Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Gene Stallings weighs in....

Link

 

[PlanetFrnd]

I disagree; I think the cultural divide is enormous. Or perhaps stated more accurately, the cultural divide is enormous and largely one-sided. Yes, there are a lot of people who live in NJ and work in NYC, and partly (but not only) for that reason, NJ is generally quite aware of the goings-on in NYC. There are not many people who live in NYC and work in NJ, and partly for that reason (but not only) NYC is largely uninterested and unaware of the goings-on in NJ. It was kind of surprising to me at first (although it makes more sense to me now), for one of the cultural and financial capitals of the world, how insular NYC truly is.

Not doubting the validity of your experience, I just had a different one in my 8-9 years in NJ/NYC. Not that I think it really matters - I think the B10 transplants in NYC alone could create a good market for the network.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Pretty funny comment over at FtT...

If Texas steps in and keeps the Big XII together, they're going to have to make some name changes:

• University of Texas at Ames
• University of Texas at Lawrence
• University of Texas at Manhattan
• University of Texas at Stillwater
• University of Texas at Norman
• University of Texas at Lubbock
• University of Texas at Columbia
• University of Texas at Waco

The Baylor and Aggy board are already calliing Texas UC-Austin

 

[zincfinger]

[quote='BusNative;171697;3]Not doubting the validity of your experience, I just had a different one in my 8-9 years in NJ/NYC. Not that I think it really matters - I think the B10 transplants in NYC alone could create a good market for the network.[/quote]If that's true, what do you need Rutgers for? Why isn't BTN on basic cable in NYC now? Because NY following of the current BigTen teams gets you 90% of the way there, and Rutgers would provide the final 10%? It's possible, but uncertain-to-doubtful in my view.

 

[bkochmc]

Which tells me that both of these possibilities are the least likely to occur.

Texas to the MAC?

 

[PlanetFrnd]

If that's true, what do you need Rutgers for? Why isn't BTN on basic cable in NYC now? Because NY following of the current BigTen teams gets you 90% of the way there, and Rutgers would provide the final 10%? It's possible, but uncertain-to-doubtful in my view.

Dont have a good answer for that, in terms of NYC... look, I know you were responding to a JWins post regarding NYC when I butted in, but I think its two issues here, so I'll back up. Does B10 network get NYC access? Good question. IMHO opinion, I think NYC specifically has as much to do with Time Warner (primary cable provider to the island, burroughs) as it does adding Rutgers or UConn or whomever. But if the B10 network can convince TWC that its viable in the metro area because of Rutgers (or Rutgers, MD and ND... or something) than it can perhaps score a win. Whether or not Rutgers is regionally important, we can debate all day, but its a big school with a ton of alumni throughout NJ... whether or not they care is at least debatable.

To be honest, I don't even like Rutgers as an option, but I can (in theory) see why the B10 might think theyre a good idea.

 

[cincibuck]

This is do or die for the Pac 2-4-6-8-10-12-14. Without CST TV slots they have little control of the TV market when it matters; 10AM to 11PM EST. They have a population that demands full implementation of Prop 9, but few revenue producing sports programs outside of UCLA and USC to pick up the tab. Thus they can afford to concede most of what it will take to get Texas.

For Texas the problem is: a) how to keep from further enraging the faculty. (the Mack Brown salary expansion was not "well received.") b) find a home where they play enough ranked teams to get their annual bowl bid.

They can afford to be choosey and a & b can be satisfied in the Pac whatever. they can always throw a home and home bone to Baylor, TCU, T Tech, much the way Ohio State treats the Ohio MAC schools. As for their habit of always getting their way, look how little it took to get the OU game moved back to Dallas.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Texas to the MAC?

But that would mean ...of Ohio is no longer the academic jewel of the MAC.

