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BYU in the ESPN Conference

by allcoug · 8/23/2010

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allcoug
The speculation about where BYU will end up has revolved around The MWC, The WAC, becoming independent, and even The WCC. The reality is that BYU has a forth option: Conference ESPN.



While the rest of the country, including all of the BCS conferences, are busy trying to realign themselves to make more money, BYU has gone straight to the pot of gold and signed up (hopefully) directly where money comes from. This is the new face of college football. The conferences of old are beginning to lose their luster. ESPN doesn't just offer money for TV games, they (i.e. ESPN/ABC) have agreements with the BCS - they pretty much own the BCS due to them handing out money.



http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3710477



As a member of Conference ESPN BYU will have immediate access to the big games. Money talks. And our new conference, ESPN, has the money.



Don't worry about scheduling, our conference will take care of that. ESPN will broker an awesome schedule. And when we go 11 -0, 10-1, or 9-2, our sugar daddy conference will make sure we have a place to play come January 1st.



And as a side note - it's going to awesome to have 7 or eight home games every year because, well...papa says we can.
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Cougs_Rule
Nice.
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bplewe
It wasn't so long ago, we were all lamenting the monopoly of ESPN and how much they were screwing us (MWC/BYU), and hoping that CSTV would start to create a counterbalance (of course, then Comcast entered the picture and messed everything up). Now we expect Big Brother to be our friend and look out for our best interests? Are we sure we want to rely on them so much? Who's to say we don't end up with our home games on ESPNU, or on Tuesday at 8:00pm? I'm just a bit worried that we are only trading one media mogul that dictates bad terms for another.



I realize that this ship has sailed, but I had always held out hope that CBS would attempt to launch a serious campaign to balance ABC/ESPN by 1) buying out Comcast's share (or finding a new non-distrubution partner), 2) investing in HD, some decent cameramen, and an announcer or two, and 2) putting one MWC (and/or C-USA if they ever deserved it) game a week on CBS. Like the SEC-contract-lite. But alas...
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CougarClaw
At least our new 'conference' will have it's own very recognizable theme music.



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vancouvercougar
bplewe wrote:
It wasn't so long ago, we were all lamenting the monopoly of ESPN and how much they were screwing us (MWC/BYU)...


I think ESPN has always liked BYU. It was the MWC that was screwed by ESPN--BYU was screwed by association with the MWC.
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dsmith1212
vancouvercougar wrote:
I think ESPN has always liked BYU. It was the MWC that was screwed by ESPN--BYU was screwed by association with the MWC.


Let's think outside the box for a minute. I just read an article comparing the MWC and Conference USA and the top level and bottom level teams in each with their respective average rankings over the past two years. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/440302-a-mountain-west-merger-would-beat-the-bcs-system?utm_source=newsletter:



2008-2009 Average (with recent conference realignments):



1. (38.5) SEC

2. (40.3) ACC

3. (42.9) Big East

4. (44.6) Big Ten (w/ Nebraska)

5. (45.4) Big 12

6. (48.9) Pac-10 (w/ Utah and Colorado)

7. (58.1) MWC (w/ Boise St)



It got me thinking:



What if the strongest "mid-major" teams in the west united under a new banner?



Boise St (7.125)

TCU (7.750)

BYU (16.625)

Air Force (49.125)

Houston (52.500)

Nevada (53.250)

Fresno St (53.750)

Average 2008-2009 ranking = 34.303 Better than every conference including the SEC



with one or more of the following:



Tulsa (71.250)

Average 2008-2009 ranking = 38.921 Better than every conference other than the SEC

Rice (78.125)

Average 2008-2009 ranking with these two = 43.277 Better than every conference but SEC ACC BE

UNLV (79.250)

Average 2008-2009 ranking with all three = 46.875 Better than the PAC10(12) and almost up to the Big 12(10)



Of course, BYU would still want some independence to use its new tv facilities (with could be the new home for the new conference network) for exposure and $.
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stuckinbig10country
If BYU is successful with independence, I can see other teams going back to being independent like they were in the 80's (miami, florida state, penn state).



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redneckjedi
dsmith1212 wrote:
I think ESPN has always liked BYU. It was the MWC that was screwed by ESPN--BYU was screwed by association with the MWC.


