OT: indy BYU still getting TV deals

[TIGER-PAUL]

The Salt Lake Tribune has learned that discussions have intensified the past few weeks, perhaps so BYU can make a news splash on June 18 when it holds its media day — earlier than any program in the country, as usual — to kick off the 2019 football season.

This year’s theme will be “150 Years of College Football: BYU’s Impact on the Game,” and will play up the fact that ESPN’s first live regular-season broadcast was the BYU-at-Pitt game on Sept. 1, 1984, the season that ended with BYU winning the national championship.

Contacted late last week, ESPN confirmed that it is extremely interested in continuing the partnership.

“ESPN has a great relationship with BYU and its athletics department,” said Kurt Dargis, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. “We expect that affiliation to continue beyond this [football] season and are engaged in those discussions.”

Responding to a Tribune request on how those negotiations are coming along, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said there are no foreseeable snags or complications that could derail the deal.

“We are having a good dialogue with ESPN about a new regular-season contract and a bowl game agreement,” Holmoe said via email. “Those contract discussions are currently ongoing. We are going to be with ESPN. It is just a matter of working through some details of the new deal.”

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2019/06/09/byu-espn-closing-new-deal/

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

http://sltrib.cougarstats.com/games.php?show=details&game_id=359

stats for that BYU/Pitt game.

 

[oldpanther]

http://sltrib.cougarstats.com/games.php?show=details&game_id=359

stats for that BYU/Pitt game.

Oh yes, I was there and the Boscoe to Haysbert late TD just added to the PItt football nightmares that I have experienced. If another fan was at the game feel free to correct me, may have been 3rd down for BYU and PItt blitzed and failed to get to the QB, Haysbert runs a 10 or 12 yard post against a true Fr. DB Tinsley in man coverage, Haysbert catches the ball in stride and runs free to the end zone.

 

[HailtoPitt]

How much does their deal pay them per year?

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Nobody knows for sure but estimated similiar to the American around 8m? a year plus a bowl bid to some espn bowl for football. Their other sports are in another conference.

 

[DiehardPanther]

The box score must be wrong. It says we had 40k in attendance. We were a Top 10 program and playing in an on-campus stadium.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Lots of people watch college football live and BYU probably has a Top 30ish fanbase. They are a P5 program which will never be able to join a P5 conference so it doesn't surprise me at all if they get another good TV deal.

 

[BFo8]

They also have their own network, which doesn’t show football but does have the odd basketball game and a lot of the smaller sports.

 

[pittdan77]

Nobody knows for sure but estimated similiar to the American around 8m? a year plus a bowl bid to some espn bowl for football. Their other sports are in another conference.

That would be a bargain for ESPN to anchor in a growing market but there's zero reason to doubt it, either.

BYU has some barriers to entry that have come up with expansion discussions. Mostly over the religious stuff that doesn't fly with a lot of PAC12 schools. Only other logical option that elevates them is the Big12 and then you end up with WVU west, it terms of distance, plus I can't see ESPN or FOX wanting to spend a penny more for them if $8m is right.

 

[joefromlancaster]

Reember a byu player intentionally
Going to the back of the legs of
Chris Doleman ( I think) to take him out of the game. Ruined his season.
I think it was a torn ACL.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

BYU has some barriers to entry that have come up with expansion discussions. Mostly over the religious stuff that doesn't fly with a lot of PAC12 schools.

The refusal to play on Sundays is a problem for a lot of leagues. Lots of Olympic sports games get played on Sundays because when the game is over the visitors can travel home and not have the team members miss a day of class. For instance the ACC plays volleyball games on Fridays and Sundays and women's soccer games and most women's basketball games on Thursdays and Sundays. Scheduling would get a lot more difficult (and inconvenient) if one of your schools wouldn't play on Sunday.

 

[pittdan77]

The refusal to play on Sundays is a problem for a lot of leagues. Lots of Olympic sports games get played on Sundays because when the game is over the visitors can travel home and not have the team members miss a day of class. For instance the ACC plays volleyball games on Fridays and Sundays and women's soccer games and most women's basketball games on Thursdays and Sundays. Scheduling would get a lot more difficult (and inconvenient) if one of your schools wouldn't play on Sunday.

Thank you. I forgot about that.

