The Globe article may be gaining some national traction...

[CL82]

The scheming isn't over

"The driving force on realignment lies with the conference and universities," ESPN spokesman Soltys said. "Every college deal has conference composition clauses that lead to a value discussion whenever a conference adds or subtracts teams. We will be having similar discussions with the SEC and Big 12, too. Perhaps the Big East, too, depending on timing."

In other words, ESPN is the puppet master. Oh and by the way, "perhaps" they will tell the BE who invite to their conference, unless "timing" permits them to completely gut them first.

 

[gars44]

I am glad this is getting national attention. It is time people realize how much power ESPN has in college football. No network should have this much influence over student athletes in this country that don't even get paid. ESPN is making a ton of money off them and it is getting out of hands.

For the record, I called the ESPN conspiracy theory long before the Boston Globe story. Just yesterday on Courant's football chat I was asking Jeff Jacobs to write a story on ESPN/ACC plotting BE's destruction. He said it is a interesting theory and boom we got Boston Globe story today.

Time for ESPN to go down and go down hard. BE needs to sign a deal with NBC/COMCAST next year and stay as far away from ESPN as possible.

Exactly. We need to get out of ESPN's spider web.

 

[fortebleedsblue]

"Time for ESPN to go down and go down hard. BE needs to sign a deal with NBC/COMCAST next year and stay as far away from ESPN as possible."

ESPN is not going to go down hard... IT’S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. The last thing UConn needs to do is piss off another major contributor of the sports market and shoot themselves in the foot. If UConn sues and get money, how does that help going forward with TV exposure? Suing BC and the ACC didn't work out so well did it? The same goes for the Fiesta Bowl .... now ESPN? Bad idea….

 

[RS9999X]

I haven't seen a convincing ESPN financial analysis yet that points to conspiracy or undue payouts to destroy the BE.

2016 Estimates:
WVU and Louisville to the B12 = $40 million a year
Pitt and SU to the ACC = $30 million plus $24 million for legacy teams= $54 mil

That's $94 mil and there's Fox Money in the B12 deal and new media rights ceded (ACC)

BE Football? Lucky to get $4 million a team. $40 to $50 million in 2016.
BE basketball? Lucky to get $4 a team million in 2016. $64 million

2016 Totals: 40 B12 + 54 ACC + 50 BE Foot + 64 BE BB = $208 million. That's top end.

If the BE stayed intact people were estimating approx the same amount. $7 mil for basketball and $14 mil for football or close to $200 million.

I don't think there's a paper trail one way or another unless the BE contract comes in without an ESPN bid comes or is under $70 mil a year.

If WVU leaves the East Football is a bunch of 2003 era C-USA and MWC or WAC teams along with Rutgers and the small state UConn posing as a BCS conference. If the BE is made up of a bunch of teams earning currently earning $1.2 mil for both sports and incudes only 2 teams in discussions to earn $15 mil a team (UConn and RU) what's that worth per team? All the new teams are making more money! USF and Cincy can't really complain! That leaves two teams that got the burn!

Ugly stuff.

 

[gars44]

"Time for ESPN to go down and go down hard. BE needs to sign a deal with NBC/COMCAST next year and stay as far away from ESPN as possible."

ESPN is not going to go down hard... IT’S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. The last thing UConn needs to do is piss off another major contributor of the sports market and shoot themselves in the foot. If UConn sues and get money, how does that help going forward with TV exposure? Suing BC and the ACC didn't work out so well did it? The same goes for the Fiesta Bowl .... now ESPN? Bad idea….

This can't be done with private lawsuits. It would have to be federal anti-trust or congressional investigation.

 

[upstater]

Is there a time limitation on such a lawsuit? I mean, in the worst case scenario, why wouldn't UConn or the state sue?

 

[gars44]

Is there a time limitation on such a lawsuit? I mean, in the worst case scenario, why wouldn't UConn or the state sue?

Because private lawsuits don't solve these types of problems.

 

[IMind]

Because private lawsuits don't solve these types of problems.

I agree... to a point. The threat of one can sure help out though.

 

[upstater]

Because private lawsuits don't solve these types of problems.

Like I said, "in the worst case scenario..." IE. There'd be no problem to solve at that point. It would be about damages.

 

[CT93]

Sue! Sue! Sue!, We gotta sue!

