Virginia Tech's Babcock talks ACC channel, fan experience, football ticket sales

[billybud]

North Carolina a must?

Hell...I wouldn't mind if UNC left like Maryland...unless they actually start playing football.

They are the Indiana of the ACC.

 

[Fishy]

The value in the ACC is in North Carolina and Virginia.

You don't want them to leave.

 

[Ha Who]

North Carolina a must?

Hell...I wouldn't mind if UNC left like Maryland...unless they actually start playing football.

They are the Indiana of the ACC.

Delusional

 

[Marty Jackson]

The value in the ACC is in North Carolina and Virginia.

You don't want them to leave.

I'd add fsu to that mix.

 

[TRest]

Delusional

He still thinks the ACC is a football conference. It's cute.

 

[billybud]

I am an FSU football guy...not a conference guy.

The ACC has never warmed me....I have always viewed the "conference pride..rah-rah" folks as those whose team will never compete for the brass ring...so they take a vicarious pride in the best of their conference.

I suppose that if I was a FSU basketball fan, and was enthralled with ACC basketball, it might be much the same.

But the Biffs of North Carolina, in their pressed chino's and pin point blue oxford cloth shirts, with sweaters artfully draped around their necks, who sniff about academics while loading their crackers with brie....just don't fit with us Noles. And our thin, barbeque stained T shirts stretched across our beer gut.

The ACC? Only a platform to compete for the prize in....anything that helps FSU maintain a national position, I am for....even if that means somehow valuing UNC more than I do personaly.

 

[ramses 2.0]

North Carolina a must?

Hell...I wouldn't mind if UNC left like Maryland...unless they actually start playing football.

They are the Indiana of the ACC.

UNC at least has experienced success in football. Between 1970 -1997 produced teams that won close to 60% of its games, 2 conf titles, multiple bowl & NFL draft picks. It the BCS era that UNC went completely to average to below average range

 

[billybud]

UNC at least has experienced success in football. Between 1970 -1997 produced teams that won close to 60% of its games, 2 conf titles, multiple bowl & NFL draft picks. It the BCS era that UNC went completely to average to below average range

Yep...for the last two decades, UNC has mainly been a football dog.

They have won 13% of their games with FSU in the ACC.

Things change over time...sometimes not for the good. Heck..in 1970, Air Force played in the Sugar Bowl.

 

[upstater]

North Carolina a must?

Hell...I wouldn't mind if UNC left like Maryland...unless they actually start playing football.

They are the Indiana of the ACC.

The ACC is known for basketball.

So you're going to get rid of the top basketball school in America?

 

[Fishy]

North Carolina is hardly alone in not having a great football program - they're the rule in the ACC, not the exception. (It is, after all, a basketball conference at heart.)

You've got Florida State and Clemson and then crickets.

But if you lose North Carolina, there's going to be a stampede for the door and that'll either leave you in whatever would remain of the Big 12 or forcing a smile through tears at a presser next to Mike Aresco.

 

[Cleanface]

Do we really have to explain why losing UNC would be catastrophic to the ACC??

To an ACC fan??

Seriously??




ps. If you're done w UNC Mr. Delany will gladly take them off your hands. He might even pay the full $52MM for the Heels (+ another $100MM just because.)

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Not surprising an FSU fan doesn't get UNC'e role in the ACC
as they like Miami, and BCU , reside there for lack of a better opportunity.
UNC resides there because it's their family home.
It similar to the Big East .
When VPI or Miami left it hurt but they were tangental to the soul of the conference .When Syracuse bailed as much as this UConn fan hates to admit it ,the Big East was dead..
UNC is the soul of the ACC.

 

[billybud]

FSU has always been the odd man in the ACC....

Our primary rivals for the last 50 years were from out of conference...Florida and Miami.

The only rivalry that FSU has developed in near a quarter century of ACC play is a budding one with Clemson.


Sure, UNC is an ACC faithful....and has enjoyed their backyard relationship with Duke, Wake, and NC State...but I don't believe that FSU , Clemson nor Miami fans are in love with the ACC. Just a place to play.

 

[itgoeslike]

North Carolina a must?

Hell...I wouldn't mind if UNC left like Maryland...unless they actually start playing football.

They are the Indiana of the ACC.

The fact that the Big Ten and SEC would readily take UNC ahead of FSU suggests they must have at least some value.

 

[whaler11]

FSU has always been the odd man in the ACC....

Our primary rivals for the last 50 years were from out of conference...Florida and Miami.

The only rivalry that FSU has developed in near a quarter century of ACC play is a budding one with Clemson.


