Topic: Crickets:conference USA championship

[herdorbust]

We've wanted championships, chances to play for them. Now we have it, and nothing changes about the complaining. 

We get a great championship game slot on national TV, and some challenge whether or not the media outlet is good enough.  Nothing changes.

My point is very simple, it seems to me that it isn't a winning, recognizable, high integrity program you want.  It is merely the dismissal of one man; even though the program consists of nearly 150 people. 

Oh well, perhaps we lose, and everyone can say "See, I told you so."

I'll be rooting for a victory, regardless of who our head coach is, and I'll be watching it on CBSSN, even if it isn't on ESPN.  And tomorrow morning we'll still have a CBSSN agreement, none with ESPN, and Doc will still be head coach.  So for many, tomorrow will still be as dissatisfying as today, regardless of the outcome tonight.

Couldn't we just be hopeful and supportive for just one day, a day we have been waiting for for six years?

Fire away.

It has nothing to do with just winning or losing. Doc has sucked the life out of this program. People are tired of his Nehlen light style of football. They are tired of his drab boring personality. They are tired of the lockdown in communications. They are just tired. They want life and excitement brought back to the program. I’m just tired of the product. I for one am not fooled by beating EKU, Umass and the cupcakes of CUSA. We would have never reached the top 25 in a normal year with that schedule. But so many teams weren’t playing at first we got in and once you get there it’s hard to be bumped out until you lose.

[Big City]

We've wanted championships, chances to play for them. Now we have it, and nothing changes about the complaining. 

We get a great championship game slot on national TV, and some challenge whether or not the media outlet is good enough.  Nothing changes.

My point is very simple, it seems to me that it isn't a winning, recognizable, high integrity program you want.  It is merely the dismissal of one man; even though the program consists of nearly 150 people. 

Oh well, perhaps we lose, and everyone can say "See, I told you so."

I'll be rooting for a victory, regardless of who our head coach is, and I'll be watching it on CBSSN, even if it isn't on ESPN.  And tomorrow morning we'll still have a CBSSN agreement, none with ESPN, and Doc will still be head coach.  So for many, tomorrow will still be as dissatisfying as today, regardless of the outcome tonight.

Couldn't we just be hopeful and supportive for just one day, a day we have been waiting for for six years?

Fire away.

I see and understand you position. Absolutely appreciate the feedback.

 While my post conveys I am not satisfied with several things it was more about the apparent lack of excitement from fans. To be clear, I am excited. Maybe it’s just 2020 and the weird season it’s turned out to be. I’m looking forward to this team grabbing a championship and relish in the rare appearance. No television for us - looking forward to being in the stadium for this one.

[MUsince96]

So what’s your opinion on what our next media deal should look like? The MAC and Sun Belt have already taken up the weekday and only weekend ESPN slots that we would stand a chance of getting, Both those conferences are locked into long term deals too, so CUSA isn’t getting any of that action.

Imo, it would really be nice to go with someone like NBCS as long as our CCG is on NBC, or something like that with Fox Sports 2 and our CCG gets on FOX. Then push whatever games we can’t get on linear tv to ESPN+.

Looking at the next TV deal you have to look at the reach of each channel.

ESPN - 85 million
ESPN2- 85 million
FS1 - 79 million
NBCSN - 79 million
ESPNU - 62 million
CBSSN - 61 million
FS2 - 58 million

Our tier 1 stuff is in 6th place among sports channel reach. That has to change on the next deal.

Ideally you go ESPN/NBCSN. NBCSN has a ton of space for Saturday football games and only the A10 in hoops. With everything not picked up going to ESPN+

Aside from that, whatever combo of the channels you do the tier 2 stuff needs to be on the channels with lower reach like CBSSN and FS2.

I'm not naive and think we're going to get Saturday spots on ESPN or FS1. So take Thursday or Fridays if you have to if they'll put Saturday games on ESPNU or FS2.
ESPNU should have more open spots with ACC and SEC games going to their respective channels and some on ESPN+ now.

Football and men's hoops Championships on network TV or a cable channel above 79 million homes.

[svherd]

So what’s your opinion on what our next media deal should look like? The MAC and Sun Belt have already taken up the weekday and only weekend ESPN slots that we would stand a chance of getting, Both those conferences are locked into long term deals too, so CUSA isn’t getting any of that action.

Imo, it would really be nice to go with someone like NBCS as long as our CCG is on NBC, or something like that with Fox Sports 2 and our CCG gets on FOX. Then push whatever games we can’t get on linear tv to ESPN+.

We can pretty much be assured that the next league deal will not be any better than what we have now. As a league we don't have much to sell.

[MUsince96]

We can pretty much be assured that the next league deal will not be any better than what we have now. As a league we don't have much to sell.

With our conference leadership. Probably not.

But looking at our peer conferences and their TV that absolutely shouldn't be the case.

[elginherd]

I'd put FS1 ahead of ESPNU.  79M homes vs 62M homes.

Not sure about every provider but on Suddenlink ESPNU is on the extra digital sports tier with CBSSN. FS1 is on basic expanded with ESPN and ESPN2.

