And yet ESPN had a huge drop in profit last year, had to cut talent and announced today a 65 million dollar loss on ESPN+. ESPN is overpaying for college football content, among other things while their subscriber numbers continue to drop. The money is not going to endlessly go up. The latest SEC deal is probably the last golden goose deal we will see from ESPN.
They’ll probably just start trying to take cuts of NIL money since it’s somewhat their product lol
Yes, the vibe and excitement in the stadium is fabulous when we play Duke in football ....... (tic)
You're right, the vibe would be soo much better playing teams like Northwestern, Indiana, Illinois, and Rutgers.
Well, to be fair, it would be better at first. I’ve never watched any of those teams play in person so there would be novelty at least.
Sure I get that, but it's not like this is some horrible new fate, we've always played Duke. And I at least know a decent number of Duke alums/fans I can talk crap to. I've never met anyone who attended or was a fan of those 4 Big 10 schools, so playing them is about as interesting to me as playing Fresno State in the Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl.
We bolster our arguments with the cherrypicked dogs. Anyone else remember rockin’ games with Clemson (any year), Maryland (2006), UNC (2007 and 2009), NCSU (2005), VA Tech (2004, 2009, 2011), Miami (2006, 2008), FSU (any year), and Notre Dame (2006 especially)? Who can become the next Maryland? Louisville, maybe? SMU? From an attendance standpoint, the best of those games was when we had a good team with high expectations. See 2006 above? That was a 9-win season. Expectations were high.
I don’t begrudge anyone enjoying playing Duke. That’s a good thing. It’s clearly my issue.
Meh, I get it would be good for revenue and put more butts in seats, but I still don't really care about playing Wisconsin or Ohio State. What does Tech have in common with either of those schools? Ohio State is just ugag of the midwest.
Again, if you follow what the SEC is doing, they have openly described how they intend to package content and bid it out to multiple partners … Fox, ESPN, CBS, etc. Each one will pay less, but the collective will be more. But first, they have to get marketable content … hence, realignment. I wouldn’t bet the farm on what ESPN is doing. They will ultimately be a player, but not the sole player.
We are much more like Duke, UVA, Wake, UNC, NCSU etc in academics, size and geography than OSU. Michigan, Indiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Granted FSU and Clemson are fringe academically but are geographically nearby.
My guess is that NC State and VPI are stuck with us in the remainder of the ACC. I think that Clemson & FSU certainly are leaving into the P2. Not as sure on UNC & UVA. But I think UNC will be welcomed by the P2 if they want to leave, and might drag UVA along with them. Really, beyond Clemson & FSU leaving, which is almost a certainty at this point, the rest of it is much less certain.
The thing about that game that still angers me is how we gave it away. We were better than UT that night, and they couldn't stop our running attack. But we made just enough mistakes to lose it. Uggh.
Several years ago the VA leg passed a bill (I do not think it was resolution) that required UVA and VT to be in the same conference. I am too busy to verify, but that is my memory. The NC leg is considering a bill to force all the D1 schools in the UNC system to play each other regularly. The BOT passed a "rule" that UNC system schools had to have BOT approval to change conferences. This was a the urging of NC State, so it seems that the BOT will force UNC and NC State to move (or stay) in lock step. Wake and Duke, as private schools, can do as they please regarding invitations to change conferences.
My understanding is that the ESPN has already told the SEC there is no more money if they add more games … so that means new members = dilution. If so, can’t see that as a path. Clemson is well liked, FSU not. I wouldn’t be surprised if FSU gets stuck as an Indy. Pariah.
Seems weird then that just a few years ago the SEC signed all of their media rights to ESPN and allowed ESPN to be the sole owners of the SEC network until 2033-2034. The Big 10 will renegotiate their contracts again before then, as will the Big 12 and Notre Dame. The other networks are going to be making big plays at them and the SEC is going to be coming in late with their renewal.
Agree completely and have said for years that the ACC failed at hyping itself the way the SEC does.
Agreed. I think after Swofford most of the ACC was hoping we would bring in someone who could put the conference in better light. Jim Phillips has been a total disappointment and imo reminds me of Bobinski - where is he? what is he doing?
