RockRaines

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 11:38 AM) Kind of an odd move, unless there are others coming soon. Why not JorDanks for your 4th OF? Saves you 200k or so, and maybe he actually lives up to potential. His ceiling is higher than Wise, and he's under cheap control for a few more years. Let me ask you this, what has JorDanks done that tells you his ceiling is higher? Danks's career minor league OPS is .746, Wise's is .726. I think the org wants depth and depth that has shown they can perform at the MLB level. Thats all. 700k is not a large number.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 09:46 AM) The pressure is always on in-state. Even when they were at the bottom and rebuilding, people were already whispering about how long it was taking, even with all of the kids they were getting in the pipeline. Hoosier fans are ridiculous at times. That's why I didnt agree with the "everyone will love Crean" sentiment. If they dont make the final four or even the title game this year the heat will already be on.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 09:04 AM) The expectations are always ridiculous at Indiana for basketball. Even when they sucked, they expected to get the best possible coach to come in there and turn things around instantly. I meant outside of Indiana. But understood for the in state pressure. Thats how football is in Ohio.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 09:02 AM) Smirk or not, it is true. Now because they are good. Are you saying thats been the case the last 10 years no matter how s***ty they've been?

QUOTE (Rex Hudler @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 08:11 AM) I can see how you would not like him. I can also see why he takes the stance that he takes. He's had to do whatever he could to bring back the tradition and expectations so he plays the "It's Indiana" card. Keep in mind he also had a very fractured fan base and part of this has been gaining them back so he's playing up to them in a way. I suspect if he would have become IU's coach following Knight (assuming Knight had made a proper exit and not blown up) his approach would have been different. I can't tell you whether he is a nice guy or a douchebag. But his passion and energy is real. He's definitely going to be one of those guys other team's hate. But he's going to be a guy IU fans love. Yeah, thats yet to be seen. ALso, if you make that much money, why cant he get a decent suit/shirt combo? Nothing he has actually fits. He should ask Izzo or Saban where they gets their suits made

QUOTE (Rex Hudler @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 09:57 PM) Only problem with that is Fox owns 495 of the BTN. ESPN is the owner of the Longhorn Network, simply paying UT an annual fee. A financial arrangement is possible, but I don't see how they could meld them together. It would have to fold up somehow. Ok course in the ESPN/Fox battle Texas could go SEC and other Big 12 schools like Oklahoma could go the other way. WHo knows.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 06:52 AM) I don't know how to put a dollar amount on it, but the guarantee of 5 TV games against ND every two years is definitely worth something. To an ND fan, sure. To possibly the commercials that want some exposure in markets like Chicago, yeah. To the schools, not nearly as much as jumping to a conference that pays better. ND's TV deal does nothing for the ACC and adding them to their schedule like you said is just adding another good non-con, it doesnt move the needle as much as you think.

