Here is are some highlights of today's official press conference announcing the departure to the West Coast Conference for those of you too busy to watch it:
This is about access and exposure: access to BYU fans and exposure to everyone else.
They inked an 8-year contract with ESPN for all BYU home football games. Finances were not disclosed. However, all games will be on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, or ABC (note: no ESPNU or ESPN-Classic). There will be SOME non-Saturday games, but those will be Thursday night games or General Conference weekend. All non-Saturday games will be beneficial to BYU. He stated that what channels BYU is on depends on their performance, and they are comfortable with that arrangement. "If we're good, we'll be on the best channels."
BYU-TV will be able to live broadcast all home basketball games not carried by ESPN.
If ESPN does broadcast, BYU-TV will be able to rebroadcast on the same day. Also, classic games will be available at BYUTV.org.
BYU announced a 6-game series with Notre Dame. No specific details were given except that the contract extends through 2020.
ESPN will continue to help BYU schedule. They are a great partner! They are THE worldwide leader in sports. And BYU-TV will now become the worldwide leader in BYU sports...
58% of BYU's alumni base lives in West Coast Conference states (I have to assume Utah was included in this).
All WCC schools are a two-hour flight or less from Salt Lake City.
No specific bowl affiliations are set. There is interest and ESPN has been a willing partner.
No special BCS access, but Tom Holmoe is confident that if they finish in the top 14, with ESPN as a partner, they will get an at-large bid.
The Utah game is a must have and ESPN is excited to carry it. (My thoughts: ESPN money will work out any details that are inhibiting the scheduling from happening.)
Utah leaving for the Pac 10 gave them the courage to further explore their other options that they had been studying for about 5 years. They were the best partner BYU had in the MWC, and without them, it helped make the timing right.
BYU reiterated its commitment to independence in football and the WCC. This is not a stepping stone. BYU is doing this for the reasons that they stated and those reasons do not improve in any conference, BCS or not.
No financials were discussed in specific. Only that BYU will take care of financial business. All parties wanted to get this done so the money wasn't an issue.
Scheduling will be tough during the "transition" period. The WAC will still provide necessary opponents the next two years (they need the revenue with selling out or playing at BYU on ESPN, IMO). It helps to be a national school who has a reputation of their fans showing up. Since this info leaked, many inquiries have been made about scheduling with BYU! It sounded like they have some home-and-home deals in the works.
Dave Brown from ESPN was very enthusiastic in his speech. He highlighted how he feels that LaVell Edwards helped build ESPN. He mentioned on several different occasions how "storied" of a program BYU is and how excited he and ESPN are to work with them again on a formal basis. Honestly, his speech will give a Cougar fan goose bumps. Go find it if you can!
Jamie Sininovich of the West Coast Conference said a lot of fluff but not a lot of substance. In essence he said: we are happy to have BYU, they help our conference out immensely, they fit with our conference philosophically, academically, and athletically. There is no further expansion on the horizon. The WCC knows who they are and we all like each other. I thought that statement was hilarious...
Anyway, a lot of info to process. Most of my questions were answered. If BYU is good, it'll work very well. If not, it'll still be better than the status quo! Access and exposure, here it comes. Dish and DirecTV will have all BYU games available on their basic tier package, with ESPN and BYU-TV both on that. So next year you can stop spending extra money to find obscure channels...
I thought the guy from ESPN fell all over himself when talking about the Y. He could not have been more complementary than he was. BYU had helped make ESPN what it is today. They are really excited about this relationship. I was impressed with the WCC commissioner. He was sincere and honest, refreshing from a commissioner. I listened to an interview with him later on and it was they who approached the Y and were really excited about the addition. They made no concessions to BYU except for Sunday play and that only applied to games BYU was playing in. With 7 Catholic schools and one Protestant this should have not been a problem. The issue of this being a steppingstone was sidestepped by all. By if this works out, why go to the Big 12?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the details. I've been pretty pleased with the outcome. With Texas, Notre Dame, and Boise State on the schedule for the next few years, I think we'll see some great games. The only thing left is to make sure that we can actually win these games. It's all on Bronco now. Go Cougs!
ReplyDeleteThis turned out way better than I expected. I'm happy with this arrangement. Who is the biggest loser out of all this? TCU- Gotta feel bad for the Horned Frogs...they don't have the options that BYU and Utah had...they've been deserted AND they have to play Boise State every year now. Sucks to be them. Anyway, I liked Dennis Dodd's article: http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270202/24263335
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the analysis Mo.
Bram
Yes, ESPN was VERY complimentary indeed. Seriously, goosebumps.
ReplyDeleteYes, TCU is the biggest loser here, but they still have Boise State. They were always late to join the party though. They have a respectable football program, but if nobody in Dallas/Ft. Worth is taking notice, why would the Pac 10, Big XII, or ESPN?