a similar deal with them. The women's hoops contract with SNY is for $1.14 million/yr.

 

[dayooper]

We make $8 Mill/yr from IMG for our radio rights/marketing/coaches shows (radio)
http://www.imgcollege.com/news/2008/uconn-and-img-college-form-athletics-multi-media-r
I think Michigan as a similar deal with them. The women's hoops contract with SNY is for $1.14 million/yr.

Yup, they signed an $86 million, 12 year contract with IMG back in 2008. The only thing they held back was the apparel deal.

 

[WestHartHusk]

We make $8 Mill/yr from IMG for our radio rights/marketing/coaches shows (radio)
http://www.imgcollege.com/news/2008/uconn-and-img-college-form-athletics-multi-media-r
I think Michigan as a similar deal with them. The women's hoops contract with SNY is for $1.14 million/yr.

That was our Tier 3 media women's contract...now that is our entire contract. Thanks Aresco.

 

[FDNY99]

That was our Tier 3 media women's contract...now that is our entire contract. Thanks Aresco.

No the AAC tv contract is worth $1.8 million/yr...
http://articles.courant.com/2013-03...1_mike-aresco-basketball-schools-burke-magnus

 

[FDNY99]

Yup, they signed an $86 million, 12 year contract with IMG back in 2008. The only thing they held back was the apparel deal.

So they have a similar deal as UCONN...UCONN's Nike contract is separate from the IMG contract as well.

 

[dayooper]

So they have a similar deal as UCONN...UCONN's Nike contract is separate from the IMG contract as well.

They usually are. You guys have a larger IMG contract than we do!

 

[FDNY99]

They usually are. You guys have a larger IMG contract than we do!

When UCONN signed their Nike deal...it was one of the larger deals of it's time...quickly passed though by a lot of schools. The IMG, Women's hoop tv deal, and Nike deal are HUGE right now. There is also the Webster Bank deal as well.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

UConn needs to be one of the teams chosen or Manuel needs to be fired. So Manuel needs to skip the buffet line in the Bahamas and get it done. The Titanic has already sunk and we are bobbing around in the north Atlantic, freezing to death. Everyone left in the water also knows they are freezing to death, as Bronco Mendenhall's recent comments indicate. There are potentially two spots left in one of the lifeboats, and we need to get one of those two spots. It is going to be 2 of 3 of UConn, Cincinnati and BYU.

I also think the only way the Big 10 or ACC even consider giving UConn an invitation is if UConn gets invited by the Big 12.

This is it.

6 months later, here we are. Go time.

The Big 12 wants to expand, and there is some major muscle in the conference behind expansion. The desire for a Big 12 Network is a major driver for expansion, and the last obstacle is Texas' desire to wait for the outcome of the 10 Team Amendment. The Big 12's amendment appears dead on arrival unless Delaney is appeased somehow, which he won't be. There is no way the vote goes against Delaney. He wouldn't have said anything unless he knew he had already blocked it. We don't know if Texas will continue to block expansion regardless of the outcome of the vote.

I agree with others that BYU appears to be out of the picture based on Mendenhall taking a dead-end Virginia job. If he thought there was any realistic chance of BYU getting into a major conference, he would have waited a year. Virginia is where coaches go to finish their careers early.

That leaves us in a face-off with Cincinnati and Houston. Cincinnati seems like a lock, which means Houston vs. UConn, mano y mano. We are not a lock by any means, but I like our odds. It is up to Herbst and Manuel to close the deal.

It also appears that Herbst may be getting a helping hand from the media. There are major sports reporters running with this story, not just basement dwelling, twitter freaks from Appalachia and the northern prairie. Raising UConn's profile with the media helps us out with the Big 12 Presidents, who will feel at least a little pressure to take the best academic school of the options.

More importantly, the open discussion of UConn to the Big 12 must be causing some phones to ring around Tobacco Road. Any hope of an ACC network requires a major NYC presence, and if the Big 12 adds UConn, NYC becomes a 3 conference town. The ACC has a spot for us and we know there is support among many in the league, with our biggest opponents at BCU having retired. The ACC knows it has to add us before the Big 12 does, because the Big 12 offer will most likely be exploding. We will find out real soon if A) there is any real meat behind these rumors and B) whether UConn has enough support in the ACC for an invitation. If either A or B are true, failure is not an option.

 

[FDNY99]

6 months later, here we are. Go time.

The Big 12 wants to expand, and there is some major muscle in the conference behind expansion. The desire for a Big 12 Network is a major driver for expansion, and the last obstacle is Texas' desire to wait for the outcome of the 10 Team Amendment. The Big 12's amendment appears dead on arrival unless Delaney is appeased somehow, which he won't be. There is no way the vote goes against Delaney. He wouldn't have said anything unless he knew he had already blocked it. We don't know if Texas will continue to block expansion regardless of the outcome of the vote.