My point is this: It's going to come down to Fox vs ESPN at this point and the lines are being drawn. The TV deals being handed out currently are those that would have never been alluded to years ago. ND's TV deal at one time was considered outrageous and ludicrous and now its simply below average while conferences like the Big Ten and SEC are working to pay schools to join their networks. The Pac-12 is trying their hardest to produce their own and the LongHorn network although lucrative at first is struggling to survive with a viewership at less than 10 percent of the Big Ten's. This became incredibly obvious with the inclusion of Rutgers, the purchase of the YES network in NYC and now the expansion into TV markets that are out of scope for conferences. The SEC LOVEs being in Texas, the Big Ten loves being in DC and NYC. Follow the dollar and I think we will see what the super conferences will be.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 04:00 PM) Maybe, but it means that in order to have a chance, they are always going to have to be +1 in the loss column. If it ends with everyone at 1 loss then, the SEC is going to get a bid, the Big10 is going to get a bid and the Pac are going to get a bid. That means there is 1 bid for everyone else. It was a stupid deal for the ACC and I am pretty sure they know it. The problem was they really had no other options. But you need to protect your own, you cant let ND share your spot unless ND is in the ACC. The saddest part is, I believe that if ND goes for the ACC, they dont even have to split the money with the ACC. The Texas idea was back when the Big12 looked to be on the brink. Now that the Big12 is more stable than the ACC, no idea why Texas would make what at best is a lateral move. Conferences are going to have to pay Texas much more handsomely than the ACC could for their 8 million TV subscribers. The top two fanbases in the ACC are Clemson and GT followed by VT and Miami. All four of those schools are in play if they can get another 10 million dollars annually. You can bet on that.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 03:58 PM) The ACC gets a ratings boost based on the fact that they are playing Notre Dame instead of Savannah State or Western Carolina for some of their nonconference games. And do you think that ratings boost based on in your opinion is worth upwards of 10 million dollars?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 03:41 PM) My belief is that Texas in the ACC is just not going to happen. Why would a school make less money, play weaker schools and move to a conference dominated by Carolina teams, when its in a conference that makes more money, has stronger schools and is dominated by Texas. Its just an odd argument. Thats because it's off the wall. The ACC TV market is very tiny outside of DC. It's a huge downgrade for Texas which is why they probably laughed and hung up the phone.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 03:38 PM) They don't get any portion of ND's TV deal, but ND's TV deal covers only ND home games, and half of ND's 5 games per year they are obligated to are going to be home games for the ACC teams, so that will be a big ratings boost which should lead to a better TV deal for the ACC. Ratings boost based on what? Their games are already covered in alot of ND's key demographic, so there isnt any additional revenue there for them. They get Chicago which is obviously a nice win. But here is the part that I think there is a disconnect. And let's use UNC as a key example. RIght now ND delivers them no additional revenue. They get zero additional money from ND's deal and already have one of the worst TV deals in the nation. And if you actually look at the largest TV markets for College football, ND's inclusion doesnt get them into any of them. UNC is probably THE premier bball school so they have no worry of losing audience and no desire to gain audience. Now if they are courted by the Big Ten you get the largest TV deal in college football which looks be a shade under 30 million per team next year. You get the entire midwest, NYC and your area which already gets the Big Ten network and is putting in on basic cable for you. Or for some of the other teams that are attractive to the SEC you get a better TV deal, you get something like 3 of the 5 largest college football audiences and essentially non-stop play on ESPN for both sports. ND to the ACC for bball and partially for football just isnt the best deal out there for most of these schools, which is why the more attractive ones will bolt IMO.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 03:31 PM) Right, but ACC football isn't strong enough for a 1-loss team to get into the Championship game, and maybe not even into the 4-team playoff. In a couple years, five ACC teams a year have ND on their schedule, which is going to strengthen the conferences SOS and thus their computer ratings. Plus, half of those games will be home games for the ACC teams which brings a lot of dollar value to the next TV contract. FSU is never getting an invite from the SEC or the Big Ten, so they're either going to stay in the ACC or move to the Big 12, and Texas moving to the ACC makes that decision for them. What portion of the ND TV deal does the ACC schools get?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 03:22 PM) If the ACC adds Louisville I never get to hear another ACC fan tell me how academics are everything to them, so that would be greatly pleasing. As for the second part, I assume FSU hates the ND deal. FSU was THE ACC football power foryears. They dont get ANY special treatment. Yet the ACC let ND legitimately rape them for a few football games? Why would FSU want ND to have a chance at an ACC bid, when ND doesnt even have to really be part of the ACC? That deal is good for the Carolina schools, the exact reason why FSU wanted to leave in the first place. The only reason Texas would have an impact, is it would mean that the Big12 is dead, in which case FSU would have no choice unless another conference forms. ACC isnt that great academically anyway. IMO the Pac-12 and Big Ten are going to gobble up most the Big 12 at some point and they will become the 2 super conferences on the left side and midwest part of the map. AS for the "ND" deal for Texas, that would make every other school bounce out of the ACC. Now you have 2 schools with their own TV deals, your conference's sucks and yet you are forced to not have a chance to make more money for yourselves? You can join the #1 TV deal in the Big Ten or the #2 in SEC. I just saw today that the Big East is essentially down to all schools who joined after 2003. This train is moving towards super conferences and its every man for himself.