2003 BE Football Meeting Minutes

[goodgreatgrand]

http://mysite.verizon.net/fethrs/Minutes%20July%202003.pdf

Very interesting read. The football schools put the wheels in motion to split from the conference  back then. ...but obviously didnt. Now, without BC in the conference, this document really illustrates the insecurity of the conference (the football schools).

[goodgreatgrand]

One more thing: The $5 M penalty and 23 month waiting period for exiting the conference expires on July 1st. Of course, an invitation is required to join another conference....

[GGGG]

One more thing: The $5 M penalty and 23 month waiting period for exiting the conference expires on July 1st. Of course, an invitation is required to join another conference....

So the football schools could start up another conference and join it.  No biggie.

[TJ]

Do the football schools really think that highly of themselves that they think they could somehow do better by splitting the conference up?  Even if they somehow manage to keep the BCS autobid, they are still afterthoughts in the college football world.  I guess they could try to gather in 4 new teams and have a championship, but would they really be making more money or would it be just about the same and then weaken their position in basketball?

[HoopsMalone]

Do the football schools really think that highly of themselves that they think they could somehow do better by splitting the conference up?  Even if they somehow manage to keep the BCS autobid, they are still afterthoughts in the college football world.  I guess they could try to gather in 4 new teams and have a championship, but would they really be making more money or would it be just about the same and then weaken their position in basketball?

Agreed.  Football is a cash cow now, but who knows about in ten years.  Basketball has world wide appeal whereas American football does not.  Maybe the NCAA will find ways to go more global and get ad revenues in Asia and Europe?  Who knows, but I think weakening basketball might not be smart in the long run given its proven ability to make some money right now.

[GGGG]

Agreed.  Football is a cash cow now, but who knows about in ten years.  Basketball has world wide appeal whereas American football does not.  Maybe the NCAA will find ways to go more global and get ad revenues in Asia and Europe?  Who knows, but I think weakening basketball might not be smart in the long run given its proven ability to make some money right now.

You have said this before and it just sounds like you're hoping for the sake of hoping.  I don't think you understand how much more popular college football is when compared to basketball.  Here are the NCAA basketball tournament viewers:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/04/15/ncaa-mens-basketball-tv-ratings-1975-2007/2844

As you can see, it has been going steadily down since 1992 (which I believe was spurred by the Duke / UNLV semifinal).  Now when you consider that college football has been growing their regular season ratings over that same time frame, coupled with the television contracts that highlight that disparity, I see absolutely no reason to believe that somehow college basketball is going to be more of a draw than football...especially when the stars leave early to head to the NBA.  Don't confuse the passion of you, me and those on this board with some sort of broad appeal.  It just doesn't exist.  The BE has misinterpreted this for years and it has substantially harmed them as a conference.

Furthermore considering soccer has been considered the next great sport in this country for the past 30 years, and has failed to attract anything more than a fringe following, that should tell you how much Americans care about how global their sports are.

[goodgreatgrand]

Agreed.  Football is a cash cow now, but who knows about in ten years.  Basketball has world wide appeal whereas American football does not.  Maybe the NCAA will find ways to go more global and get ad revenues in Asia and Europe?  Who knows, but I think weakening basketball might not be smart in the long run given its proven ability to make some money right now.

So by your logic, the B10 made a big mistake by adding Nebraska because their bball program is a non-factor?

I think HoopsMalone is actually John Marinatto...or Mike Tranghese.

[79Warrior]

Agreed.  Football is a cash cow now, but who knows about in ten years.  Basketball has world wide appeal whereas American football does not.  Maybe the NCAA will find ways to go more global and get ad revenues in Asia and Europe?  Who knows, but I think weakening basketball might not be smart in the long run given its proven ability to make some money right now.

Wow. You are out of touch regarding the appeal of College Football. Football rules and always has.

[goodgreatgrand]

79Warrior,

HoopsMalone isnt talking about the sports landscape now, he's talking about the future... He thinks there is a possibility that basketball will overtake football. Ohio State will put a dome over their football field because that stadium will be the new 102,000 capacity basketball stadium. Ohio State will then move their football games into the 19,000 capacity basketball arena. But not yet. He thinks this could happen in 10,20 years.