(02-10-2013 05:46 PM)Poliicious Wrote:  Yes no doubt compared to what the league gets now from ESPN, $2M per team is a big increase but so would the travel costs for NIU. Cincy is the closest current member and they are looking for greener pastures(may not get to them but they are looking) and the next closest is Memphis. Road trips to UConn, Army, Navy, ECU, UCF, USF, Houston, Tulane and SMU will eat up alot of that money.

On the flip side, NIU might be able to recruit better talent playing conference members in states that produce more football and significant hoops talent.

But as far as qualifiying for the 1 nonAQ spot being made available in the current agreement for a BCS bowl bid, being in the BE would not benefit NIU at all vs the MAC

POI...Army is not in the Big East.

Also if Cinci leaves the BE then one of the Ohio MAC schools will get an invite...not saying that they would definitely accept.

This 2mil is just for football.

Since 2004, 9 teams have left the Big East for the new power conferences.

Since probably ever, 0 teams have left the MAC for the new power conferences.

If we ever want to get on the real big time stage, I think an intermediate step is a necessity. The Big East is not folding, as evidenced by a new contract being offered by NBC.

If given the chance, count me in as one who would be in favor of moving.

(02-11-2013 10:31 AM)NIUslumo Wrote:  Since 2004, 9 teams have left the Big East for the new power conferences.

Since probably ever, 0 teams have left the MAC for the new power conferences.

If we ever want to get on the real big time stage, I think an intermediate step is a necessity. The Big East is not folding, as evidenced by a new contract being offered by NBC.

If given the chance, count me in as one who would be in favor of moving.

Agreed. I would still take a spot in the new BE over the MAC if it opened up. The MAC is good for what it is (regional bus league) but it will never be anything more than that. There are too many overlapping programs and a clear divide between the top and bottom programs in spending philosphy, athletic support. Those programs seem to be holding the conference back.

I think if UConn and Cinci leave the BE then we should lobby to partner with Ohio to backfill the two spots.

The BE stands at 11 in a couple years, so they'll be looking for one more, but yeah, ideally you'd want one other MAC school like Toledo or Ohio to make the jump too in order to hold down travel costs. If UConn or Cincy leave then maybe that's a possibility.

I don't know what the numbers look like but if the extra $2 million comes anywhere close to covering our increased travel expenses, you make the jump. Increased exposure, better home opponents and conference mates who share a commitment to football. Plus, even though the MAC and BE fight for the same BCS spot soon, if one team from each conference goes undefeated (or each has 1 loss), you can be sure the BE team will get in ahead of the MAC team.

I also like the idea of playing a more traditional Saturday schedule as presumably the BE is negotiating around having to play Tuesday and Wednesday night.

(02-11-2013 11:00 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  I also like the idea of playing a more traditional Saturday schedule as presumably the BE is negotiating around having to play Tuesday and Wednesday night.

If the BE agrees to play games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights on ESPN then that will hurt the MACs next contract.

However it may mean that the MAC gets to play all of our games on Saturdays because there will be no need to move them for TV.

(02-11-2013 11:40 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(02-11-2013 11:00 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  I also like the idea of playing a more traditional Saturday schedule as presumably the BE is negotiating around having to play Tuesday and Wednesday night.

If the BE agrees to play games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights on ESPN then that will hurt the MACs next contract.

However it may mean that the MAC gets to play all of our games on Saturdays because there will be no need to move them for TV.

The BE is not siging on to play Tuesday and Wednesday nights. If that is what ESPN is requesting they will not sign with them. Also if the MAC moved to a full Saturday slate there would most likely be no TV involved. ESPN won't pay us for a full slate of weekend games. Our weekday games fill timeslots for them and that is why we are able to squeeze out a small payout. There appears to be a market for weekend BE football but not a full schedule of weekend MAC football. That in itelf is one reason why they are more marketable and a better conference. Even with all the defections their product is still worth more.

(02-11-2013 12:22 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  The BE is not siging on to play Tuesday and Wednesday nights. If that is what ESPN is requesting they will not sign with them. Also if the MAC moved to a full Saturday slate there would most likely be no TV involved. ESPN won't pay us for a full slate of weekend games. Our weekday games fill timeslots for them and that is why we are able to squeeze out a small payout. There appears to be a market for weekend BE football but not a full schedule of weekend MAC football. That in itelf is one reason why they are more marketable and a better conference. Even with all the defections their product is still worth more.