 

[Panther Holla]

Oh yes, I was there and the Boscoe to Haysbert late TD just added to the PItt football nightmares that I have experienced. If another fan was at the game feel free to correct me, may have been 3rd down for BYU and PItt blitzed and failed to get to the QB, Haysbert runs a 10 or 12 yard post against a true Fr. DB Tinsley in man coverage, Haysbert catches the ball in stride and runs free to the end zone.

One of the earliest "didn't see that one coming" losses for Pitt.

 

[PittMan 72]

Oh yes, I was there and the Boscoe to Haysbert late TD just added to the PItt football nightmares that I have experienced. If another fan was at the game feel free to correct me, may have been 3rd down for BYU and PItt blitzed and failed to get to the QB, Haysbert runs a 10 or 12 yard post against a true Fr. DB Tinsley in man coverage, Haysbert catches the ball in stride and runs free to the end zone.

It was a 3rd and short play late in the 4Q. Foge evidently thought Edwards would be coaching in that situation in the more conservative manner that Foge himself coached offense as a HC. So he called a defense to stop a running play and brought a whole bunch of defenders up into the box. But Edwards must've anticipated that Foge would do that, so he called the pass play.

The rest is history and the play went not just for a 1st down, but all the way for a TD. Started the skid that eventually led to Foge getting the boot from Pitt and never being a HFC again after the Pitt job.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

It was a 3rd and short play late in the 4Q. Foge evidently thought Edwards would be coaching in that situation in the more conservative manner that Foge himself coached offense as a HC. So he called a defense to stop a running play and brought a whole bunch of defenders up into the box. But Edwards must've anticipated that Foge would do that, so he called the pass play.

There was less than two minutes to go in the game when they threw that pass. For a coach to not be thinking that the opponent just may be passing the ball in that situation (3rd and 4) is a clear sign that someone doesn't belong as a head coach.

Add to that the fact that BYU attempted to pass on at least 46 of their 66 offensive snaps (it was actually more than that considering some called pass plays resulted in scrambles for yards gained rushing) and anyone assuming that they were going to run the ball there was an idiot. Edwards didn't call a pass play because he assumed that Fazio would set his defense to stop the run (although he may have thought that). Edwards called a pass play because his teams passed the ball way more than they ran the ball. It's what they did. There was no reason to think they were going to do otherwise in that situation.

 

[PittMan 72]

There was less than two minutes to go in the game when they threw that pass. For a coach to not be thinking that the opponent just may be passing the ball in that situation (3rd and 4) is a clear sign that someone doesn't belong as a head coach.

Add to that the fact that BYU attempted to pass on at least 46 of their 66 offensive snaps (it was actually more than that considering some called pass plays resulted in scrambles for yards gained rushing) and anyone assuming that they were going to run the ball there was an idiot. Edwards didn't call a pass play because he assumed that Fazio would set his defense to stop the run (although he may have thought that). Edwards called a pass play because his teams passed the ball way more than they ran the ball. It's what they did. There was no reason to think they were going to do otherwise in that situation.

Yep. In spite of them throwing all those passes, Foge had his D stuff the box and left them vulnerable to try defend a pass that went for a 50 yard TD. The BYU receiver was wide open.

So sad to see such a great Pitt program at the time being let down due to a poor choice for HC. Especially when there were other very good options.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

In all fairness, BYU won the national championship that year. It wasn’t exactly like losing to Youngstown State.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Personally, I’m not surprised that BYU is getting this deal. They fill a valuable TV niche for ESPN and they are clearly a big time program.

ESPN loves having compelling programming in that late Saturday time slot and BYU is happy to fill that hole. Basically, your only choices there are BYU, Boise State, or the Pac 12.

The Cougars are obviously not what they were whenever they were confounding everyone with the first real spread offense and when they pretty much controlled the Pacific Islands. However, they are clearly a major college football program in every measurable way.

If not for cultural differences, they would already be in the Pac 12 and I think they could still end up in the Big 12 at some point.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Personally, I’m not surprised that BYU is getting this deal. They fill a valuable TV niche for ESPN and they are clearly a big time program.

ESPN loves having compelling programming in that late Saturday time slot and BYU is happy to fill that hole. Basically, your only choices there are BYU, Boise State, or the Pac 12.

