BYU Strikes Deals With ESPN, The WAC And Notre Dame In Football
by Jeremy Mauss on Sep 1, 2010 12:39 PM PDT
in Conference Expansion
Email
PrintThis is somewhat surprising to me that BYU did not go to the WAC due to things following apart with the Mountain West adding Fresno State and Nevada. The original plan for BYU to play four to six teams in the WAC still looks to be taking place with an announcement expected later today:
...to fill out its football schedule BYU is expected announce an alliance with the WAC that will provide it with four to six opponents each season.
UH [Hawaii] is expected to become an almost annual opponent through 2020 on a home-and-home basis. Before the departure of Fresno State and Nevada to the MWC on Aug. 18, plans were in the works for UH to play BYU in 2011, replacing Boise State, as well as additional games through 2016.
This is also under the assumption that the WAC will stay together for the next decade or so, because the WAC must have eight teams to stay an FBS league. They have until the fall of 2012 to add the teams which means the WAC needs two schools by the summer of 2011. Even if WAC teams all go indy for a few years while an FCS school makes a transition and an agreement could still be in place to play BYU in the interim.
A deal with ESPN is now official:
According to TV by the Numbers, which has a press release, BYU and ESPN have agreed to an eight-year deal beginning in 2011 that gives ESPN exclusive rights to all BYU home football games through 2018, with an option for 2019.
That's a win for BYU, which goes from a team hamstrung by its low-profile TV partners, Versus and The Mtn, to a team closely associated with the biggest name in college football broadcasting. It's only slightly mitigated by the fine print, as BYU play-by-play announcer Greg Wrubell tweets.
Fine print: eight-year deal is for every BYU home football game to be televised live on "ESPN family of networks or BYUTV."
Minimum three games on ESPN/ESPN2/ABC. Additional games on ESPNU. At least one game each season live on BYUTV.
However, the financial details have not been disclosed, even without the financial information being discussed BYU sees this as a vastly improved upgrade over the current television deal:
"We've long sought broad, nationwide access to our games for our fans and increased visibility among those who may be less familiar with our university and athletic programs," said BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson. "We've also been looking for ways to take better advantage of our own unique broadcasting resources."
BYU-TV reaches about 55 million households which is about half of what ESPN offers, but the channel is on basic packages of Dish Network and DirecTv; while it is on lower tier cable packages. The channel will be able to broadcast in high definition, world wide, and available online.
Notre Dame has chimed in on BYU going independent and saying that BYU fits the mold of an independent school:
"(Independence) is not for everybody, but they certainly fit the profile of an institution for whom it probably does make great sense -- frankly, in the same way it still does for Army and Navy," Swarbrick told the Tribune on Wednesday.
"All the schools currently in that category have some common characteristics -- national profile, strong history and traditions that are important to honor. BYU adds to that, as I think Notre Dame has, media access. Not everybody can produce on their own. I know precious little of the details, but it certainly looks like a smart move, from where I sit."
Notre Dame and BYU look to have a series set up according to Stewart Mandel:
BYU details: 8-year deal w/ ESPN for home games, 6-year series w/ ND. Yeah, I think they did all right.
Stewart Mandel
slmandel
So, it looks like BYU may actually have done a good move and by getting Notre Dame for six years. Their immediate future next year can be tough to fill out their schedule. Notre Dame has an opening in 2011, but besides that BYU has on the schedule are @ Texas, @Oregon State, and against Utah State. Who knows if the mock WAC schedule is still in place which looked like this below:
• BYU at Fresno State;
• BYU at Hawaii;
• Utah State at BYU;
• Nevada at BYU;
• San Jose State at BYU;
• New Mexico State at BYU.
The long term future looks good but 2011 and 2012 may have BYU playing a similar schedule to their current Mountain West slate, but the reward of playing good opponents will come in 2013 when other teams have an opening in their schedule.
BYU looks to be winning the PR battle by partnering with ESPN and Notre Dame, but just remember there is a reason Miami, Penn State, and Florida State eventually joined a league. Being an independent is tough due to scheduling twelve games a year, and if there is a home and home with Hawaii that means thirteen games a year.