I agree with others that BYU appears to be out of the picture based on Mendenhall taking a dead-end Virginia job. If he thought there was any realistic chance of BYU getting into a major conference, he would have waited a year. Virginia is where coaches go to finish their careers early.

That leaves us in a face-off with Cincinnati and Houston. Cincinnati seems like a lock, which means Houston vs. UConn, mano y mano. We are not a lock by any means, but I like our odds. It is up to Herbst and Manuel to close the deal.

It also appears that Herbst may be getting a helping hand from the media. There are major sports reporters running with this story, not just basement dwelling, twitter freaks from Appalachia and the northern prairie. Raising UConn's profile with the media helps us out with the Big 12 Presidents, who will feel at least a little pressure to take the best academic school of the options.

More importantly, the open discussion of UConn to the Big 12 must be causing some phones to ring around Tobacco Road. Any hope of an ACC network requires a major NYC presence, and if the Big 12 adds UConn, NYC becomes a 3 conference town. The ACC has a spot for us and we know there is support among many in the league, with our biggest opponents at BCU having retired. The ACC knows it has to add us before the Big 12 does, because the Big 12 offer will most likely be exploding. We will find out real soon if A) there is any real meat behind these rumors and B) whether UConn has enough support in the ACC for an invitation. If either A or B are true, failure is not an option.

RE: ACC invite...do you have any "LEGITIMATE" sources..or is this your ideal situation on how CR shakes out for UCONN? There has been absolutely NOTHING about these UCONN to the B12 rumors causing the ACC to make a possible pre-emptive move what so ever. Same with the B1G.....

 

[huskypantz]

I just don't see how another conference network gets off the ground unless it's tied to internet subscriptions. The cable customer base is reeling yet ESPN is going to throw another channel into the mix and demand an increase of $.30-$1.00 per subscriber per month?

 

[djct1999]

I am not convinced that Cincinnati is a slam dunk here. To me, I think the ADs of the Big12 would be in favor but the Presidents would not. Count me in the camp that believes in the end it will be UConn and Central Florida.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

RE: ACC invite...do you have any "LEGITIMATE" sources..or is this your ideal situation on how CR shakes out for UCONN? There has been absolutely NOTHING about these UCONN to the B12 rumors causing the ACC to make a possible pre-emptive move what so ever. Same with the B1G.....

When Louisville was added, we knew there was a lot of support for UConn but FSU and GTech wanted a better football program. One of the issues at the time that several writers commented on was that the ACC was worried about the Big 12 grabbing Louisville, but that they expected UConn to be available down the road if the ACC wanted us. That could be changing. We will find out just how much support we had within the ACC.

I do not think the Big 10 has any interested in UConn. Delaney doesn't wait to see what others do before he acts. If the Big 10 wanted us, we would be in the Big 10 by now.

 

[upstater]

I just don't see how another conference network gets off the ground unless it's tied to internet subscriptions. The cable customer base is reeling yet ESPN is going to throw another channel into the mix and demand an increase of $.30-$1.00 per subscriber per month?

If it's UConn, I think ESPN could actually figure it out rather easily. The added women's bball games alone (i.e. vs. Baylor, etc.) will be worth it. UConn men too. It will allow them to eliminate the extra money from the AAC (from $24m down to $12m) and to add more compelling content, while also bolstering the Conn.market.

 

[SAMCRO]

It would be kinda funny, in a karma is a B type of way, if UConn ended up in the B12. Flipper and BC "supposedly" (if you are to believe Flippers direct quote to a reporter) put forward Pitt as a candidate over UConn years ago in order to keep the B12 out of the ACC's back yard, but it ultimately may end up putting the B12 inside the ACC's kitchen.

But of course, as we all get cautiously excited about the possibility of getting that life raft, in the back of our minds is rule #1 of CR.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I am not convinced that Cincinnati is a slam dunk here. To me, I think the ADs of the Big12 would be in favor but the Presidents would not. Count me in the camp that believes in the end it will be UConn and Central Florida.

Whether it is officially in any existing agreement or not, West Virginia needs a partner and if the XII does not give them one in the next round of expansion, then West Virgina may have grounds to sue and challenge the GOR. That threat alone would be enough for the XII to look to add Cincinatti as the XII would be raided the second after its GOR was struck down.

 

[noeynox]

If it's UConn, I think ESPN could actually figure it out rather easily. The added women's bball games alone (i.e. vs. Baylor, etc.) will be worth it. UConn men too. It will allow them to eliminate the extra money from the AAC (from $24m down to $12m) and to add more compelling content, while also bolstering the Conn.market.

Fox also Foxsports 2 that currently gives them nothing. They could begin transitioning that toward a Big 12 network I would think. Doesn't just have to be ESPN.

