These are the games we know for sure will be on national TV, along with a few I think we expect to be picked up if all goes according to plan...
Known National TV Games w/ ACC teams
08/31 Fri NC St vs Tenn (Atlanta) ESPNU
09/01 Sat Clemson vs Auburn (Atlanta) ABC/ESPN
09/03 Mon Ga Tech @ Va Tech ESPN
09/15 Sat N Carolina @ Louisville ABC/ESPN
09/29 Sat Florida St @ S Florida ABC/ESPN
10/06 Sat Miami vs Notre Dame (Chicago) NBC 7:30 PM
10/06 Sat Boston College @ Army CBSSN
10/25 Thu Clemson @ Wake Forest ESPN
11/01 Thu Va Tech @ Miami ESPN
11/08 Thu Florida St @ Va Tech ESPN
11/15 Thu N Carolina @ Virginia ESPN
11/17 Sat Wake Forest @ Notre Dame NBC
Known game count, by team:
Boston College - 1
Clemson - 2
Duke - 0
Florida St - 2
Ga Tech - 1
Maryland - 0
Miami - 2
N Carolina - 2
NC St - 1
Virginia - 1
Va Tech - 3
Wake Forest - 2
Potential National TV Games
09/08 Sat Penn St @ Virginia ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/15 Sat Va Tech @ Pittsburgh TBD
09/22 Sat Clemson @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/29 Sat Va Tech vs. Cincinnati (Landover, MD) TBD
10/06 Sat Ga Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Va Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Florida St @ Miami ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/27 Sat BYU @ Ga Tech ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
11/10 Sat Notre Dame @ Boston College ABC/ESPN
11/24 Sat Florida @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
(edit: added color)
Strange UMD doesn't have any. Duke is expected, though.
(03-30-2012 08:30 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]Potential National TV Games
09/08 Sat Penn St @ Virginia ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/15 Sat Va Tech @ Pittsburgh TBD
09/22 Sat Clemson @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/29 Sat Va Tech vs. Cincinnati (Landover, MD) TBD
10/06 Sat Ga Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Va Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Florida St @ Miami ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/27 Sat BYU @ Ga Tech ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
11/10 Sat Notre Dame @ Boston College ABC/ESPN
11/24 Sat Florida @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
The only way those two happen is if they are noon games. Evidently the fine print in the ACC TV contract says we can only have nationally televised games at home when nobody is watching. God forbid this basketball conference actually show it's best football setting in prime time. It might make people think the sun doesnt rise and set in UNC basketball's ass.
(03-30-2012 08:51 PM)catdaddy_2402 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-30-2012 08:30 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]Potential National TV Games
09/08 Sat Penn St @ Virginia ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/15 Sat Va Tech @ Pittsburgh TBD
09/22 Sat Clemson @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/29 Sat Va Tech vs. Cincinnati (Landover, MD) TBD
10/06 Sat Ga Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Va Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Florida St @ Miami ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/27 Sat BYU @ Ga Tech ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
11/10 Sat Notre Dame @ Boston College ABC/ESPN
11/24 Sat Florida @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
The only way those two happen is if they are noon games. Evidently the fine print in the ACC TV contract says we can only have nationally televised games at home when nobody is watching. God forbid this basketball conference actually show it's best football setting in prime time. It might make people think the sun doesnt rise and set in UNC basketball's ass.
I'm looking at the ACC schedule last year at Matt's site
here
I guess I don't see what all the angst by you is about.
Cheers,
Neil
(03-30-2012 10:42 PM)omniorange Wrote: [ -> ] (03-30-2012 08:51 PM)catdaddy_2402 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-30-2012 08:30 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]Potential National TV Games
09/08 Sat Penn St @ Virginia ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/15 Sat Va Tech @ Pittsburgh TBD
09/22 Sat Clemson @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/29 Sat Va Tech vs. Cincinnati (Landover, MD) TBD
10/06 Sat Ga Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Va Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Florida St @ Miami ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/27 Sat BYU @ Ga Tech ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
11/10 Sat Notre Dame @ Boston College ABC/ESPN
11/24 Sat Florida @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
The only way those two happen is if they are noon games. Evidently the fine print in the ACC TV contract says we can only have nationally televised games at home when nobody is watching. God forbid this basketball conference actually show it's best football setting in prime time. It might make people think the sun doesnt rise and set in UNC basketball's ass.
