(11-01-2010 02:11 PM)Shannon Panther Wrote:  

(11-01-2010 01:50 PM)qwerty1 Wrote:  The only reason Temple is mentioned by Big East sources is to force Villanova's hand. Temple will never get back into the Big East.

Villanova might be able to split home games between the soccer stadium, University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field, and possibly the Phillies home stadium. Wasn't scheduling control of a home stadium on Saturdays one of the criteria that got Temple kicked out in the first place? I'll answer that: Yes it was.

Big East: The gift that keeps on giving.

I'll debate this with you. If the FB schools are looking at splitting, Temple is definitely in play. If Nova doesn't jump up and the FB schools split, there is no chance they abandon the 4th largest market in the country. Even if they don't split, that sized market adds to the TV value.

I agree with this statement. Putting Temple out there shows the all sports schools have an option for the Philly market if the bball schools continue to try to strong arm if Nova stays status quo. Additionally if it gets to the point of a split they still have Temple as the option for the Philly market.

(11-01-2010 02:33 PM)JunkYardCard Wrote:  The other thing about Memphis is that IF they were good, I think it's fair to say that people in Memphis would get behind them. Their media market could become an asset. But that's only if they ever actually got good.

That's true...when we were having good seasons earlier this decade, we were putting 45k in the seats on a regular basis. Unfortunately, our AD didn't have the sack to toss our coach out when things started going downhill. I know that makes me a bad guy for saying, sicne he was 1 year removed from heart issues...but from that moment on, he just wasn't the same coach.

(11-01-2010 02:27 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-01-2010 02:15 PM)piratefan1975 Wrote:  I've been blowing this thread up today and it's been fun, but this is my last post.

I'm no TV exec and don't claim to have all the numbers. I'm not a decision maker in any way, shape or form; just enjoy expansion talk. With that being said, ECU has a sizable fanbase, over 27,000 students; the fastest growing school in one of the top ten most populated and fastest growing states in the Union.

Our fans travel from great distances to go to games as evidenced by our attendance vs. the population of Greenville. I'm not smart, but one thing's for certain, all those people aren't coming from the east unless they're coming by boat from Bermuda, which I don't think's the case. That only leaves north, south and west. To the north is Tidewater, VA and DC, the west is Raleigh-Durham (and Charlotte) and the south is, well, South Carolina. I make no claims that we carry any of these markets, but I do know we have a strong presence there. (That's like saying UCF carries Orlando) To dismiss us simply as Greenville being the 103rd ranked TV market is a little short-sighted. I think the Big East leadership is aware of our current/potential reach and influence on the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard.

Based on TV markets, these may agree...

105. Florida State
106. University of Nebraska
112. Boise State
114. Michigan State
116. University of Indiana
119. University of Oregon
143. Texas Tech University
160. University of Florida
183. University of Virginia

I like ECU and in terms of fan base attendance and overall football play over the past decade, it's likely the best of the C-USA options on paper. The problem is that I just don't think anyone outside of North Carolina and maybe some contingent areas in Virginia realizes it - there is virtually no national opinion about ECU (good, bad or indifferent). Memphis has a horrid football program, but they've played enough elite level basketball games where at least the average person off the street will hear the school's name and say, "Oh, that's a major basketball program." I'm not saying Memphis is a great option, either, as they truly have been terrible in football, yet there's some national name recognition.

Does the average sports fan in California or the Midwest turn on a football game to watch ECU just because ECU is involved? If we're being honest here, probably not. What about TCU? Well, that's likely a different answer.

I could not agree with this post more! I think you've summed up nearly perfectly where ECU sits. I think there are a decent number of fans in SEC country who see this about ECU too, but all in all, you are very right. I wouldn't expect anyone one up north to care about ECU football, and that's the problem with ECU and the Big East.

(11-01-2010 02:21 PM)KnightTower Wrote:  

(11-01-2010 02:15 PM)piratefan1975 Wrote:  Based on TV markets, these may agree...

105. Florida State
106. University of Nebraska
112. Boise State
114. Michigan State
116. University of Indiana
119. University of Oregon
143. Texas Tech University
160. University of Florida
183. University of Virginia

Note how 8 of those 9 pretty much represent an entire state (Boise is debatable), NOT a region, and most of them started football somewhere around 100 years ago. So your point? Moot.

The point is that the market is not relegated to the geographic location of the university. The market can go way passed the boarders or its local market. VT, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi, etc...

