Dienhart: Big Ten's big, bold move East

[jostar1]

Some good quotes in this article:

In the fall of 2011, Syracuse and Pitt announced they were leaving the Big East for the ACC. And Notre Dame said it was coming along in all sports but football in September 2012.
Texas A&M and Missouri officially joined the SEC in July 2012.
And on it went, as rumors and wild speculation became the norm. It was crazy. It was scary, too.
There sat the Big Ten, quiet amid the chaos. Finally, Delany had to act. The tipping point: The ACC’s move into the Big Ten’s geographic region.
“At that point, there was more risk to not do anything,” said Delany. “It was worth the risk to change. To not change with other leagues coming into our areas … “
Enter Rutgers and Maryland.

But these recent events in New York and Washington, D.C., are sneak peeks of what’s ahead and how this historic conference is changing.

“Clearly this will make the Big Ten more TV money,” said Tranghese. “This has to raise their economic profile with a presence in New York and Washington. Maryland already has a significant profile in Washington. It’s not the same with Rutgers. It’s in New Jersey. They have not had a lot of success. There is a long road to hoe before they can make an imprint in New York. New York is different than Jersey. Rutgers has good support in New Jersey, but it’s not New York. And no one captures New York unless you win. It’s simple. You lose, they forget about you. You win, they embrace you.”

http://btn.com/2014/05/07/dienhart-big-tens-big-bold-move-east/?cmp=user+shared+twitter

 

[OkaForPrez]

But these recent events in New York and Washington, D.C., are sneak peeks of what’s ahead and how this historic conference is changing.

Tom Dienhart @BTNTomDienhart · May 5
Had breakfast w/ #B1G commish Jim Delany this morning in NYC. Big things brewing for league out east. Expect more news in next 60 days.

So there remains info to be released.

 

[OkaForPrez]

@frankthetank any thoughts here on what the B1G is preparing to announce?

 

[SAMCRO]

"It’s not the same with Rutgers. It’s in New Jersey. They have not had a lot of success. There is a long road to hoe before they can make an imprint in New York. New York is different than Jersey. Rutgers has good support in New Jersey, but it’s not New York. And no one captures New York unless you win. It’s simple. You lose, they forget about you. You win, they embrace you.”

Looks like the B1G Referee's have been given their marching orders... it is better for the conference is Rutgers wins. Remember all the bad calls that went against PSU when they entered the league, look for the opposite w/ Rutgers.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

"It’s not the same with Rutgers. It’s in New Jersey. They have not had a lot of success. There is a long road to hoe before they can make an imprint in New York. New York is different than Jersey. Rutgers has good support in New Jersey, but it’s not New York. And no one captures New York unless you win. It’s simple. You lose, they forget about you. You win, they embrace you.”

Looks like the B1G Referee's have been given their marching orders... it is better for the conference is Rutgers wins. Remember all the bad calls that went against PSU when they entered the league, look for the opposite w/ Rutgers.

If the B1G was smart, before kick-off of the Rutgers’ first game, the ref should throw a flag, penalize and then Rutgers President an AD a professional misconduct penalty that bans them for the entire year.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

That's the most honest and correct quote with regard to Rutgers's relationship with NYC, and college sports' pull in NYC on the whole that I've seen anywhere. It's 100% on point. Tranghese might've made some puzzling expansion moves, but he understands the landscape of college sports in the Northeast better than just about anyone.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

If the B1G was smart, before kick-off of the Rutgers’ first game, the ref should throw a flag, penalize and then Rutgers President an AD a professional misconduct penalty that bans them for the entire year.

If the B1G was smart, they never would've invited Rutgers at all.

 

[Stinger92860]

If the B1G was smart, they never would've invited Rutgers at all.

It's going to make money, provided the BTN is on basic cable. Given a redo, they still pick Rutgers.

 

[CL82]

If the B1G was smart, they never would've invited Rutgers at all.

Disagree. Rutgers may be an outhouse on fire but the population in the state means carriage fees. It is just that simple.

 

[Husky92]

It's going to make money, provided the BTN is on basic cable. Given a redo, they still pick Rutgers.

Out of personal morals, I can't 'like' this... but I agree 100%. That is the sad reality of our geography.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Disagree. Rutgers may be an outhouse on fire but the population in the state means carriage fees. It is just that simple.

Might be at first, but if no on in NJ ends up watching the BTN because they don't care about Rutgers, the cable companies are not going to pay those fees to the BTN to carry it. I should've clarified though, if the B1G was smart from a PR and athletics standpoint, they wouldn't have invited Rutgers. Unfortunately, those two things aren't the most important factors.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

If the B1G was smart, they never would've invited Rutgers at all.

UConn does not get into the B1G without Rutgers or possibly Syracuse instead, and I rather deal with Rutgers.

 

[SAMCRO]

I

 

[TouchdownHusky]

It's going to make money, provided the BTN is on basic cable. Given a redo, they still pick Rutgers.

What's the definition of insanity, again?

 

[Rocktheworld]

What's the definition of insanity, again?

