College Football is as official as it can possibly be. The games from week 1 are over, some teams are who we thought they were, others not so much, but there have been some pleasant surprises all across the country. The one thing that I will focus on the most though will be the fact that I was wrong in my preview for the Youngstown State game. I was wrong in the fact that each quarterback would get equal time, but correct in the sense that I ranked the Quarterbacks.
Nonetheless, I have never been so excited to have been proven wrong in my entire life. I love the way the game went this weekend. I know a lot of you skeptics are shaking your heads, and have your criticisms, but I will, as usual go ahead and explain to you why I was absolutely ecstatic about the way our team performed this weekend.
First and foremost, I was absolutely impressed with the way Robert Bolden played in this week's game. I know some of you might be upset about the start of the game, but you have to understand two things. First, that we were facing a team that has an absolutely new coaching staff, there is no film of what to expect when we were going to face them, and also their defensive coordinator is the former defensive coordinator of the South Florida teams that produced NFL guys such as George Selvie and first round pick Jason Pierre-Paul. In other words, their defense was coached well. Second, that we were operating out of a base offense with scripted plays at the beginning of the game because the coaches did not want to reveal anything for the Alabama game.
The best thing that could have happened for this team was for the slow start out of the gates. There were two great outcomes from the start to this game. One, it forced our coaches hand in playcalling, forcing them to take off the reins, and let Bolden throw. Two, it got Bolden the necessary repetitions to show the coaches that he can handle a heavy workload, especially in the face of adversity. In other words, we got a minor showcase of what Bolden is capable of, and a preview of the years to come.
As for Bolden, he is the real deal people, and he is here to stay. He is going to cause problems for opposing defenses all year. All the criticism and questions that people had about his abilities due to his highlight tapes from high school were absolutely shot in the face. A lot of people were worried about him working through his progressions, arm strength down the field, making the right reads, and standing in the pocket, taking hits. Well all that was pretty evident this weekend. If you were just focusing on the stat line, than you might have missed a few of these things.
A lot of people are focused on the fact that Brett Brackett is Bolden's number one target. This is so far from the truth, even though Brackett caught 8 balls for 98 yards, if you look through the tape, on 5 of those targets , he was Bolden's third read. He took what the defense gave him, and Brackett made opposing defenses pay for forgetting about him. He stood in the pocket, took some hits, and even came back from his interception and led the team on a 68 yard TD drive. It will just be interesting to see what he can do this week.
The running game however, is under a lot of scrutiny for their performance in this game. The truth is that they too were working out of a base offense as well. They did not reveal any of the ways that we plan on running the ball against Alabama, and let's be honest, if we wanted to run it down their throats we would have. We ran the ball 17 times between Green and Royster, that should indicate to you that they have enough confidence in the run game, and the only reason these guys got touches during the game was to get them some game time before Alabama. The most important thing about this game, was getting Bolden some quality time under center, and to get him experience reading opposing defenses, checking down receivers, and making the necessary throws.
As for the defense, it is the exact same story and game plan as the offense in this game. Minus the 80 yard hiccup in the first quarter, they played great. But the fact of the matter is that they simply just matched up on the line and played areas of the field. Basic assignment defense, which works on discipline, but at the same time gives the players the freedom to make decisions and make plays. They came out a little flat to start the game, but I would have too if I had Alabama on my mind for next week's game. Even more evidence of this, go ahead and review the tape and count the number of times Bradley dialed up blitzes from the linebackers, or any stunts along the defensive line. Heck, I'll save you the time, the total number of times we blitzed or stunted...... ZERO! Once again, another strategic move to keep Alabama from getting any sort of a competitive advantage in planning for this weekend's match-up.
The good news from this game however, does not end with Bolden's development, it ends with the special teams. Simply, they absolutely blew last year's special teams out of the water. They were hitting hard on kickoff coverage, Fera was booting the ball out of the back of the end zone, and Wagner hit 3 forty plus yard field goals. Did I mention Chaz Powell's 100 yard kickoff that was returned for a touchdown? Look for the special teams to continue to improve and surprise a lot of people as the season progresses.
So what can we take out of this game? Not much, because the game plan against YSU was simple, we're better than them so lets just out man them in all aspects of the game. The team responded with a win, and we're now off to prepare for Alabama. Expect the coaches to let Bolden show a little more of his repertoire this week, as this will be the week where we find out who we actually are. Be on the lookout for the Alabama preview, should be up by this Thursday.