Let's think outside the box for a minute. I just read an article comparing the MWC and Conference USA and the top level and bottom level teams in each with their respective average rankings over the past two years. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/440302-a-mountain-west-merger-would-beat-the-bcs-system?utm_source=newsletter:



2008-2009 Average (with recent conference realignments):



1. (38.5) SEC

2. (40.3) ACC

3. (42.9) Big East

4. (44.6) Big Ten (w/ Nebraska)

5. (45.4) Big 12

6. (48.9) Pac-10 (w/ Utah and Colorado)

7. (58.1) MWC (w/ Boise St)



It got me thinking:



What if the strongest "mid-major" teams in the west united under a new banner?



Boise St (7.125)

TCU (7.750)

BYU (16.625)

Air Force (49.125)

Houston (52.500)

Nevada (53.250)

Fresno St (53.750)

Average 2008-2009 ranking = 34.303 Better than every conference including the SEC



with one or more of the following:



Tulsa (71.250)

Average 2008-2009 ranking = 38.921 Better than every conference other than the SEC

Rice (78.125)

Average 2008-2009 ranking with these two = 43.277 Better than every conference but SEC ACC BE

UNLV (79.250)

Average 2008-2009 ranking with all three = 46.875 Better than the PAC10(12) and almost up to the Big 12(10)



Of course, BYU would still want some independence to use its new tv facilities (with could be the new home for the new conference network) for exposure and $.


I've thought about this idea before. The numbers certainly make things interesting. I can't help but wonder, though, which teams' averages are stable over a period of 2 years, and which are not. I'd say Boise, TCU, BYU, and Air Force are usually going to do well and give you a rating consistently in the top 50. But I don't know about Houston, or Nevada, or Fresno, or Tulsa. It seems like we kind of tried this sort of thing with the MWC. Wyoming happened to be decent at the time, including taking BYU to OT in the conference championship in '96. And they may be decent again. But they're not on your top twelve, since they weren't good in 2008-2009. I wish there were an easy way to determine the top 9 or top 12 non-AQ teams and make a conference out of them, but predicting who will be good for the next few years is tough. I mean, if we were doing this in 2005, would we have included Boise? Or would we have said, "2004 was a fluke, they can't keep this up for 5 years..." It's a tough problem.
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allcoug
stuckinbig10country wrote:
If BYU is successful with independence, I can see other teams going back to being independent like they were in the 80's (miami, florida state, penn state).



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">


Although I didn't detail this out in my initial post, this is exactly what comes to mind. ESPN (a.k.a. The ESPN Conference) has a very long investment horizon. If they can get someone like BYU to join their conference now my guess is that down they road they will be able to entice other schools to do to the same some time in the future. Wouldn't that be awesome to have 5 or 6 solid teams (like the ones you mentioned) all in the ESPN "independent" conference? Each team would be making great money, have a great schedule (we would play each other) and have unbelievable TV exposure. Give this ten years and BYU will be known as the "Conference" busters, just like we are known as the "BCS Creators" because of our Cotton Bowl win.



It wasn't too long ago that bowl games were called things like "Fiesta", "Orange", "Sugar", and "Rose". At first it sounded absurd to attach a corporate name to these bowls, but now they are all known as "Tostitos Fiesta", "FedEx Orange", "All-State Sugar", and "Passion Growers Rose". And we don't think twice.



Honestly, belonging to the "ESPN Conference" doesn't sound so bad.



Here is a list of teams that have been independent at some point in their history. I know it's a wikipedia page, but the explanation on this page as to why a school would want to join a conference is interesting:



"In recent years, most independent FBS schools have joined a conference for two primary reasons: A guaranteed share of television and bowl revenues, and ease of scheduling. The three remaining independent FBS schools have unique circumstances that circumvent their need for conference affiliation."



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_FBS_independent_schools#FBS_Independent_Teams



As a member of the ESPN Conference we would have better access to tv revenue and the power of ESPN to get quality games scheduled. The only reason Miami, Penn State and other high profile universities sold out to conferences is because that's where ALL the money was at the time. This is not the case anymore. ESPN will trump every conference in the country in 10 to 20 years. All it takes is a few defectors, like us, and the ball will start rolling.
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Italics
it's a nice thought, but i won't be happening any time soon.
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allcoug
Italics wrote:
it's a nice thought, but i won't be happening any time soon.