Follow Mountain West Connection via Twitter and Facebook for News Quick Hits and Random Nonsense.
57 comments
|
Add comment
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
It sounds to me like the deal with the WAC
is mainly for 2011 & 2012 to help ease the way, scheduling-wise. I don’t think it’s intended to be long term (though obviously they’ll still play teams like Hawaii now and then). So I’m not sure it really matters what becomes of the WAC.
possibly
The WAC maybe a short term but longer then through 2012
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
by Jeremy Mauss on Sep 1, 2010 12:57 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
The WAC is going to rename itself to BYUB
You can guess what the B stands for.
Their motto is “How high BYU”.
I love this deal
Remember all those haters who said BYU wouldn’t be able to schedule anyone good as an indipendant. With 3 against Texas and 6 against ND, I’d say they’re off to a great start. I have no doubt deals with Army and Navy will be made as well. I’m also pretty sure old school WAC teams like Wyoming and Air Force will still schedule BYU on a semi-regular basis based on their long history together, as well as USU and Utah every year.
As for the exposure, it’s even better than I’d hoped. At least 3 games every year on either ABC, ESPN, or ESPN 2, and posibly as many as 7 depending on the number of home games. Plus, 6 games on CBS against ND over the next 9 years. This could be a huge recruiting tool. They’ll be able to tell recruits that they’ll be seen on national TV 6-8 games a year with half or more being on one of the ESPN stations, ABC, or CBS.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
As Tom Holmo said
Going independant wasn’t about getting a better shot at a BCS bowl game, but rather getting better national exposure than what they could get on Versus and The Mountain.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
hold your horses
BYU did have a great press conference and have a very good deal with ESPN and have scheduled Notre Dame and Texas, but the next two or three years the schedule will still be full of WAC teams.
Now I think BYU is going to make this work but slow down on scheduling all of these major teams they have only two teams plus Utah. That is only three teams and they need 12 to fill out their schedule.
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
Major teams?
I’m only speculating on what would be logic teams for BYU to make deals with. Wyoming and Air Force are hardly major teams. And isn’t that what these boards are all about? Speculating on what may or may not happen. I read where you said BYU would come crawling back to the MWC. That’s hardly a done deal either.
As for the 4 or 5 WAC teams they will play in each of the first two seasons they’re independent, how is that any different than the bottom feeders of the MWC? SDSU and New Mexico are hardly power houses. I’m simply saying their schedule won’t be full of teams like Sacramento St like some people like to believe.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
And they have 4 teams
Texas, ND, Utah, and USU. Plus, reports are saying that Hawaii will become one of the WAC teams BYU plays every year, supporting my theory that old school WAC teams will still want to scedule BYU.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
I was wrong about BYU
I thought and still think they should have stayed in the MWC, but they look to have some good things going their way now. What I meant to say was that BYU has only 3 major teams on the schedule and not anything more. 3 teams does not make a great schedule, that is all I meant.
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
But it's not that different than what they got in the MWC
They play 3-4 good to great teams every year and the rest of the schedule is filled out be medium to poor teams. But glad you’ve come around to the idea that this is a good deal for BYU.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
good teams
I am referring to the people who are saying BYU has all of these huge games lined up but they really only have Notre Dame and Texas. ESPN will help get others but just saying some need to slow down.
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
How did they cheat?
Or where you confusing BYU with North Carolina or USC?
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
cheating?
They may have been sneaky and possibly dishonest but cheating?
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
Im pretty sure that setting up your current conference mates
to be destroyed behind closed doors, screwing over Utah State, and then throwing out the agreement with the WAC rises to what could casually be called cheating.
But I was just posing the idiom…
One thing is for sure if I was the WCC (in bed with BYU) I would hire the best contract lawyers in the world..
I guess you don't know what the word cheating means
Cheating means you do something that’s against the rules. BYU didn’t break any rules. And BYU didn’t screw over USU. That was done by Fresno, Nevada, and Thompson. Blaming BYU is almost like blaming a girl for being raped because she wore close that were too sexy.