 

[UCDaveD]

Deadspin's joined the party

http://deadspin.com/5848348/

 

[Pudge]

Sue! Sue! Sue!, We gotta sue!

Sue .... and we win. DeFilippo did what we all tell our Professionals not to do: don't get that in writing. He was arrogant in talking to Blaudshun. He will enjoy being deposed ... AGAIN.

 

[HuskyHawk]

There is one thing here that doesn't make sense. If Duke and UNC wanted to shore up basketball. And if the conference wanted to expand to the northeast, fearing losses in the south to the SEC, and if it also wanted to improve football payout, then the logical move is this: Add Pitt, Syracuse and UConn. Drop BC. BC is a dead weight in both sports. Perhaps the other ACC Presidents should reconsider how to best achieve their goals.

It is clear to me that what is needed to make the ACC wet its pants, is a nice, solid UConn to the BigTen rumor. If BC thought that UConn in the ACC was a dangerous local rival, UConn in the BigTen is their worst freaking nightmare. The BigTen Network is already part of the standard package here in metro Boston.

 

[upstater]

There is one thing here that doesn't make sense. If Duke and UNC wanted to shore up basketball. And if the conference wanted to expand to the northeast, fearing losses in the south to the SEC, and if it also wanted to improve football payout, then the logical move is this: Add Pitt, Syracuse and UConn. Drop BC. BC is a dead weight in both sports. Perhaps the other ACC Presidents should reconsider how to best achieve their goals.

It is clear to me that what is needed to make the ACC wet its pants, is a nice, solid UConn to the BigTen rumor. If BC thought that UConn in the ACC was a dangerous local rival, UConn in the BigTen is their worst freaking nightmare. The BigTen Network is already part of the standard package here in metro Boston.

While you would think that a conference would never drop a school for the precedent alone (that school would have the support of other members who might fear the same treatment) it is absolutely true that before Northwestern voted for Nebraska's inclusion, they sought out assurances from the Big10 that they would not be ejected from the conference in the future.

 

[huskeynut]

DeFillipo did us a huge favor by shooting his mouth off. First the whole thing about ESPN driving the deal and defections is making the national sports websites, except for ESPN.

Second, he made the ACC committee look like a bunch of petty fools. He's bragging about stopping Uconn's entrance into the ACC and relegating Uconn to "second class" status - turf wars. I'm sure this is not sitting well in certain circles of the ACC.

Now the news that the BE is looking to expand its football to 12 teams. If it happens, with the potential candidates, BE football could actually be a stronger conference than the ACC. Certainly, basketball will still rank above the ACC, even without Pitt and Syracuse.

This in itself may be enough pressure on the ACC to expand to Uconn and maybe Rutgers before it is too late. Especially if Uconn was an original choice before DeFillipo's hissy fit. And just maybe the ACC decides it needs 13 teams now.

Uconn and Herbst just need to sit quietly and watch this play out. I think we now have a big advantage.

I love it when some people think they are so smart and stick both feet in their mouth - up to the knees!!!!!

 

[SAMCRO]

Deadspin's joined the party

http://deadspin.com/5848348/

and a Nelson Muntz reference on the one comment at the bottom...

 

[MattMang23]

It is clear to me that what is needed to make the ACC wet its pants, is a nice, solid UConn to the BigTen rumor. If BC thought that UConn in the ACC was a dangerous local rival, UConn in the BigTen is their worst freaking nightmare. The BigTen Network is already part of the standard package here in metro Boston.

Your wish is my command:

SECNews247SEC News 24/7

2nd hand info on this but #MIZZOU Is supposedly in feverish convos w/ #NotreDame about both joining the #B1G.B1G will take Mizzou to get ND

SECNews247SEC News 24/7

#NotreDame doesn't want #Rutgers or #UConn in the #B1G because they want the recruiting advantage in the northeast. That's why #ND & #Mizzou

The fact that ND is worried about Rutgers and UConn in the B1G means it's been discussed on a nonpublic level. How deeply discussed? Who knows. However one would think ND didn't just conjure up something to be nervous about. Unfortunately, no link from SECNews247, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[huskymedic]

What I want to see is IF the story ever sees the light of day on the ESPN CFB Website. Odds are______?

But still no mention on ESPN site??

