"topdecktiger, post: 1265550, member: 3806"]Yes, I can tell you exactly the presidents responsible for the Raycom deal:
William Leahy, Nancy Cantor, Daniel Mote, John Casteen, Charles Steger, Holden Thorpe, Bill Woodson, Richard Brodhead, Nathan Hatch, Jim Barker, Bud Peterson, Eric Baron, and Donna Shalala.
1) I'm not defending Swofford. 2) I'm not making excuses for Swofford. 3)My position is not emotional. It's logical.
Thank you, and their lack of foresight was horrible as Swofford lack to persuade them otherwise. This does not erase Swofford ACC Expansion Plan did not add more Demographics in Florida and Virginia-VT with Miami-FSU and BC was not the best choice either based on location alone and did not remove the BCS Bowl as he expected either while Miami never challenge FSU either.
The Big East response and higher BCS Ratings in FB and more NCAA BB Tourney Teams Entries, actually required an ACC Second Expansion and that was just as flawed by not adding Rutgers. If the ACC President's stopped him, I still see that as Swofford not as capable as Delany when it comes to convincing why and what the ACC must do just like Delany did in the Big Ten. Swofford or the ACC President's did not have GOR Protection and just passed 50 Buyout Penalty. The Big Ten responded by using B1G Network money to raid Maryland and grabbed Rutgers for New York to Washington DC to Chicago axis and split even the ACC Coast continuity. ACC respose was taking ULou and entering into a ND relationships with GOR rights too little and too late?
All the while SEC-ESPN dump Raycom and buy up third party rights to have a Neteork in 3 years, when ACC-ESPN own All Rights but decided to save Raycom and sit on not even creating a Network, as SEC-ESPN was doing. I guess this means SEC University president's are smarter than ACC Presidents?
This was at the same time, Big Ten was still paying Start up costs to Fox and payouts to big ten Schools were smaller compared to what is coming up now? What a miscalculation of mistakes by ACC Presidents, Swofford and ESPN when you look at it? but SEC-ESPN is happy in Charlotte? Raycom too! But ACC ADs wait on a Network that will take time to payoff Start Up Costs too? Sorry, just does not bode well for the ACC.
There is no reason to dump Swofford. Replacing him won't improve the situation, so no need to change just because it "looks better."
We can agree to disagree, but after your strong arguments, you have me re-thinking that but just like when I accepted that Pitt would never replace Pederson and it happen, I won't be upset if Swofford is replaced. I can see some of these same Presidents wanting to go to SEC & B1G for the money too. Especially Virginia and North Carolina that will continue Big Ten Eastern Coast going southward not being bale to turn down growing money.
UNC is particular is an embarrassment to the ACC on its own Academic Scandal. UVA would love to have more money and could less about VT? I can then see VT heading to SEC to stay competitive on the money!
Just like UMD President Loh that caused UMD Problems for UMD in the ACC and then left too. It is like Swofford at UNC was in the last seat in the class, and Delany was sitting right in front listening. Delany acted while Swofford reacted?
I have told you this several times before. The ACC was always going to have a syndication package, no matter what. If it wasn't with Raycom, it would have been with somebody else like Fox or Comcast. Either way, the position would still be exactly the same. The ACC would still have to repurchase a syndication package. Whether they have to repurchase it from Raycom or Comcast doesn't matter.
I agree you have and very much appreciate your time and efforts and very much respect your knowledge, and made the Lair smarter with your info and insights. Still, the Pac-12 is re-thinking their approach and looking for new ways to dream for a bigger buck and so can the ACC?The ACC can demand to renegotiate with ESPN anytime since they were Partners before SEC and Raycom can still play a role if they must be included. Clemson's AD is just as connected as Swofford.
The reasons the ACC doesn't have a network are because of issues with the ACC, some of which I mentioned. For example, you keep bringing up that the SEC has a network and the ACC doesn't. Well, why is that? For starters, the SEC has the highest ratings in college football. Well, that's the end of the story right there. Just for that reason alone, the SEC was always going to get a network first. There is nothing Swofford, Delany, Slive, or Jesus Christ himself could do to change that. That's why I argue with you about this topic. You overlook these realities, and believe that somehow a different commissioner could convince ESPN (or anyone else) to overlook these cold, hard facts.
I agree with you but bold forward thinkers always change simple facts. The Big East Gavitt began all these transitions in Sports and built ESPN from a Small Station to National Sports Media power way back in the 1980s when no one thinking like him, as well as Phil Knight at Nike in the 1970s.
The simple fact is, the SEC (and the Big Ten) are more popular and can make more money than the ACC. That's why they have networks and the ACC doesn't. Nothing anyone can say or do will change that. To suggest otherwise is mere fantasy.
And I thank you and agree with much of what you say yet the ACC cannot just sit there and say, OK SEC & B1G go and get all you can get, the ACC can make moves too. The Big-12 demise may begin a whole new expansion of possibilities sooner not later than many think.
Swofford can be replaced tomorrow and the ACC then can find a better commissioner that can adapt, persuade, and have better foresight for the ACC future.
There is no reason not to wait or add to ACC Demographics by looking at Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, and Connecticut early before Big Ten and SEC move sooner. There is a reason why SEC-ESPN is in Charlotte and the ACC should be making demands on the ESPN that Swofford helped handcuffed with Raycom and his Son and that is not unfair but facts that was another misjudgment by Swofford?
Additionally, there may be sound financial reasons to dump Wake Forest as well, and replace them with a Scholl with better Media, Attedance, and Cable Demographics. As stated, a better plan to form that Network can be worked out. If OU leaves Big-12 it may happen anyway so why not be Proactive?
The ACC can approach ND-NBC-TEXAS-LHN, Verizon-Yahoo in talks right now, or Fox and Comcast and just tell ESPN we are looking at other possibilities like with the Pac-12 that owns its own Network. They can tell ESPN-Raycom-Fox you are welcome to hand in your own, or we may challenge our Deal like it is now and just start our own like Pac-12.Sure it will require Lawyers and Counter Lawyers but that happens in Expansion anyway and Negotiated Settlements always result instead of waiting on a Court Decisions.
Amazing what negotiations can do and ESPN right now is worried about getting a chance at the second block of B1G games with more money, not worried about the ACC at all. This is the time to explain the ACC-ESPN can renegotiate right now and ESPN may be left out again for that Second B1G Package.
SEC, B1G and Pac-12 are doing something, and so far ACC and Big-12 keep waiting and saying we are near a Deal, so get a better Commissioner now that can get a better deal done. Sorry, this is what Top Sports Minds do, they make moves happen not react to them?
