More trouble in ACC paradise? | Page 5 | The Boneyard

More trouble in ACC paradise?

CL82 said:
So again, that becomes circular reasoning, ESPN gutted the big east because it was the lesser conference but the big east was the lesser conference because ESPN gutted it. It's a logical inconsistency to use the consequences of the raid as a justification for the raid.
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obesity GIF
 
ScottVib said:
We're not talking about what ESPN did after the fact (or before the fact in 2003) however... we (well at least I thought we were) were talking about the logic in turning down the contract offer that was in hand at that point in time, in 2011. You noted the offer was significantly lower than the other BCS conferences received (which is true); I simply stated why objectively a lower offer should've been expected and not rejected simply for being lower. The Big East the time offered less in the way of football brands and volume of football content. It's inarguable that the Big East post 2003 was weaker in terms of football branding, but it's also irrelevant to a discussion of the particulars of a decision made by Big East members in 2011.

The Big East rejected the deal and ESPN followed up by grabbing the brands it wanted, further destroying the value to those schools left behind. As I noted, I think that raid probably happens regardless, if not in 2011 in the not too distant future.
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Kind of silly to take one item out of a chain of events, and say "well let's just look at this separately." By that will logic a poacher who illegally shoots a deer can say "well, I just found it dead in the woods."

The facts aren't in dispute here. ESPN funded the raid of the big east to lower its overall cost to acquire games at a lower cost to the network. It then offered a lowball offer to the conference. When the conference refused that offer it financed further raids to destroy the big east.

With the benefit of hindsight, the conference should have taken the offer, in much the same way that, the victim, whose store is burned down by thugs should have with the benefit of hindsight, paid them protection money. That doesn't justify ESPN's actions anymore than it justifies the anrsonists actions. Criminal is criminal. Wrong is wrong.

Now, if I'm the ACC, I would be very nervous right now. Having gotten away with this in the past, ESPN is very likely to go back to this playbook again.

(Oh, and here's a pro tip, if you are replying to my post, you might want to use the reply function. That way, I'll see your response. Unless, of course, you didn't want me to. 😏)
 
CL82 said:
Kind of silly to take one item out of a chain of events, and say "well let's just look at this separately." By that will logic a poacher who illegally shoots a deer can say "well, I just found it dead in the woods."

The facts aren't in dispute here. ESPN funded the raid of the big east to lower its overall cost to acquire games at a lower cost to the network. It then offered a lowball offer to the conference. When the conference refused that offer it financed further raids to destroy the big east.

With the benefit of hindsight, the conference should have taken the offer, in much the same way that, the victim, whose store is burned down by thugs should have with the benefit of hindsight, paid them protection money. That doesn't justify ESPN's actions anymore than it justifies the anrsonists actions. Criminal is criminal. Wrong is wrong.

Now, if I'm the ACC, I would be very nervous right now. Having gotten away with this in the past, ESPN is very likely to go back to this playbook again.

(Oh, and here's a pro tip, if you are replying to my post, you might want to use the reply function. That way, I'll see your response. Unless, of course, you didn't want me to. 😏)
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In hindsight, ESPN's actions appear to be much more vindictive than economic. The Big East wanted a fair offer, ESPN declined, and then, picking apart the carcass, ended up paying more money for less content for the same schools in different leagues. The ESPN then followed that up by paying the American a step down to the contract they offered the Big East, but for a significantly inferior product, that then morphed into UCF, Houston and Cincinnati going to the Big 12 at full pay.

It was a catastrophically stupid contract negotiation that ESPN engineered, all to teach the Big East a lesson. 12 years later, they did the same thing, with the same stupid outcome, to the Pac 12.
 
Exit 4 said:
What needs to happen is for the state to open the check book and buy its ACC seat like SMU
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What would be most beneficial for the state to do is to actually be proactive for once and do that now instead of waiting and reacting in a panic in 2030 when everything starts falling apart to try to get us in as the tomb door seals shut.

Have zero faith in that happening until it absolutely has to though and even then there are enough people with their head in the sand that they’d rather go down with the ship

Lamont thankfully is a huge supporter of UConn and UConn football specifically and seems to at least be aligned with the administration. I don’t live in CT but from the outside, seems likely he will be reelected this year given his approval ratings. That would at least mean we will have a Governor, President, and AD that all are aligned and understand the importance of getting into the P4 club, hopefully that’s enough to drag the naysayers over the line with them to get it done when they need to take the vote
 
Ha Who said:
www.foxnews.com

Miami's Carson Beck turns heads with stunning admission about attending classes as college athlete

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck went viral after saying he had not taken classes for two years ahead of the national championship game.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
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I don't get this at all. Sure some players may not be great students but Beck's not even enrolled in any classes. UNC at least made up a few fake classes for appearance sake.

