This is what I think is the best deal for UC if the ACC or Big 12 invite does not happen. I have no interest in the NBE or whatever it will be called when it is all said and done

Assuming the worst and this leak is an actual gauge on what our television contract will actually be worst, I immediately begin talking to the C7 and the MWC about joining. If the MWC has an interest in Cincy and UConn as football-only members, then hopefully we can leverage that to force the NBE schools to allow us to join for just football. Losing Florida recruiting and traveling multiple time zones to middle of nowhere areas like Nevada and New Mexico on a regular basis would be devastating to our program. The best thing Cincinnati can do is maximize our basketball worth in the C-7 and keep our football in the NBE (C-USA 2.0 at that point) while we wait for the B1G to make the next move.

There are a number of issues here that I don't understand.

1. How can a TV deal that includes mostly A-10 schools plus only a few of the good Big East programs plus two-former C-USA squads earn more money for one sport than a conference that includes Cincinnati, UConn, Temple, Memphis, Houston, Navy, and USF.

2. If the TV deal is that bad wouldn't the top properties like Cincinnati, UConn, Memphis, and Houston be looking for new homes right now.

3. The only source that has reported this is ESPN, a network with a vested interest in how this turns out.

With all those issues hanging over the program, I agree that saving the basketball program is a priority. MWC, Eastern Big East Remnants football only, or MAC have to be looked at. Lets say the conference dissolves and Cincinnati and UConn join the C7. Would USF, UCF, Temple, ECU and company let those schools park their programs as football only members? My guess is no.

1. Fox is willing to over pay because they are in need of inventory, but they are pretty good with football since they have deals with the PAC and Big 12. NBC realizes the desire for the NBE isn't high, so they are going to lowball us.

2. Where are they going to go? I guess Houston could look at the MWC, but I don't think they really want that (either side). UConn and UC could try the C7 and football split but that is more like message board fodder than anything else. No one wants Temple or Memphis

3. Fair enough, but they also have the right to first refusal...so obviously if they match any offer, we'll find out what it is really worth.

Makes no sense to me as like everyone else. So im just going to wait and see if ESPN or someone else makes a counterdeal or exactly what is going on. But, i would not recommend the MWC for football because what player wants to come to cincy to have all of their football games out west. Id more like C7 for bball and NBE for football for now.

(02-10-2013 10:37 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  Makes no sense to me as like everyone else. So im just going to wait and see if ESPN or someone else makes a counterdeal or exactly what is going on. But, i would not recommend the MWC for football because what player wants to come to cincy to have all of their football games out west. Id more like C7 for bball and NBE for football for now.

ESPN won't make a counter-deal. They have the right of first refusal, meaning they can chose to match the offer or decline. If ESPN agrees to match, they own the BE for that price.

If they decline, BE is then with NBC and the conference can try to secure bids from other parties for Tier II rights.

I agree that the 23 million number makes zero sense whatsoever but that could just be a state of denial...I'm not really sure what to think at this point. That number is wayyyyy too low for me to believe it, I guess we will have to wait and see. At least we know that Ono and Babcock are doing everything they can to position Cincinnati for the the future.

(02-10-2013 10:45 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  [quote='natibeast21' pid='8951395' dateline='1360553863']

ESPN won't make a counter-deal. They have the right of first refusal, meaning they can chose to match the offer or decline. If ESPN agrees to match, they own the BE for that price.

If they decline, BE is then with NBC and the conference can try to secure bids from other parties for Tier II rights.

Close. ESPN has the right to match any offer out there, but that doesn't mean they automatically get the deal just for matching. If ESPN matches, then NBC could increase their offer (with ESPN again getting the right to match). Big point is that ESPN (for whatever time window was given) can get it the deal, but only if they are willing to match the highest offer out there.

(02-10-2013 10:37 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  Makes no sense to me as like everyone else. So im just going to wait and see if ESPN or someone else makes a counterdeal or exactly what is going on. But, i would not recommend the MWC for football because what player wants to come to cincy to have all of their football games out west. Id more like C7 for bball and NBE for football for now.

Why do you think the Big East allow that?

(02-10-2013 11:17 PM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 10:37 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  Makes no sense to me as like everyone else. So im just going to wait and see if ESPN or someone else makes a counterdeal or exactly what is going on. But, i would not recommend the MWC for football because what player wants to come to cincy to have all of their football games out west. Id more like C7 for bball and NBE for football for now.

Why do you think the Big East allow that?

To stay relevant in football?

Few thoughts...

1. Will the big east agree to allow fb only? They will need UC hoops in a bad way and I'm not so sure they won't tell us "all in or take a hike".
2. I would much prefer MWC football (boise, sdsu, perhaps byu at some point) but Boise has a sweetheart deal with the conference and basically we would be joining a league with a "Texas Lite" situation....I think we are better than that.
3. Could UC negotiate such a deal with the NBE? LOL absurd but lets at least talk about it....could we negotiate a "boise/texas" deal with the NBE? Guess we would find out how valuable we are to the rest of the league pretty quick.

While it's easy to get discouraged with frequent reports of the continuing decline of the Big East, I firmly believe the Bearcats will escape to the ACC when the realignment wheel spins again after the Maryland fee settlement. The discussion of other conference contingencies is worthwhile, but it's hard to imagine any scenario where UC would drop down to the MAC.

UC would not be investing $100,000,000 in the renovation of Nippert if there was not something in the works....

Thank you to the 2 posters above!

Stay calm. For now at least . Look around at the whole situation going on .

This NBC offer does sounds like a perfect number for the Big East... minus 2 major programs.