WE ARE.........
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Youngstown State
The first game of the season is around the corner, along with the excitement of the new season comes a lot of uncertainty. No one ever knows what to expect, everyone has their rave reviews, but there is always that excitement to see what the team looks like on that first Saturday of college football. There are two glorious things about the first game this year, we get a first look at the team's final depth chart and we get to do it against the likes of Youngstown State.
No disrespect to Youngstown State, but the fact of the matter is that we all know, as well as you all know that this game is a give me game. It's a great payout for the program as they cash in on a visit to Happy Valley, their kids get to play in a big time stadium, and they get to see how the measure up to a division I program. That's about as far as it goes for previewing the threat that we face against Youngstown State. Thank you for being our warm up for the season.
The truth though is that this is going to be one of the most exciting season openers we have had in recent years. There was so much competition in the offseason at a variety of positions, that this is going to be a competitive game throughout. For some players, it is a continuation of an audition for a starting spot for the upcoming season. Players are going to be fighting for spots all the way til the final bell this Saturday.
Yes, the first week depth chart was revealed this week, but if you take a close look we have three players listed at the starting QB position. This means one thing, that the first team offense will be playing the entire game this Saturday. We, as Nittany Nation, are going to get an in depth look at what each player has to offer for the upcoming season. We are actually going to be using the first game to build off of, rather than just taking care of business as usual and coasting till the final whistle.
For this Saturday, I would definitely keep a close eye on the QB race. What I would be looking for is not just the performance of the QBs throughout the game, but how we use each one. What does the play-calling look like for each guy, how does the rest of the team play under that guy, and what does the chemistry look like. My suspicions are that Newsome will be starting, with Bolden coming in to spell him at times. I would look for these guys to get the most repetitions. My reasoning behind this, the obvious, they each give us an edge that McGloin does not. They possess raw tools and potential that McGloin does not, and especially Newsome, he has an X factor in his ability to hit a home run at any given moment.
As for the rest of the offense, the only thing that I would keep an eye on would be the battle between Pannell and Troutman at left guard. Look for a nasty streak to develop from both of these players as they try to position themselves for a start in week 2 against Bama. Another thing I would be on the lookout for would be the chemistry of the wide receivers and the QBs. Lets see how this veteran group adjusts and builds confidence in our young QBs. Possible breakout players for this season in this group would include Shawney Kersey, and my personal favorite, Justin Brown. Look for Brown to come in and wreak havoc all over unsuspecting secondaries all season long, freeing Derek Moye to stretch the field vertically, and open up the underneath routes for Zug. Brown's coming out party will be key for this wide receiving corps.
Now for the defensive side of the ball, for once, I have absolutely no worries. We have a bunch of no names, excluding Astorino in the secondary, and Ogbu on the d-line, but I have never been so excited for a group of guys. This is possibly going to be the most athletic and exciting defense we have had in recent years. Especially with guys playing to make a name for themselves this year, it will be an absolute delight to watch.
To keep the breakdown simple, the defensive line has never been as big, fast, athletic, and deep as it is this year. The smallest guy at any DT position is listed at 300 pounds this year, and he's the most experienced in Ollie Ogbu. As for our starting ends, they top out at no less than 270 pounds, and are far more explosive across the board. Look for these guys to be in the backfield all day and opening up holes for all the Linebackers this Saturday.
As for the linebackers, I do not even need to go into any details. We have 6 starters and go about 7 to 8 players deep. No wonder they call us "Linebacker U"! Look for all of these guys to be all over the field, and look for Gerald Hodges to make a name for himself quick, as his playing style and explosion will make him a fan favorite from the get go. As for the secondary, this is the most consistent secondary we have had all around in the past 10 years. Consistent in size, physicality, speed, and ability. With one exception, Stephon Morris is listed at 5'8", but his physical style, speed, and athleticism makes up for what he lacks in height. One surprise though on the depth chart this week, is Chaz Powell listed at the starting CB ahead of Morris on the opposite side of D'Anton Lynn. This will be an interesting position to watch as both are starting caliber quarterbacks, however, Morris is more versatile as he matches up greater with guys in the slot.
Other than that, just enjoy the game this Saturday, and try not to give up on our guys too early if they make some mistakes. If adjustments need to be made, I'd rather see those mistakes against YSU than against Alabama. It'll be a great opportunity to make an assessment of our team, as well as enjoy one of the last winding Saturdays of the Summer.