"No class. I graduated two years ago" {oops, was I not supposed to say that?}

 
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Kolumbo said:
I don't get this at all. Sure some players may not be great students but Beck's not even enrolled in any classes. UNC at least made up a few fake classes for appearance sake.

"No class. I graduated two years ago" {oops, was I not supposed to say that?}

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Somehow, the phrases "no class" and "Miami football" seem to fit together.
 
I get the sentiment, but from a more practical standpoint, if his eligibility is over and he's graduated, why would he have spring semester classes and be in class last week or the week before which is basically still winter break/first week of class for spring semester?
 
Kolumbo said:
I don't get this at all. Sure some players may not be great students but Beck's not even enrolled in any classes. UNC at least made up a few fake classes for appearance sake.

"No class. I graduated two years ago" {oops, was I not supposed to say that?}

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That anyone would be surprised by this amazes me. Major college athletics have absolutely nothing at all to do with academics. These kids, for all intents and purposes, are paid professional athletes. Using the term "student athlete" for them is total and utter fiction. It's a marketing gimick, nothing more.
 
He graduated with his bachelor's degree. Enrollment in master's and doctoral programs isn't a structured 4 or 5 year schedule and can be done over a number of years. I read his comment as he enrolled in a master's program but didn't attend. After tonight, nobody will care.
 
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Kolumbo said:
I'm shocked. This is the first time I'm hearing an athlete can play a sport without enrolling in any courses.
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I mean, even the UNC guys were enrolled in courses. They just didn't actually go… Or do any coursework.
 
Drew said:
What would be most beneficial for the state to do is to actually be proactive for once and do that now instead of waiting and reacting in a panic in 2030 when everything starts falling apart to try to get us in as the tomb door seals shut.

Have zero faith in that happening until it absolutely has to though and even then there are enough people with their head in the sand that they’d rather go down with the ship

Lamont thankfully is a huge supporter of UConn and UConn football specifically and seems to at least be aligned with the administration. I don’t live in CT but from the outside, seems likely he will be reelected this year given his approval ratings. That would at least mean we will have a Governor, President, and AD that all are aligned and understand the importance of getting into the P4 club, hopefully that’s enough to drag the naysayers over the line with them to get it done when they need to take the vote
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Unless there are large private commitments leading the charge, Lamont won't make a move regarding conference realignment.
 
Fishy said:
....the Big East was worth less.

My god.
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One thing everyone forgets about ESPN owns half of the ACC network. Not the same with the SEC network. So why would they move teams to the SEC and lose more money by paying them more. And also lose money on a network they half own. If anything If I'm half owner of something I move properties the other way.
 
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Ha Who said:
www.cbssports.com

Duke files lawsuit against star QB Darian Mensah in wake of last-minute transfer portal entry request

Mensah led the Blue Devils to an ACC title in 2025 and is expected to be the transfer portal's most coveted quarterback upon entry
www.cbssports.com www.cbssports.com
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This is all good news. I hope more law suits are filed. The whole system is a dumpster fire. Hopefully this will lead to better transfer rules, like 1 transfer for your eligibility. I am also looking forward to when the IRS starts auditing some of these players. They better be paying their taxes on their income.
 
Ha Who said:
www.foxnews.com

Miami's Carson Beck turns heads with stunning admission about attending classes as college athlete

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck went viral after saying he had not taken classes for two years ahead of the national championship game.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
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He said he was working towards other degrees, didn't outright say he didn't go to class.(I don't doubt that he didn't) Nothing new about that, go back to Oklahoma with Barry Switzer or the Pony Express at SMU, not much classroom going on there either and thats 40+ years ago. George Young, NY Giants GM, was back at his alma mater, Bucknell('52) to accept an award, sometime in the 70's I believe. He told a story about how the Coal Miners from Berwick would be recruited to come play Football for Bucknell on Saturday, stay over Saturday night having a nice "Social experience" Saturday evening and head back Sunday to go back to work Monday. The more current Bucknellians were horrifed by the story, and tried to make sure it didn't circulate. Gives you an idea of how Bucknell shellacked Miami in the first Orange Bowl in 1935 26-0. Those coal miners must have had a blast in Miami!!
 
