THIS is a crazy idea, but i really, really like it. Can't really summarize, but here are some highlights.
One big downfall last year with the Big 10 Network was that no one outside of Big 10 country saw many games. That also did not help when weekly rankings came out because the voters did not see them play. Need more research and solutions before the SEC jumps ahead IMO.
Looks like Slive has the important details in check. 2theadvocate.com | LSU Sports | SEC enters 'sensitive time' about TV — Baton Rouge, LA
If the SEC goes "bigger time", or not, add to the "To Do" list: 6. Improve officiating! You can't be a big time league with bush league officiating. Git R Done!!! Edit: I'm back from San Jose. Had a good trip!
JMO, but I think the proposed plan might be the smart way to approach the idea of having a conference network that can produce, manage, and distribute its own content. Makes sense to allow CBS,ESPN to continue as the primary distributors while the SEC learns the ropes as the secondary distributor. BTW, the idea that Texas and TAMU would break away from the Big 12 is preposterous. Texas has it made ..... no way they would even consider it. Until the conferences band together and bid-out entire, national packages to the networks and their consumers, the sport will continue to suffer in a myriad of ways and never reach its full economic potential. But I have a suspicion that may just be what the University Presidents have in mind ...... manage the revenues without risking their precious tax-exempt cash cow. :yelwink2:
A lot of these kind of things make sense and the SEC could be a real super power in athletics, but it's never going to happen as long as the coaches, ADs, Presidents and Slive can't agree on new proposals. The SEC suffers as a consequence. A good example was to have an early signing date in FB like basketball has. The proposal was to let recruits sign early and stop the continuing oressure by other schools and changes of minds at the last minute. The FB coaches voted for it but the ADs and Presidents, in seperate votes, voted against it for their usual stupid reasons. If it works in basketball, why is not good for football? These same guys, who oppose a FB playoff because it extends the season, now want to add more games to the conference baseball schedule as if over 50 games in the season isn't enough.
That early signing period was rejected by the SEC coaches last year by a 9-3 vote. It was approved this year 9-3 due to specific language that benefits the coaches, not the players. I suspect the Presidents and AD's will do what is best for budget.
I've been watching the proposed SEC TV network from afar with a fair amount of skepticism. The Big 10 network hasn't exactly set the world on fire. If I read the Slive comments that behelm quoted correctly, any games televised on a SEC network would be in addition to games televised on the existing TV contracts. Tiger Vision and other school outlets would become extinct under that format. I hope Slive has some knowledgeable TV consults on board that can learn from the mistakes the Big 10 made and not duplicate them.
Could you elaborate benefits for the coaches that are not good for the players? I agree the ADs/Pres. will do what is best for thge budget.....make the most money possible regardless of what the fans want. That's why we don't have a playoff in FB like the other sports do.