Actually, here’s a better example. Imagine a guy sees his neighbor bringing in the groceries. He goes out to help her. Her husband sees the neighbor helping his wife and than beats his wife when the neighbor leves because he’s jealous. If the neighbor didn’t go out their to help, the wife wouldn’t have been beaten. But is it realy his fault? He wasn’t trying to get the girl beaten. Fresno and Nevada are the ones that screwed over USU even thought they promised not to leave, not BYU. But don’t let the truth get in your way.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
Ok so I withdraw the "Cheating" Comment
How About Fing backstabbing schemers do actually prosper..
I like the way you skip the part about where BYU was trying to burn down the MWC in your little analogy…
So its kosher for BYU to screw over the MWC (or should I call it Caffeine free) but Nevada and Fresno upgrading is “beating up the MWC”…
Then the best part is BYU ditches whats left of the WAC! so now the WAC cant collect on the 5 Million from those schools and I believe they can leave in 2011…
There is no good analogy for what BYU did, it was that underhanded and stands on its own. It tried to tie members of another conference into an insane buyout so that it could screw its current conference. Then, they screwed the other conference when the WCC looked like they might profit BYU more. One thing is clear BYU will say and do anything to anybody to move ahead… WCC just wait.
Do you really think BYU was trying to screw over the MWC?
You really believe BYU said, “How can we stick it to the MWC and screw them over?” You really think BYU was behind the 5 million penelty because they wanted to do as much damage as they could to the MWC? If that’s what you really think than I’m guessing you also think Bush was behind 911, vaccinations cause autism, Dinosaurs walked the earth the same time as humans, and we never walked on the moon. Sometimes I wonder why I even waist my time talking with some people.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
Cueing Goodwin
Just so you know Bush/Obama are the new Nazi’s…
—
I don’t think that BYU was ‘trying to stick it to the MAC’ any more than a bugler is ‘trying to screw over their victims’. I do think that you can do something legal and unethical at the same time… Like trying to get another conference all set for your little jump when you know the jump will hurt your current conference.
they may have had a smirk while leaving the league
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
daedalus may have forgotten his sarcasm tag.
Obviously BYU has been trying to sell out their “friends” in the MWC since June.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
BYU conspired to look out for their own interests
They weren’t trying to destroy the MWC. They simply wanted to make sure their non-football teams had a place to play. And I think daedalus was being sarcastic. But BYU didn’t do anything different than Boise, Utah, Fresno, and Nevada, except not breaking their promise like Fresno and Nevada did. Here’s the bottom line. Boise, Utah, Fresno, Nevada, and BYU all left their conferences to try to get more exposure and money. And the only way all 5 of those schools hurt their conferences was by not being in their conferences anymore. Nothing more than that. So acting like Boise, Utah, Fresno, and Nevada did nothing wrong while BYU is underhanded and deceitful is just plain hypocritical.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
No
Utah and Boise looked out for their interest, Nebraska looked out for its own interest…
BYU injected itself into the politics of a conference with which it had zero relationship, and it tried to do it under the cover of darkness. The Flaming wreck that is the WAC sits firmly at the feet of BYU.
If BYU decided to leave the WAC, and just had the class to announce it that would be one thing (like Nebraska and Utah) but neither Nebraska or Utah tried to salt the earth as they left their respective conferences.
“They simply wanted to make sure their non-football teams had a place to play.”
They did not need to push the WAC to setup a 5 million buyout for that. The WCC (or WAC) would have taken them in a second.
“But BYU didn’t do anything different than Boise, Utah, Fresno, and Nevada, except not breaking their promise like Fresno and Nevada did.”
Show me where Utah, or Boise were colluding behind closed doors for weeks trying to make sure that nobody in their desired conference would jump ship when they got there.
As to Fresno and NEvada breaking a promise… Umm They were both willing to pay the 5 Million, that WAS the promise. Every contract has an out, and taking that out is not deceptive. Now BYU setting this whole thing out and then leaving the WAC out to dry, that is as much ‘breaking a promise’ as what Nevada or Fresno did.
