Texas Longhorns (big hat, no cattle; please don’t Horns Down us)

[Gatorubet]

on a side note, I guess Oklahoma is working on their own network.... this is gonna be a mess ... So you'll have the Sooner Network, the Longhorn Network, the Aggie Network (UT mouth piece Chip Brown was saying how "A&M was behind on getting their own network up and running" and this is why they were bitching)

Baylor Network is under development too.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

See I don't believe that at all. I firmly believe their resurgence is based on...

1. Playing a bottom feeder schedule (people can hate on Gee all they want but he was absolutely correct).

2. Massive reinvestment in the athletic department bringing the infrastructure inline with what is required to be competitive at a national level.

In TCU's defense They didn't have much choice in regards to #1 and they should receive credit for #2 which is IMO the primary factor in helping them find a home in a BCS conference (albeit the Big East).

If I were to say something in TCU's defense, it would be about TCU's Defense.

The horned frogs have had the most consistent rushing defense outside of Columbus, Ohio over the past decade. Seriously.

 

[BB73]

What is the reason that you believe that to be the case?

Did the decision makers ever say "Well look before 1940 we didn't suck so it's time to work towards getting back to our rightful place in CFL"...how many of their current fans even know that they were pretty good in the 30's?

Young fans don't tend to be the big donors. Those who've been around and know the history tend to be.

 

[Saw31]

No High school games this year Big 12 backs one-year ban on high school telecasts on Longhorn Network

on a side note, I guess Oklahoma is working on their own network.... this is gonna be a mess ... So you'll have the Sooner Network, the Longhorn Network, the Aggie Network (UT mouth piece Chip Brown was saying how "A&M was behind on getting their own network up and running" and this is why they were bitching)

Also the mouth pieces on the radio were saying how they couldn't believe the Big Ten Network didn't do this first and how if the NCAA rules that they'll be showing high school games all the time...

No high school games for at least the first year.

SI.com

So the Big IIX said 'no' to Texas? Wow. Expect them to go independent any moment.

And I would lol if the BTN went down to Texas and started showing their high profile recruits on our network...

 

[jlb1705]

So the Big IIX said 'no' to Texas?

I believe what they actually said was, "No... please?"

 

[knapplc]

Yet more fuel to the fire. Seems like Monday's AD meeting is a pretty crucial turning point. Kind of like the meeting last June when the Big XII gave Nebraska and Colorado an ultimatum.

Not sure how well that worked out for them, but me, I'm happy with the results.

LINK

 

[Psalty]

Frank the Tank makes some decent points about all of these recent rumors. It's definitely worth reading the whole article. Maybe ubet can comment on some of the legal issues he brings up.

Link

3. Objectors to high school games on the Longhorn Network are arguing semantics (and that?s ultimately a losing argument) ? There?s a massive public flagship university located in one of the top football recruiting states in the nation that has entered into a multi-year multi-million dollar third tier rights deal with a regional sports network that is wholly-owned by a large multimedia conglomerate. There are some football and basketball games along with coaches? shows and other promotions showing the university. The RSN also telecasts high school football games that potentially showcase that university?s recruits. Such public flagship university does not own any part of such RSN.

I?ve just described the contract that the University of Florida has with Sun Sports. It also describes the deal between the University of Texas and ESPN for the Longhorn Network. Structurally, the two deals are virtually exactly the same. ESPN completely owns the LHN, and therefore, controls its programming decisions, just like Fox owns and controls Sun Sports. The main difference is branding, where Florida is part of a network that also shows the Miami Cheat (among other teams) while Texas has its Longhorn moniker in the ESPN?s network?s name. So, does the NCAA come down on the LHN for a branding decision but doesn?t care about Sun Sports? If the LHN simply changed its name to ?ESPN Austin?, would it make a difference? Is a network that has 10% UF content acceptable, but another with 90% UT content unacceptable?

Could Texas A&M end up in the SEC? I guess anything is possible, but let’s be clear that just because Aggies are angry doesn’t mean that they’ll move to the SEC. Any rational analysis needs to address (1) why the SEC would expand when it has no leverage to renegotiate its current TV contracts (meaning that the current SEC schools would be subsidizing any expansion until 2024), (2) why ESPN would help out the SEC on that front when it has direct interests in keeping the Big 12 alive, (3) how a court challenge to any restrictions on showing high school games on the Longhorn Network would turn out, (4) why Texas politicians would suddenly be wallflowers on conference realignment when history clearly indicates that they are not only not wallflowers, but completely interventionist and (5) why UT would just roll over and let A&M walk away. I would love to entertain arguments that address all of those massive roadblocks. “Aggies are steaming mad”, however, isn’t a valid argument.

 

[knapplc]

Frank raises some great points. However, the SEC's current contract with ESPN isn't one of them. With inroads to the Texas market, the SEC would have the clout to force a renegotiation with ESPN. Their leverage would be something as simple as, "Renegotiate with us now or when the current contract expires, we'll go to NBC/FOX/The SEC Network."