OK, I'll buy that.

[svherd]

With our conference leadership. Probably not.

But looking at our peer conferences and their TV that absolutely shouldn't be the case.

You hit the nail on the head, leadership. The league is not proactive and will not make the effort to improve the league image or our position. People complain about the AAC commish, his grandstanding and being such a boisterous mouth piece for that league. That's what he is paid to do and it's working. The AAC has positioned itself well ahead of the other G5 leagues and they are seeing the results in the media and national exposure/reputation.

[SuperAnjario]

CBSSN has exceptional production values, is widely distributed, and is extremely easy to get on most basic cable channels. 

We’ve been over this a million times. 

It’s true that Doc is too conservative and needs to go.  It’s also true that our TV deal isn’t great.  However, it actually got a ton better this year.  More games on CBSSN, Stadium is basically a new thing tied to RSNs, and the 3rd tier ESPN+ stuff is fine.

Our deal is extremely similar and arguably better than the MAC and Belt’s.  The Belt probably benefitted the most from having all those leagues start late.  Picked up a ton of over the air ESPN stuff.  In a normal year, the Belt has just a few actual games on OTA.  Vast majority on ESPN+ and almost no ability to get on anywhere else.  The MAC’s deal requires production costs and forces the entire league to play on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Vast majority of games on ESPN+ and completely dependent on sub licensing to ever get off ESPN+.

Believe it or not, CUSA’s deal provides far more guaranteed national TV games (when you count RSNs) than either the Belt or Mac for at least as much money.  The devil is in the details, but anyone who argues the Mac and Belt have better TV deals is missing the big picture by a whole lot.  All those deals suck.

Carving out the top 7 or so picks and the championship game for ESPN would be fine and not really change the deal much.  The MW leaving ESPN might give us an in there for some Friday content.  We have a basketball deal with ESPNU and ESPN+ is fully integrated everywhere, so our relationship with ESPN is fine.  ESPN would love to have the ability to broadcast our championship game this weekend.

[elginherd]

Ideally you go ESPN/NBCSN. NBCSN has a ton of space for Saturday football games and only the A10 in hoops. With everything not picked up going to ESPN+

I don't think that NBCSN's business model includes CFB, particularly lower G5 CFB.
They are all in on EPL soccer. I can't claim to understand their reasoning, particularly because there is not much opportunity to show full screen ads during a soccer fixture.

Unfortunately HF's resident TV expert is no longer with us to give any insight about why NBCSN doesn't appear to have an interest in football.

[goherd24]

I hate doc as our coach. And i hate the brass at Marshall defending him so much that they literally don't care to lose fans and donors. I give about $10,000 a year in the big green and IMG sponsorship contracts in which tickets are bundled etc. When the basketball lottery began i sent an email to opt in, and they said "sorry, policy states must be a season ticket holder and big green member"

They knew already but i explained my tickets were bundled with my sponsorship and they said "We'll include you if you stop criticizing Doc on forums and social media, and otherwise."

I told them to shove their lottery. Unless Docs gone, I'll keep my money next year or give it all to the tip off club

Ill be at the game tonight, but i fully expect UAB to beat us because they have a better coach.

[herdfifteen]

I question anyone’s knowledge of football programming who think CBSSN is second rate coverage, I am thrilled anytime our games are on this channel.

[MUsince96]

I hate doc as our coach. And i hate the brass at Marshall defending him so much that they literally don't care to lose fans and donors. I give about $10,000 a year in the big green and IMG sponsorship contracts in which tickets are bundled etc. When the basketball lottery began i sent an email to opt in, and they said "sorry, policy states must be a season ticket holder and big green member"

They knew already but i explained my tickets were bundled with my sponsorship and they said "We'll include you if you stop criticizing Doc on forums and social media, and otherwise."

I told them to shove their lottery. Unless Docs gone, I'll keep my money next year or give it all to the tip off club

Ill be at the game tonight, but i fully expect UAB to beat us because they have a better coach.

[HerdEcon]

You hit the nail on the head, leadership. The league is not proactive and will not make the effort to improve the league image or our position. People complain about the AAC commish, his grandstanding and being such a boisterous mouth piece for that league. That's what he is paid to do and it's working. The AAC has positioned itself well ahead of the other G5 leagues and they are seeing the results in the media and national exposure/reputation.

And recruiting.  That is where the AAC has made the biggest jump.  Teams like Memphis and Cincinnati that weren't good teams when they were part of CUSA have improved their talent level and exposure.  That has decreased the pool of talent available for other G5 conferences.  Better recruiting is not linked solely to the coaching staff but is a result of many factors including exposure, public perception, money, and desire to improve. 

The AAC has given the tools to conference schools to recruit better and play better.  That's something sorely missing from the CUSA leadership. 

[MUsince96]

I don't think that NBCSN's business model includes CFB, particularly lower G5 CFB.
They are all in on EPL soccer. I can't claim to understand their reasoning, particularly because there is not much opportunity to show full screen ads during a soccer fixture.

