Geez. I see where this is going. Projectors, Powerpoints and Laser Pointers.

(08-23-2012 11:12 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  This is a great move by Benson, and at the perfect time. With the WAC coming out and disclosing that they will discontinue football in 2013, space has opened for the SBC to pitch more inventory to ESPN. Additionally, it is apparent that the Big East will leave ESPN for NBC Sports (as NBC will throw crazy money after that bad product), so ESPN will be in need of even more inventory. Irrespective of the programs lost by the SBC, we have added solid programs and retained the Dallas market area with the addition of UTA. With all of that being said, and considering the number of years we are currently committed to under our ESPN deal, I can truly see Benson going to ESPN and legitimately arguing for $400k-$500k per all sports school and $150k for each Olympic sports only school. Moreover, if the intention is to add two (2) more all sports schools, Benson could guage where ESPN sits with respect to what schools would add value to our contract and be prepared to pitch that information to the SBC Presidents for future consideration.

When you say $400K-$500K per all sports school, do you mean that that would be the total TV revenue that each school would receive for an entire year?

(08-24-2012 06:09 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 11:12 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  This is a great move by Benson, and at the perfect time. With the WAC coming out and disclosing that they will discontinue football in 2013, space has opened for the SBC to pitch more inventory to ESPN. Additionally, it is apparent that the Big East will leave ESPN for NBC Sports (as NBC will throw crazy money after that bad product), so ESPN will be in need of even more inventory. Irrespective of the programs lost by the SBC, we have added solid programs and retained the Dallas market area with the addition of UTA. With all of that being said, and considering the number of years we are currently committed to under our ESPN deal, I can truly see Benson going to ESPN and legitimately arguing for $400k-$500k per all sports school and $150k for each Olympic sports only school. Moreover, if the intention is to add two (2) more all sports schools, Benson could guage where ESPN sits with respect to what schools would add value to our contract and be prepared to pitch that information to the SBC Presidents for future consideration.

When you say $400K-$500K per all sports school, do you mean that that would be the total TV revenue that each school would receive for an entire year?

Yeah, I see where you are going. You're going to say that CUSA gets twice that in their ancillary media contracts. True, but CUSA is larger also.

(08-24-2012 06:36 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 06:09 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 11:12 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  This is a great move by Benson, and at the perfect time. With the WAC coming out and disclosing that they will discontinue football in 2013, space has opened for the SBC to pitch more inventory to ESPN. Additionally, it is apparent that the Big East will leave ESPN for NBC Sports (as NBC will throw crazy money after that bad product), so ESPN will be in need of even more inventory. Irrespective of the programs lost by the SBC, we have added solid programs and retained the Dallas market area with the addition of UTA. With all of that being said, and considering the number of years we are currently committed to under our ESPN deal, I can truly see Benson going to ESPN and legitimately arguing for $400k-$500k per all sports school and $150k for each Olympic sports only school. Moreover, if the intention is to add two (2) more all sports schools, Benson could guage where ESPN sits with respect to what schools would add value to our contract and be prepared to pitch that information to the SBC Presidents for future consideration.

When you say $400K-$500K per all sports school, do you mean that that would be the total TV revenue that each school would receive for an entire year?

Yeah, I see where you are going. You're going to say that CUSA gets twice that in their ancillary media contracts. True, but CUSA is larger also.

Then they are both pitiful.

(08-24-2012 06:56 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 06:36 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 06:09 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 11:12 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  This is a great move by Benson, and at the perfect time. With the WAC coming out and disclosing that they will discontinue football in 2013, space has opened for the SBC to pitch more inventory to ESPN. Additionally, it is apparent that the Big East will leave ESPN for NBC Sports (as NBC will throw crazy money after that bad product), so ESPN will be in need of even more inventory. Irrespective of the programs lost by the SBC, we have added solid programs and retained the Dallas market area with the addition of UTA. With all of that being said, and considering the number of years we are currently committed to under our ESPN deal, I can truly see Benson going to ESPN and legitimately arguing for $400k-$500k per all sports school and $150k for each Olympic sports only school. Moreover, if the intention is to add two (2) more all sports schools, Benson could guage where ESPN sits with respect to what schools would add value to our contract and be prepared to pitch that information to the SBC Presidents for future consideration.