I'm looking at the ACC schedule last year at Matt's site here
I guess I don't see what all the angst by you is about.
Cheers,
Neil
Neil, I think he would prefer Clemson games in primetime. If you look at the schedule, virtually every Clemson home game was a 12pm or 3:30pm start. Clemson played some evening road games but not at home.
To be honest, the SEC owns the primetime slot on ESPN/ESPN2/U with rare exceptions. ABC does some ACC games in the evening, but are often split with another game from the Big 12 or Pac-12.
I think when Pitt and SU join, the conference will have to get creative with scheduling. Might be another Thursday night game available, but pay attention to what the SEC does with television this offseason. If they decide that they'll do a package of internet exclusive games because the TV partners (CBS, ESPN and sublicense partners FOX & Comcast) don't have the space to take on more games, the ACC likely will have to do the same.
(03-31-2012 07:37 AM)mattsarz Wrote: [ -> ] (03-30-2012 10:42 PM)omniorange Wrote: [ -> ] (03-30-2012 08:51 PM)catdaddy_2402 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-30-2012 08:30 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]Potential National TV Games
09/08 Sat Penn St @ Virginia ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/15 Sat Va Tech @ Pittsburgh TBD
09/22 Sat Clemson @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
09/29 Sat Va Tech vs. Cincinnati (Landover, MD) TBD
10/06 Sat Ga Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Va Tech @ Clemson ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/20 Sat Florida St @ Miami ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
10/27 Sat BYU @ Ga Tech ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
11/10 Sat Notre Dame @ Boston College ABC/ESPN
11/24 Sat Florida @ Florida St ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
The only way those two happen is if they are noon games. Evidently the fine print in the ACC TV contract says we can only have nationally televised games at home when nobody is watching. God forbid this basketball conference actually show it's best football setting in prime time. It might make people think the sun doesnt rise and set in UNC basketball's ass.
I'm looking at the ACC schedule last year at Matt's site here
I guess I don't see what all the angst by you is about.
Cheers,
Neil
Neil, I think he would prefer Clemson games in primetime. If you look at the schedule, virtually every Clemson home game was a 12pm or 3:30pm start. Clemson played some evening road games but not at home.
To be honest, the SEC owns the primetime slot on ESPN/ESPN2/U with rare exceptions. ABC does some ACC games in the evening, but are often split with another game from the Big 12 or Pac-12.
I think when Pitt and SU join, the conference will have to get creative with scheduling. Might be another Thursday night game available, but pay attention to what the SEC does with television this offseason. If they decide that they'll do a package of internet exclusive games because the TV partners (CBS, ESPN and sublicense partners FOX & Comcast) don't have the space to take on more games, the ACC likely will have to do the same.
Most looked to me to be the 3:30 time slot, which is something as an Orange fan I would prefer since our Saturday games always seem to be at noon. Agree that the SEC is going to own the Saturday evening time slot, since CBS broadcasts the best of the afternoon games.
Again, I just don't see the reason for the angst.
Cheers,
Neil
On the one hand, 9 of 12 Clemson football games were on national tv last year, including 7 conference games. Considering that 2 of the 3 remaining games were Troy & Wofford, that means only 1 time did Clemson play a BCS team which wasn't nationally televised (BC at Clemson).
On the other hand, only 4 were in prime time, and they were ALL road games. Not that Clemson didn't play any good home games (Auburn, FSU, and UNC) - but they were all noon or 3:30 PM games.
It is rather curious, but unlike Cat Daddy I don't think it's a conspiracy. In fact, if Clemson can keep up the level of play they showed last year they will start to get prime time games again.