What a stupid comment. As are all the others that say the B1G made a huge mistake adding RU. RU isn't even in the conference yet, and of course there has been absolutely no evidence as to whether or not RU is a valuable add based on what they were brought in for (TV. recruiting). There won't be enough evidence to support one way or the other for a few years. The only things that are making the add look bad are unforeseen and not-preventable f-ups in the AD, and are those really valid or relevant points?

I'll be the first to say UConn deserves B1G more than RU, but nobody can say the RU add was dumb, at least at this stage in the game looking forward.

 

[Husky25]

Might be at first, but if no on in NJ ends up watching the BTN because they don't care about Rutgers, the cable companies are not going to pay those fees to the BTN to carry it. I should've clarified though, if the B1G was smart from a PR and athletics standpoint, they wouldn't have invited Rutgers. Unfortunately, those two things aren't the most important factors.

Correct. The Big Ten doesn't care if anyone watches the Big Ten network up to the point that the cable companies keep it off a specialty tier and pay the carriage fees. On the other hand, Once a channel is offered on a basic tier, it is pretty safe from being moved back to a specialty tier (MSG notwithstanding).

 

[mushroomgod]

Correct. The Big Ten doesn't care if anyone watches the Big Ten network up to the point that the cable companies keep it off a specialty tier and pay the carriage fees. On the other hand, Once a channel is offered on a basic tier, it is pretty safe from being moved back to a specialty tier (MSG notwithstanding).

They still care because of advertising , although carriage fees make up the large % of profits............

 

[JayRU09]

I like when people say no one cares about us and then the whole nation gets up in arms over a snafu involving graduation speakers.

If anything these scandals have shown the B1G chose correctly because even PSU can't get on the news for hiring two guys linked to rape scandals in the post-Sandusky era.

 

[Husky25]

They still care because of advertising , although carriage fees make up the large % of profits..

Only for local advertising. I believe that the Big Ten has it's share of the Geicos, All States Cialis, and Automaker commercials (i.e. National accounts) lined up. The rest of the Big Ten will more than make up for New Jersey. It's the Chuck's Chevrolet and Mid-state Diners off the Jersey Turnpike that will be a problem.

 

[SubbaBub]

I don't think Ro-Tel has that kind of money.

 

[Husky25]

I like when people say no one cares about us and then the whole nation gets up in arms over a snafu involving graduation speakers.

If anything these scandals have shown the B1G chose correctly because even PSU can't get on the news for hiring two guys linked to rape scandals in the post-Sandusky era.

I guess if that's the way you choose to look at it, but wouldn't it be better for Rutgers Athletics to break into the national news for their performance on the field? I get that there's no such thing as bad publicity, but I've never seen an athletic department benefit from F* ups of a schools administration.

 

[JayRU09]

I'm not saying our athletic department is benefiting, what I will say is that you're right it would be great to be in the national news for performance on the field, these things just show that there is media attention.

If we beat PSU this year the following week would be filled with media attention. That's what I'm getting at.

 

[SubbaBub]

For all the deserved mockery aimed at RU they were the B1G obvious first choice in eastern expansion for all the known TV related reasons.

Any RU supporter has to be concerned that this new exposure seems to be putting the spotlight on everything that has made RU, well RU, a university that should be doing a lot better than it has in every area imaginable. Yes, they have to compete with local Ivies, and other private schools in NYC, and the Jersey stigmas, but numbers alone should counterbalance that and then some.

It just seems like so much of the operation is filled by small time people who ended up there for reasons other than merit.

We've had some of that at UConn too, (hi Jeff) but managed to overcome it by having good decision makers at a few key moments.

 

[JayRU09]

Well, what is bad is that our best decision maker in terms of hiring is a walking mess (Julie).

She has made some terrific hires. If she can get out of the spotlight she will be our best AD ever.

She's hired:

Fridge: Obvious credentials are obvious. Best and most qualified OC we've ever had. 2 time ACC coach of the year, won the ACC as a head coach, multiple bowl games, almost always a top 25 offense. OC at Georgia Tech when they won a national championship and for the Chargers when they made the Super Bowl.

Donny Pritzlaff: New associate head coach for Wrestling. Was at the same position at WISCONSIN and MICHIGAN. We hired away the guy for the same position in wrestling from MICHIGAN. This is equal to us hiring Narduzzi to be our DC or us hiring Kevin Ollie in 2011 to be our assistant head coach in basketball.

Tom Luicci: Will be our AD's PR and media guy. Was the Star Ledger's RU beat writer for decades now. Just started.

Marco Battaglia: RU legend, will be in charge of trying to get larger donations to the AD and smoothing over relations with former players.

If she could just shut up for a minute (thinking that's why Tom was hired), she'd already be viewed as one of our best ADs. And this is all in her first year. As much as people want to rag on her, the score board says different.

 

[UConn Dan]

Just to confirm... There is more b1g east coast news to come within 60 days...see latest article. (The tweet is misleading though) @BTNTomDienhart: Wanna invade NYC, Big Ten? How about kicking off grid season by playing SEC in MetLife Stadium? « Big Ten Network http://post original url/nfyaD8f8NG