When you say $400K-$500K per all sports school, do you mean that that would be the total TV revenue that each school would receive for an entire year?

Yeah, I see where you are going. You're going to say that CUSA gets twice that in their ancillary media contracts. True, but CUSA is larger also.

Then they are both pitiful.

CUSA makes about six times as much as the Sun Belt on TV and media deals overall. Here again that ancillary rights deal, there are two, is in itself twice what the Sun Belt makes. The primary deal is larger, of course. The MAC claims that they are going to have about what CUSA is doing, but do not think theirs is that good. And of course the CUSA deal is nothing to Big East's new deal with NBC if true, which cannot compare to the top five conferences. Don't think the WAC getting out of football for 2013, or forever, will help that much, but could help a little.
Benson and the Sun Belt probably needs to get a consultant to help with the Belt's deal. They are getting screwed each year. Hesitate to say it, but think it is a Northern prejudice among the telecast executives. That and many of them went to schools in conferences that are getting more money than they deserve. If the MAC didn't play so many mid-week games they probably wouldn't be doing nearly as well as they are, even though it's not great.
Some talk among the MAC about splitting their conference and obtaining another auto-bid to the big dance. Doubt they will do it, but makes some sense in that it would also give them two seperate conference shares of the BCS money distribution when terms are finalized.

(08-23-2012 06:16 PM)tux Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 08:06 AM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  FAU is still in the Miami market, and they will still get coverage. I see FAU sports stories here... And UTA is in Dallas. Sure, it's not as "big" time as UNT but it will get attention as it will be part of a strong basketball league. Adding Atlanta is probably the biggest move in terms of TV markets that has happened thus far, as it's one of the largest markets. And the San Marcos-Austin area is very populous as well. I wouldn't be so quick to discount this. I think the SBC is in a position to get a much better deal.

Yes it is large, as Austin is the designated metropolitan area San Marcos is within. However, San Marcos is almost dead center in the Austin/San Antonio Corridor Media Market as well. Some figures:

The Austin media market is the 47th largest in the country with a 2011 estimated population of 1,743,018 (MSA) and 678,730 television households.
•The San Antonio media market is the 36th largest in the country with a 2011 estimated population of 2,259,437 and 880,690 television households.
•This combined media market would be the 15th largest in the country with a 2011 estimated population of 4,002,455 (MSAs) and 1,559,420 television households.

link

In essence, there are over 3 1/2 million people living within 50 miles of Texas State university.

This!! And for those in the budget debate, athletic expenditures are only considered because you always count WHAT YOU SPENT for a year... not what you brought in. In that case, Texas State looked real nice a few years back when we received a $6 million donation... only to drop back down to normal levels the following year

(08-23-2012 11:16 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  The tv deal that the Sun Belt has is terrible so I don't think it can get any worst. As far as the new additions bringing more value to this conference, I don't think so . If the new additions were all the great they wouldn't be coming to the Sun Belt. They all have potential but they're years away from contributing to this conference. The Sun Belt lost its two largest tv markets, their two largest Universities and their two highest athletic budgets. Seems like some of you don't recognize the magnitude of your losses. Hopefully Benson has more sense than that or else the Sun Belt will follow the footsteps of the WAC.

I don't think the issue is about getting any worse a deal or not, it's what's the impetus for ESPN to renegotiate the contract. As explained before the petty bickering began, the Sun Belt has been weakend as a football playing league. Tx. State, Ga State and USA have yet to play a down of FBS football, that's 30% of the conference. Then you've got FAU, ULM and MTSU who of late haven't really been setting the world on fire.

Then there are the final four schools who have been playing quality football ASU, UL-L, WKU and Troy. However, where are the exciting match-ups that's going to make ESPN pay more money for our games or want to renegotiate the contract.

A program or two needs to break-out for the media to sit up and take notice. The environment is ripe for the Sun Belt to take advantage, however, as of today, there's really nothing more to sell than there has been in the past five years. Market size is about the same, quality of football is about the same.