Predictions:
- Look for Newsome and Bolden to further separate themselves as the top two candidates for the QBs for our team. (Possibly, make a case for a two QB system for the upcoming season)
- Look for a balanced attack on offense, as the coaches try to build come confidence in these young QBs.
- Look for Royster to get his fair share of touches, but what will be most intriguing will be the use of Dukes in goal line situations.
- Freshman to keep an eye on: Silas Redd in mop up duty as he makes a case for early playing time, Mike Hull and Khairi Fortt as they shore up special teams play, and Daquan Jones and Hailes working their way in on the defensive front.
- Gary Gilliam catches a touchdown pass and works the middle of the field.
- Lynn grabs an interception.
- Hodges hitting the gaps faster than the other linebackers.
- Better special teams play than last year.
WE ARE!!!!!!!!
No disrespect to Youngstown State, but the fact of the matter is that we all know, as well as you all know that this game is a give me game. It's a great payout for the program as they cash in on a visit to Happy Valley, their kids get to play in a big time stadium, and they get to see how the measure up to a division I program. That's about as far as it goes for previewing the threat that we face against Youngstown State. Thank you for being our warm up for the season.
The truth though is that this is going to be one of the most exciting season openers we have had in recent years. There was so much competition in the offseason at a variety of positions, that this is going to be a competitive game throughout. For some players, it is a continuation of an audition for a starting spot for the upcoming season. Players are going to be fighting for spots all the way til the final bell this Saturday.
Yes, the first week depth chart was revealed this week, but if you take a close look we have three players listed at the starting QB position. This means one thing, that the first team offense will be playing the entire game this Saturday. We, as Nittany Nation, are going to get an in depth look at what each player has to offer for the upcoming season. We are actually going to be using the first game to build off of, rather than just taking care of business as usual and coasting till the final whistle.
For this Saturday, I would definitely keep a close eye on the QB race. What I would be looking for is not just the performance of the QBs throughout the game, but how we use each one. What does the play-calling look like for each guy, how does the rest of the team play under that guy, and what does the chemistry look like. My suspicions are that Newsome will be starting, with Bolden coming in to spell him at times. I would look for these guys to get the most repetitions. My reasoning behind this, the obvious, they each give us an edge that McGloin does not. They possess raw tools and potential that McGloin does not, and especially Newsome, he has an X factor in his ability to hit a home run at any given moment.
As for the rest of the offense, the only thing that I would keep an eye on would be the battle between Pannell and Troutman at left guard. Look for a nasty streak to develop from both of these players as they try to position themselves for a start in week 2 against Bama. Another thing I would be on the lookout for would be the chemistry of the wide receivers and the QBs. Lets see how this veteran group adjusts and builds confidence in our young QBs. Possible breakout players for this season in this group would include Shawney Kersey, and my personal favorite, Justin Brown. Look for Brown to come in and wreak havoc all over unsuspecting secondaries all season long, freeing Derek Moye to stretch the field vertically, and open up the underneath routes for Zug. Brown's coming out party will be key for this wide receiving corps.
Now for the defensive side of the ball, for once, I have absolutely no worries. We have a bunch of no names, excluding Astorino in the secondary, and Ogbu on the d-line, but I have never been so excited for a group of guys. This is possibly going to be the most athletic and exciting defense we have had in recent years. Especially with guys playing to make a name for themselves this year, it will be an absolute delight to watch.
To keep the breakdown simple, the defensive line has never been as big, fast, athletic, and deep as it is this year. The smallest guy at any DT position is listed at 300 pounds this year, and he's the most experienced in Ollie Ogbu. As for our starting ends, they top out at no less than 270 pounds, and are far more explosive across the board. Look for these guys to be in the backfield all day and opening up holes for all the Linebackers this Saturday.
As for the linebackers, I do not even need to go into any details. We have 6 starters and go about 7 to 8 players deep. No wonder they call us "Linebacker U"! Look for all of these guys to be all over the field, and look for Gerald Hodges to make a name for himself quick, as his playing style and explosion will make him a fan favorite from the get go. As for the secondary, this is the most consistent secondary we have had all around in the past 10 years. Consistent in size, physicality, speed, and ability. With one exception, Stephon Morris is listed at 5'8", but his physical style, speed, and athleticism makes up for what he lacks in height. One surprise though on the depth chart this week, is Chaz Powell listed at the starting CB ahead of Morris on the opposite side of D'Anton Lynn. This will be an interesting position to watch as both are starting caliber quarterbacks, however, Morris is more versatile as he matches up greater with guys in the slot.