(03-31-2012 01:22 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]On the one hand, 9 of 12 Clemson football games were on national tv last year, including 7 conference games. Considering that 2 of the 3 remaining games were Troy & Wofford, that means only 1 time did Clemson play a BCS team which wasn't nationally televised (BC at Clemson).
On the other hand, only 4 were in prime time, and they were ALL road games. Not that Clemson didn't play any good home games (Auburn, FSU, and UNC) - but they were all noon or 3:30 PM games.
It is rather curious, but unlike Cat Daddy I don't think it's a conspiracy. In fact, if Clemson can keep up the level of play they showed last year they will start to get prime time games again.
WTF more do we have to do?
We haven't had a prime time home game since FSU in '09. In that time we have won the division twice, and the conference once. Maryland had 2 last year, Miami and BC both had one.
2006 vs GT was one of the best atmospheres that ESPN College Gameday had ever seen:
[video=youtube]<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_xx0Xk4fxUo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/video]
For God's sake we wouldn't want to put an ACC atmosphere like this:
[video=youtube]<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZCI6R05Dc2o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/video]
Out in front of a national TV audience to counter the very true argument that this is primarily a basketball conference.
(03-31-2012 10:58 PM)catdaddy_2402 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-31-2012 01:22 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]On the one hand, 9 of 12 Clemson football games were on national tv last year, including 7 conference games. Considering that 2 of the 3 remaining games were Troy & Wofford, that means only 1 time did Clemson play a BCS team which wasn't nationally televised (BC at Clemson).
On the other hand, only 4 were in prime time, and they were ALL road games. Not that Clemson didn't play any good home games (Auburn, FSU, and UNC) - but they were all noon or 3:30 PM games.
It is rather curious, but unlike Cat Daddy I don't think it's a conspiracy. In fact, if Clemson can keep up the level of play they showed last year they will start to get prime time games again.
WTF more do we have to do?
We haven't had a prime time home game since FSU in '09. In that time we have won the division twice, and the conference once. Maryland had 2 last year, Miami and BC both had one.
2006 vs GT was one of the best atmospheres that ESPN College Gameday had ever seen:
[video=youtube]<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_xx0Xk4fxUo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/video]
For God's sake we wouldn't want to put an ACC atmosphere like this:
[video=youtube]<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZCI6R05Dc2o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/video]
Out in front of a national TV audience to counter the very true argument that this is primarily a basketball conference.
Isn't it ESPN that decides who gets a Saturday night prime time game at night, not the conference?
Why are you blaming the conference for this? The commissioner of the conference can only admit into the league those schools the presidents will look upon favorably and, of course, those schools have to be willing to come to the ACC.
Is everything Swofford's and/or North Carolina's fault? Miami going into the tank is their fault? FSU faltering is their fault? ND wanting to remain independent is their fault? Clemson and Georgia Tech not performing up to past standards (even when the ACC led all conferences in terms of per team conference payouts) is their fault?
Get a grip man.
Cheers,
Neil
(03-31-2012 10:58 PM)catdaddy_2402 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-31-2012 01:22 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]It is rather curious, but unlike Cat Daddy I don't think it's a conspiracy. In fact, if Clemson can keep up the level of play they showed last year they will start to get prime time games again.
[ What] more do we have to do?
We haven't had a prime time home game since FSU in '09. In that time we have won the division twice, and the conference once. Maryland had 2 last year, Miami and BC both had one.
CatDaddy may actually have an argument here (or, he may just be paranoid)... the ACC chooses which week each game will be played. If Clemson is up against say, Alabama vs. LSU, while Ga Tech vs. N Carolina is up against nobody worth watching... he is, in effect, deciding which game will be in prime time.
ACC preliminary schedule is drawn up then handed to espn who decides thursday, labor day and other games with conference & school input.
(04-01-2012 08:11 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ] (03-31-2012 10:58 PM)catdaddy_2402 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-31-2012 01:22 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]It is rather curious, but unlike Cat Daddy I don't think it's a conspiracy. In fact, if Clemson can keep up the level of play they showed last year they will start to get prime time games again.