(08-23-2012 09:03 PM)CivilEng Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 08:33 PM)FIUFanatic Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 04:48 PM)RaiderDoug Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 11:16 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  two highest athletic budgets.

False. According to the Dept. of Education Equity in Athletics Report, he is right.

Not only is that false, lets look at FIU's budget: Let's look at the report with all its information, not just picking and choosing info, while hiding others

Over 70% of your athletic revenue was generated by student fees (by far the most in the conference - in fact, no one is even at 50%). Total Subsidies is far more telling, as it includes dedicated athletics fees plus direct transfers (subsidy) from the University's General Fund. In terms of percent: FIU 80.2%, USA 80.2%, MTSU 67.6%, FAU 66.9%, WKU 63.3%. In fact, only ULM, Louisiana, and UNT had less than 50% of athletic fees and direct subsidies as part of their athletic revenues in their budget. Interestingly, MTSU had a bit over $10 million in general funds' transfers to athletics. In fact, MTSU is the only SBC school with over $10 million in such transfers, by far the most in the SBC.

Your ticket sales revenue is 9th in the conference.

You're building a football team by milking a student body that couldn't be bothered to give a flip. Total cost for an in-state FIU student, including tuition and all fees for 30 credits is $6,247 a year, which provides free access to all athletic events to students. http://admissions.fiu.edu/costs/costs.php At MTSU, for 30 credits an in-state student pays between tuition and all fees $7,492. http://www.mtsu.edu/bursar/12-13_Undergraduate.pdf Who's milking a student body?

Please, tell us again how great FIU is again and how much they'll be missed... I don't think he said that, it's more your very biased conclusion.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/s...rmf1cqzyqe

Oh my....since you said his statements about budgets were FALSE, let's look at this factual information below.

Here are the budgets, as per Dept. of Education website for the 2011-12 academic year, as reported by each school.

FIU: $24.61 million budget in expenses and revenues. http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/InstDetails....343020504d

MTSU: Expenses of $21.07 million and revenes of $23.87 million. http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/InstDetails....343020504d

UNT: $22.42 budget in expenses and revenues. http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/InstDetails....343020504d

WKU: $22.27 million budget in expenses and revenues. http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/InstDetails....343020504d

I don't share his comments in terms of Benson and the future of SBC. I happen to think he is being very proactive and put the SBC in position to be successful in the future, as I think he is doing great so far.

In terms of budget comment, the biggest budget is certainly FIU's, and the second one in terms of expenses was UNT. While I don't necessarily share the style of civil eng, the facts actually do back his statements in this regard. When you say his budget statement is False, you are wrong.

I usually don't like to trash talk but when someone tries to put my school down by making opinionated comments as if they were facts, i just can't keep quite. I have to admit that i'm not as diplomatic as you are. Kudos to you.

true: you are far from civil even though your name implies so.

(08-23-2012 10:21 AM)RaiderDoug Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 09:41 AM)johndavidblue Wrote:  I will never understand how you can argue that the Sun Belt is "a more valuable television property" when the incoming teams barely have a following.

Did the teams that left have a huge following?

Exiting:

FIU and their 750 fans.
NT, who has a good fanbase but hasn't really moved the meter lately.

Incoming:

USA football - should be pretty good, probably equals what NT has been pulling the last few years.
Tx State - no idea, but probably better than FIU.
GSU - at least as many fans as FIU. Way more potential to be a draw than FIU has shown to be.

Looks like a net gain to me.

yes- all the schools brought in have a better following...untexas may be near DFW but texas state has a much more active fanbase..and uta being right in the middle of lots of high school basketball talent could quickly have a Butler or Valpo type program..

(08-24-2012 09:41 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 10:21 AM)RaiderDoug Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 09:41 AM)johndavidblue Wrote:  I will never understand how you can argue that the Sun Belt is "a more valuable television property" when the incoming teams barely have a following.

Did the teams that left have a huge following?

Exiting:

FIU and their 750 fans.
NT, who has a good fanbase but hasn't really moved the meter lately.

Incoming:

USA football - should be pretty good, probably equals what NT has been pulling the last few years.
Tx State - no idea, but probably better than FIU.
GSU - at least as many fans as FIU. Way more potential to be a draw than FIU has shown to be.

