I don't think we're on even remotely the same page as to how big of a paradigm shift we're talking about with these mega conferences.

At minimum we're talking about a breakaway of the P5 operating under its own rules and playoff structure. This new organization would be akin to Major League Baseball and would have complete central authority. There might be some allowance for minor rules variances between the ACC/SEC and BigPac leagues akin to the DH, but not much. The SEC/ACC and B1G/PAC leagues would likely have separate media contracts for the regular season, but even that would be somewhat uncertain. And if this new organization is establishing a network, they are going to want outright ownership. It doesn't matter how many viewers the PAC, B1G, or SEC networks had going into the mergers- that's completely irrelevant because all the terms other than ownership we be subject to renegotiation and this organization would want to be completely clear of any binding ties to ESPN, FOX, CBs, or Comcast.

The "conferences" would provide the historical and geographic basis as well as the branding for divisions, but there really would be no more PAC, B1G, SEC, or ACC conferences in the historical sense or in the sense we have known them. The Big Ten is already long gone, and whatever real functional vestige of its academic prowess would reside in the CIC, which would not automatically include new members of the B1G sports division.

At maximum, depending how these lawsuits play out, we're talking about a pro-league that purchases/rents campus stadiums, names, and logos and operates otherwise outside the umbrella of the universities. In this case, the academic aspects become completely irrelevant.

(03-27-2014 10:49 PM)jrj84105 Wrote:  I don't think we're on even remotely the same page as to how big of a paradigm shift we're talking about with these mega conferences.

At minimum we're talking about a breakaway of the P5 operating under its own rules and playoff structure. This new organization would be akin to Major League Baseball and would have complete central authority. There might be some allowance for minor rules variances between the ACC/SEC and BigPac leagues akin to the DH, but not much. The SEC/ACC and B1G/PAC leagues would likely have separate media contracts for the regular season, but even that would be somewhat uncertain. And if this new organization is establishing a network, they are going to want outright ownership. It doesn't matter how many viewers the PAC, B1G, or SEC networks had going into the mergers- that's completely irrelevant because all the terms other than ownership we be subject to renegotiation and this organization would want to be completely clear of any binding ties to ESPN, FOX, CBs, or Comcast.

The "conferences" would provide the historical and geographic basis as well as the branding for divisions, but there really would be no more PAC, B1G, SEC, or ACC conferences in the historical sense or in the sense we have known them. The Big Ten is already long gone, and whatever real functional vestige of its academic prowess would reside in the CIC, which would not automatically include new members of the B1G sports division.

At maximum, depending how these lawsuits play out, we're talking about a pro-league that purchases/rents campus stadiums, names, and logos and operates otherwise outside the umbrella of the universities. In this case, the academic aspects become completely irrelevant.

i completely agree with you. i envision really the big/sec being exactly like you said. thats why i made 3 large divisions that in reality are de facto conferences that have their champs play each other. in the sec i even name the divisions southwest, southeast, & atlantic coast to pay homage to that.

what it comes down to is this:
-the BTN is something that takes years to build and i don't see the point in starting over.

-outright network ownership is overrated. the BIG proved this with their 49% share of the BTN.

-i look at viewership because it exposes a need & a problem for the cali-4. something that tells them that for their longterm survival they need to team up with the b10. if they want to match the b10/sec payout levels then need to join the b10 or raid the texahoma because if these trends continue, they will get slowly left behind $$ wise.

-in terms of the CIC

oregon & notre dame don't get membership. zona, syracuse & BC might.....might not. depending on how the b10 schools vote.

(03-27-2014 10:49 PM)jrj84105 Wrote:  I don't think we're on even remotely the same page as to how big of a paradigm shift we're talking about with these mega conferences.

At minimum we're talking about a breakaway of the P5 operating under its own rules and playoff structure. This new organization would be akin to Major League Baseball and would have complete central authority. There might be some allowance for minor rules variances between the ACC/SEC and BigPac leagues akin to the DH, but not much. The SEC/ACC and B1G/PAC leagues would likely have separate media contracts for the regular season, but even that would be somewhat uncertain. And if this new organization is establishing a network, they are going to want outright ownership. It doesn't matter how many viewers the PAC, B1G, or SEC networks had going into the mergers- that's completely irrelevant because all the terms other than ownership we be subject to renegotiation and this organization would want to be completely clear of any binding ties to ESPN, FOX, CBs, or Comcast.

The "conferences" would provide the historical and geographic basis as well as the branding for divisions, but there really would be no more PAC, B1G, SEC, or ACC conferences in the historical sense or in the sense we have known them. The Big Ten is already long gone, and whatever real functional vestige of its academic prowess would reside in the CIC, which would not automatically include new members of the B1G sports division.

At maximum, depending how these lawsuits play out, we're talking about a pro-league that purchases/rents campus stadiums, names, and logos and operates otherwise outside the umbrella of the universities. In this case, the academic aspects become completely irrelevant.

And if that happens, in a generation all those stadiums will be half empty, if not shuttered.

We already have a very successful pro league. It is called the NFL.

(03-28-2014 11:06 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  And if that happens, in a generation all those stadiums will be half empty, if not shuttered.

Does everyone not agree that this is a very real possibility in the current climate? Between chronic traumatic encephalopathy, unionization, and the inability of most institutions to stay in the black, the possibility of a final cash grab in the twighlight of college football seems very real.

(03-28-2014 02:51 PM)jrj84105 Wrote:  

(03-28-2014 11:06 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  And if that happens, in a generation all those stadiums will be half empty, if not shuttered.

Does everyone not agree that this is a very real possibility in the current climate? Between chronic traumatic encephalopathy, unionization, and the inability of most institutions to stay in the black, the possibility of a final cash grab in the twighlight of college football seems very real.

i think what he is saying is that the appeal to college athletics is that fans root for the team because of its connection to the school not the "field talent".

if schools deemphasize sports but continue to use true student athletes they can retain a large number of their fanbase

if schools go "all in" on a pro system they will lose a large number of their fans.

that is the point I think he was getting at.

(03-28-2014 03:52 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(03-28-2014 02:51 PM)jrj84105 Wrote:  

(03-28-2014 11:06 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  And if that happens, in a generation all those stadiums will be half empty, if not shuttered.

Does everyone not agree that this is a very real possibility in the current climate? Between chronic traumatic encephalopathy, unionization, and the inability of most institutions to stay in the black, the possibility of a final cash grab in the twighlight of college football seems very real.

i think what he is saying is that the appeal to college athletics is that fans root for the team because of its connection to the school not the "field talent".

if schools deemphasize sports but continue to use true student athletes they can retain a large number of their fanbase

if schools go "all in" on a pro system they will lose a large number of their fans.

that is the point I think he was getting at.

Yes - that was my point.

But the other poster makes some good points that college football maybe doomed regardless