(which is a lot like being the smartest kid on the short bus)

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

This is do or die for the Pac 2-4-6-8-10-12-14. Without CST TV slots they have little control of the TV market when it matters; 10AM to 11PM EST. They have a population that demands full implementation of Prop 9, but few revenue producing sports programs outside of UCLA and USC to pick up the tab. Thus they can afford to concede most of what it will take to get Texas.

For Texas the problem is: a) how to keep from further enraging the faculty. (the Mack Brown salary expansion was not "well received.") b) find a home where they play enough ranked teams to get their annual bowl bid.

They can afford to be choosey and a & b can be satisfied in the Pac whatever. they can always throw a home and home bone to Baylor, TCU, T Tech, much the way Ohio State treats the Ohio MAC schools. As for their habit of always getting their way, look how little it took to get the OU game moved back to Dallas.

King Texas' ego is going to take quite a hammering if after all the talk out of Austin of them "swinging the big dick," the end result is their staying in an even weaker B12 while Colorado and Nebraska go off to grab the brass rings.

 

[cincibuck]

Didn't see this posted, but the TX legislature is (predictably) getting involved:

[/COLOR]

Conference realignment to get political in Texas this week - Andy Staples - SI.com[/LEFT]

Austin: The higher education committee of the Texas state legislature issued this statement today: "In the six thousand years there has been an earth, dinosaurs, man and football have lived together."

 

[matcar]

Gene Stallings weighs in....

Link

What's interesting is that everyone believes that UT is using all of the interest in them to negotiate the best terms within a separate conference. What if all this is really done in order to get Beebe at the B12 office to kick himself into high gear to get a better contract for the B12 as a whole. Seems like Beebe hasn't done nearly as good a job as others have in securing $$$$ contracts...this whole process is really motivating him to get it done for a change.

 

[zincfinger]

[quote='BusNative;171698;7]IMHO opinion, I think NYC specifically has as much to do with Time Warner (primary cable provider to the island, burroughs) as it does adding Rutgers or UConn or whomever. But if the B10 network can convince TWC that its viable in the metro area because of Rutgers (or Rutgers, MD and ND... or something) than it can perhaps score a win.[/quote]I agree, ultimately it has everything to do with Time Warner, but then again, they'll make that decision based on their own knowledge of the market and whether they believe a substantial fraction of their audience is interested in watching BTN (with our without Rutgers, Syracuse, or UConn). I bet they've got a pretty good idea how many people are likely to watch BTN in their market; a far better idea than I do.


[quote='BusNative;171698;7]To be honest, I don't even like Rutgers as an option, but I can (in theory) see why the B10 might think theyre a good idea.[/quote]And I'm similar to you in both of those respects. There's an obvious risk, an obvious upside, and an obvious downside. To the extent that I'm disagreeing with anyone on fundamentals, it's that I'm guessing the risk of getting very little upside is pretty high.

 

[cincibuck]

"Texas Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas), who heads the House Higher Education Committee, wants to slow everything down and determine if decisions involving Texas schools in potential conference realignment are being made for the right reasons.

Branch is calling for hearings on Wednesday morning and told Orangebloods.com on Saturday that he'll invite the presidents from Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M as well as presidents from Baylor, TCU, SMU, Rice, Houston, UTEP and North Texas."

Morality Play presented to the Chancellors of Texas and Texas A&M by the Texas State Legislature. Part of Ghost of Christmas Present played by Dan Branch.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgeUGDAmZY0&feature=related]YouTube - Shocking and Disturbing Christmas Carol Scene[/ame]

Few could miss the meaning.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

An entertaining thread discussing the possibility of an internal battle for Aggies soul.

Makes me wish that UT wasn't so god damned controlling and manipulative. If they'd just get over themselves and join the B10 as an equal partner, it would be great to have these guys around.

BTW, I have no desire to ever discover the details of what precisely is an Aggy "jizz jar."

 

[Cincinnatibuck]

Poor ESPN :!

Reports: Texas Longhorns leaning toward 10-school Big 12 - ESPN