Looks like a net gain to me.

yes- all the schools brought in have a better following...untexas may be near DFW but texas state has a much more active fanbase..and uta being right in the middle of lots of high school basketball talent could quickly have a Butler or Valpo type program..

we're excited about the prospects for argyle product caden dickerson this year. he's had shoulder problems since he got here but was money on 3's his freshman year.

last year he ended up redshirting. i watched them in pickup ball one afternoon about a month ago and he was pure buttah on his deep ball.

i expect him to surprise some conference folks this year now that his shoulders are healthy and he no longer has ken mcdummy as a coach.

ray harper (the tony mitchell of sun belt coaching) will find caden some open shots this year. bank on it.

(08-23-2012 03:52 PM)FIUFanatic Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 03:25 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 11:16 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  The tv deal that the Sun Belt has is terrible so I don't think it can get any worst. As far as the new additions bringing more value to this conference, I don't think so . If the new additions were all the great they wouldn't be coming to the Sun Belt. They all have potential but they're years away from contributing to this conference. The Sun Belt lost its two largest tv markets, their two largest Universities and their two highest athletic budgets. Seems like some of you don't recognize the magnitude of your losses. Hopefully Benson has more sense than that or else the Sun Belt will follow the footsteps of the WAC.

That's false. Quit twisting the facts in attempt to make FIU's standing in the football world improve. Yes, you guys are in the Miami media market but you literally have no fans. Texas State and Ga State both have larger fan bases than FIU. That's a positve gain in my opinion.

Literally. Really? Talk about a false statement and twisting the facts to make FIU's standing in the football world diminish. At least try to make a point in a smart way.

Again, if you were present at the football game you hosted vs. FIU, you were part of a pretty small gathering, by FIU's, MTSU's or any SBC school's standards.

2011-2012 Bowl Attendance
UL - SDSU - 42,728 N.O. Bowl (22nd in total attendance of 35 bowl games, largest increase in attendance year over year)
ASU-NIU - 38,734 Go Daddy Bowl (24th in total attendance of 35 bowl games, increase of 566 and just about 3,000 shy of stadium capacity)
FIU - Marshall -20,072 Beef O'Brady Bowl (35th in total attendance of 35 bowl games, increase of 55 in attendance year over year)

Just saying, Try not to sling too much mud when the wind is blowing in your face

PS: Good luck in the CUSA. We'll all see down the road who came out better.

(08-24-2012 04:51 PM)garmen Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 03:52 PM)FIUFanatic Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 03:25 PM)MT FAN Wrote:  

(08-23-2012 11:16 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  The tv deal that the Sun Belt has is terrible so I don't think it can get any worst. As far as the new additions bringing more value to this conference, I don't think so . If the new additions were all the great they wouldn't be coming to the Sun Belt. They all have potential but they're years away from contributing to this conference. The Sun Belt lost its two largest tv markets, their two largest Universities and their two highest athletic budgets. Seems like some of you don't recognize the magnitude of your losses. Hopefully Benson has more sense than that or else the Sun Belt will follow the footsteps of the WAC.

That's false. Quit twisting the facts in attempt to make FIU's standing in the football world improve. Yes, you guys are in the Miami media market but you literally have no fans. Texas State and Ga State both have larger fan bases than FIU. That's a positve gain in my opinion.

Literally. Really? Talk about a false statement and twisting the facts to make FIU's standing in the football world diminish. At least try to make a point in a smart way.

Again, if you were present at the football game you hosted vs. FIU, you were part of a pretty small gathering, by FIU's, MTSU's or any SBC school's standards.

2011-2012 Bowl Attendance
UL - SDSU - 42,728 N.O. Bowl (22nd in total attendance of 35 bowl games, largest increase in attendance year over year)
ASU-NIU - 38,734 Go Daddy Bowl (24th in total attendance of 35 bowl games, increase of 566 and just about 3,000 shy of stadium capacity)
FIU - Marshall -20,072 Beef O'Brady Bowl (35th in total attendance of 35 bowl games, increase of 55 in attendance year over year)

Just saying, Try not to sling too much mud when the wind is blowing in your face

PS: Good luck in the CUSA. We'll all see down the road who came out better.