 

[FDNY99]

When Louisville was added, we knew there was a lot of support for UConn but FSU and GTech wanted a better football program. One of the issues at the time that several writers commented on was that the ACC was worried about the Big 12 grabbing Louisville, but that they expected UConn to be available down the road if the ACC wanted us. That could be changing. We will find out just how much support we had within the ACC.

I do not think the Big 10 has any interested in UConn. Delaney doesn't wait to see what others do before he acts. If the Big 10 wanted us, we would be in the Big 10 by now.

It was FSU and Clemson

 

[Nutmeg]

If I'm the Big 12, I go for the best properties on the board in BYU and UConn. Ideally, they also add Cincinnati and Temple (which shouldn't be dismissed as a dark horse candidate) to increase the likelihood of a Big 12 network. Houston is only viable if Texas politics win out over logic. That said, I think they pick UConn and Cincinnati this round.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

It would be kinda funny, in a karma is a B type of way, if UConn ended up in the B12. Flipper and BC "supposedly" (if you are to believe Flippers direct quote to a reporter) put forward Pitt as a candidate over UConn years ago in order to keep the B12 out of the ACC's back yard, but it ultimately may end up putting the B12 inside the ACC's kitchen.

But of course, as we all get cautiously excited about the possibility of getting that life raft, in the back of our minds is rule #1 of CR.

Kitchen? It would me more like offering Tom Brady to babysit my wife and offering to sleep on the coach while he was visiting.

Opening the door for XII schools to recruit in Jersey with the 4/5 stars going to Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor, etc. and UConn getting the 3/4 stars has to be a huge threat to BC and Syracuse who need successful recruiting classes from NJ to survive. I suspect that B1G may also have concerns, too, Michigan in particular has been very successful recruiting in state and Rutgers and Penn State both need Jersey to be successful. Just look at the current 2016 NJ Top 25 Recruiting class

http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Football/CompositeRecruitRankings?State=NJ

ACC: 6 (Duke, UVA 2x, Syracuse, BC, Pitt)
B1G: 11 (Michigan 4x, Michigan St 2x, Penn St 2x, Nebraska, Rutgers 2x)
Other: 1 (SEC - Tennessee)
Undecided: 7

 

[DarthGrumpy]

In my opinion, the best case scenario is that strong talk of UConn going to the XII spurs the B1G (option 1, especially as the ACC may not survive over the long term) or the ACC (option 2) to grab UConn now.

But, if UConn does join the XII, where do UConn's Olympic sports go? The non-revenue sports, such as baseball, softball, track, women's soccer, etc. would have a devil of a travel schedule. Field Hockey I assume can stay in the Big E and ditto for both hockey teams in Hockey East. The XII does not sponsor men's soccer (West Virginia is the only XII to play soccer and they play in the MAC), so that team would have to find a new home - MAC, stay in the America, Big East?

 

[junglehusky]

In my opinion, the best case scenario is that strong talk of UConn going to the XII spurs the B1G (option 1, especially as the ACC may not survive over the long term) or the ACC (option 2) to grab UConn now.

But, if UConn does join the XII, where do UConn's Olympic sports go? The non-revenue sports, such as baseball, softball, track, women's soccer, etc. would have a devil of a travel schedule. Field Hockey I assume can stay in the Big E and ditto for both hockey teams in Hockey East. The XII does not sponsor men's soccer (West Virginia is the only XII to play soccer and they play in the MAC), so that team would have to find a new home - MAC, stay in the America, Big East?

This, along with geography culture and academics (aside from UT), is why UConn and the B12 are not made for each other. But if there is an actual chance an not just a sportswriter's hypothetical, then I'm all for a marriage of convenience - to have and to hold, until someone better/richer comes along.

 

[FDNY99]

In my opinion, the best case scenario is that strong talk of UConn going to the XII spurs the B1G (option 1, especially as the ACC may not survive over the long term) or the ACC (option 2) to grab UConn now.

But, if UConn does join the XII, where do UConn's Olympic sports go? The non-revenue sports, such as baseball, softball, track, women's soccer, etc. would have a devil of a travel schedule. Field Hockey I assume can stay in the Big E and ditto for both hockey teams in Hockey East. The XII does not sponsor men's soccer (West Virginia is the only XII to play soccer and they play in the MAC), so that team would have to find a new home - MAC, stay in the America, Big East?

The non-revenue sports compete in the Big 12 in what ever sports they sponsor. No different from what happens in the AAC now. Those sports that the Big 12 doesn't support find homes somewhere else. Outside of Temple and Navy our non-revenue Olympic sports travel a pretty big distance right now.

 

[4in16]

If thrown a life preserver, you don't throw it back and continue to tread water hoping a better one is going to come.