<a href='http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-floridaam-divisioni-a&prov=ap&type=lgns' target='_blank'>Yahoo! Article</a>
Evidently someone thinks it's a good time to move. It does provide some interesting considerations:
1. I think the SBC would jump on this chance to build their conference and be in FL.
2. I think FAMU hopes it has some political pressure to join a "better" (Big East, CUSA) conference, as the first and only historically black university to play at the Div IA level, but will accept an offer from the SBC if necessary.
3. I think FAMU is also trying to get in on the Div IA meal ticket before the doors shut. It may be too late, but they realize that doing nothing will be worse.
Or maybe they're just trying to maximize the visibility of the FAMU Marching 100.
<a href='http://www.famumusic.com/marching/html/home.html' target='_blank'>http://www.famumusic.com/marching/html/home.html</a>
UPDATED: I found a video clip of the Marching 100 at the link below, but the Southern band (also at this link) outplayed 'em on this one.
<a href='http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_883884.html' target='_blank'>http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/...ure_883884.html</a>
<a href='http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/6024954.htm' target='_blank'>FAMU revels in TV deal</a>
<a href='http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/6016211.htm' target='_blank'>Rattlers strike five-year TV deal</a>
Reach wise it's not all that great right now -- 10 million homes nationally and still growing -- but that's a pretty damn good deal. Financially it looks great for FAM as well. "could bring in a guaranteed $7.5million and as much as $24million over five years"
Quote:Sewell said that securing an independent television contract should make the university more attractive to another conference.
Damn straight.
to them.
CUSA is a realistic goal for FAMU in the aftermath of a conference shakeup. If that doesn't work, they might be better off just playing as an independent with the rest of their sports going to the Atlantic Sun conference.
KC
I'm glad they are making the move. Many of the MAC schools could use this as a wake up call. They asy that the reason they do not draw is because they are in the same areas as Big 10 schools. Well FAMU is not only in the same state as many great programs, but if memory serves me right, they are in the same CITY as Florida State! Now I know that biung a historically black college gives them a built in fan base, but They must see that they can keep their head above water while playing with the big boys.
Best of lick to them.
I agree w/ everything all of you have written. The band may put a few more fans in seats, and if it travels, may make FAMU an even more desirable team to be hosted.
The history does provide a fan base, and the TV contract will expand that and help (hugely!) them make the transition to Div IA.
Kudos to FAMU for a well orchestrated move.
And yes the MAC should take heed that they too can move forward despite heavy competition.
Best of LUCK, not best of LICK. That's why I don't type while drinking that often.
haha, we got the point anyways
Is it me, or should Jackson State have tried this 10 years ago?
RochesterFalcon Wrote:Is it me, or should Jackson State have tried this 10 years ago?
Interesting that you said this, because I was thinking earlier that Grambling or JSU are more well-known HBU's. But, I don't know about any TV deals that they could have secured, or to be honest how well those programs were performing, or even how well FAMU is playing now.
Seems like somebody might be able to do a deal w/ BET.
Quote:Best of LUCK, not best of LICK. That's why I don't type while drinking that often
Hope it wasn't from a Grecian Urn! :D
DrTorch Wrote:RochesterFalcon Wrote:Is it me, or should Jackson State have tried this 10 years ago?
Interesting that you said this, because I was thinking earlier that Grambling or JSU are more well-known HBU's. But, I don't know about any TV deals that they could have secured, or to be honest how well those programs were performing, or even how well FAMU is playing now.
Seems like somebody might be able to do a deal w/ BET.
BET already carries a MEAC game of the week, which I frequently find more entertaining than the other stuff on offer. It looks like FAMU went with a start-up network that is trying to counter-program to that.
My thought was that La.-Lafayette and La.-Monroe both are very lucky that Grambling and Southern didn't decide to move up together, say ten years ago. Ask Tulane how good a draw Southern is in New Orleans for big games. Heck, before the Saints got decent again, Grambling-Southern was the biggest football game of the year at the Superdome. And I think that either school would generate huge interest visiting SEC West schools.
I think FAMU has won the MEAC something like two of the last three years. If I recall correctly, they've worked out some deal for the MEAC champ to participate in the 1AA playoffs too. (The MEAC and SWAC used to forego the playoffs in favor of a bowl game between their champions.)
Why would FAMU want to move to Iowa (IA)? :D Although, those cornheads do know how to jiggy.