Around the Big Ten

[hack]

I think Hannibal's point about CEOs having misadventures through splashy acquisitions is good context here. Executives like executing big plans. It's more fun than keeping a steady hand on the tiller of a ship sailing in the right direction, and, in the end, Jim Delaney is an executive. That may not explain the whole thing, but it's useful to keep that in the back of one's mind here, in case it needs to be moved to the front at some point...

[iam416]

Acquisitions have failed. Conceded. Just as surely as acquisitions have succeeded.

I also don't buy for a second that the CIC/AAU doesn't matter for expansion or is merely some sort of pretense. In reality, whether you agree with it or not, it's a significant factor.

As for whether Rutgers and Maryland provided value-added, which Hanni steadfastly contends they do not, we'll see. I have a hard time believing that Delaney and the B10 Presidents didn't consider this carefully and arrive at the conclusion that they will. Whether that conclusion proves right or not, I don't know. What I do firmly believe is that they had gads of info on the subject and gads of skin in the game. In that regard, I'll defer to their decision-making for now.

Granted, again -- executives make mistakes. Just as surely as executives make good decisions, too.

[hack]

I firmly believe Delaney and the B10 presidents are trying to build an association that is the premiere research and athletic association in the world, and second only to the Ivy in academics.

Then shouldn't Duke come up as a positive rather than a problem to work around in reeling in UNC? And Tulane is in Conference USA -- could have been in the fold already. I don't mean to just be flippant about it, but if the above were really the case they should be trying to destroy the Ivy League, not the ACC.

I can see them hoping to build that academics side in as a nice bonus along the way -- hence come up with some marketing BS with the CIC to help with that process -- but it is hard to imagine any decision based on it.

[iam416]

premiere research and athletic association in the world

Relevant word bolded and underlined.

I agree, btw, it's hard to imagine any expansion decision solely based on the CIC. It's also hard to imagine any expansion decision solely based on athletics. Expansion decisions will be based on new markets, athletics and academics. Conjunctive.

Duke is a very good research fit. They are not, however, a flagship public university. Nor do they add much in terms of markets. And their athletics are probably a push.

If I were to be flippant, I'd chortle about, say, Louisville or West Virginia or, hell, Alabama. The B10 wouldn't touch any of those schools, but they did add Rutgers and Maryland. Plainly it's not all about athletics.

I find it completely foolish to pretend that it's all athletics with a bunch of pretense.

[hack]

That's a fair point too, unless you filter Rutgers through the idea of getting ND an NYC TV market to play in. Maryland, I don't know.

Which is my point -- I just don't know. What I DO know is that this CIC business makes no sense. Other stuff that argues for academics being a legitimate factor in decision making may make sense. I don't know.

[Whitley]

Duke is a private university but then so is Northwestern.

Something non academic to consider that while football is very important to the BTN and does drive expansion with all the bells and whistles. However, things like college basketball are what might keep the lights on.

[iam416]

Football drives the mega TV deals and, to a larger extent, carriage. But hoops is live inventory, which is advertising revenue. I think this January was the best month the BTN has ever had, and given the quality of the hoops league and the quantity of live hoops games, that isn't a surprise.

[hack]

Then there's simply no way that Delaney and friends cannot be seeing dollar signs in their eyes when they think about Duke and UNC.

[iam416]

Duke doesn't add the market, though. Look, I think they'd take Duke if they had to. I think Duke-NC are a net gain. I'm almost certain UNC alone delivers the entire state of NC for the BTN. I think Duke helps add value in east coast markets.

I also think the B10 probably has Duke ranked as the 21st or 22nd school. If I had to guess, I'd say UVa, UNC, GT, Kansas, Missouri and ND would all be way ahead of Duke. I also think FSU might be ahead, but that's a closer call. Truly a battle of athletics/TV vs academics.

I also don't think they can get KU or Missouri. So, I think Duke could be in play.

[hack]

Duke doesn't add the market, though. Look, I think they'd take Duke if they had to. I think Duke-NC are a net gain. I'm almost certain UNC alone delivers the entire state of NC for the BTN. I think Duke helps add value in east coast markets.


OK. Gotcha. A future in which they keep games like Duke/UNC on their network and take the ad revenue themselves -- or use the threat of that with the networks -- isn't a significant factor? It's more the carriage issue?

[iam416]

That's my take.

Personally, I favor quality and quantity of content over carriage fees. I think that long-term, that's where TV may be drifting (ie, on-demand). Personally, I'd take Duke in a heartbeat and make a huge push for KU. I think a conference with IU, KU, UNC and Duke is a massive quality/quantity boon. I mean, M, MSU, OSU, Illinois and Maryland would be the "second tier" B10 programs. I'd do that in a heartbeat. I don't think the B10 is so-inclined.

[hack]

Certainly doesn't appear that way.

[WM Wolverine]

I maintain that Rutgers and Maryland were strategical and power moves more so than financial or even academic 'adds'. IMO they were done give the B10 power (A 14+ team B10 has more power relative to the Big XII, SEC, ACC than does a smaller B10), to open up Virginia, North Carolina and damage its neighboring conference (ACC).

[hack]

That makes sense.

[entropy]

heh..