Yeah that Beef O'Brady's Bowl was pitiful. Being a UM fan (and an MT fan) there's no love lost and I can say honestly your fan base stinks right now. Sure, it might get better in the upcoming years, but that performance against Marshall was horrendous. MT played in the LA Superdome and had a large number of fans - probably in the area of 10k or more (opponent was USM, who had probably 20k or so). You guys seriously had less than Marshall. That's sad. Let's stop this whole fan base debate, because we all know your fan base isn't the biggest or best in the conference. Frankly I for one am sick and tired of it.

It is so obvious what you guys are doing. This whole thing started when I made a comment about FIU having the highest athletic budget, biggest university and having the biggest tv market. I was crucified and accused of lying even though all my statements were proven to be true. Now since you were all ridiculed you want to turn this into an attendance issue which is funny coming from other Sun Belt school fans.

We keep the Miami Market with having FAU and we add an even larger TV market with Atlanta....Ya I would say we need a larger TV Contract.

(08-24-2012 07:40 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  We keep the Miami Market with having FAU and we add an even larger TV market with Atlanta....Ya I would say we need a larger TV Contract.

FAU is not in the "Miami market". FAU fans will tell you that they have their own market while FIU is fighting for UM's scraps further south. Get your stories straight, they can't be in one market when you want to prove point A and in another market when you want to prove point B.

Choose one and stick with it, Atlanta Trojan!

Back to the OP, in my opinion the Belt was severely undervalued during WW tenure. Any reason to get ESPN back to the negotiation table to convince them of this fact should be pursued. Kudos to Benson on this one.

(08-24-2012 08:00 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 07:40 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  We keep the Miami Market with having FAU and we add an even larger TV market with Atlanta....Ya I would say we need a larger TV Contract.

FAU is not in the "Miami market". FAU fans will tell you that they have their own market while FIU is fighting for UM's scraps further south. Get your stories straight, they can't be in one market when you want to prove point A and in another market when you want to prove point B.

Choose one and stick with it, Atlanta Trojan!

Back to the OP, in my opinion the Belt was severely undervalued during WW tenure. Any reason to get ESPN back to the negotiation table to convince them of this fact should be pursued. Kudos to Benson on this one.

Whatever dude....They bring Miami...I dont care what you say...Just as MTSU brings Nashville and they are outside Nashville area....Boca Raton is APART of the Miami Metro... Thats like saying UNT does not bring Dallas market which was one reason why UNT was picked to go to CUSA....Say what you want but FACTS are FACTS and fact is FAU is in Metro Miami!

(08-24-2012 08:12 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 08:00 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 07:40 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  We keep the Miami Market with having FAU and we add an even larger TV market with Atlanta....Ya I would say we need a larger TV Contract.

FAU is not in the "Miami market". FAU fans will tell you that they have their own market while FIU is fighting for UM's scraps further south. Get your stories straight, they can't be in one market when you want to prove point A and in another market when you want to prove point B.

Choose one and stick with it, Atlanta Trojan!

Back to the OP, in my opinion the Belt was severely undervalued during WW tenure. Any reason to get ESPN back to the negotiation table to convince them of this fact should be pursued. Kudos to Benson on this one.

Whatever dude....They bring Miami...I dont care what you say...Just as MTSU brings Nashville and they are outside Nashville area....Boca Raton is APART of the Miami Metro... Thats like saying UNT does not bring Dallas market which was one reason why UNT was picked to go to CUSA....Say what you want but FACTS are FACTS and fact is FAU is in Metro Miami!

Please tell me you're joking. Only because you say it doesn't make it true. You obviously don't know how tv markets work and you have definitely never been in south florida. How is FAU in the Miami Metro area? They are an hour away and two counties up north. Please explain.

(08-24-2012 08:31 PM)CivilEng Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 08:12 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 08:00 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 07:40 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  We keep the Miami Market with having FAU and we add an even larger TV market with Atlanta....Ya I would say we need a larger TV Contract.

FAU is not in the "Miami market". FAU fans will tell you that they have their own market while FIU is fighting for UM's scraps further south. Get your stories straight, they can't be in one market when you want to prove point A and in another market when you want to prove point B.