“And the only way all 5 of those schools hurt their conferences was by not being in their conferences anymore. "
None of them tried to get the conferences they were going to to get in lock step against members leaving, none of them demanded concessions from the conference on the scale of pinning members to the wall with a 5 Million dollar bailout.
Wow!
I’m not even sure where to begin. BYU had zero relationship with the WAC? You really have no idea what you’re talking about do you? BYU was one of the founding memebers of the WAC. It’s where they played up untill the creation of the MWC.
And do you know why Boise, Fresno, Nevada, and Utah didn’t try to get their new conferences into agreeing to stay together and signing a $5 million buyout penalty? Because no one from the Pac 10 would ever leave to join the MWC. No one from the MWC would ever leave to join the WAC in football, although BYU was willing to join in everything else. They didn’t do it because they knew it would never happen. Are you even a fan of the WAC or MWC? Do you even know anything about their history?
BYU knew the minute they joined the WAC in everything but football, the MWC would try and raid the WAC. And you know what? That’s exactly what they did! $5 million buyout be damned! BYU was hoping to prevent what they knew would happen, but it didn’t work, so they went to the WCC instead. But keep performing your mental gymnastics if it gives you a reason to hate BYU.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
And one more thing
In the end, the only damage BYU did to the MWC is they’re no longer there. No matter what BYU did to try and protect the home of their non-football sports, in the end it didn’t work. The MWC raided the WAC just like they where affraid they would. So all this scheming and salting the earth you’re talking about, didn’t work. Even though I see things way different than you do.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
Not by design
“In the end, the only damage BYU did to the MWC is they’re no longer there.”
That’s only because BYU’s plans leaked before they could move and the MWC pounced before the dye was cast.
“so all this scheming and salting the earth you’re talking about, didn’t work.”
True, but that makes it no less scummy.
I don't hate BYU
I don’t love them so much that I am willing to put blinders on and pretend nothing happened when they make a mistake either.
What they did with the WAC was sneaky and underhanded. What they did with the WCC was above board and clean. You can say nothing underhanded happened because the WAC deal was never finalized. We all know they tried.
Well
“I’m not even sure where to begin. "
Thats pretty common when your blind twisted logic is taken apart, but hey don’t let that stop you try to defend scummy actions..
“BYU had zero relationship with the WAC? You really have no idea what you’re talking about do you?”
History is not a relationship, BYU had zero sports in the WAC, and it has been that way for years. BYU’s relationship with the WAC is as deep as Boston Colleges relationship with the Big East. A historical footnote with some lingering acrimony,
“Boise, Fresno, Nevada, and Utah didn’t try to get their new conferences into agreeing to stay together and signing a $5 million buyout penalty? Because no one from the Pac 10 would ever leave to join the MWC.”
Given that Fresno and Nevada were leaving for the WMC I don’t know what you’re trying to say here. But there was the perception that the WAC might move on the WMC if/when BYU moved (San Jose State and UNLV) yet Fresno and Nevada did not demand that the MWC make a buyout to assure that SJ and UNLV did not go to the WAC.
Utah Stayed in the WAC because they were supposed to have a real relationship with BYU, how stupid do they look. BYU sold out the WAC almost as fast as it sold out the MWC..
“BYU knew the minute they joined the WAC in everything but football, the MWC would try and raid the WAC”
Raid or reload? BYU knew that when their backdoor dealings with the WAC came to the light of day the WAC migh move to keep its football numbers up.
“BYU was hoping to prevent what they knew would happen”
You mean BYU was hoping to prevent what they knew would CAUSE
“but it didn’t work, so they went to the WCC instead. "
And in doing so costs the WAC 10 million dollars and precious time. The WAC was taking a chance by working with BYU, they knew the WAC would move, it seems they (the WAC) did not know that BYU would stab them in the back.