[ What] more do we have to do?
We haven't had a prime time home game since FSU in '09. In that time we have won the division twice, and the conference once. Maryland had 2 last year, Miami and BC both had one.
CatDaddy may actually have an argument here (or, he may just be paranoid)... the ACC chooses which week each game will be played. If Clemson is up against say, Alabama vs. LSU, while Ga Tech vs. N Carolina is up against nobody worth watching... he is, in effect, deciding which game will be in prime time.
This assumes the ACC schedule is done after the SEC schedule has been done. Is this the case?
I haven't followed ACC scheduling, so I have no idea.
Cheers,
Neil
(04-01-2012 12:06 PM)omniorange Wrote: [ -> ] (04-01-2012 08:11 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ] (03-31-2012 10:58 PM)catdaddy_2402 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-31-2012 01:22 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]It is rather curious, but unlike Cat Daddy I don't think it's a conspiracy. In fact, if Clemson can keep up the level of play they showed last year they will start to get prime time games again.
[ What] more do we have to do?
We haven't had a prime time home game since FSU in '09. In that time we have won the division twice, and the conference once. Maryland had 2 last year, Miami and BC both had one.
CatDaddy may actually have an argument here (or, he may just be paranoid)... the ACC chooses which week each game will be played. If Clemson is up against say, Alabama vs. LSU, while Ga Tech vs. N Carolina is up against nobody worth watching... he is, in effect, deciding which game will be in prime time.
This assumes the ACC schedule is done after the SEC schedule has been done. Is this the case?
I haven't followed ACC scheduling, so I have no idea.
Cheers,
Neil
It was the case this year and is most years. When it was at 12 teams, the SEC schedule was usually known a full year in advance with ESPN and CBS making minor alterations to do a Thursday night game or for Black Friday.
The 2012 SEC schedule was not announced until late December as they were initially trying to do 13 team models until Missouri was added, then did a one year 14 team model to account for existing scheduling rotations under the previous 12 team configuration. They are trying to hash out a new 14 team model where Missouri-Arkansas and Texas A&M-South Carolina are paired as cross division permanent games (the 12 game model had South Carolina & Arkansas paired together, this year's model pairs Mizzou & TAMU).
But the ACC schedule typically comes out right after National Signing Day in early February. When it is handed to ESPN prior to that I don't know. Probably close to New Years so that ESPN can help ACC teams alter things, particularly when it comes to a Labor Day matchup.
(04-01-2012 01:03 PM)mattsarz Wrote: [ -> ]It was the case this year and is most years. When it was at 12 teams, the SEC schedule was usually known a full year in advance with ESPN and CBS making minor alterations to do a Thursday night game or for Black Friday.
The 2012 SEC schedule was not announced until late December as they were initially trying to do 13 team models until Missouri was added, then did a one year 14 team model to account for existing scheduling rotations under the previous 12 team configuration. They are trying to hash out a new 14 team model where Missouri-Arkansas and Texas A&M-South Carolina are paired as cross division permanent games (the 12 game model had South Carolina & Arkansas paired together, this year's model pairs Mizzou & TAMU).
But the ACC schedule typically comes out right after National Signing Day in early February. When it is handed to ESPN prior to that I don't know. Probably close to New Years so that ESPN can help ACC teams alter things, particularly when it comes to a Labor Day matchup.
Thanks Matt. It's nice to have the guy I consider to be one the "experts" in this area as a fellow Orange fan.
So, in reviewing the Saturday evening games (beginning 6 pm or thereafter) involving ACC as the home team that were shown on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 over the past 4 years here is what I found.
FSU home games - 5
Miami home games - 4
Boston College home games - 3
Clemson home games - 2
Maryland home games - 2
GT home games - 2
UNC home games - 1
VT home games - 1
Wake Forest home games - 1 (vs. Notre Dame, nuff said)
Seems like VT has more to complain about than Clemson. And there certainly doesn't appear to me to be any manipulation to favor North Carolina over anyone, since the one Tar Heel game was against UConn, started at 6 pm, and was on ESPN2.
