(08-01-2015 12:36 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 12:34 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  Can someone explain the hard data on what is the advantage of this ESPN deal? How much money is NIU getting paid? Is the contract still top secret? Is it worth the price to sacrifice season ticket holders and attendance for weekday games?

"Since then, Brett McMurphy of ESPN (and several others) have reported that this 13-year deal with ESPN is worth more than $100 million, or roughly about $8 million a season. That factors out to about $670,000 per school, per season, a big improvement over the roughly $120,000 each school received under the previous $1.4 million a year deal, a nearly 500 percent increase in annual payouts."

http://www.hustlebelt.com/2014/8/19/6045...pn-tv-deal

The current AAC contract is for more money over less time. NIU to the AAC sounds good to me at this juncture, tell Buffalo to pack their bags and come with us!
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/tu...f59aa.html

So with the initial deal, the season ticket holders were sold out for $120K. Even with the $670K, they could pull in a ton more than that from one game at one of the big boys. But, money and the fans were never a priority of the MAC. It's all about showing their empty stadiums on one of the ESPN channels or webcast.

(08-01-2015 01:36 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  So with the initial deal, the season ticket holders were sold out for $120K. Even with the $670K, they could pull in a ton more than that from one game at one of the big boys. But, money and the fans were never a priority of the MAC. It's all about showing their empty stadiums on one of the ESPN channels or webcast.

The publicity is worth a lot. I really believe that Jordan for the Heisman and the orange bowl would NEVER have happened without ESPN. Yes, it sucks for season ticket holders and fans but it does have some benefits

(08-01-2015 01:44 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 01:36 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  So with the initial deal, the season ticket holders were sold out for $120K. Even with the $670K, they could pull in a ton more than that from one game at one of the big boys. But, money and the fans were never a priority of the MAC. It's all about showing their empty stadiums on one of the ESPN channels or webcast.

The publicity is worth a lot. I really believe that Jordan for the Heisman and the orange bowl would NEVER have happened without ESPN. Yes, it sucks for season ticket holders and fans but it does have some benefits

ESPN had very little, if nothing, to do with NIU going to the Orange Bowl in 2012.

The things that had the biggest effect were NIU going 12-1, a strong MAC overall, in which Ohio, Toledo, Kent State, and NIU were all ranked at some point during the season, P5 teams being ineligible for bowl games, such as Ohio State and Penn State, Nebraska getting shellacked by a 7-5 Wisconsin team in the B10 title game, and virtually every team in between NIU and the top 16 losing at some point in the last month, some more than once.

(08-01-2015 01:56 PM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 01:44 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 01:36 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  So with the initial deal, the season ticket holders were sold out for $120K. Even with the $670K, they could pull in a ton more than that from one game at one of the big boys. But, money and the fans were never a priority of the MAC. It's all about showing their empty stadiums on one of the ESPN channels or webcast.

The publicity is worth a lot. I really believe that Jordan for the Heisman and the orange bowl would NEVER have happened without ESPN. Yes, it sucks for season ticket holders and fans but it does have some benefits

ESPN had very little, if nothing, to do with NIU going to the Orange Bowl in 2012.

The things that had the biggest effect were NIU going 12-1, a strong MAC overall, in which Ohio, Toledo, Kent State, and NIU were all ranked at some point during the season, P5 teams being ineligible for bowl games, such as Ohio State and Penn State, Nebraska getting shellacked by a 7-5 Wisconsin team in the B10 title game, and virtually every team in between NIU and the top 16 losing at some point in the last month, some more than once.

I disagree - having people/voters around the nation watch us live several weeks sure helps when they are completing their ballots. Yes - it was still the team kicking ass but if no one saw them kicking ass I am not sure it would happen

(08-01-2015 01:44 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 01:36 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  So with the initial deal, the season ticket holders were sold out for $120K. Even with the $670K, they could pull in a ton more than that from one game at one of the big boys. But, money and the fans were never a priority of the MAC. It's all about showing their empty stadiums on one of the ESPN channels or webcast.

The publicity is worth a lot. I really believe that Jordan for the Heisman and the orange bowl would NEVER have happened without ESPN. Yes, it sucks for season ticket holders and fans but it does have some benefits

It is obviously worth a lot to the MAC. But it shows that they do not give a rat's ass about their fans. For that reason alone, I do not want to be a part of this bottom-dweller conference. I have relatives in other parts of the country who watch some of the games and laugh that the conference has no fans and the teams play in empty stadiums. I hear this every year in November. Great publicity indeed!

The publicity is probably over-rated. How do we quantify the advantage we get from the publicity? If it resulted in more donations, or if the teams improved in recruiting versus other conferences, that would be an indication. I haven't seen either one, and we've been doing midweek games for several years now.

I think money is by far the biggest rational reason for the deal with E$PN. Is it enough? I'm not convinced at all.

(08-01-2015 07:24 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  The publicity is probably over-rated. How do we quantify the advantage we get from the publicity? If it resulted in more donations, or if the teams improved in recruiting versus other conferences, that would be an indication. I haven't seen either one, and we've been doing midweek games for several years now.