Totally agree.

Most of the BE teams come from CUSA where they fought tooth and nail to NOT play on weeknights.

(02-11-2013 08:18 AM)HuskieRak Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 10:23 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 10:19 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  The MAC could have a better TV contract if all of the schools could build their fan base and attendance. Broadcasting games in front of crowds of less than 10,000 in stadiums that seat over 20,000 is not must see TV. It is a conference wide problem. The talent is there and the competition is pretty good.

Many Big East games are no better attendance wise. The conference will be gone in 2 years, its folding.

No. Do some research before you blurt out **** from your mouth. The league is not folding either.
ECU averages almost 50k.
Houston -27k
UCF - 35k
SMU (22k) and Tulane (18k) have issues.
Cincy - 29k
UConn - 34k
Temple- 26k
USF - 42k


Best MAC attendance was probably Ohio or Toledo and that's a 22k average at most probably

Tulane's numbers are fudged, i think even Tulane fans would tell you that. I've seen pictures of their attendance on the CUSA board and their games look similar to EMU's.

I wouldn't be surprised if SMU's numbers aren't legit either.

Houston is in a major market and only averages 27k?

From those attendance numbers, i think the MWC actually has them beat. That is definitely not a major conference with those kinds of numbers.

(02-11-2013 01:23 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Tulane's numbers are fudged, i think even Tulane fans would tell you that. I've seen pictures of their attendance on the CUSA board and their games look similar to EMU's.

I wouldn't be surprised if SMU's numbers aren't legit either.

Houston is in a major market and only averages 27k?

From those attendance numbers, i think the MWC actually has them beat. That is definitely not a major conference with those kinds of numbers.

I will never argue that the new Big East is a major conference, it's not even close to being on the same level as the Big Boys. But the Big East and MWC are still far better than the MAC.

(02-11-2013 02:16 PM)HuskieRak Wrote:  

(02-11-2013 01:23 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Tulane's numbers are fudged, i think even Tulane fans would tell you that. I've seen pictures of their attendance on the CUSA board and their games look similar to EMU's.

I wouldn't be surprised if SMU's numbers aren't legit either.

Houston is in a major market and only averages 27k?

From those attendance numbers, i think the MWC actually has them beat. That is definitely not a major conference with those kinds of numbers.

I will never argue that the new Big East is a major conference, it's not even close to being on the same level as the Big Boys. But the Big East and MWC are still far better than the MAC.

Agreed. MWC is the clear cut #1 out of the G5 then the BE and at a distant third you are looking at CUSA and the MAC with the Sun Belt entrenched in the basement. I would take playing Tulane regularly over Eastern Michigan any day. The gap between #2 and #3 is large enough to warrant that jump in my opinion.

I am just waiting for a season with three 12 - 1 teams or 11 - 2 teams seeing the MWC or BE champ get the nod over the MAC team for the BCS spot due to perceived strength of schedule.

(02-11-2013 02:46 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Agreed. MWC is the clear cut #1 out of the G5 then the BE and at a distant third you are looking at CUSA and the MAC with the Sun Belt entrenched in the basement. I would take playing Tulane regularly over Eastern Michigan any day. The gap between #2 and #3 is large enough to warrant that jump in my opinion.

This upcoming season the BE is still ahead of the MWC with Rutgers & Louisville.

Until Cincinnati and UCONN leave the BE the conference will be = to the MWC in perception but I bet that the BE will still get more TV money.

The water down Big East would be a better recruiting tool than MAC. Kids get to play several games in the south. Away games will be played in stadiums that are a little bit more full than most MAC stadiums. Also exposes NIU to more recruits in prime recruiting areas such as TX and FL. If given the opportunity, I would be all for NIU moving to new Big East.

(02-11-2013 02:52 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(02-11-2013 02:46 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

This upcoming season the BE is still ahead of the MWC with Rutgers & Louisville.

Until Cincinnati and UCONN leave the BE the conference will be = to the MWC in perception but I bet that the BE will still get more TV money.