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 02:58 PM) Texas at this point yes, UNC not really. There are rumors that many moons ago the Big10 approached UNC and the UNC faculty/admin were interested. Its merely hearsay on my part, so who knows. I think Texas and the Big 12 are going to be proactive and try and nab Clemson/FSU before everything goes to hell. And Im pretty sure the SEC and Big want someone else to be the villain who destroyed the ACC. FSU and Maryland voted against the penalty increase to leave the ACC when ND joined. To me that says FSU has been looking to jump as well.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 02:49 PM) To be fair, UMD financial problems were their own doing. Not that BT isn't a bigger cash cow. Probably, but they just got into the largest TV deal in college football that has an earlier expiration for increase. They also just joined one of the two largest (in terms of fanbase) conferences and what looks to be the largest TV audience (80 million homes). Such a a win/win for them as a university. I'm sure their bball fans are mad, but thats because they have no idea how tough the Big Ten has become in bball.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 01:29 PM) ESPN owns LHN. Fox owns a lot of the BTN. That's not going to work. Also another great point. It lining up to be Fox vs ESPN for these markets. ESPN owns the SEC. Fox now owns the New York TV market with YES, owns the midwest with Big Ten Network. Whats next? A great point was brought up on another board, what is really the ONLY TV event that you just have to watch live, therefore actually watching commercials. s***, what program do people watch just for the commercials? The network giants are realizing this and are in a land war over these markets.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 02:38 PM) I could buy that. Crazier things have happened. UNC could still schedule an annual bball game against Duke at a "neutral" site like Time Warner, and TX could probably keep the Red River football game vs, OK in Dallas. Lets say the 4 super conferences for some reason have the names north, south east and west. West is obviously Pac-12 +some of the other teams maybe coming from the B12. North is big ten with some of the northeast folks and maybe even some of the Big 12 guys South is the SEC Whats the east then? Conferences are scrambling to keep themselves alive but I think Maryland said alot yesterday when they essentially said to be financially viable they had to leave the ACC. To me that screams that the ACC is doomed.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 02:13 PM) I assume that is an OSU insider, not a the Northwestern guy who keeps claiming he works at the Big 10 offices. He's been very reliable, even calling Urban to OSU months before it was out there, and he said watch Rutgers and Maryland awhile ago. He knows people very high up at OSU and the conference. As I said, take it for what its worth but they appear to be in play. At the end of the day we are going to have 4 super conferences and its all about grabbing your slice of the pie. The Big Ten offers alot more money than most conferences if not all.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 11:01 AM) Yeah, ultimately, it boils down to what Rock said...dogs are animals. The more physically capable one is of harming another living being, the more dangerous they are, regardless of how well-trained they are. My oldest Dane has a thing about little white fluffy dogs. For whatever reason, he wants to pick them up in his mouth like a stuffed animal. While some people find this humorous, the owners of little white fluffy dogs do not. As soon as I see one, I grab my dog and remove him from the area. But you can never be certain what might happen. My dog wants to smash those little dogs with both her front paws in some sort of a way to play with them. Unfortunately since she is so strong it scares the s*** out of everyone. So like a good owner I keep her away from those situations.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 12:59 PM) Texas would be a wet dream for the Big Ten, though I am not sure how they would work around the Longhorn Network. It's failing and you add it to the Big Ten Network I guess.

So, there was an insider who called Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten awhile ago and he hit us again with this nugget to keep an eye on: UNC and Texas. TIFWIW

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Nov 20, 2012 -> 12:52 AM) I am not goin to miss Tyler Griffey at all, but I'm very happy dont have to watch weber's boring ass offense anymore. Is USC really this bad? His motion offense was hard to watch for anyone.

QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Nov 19, 2012 -> 06:46 PM) Agreed. Even, watch the replay.. But it goes back too... Illini fan, need I say more? Come on, like IU bball fans are some subjective anomaly. You guys are just as bad if not crazier. We are all going to homer the s*** out of this thread since our conference is finally awesome. Let's refrain from pointing out the obvious. Oh and Thad got another recruit tonight, f*** yeah. And if Zeller is getting attention like stated above etc, its great, he's very fundamental like my boy Sully and players like that dont always get love. In fact, I believe he wont win POY because some other flashy player will beat him out which sucks.

And I've been wrong before, no biggie, but seriously WTF. Drafting Shea instead of an OL is a travesty. Small DE's are killing Webb.