I think money is by far the biggest rational reason for the deal with E$PN. Is it enough? I'm not convinced at all.

I think the publicity helps. I would imagine it helps a bit with recruiting. Being able to tell players they can be on ESPN for the world to see 3 or 4 times a year is a difference maker (for teams like NIU who get their games on TV because of their track record and viewership). It has to really stink for the bottom half of the MAC who still have play during the week but don't get the benefit of being on ESPN. I'm not saying it is going to convince guys to turn down a P5 offer in favor of NIU but it probably helps to some degree.

All that said, I would love to see NIU move on to greener pastures. The AAC is probably the most realistic chance. I know MD thinks the AAC is going the way of the newspaper, but it is still a step up from the MAC even if the top team or two left.

(08-01-2015 09:53 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 07:24 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  The publicity is probably over-rated. How do we quantify the advantage we get from the publicity? If it resulted in more donations, or if the teams improved in recruiting versus other conferences, that would be an indication. I haven't seen either one, and we've been doing midweek games for several years now.

I think money is by far the biggest rational reason for the deal with E$PN. Is it enough? I'm not convinced at all.

I think the publicity helps. I would imagine it helps a bit with recruiting. Being able to tell players they can be on ESPN for the world to see 3 or 4 times a year is a difference maker (for teams like NIU who get their games on TV because of their track record and viewership). It has to really stink for the bottom half of the MAC who still have play during the week but don't get the benefit of being on ESPN. I'm not saying it is going to convince guys to turn down a P5 offer in favor of NIU but it probably helps to some degree.

All that said, I would love to see NIU move on to greener pastures. The AAC is probably the most realistic chance. I know MD thinks the AAC is going the way of the newspaper, but it is still a step up from the MAC even if the top team or two left.

Agreed, bail on the MAC. If we go to the AAC or elsewhere, and that league fails, what the worst that happen to us? We go independent and ESPN takes advantage of our new lowly status and forces us to play weeknight football games,... oh... wait...

(08-02-2015 11:44 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 09:53 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 07:24 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  The publicity is probably over-rated. How do we quantify the advantage we get from the publicity? If it resulted in more donations, or if the teams improved in recruiting versus other conferences, that would be an indication. I haven't seen either one, and we've been doing midweek games for several years now.

I think money is by far the biggest rational reason for the deal with E$PN. Is it enough? I'm not convinced at all.

I think the publicity helps. I would imagine it helps a bit with recruiting. Being able to tell players they can be on ESPN for the world to see 3 or 4 times a year is a difference maker (for teams like NIU who get their games on TV because of their track record and viewership). It has to really stink for the bottom half of the MAC who still have play during the week but don't get the benefit of being on ESPN. I'm not saying it is going to convince guys to turn down a P5 offer in favor of NIU but it probably helps to some degree.

All that said, I would love to see NIU move on to greener pastures. The AAC is probably the most realistic chance. I know MD thinks the AAC is going the way of the newspaper, but it is still a step up from the MAC even if the top team or two left.

Agreed, bail on the MAC. If we go to the AAC or elsewhere, and that league fails, what the worst that happen to us? We go independent and ESPN takes advantage of our new lowly status and forces us to play weeknight football games,... oh... wait...

You definitely do not want to consider the AAC at this point, like you mentioned it is going the way of the newspaper and has no future. The few schools worth anything in that conference might be leaving soon and I don't think the conference will even exist in 3 or 4 years. The MAC is as strong as its ever been, NIU is in a good spot right now

Quote:ESPN had very little, if nothing, to do with NIU going to the Orange Bowl in 2012.

Ranking. It had a good amount to do with going. If all NIU could ever been known about was on AM radio and in a newspaper box scores -- they wouldn't have gone.

Quote:You definitely do not want to consider the AAC at this point

I agree. Marshall's not in a better spot being in CUSA, but they were back in the day when transitioning. AAC makes people immediately say "Yes" because of bowl-matchup agreements from when it was the Big East and a BCS conference still in play, but those are expiring. And so are the teams, as it isn't as good as it once was. But yes, it is better than the MAC, on any average year vs average year. But AAC is going to lose some teams in the coming years -- which will be required for NIU to hop in -- and then it isn't as good of a jump.

For football, of course. As long as UConn, Temple, and Memphis are still in there -- yeah, it's far and away a great league there for basketball.

(08-01-2015 01:56 PM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 01:44 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  ESPN had very little, if nothing, to do with NIU going to the Orange Bowl in 2012.

I disagree - having people/voters around the nation watch us live several weeks sure helps when they are completing their ballots.