Cheers,
Neil
(04-01-2012 01:37 PM)omniorange Wrote: [ -> ] (04-01-2012 01:03 PM)mattsarz Wrote: [ -> ]It was the case this year and is most years. When it was at 12 teams, the SEC schedule was usually known a full year in advance with ESPN and CBS making minor alterations to do a Thursday night game or for Black Friday.
The 2012 SEC schedule was not announced until late December as they were initially trying to do 13 team models until Missouri was added, then did a one year 14 team model to account for existing scheduling rotations under the previous 12 team configuration. They are trying to hash out a new 14 team model where Missouri-Arkansas and Texas A&M-South Carolina are paired as cross division permanent games (the 12 game model had South Carolina & Arkansas paired together, this year's model pairs Mizzou & TAMU).
But the ACC schedule typically comes out right after National Signing Day in early February. When it is handed to ESPN prior to that I don't know. Probably close to New Years so that ESPN can help ACC teams alter things, particularly when it comes to a Labor Day matchup.
Thanks Matt. It's nice to have the guy I consider to be one the "experts" in this area as a fellow Orange fan.
So, in reviewing the Saturday evening games (beginning 6 pm or thereafter) involving ACC as the home team that were shown on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 over the past 4 years here is what I found.
FSU home games - 5
Miami home games - 4
Boston College home games - 3
Clemson home games - 2
Maryland home games - 2
GT home games - 2
UNC home games - 1
VT home games - 1
Wake Forest home games - 1 (vs. Notre Dame, nuff said)
Seems like VT has more to complain about than Clemson. And there certainly doesn't appear to me to be any manipulation to favor North Carolina over anyone, since the one Tar Heel game was against UConn, started at 6 pm, and was on ESPN2.
Cheers,
Neil
Thanks to both of you for this analysis.
What strikes me is not the distribution (expect FSU & Miami to be on top), but rather the low total - only 20 Saturday evening games in 4 years? In a 13 week TV schedule, considering there are at least 2 (ESPN & ESPN2) if not 3 (ABC) or 4 (CBS or NBC) night games every week - so really, it's 5 out of 156 (4 years X 13 weeks X 3 games/week). That means that only 5% of the Saturday night games are ACC home games.
I think that is CatDaddy's frustration. The fact that so many of the Saturday night games are SEC games must really gall him.
(04-01-2012 01:37 PM)omniorange Wrote: [ -> ]So, in reviewing the Saturday evening games (beginning 6 pm or thereafter) involving ACC as the home team that were shown on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 over the past 4 years here is what I found.
FSU home games - 5
Miami home games - 4
Boston College home games - 3
Clemson home games - 2
Maryland home games - 2
GT home games - 2
UNC home games - 1
VT home games - 1
Wake Forest home games - 1 (vs. Notre Dame, nuff said)
Seems like VT has more to complain about than Clemson. And there certainly doesn't appear to me to be any manipulation to favor North Carolina over anyone, since the one Tar Heel game was against UConn, started at 6 pm, and was on ESPN2.
Cheers,
Neil
The biggest problem is this. If we want to be seen as a big time football conference like out peers then we need to get the big time football atmospheres out there in the forefront as much as possible.
8 of the 21 games you listed were by the 3 schools that have the big time college football atmosphere. How many of those games were actual ACC vs ACC games? Right off the top of my head I know at least two that weren't......Clemson has only had one ACC home game in primetime, the other was South Carolina in 2010. FSU had Oklahoma last year in primetime.
Meanwhile we had FSU @ Clemson last year at 3:30 in a split telecast. We had the Atlantic Division clinching game between Wake and Clemson at noon on ESPNU while a Miami team out of Coastal contention played at a FSU team out of Atlantic contention at 3:30, and no ACC prime time game that week.
