Conference Realignment

[orientalnc]

Interesting bill moving through the NC legislature.

Among other things it would require UNC and NCST to play each other every year in football and basketball. Protecting against any future re-alignment where they end up in separate conferences.

More interesting, it would require them both to play one of App St, E. Carolina or Charlotte (NC's G5 programs) every year in football.
It would also require them to complete a home and away series with all 3 of them in a 6 year period. Effectively it would guarantee that the 3 NC G5 programs would get at least 4 games over 6 years against the ACC programs including 2 home games.

The legislation cites the General Assembly's desire to "promote economic development" as part of its rationale.

North Carolina bill that would require UNC, NC State to play in-state Group of Five schools won't advance

The legislation would require the Tar Heels and Wolfpack to play schools like Appalachian State regularly

www.cbssports.com

The bill has passed out of the Appropriations Committee.

This bill was not talked about publicly until a couple of weeks ago. David McKenzie, an IP lawyer in Durham, posted to his X thread that several key people in the legislature have strong ties to App State and Charlotte. It's being pushed by the legislature. Neither of the two candidates for governor have spoken out as yet and I have not seen anything from Roy Cooper, the current governor.

Rep. Ray Pickett represents App State’s district, Rep. Jason Saine is a Charlotte grad and represents CLT Metro, Rep. Jake Johnson is a 2016 Charlotte graduate, and the next speaker of the NC House, Destin Hall, is an App graduate.

 

[RonJohn]

Perhaps. But copyright is a federal issue. How does NC have jurisdiction over that?

"Section 1338 of Title 28 of the United States Code confers upon the federal district courts exclusive jurisdiction over claims of copyright infringement. As a general proposition, the longstanding exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts in this area is an important and positive feature of our system."

The GOR argument isn't about copyright infringement. It is about contract law and the assignment of copyrights. Not a lawyer, but I think it might be possible for the copyright portion to be moved to federal court. If a team were to leave and started broadcasting their own games without getting out of the GOR, then it would be a case of copyright infringement and would be the jurisdiction of federal courts.

FSU tried very hard in their original lawsuit to remove the copyright assignment detail out, and simply label everything as a contract buyout. I think they would like for the arguments to be only about contract law and keep copyright law from even being mentioned. That is definitely their spin to the public.

 

[Vespidae]

The GOR argument isn't about copyright infringement. It is about contract law and the assignment of copyrights. Not a lawyer, but I think it might be possible for the copyright portion to be moved to federal court. If a team were to leave and started broadcasting their own games without getting out of the GOR, then it would be a case of copyright infringement and would be the jurisdiction of federal courts.

FSU tried very hard in their original lawsuit to remove the copyright assignment detail out, and simply label everything as a contract buyout. I think they would like for the arguments to be only about contract law and keep copyright law from even being mentioned. That is definitely their spin to the public.

Truly nuances of the law. Members assigned their copyrights to the ACC and who oversees that? USPTO ... so eventually, any dispute over that has to end in federal court. Again, a state court has zip to do with who actually owns or administers the copyright. So say FSU wants XYZ network to show its game highlights? Can't .... because the rights have been allocated to a third party.

I don't see any way for this NOT to end in federal court.

 

[AugustaSwarm]

So far, the Federal Government has.

you say that as if the federal government isn't a collection of humans that are influenced by financial and political pressures why does the federal government get to pick and choose who is "protected"? in the end, being protected by the gov't really just means treated differently.

 

[AugustaSwarm]

I don't know the numbers, but apparently the B1G schools have a lot of alumni in Atlanta.

BDS could become an away game for us every week and not just when we play UGA.

that's one way to increase ticket sales

 

[Northeast Stinger]

you say that as if the federal government isn't a collection of humans that are influenced by financial and political pressures why does the federal government get to pick and choose who is "protected"? in the end, being protected by the gov't really just means treated differently.

In my experience EVERYBODY is treated differently. Some are just treated better than others. Ask native Americans

 

[cpf2001]

As an non-NFL viewer, how is this the case? Are NFL games not all already broadcast? CFB is already played every day of the week except Sunday, and I don't see why games wouldn't start getting played on Sundays if the NFL is going to vacate some of those spots for other days of the week.