Mark26pt2, how can you disagree with BaresemaBone2 that ESPN had very little, if nothing, to do with NIU going to the Orange Bowl?
Were you not around to listen Herbs---t mock the Huskies' selection? The P5 in their infinite arrogance left a loophole they never figured anyone would meet and NIU did just that -- winning the conference and getting ranked high enough to meet the criteria.
Some don't care for Mike Korcek, but give him credit, LeShon Johnson finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy race and NIU wasn't on national TV once that year. It's possible for national media, pollsters, college fans, etc. to learn about talented Huskie athletes or outstanding Huskie teams despite ESPN constant sucking up to P5 programs.
You say "the publicity is worth a lot," I'd say the publicity was worth a lot at one time. Now that publicity comes at the expense of the MAC being viewed as a league playing in half-empty stadiums. There is no question weeknight games do not help our attendance and do nothing to grow our season ticket base -- which is what is needed. It's what this administration is trying to do by improving Huskie Stadium and the gameday experience, except that gameday experience is limited when kickoff is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday or Wednesday night in November. Weeknight games do nothing to help local businesses and that means they have less revenue to support Huskie athletics. Granted, it's difficult to measure the true value of exposure, but how do you also measure the lack of exposure? Last season, there were two Saturdays in November when not one single MAC team played and every single halftime, postgame, or evening wrap-up show be it on ESPN, Fox, CBS, etc. was watched by college football fans without the league being mentioned once. So how much does that lack of exposure hurt?
How much can it really help recruiting to tell a kid he's going to be on ESPN when in reality it might be ESPN2 but more likely ESPN3? And the same claim is being made by coaches from Ohio, Ball State and even EMU? And that claim is also being made by the Sun Belt? Without an internet search, name a Sun Belt player that went in the last draft? How many of the MAC's four NFL draft picks do you know? We want the program to move forward, but these weeknight games have now become old hat, so how are they moving us forward?

I do think the Orange Bowl and specifically the ESPN reaction caused a post-Orange Bowl shift in terms of the Media and Coaches poll. Those casting ballots have to have a good pointed to their head to vote for a MAC team now. Granted those polls do not mean a tremendous amount now, but a clear shift in voting philosophy became established after ESPN illegitimized MAC football.

The thing that was so disgraceful about ESPN that night/week, was that it wasn't just one blowhard (Herbstreit) spouting his ignorant crap, it was a broader, coordinated pre-mediated message they developed to trash NIU and the MAC.

(08-02-2015 06:06 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 01:56 PM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 01:44 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  ESPN had very little, if nothing, to do with NIU going to the Orange Bowl in 2012.

I disagree - having people/voters around the nation watch us live several weeks sure helps when they are completing their ballots.

Mark26pt2, how can you disagree with BaresemaBone2 that ESPN had very little, if nothing, to do with NIU going to the Orange Bowl?
Were you not around to listen Herbs---t mock the Huskies' selection? The P5 in their infinite arrogance left a loophole they never figured anyone would meet and NIU did just that -- winning the conference and getting ranked high enough to meet the criteria.
Some don't care for Mike Korcek, but give him credit, LeShon Johnson finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy race and NIU wasn't on national TV once that year. It's possible for national media, pollsters, college fans, etc. to learn about talented Huskie athletes or outstanding Huskie teams despite ESPN constant sucking up to P5 programs.
You say "the publicity is worth a lot," I'd say the publicity was worth a lot at one time. Now that publicity comes at the expense of the MAC being viewed as a league playing in half-empty stadiums. There is no question weeknight games do not help our attendance and do nothing to grow our season ticket base -- which is what is needed. It's what this administration is trying to do by improving Huskie Stadium and the gameday experience, except that gameday experience is limited when kickoff is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday or Wednesday night in November. Weeknight games do nothing to help local businesses and that means they have less revenue to support Huskie athletics. Granted, it's difficult to measure the true value of exposure, but how do you also measure the lack of exposure? Last season, there were two Saturdays in November when not one single MAC team played and every single halftime, postgame, or evening wrap-up show be it on ESPN, Fox, CBS, etc. was watched by college football fans without the league being mentioned once. So how much does that lack of exposure hurt?
How much can it really help recruiting to tell a kid he's going to be on ESPN when in reality it might be ESPN2 but more likely ESPN3? And the same claim is being made by coaches from Ohio, Ball State and even EMU? And that claim is also being made by the Sun Belt? Without an internet search, name a Sun Belt player that went in the last draft? How many of the MAC's four NFL draft picks do you know? We want the program to move forward, but these weeknight games have now become old hat, so how are they moving us forward?

+1

(08-02-2015 05:36 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:ESPN had very little, if nothing, to do with NIU going to the Orange Bowl in 2012.

Ranking. It had a good amount to do with going. If all NIU could ever been known about was on AM radio and in a newspaper box scores -- they wouldn't have gone.

Quote:You definitely do not want to consider the AAC at this point

I agree. Marshall's not in a better spot being in CUSA, but they were back in the day when transitioning. AAC makes people immediately say "Yes" because of bowl-matchup agreements from when it was the Big East and a BCS conference still in play, but those are expiring. And so are the teams, as it isn't as good as it once was. But yes, it is better than the MAC, on any average year vs average year. But AAC is going to lose some teams in the coming years -- which will be required for NIU to hop in -- and then it isn't as good of a jump.

For football, of course. As long as UConn, Temple, and Memphis are still in there -- yeah, it's far and away a great league there for basketball.

SMU is improving greatly in hoops with Larry Brown on the sidelines. American is a better hoops conference than football