Look at how much we see universities/colleges in big cities playing to half-empty stadiums. They'll hire these marketing consultants that will render figures on population density and certain demographics and advise them where to go; Pro-sports towns are a favorite. It's why schools such as Georgia State and UNCC take on more allure. The broadcast media and visiting teams rather have the lure of a big airport, hotels, bars, and restaurants of Atlanta, rather than at the other GSU (GA. Southern) in Statesboro. (Actually Statesboro is beautiful & charming). In Atlanta, Ga Tech is getting to be just some expensive engineering school on North Avenue. Their depth of fan support is not what it once was.

So it's all driven by TV, and urban environments get favored. So the bored and less enthusiastic fan on the sofa drinking Coors Lite and eating fritos and surfing with the remote and stumbles upon the game, is valued over the dude, painted in school colors, and driving 70 miles, shows up at a filled campus stadium game located in a smaller, cozy, city?

What goes up, shall come down, market value not excluded.

Give me Georgia Southern and Appy State over Georgia State and Charlotte any day.

Amen.

If the Big East or any conference overlooks programs that can draw fans or routinely find success despite the absence of a major market, it's overlooking easy money and guaranteed product...and they are fools for it.

Big East (and ESPN) doing whatever they can to help Boise put its ollies into the Big West (see item #3). smh.

Yeah, note the editorializing by Andy Katz.

Right now, ESPN's TV contract with BE is set to expire, so maybe he tossed in those remarks ("caring deeply about their sports"),
as though ESPN will end up with the Big East contract when their bastardized conference finally does negotiate a contract.

Article out of Boise(previously posted in another thread)with comments from BE Commish and others regarding Big West/BSU situation at http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/06/2 ... -bsus.html

Article out of Boise(previously posted in another thread)reporting that BSU is still scrambling to finalize it's conference situation prior to midnight tonight.Link at http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/06/3 ... se-st.html

Andy Katz article(previously posted in another thread)discussing BSU/MWC/BE situation at http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ntain-west

Boise "to remain" as football-only member of Big East.

If I was an athlete for one of Boise's other sports, I'd demand a transfer.

Well, the Big West wouldn't be so bad for their Oly sports. But the WAC looks like a mess, I wouldn't awant any part of that.



Does the Big East now make a renewed push for BYU FB (only) at this point ?
They are set for 13 FB teams, when Navy comes on board.
A 4th FB only schools would help.

BE East: UConn, Rutgers, Temple, Navy*, Cincy, Louisville, Memphis
BE West: UCF, USF, Houston, SMU, Boise St.*, SDSU*, BYU*(?)

Article out of Boise with comments from BE official regarding bowl tie-ins,tv contract and other items.
Link at
http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2012/0 ... rylink=cpy

ESPN blog article discussing future BE bowl tie in situation at http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/ ... og-outrage

BE MB thread discussing BE/Syracuse "divorce settlement" that was announced today at http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=578138

Article out of Pittsburgh with update on Pitt/BE exit fee negotiations at http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/spo ... ast-645001

Question for the old regulars on here: Who do you think is more apt to decide to become the 14th Big East football school, BYU or Air Force?

My guess is that it will be Air Force but that they will wait until 2015 to do it to be sure that Navy doesn't renig. They will take their other sports to the WCC (Denver goes along for the ride) so they can play in an elite, private league. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the AFA and the BE already have an understanding that this is what they plan to do and that is why we aren't hearing anything more about Big East expansion.