(10-29-2014 04:46 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote: (10-28-2014 03:10 PM)mtmedlin Wrote: If the ACC had still gone through with the raid then it would have been downgraded...how far, well never know.
I honestly think that ESPN decided to destroy the Big East when we publicly announced that we were going to bid out our contract. Instead of pay $130 million for 10 teams they may or may not have totally wanted, they instead stripped out 7 and left three. The MWC got real quiet after they saw what ESPN did to us.
If we had been smart during that time, we would have told the Catholic 7 that we were going to do what we wanted and they could leave if they didnt like it. Instead, we sat around negotiating the move of Villanova up and it gave Pitt time to back end us and negotiate with the ACC.
We should have stayed with the 8 we had and then moved forward with TCU. Houston got hot right around that time and I think they would have been #10. The C7 would have probably left at that point but we still could have singed a deal in the $8-10 million range.
Then when the B12 was nearly dead, we would have been in a better position to accept in the forgotten four of ISU, KSU, KU and Baylor.
Nothing against the CUSA teams that joined us, but that would have been a great conference. Bball would have been pure murder.
Sorry, but you keep making some false assumptions. I'll address this post first. Back then WVU, Pitt, Cuse, and others were the ones back stabbing you, said no to the $130 million while shopping themselves out. The B-12? Even if you had the 8-10 million dollar deal the B-12 did die, so that is a moot point. Also, TCU was out the door before they were in.
The other false assumption you've made several times is that our TV contract will not go up in 5 years. The way things are shaping up, UCF last year, ECU possible this year, then Basketball and the strong ratings we are pulling the contract will go up. I could easily see 5-6 million dollar deal per team. Add BYU and Army 6.5-7.5 per team deal. Not great, but a whole lot better than the BE, which if their ratings hold true, they could see their deal drop.
Theres no false assumptions. I specifically point to Pitt about screwing us becuase their chancellor was the president of the executive board and was put in a position to help hold the Big East together. Instead he was negotiating behind our backs. Cuse is to blame to, but Pitt was especially wrong in their actions.
WVU wasnt doing anything. They were in no position to. THe ACC was never going to take them because at the time their Academics would have been the lowest by far... and they were the big dog in a conference that was about to get a decent paycheck. They didnt jump until the conference was near dead and the B12 threw them a lifeline.
Ive NEVER said that the TV contract wont go up in 5 years. I do believe it will... "IF" we continue to win and hold together but we better sign the offer that ESPN gives us and not screw around with them.
My assertion has been that I dont believe that ESPN will do anything to help us until the contract is up because they have no need to. I have stated that I find it interesting that BYU, AAC and MWC all have contracts that end around the same time.
I personally think they may try to make a super conference out of us and we would be the final piece to the P5+1 breaking away and forming a new tier. The conferences will do what the paycheck says and ESPN holds everybodys contract well into the mid to late 2020s... Think about the exclusivity they would get if they held the majority of all the contracts in that new level of football... add in an expanded playoff then invite the Big East, A-10 and a west coast basketball conference and now you can run your own BBall tournament and keep all that cash too.
***
As far as the B12 thing... and Ill admit some of this is my own bias but also theres alot of fact.
The Boston College President flat out said that ESPN was the one that told them to take Cuse and Pitt. We simply got punished for daring to go against them when we announced that we would shop our contract. I believe all along that ESPNs plan was to only have 5 conferences BUT what they wanted was to put Texas, Tech, Ok and OSU in the P12. That gives them two Premier football conferences in the SEC and PAC12 along with the Big 10 and ACC.... but what to do with ISU, KSU, KU and Baylor? They have value... the Answer was supposed to be the Big East. Add TCU and the fogotten 4 and you have a conference very much equal to the ACC. I think team #14 would have been BYU.
When we announced that we would shop our contract, mysteriously the ACC who didnt show any signs of wanting to expand, adds 2. Then BYU gets an independent contract just when the Big East is speaking to them about possibly joining Boise St and SDSU, then the Longwhore network is finalized and the B12 is stabalized.
ESPN nearly had five conferences with the Big East also having the C7 a part of it. It would have been all they needed to start the process of splitting apart from the rest... and the Big East had room to add a couple western schools if need be.
I just find it way too much of a coincidence that all these things happened just as the Big Eat was trying to make their moves. BYU was NEVER discussed as getting a decent indy contract... until right after the Big East talked to them... and in EVERY case it was ESPN who was the TV partner with the people who took our teams or blocked our moves.
Hell, even when Boise St backed out it was because ESPN ponied up more cash for the MWC deal and help get BSU a sweetheart deal where they earn more.
So, if you want to argue over some of my assertions that arent based on fact go ahead, but he whole Pitt, Cuse and WVU thing is fact.
.gif)