The early rumors are that the MWC is actually positioned for a slightly better deal. They seem to be peaking at the right time. Membership has been stabilized with arguably their best football product Boise retained and basketball is looking at 4+ invites to the tourney. Colorado State just cracked the latest Top 25. UNLV, New Mexico and SDSU all look to be in as well.

The BE should be positioning to be the MWC equivalent of the East within the G5 by picking up the best markets / teams east of the rockies. NIU, while a longshot, could actually help that cause.

Talk about rags to riches. MWC story is similar to the B12 when top teams almost bolted for the Pac12. This would have left a team like ISU in a much pooer position than they are today as a B12 tag a long. MWC is back from the ashes much like the B12.

(02-11-2013 09:17 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 05:46 PM)Poliicious Wrote:  Yes no doubt compared to what the league gets now from ESPN, $2M per team is a big increase but so would the travel costs for NIU. Cincy is the closest current member and they are looking for greener pastures(may not get to them but they are looking) and the next closest is Memphis. Road trips to UConn, Army, Navy, ECU, UCF, USF, Houston, Tulane and SMU will eat up alot of that money.

On the flip side, NIU might be able to recruit better talent playing conference members in states that produce more football and significant hoops talent.

But as far as qualifiying for the 1 nonAQ spot being made available in the current agreement for a BCS bowl bid, being in the BE would not benefit NIU at all vs the MAC

POI...Army is not in the Big East.

Also if Cinci leaves the BE then one of the Ohio MAC schools will get an invite...not saying that they would definitely accept.

This 2mil is just for football.

Correct Army is not yet in the BE but they're being approached for a football only membership similar to Navy which has accepted. The fact that a service academy is already in that league should help the BE recruit Army. Adding Army would help repair the losses they've suffered in the northeast and the Cadets draw well.

(02-11-2013 09:17 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 05:46 PM)Poliicious Wrote:  Yes no doubt compared to what the league gets now from ESPN, $2M per team is a big increase but so would the travel costs for NIU. Cincy is the closest current member and they are looking for greener pastures(may not get to them but they are looking) and the next closest is Memphis. Road trips to UConn, Army, Navy, ECU, UCF, USF, Houston, Tulane and SMU will eat up alot of that money.

On the flip side, NIU might be able to recruit better talent playing conference members in states that produce more football and significant hoops talent.

But as far as qualifiying for the 1 nonAQ spot being made available in the current agreement for a BCS bowl bid, being in the BE would not benefit NIU at all vs the MAC

POI...Army is not in the Big East.

Also if Cinci leaves the BE then one of the Ohio MAC schools will get an invite...not saying that they would definitely accept.

This 2mil is just for football.

If Cincy leaves the BE, I'd bet 2 Ohio MAC programs get invited (Toledo & Ohio) and possibly NIU

It would be nice to know if we have even been contacted by other conferences, let alone an invite.

(02-11-2013 06:23 PM)Poliicious Wrote:  

(02-11-2013 09:17 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 05:46 PM)Poliicious Wrote:  Yes no doubt compared to what the league gets now from ESPN, $2M per team is a big increase but so would the travel costs for NIU. Cincy is the closest current member and they are looking for greener pastures(may not get to them but they are looking) and the next closest is Memphis. Road trips to UConn, Army, Navy, ECU, UCF, USF, Houston, Tulane and SMU will eat up alot of that money.

On the flip side, NIU might be able to recruit better talent playing conference members in states that produce more football and significant hoops talent.

But as far as qualifiying for the 1 nonAQ spot being made available in the current agreement for a BCS bowl bid, being in the BE would not benefit NIU at all vs the MAC

POI...Army is not in the Big East.

Also if Cinci leaves the BE then one of the Ohio MAC schools will get an invite...not saying that they would definitely accept.

This 2mil is just for football.

If Cincy leaves the BE, I'd bet 2 Ohio MAC programs get invited (Toledo & Ohio) and possibly NIU

Why would they want TWO ohio schools? Toledo has some sort of a market at least, Ohio though has???

(02-11-2013 06:23 PM)Poliicious Wrote:  If Cincy leaves the BE, I'd bet 2 Ohio MAC programs get invited (Toledo & Ohio) and possibly NIU

That would be our only chance of joining...with our current AD.