 

[Carl Spackler]

I didn't realize the big 10 network is standard in boston, is this true?

i was under impression that the big 10 network is not standard packages on anything but satellite in the northeast, and I don't think it's actually part of basic packages on directv or dish either.

I think that with UConn sports in games broadcast by SNY in the past year averaging a 5 rating and football rating as high as 6.1 market share - that would be very attractive to the big 10 network, and seeing as how SNY made it's way to television providers, so quickly.......and that most of the high profile games that are going to draw even more viewers were on ESPN.....not SNY

just saying. I'm not sure how existing contracts with the big east and espn and sny would play in, but when those contracts are up? I think the big 10 would have a powerful entry into basic broadcasting in the northeast with UConn on board.

 

[MattMang23]

But still no mention on ESPN site??

Hmm... Puzzling... haha

 

[FDNY99]

ND should worry about PSU when recruiting the northeast never mind UConn & Rutgers. That alone makes this rumor bs. I could see PSU fighting tooth and nail to get 1 if not both schools included if the B1G expanded.

Your wish is my command:

SECNews247SEC News 24/7

2nd hand info on this but #MIZZOU Is supposedly in feverish convos w/ #NotreDame about both joining the #B1G.B1G will take Mizzou to get ND

SECNews247SEC News 24/7

#NotreDame doesn't want #Rutgers or #UConn in the #B1G because they want the recruiting advantage in the northeast. That's why #ND & #Mizzou

The fact that ND is worried about Rutgers and UConn in the B1G means it's been discussed on a nonpublic level. How deeply discussed? Who knows. However one would think ND didn't just conjure up something to be nervous about. Unfortunately, no link from SECNews247, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[Pudge]

The result of 2004:

1. The BE basketball got much better than the ACC. Certain programs thrived since BC, VT and Miami left. Many got better; the coaching got much better. The ACC got really bland ... and hired awful coaches.

2. The NEWBIES (UConn ... but moreso Cincy & USF) had great football improvement. And I think it will continue.

The New New BE ... could be equally a leap forward. Why? Because these new Universities are well-located & can put together programs better than BC or Wake. Simple.

 

[weyuo]

Look, ESPN is still good for CT and Bristol as a tax paying corporate citizen. I'm not going to be too quick to try to push them out of here if I'm Malloy. It sucks what they did but we all need to wait and see how UConn fares over the next couple of years before we start trying to penalize a CT company.

Connecticut is having a hard enough time trying to retain what business we still have left here, never mind attracting new business. The worst thing that could happen is the state making it uncomfortable for ESPN and they move..... to Charlotte.
ESPN is a globally known entity. Having it's headquarters here in CT can only be a good thing. The best thing we as fans can do right now is fill the Rent, scream just as loud if not louder than anyone else in the country at games(the 12th man thing) and be patient. When the team wins games everything else will take care of itself. All we can really do is support, support, support!!

 

[HartbeatHusky]

I didn't realize the big 10 network is standard in boston, is this true?

i was under impression that the big 10 network is not standard packages on anything but satellite in the northeast, and I don't think it's actually part of basic packages on directv or dish either.

I think that with UConn sports in games broadcast by SNY in the past year averaging a 5 rating and football rating as high as 6.1 market share - that would be very attractive to the big 10 network, and seeing as how SNY made it's way to television providers, so quickly.......and that most of the high profile games that are going to draw even more viewers were on ESPN.....not SNY

just saying. I'm not sure how existing contracts with the big east and espn and sny would play in, but when those contracts are up? I think the big 10 would have a powerful entry into basic broadcasting in the northeast with UConn on board.

Big 10 is standard in CT on UVerse.

 

[Hoophound]

Connecticut is having a hard enough time trying to retain what business we still have left here, never mind attracting new business. The worst thing that could happen is the state making it uncomfortable for ESPN and they move..... to Charlotte.
ESPN is a globally known entity. Having it's headquarters here in CT can only be a good thing. The best thing we as fans can do right now is fill the Rent, scream just as loud if not louder than anyone else in the country at games(the 12th man thing) and be patient. When the team wins games everything else will take care of itself. All we can really do is support, support, support!!

Espn isn't going anywhere. The facilites they have built would cost a fortune to build elsewhere and there would be a buyer or their facility in CT. On top of that, they aren't going to leave because CT loves UCONN, they know that.