The Cougars are obviously not what they were whenever they were confounding everyone with the first real spread offense and when they pretty much controlled the Pacific Islands. However, they are clearly a major college football program in every measurable way.

If not for cultural differences, they would already be in the Pac 12 and I think they could still end up in the Big 12 at some point.

Their gay ban eliminates any chance for them to go P5

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

In all fairness, BYU won the national championship that year. It wasn’t exactly like losing to Youngstown State.

In all fairness, we finished 3-7-1 that year and we were probably the second best team that BYU played. The best was the 6-6 Michigan team they beat in their bowl game.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Yeah, they weren’t the greatest national champion of all-time. Honestly, there were no great teams in 1984. It’s one of the weirdest years I can ever remember.

Their national championship game was in the Holiday Bowl for Pete’s sake! However, you can only play who is on your schedule and they won them all.

I don’t look at their championship as an indictment of BYU’s legitimacy as much as I do the idiotic structure of college football in 1984. Sadly, decades later, it’s still not that much better.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Yeah, they weren’t the greatest national champion of all-time. Honestly, there were no great teams in 1984. It’s one of the weirdest years I can ever remember.

Their national championship game was in the Holiday Bowl for Pete’s sake! However, you can only play who is on your schedule and they won them all.

I don’t look at their championship as an indictment of BYU’s legitimacy as much as I do the idiotic structure of college football in 1984. Sadly, decades later, it’s still not that much better.

Two weeks after that Pitt - BYU game Oklahoma came to town. They beat us 42-10. If they wanted to, it could have been worse. I always say that I cannot imagine how anyone could have seen those two games and thought that BYU was anywhere close to Oklahoma's league. But Oklahoma lost a regular season game that year, and then got beat again in their bowl game, so there was no way they were getting voted ahead of BYU no matter how much better than them they were on the field.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Oh yeah, I remember that well, if not fondly. The Sooners had a fullback named Lydell Carr who I think ran for about 9000 yards that day.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Their gay ban eliminates any chance for them to go P5

Yes, it does. However, policies change and attitudes change. I know we are in a really weird time politically. However, money talks and if the Big 12 ever has to expand again, I expect BYU to be firmly in that mix. However, as you said, they’re going to have to make some changes as well.

 

[pittdan77]

Yes, it does. However, policies change and attitudes change. I know we are in a really weird time politically. However, money talks and if the Big 12 ever has to expand again, I expect BYU to be firmly in that mix. However, as you said, they’re going to have to make some changes as well.

Just a guess but the Mormons, as an organization, don't need the headache and hassle of Big12 money and are doing very well. (Edit: By "headache" I mean conceding to things that aren't in alignment with their religion.) Especially if it's going to push the limits of the part of their congregation that couldn't care less about sports or even BYU. This isn't like ND or St. Johns in terms of religious affiliations. This would be like the Vatican having a college football team. In that case, how they operate sports changes the math.

I'll concede that things change but there won't be a rush to get there unless they can justify drawing a distinction between their university and their church.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Things definitely can and do change.

The LDS Church is in the midst of crisis right now. It is very clearly in decline and they’re trying to find some answers, if not to reverse the decline, to at least stem the tide of those leaving it.

In recent years, they’ve allowed women to take on leadership positions after resisting that for years and years. They had vehemently resisted that for a long time but have in recent years finally started to take small steps in that direction.

It’s only been since the late 70s that they have allowed African-Americans to service priests in the church. Within the past few months, they’ve changed their policy towards the baptism of children of the LGBTQ community, and at their May commencement, BYU’s valedictorian gave a speech talking about what it is like to be an openly gay Mormon.



All of these seismic changes happened after various “visions from God” by their leadership council.

Naturally, when you make significant social changes in such a conservative society, it’s going to bring out plenty of critics from both sides.

The critics on the left say that the changes are too little, too late and don’t go far enough. Similarly, the critics on the right charge that the changes have gone too far too soon and are hastening the decline of the church.

Who knows where the truth lies? My personal belief is that it’s completely crazy to try to stop nature. I don’t believe that homosexuality is a “lifestyle” as much as it is an orientation; and that you don’t have control over your sexuality any more than you do your gender, your race, your hair color or which hand you use to sign your name. None of these things are something that you choose. Rather they are all chosen for you ahead of time by the man upstairs.