Sure, UNC is an ACC faithful....and has enjoyed their backyard relationship with Duke, Wake, and NC State...but I don't believe that FSU , Clemson nor Miami fans are in love with the ACC. Just a place to play.

Since they are playing along with your troll act so will I.

Of all the programs for an FSU fan to complain about in the ACC for football... North Carolina would be the funniest after Clemson. They don't win but they have had a ridiculous amount of NFL talent.

 

[billybud]

Since they are playing along with your troll act so will I.

Of all the programs for an FSU fan to complain about in the ACC for football... North Carolina would be the funniest after Clemson. They don't win but they have had a ridiculous amount of NFL talent.

Soooo...do they get an award for having a lot of talent..... but a 13% win rate against FSU?

Wake Forest has more respect (a winning record against UNC since 2000)....with far less talent. And Wake is the second smallest school in IA.

 

[billybud]

The fact that the Big Ten and SEC would readily take UNC ahead of FSU suggests they must have at least some value.

They may have value for a network...more so then an adversary on a schedule.....

"Value" has changed....Rutgers has value to the Big Ten....but I do not thnk it was for their athletic prowess.

 

[whaler11]

Soooo...do they get an award for having a lot of talent..... but a 13% win rate against FSU?

Wake Forest has more respect (a winning record against UNC since 2000)....with far less talent. And Wake is the second smallest school in IA.

Ok so FSU would rather play Wake than Carolina. Let us know when you want help getting untwisted from your pretzel.

 

[billybud]

For me...it is about football relevancy.

Do you contribute to the football relevancy of a schedule or a conference? Are games with you considered a "good watch" if not a marquee match up?

Does a game with you provide for anticipation and fan excitement?

Do you have any national presence?

For UNC and FSU...UNC would grade out low.

 

[billybud]

Ok so FSU would rather play Wake than Carolina. Let us know when you want help getting untwisted from your pretzel.

Wake has been a far better opponent of late....Beaten FSU twice as much since 2000 then
UNC since 1992.

It was Wake's three straight wins over FSU that got the Boosters moving to oust Bobby. And, incidentally has built some pay back fire and interest)

I do suspect that we are now back into a dominant stage and Wake will not challenge...

If only UNC would play a little to their potential instead of waiting for Midnight Madness.

 

[whaler11]

Wake has been a far better opponent of late....Beaten FSU twice as much since 2000 then
UNC since 1992.

It was Wake's three straight wins over FSU that got the Boosters moving to oust Bobby. And, incidentally has built some pay back fire and interest)

I do suspect that we are now back into a dominant stage and Wake will not challenge...

If only UNC would play a little to their potential instead of waiting for Midnight Madness.

LOL or maybe Wake went back to being Wake. You know the kind of team that UConn scores 30 on in the first half.

 

[Ha Who]

Must be a graduate of the Florida public school system or insane

 

[CoastAtlantic]

He may not think it matters but he is from the luddite old school. Those of us who understand the importance of a conference in terms of organization, pooling media, streamling costs, etc., have a completely different view. In fact, this kind of attitude doesn't engender trust. Then again, what does a yahoo care about that?

And Boston College should be as much pro-ACC as UNC is. We don't sponsor hockey but in most other sports they participate in we do.

 

[Calamitous]

This is something that Warde Manual and everyone in UConn needs to focus on: FAN EXPERIENCE.

Losing fan base; not drawing like we did 15 years ago ... for what are now LEGACY programs has got to be a key priority going forward. This guy Babcock wants to get there.

Most ADs want to get there, but how they get there is the question. I like the guys energy, but I just hope he's as fiscally responsible as our last AD. Right now, he's been at my school 7 months and is spending $18.2 million over the next 7 years for a basketball coach... something this school has NEVER done. I hope he knows what he's doing.

 

[Calamitous]

Virginia: UVA, VPI

Could lose either and they would still have Virginia. My guess is that UVA is more valuable, but VPI would still get the state of Virginia on a network and bring in a new market for the upcoming media deal.

I hate to use stereotypical labels on a school, but Tech is the typical Land Grant school that has the most living alumni in the state. UVa is a typical blue-blood flagship school. Both equally bring a TV market. But if both teams are good in the same sport at the same time, Tech fans come across as more passionate. Not sure how exciting it would be to see button collared-tie wearing fans interlocking elbows and swaying to Auld Land Syne on TV versus a stadium rocking a stadium or coliseum full of jumping, sweaty t-shirt wearing fans (FWIW... Cassell Coliseum hasn't rocked much as bball stinks most years). So maybe its all about a TV market, but a school's passion may be of interest as well. That model works very well for the SEC.