This conversation is going nowhere
We obviously disagree. I feel like I’m arguing with my sister when she tells me people have only been on the planet for 6,000 years. Nothing either one of us says is going to change what we think.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
Actually, I do want to say one more thing
These are the fact. BYU was fed up with the MWC and it’s crappy TV deal so they decided going independent was a better way to go. The problem is going independent is trickier than simply moving up to a better conference like Utah did. They would love to keep all their non-football teams in the MWC but that’s not an option. The league charter says every memeber has to play in every sport. So what do they do with their non-football sports?
Going to the WAC made the most sense. There’s some familiarity there since both old school WAC mate Hawaii and anual in state schedualing partner USU are both there. Plus, several other WAC schools play BYU on occassion. The problem is the MWC is a better conference than the WAC. There’s the very real posibility the WAC would get raided by the MWC if BYU leaves, so they try to put some things in place to prevent it and protect their non-football teams.
Nothing of what I’ve said so far is oppinion. It’s all fact. Now, here’s where we disagree. You think those protections they put in place were underhanded and dirty. I disagree, and nothing either one of us says will get the other to change their mind. But I am curious what you , and others that criticize BYU, think they should have done in order to provide a place for their non-football sports to play? And don’t say they never should have gone independent. I’m asking what’s the better why of going independent than what they did.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
What the hell is with the Bush/Christian meme's?
Seriously if you end up arguing with everybody about everything maybe you should look for the problem in a mirror..
Name one other team that got a contract signed so the conference they left could not replace them after they left.
Why can you not see this?
You act like BYU didn’t do anything Utah didn’t do. Utah didn’t make the WAC sign a deal so that Boise could not replace them in the MWC.
They got this contract signed while they were still in a partnership with the MWC.
Utah's situation is totally different.
They didn’t have to worry about the stability of their situation after they left. No one in the Pac-10 was ever going anywhere. I don’t think anyone can deny that BYU had more reason to be concerned about their stability. So what people are saying is that they shouldn’t have tried to secure their situation.
Utah didn’t do some of the things BYU tried to do because they had no reason to. If Utah’s situation had been more similar, do you really think they wouldn’t have done similar things? Obviously we can’t know for sure because the situation wasn’t similar, but I think people are just assuming that no other school would make the same decisions. And I really doubt that’s the case.
One of the main reasons why Nevada left the WAC was to be reunited with UNLV (gah that hurt saying that).
Cue the music
It was love at first sight.
Then they were separated for years.
Now they are together at last.
The WAC and Karl Benson are pathetic
for allowing the instrument of their demise to continue on with ‘The Project’. Have some self-esteem, show some sense of self-worth. BYU has torn your conference to shreds, left you hanging in the wind by signing with another conference, yet you still agree to deal with them? Absolutely pathetic. People can dis on Craig Thompson all they want, but at least he had the cojones to tell BYU they weren’t getting the sweet ass Texas deal they wanted. At least Craig Thompson isn’t Karl Benson, likely the worst conference commish in the country. Hey Karl, you can thank BYU and USU in about 2 years when you’re out of a job and your conference is dissolving. As a Cowboys fan I was really happy to hear UW AD Tom Burman say “I don’t have any desire to play BYU.” I think this is pretty telling, because if a team like Wyoming won’t schedule you, that’s not a good thing. The Pokes will play pretty much anyone, anytime. SDSU has said pretty much the same thing. I hope the entire MWC tells BYU to stick it. The Holy War may be ending with Utah’s move to the PAC-12, BYU can’t automatically put that one in the bank. I just have to laugh at all you BYU homers who think that they are going to have an easy time scheduling. What a shock that BYU would try to strike a deal with ND considering they are in the same boat. And it won’t be shocking at all when they do the same with Army and Navy. DUH! Lets see in two years when the conference part of the season rolls around and they are stuck with FCS schools because every other major conference is playing division games. Good riddance, and don’t let the door hit you on your ass on the way out.
I am curious about a couple of things.
1- Is the Notre Dame deal 3 and 3 or is it 4-2 (basically 2 2-1 games)? I know the Texas deal is 2-1, but I didn’t hear the answer on Notre Dame. Also, are the games going to be in November? Because BYU won’t have trouble getting opponents in September, but October and November look to be filled with the WAC-lites of USU, SJSU, NMSU, Idaho and Hawaii right now.