(11-01-2010 02:27 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-01-2010 02:15 PM)piratefan1975 Wrote:  I've been blowing this thread up today and it's been fun, but this is my last post.

I'm no TV exec and don't claim to have all the numbers. I'm not a decision maker in any way, shape or form; just enjoy expansion talk. With that being said, ECU has a sizable fanbase, over 27,000 students; the fastest growing school in one of the top ten most populated and fastest growing states in the Union.

Our fans travel from great distances to go to games as evidenced by our attendance vs. the population of Greenville. I'm not smart, but one thing's for certain, all those people aren't coming from the east unless they're coming by boat from Bermuda, which I don't think's the case. That only leaves north, south and west. To the north is Tidewater, VA and DC, the west is Raleigh-Durham (and Charlotte) and the south is, well, South Carolina. I make no claims that we carry any of these markets, but I do know we have a strong presence there. (That's like saying UCF carries Orlando) To dismiss us simply as Greenville being the 103rd ranked TV market is a little short-sighted. I think the Big East leadership is aware of our current/potential reach and influence on the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard.

Based on TV markets, these may agree...

105. Florida State
106. University of Nebraska
112. Boise State
114. Michigan State
116. University of Indiana
119. University of Oregon
143. Texas Tech University
160. University of Florida
183. University of Virginia

I like ECU and in terms of fan base attendance and overall football play over the past decade, it's likely the best of the C-USA options on paper. The problem is that I just don't think anyone outside of North Carolina and maybe some contingent areas in Virginia realizes it - there is virtually no national opinion about ECU (good, bad or indifferent). Memphis has a horrid football program, but they've played enough elite level basketball games where at least the average person off the street will hear the school's name and say, "Oh, that's a major basketball program." I'm not saying Memphis is a great option, either, as they truly have been terrible in football, yet there's some national name recognition.

Does the average sports fan in California or the Midwest turn on a football game to watch ECU just because ECU is involved? If we're being honest here, probably not. What about TCU? Well, that's likely a different answer.

Frank, can't you extend an invite to a team like ECU because they are ripe to benefit from a BCS upgrade, and have already put in the physical improvements to the facilities to be ready? I support ECU because they to me come across as a true college football program, and thats what the BE needs. Would you not extend a program an invite even if they aren't "there" yet, but with the BCS tag would certainly project to be on the same level as the rest of the league and most likely in a better position than some.

They along with TCU, UCF, and 1 of Houston/Memphis/Nova/Temple should be selected in two phases. TCU and ECU first phase and UCF and ? 2nd phase.

I see a split coming
FB schools don't want to chance losing BCS bid
BB schools gets back to BE orignal plan of major markets
the 2 schools BB want the most [SYC & CONN] might not be around with Mega conf.
FB schools add 6, TCU, Hous, Memphis, UCF, EastCar & Temple

So maybe I lied about it being my last post.....

Buck, well I'm glad that you and I finally agree on something

Frank, I think that's a mighty wide net you're casting there.

Frank-The-Tank wrote:

I like ECU and in terms of fan base attendance and overall football play over the past decade, it's likely the best of the C-USA options on paper. The problem is that I just don't think anyone outside of North Carolina and maybe some contingent areas in Virginia realizes it - there is virtually no national opinion about ECU (good, bad or indifferent). Memphis has a horrid football program, but they've played enough elite level basketball games where at least the average person off the street will hear the school's name and say, "Oh, that's a major basketball program." I'm not saying Memphis is a great option, either, as they truly have been terrible in football, yet there's some national name recognition.

Does the average sports fan in California or the Midwest turn on a football game to watch ECU just because ECU is involved? If we're being honest here, probably not. What about TCU? Well, that's likely a different answer.

I don't know, but I'm pretty sure Miami fans know us, as do Texas Tech Fans, Boise State Fans, Stanford Fans...even those in Arkansas and Kentucky as they barely beat us.

Outside of Oregon and Southern Cal, I really have no desire to watch west coast teams. With that said, I wouldn't tune in to watch most Big East matchups unless one was nationally ranked....Well, maybe West Virginia.

Based on bowl game TV Ratings compiled over the last 8 years from http://www.bcsfootball.org, this is interesting.