Other than that, just enjoy the game this Saturday, and try not to give up on our guys too early if they make some mistakes. If adjustments need to be made, I'd rather see those mistakes against YSU than against Alabama. It'll be a great opportunity to make an assessment of our team, as well as enjoy one of the last winding Saturdays of the Summer.
Predictions:
- Look for Newsome and Bolden to further separate themselves as the top two candidates for the QBs for our team. (Possibly, make a case for a two QB system for the upcoming season)
- Look for a balanced attack on offense, as the coaches try to build come confidence in these young QBs.
- Look for Royster to get his fair share of touches, but what will be most intriguing will be the use of Dukes in goal line situations.
- Freshman to keep an eye on: Silas Redd in mop up duty as he makes a case for early playing time, Mike Hull and Khairi Fortt as they shore up special teams play, and Daquan Jones and Hailes working their way in on the defensive front.
- Gary Gilliam catches a touchdown pass and works the middle of the field.
- Lynn grabs an interception.
- Hodges hitting the gaps faster than the other linebackers.
- Better special teams play than last year.
WE ARE!!!!!!!!
Monday, August 23, 2010
PSU Football 2010
Summer is ending, classes are starting, and college football is arriving and the season opener is just around the corner. We're now about halfway through preseason practice, which generally means one thing for Penn State football......speculation, speculation, and more speculation.
The number one problem going into camp as a member of the Penn State football team will always be speculation. This is a sad truth because the focus should be on the players, the position battles, and how these battles will affect the outlook of the upcoming season. However, there are two major factors that cause this cycle year in and year out.
The first, is the mindset and insecurity of the majority of those that follow Penn State football. A majority of the sports fans that follow Pennsylvania teams are just born with a major insecurity, a natural anxiety, and contagious negative mindset towards their sports teams. You can argue that this has developed over time due to the enormous amount of heartbreak that these fans have suffered, but that argument is not good enough for a state that boasts a self-titled "City of Champions" and the most recent success of Philadelphia teams in a plethora of professional sports (Philly fans speak for themselves).
This worry and negativity transfers over to the second and biggest contributor of speculation around a young and promising Penn State program. To make it plain and simple and to put it right out there, its terrible journalism. A majority of the writers and bloggers that cover Penn State Sports are also natives of the state of Pennsylvania. Their method of writing and presenting facts and the voice behind their narratives further instills negativity into their readers minds and hearts.
This type of journalism is terrible for a college sports program and does a great injustice to the players on this Penn State team every year. The way that these journalists report position battles does not always present the correct facts, spell out the progress of the players, or even give you a clear picture of what is truly happening in camp. The position battles are really one writer picking their favorite for that position, supporting their arguments based on potential and their judgments, and not reporting the facts of what is truly happening in camp. This is the first of many dominoes.
The next method to this madness are the hundreds of bloggers who read this initial article, make their own assumptions based on that writer's opinions, and provide their "own insight", which is truly the way they define another writer's opinion. In simple terms, they are not basing their articles and opinions on facts, but basing them off of another writer's "facts". They are stretching a minimal amount of information into their own truth, and no one is formulating their own opinion or breakdown of the truth because they fear being wrong.
That's what sports blogging and writing these articles is about. It's about writing stories based on the facts that you are given rather than the "facts" that you find. It's about reporting the truth and then coming to a conclusion of what you got from the truth, rather than turning your insecurities into safe assumptions out of the fear of being wrong. You report the truth and present your conclusion, pretty simple.
Okay, so now what is the purpose of making this argument in this post. It's short and simple, I'm sick and tired of all of the reports surrounding the Penn State Quarterback battle this fall. I have read over 50 different articles the past two weeks, and every single one of them have used the same quotations, made the same assumptions, and had the same conclusions. It's getting pretty tiresome and exhausting, it's like listening to a broken track on the radio.
Be honest, how many times since the beginning of camp have you read the following information:
"McGloin has the best leadership and command of the huddle....this makes up for the physical attributes he lack...blah blah blah, etc."
"Newsome has not secured the job yet, he is the best runner of them all, does not possess the leadership in the huddle, etc."
"Bolden is the best equipped of them all, most poised in the pocket, evades the rush, makes the right throw, just needs time in the playbook and offense, etc."