If we are going to sign such a horrible contract the least we can do is push for more prime time Saturday games. Thursday and Friday nights are small time games that small time conferences like the Big East, WAC, and MAC should be fighting for.
(04-01-2012 11:08 PM)catdaddy_2402 Wrote: [ -> ] (04-01-2012 01:37 PM)omniorange Wrote: [ -> ]So, in reviewing the Saturday evening games (beginning 6 pm or thereafter) involving ACC as the home team that were shown on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 over the past 4 years here is what I found.
FSU home games - 5
Miami home games - 4
Boston College home games - 3
Clemson home games - 2
Maryland home games - 2
GT home games - 2
UNC home games - 1
VT home games - 1
Wake Forest home games - 1 (vs. Notre Dame, nuff said)
Seems like VT has more to complain about than Clemson. And there certainly doesn't appear to me to be any manipulation to favor North Carolina over anyone, since the one Tar Heel game was against UConn, started at 6 pm, and was on ESPN2.
Cheers,
Neil
The biggest problem is this. If we want to be seen as a big time football conference like out peers then we need to get the big time football atmospheres out there in the forefront as much as possible.
8 of the 21 games you listed were by the 3 schools that have the big time college football atmosphere. How many of those games were actual ACC vs ACC games? Right off the top of my head I know at least two that weren't......Clemson has only had one ACC home game in primetime, the other was South Carolina in 2010. FSU had Oklahoma last year in primetime.
Meanwhile we had FSU @ Clemson last year at 3:30 in a split telecast. We had the Atlantic Division clinching game between Wake and Clemson at noon on ESPNU while a Miami team out of Coastal contention played at a FSU team out of Atlantic contention at 3:30, and no ACC prime time game that week.
If we are going to sign such a horrible contract the least we can do is push for more prime time Saturday games. Thursday and Friday nights are small time games that small time conferences like the Big East, WAC, and MAC should be fighting for.
Don't disagree with what you said above. I just don't see it being the conference office's scheduling as causing the problem that certain schools within the league are not performing up to snuff or lack that huge game day atmosphere.
Now, if you want to claim that is because the league has fallen behind in terms of conference dollars, there could be a kernel of truth in that at the present time, but up until the BTN got off the snide in 2008 and the new SEC contract signed in 2008 and effective for the 2009 season, the ACC gave each of its members the most $$$ back in terms of conference monies.
At what point do the individual institutions in this league start taking the blame and not the conference office?
Cheers,
Neil
The week that really got under my skin last year was the week ending 11/12/2011. That week GT/VT was on Thursday night - fine. But these 2 games were on Saturday:
* Atlantic Division clincher:
* Wake Forest at Clemson - 12:00 PM - ESPNU
* Final score: WF 28, CU 31 (exciting game)
* Big Rivalry game:
* Miami (FL) at Florida St. - 3:30 PM - ABC
* Final score: Miami 19, FSU 23 (another close game)
This is what ESPN force fed us in prime time:
* Tennessee at Arkansas - 6:00 PM - ESPN2
* Final score: TN 7, AK 49 (over by halftime)
* Western Kentucky at LSU - 7:00 PM - ESPNU
* Final score: W KY 9, LSU 42 (over before kickoff;
[This game had no business being in prime time - a slap in the face not only to the ACC but to all other conferences; didn't they think there was a better game than this to show in prime time?]
* Alabama at Mississippi St. - 7:45 PM - ESPN
* Final score: AL 25, MS St 7 (another blow-out)
So I sent them an email complaining to this address:
noreply@espncustomercare.com *see note
I told them I didn't appreciate them trying to force feed us garbage SEC games when the ACC had 2 compelling games that could [should] have been in prime time.
Consumer write-in campaigns really do work! Don't hesitate to let ABC/ESPN know that you want your team to be in prime time!
(edit) * note: I think you have to log in to ESPN3.com and click on Feedback from there or else they may filter out your email.