1. West Virginia* 8 bowl apearances Avg Rating 4.903
2. Pitt* 5 bowl appearances Avg Rating 3.958
3. Louisville* 4 bowl appearances Avg Rating 3.840
4. Cincinnatti* 6 bowl appearances Avg Rating 3.412
5. TCU* 7 bowl appearances Avg Rating 2.906
6. UCF 3 bowl appearances Avg Rating 2.743
7. ECU 4 bowl appearances Avg Rating 2.555
8. UConn 4 bowl appearances Avg Rating 2.345
9. Marshall 3 bowl appearances Avg Rating 2.290
10. Navy 6 bowl appearances Avg Rating 2.238
11. Temple 1 bowl appearance Avg Rating 2.200
12. Rutgers 5 bowl appearances Avg Rating 2.046
13. Houston 6 bowl appearances Avg Rating 1.923
14. Syracuse 1 bowl appearance Avg Rating 1.900
15. Memphis 5 bowl appearances Avg Rating 1.748
16. South Florida 5 bowl appearances Avg Rating 1.612

* indicates teams with at least 1 BCS bowl appearance.

I think both ECU and UCF are doing very well. We'd both be in the middle of the pack in the Big East.

Houston's got 6 bowl appearances, which is good, but only musters an average rating of 1.923. Memphis, with 5 bowl appearances, has an average rating of 1.748.

I have seen the national media pick up on the NY Post article from the OP quiet a bit this afternoon. Sometimes the national media just lets some signicant Big East news go by for a few days. Maybe behind the media scenes they are on alert for what might come out of the meeting tomorrow.

Everything said about UCF and ECU is either True, and exaggeration, or total lie, but neither delivers the NE like Buffalo.

Does anyone else think its odd that the media reported on the meeting? I don' ever recall these kind of leaks before

Jackson

(11-01-2010 03:12 PM)Jackson1011 Wrote:  Does anyone else think its odd that the media reported on the meeting? I don' ever recall these kind of leaks before

Jackson

I was thinking the same thing. If everything is legit and the Presidents give the Commish permission to expand tomorrow, then this will go down by the end of the week. That's at least how things been going in the other expansions this past few years.

Just so we dont get off track of this article...

1) It mentioned schools as "lead" candidates...we don't need to disect that. It also mentioned Villanova and Temple in the same breath, how does that work? Would they ask Temple as football only if Nova doesnt want to move up? Surely they arent talking about adding Temple in all sports AND still have Nova? As I said, you cant cherry pick what you are dissecting from the list of candidates.

2) It didnt mention TV markets or the BEN. Did it?

3) The part about the split, what is that? What does that mean? Where are they going with that?

Lets not get into a discussion about anything more than what the article listed. Buck started a bunch of crap AGAIN when he makes generalizations like "ECU doesnt have the ratings". It's a statement that is OFF-TOPIC. No TV was mentioned, No ratings were mentioned. Let's stay on topic.

If I were the commissioner, I would look to get to 12/20 with the championship game played at the higher-seeded team's home field.

I think TCU's a no brainer.....huge pickup for football.

I think both UCF and ECU are good choices. They both bring competitive football teams, good facilties, good tv ratings and are the two most devoted fanbases of non-aq teams east of the Mississippi.

The problem is, if Villanova decides to move up, then the league would be stuck at 12/19. Maybe an 18-game round robin schedule for basketball???

If Nova decided not to move up and remain a basketball only, and the league was worried about watering down the basketball conference, then I could see Memphis as a possiblility due to their strong basketball and market to get to 12/20.

Thats just my thoughts.

(11-01-2010 11:44 AM)Raleighwood Pirate Wrote:  However, what Florida is for football NC is for basketball recruits. We put out the best recruits in the country in basketball.

I'd beg to differ take a look at the region comprising southern Connecticut, southeastern New York, New Jersey (state-wide), southeastern Pennsylvania and New Castle County, Delaware. You'll likely find the largest number of and best recruits in that region. I'd say North Carolina is a close second.

(11-01-2010 03:34 PM)piratefan1975 Wrote:  If I were the commissioner, I would look to get to 12/20 with the championship game played at the higher-seeded team's home field.

I think TCU's a no brainer.....huge pickup for football.

I think both UCF and ECU are good choices. They both bring competitive football teams, good facilties, good tv ratings and are the two most devoted fanbases of non-aq teams east of the Mississippi.

The problem is, if Villanova decides to move up, then the league would be stuck at 12/19. Maybe an 18-game round robin schedule for basketball???

If Nova decided not to move up and remain a basketball only, and the league was worried about watering down the basketball conference, then I could see Memphis as a possiblility due to their strong basketball and market to get to 12/20.

Thats just my thoughts.

Its not up to the commish...its up to the presidents, so this is a big meeting, because it has them all together and the next scheduled meeting is in March. This reminds me of the meeting the Big 10 had in DC, where they were all together, and can finalize things from their desks via write in votes.

