Conference Realignment Board

Joined: 04/10/2003 Posts: 8165
Likes: 518

What's this?

Unless they are showing re-runs, yes. (long response)

16 SEC teams will have less content to show than 14 SEC teams and 12 good ACC teams.

Look, I'm holding onto NOTHING. I'm an old die-hard Hokie that imprinted on VT football when we were beyond awful.

But professionally, I develop partnerships between state, federal, and private interests. I've completed several agreements that set national precedent and to get them done, I have had to make a couple of federal and state laws dance in ways people haven't envisioned.

Based on that experience, I'm just asking what I think are realistic questions. Somehow those questions are interpreted as me having some kind of agenda pro or con the ACC/SEC. And what I'm getting back quite frankly are idealistic answers based on what seem to be totally unrealistic assumptions.

The logic goes something like this

The ACC is a really bad deal. Therefore, if VT gets a good lawyer, it can get out; get back the rights it no longer owns; and make lots of money in the SEC. It will just happen because it's what we all want and is obviously the right thing to do. Yeah, just get a lawyer!

I/we used to make fun of Chuck because he thought you could do anything if you got a lawyer, like it was some magic answer. Get a lawyer. Find wiggle room. Get leverage. Like if you want a good deal, it just happens. If you want a TV network, you can have one.

My professional experience is that to get buy in, especially from competing interests, everyone has to see some benefit. You have to check everyones' box.
So if we think an ACC collapse is a big winner for ESPN, we should be able to articulate why this is.

"Oh, it's like the Big 12!". No, it isn't. If anything (at least so far), the Big 12 example is one that reinforces following the letter of the current contracts. So why would the ACC follow a different scenario? And if so, what is that scenario likely to be?

To me, it makes MUCH more sense for ESPN to proactively facilitate the changes it would like see in the ACC. It is co-owner of the ACCN. It can renegotiate the TV contract on a whim. So why not do that? Why go the meltdown route and burn bridges that don't need to be burned? I can say with certainty that if the politician (or chief of staff, or committee staff) you need is a die-hard alumnus of the school you just screwed, you're toast; don't bother to even ask for an appointment.
[Post edited by daveinop at 08/08/2021 3:07PM]

(In response to this post by Stech)

Posted: 08/08/2021 at 3:07PM

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Current Thread:

So, why would it be in ESPN's best interest for the ACC to collapse? -- daveinop 08/08/2021 09:51AM

I don't see ESPN wanting to do that. -- HOO86 08/08/2021 3:13PM

I tend to agree. Like I said below, to me it makes more sense -- daveinop 08/08/2021 3:46PM

What's ESPN's view of the ACCN? -- hokieball 08/08/2021 4:09PM

Took ESPN 8 years to give up on the Longhorn Network. -- PadrosWindup 08/08/2021 9:24PM

Great question! ** -- Stech 08/08/2021 4:13PM

This is why I think increasing the population of the ACC footprint helps. -- HOO86 08/08/2021 3:56PM

Even if the ACC doubled or tripled its footprint, it still may not be -- VTHokie2000 08/08/2021 4:40PM

I don't get where the ACC has to salvage a football reputation. -- HOO86 08/08/2021 5:35PM

The ACC has gone from FSU and the 8 Dwarfs to Clemson and the 13 Dwarfs -- VTHokie2000 08/09/2021 08:25AM

The problem is Notre Dame is no longer in the ACC. If we still had them -- Stech 08/08/2021 5:21PM

I love what you are guys are saying, but the money is in football. I am -- Stech 08/08/2021 4:11PM

Most interesting thing I heard Skipper say was about basketball... -- daveinop 08/08/2021 4:53PM

Great point & he said UNC & Duke just need to be in the same Conference. -- Stech 08/08/2021 5:01PM

So espn can put together a conference that they want. ** -- IB4TECH 08/08/2021 11:42AM

Like what? Why wouldn't -- daveinop 08/08/2021 1:50PM

Espn should want an ACC that could more closely rival the SEC? The company -- IB4TECH 08/08/2021 2:00PM

I agree. So why wouldn't ESPN work to make that happen? -- daveinop 08/08/2021 2:09PM

Legally ESPN may not be able to snap its fingers and it make it happen -- VTHokie2000 08/08/2021 4:42PM

All very true; but it is the path of least resistance. -- daveinop 08/08/2021 5:11PM

Disney is probably banking on the younger generations, -- VTHokie2000 08/09/2021 08:31AM

Less teams to pay, just like with Big 12. Their fine if Fox pays for the -- Stech 08/08/2021 11:02AM

That's fuzzy math and nothing like the Big 12 scenario. They have LHN -- daveinop 08/08/2021 1:48PM

They won't need LHN with this new conference deal. Actually, LHN probably -- 91HokieBob 08/08/2021 2:05PM

UT Pres told Texas Senate that Expectation are to wind down LHN. -- HOO86 08/08/2021 2:59PM

My guess is they would fold those assets into the SECN -- hokieball 08/08/2021 4:01PM

Thanks for sharing that! Good info, did not know they had openly discussed ** -- 91HokieBob 08/08/2021 3:02PM

You think ESPN will have a problem with content with those 16+ teams? -- Stech 08/08/2021 2:02PM

Unless they are showing re-runs, yes. (long response) -- daveinop 08/08/2021 3:07PM

First of all great post, not a good post, but great post. Second, -- Stech 08/08/2021 3:44PM

This is how I've been feeling since 2012, honestly. ** -- hokieball 08/08/2021 5:24PM

^^^This^^^ Preach!! I agree. Want VT and hoova to lead, chart their own -- 91HokieBob 08/08/2021 4:39PM

Thanks Bob! What do you think happens to VT donations & ticket sales n SEC? -- Stech 08/08/2021 4:50PM

Everything goes up to answer all your questions LOL! IMHO, SEC and B1G -- 91HokieBob 08/08/2021 6:04PM

Thanks! And I agree, there is much more to come and to be learned -- daveinop 08/08/2021 3:51PM

It will get more SEC all the time. The ACC will always be second fiddle -- goldendomer 08/08/2021 2:04PM

It's about to get way worst than it's been for 10 years and it hasn't been -- Stech 08/08/2021 3:20PM

VT should be fine. The issue is the GoR and escaping them early. -- goldendomer 08/08/2021 3:32PM

Would like to get Comcast and the rest of the hold outs onboard first... -- EDGEMAN 08/08/2021 10:34AM

The more I think (dream) about it, the more I think ESPN -- daveinop 08/08/2021 10:15AM

Part of the reason ND sticks with NBC, even for less money, is because -- Femoyer Hokie 08/08/2021 10:21AM

Now they will help sell Peacock Subscriptions too. ** -- Stech 08/08/2021 1:30PM

They're helping to sell the ACC Network too. -- HOO86 08/08/2021 2:48PM

Unless they are showing re-runs, yes. (long response)

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