BTW... UVa is more valuable as an athletic department, but you see more orange and maroon than blue and orange anywhere in the state, barring the Charlottesville MSA.

 

[dayooper]

I hate to use stereotypical labels on a school, but Tech is the typical Land Grant school that has the most living alumni in the state. UVa is a typical blue-blood flagship school. Both equally bring a TV market. But if both teams are good in the same sport at the same time, Tech fans come across as more passionate. Not sure how exciting it would be to see button collared-tie wearing fans interlocking elbows and swaying to Auld Land Syne on TV versus a stadium rocking a stadium or coliseum full of jumping, sweaty t-shirt wearing fans (FWIW... Cassell Coliseum hasn't rocked much as bball stinks most years). So maybe its all about a TV market, but a school's passion may be of interest as well. That model works very well for the SEC.

BTW... UVa is more valuable as an athletic department, but you see more orange and maroon than blue and orange anywhere in the state, barring the Charlottesville MSA.

No doubt that VPI is more vocal in their passion. I would rather have VPI than UVA (and hopefully The Big10 would see that as well) in my conference. I think the large alumni base fits very well with what The Big10 wants. The presidents want to rub elbows with the elite school (which UVA is), but VPI would be the AD's choice, IMO.

Many of the Big10 stadiums get rather crazy. Camp Randal Stadium in Madison Wisconsin is one big party and it get rather loud. PSU is know for their support. MSU and OSU stadiums are nuts. UNL is always packed and loud. Michigan Stadium was once known as a quiet place, but once they built the lux boxes (and pointed them inward), the sound is kept in and it's very loud. The two Under The Lights games against ND were about as loud as I have heard. VPI would be a great fit in either The Big10 or The SEC.

 

[Calamitous]

The presidents want to rub elbows with the elite school (which UVA is), but VPI would be the AD's choice, IMO.

^^^^ This is the key!!!!! This is where UVa is possibly the most valuable property in CR talk and amongst university presidents. Some ADs are influential, but it doesn't matter until the BOT and president makes their choice.

 

[Calamitous]

The fact that the Big Ten and SEC would readily take UNC ahead of FSU suggests they must have at least some value.

UNC is a bit better in football than Indiana. UNC = middle of the road along with GT, Pitt, VT, Miami and a few others as far as football goes. The problem with UNC is that they recruit well but just don't take the game very serious.

Unfortunately, the ACC is FSU and the 13 little dwarfs. Clemson might be a decent #2, but deep down are just not at the FSU talent level. I compare Clemson more to the VT of 2004 through 2010. Good, but not superior.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

No doubt that VPI is more vocal in their passion. I would rather have VPI than UVA (and hopefully The Big10 would see that as well) in my conference. I think the large alumni base fits very well with what The Big10 wants. The presidents want to rub elbows with the elite school (which UVA is), but VPI would be the AD's choice, IMO.

Many of the Big10 stadiums get rather crazy. Camp Randal Stadium in Madison Wisconsin is one big party and it get rather loud. PSU is know for their support. MSU and OSU stadiums are nuts. UNL is always packed and loud. Michigan Stadium was once known as a quiet place, but once they built the lux boxes (and pointed them inward), the sound is kept in and it's very loud. The two Under The Lights games against ND were about as loud as I have heard. VPI would be a great fit in either The Big10 or The SEC.

VT leaving probably is has least impact from an ACC coferece model.
They can add Cinn or Us and from a market standpoint come out unharmed.
Cinn brings Louisville's an established rival. And the ACC and incursion into Ohio.

If this happens than we are a disinct candidate.for the ACC or the B1G.as VPI partner.

 

[dayooper]

VT leaving probably is has least impact from an ACC coferece model.
They can add Cinn or Us and from a market standpoint come out unharmed.
Cinn brings Louisville's an established rival. And the ACC and incursion into Ohio.

If this happens than we are a disinct candidate.for the ACC or the B1G.as VPI partner.

Been saying that for weeks, now. This scenario would help both conferences more than it would hurt them. It would sting The ACC to lose one of their better FB teams, but it would more than make up in a potential ACCN. Allowing Cinci into a P5 conference would impact recruiting in The Big10 (OSU has long pushed to keep Cinci from playing in a conference larger than The Big East), but the increased presence in the Baltimore/DC/Tidewater recruiting grounds would more than make up for it, not to mention the value to The BTN and the new contract.