Unfortunately HF's resident TV expert is no longer with us to give any insight about why NBCSN doesn't appear to have an interest in football.

I emailed Greg Hughes, Senior VP of Communications for NBC Sports, in July of 2019 asking about college sports on NBCSN. He simply said "most of the college properties are locked up for a long period of time".

[MUBoogercats]

I have no problem with CBSSN and their productions: I have never seen a bad one.  However, being a Suddenlink customer, CBSSN is not on their basic programming package and I absolutely REFUSE to give suddenlink any more money than what I have to.  So that leaves me with either going out to watch the game or not watching it.

IMO the goal for our conference should be to beg, borrow, or steal to get any CUSA game on the most basic programming as possible.  For example, when we were playing APP ST on CBS, we had 1.25M viewers.  We outdrew ND when they were switched to USA Network (957K).  Under no circumstance do we have more eyes wanting to watch Marshall than ND.  Will Marshall be on CBS every again?  Probably not, but the point remains: average fans will find a game on CBS way before they find CBSSN.

[svherd]

I hate doc as our coach. And i hate the brass at Marshall defending him so much that they literally don't care to lose fans and donors. I give about $10,000 a year in the big green and IMG sponsorship contracts in which tickets are bundled etc. When the basketball lottery began i sent an email to opt in, and they said "sorry, policy states must be a season ticket holder and big green member"

They knew already but i explained my tickets were bundled with my sponsorship and they said "We'll include you if you stop criticizing Doc on forums and social media, and otherwise."

I told them to shove their lottery. Unless Docs gone, I'll keep my money next year or give it all to the tip off club

Ill be at the game tonight, but i fully expect UAB to beat us because they have a better coach.

Did they really tell you that? No way! If so, that shows an incredible lack of professionalism and how thin skinned they are. They would never handle working in a bigger program or pro organization.

[whf]

Did they really tell you that? No way! If so, that shows an incredible lack of professionalism and how thin skinned they are. They would never handle working in a bigger program or pro organization.

Hmmm, I wonder how and why they would know your user name on a sport board?

[The E-Man]

I hate doc as our coach. And i hate the brass at Marshall defending him so much that they literally don't care to lose fans and donors. I give about $10,000 a year in the big green and IMG sponsorship contracts in which tickets are bundled etc. When the basketball lottery began i sent an email to opt in, and they said "sorry, policy states must be a season ticket holder and big green member"

They knew already but i explained my tickets were bundled with my sponsorship and they said "We'll include you if you stop criticizing Doc on forums and social media, and otherwise."

I told them to shove their lottery. Unless Docs gone, I'll keep my money next year or give it all to the tip off club

Ill be at the game tonight, but i fully expect UAB to beat us because they have a better coach.

Are you serious, they actually called you out for criticizing Doc on Herd fans?

[svherd]

Hmmm, I wonder how and why they would know your user name on a sport board?

I see a call coming from 24 to Bobby Warner, violation of privacy rights.

[goherd73]

They knew already but i explained my tickets were bundled with my sponsorship and they said "We'll include you if you stop criticizing Doc on forums and social media, and otherwise."

I told them to shove their lottery. Unless Docs gone, I'll keep my money next year or give it all to the tip off club

So you told them that you were THE goherd24 from herdfans ?

How else would they know who you were and how  could they demand you stop criticizing Doc?

.

[goherd24]

So you told them that you were THE goherd24 from herdfans ?

How else would they know who you were and how  could they demand you stop criticizing Doc?

.

They know who I am, its not hard to put together twitter, with facebook, herdfans, etc if someone is very active. I have told them the same thing in person when they call to ask for money for football  One day I posted rhe same thing on the athletics facebook page and on twitter. They replied using my name, on twitter. They are a bunch of goons.

But yes, it happened. I have an email stating that very thing from an assistant AD.

[Big City]

Trust me when I say this. They read this board and they also have their little butt buddies that tattle tale if you say something derogatory.

[herdorbust]

They know who I am, its not hard to put together twitter, with facebook, herdfans, etc if someone is very active. I have told them the same thing in person when they call to ask for money for football  One day I posted rhe same thing on the athletics facebook page and on twitter. They replied using my name, on twitter. They are a bunch of goons.

But yes, it happened. I have an email stating that very thing from an assistant AD.

Doesn’t surprise me at all. Hamrick has been able to keep his buddy on for 11 years even after the worst losses ever at the Joan and the 2016 cluster. And he will be able to keep him after this year. One thing I give Hamrick credit for. He is arrogant and could care less what the fans think. If he want to keep him then he will.

[The E-Man]

Trust me when I say this. They read this board and they also have their little butt buddies that tattle tale if you say something derogatory.

What ever happened to freedom of speech? I forgot it doesn't apply when it comes from those at the Shewey building..

[svherd]

Trust me when I say this. They read this board and they also have their little butt buddies that tattle tale if you say something derogatory.

Talk about being insecure. And they wonder why the fan base is shrinking. What a little fishbowl they must live in. Sad.