Then again this could just be the second to last meeting and the March meeting finalizes things.

(11-01-2010 12:01 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  At this point ECU has done everything it is capable of doing to be ready. Expanded the stadium, filled the stadium, upgraded every single athletic facility, won back to back championships, so if it isn't enough then it never will be. It's as simple as that. We will have tough decisions to make if we get left behind again.

And you can almost bet the house...ECU will not be going anywhere. It just is not in the cards at this time. Regardless..We will be fine.

(11-01-2010 04:12 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-01-2010 12:01 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  At this point ECU has done everything it is capable of doing to be ready. Expanded the stadium, filled the stadium, upgraded every single athletic facility, won back to back championships, so if it isn't enough then it never will be. It's as simple as that. We will have tough decisions to make if we get left behind again.

And you can almost bet the house...ECU will not be going anywhere. It just is not in the cards at this time. Regardless..We will be fine.

If this does happen, that UCF joins the BE and ECU doesn't, I hope the series will continue at least occasionally (as I hope UCF-Marshall continues off and on). The internet bad blood aside, I think ECU is a good program and would be my choice to join the BE along with us.

More comments from UCONN football blogger on the topic:

http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_football/...hilly.html

BTW, he supports ECU in the BE. I personally would like to add TCU, UCF, ECU and NOVA/Temple. Houston can be the last one if they don't want NOVA/Temple.

I am not sure what will happen, but I do know that BE needs to do something. TCU is basically a no brainer. Others are up for debate.

For posters said that no one cares about ECU out here in the west, it is true right now. However, things can change if ECU is top 10. With right kind of media hype, the program can be a household name in the West. Who has heard of Boise St 15 years ago? No one has. ESPN created that monster all on its own. Same can be said for TCU.

(11-01-2010 12:10 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(11-01-2010 11:36 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  To be fair, Duke is "special". They are to this generation for college sports what Notre Dame was for previous generations - the school that every single person in America has a very strong opinion about (whether good or bad). Duke is the one school that actually moves the meter so much in terms of basketball TV ratings that it overrides their putrid football program. They are right next to the Yankees, Lakers and Cowboys on America's Most Hated list.

Yeah, I can't stand Dook, but they have a hugely marketable brand name on the strength of men's hoops alone. They are one of the top five schools in licensed school apparel sold every year. Any non-AQ football program (and most of the AQ conference programs) would have to have a 25-year run of 10-win seasons, including several BCS bowl games, with a national title or two or three thrown in, in order to put their brand in the same ballpark as Dook.

I never have understood the bashing that takes place when Duke is brought up. The only reason Duke does not have a top 25 football program to go along with BB is academics. They simply will not lower their standards to achieve it. They enough cash at their disposal to do just about anything they want to but are happy doing their own thing. Duke is simply a special situation. It is an "international" University. If you ever visit on a day when classes are being held and observe the student population...it looks like you stepped into a foreign country. It is simply a unique place.

All I need to know to be a Duke fan is that UNC students and alums...HATE Duke. It is mostly because they could not get accepted at Duke. It thrills me to death to see them stomp the crap out of both of the state supported ACC schools in NC. I have NEVER been around a single Duke grad that ever acted conceded, even though they graduated from one of the most prestigious schools in America.... I think that is because they simply have "class".

(11-01-2010 03:32 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  Just so we dont get off track of this article...

1) It mentioned schools as "lead" candidates...we don't need to disect that. It also mentioned Villanova and Temple in the same breath, how does that work? Would they ask Temple as football only if Nova doesnt want to move up? Surely they arent talking about adding Temple in all sports AND still have Nova? As I said, you cant cherry pick what you are dissecting from the list of candidates.

2) It didnt mention TV markets or the BEN. Did it?

3) The part about the split, what is that? What does that mean? Where are they going with that?

Lets not get into a discussion about anything more than what the article listed. Buck started a bunch of crap AGAIN when he makes generalizations like "ECU doesnt have the ratings". It's a statement that is OFF-TOPIC. No TV was mentioned, No ratings were mentioned. Let's stay on topic.

1: I think that Temple is being mentioned just in case Villanova declines to join or they probably won't join.

2: I have no idea what the lack of TV or the BEN means. That's definitely open for assumptions.

3: We'll soon find out about the split part means. I highly doubt its going to happen.

As for Buck, just ignore him. I understand your frustrations with him. And I agree with you btw.