They are all saying the same thing because no one is looking at the facts and coming to their own conclusions. Because none of these writers want to be wrong in their conclusion, they come up with a safe resolution where they wont be proven wrong, and the safe way out is by creating speculation.
This is not fair to these guys that are competing for these spots. Poor guy Kevin Newsome has not even taken a snap as the first team QB and Penn State fans are calling for his head. The truth is that all of them have been making strides throughout preseason camp, and that neither of them have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. The truth is that the competition in camp will provide us with the best option to win.
No more assumptions that JoePa will not play a freshman, no more assumptions that McGloin will start because he brings more leadership, and no more assumptions that Newsome has been written off because they could have given him the red-shirt this year as well. They all bring something different to the table, and all their skills will be on display against Youngstown State on Sept. 4th.
As for my outlook for the Quarterback rotation for the first game of the season. Truly it depends on what happens throughout the rest of camp, but based on the facts now, I would say the Newsome would start, but McGloin and Bolden would also get reps. Whether we blow them out or not, look for the first team to get a lot of action in the first game as we are breaking these guys in. As for the starting Quarterback for the Bama' game, we'll just have to wait and see how the opener goes against Youngstown State.
But for now, keep your mind open, do not keep filling your mind with the same information from different articles, and watch the negativity. If you wonder why you are doubting the team, and hear yourself making the same arguments, you now know why. Be on the look out for terrible journalism, and get excited for the fall because Penn State football is headed in the right direction.
WE ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The number one problem going into camp as a member of the Penn State football team will always be speculation. This is a sad truth because the focus should be on the players, the position battles, and how these battles will affect the outlook of the upcoming season. However, there are two major factors that cause this cycle year in and year out.
The first, is the mindset and insecurity of the majority of those that follow Penn State football. A majority of the sports fans that follow Pennsylvania teams are just born with a major insecurity, a natural anxiety, and contagious negative mindset towards their sports teams. You can argue that this has developed over time due to the enormous amount of heartbreak that these fans have suffered, but that argument is not good enough for a state that boasts a self-titled "City of Champions" and the most recent success of Philadelphia teams in a plethora of professional sports (Philly fans speak for themselves).
This worry and negativity transfers over to the second and biggest contributor of speculation around a young and promising Penn State program. To make it plain and simple and to put it right out there, its terrible journalism. A majority of the writers and bloggers that cover Penn State Sports are also natives of the state of Pennsylvania. Their method of writing and presenting facts and the voice behind their narratives further instills negativity into their readers minds and hearts.
This type of journalism is terrible for a college sports program and does a great injustice to the players on this Penn State team every year. The way that these journalists report position battles does not always present the correct facts, spell out the progress of the players, or even give you a clear picture of what is truly happening in camp. The position battles are really one writer picking their favorite for that position, supporting their arguments based on potential and their judgments, and not reporting the facts of what is truly happening in camp. This is the first of many dominoes.
The next method to this madness are the hundreds of bloggers who read this initial article, make their own assumptions based on that writer's opinions, and provide their "own insight", which is truly the way they define another writer's opinion. In simple terms, they are not basing their articles and opinions on facts, but basing them off of another writer's "facts". They are stretching a minimal amount of information into their own truth, and no one is formulating their own opinion or breakdown of the truth because they fear being wrong.
That's what sports blogging and writing these articles is about. It's about writing stories based on the facts that you are given rather than the "facts" that you find. It's about reporting the truth and then coming to a conclusion of what you got from the truth, rather than turning your insecurities into safe assumptions out of the fear of being wrong. You report the truth and present your conclusion, pretty simple.
Okay, so now what is the purpose of making this argument in this post. It's short and simple, I'm sick and tired of all of the reports surrounding the Penn State Quarterback battle this fall. I have read over 50 different articles the past two weeks, and every single one of them have used the same quotations, made the same assumptions, and had the same conclusions. It's getting pretty tiresome and exhausting, it's like listening to a broken track on the radio.
Be honest, how many times since the beginning of camp have you read the following information:
"McGloin has the best leadership and command of the huddle....this makes up for the physical attributes he lack...blah blah blah, etc."
"Newsome has not secured the job yet, he is the best runner of them all, does not possess the leadership in the huddle, etc."
"Bolden is the best equipped of them all, most poised in the pocket, evades the rush, makes the right throw, just needs time in the playbook and offense, etc."