AllHusky said:
He said he was working towards other degrees, didn't outright say he didn't go to class.(I don't doubt that he didn't) Nothing new about that, go back to Oklahoma with Barry Switzer or the Pony Express at SMU, not much classroom going on there either and thats 40+ years ago. George Young, NY Giants GM, was back at his alma mater, Bucknell('52) to accept an award, sometime in the 70's I believe. He told a story about how the Coal Miners from Berwick would be recruited to come play Football for Bucknell on Saturday, stay over Saturday night having a nice "Social experience" Saturday evening and head back Sunday to go back to work Monday. The more current Bucknellians were horrifed by the story, and tried to make sure it didn't circulate. Gives you an idea of how Bucknell shellacked Miami in the first Orange Bowl in 1935 26-0. Those coal miners must have had a blast in Miami!!
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That's exactly what he said. I'm sure many kids don't go to class but they know not to say that out loud.
"No class. I graduated two years ago"
 
Kolumbo said:
That's exactly what he said. I'm sure many kids don't go to class but they know not to say that out loud.
"No class. I graduated two years ago"
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And he followed it up with, “I am working towards other degrees now, that take more than a year.” Then said I am going to leave school now.
 
Miami gets to keep 100% of their CFP money thanks to the new rules in the ACC. $20 million. That is a nice chunk of change to help pay off that $75 million exit fee in 2030.
 
Rufus said:
Miami gets to keep 100% of their CFP money thanks to the new rules in the ACC. $20 million. That is a nice chunk of change to help pay off that $75 million exit fee in 2030.
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I find it pleasingly ironic that the rest of the ACC used FSU and Clemson as stalking goats essentially. They reap the rewards while FSU and Clemson footed the bill..
 
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baggerbob said:
One thing everyone forgets about ESPN owns half of the ACC network. Not the same with the SEC network. So why would they move teams to the SEC and lose more money by paying them more. And also lose money on a network they half own. If anything If I'm half owner of something I move properties the other way.
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Both the SECN and the ACCN are 80% owned by Disney and 20% owned by Hearst. The ACC gets 50% of the ACCN revenues. The SECN revenues are integrated into the SEC media deal with ESPN. Standalone conference networks right now are still dependent on the cable bundle which is in decline. (Which is why the ACC added Stanford/Cal and SMU to access more markets, otherwise ACCN revenues would have peaked.) Long term, I would bet the SECN has a better chance of surviving as a streaming network than the ACCN, but that is not a given.
 
Rufus said:
Miami gets to keep 100% of their CFP money thanks to the new rules in the ACC. $20 million. That is a nice chunk of change to help pay off that $75 million exit fee in 2030.
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Or 2028.
 
CTFAN4LIFE said:
Now we have Pitt crying poverty and indicating without an influx of state money they'll be forced to cut Olympic sports.
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I wonder if they'll go the Glad garbage bag route to actually cover the seats. Nothing says excitement as trying to cover empty sections of the stadium

"Beginning with the 2026 season, the upper East and West sides of Acrisure Stadium will be off-line for Pitt Football games, adjusting the capacity to 51,416. The North end zone upper deck remains available and student seating stays at 10,000 seats per game, preserving the Panther Pitt as the heartbeat of our stadium environment."

pittsburghpanthers.com

From The Desk of Allen Greene (Jan. 28, 2026) - Pitt Panthers #H2P

Panther Nation,
pittsburghpanthers.com pittsburghpanthers.com
 
Kolumbo said:
I wonder if they'll go the Glad garbage bag route to actually cover the seats. Nothing says excitement as trying to cover empty sections of the stadium

"Beginning with the 2026 season, the upper East and West sides of Acrisure Stadium will be off-line for Pitt Football games, adjusting the capacity to 51,416. The North end zone upper deck remains available and student seating stays at 10,000 seats per game, preserving the Panther Pitt as the heartbeat of our stadium environment."

pittsburghpanthers.com

From The Desk of Allen Greene (Jan. 28, 2026) - Pitt Panthers #H2P

Panther Nation,
pittsburghpanthers.com pittsburghpanthers.com
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Makes sense - sometimes it looks like they only have 30 or 40k in that building even though they report 40-50k
 
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