...except for us being the first to join the EC (ESPN Conference) this week. We're the perfect school to start the move to corporate conferences...we're going to bust the traditional conference wide open.
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dsmith1212
allcoug wrote:
"In recent years, most independent FBS schools have joined a conference for two primary reasons: A guaranteed share of television and bowl revenues, and ease of scheduling. The three remaining independent FBS schools have unique circumstances that circumvent their need for conference affiliation."



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_FBS_independent_schools#FBS_Independent_Teams



As a member of the ESPN Conference we would have better access to tv revenue and the power of ESPN to get quality games scheduled. The only reason Miami, Penn State and other high profile universities sold out to conferences is because that's where ALL the money was at the time. This is not the case anymore. ESPN will trump every conference in the country in 10 to 20 years. All it takes is a few defectors, like us, and the ball will start rolling.


Personally, I like the idea of being independent and having a small stable of teams with "cache" with whom to schedule home and home every year during October and November - Notre Dame, Navy, Army, etc. I agree that ESPN could make it happen and quickly. Money talks.
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SpiffCoug
I wonder when some owner from the NFL comes in and sponsors a university. Makes it a defacto minor league team for them. I could totally see Jerry Jones giving all kinds of money to say, Texas. In return, Texas says the Cowboys will have first rights to their players since all Texas scholarships will be paid for by the Cowboys.



Frankly, I'm surprised the NFL hasn't swooped in already and usurped the NCAA already and officially made the FBS a minor league. Teams would sponsor university teams and would subsidize the athletes through scholarships. NFL teams could bid for the rights of certain teams.
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Y 4 Ever
kitic77 wrote:
I wonder when some owner from the NFL comes in and sponsors a university. Makes it a defacto minor league team for them. I could totally see Jerry Jones giving all kinds of money to say, Texas. In return, Texas says the Cowboys will have first rights to their players since all Texas scholarships will be paid for by the Cowboys.



Frankly, I'm surprised the NFL hasn't swooped in already and usurped the NCAA already and officially made the FBS a minor league. Teams would sponsor university teams and would subsidize the athletes through scholarships. NFL teams could bid for the rights of certain teams.


Why would they do that? It's already the "minor leagues" for the NFL - and it doesn't cost them one red penny!
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Mars
stuckinbig10country wrote:
If BYU is successful with independence, I can see other teams going back to being independent like they were in the 80's (miami, florida state, penn state).

I can see green cows dancing on the moon eating purple cheese.



TIC
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GolfDiveNCougs
Mars wrote:

I can see green cows dancing on the moon eating purple cheese.
Mmm. That's what having all the Purple Haze around here does for you! Has anyone else got the munchies???

:lol:
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SpiffCoug
33311710 wrote:
I wonder when some owner from the NFL comes in and sponsors a university. Makes it a defacto minor league team for them. I could totally see Jerry Jones giving all kinds of money to say, Texas. In return, Texas says the Cowboys will have first rights to their players since all Texas scholarships will be paid for by the Cowboys.



Frankly, I'm surprised the NFL hasn't swooped in already and usurped the NCAA already and officially made the FBS a minor league. Teams would sponsor university teams and would subsidize the athletes through scholarships. NFL teams could bid for the rights of certain teams.


Why would they do that? It's already the "minor leagues" for the NFL - and it doesn't cost them one red penny!

Because then they would control it. Jerry Jones could own the rights to ALL the players at Texas. He wouldn't have to hope Texas' best talent are available when the Cowboys draft, because he basically woudn't need the draft anymore.



He could have the coaching staff at Texas run the same offense the Cowboys run. So when guys are ready for the NFL, they're even more ready to contribute immediately.



While the current system is free to the NFL, it's also free OF the NFL. The NFL has no influence on the individual teams. This could be a way for teams to start exerting control over their de facto minor league.
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allcoug
Italics wrote:
it's a nice thought, but i won't be happening any time soon.


Is 8 days considered soon?



You're all welcome for the preview to what happen today. :D :D :D :D :D
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snoscythe
Italics wrote:
it's a nice thought, but i won't be happening any time soon.


Where was your "source" on this one?



Don't worry though, I didn't see anything on twitter or CougarBoard either.
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vancouvercougar
allcoug wrote:
it's a nice thought, but i won't be happening any time soon.


Is 8 days considered soon?



You're all welcome for the preview to what happen today. :D :D :D :D :D




He didn't say "It won't be happening anytime soon" He said "I won't be happening anytime soon"
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