They are all saying the same thing because no one is looking at the facts and coming to their own conclusions. Because none of these writers want to be wrong in their conclusion, they come up with a safe resolution where they wont be proven wrong, and the safe way out is by creating speculation.
This is not fair to these guys that are competing for these spots. Poor guy Kevin Newsome has not even taken a snap as the first team QB and Penn State fans are calling for his head. The truth is that all of them have been making strides throughout preseason camp, and that neither of them have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. The truth is that the competition in camp will provide us with the best option to win.
No more assumptions that JoePa will not play a freshman, no more assumptions that McGloin will start because he brings more leadership, and no more assumptions that Newsome has been written off because they could have given him the red-shirt this year as well. They all bring something different to the table, and all their skills will be on display against Youngstown State on Sept. 4th.
As for my outlook for the Quarterback rotation for the first game of the season. Truly it depends on what happens throughout the rest of camp, but based on the facts now, I would say the Newsome would start, but McGloin and Bolden would also get reps. Whether we blow them out or not, look for the first team to get a lot of action in the first game as we are breaking these guys in. As for the starting Quarterback for the Bama' game, we'll just have to wait and see how the opener goes against Youngstown State.
But for now, keep your mind open, do not keep filling your mind with the same information from different articles, and watch the negativity. If you wonder why you are doubting the team, and hear yourself making the same arguments, you now know why. Be on the look out for terrible journalism, and get excited for the fall because Penn State football is headed in the right direction.
WE ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Expansion Talk
Here we go......
I'm going to just go ahead and get straight to the point on this one, the Big Ten has gained Nebraska, the Pac-10 Colorado, and the Big 12 has dropped to ten teams, and a "lucrative" television deal. The reasons why behind each are very very simple...............MONEY.
I have heard all of the reasoning behind it, the moaning and speculation of many fans from all over the country, there is no truth to your reasoning, its just all about money. Why do you think Nebraska and Colorado left the Big 12? Why do you think the rest of the Big 12 had a summit and decided to create a television network? It's not about tradition, it's not about geographical location, its not about the integrity of the game.....it's about money.
The truth is that the revenue sharing amongst all the other leagues is split evenly at the end of every season. It just happens that the average revenue per team in every Big Six conference was somewhere around 10-12 millions dollars, with the exception of the Big Ten. The revenue sharing in our conference was around 20-23 million dollars per school because we have the Big Ten network, which is the reason behind all of this expansion craze.
A lot of folks have been speculating that the reason for expansion is to create a more competitive environment, to force the BCS system to crash and fail, and create an opportunity for playoffs. Some will even say that it will cost the schools more money because they have to charter a plane to travel further now in mega-conferences. I have heard it all, the truth is that all of these are possible results of expansion, college football is as competitive as it has ever been today, playoffs will eventually work their way into the picture, and let's be honest, most college teams have private jets or contract deals with airlines for travel already. As evidenced by the fact that PSU flew into Philly to face Temple a few years back when they could have just drove for three hours.
With all of this happening, I would go ahead and expect expansion to be a central theme for the near future because we're not done just yet. Yes, the Big Ten has Nebraska, which will eventually give us a Big Ten title game. Yes, the Pac-10 now has 12 teams including Utah and Colorado and a conference title game. Yes, the Big 12 has 10 teams and a new television deal, but there's one domino in this picture that will fall and ruin the whole picture of current expansion.
The Big 12 is that domino. The Big 12 went for a quick fix, putting all of its faith in one school, one program, and that was Texas. Commissioner Beebe might look like a superhero now, but mark my words, he will be looking more like Enron in the years to come. The Big 12 made the mistake of selling its soul to Texas, and the viability of the Big 12 relies on this new television deal, which was tailored to meet Texas' needs.
With the new television contracts, the revenue sharing will most likely double in the Big 12. It's genius, each program will receive more money, and each school's athletic program will benefit without a doubt. Now that sounds great, doesn't it? But the truth remains that Texas and Oklahoma will benefit more than all the other schools because the revenue sharing will not be split evenly. As part of the deal to remain in the Big 12, Texas and Oklahoma get a bigger share of the pot than all the other schools, and this creates a very big problem.