Choose one and stick with it, Atlanta Trojan!

Back to the OP, in my opinion the Belt was severely undervalued during WW tenure. Any reason to get ESPN back to the negotiation table to convince them of this fact should be pursued. Kudos to Benson on this one.

Whatever dude....They bring Miami...I dont care what you say...Just as MTSU brings Nashville and they are outside Nashville area....Boca Raton is APART of the Miami Metro... Thats like saying UNT does not bring Dallas market which was one reason why UNT was picked to go to CUSA....Say what you want but FACTS are FACTS and fact is FAU is in Metro Miami!

Please tell me you're joking. Only because you say it doesn't make it true. You obviously don't know how tv markets work and you have definitely never been in south florida. How is FAU in the Miami Metro area? They are an hour away and two counties up north. Please explain.

You dont know how metro areas work....Atlanta Metro goes THREE counties out and over an hour from city center.....

Boca Raton is Miami Metro...FACTS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_metropolitan_area

(08-24-2012 08:48 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 08:31 PM)CivilEng Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 08:12 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 08:00 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 07:40 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  We keep the Miami Market with having FAU and we add an even larger TV market with Atlanta....Ya I would say we need a larger TV Contract.

FAU is not in the "Miami market". FAU fans will tell you that they have their own market while FIU is fighting for UM's scraps further south. Get your stories straight, they can't be in one market when you want to prove point A and in another market when you want to prove point B.

Choose one and stick with it, Atlanta Trojan!

Back to the OP, in my opinion the Belt was severely undervalued during WW tenure. Any reason to get ESPN back to the negotiation table to convince them of this fact should be pursued. Kudos to Benson on this one.

Whatever dude....They bring Miami...I dont care what you say...Just as MTSU brings Nashville and they are outside Nashville area....Boca Raton is APART of the Miami Metro... Thats like saying UNT does not bring Dallas market which was one reason why UNT was picked to go to CUSA....Say what you want but FACTS are FACTS and fact is FAU is in Metro Miami!

Please tell me you're joking. Only because you say it doesn't make it true. You obviously don't know how tv markets work and you have definitely never been in south florida. How is FAU in the Miami Metro area? They are an hour away and two counties up north. Please explain.

You dont know how metro areas work....Atlanta Metro goes THREE counties out and over an hour from city center.....

Boca Raton is Miami Metro...FACTS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_metropolitan_area

Nice!! Now show me a link that says FAU is in the Miami TV Market. There's a reason why FAU's tv market is ranked 38th in the nation while FIU's Miami market is 16th. The simple reason is that they are not in the same market. You obviously don't know the difference between tv markets and metro areas.

(08-24-2012 08:48 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 08:31 PM)CivilEng Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 08:12 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 08:00 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 07:40 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  We keep the Miami Market with having FAU and we add an even larger TV market with Atlanta....Ya I would say we need a larger TV Contract.

FAU is not in the "Miami market". FAU fans will tell you that they have their own market while FIU is fighting for UM's scraps further south. Get your stories straight, they can't be in one market when you want to prove point A and in another market when you want to prove point B.

Choose one and stick with it, Atlanta Trojan!

Back to the OP, in my opinion the Belt was severely undervalued during WW tenure. Any reason to get ESPN back to the negotiation table to convince them of this fact should be pursued. Kudos to Benson on this one.

Whatever dude....They bring Miami...I dont care what you say...Just as MTSU brings Nashville and they are outside Nashville area....Boca Raton is APART of the Miami Metro... Thats like saying UNT does not bring Dallas market which was one reason why UNT was picked to go to CUSA....Say what you want but FACTS are FACTS and fact is FAU is in Metro Miami!

Please tell me you're joking. Only because you say it doesn't make it true. You obviously don't know how tv markets work and you have definitely never been in south florida. How is FAU in the Miami Metro area? They are an hour away and two counties up north. Please explain.

You dont know how metro areas work....Atlanta Metro goes THREE counties out and over an hour from city center.....

Boca Raton is Miami Metro...FACTS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_metropolitan_area

I thought we were talking about TV, I don't know why I thought we were talking about TV markets. What could have made me think we were talking about TV?