2- Is the ESPN deal contingent on how many games they pick up and on what networks they play on? I.e. does ESPN pay more for games they feel are worthy of ESPN/ABC vs. ESPN2 or ESPNU? If ESPN picks up only 3 games and they’re all on ESPN2, is the payment $2.4 million ($800k x 3) vs. 6 ESPN/ABC games for $9 million ($1.5 million x 6)? I assume the contract is based on the number of games ESPN actually broadcasts, but I wonder if the selection of channel affects the price, because those October and November BYU v. SJSU games are unlikely to be on ABC.
3- Any word on changing BYUTV from a non-profit station to a for-profit station w/ advertising? Any news about what the BYUTV games will be worth from an advertising perspective?
I’m impressed. I have long thought that BYU going independent was a death sentence for BYU football, but they’ve cobbled together something that I think can work, at least in the short term. We’ll see how viable this system is. If it works I will be quite impressed. Considering the conservative bent of most individuals of my religious persuasion (Mormons), I am surprised to see BYU take a high-risk/high-reward position.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
1) ND is almost certainly a 2:4 deal. Mid-decade BYU did a 1:2 deal with 2 in SB and one in Provo. I can’t think of any reason why the new deal would be different, especially wih Texas also getting that kind of deal.
Not much of a clue on the other two though. It’s definitely interesting to see BYU make such an unquestionably ballsy, high-risk/high-reward move. It could be anywhere from a huge success to an abject failure. Interesting times.
I actually think it's a straight home and away with ND
That’s what ND has worked out with Army and Navy. Not sure why BYU would be different.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
army and navy aren't straight home and homes
Army and Navy’s “home” games are usually in NFL stadiums, sometimes nowhere near the “home” team (Navy has played at least one such game in the Meadowlands I believe). Moreover, ND has already established the 2:1 precedent with BYU, and I’d be stunned if they went away from that, especially if Texas is also getting that kind of deal.
Texas wasn't set set up as a 2:1
BYU set up 1 date to play Texas on the road. Then much later they set up a home and away. So while Texas gets 2 to BYU’s 1, it wasn’t set up as a straight 2:1. And if Army and Navy are having to play at other stadiums it might be because their stadium’s only seat 34,000 and 40,000. Meanwhile, LaVell Edwards stadium seats over 64,000. Much more in line of what they’re looking for. But it’s all just speculation for both of us since neither one of us is totally sure.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
Tradition
Army and Navy get a straight “home and home” because it’s Notre Dame tradition. That’s about it.
I’m not saying that BYU can’t pull of a 1:1, because major schools do it with major schools. I’m merely saying that nobody here knows how Notre Dame views BYU.
by VA Libertarian on Sep 1, 2010 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions
There wasn't an announcement.
I remember the BYU deal being 2-1 earlier, so I didn’t know if that had changed for this 6-game deal. Do you have any info, or are we all just guessing?
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
no kidding
The exit fee was based on BYU in the WAC, so not sure how Nevada or Fresno owe any cash.
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
No.
The penalty only comes into place (in my legal opinion, but I’m a litigator not a contract lawyer) if BYU signs the agreement. They didn’t, so no penalty.
The July deadline to leave the WAC was in place for a while, so that could be enforced (although the WAC may take some payment to let Fresno and Nevada out early).
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
I’ve read that Nevada and Fresno will probably pay 2 million for fee for leaving the conference early.
Something to say? Choose one of these options to log in.
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Mountain West Connection
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Y! Sports Blogs from Yahoo! Sports
- Act of sportsmanship highlights player’s return from a stroke
- Jon Jones misses his friendship with Rashad Evans
- Wild’s Marek Zidlicky drinks Lou’s Kool-Aid, waives no-trade for Devils
- Georgia school voluntarily forfeits playoff spot rather than play team involved in football brawl
- MMA Marketplace: Nick Diaz in miniature form
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