As you see, in the Big Ten, the SEC, Pac-10, ACC, and even the Big East, every program gets the same amount. Northwestern will receive 22 million dollars at the end of the season, just like Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan. It doesn't matter the name, it is split evenly in every conference but the Big 12. Now what do you think is going to happen when Jim Delany comes knocking on the door promising these other schools equal shares? Not even Jim Delany, think about the Mountain West, they just lost Utah, got Boise State, and have a great opportunity to pluck some teams right out of the lower divisions of the Big 12. Those schools are not just going to sit around and let Texas and Oklahoma create a conference that just benefits them, they will not sit around and be Yes Men.
The beauty of it all is that factors such as geographical location, tradition, and trust no longer play a factor. These other schools will eventually get what is right for their programs, and in the end, once Texas and Oklahoma have no other choice but to join other conferences, they will too. It is their pride that holds this conference together, and it will be their pride that will burn it to the ground. When it's all said and done, all those schools will get equal shares of around 20 million dollars per year, just from another conference.
We Are....................
I'm going to just go ahead and get straight to the point on this one, the Big Ten has gained Nebraska, the Pac-10 Colorado, and the Big 12 has dropped to ten teams, and a "lucrative" television deal. The reasons why behind each are very very simple...............MONEY.
I have heard all of the reasoning behind it, the moaning and speculation of many fans from all over the country, there is no truth to your reasoning, its just all about money. Why do you think Nebraska and Colorado left the Big 12? Why do you think the rest of the Big 12 had a summit and decided to create a television network? It's not about tradition, it's not about geographical location, its not about the integrity of the game.....it's about money.
The truth is that the revenue sharing amongst all the other leagues is split evenly at the end of every season. It just happens that the average revenue per team in every Big Six conference was somewhere around 10-12 millions dollars, with the exception of the Big Ten. The revenue sharing in our conference was around 20-23 million dollars per school because we have the Big Ten network, which is the reason behind all of this expansion craze.
A lot of folks have been speculating that the reason for expansion is to create a more competitive environment, to force the BCS system to crash and fail, and create an opportunity for playoffs. Some will even say that it will cost the schools more money because they have to charter a plane to travel further now in mega-conferences. I have heard it all, the truth is that all of these are possible results of expansion, college football is as competitive as it has ever been today, playoffs will eventually work their way into the picture, and let's be honest, most college teams have private jets or contract deals with airlines for travel already. As evidenced by the fact that PSU flew into Philly to face Temple a few years back when they could have just drove for three hours.
With all of this happening, I would go ahead and expect expansion to be a central theme for the near future because we're not done just yet. Yes, the Big Ten has Nebraska, which will eventually give us a Big Ten title game. Yes, the Pac-10 now has 12 teams including Utah and Colorado and a conference title game. Yes, the Big 12 has 10 teams and a new television deal, but there's one domino in this picture that will fall and ruin the whole picture of current expansion.
The Big 12 is that domino. The Big 12 went for a quick fix, putting all of its faith in one school, one program, and that was Texas. Commissioner Beebe might look like a superhero now, but mark my words, he will be looking more like Enron in the years to come. The Big 12 made the mistake of selling its soul to Texas, and the viability of the Big 12 relies on this new television deal, which was tailored to meet Texas' needs.
With the new television contracts, the revenue sharing will most likely double in the Big 12. It's genius, each program will receive more money, and each school's athletic program will benefit without a doubt. Now that sounds great, doesn't it? But the truth remains that Texas and Oklahoma will benefit more than all the other schools because the revenue sharing will not be split evenly. As part of the deal to remain in the Big 12, Texas and Oklahoma get a bigger share of the pot than all the other schools, and this creates a very big problem.
As you see, in the Big Ten, the SEC, Pac-10, ACC, and even the Big East, every program gets the same amount. Northwestern will receive 22 million dollars at the end of the season, just like Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan. It doesn't matter the name, it is split evenly in every conference but the Big 12. Now what do you think is going to happen when Jim Delany comes knocking on the door promising these other schools equal shares? Not even Jim Delany, think about the Mountain West, they just lost Utah, got Boise State, and have a great opportunity to pluck some teams right out of the lower divisions of the Big 12. Those schools are not just going to sit around and let Texas and Oklahoma create a conference that just benefits them, they will not sit around and be Yes Men.
The beauty of it all is that factors such as geographical location, tradition, and trust no longer play a factor. These other schools will eventually get what is right for their programs, and in the end, once Texas and Oklahoma have no other choice but to join other conferences, they will too. It is their pride that holds this conference together, and it will be their pride that will burn it to the ground. When it's all said and done, all those schools will get equal shares of around 20 million dollars per year, just from another conference.
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