Yep, I'm that flaming I-told-you-so asshole...
But I told you so about the 12 o'clock "Big Game" theory Fox has dropped on the Big Ten.
"Oregon has been outspoken about not being a fan of the 12 p.m. ET kickoff (more like 12:15 probably) for Ohio State’s game in Columbus against the Ducks on Sept. 11. The game will start around 9 a.m. locally for the Ducks, and they’re quacking all about it. As it turns out, Ohio State is also perturbed that the Bucks vs Ducks showdown is a nooner."
"A source at OSU gave us the scoop from the inside. “We’re not shocked, because we know (FOX’s) push for the ‘Big Noon Kickoff,’” the source said. “But we’re disappointed to say the least. We were hoping for a night game, and 3:30 at the very worst. However, once we knew FOX had the rights, we kind of figured they would do the whole ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ thing. I thought maybe because we were playing a Pac-12 team they wouldn’t make it such an early start out there, but it is what it is.”"
My contention: Fox doesn't believe in the Big Ten, but since they bought it with their money, they're going to make it dance to their music. They don't believe the Big Ten can compete with the SEC in the 3:30 - 8:00 o'clock slots, so they create the myth that noon EST is "prime time" for college football and push big games such as the Oregon v Ohio State, Wisconsin v Ohio State and the Big Ten CCG into their "prime time" nooner slot.
Some of the fault lies with the Big Ten, after all, they signed the contract that gave Fox control of start times. But in the past, they also hampered the conference's exposure by blocking night games in November, by putting the conference's showcase CCG in Indianapolis instead of Chicago, and by continuing to support a system that puts "national playoffs" in control of sunbelt bowl games.
It all adds up to big games being played at 9 in the morning in the California market. California, which is possibly the best market for 4 and 5-star quarterbacks and running backs, and you put your best schedule events on three hours before most teenagers get out of bed. Wow. Just, wow.
Go ahead and argue about the good aspects of 12 o'clock starts and believe Fox when they tell you it's "prime time." I'll stick with Urban Meyer who loved to play under the lights because it helped recruitment.