I don’t think the NFL is going to vacate spots, they just will have less overlapping games on Sunday afternoons.

 

[Randy Carson]

I know Its not what most people on here thinks, but I still feel if the ACC does go away we end up in the SEC. I just can't see the SEC stomaching the Big 10 being in Atlanta.

That angle has crossed my mind, also. I don't think the Dogs consider us to be a threat any time soon (and I hope they're wrong), but it may come back to bite them if they let us into the SEC. OTOH, if we go B1G, that's not good for them, either.

So, which of these two options is least bad for UGA?

 

[CEB]

I know Its not what most people on here thinks, but I still feel if the ACC does go away we end up in the SEC. I just can't see the SEC stomaching the Big 10 being in Atlanta.

That angle has crossed my mind, also. I don't think the Dogs consider us to be a threat any time soon (and I hope they're wrong), but it may come back to bite them if they let us into the SEC. OTOH, if we go B1G, that's not good for them, either.

So, which of these two options is least bad for UGA?

I think we’re in a unique spot.
we aren’t terribly valuable to the SEC…. Unless we’re valuable to the BIG.
If the BIG has no interest, I think the SEC would be content to let us flounder. Hopefully we are lobbying hard for the BIG and hopefully they still see all of the attributes that got us to their doorstep last time. If that is still the case, we might actually have OPTIONS.

I think the only other schools who may be in a similar situation are FSU and Miami. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of FSUs bluster isn’t designed to draw SEC interest…. Especially if they really think they can move soon. Seems like fewer hurdles for them on the path to SEC, but SEC has to have reason to move on them….

 

[RamblinRed]

I think we’re in a unique spot.
we aren’t terribly valuable to the SEC…. Unless we’re valuable to the BIG.
If the BIG has no interest, I think the SEC would be content to let us flounder. Hopefully we are lobbying hard for the BIG and hopefully they still see all of the attributes that got us to their doorstep last time. If that is still the case, we might actually have OPTIONS.

I think the only other schools who may be in a similar situation are FSU and Miami. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of FSUs bluster isn’t designed to draw SEC interest…. Especially if they really think they can move soon. Seems like fewer hurdles for them on the path to SEC, but SEC has to have reason to move on them….

I think if it came down to it the B1G would prefer Miami to FSU out of FL.
Big city market. AAU school.
I think there is a reason why it has been reported previously that Miami was one of the schools vetted by the B1G and FSU was not.

Of the 10 schools that were reported to have been vetted 2 are now in the B1G - WA/OR, 1 is in the B12 - Utah, and the other 7 are in the ACC - Stanford, Cal, UNC, Duke, UVA, GT, and Miami.

I think it is unlikely they would be interested in all those schools at this point. I would imagine maybe 4 eventually if the finances worked out.

 

[CEB]

I think if it came down to it the B1G would prefer Miami to FSU out of FL.
Big city market. AAU school.
I think there is a reason why it has been reported previously that Miami was one of the schools vetted by the B1G and FSU was not.

Of the 10 schools that were reported to have been vetted 2 are now in the B1G - WA/OR, 1 is in the B12 - Utah, and the other 7 are in the ACC - Stanford, Cal, UNC, Duke, UVA, GT, and Miami.

I think it is unlikely they would be interested in all those schools at this point. I would imagine maybe 4 eventually if the finances worked out.

Agree… the FSU / BIG connection seems like a ploy. Wonder what FSU does if they win (buy) their freedom and the SEC doesn’t bite?

 

[Randy Carson]

Agree… the FSU / BIG connection seems like a ploy. Wonder what FSU does if they win (buy) their freedom and the SEC doesn’t bite?

Big 12.

 

[CEB]

Big 12.

