UCF Lobbies Big 12 to Join Conference

akaukswoosh

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http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/15995670

Not long before the Big 12 presidents met in Irving, Texas to discuss expansion, University of Central Florida president John Hitt made the case for UCF to join the Big 12 in a letter to Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis.

In the letter dated May 17, which ESPN.com obtained, Hitt touted the growth of the Orlando, Florida, market and UCF's popularity with high school students.

He also claimed that UCF could expand its 45,000-set Bright House Networks Stadium to 65,000 if it were invited to the Big 12.

"UCF's athletic profile fits well with the Big 12," Hill wrote.
 

seccats04

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They're asking at a bad time. Their football team went 0-12 last year. Football is where the money is.
 

UK34

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They're asking at a bad time. Their football team went 0-12 last year. Football is where the money is.

I sort of see that as a positive for them. They offer the power schools a great TV market without the threat of losses in the near term.
 

JasonS.

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Be interesting to see how Scott Frost does there implementing the Chip Kelly system. If he has any success at all he'll looked at for a bigger job that UCF.
 

sefleming

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Read some where that about 4 or 5 schools are pushing to gain admittance into B12.
All about the money.
Seems like some of the teams were Memphsis, UConn, UCF, Houston and maybe 1 or 2 more
 

Grumpyolddawg

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The ACC won't expand again until/unless Notre Dame joins full time. If that happens I would want the ACC to add Houston and get into the Texas market.

I am curious about this. If ND does decide to join the ACC, or wants to for football, what will be the reaction of the other members to ND's independent TV deal with NBC? I can't imagine the other members would like it, unless ND decided to share it with the conference or not participate in the conference's TV deal
 
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I am curious about this. If ND does decide to join the ACC, or wants to for football, what will be the reaction of the other members to ND's independent TV deal with NBC? I can't imagine the other members would like it, unless ND decided to share it with the conference or not participate in the conference's TV deal
I could see Notre Dame folding there TV deal if the ACC could pay more money than they are receiving from NBC now. All the Big 10 and SEC schools generate more TV revenue than Notre Dame does now
 
Feb 19, 2007
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I could see Notre Dame folding there TV deal if the ACC could pay more money than they are receiving from NBC now. All the Big 10 and SEC schools generate more TV revenue than Notre Dame does now
I think they would fold. If Notre Dame gets added, and then you add a 16th team that greatly expands the eyeballs on the set, then the ACC would be getting a much higher TV payout than they are currently getting. The rumor has it (again this is just a rumor) that Notre Dame will join as a Full Member as soon as the plans to launch the ACC Network are formed. Again, with Notre Dame as a Full member combined with the formation of the ACC Network would increase the TV Payout well beyond what Notre Dame makes right now from NBC.

It will be very interesting to see what happens in the future regarding the ACC's affliliation with Notre Dame. I know this: FSU and Clemson aren't going to sit around and watch UF and South Carolina make $10 million more per year from their TV Contract than they are making without doing something about it. You can say the market determines the TV Contracts and it is fair until you realize that Vandy and Mississippi State are making $10 million more per year than FSU and Clemson too even though everybody knows that Vandy and Mississippi State bring far less to the table in eyeballs on the set than FSU and Clemson do. That $10 million per year is almost an insurmountable advantage whether it be in upgrading facilities, paying coaches as well as the recruiting budget.
 

NoviG8r

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UCF brings a 50,000+ student enrollment only rivaled by UT in the Big XII. It is located in a metropolitan area which has a larger population and TV market than any in the Big XII besides Dallas, and brings a presence in an area currently not represented in that league. It can be competitive in most sports and lies in the 1st or 2nd most-fertile recruiting states in America. There is a lot to consider when expansion talk and the Big XII arises.
 
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Grumpyolddawg

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I think they would fold. If Notre Dame gets added, and then you add a 16th team that greatly expands the eyeballs on the set, then the ACC would be getting a much higher TV payout than they are currently getting. The rumor has it (again this is just a rumor) that Notre Dame will join as a Full Member as soon as the plans to launch the ACC Network are formed. Again, with Notre Dame as a Full member combined with the formation of the ACC Network would increase the TV Payout well beyond what Notre Dame makes right now from NBC.

It will be very interesting to see what happens in the future regarding the ACC's affliliation with Notre Dame. I know this: FSU and Clemson aren't going to sit around and watch UF and South Carolina make $10 million more per year from their TV Contract than they are making without doing something about it. You can say the market determines the TV Contracts and it is fair until you realize that Vandy and Mississippi State are making $10 million more per year than FSU and Clemson too even though everybody knows that Vandy and Mississippi State bring far less to the table in eyeballs on the set than FSU and Clemson do. That $10 million per year is almost an insurmountable advantage whether it be in upgrading facilities, paying coaches as well as the recruiting budget.

Thx, I don't know the details of their deal with NBC so I was just asking what the rest of the conference would think of it or if ND would be willing to give it up to join if that was a sticking point and it would almost have to be.. One of the things that hurts the footprint of the ACC is having 4 teams in NC, not a small state, but for almost 30% of the conference being in one state it certainly hurts the footprint.
 

12375CAT

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I think they would fold. If Notre Dame gets added, and then you add a 16th team that greatly expands the eyeballs on the set, then the ACC would be getting a much higher TV payout than they are currently getting. The rumor has it (again this is just a rumor) that Notre Dame will join as a Full Member as soon as the plans to launch the ACC Network are formed. Again, with Notre Dame as a Full member combined with the formation of the ACC Network would increase the TV Payout well beyond what Notre Dame makes right now from NBC.

It will be very interesting to see what happens in the future regarding the ACC's affliliation with Notre Dame. I know this: FSU and Clemson aren't going to sit around and watch UF and South Carolina make $10 million more per year from their TV Contract than they are making without doing something about it. You can say the market determines the TV Contracts and it is fair until you realize that Vandy and Mississippi State are making $10 million more per year than FSU and Clemson too even though everybody knows that Vandy and Mississippi State bring far less to the table in eyeballs on the set than FSU and Clemson do. That $10 million per year is almost an insurmountable advantage whether it be in upgrading facilities, paying coaches as well as the recruiting budget.
agree
 

Michigan Fan

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Texas just isn't into expanding...JMO, Anyone expecting the Big XII to expand especially after bringing back their Title Game at 10 teams shouldn't hold their breath.
 

rwtcat123

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The same way you can be the SEC with Texas A&M & Missouri, the Pacific with Colorado & Utah, and the Big 12 with West Virginia. It's all about $$$.

Do you think Utah fits better geographically and culturally in another power conference?
 

maysvilleky

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The same way you can be the SEC with Texas A&M & Missouri, the Pacific with Colorado & Utah, and the Big 12 with West Virginia. It's all about $$$.

At least the SEC has connecting states. IMO you can't be the Atlantic Coast Conference or Pacific 10 with teams that aren't remotely from your area. Change the name of the conference! Maybe "Money Grab FB clubs of America" or something like that.