If anything, WF at Clemson deserved to be at 3:30pm on ABC. FSU was a disappointment, Miami was mediocre at best. As for the others, see my note in the other thread re: the SEC TV contract. They essentially own Saturday nights on ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU.
That week, to give a total picture, ABC had three windows with Oregon-Stanford on in primetime.
http://mattsarzsports.com/Football2011/week11
And here's the BCS rankings of teams when ESPN, CBS and other networks made their television selections for 11/12. TV selections are done 12 days in advance for most Saturdays in season, so the BCS rankings would have been as of 10/30.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/bcs/_/week/10
CBS had a 12pm and a 3:30pm SEC game. When this happens, they don't get 1st and 2nd choice, they get 1st and 4th choice. ESPN gets the two in the middle. Once CBS elected to go with Auburn-Georgia, ESPN had Alabama-MSSt. fall to them and they would have been foolish not to take it. Also at that time, Arkansas was top 10. Meanwhile, Clemson had just come off their loss at Georgia Tech by 2 TDs. As for LSU, they're #1 in the nation. Even if they are taking on Western Kentucky, 11/12 was the 1st time ESPN had access to them as part of the SEC contract since the Thursday night Mississippi St. game in November. Plus LSU had not played a night game at home since then, which is a huge deal to their fans (they didn't play a single conference night game at home for the 1st time since the 30s I believe).
I realize that this sounds like someone backing the SEC, or ESPN's choices. But I will tell you that getting these games into television slots is not easy. There's a ton of rules all networks have to follow (number of games a team can appear on CBS or ABC, getting all teams into a syndication package if possible, when can games be scheduled, what other non-CFB programming is being worked around).
(04-02-2012 04:47 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote: [ -> ]The week that really got under my skin last year was the week ending 11/12/2011. That week GT/VT was on Thursday night - fine. But these 2 games were on Saturday:
* Atlantic Division clincher:
* Wake Forest at Clemson - 12:00 PM - ESPNU
* Final score: WF 28, CU 31 (exciting game)
* Big Rivalry game:
* Miami (FL) at Florida St. - 3:30 PM - ABC
* Final score: Miami 19, FSU 23 (another close game)
This is what ESPN force fed us in prime time:
* Tennessee at Arkansas - 6:00 PM - ESPN2
* Final score: TN 7, AK 49 (over by halftime)
* Western Kentucky at LSU - 7:00 PM - ESPNU
* Final score: W KY 9, LSU 42 (over before kickoff;
[This game had no business being in prime time - a slap in the face not only to the ACC but to all other conferences; didn't they think there was a better game than this to show in prime time?]
* Alabama at Mississippi St. - 7:45 PM - ESPN
* Final score: AL 25, MS St 7 (another blow-out)
So I sent them an email complaining to this address:
noreply@espncustomercare.com *see note
I told them I didn't appreciate them trying to force feed us garbage SEC games when the ACC had 2 compelling games that could [should] have been in prime time.
Consumer write-in campaigns really do work! Don't hesitate to let ABC/ESPN know that you want your team to be in prime time!
(edit) * note: I think you have to log in to ESPN3.com and click on Feedback from there or else they may filter out your email.
The 7:45 slot on ESPN is pretty much a season long lock for the SEC, even if a better ACC game is available. ESPN can't show any SEC games on ABC, so has developed the 7:45 slot as an SEC showcase.
The 3:30 pm slot is in theory a very good one, although the B1G is the dominant conference in the ABC regional package.
LSU was shown because they were in the national championship hunt. I'm not sure why this wasn't LSU's Tier 3 game. Having said this, Number One generates a rating even during a bye week. Quickest way to get more games show is to get a school ranked in the top 3 or 4. However, any slot on ESPNU sucks and better only than a slot on ESPN3.
I know it was not part of the ACC package, but ND-Maryland at Landover, MD was on at 7:30 pm on NBC. That may have steered ESPN from including an ACC game on prime time ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Might I suggest a "watch in" campaign. Boycott all games except the ACC! ESPN places games based upon what they think will get watched, which in turn is based on historic trends.