 

[stinger78]

that's one way to increase ticket sales

Yes, but look at it this way: UGAg fans will almost universally root for Tech's opponent if they buy season seats those years - which many do - if they don't outright sell their tickets to them. There are many tOSU, UoM, MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, etc. alumni/fans in Atlanta. I have personally worked for or with all of the above over the years. They would love to watch B1G football in Atlanta and they will buy tickets, many of them season seats to see B1G football once again. However... they won't automatically pull against Tech. In fact, they may even pull for Tech in many such games. Like us going to a Clemson-FSU game. Who you gonna root for? Not the meteor... You're there!

We would absolutely increase ticket sales and cross-over B1G fans for just about every game.

It would truly suck to go to Nebraska or Wisconsin in November to play, however, it would be a boon for 10K B1G fans to help fill BDS for a Saturday night game against Penn State with half or more screaming for Tech.

 

[gte447f]

Yes, but look at it this way: UGAg fans will almost universally root for Tech's opponent if they buy season seats those years - which many do - if they don't outright sell their tickets to them. There are many tOSU, UoM, MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, etc. alumni/fans in Atlanta. I have personally worked for or with all of the above over the years. They would love to watch B1G football in Atlanta and they will buy tickets, many of them season seats to see B1G football once again. However... they won't automatically pull against Tech. In fact, they may even pull for Tech in many such games. Like us going to a Clemson-FSU game. Who you gonna root for? Not the meteor... You're there!

We would absolutely increase ticket sales and cross-over B1G fans for just about every game.

It would truly suck to go to Nebraska or Wisconsin in November to play, however, it would be a boon for 10K B1G fans to help fill BDS for a Saturday night game against Penn State with half or more screaming for Tech.

Be careful what you wish for. Bobby Dodd might be like COFH at every home game instead of just against u(sic)ga, meaning GT fans overwhelmingly outnumbered.

 

[RonJohn]

Be careful what you wish for. Bobby Dodd might be like COFH at every home game instead of just against u(sic)ga, meaning GT fans overwhelmingly outnumbered.

GT fans were not outnumbered at the mutt game last year, let alone overwhelmingly outnumbered. I would be disappointed if there were 10-15k opposing fans in the stands at GT games. However, my disappointment would be more with GT fans not buying tickets than with opposing fans who do. My top choice would be to fill the stands with GT fans. However, if GT fans still refuse to buy tickets, then I would rather have opposing fans pay money to the GT Athletic Association than have the seats go empty.

 

[gte447f]

GT fans were not outnumbered at the mutt game last year, let alone overwhelmingly outnumbered. I would be disappointed if there were 10-15k opposing fans in the stands at GT games. However, my disappointment would be more with GT fans not buying tickets than with opposing fans who do. My top choice would be to fill the stands with GT fans. However, if GT fans still refuse to buy tickets, then I would rather have opposing fans pay money to the GT Athletic Association than have the seats go empty.

 

[RonJohn]

I was there and saw it. I would say about 55/45 GT fans.

EDIT: And that picture is not from 2023. That is a mid-day start based on the shadows.

 

[gte447f]

I was there and saw it. I would say about 55/45 GT fans.

EDIT: And that picture is not from 2023. That is a mid-day start based on the shadows.

The pic I posted was randomly copied from Google image results. It might have been from the showman’s tenure. One of those years looked about 90/10 against GT.

 

[RonJohn]

The pic I posted was randomly copied from Google image results. It might have been from the showman’s tenure. One of those years looked about 90/10 against GT.

It hasn't been that high. The West stands usually have a lot more gold in them. Even in the East stands the red just pops out more visually. That is especially true in a blurry picture like the one you attached, because the red blends together and you can't even zoom in to see the gold between the reds.

Towards the end of CPJ's tenure, the red in the stands increased. Both because CPJ's support from GT fans was dropping and because the mutts were becoming more important in the national picture. In 2021, which I believe the picture you posted came from, the mutts were in the CFP picture and GT fans were disgusted with the former guy. I was at that game. Maybe it was at 70/30 mutts, but it wasn't close to 90/10. I was at the ND game the week before that game, and there were GT fans in the GT section screaming about how bad the former guy was. Those were GT fans who travelled to upper Indiana to watch the game, not just random people posting on Twitter from their mother's basement. There was no excitement at all in the fan base at that point, and it still didn't get to 90/10.