Further, if A&M leaves, the Big XII is effectively dead. That will trigger OU's move, Missouri's move, the fracturing of the rest of the North, and needs for other teams to find homes. Which could prompt Mega-Conference talk again, which would effectively nullify current TV contracts.

I would agree that A&M's situation is more saber-rattling than intent to actually move. But it cannot be ruled out simply because the roadblocks seem formidable. Frank and I are basically saying the same thing - that it's unlikely - we're just approaching it from different angles.

I'll admit that my angle is likely to be biased in favor of exploding the Big XII, but the points are still valid.

 

[BB73]

Frank raises some great points. However, the SEC's current contract with ESPN isn't one of them. With inroads to the Texas market, the SEC would have the clout to force a renegotiation with ESPN. Their leverage would be something as simple as, "Renegotiate with us now or when the current contract expires, we'll go to NBC/FOX/The SEC Network."

Further, if A&M leaves, the Big XII is effectively dead. That will trigger OU's move, Missouri's move, the fracturing of the rest of the North, and needs for other teams to find homes. Which could prompt Mega-Conference talk again, which would effectively nullify current TV contracts.

I would agree that A&M's situation is more saber-rattling than intent to actually move. But it cannot be ruled out simply because the roadblocks seem formidable. Frank and I are basically saying the same thing - that it's unlikely - we're just approaching it from different angles.

I'll admit that my angle is likely to be biased in favor of exploding the Big XII, but the points are still valid.

Yeah, but 2024 is a helluva long ways out, so that would be a fairly hollow threat.

I agree with you that aTm's departure would be the beginning of the end for the Big XII. If they leave, it'll be interesting to see if Texas ends up as an independent or the king of a Texas League (an appropriate term since it indicates a bloop hit).

 

[Piney]

There is one thing that wasn't mentioned... What if Auburn gets NAILED and the remote possibility of them ceasing as an University actually happens. Then the SEC will be looking for one school to fill the void.

But besides that... I just don't see the SEC expanding, they have stated they are happy at 12 and would only expand in reaction to other conferences expanding. All of this is Texas A&M being pissed off at Texas.

 

[BB73]

There is one thing that wasn't mentioned... What if Auburn gets NAILED and the remote possibility of them ceasing as an University actually happens. Then the SEC will be looking for one school to fill the void.

From two weeks ago in the expansion thread, mostly tongue-in-cheek, but pointing out that possibility:

Once Auburn loses their accreditation and gets kicked out of the SEC, aTm will only make 12. :tongue2:

 

[jlb1705]

Frank the Tank makes some decent points about all of these recent rumors. It's definitely worth reading the whole article. Maybe ubet can comment on some of the legal issues he brings up.

Link

Frank seems to be ignoring the key differences between Sun Sports (FOX) and the Longhorn Network (ESPN).

The first of those is that FOX has an established history of treating it's regional sports properties as more of a loose confederacy. ESPN on the other hand is going to cross-promote the [Mark May] out of LHN across all of it's properties in the "Family of Networks". If he or anybody else thinks that the LHN is intended to be strictly a regional property they are deluding themselves.

Secondly, How many people outside of the region or this discussion even know what Sun Sports is? How many people even know that they are owned by FOX? Contrast that to ESPN's position within the sport - they are college football's tastemakers and bully pulpit. The road to championships and lucrative bowls has pretty much gone through Bristol for the last decade. For as similar as as the LHN sounds to Sun Sports, their respective impacts couldn't be more different. Comparing the two is like comparing Coca-Cola and Fanta.

Other schools have every reason for concern about this arrangement. The magnitude of ESPN's conflicts of interest alone are enough to question the propriety of anything this new network touches.

 

[Gatorubet]

Frank seems to be ignoring the key differences between Sun Sports (FOX) and the Longhorn Network (ESPN).

Good points jlb. One more thing caught my eye.

Even though C-USA is relatively small player, we can deduce that the power conferences also have a similar clause.

No, we can't.

For good or ill, the whole thing is run by audience numbers, and a large part of the country enjoys watching the SEC play football. In the South, pro sports is not as big a competition with SEC football. Our depth of teams leads to games that are interesting to even some folks outside of the south. The numbers are the numbers. C-USA has no power, and cannot make terms. Slive and Co. have much more. So do y'all. And if we could get A&M and Okie....or Clemson or VT......I don't think ESPN would walk away from the contract. That threat is not on the table. Would we get that much more? Again, that is a pure viewership/money question, not so much a legal one.

UT and the Texas legislature doing everything to crater that move? Sure. That would be a bigger deal, not the ESPN money issue. IMO.

 

[Psalty]

For as similar as as the LHN sounds to Sun Sports, their respective impacts couldn't be more different. Comparing the two is like comparing Coca-Cola and Fanta.

Fanta rocks.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irgejby3Q4g"]Link[/ame]

 

[LovelandBuckeye]

Fanta rocks.

Link

I wanta wanta!