Also, as far as BYU specifically is concerned, I have one minor clarification. Their Student Code of Conduct does not specifically prohibit you from being gay, it prohibits you from being sexually active. So, just as a homosexual cannot be sexually active while enrolled at BYU, neither can a heterosexual.

The sticking point, and really the whole controversy centers around the fact that heterosexuals can be sexually active if you they are married — which is a major reason why so many Mormons get married while they’re still in college — and the LDS church won’t recognize gay marriage.

My personal opinion is that if the LGBTQ community continues to keep the pressure on the church and they continue to bleed membership as a result of it and other conservative policies, and as they’re older and more conservative members die off, one of these nights, one of their key decision-makers is going to have another “vision from God” telling him that members of the LGBTQ community should have the exact same rights as everyone else.

When that happens, and I think it’ll be sooner rather than later, I think BYU will become much more attractive to conferences like the Pac 12, the Big 12, etc.

 

[pittdan77]

Things definitely can and do change.

The LDS Church is in the midst of crisis right now. It is very clearly in decline and they’re trying to find some answers, if not to reverse the decline, to at least stem the tide of those leaving it.

In recent years, they’ve allowed women to take on leadership positions after resisting that for years and years. They had vehemently resisted that for a long time but have in recent years finally started to take small steps in that direction.

It’s only been since the late 70s that they have allowed African-Americans to service priests in the church. Within the past few months, they’ve changed their policy towards the baptism of children of the LGBTQ community, and at their May commencement, BYU’s valedictorian gave a speech talking about what it is like to be an openly gay Mormon.

View embedded media

All of these seismic changes happened after various “visions from God” by their leadership council.

Naturally, when you make significant social changes in such a conservative society, it’s going to bring out plenty of critics from both sides.

The critics on the left say that the changes are too little, too late and don’t go far enough. Similarly, the critics on the right charge that the changes have gone too far too soon and are hastening the decline of the church.

Who knows where the truth lies? My personal belief is that it’s completely crazy to try to stop nature. I don’t believe that homosexuality is a “lifestyle” as much as it is an orientation; and that you don’t have control over your sexuality any more than you do your gender, your race, your hair color or which hand you use to sign your name. None of these things are something that you choose. Rather they are all chosen for you ahead of time by the man upstairs.

Also, as far as BYU specifically is concerned, I have one minor clarification. Their Student Code of Conduct does not specifically prohibit you from being gay, it prohibits you from being sexually active. So, just as a homosexual cannot be sexually active while enrolled at BYU, neither can a heterosexual.

The sticking point, and really the whole controversy centers around the fact that heterosexuals can be sexually active if you they are married — which is a major reason why so many Mormons get married while they’re still in college — and the LDS church won’t recognize gay marriage.

My personal opinion is that if the LGBTQ community continues to keep the pressure on the church and they continue to bleed membership as a result of it and other conservative policies, and as they’re older and more conservative members die off, one of these nights, one of their key decision-makers is going to have another “vision from God” telling him that members of the LGBTQ community should have the exact same rights as everyone else.

When that happens, and I think it’ll be sooner rather than later, I think BYU will become much more attractive to conferences like the Pac 12, the Big 12, etc.

I was at the Air Force academy pre "don't ask, don't tell" and I recall a couple of incidents that happened in 2nd Squadron helping it earn the nickname, "loose deuce". You were technically required to tell and guys got expelled over it. I remember wondering why being gay made them undesirable. But your point about shifting culture is well taken and I would have been shocked if you told me at the time that it would change in the military.

I personally don't see them adding $30 million in value to the Big12 and that seems to be the goal line for any expansion.

 

[PittMiamiRivalry]

The box score must be wrong. It says we had 40k in attendance. We were a Top 10 program and playing in an on-campus stadium.

And Pitt was ranked in the Top Ten or fifteen. Lots of empty seats. I was there too.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

There is no question that the recent rule change that no longer requires conferences to have 12 teams to hold a conference championship game has really hurt schools like BYU and Connecticut and Cincinnati and UCF and other schools hoping to get an invite to a Power Five conference. I think that rule change as well as all the GOR extensions has basically put the brakes on further expansion for the foreseeable future.