Boise State to the Big East: The good, the bad, and the slightly awkward
by Kevan Lee on Dec 8, 2011 8:01 AM PST
in Boise State football
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PrintThe Boise State Broncos made their Big East move official yesterday, ending months of speculation and rumor-mongering during which they redefined the word "imminent." (Imminent now means soon-ish.) The Idaho Statesman has all the details of the Big East agreement, including the move of Boise State's non-football sports back to the WAC. Seatbacks, I guess?
With the details out there, now it's time to make sense of what went down yesterday. Join me after the jump for a look at the good, the bad, and the slightly awkward of this new Big East life we'll be leading.
The good
Boise State can wear whatever it wants for home games. The blue-on-blue ban will be lifted and Rocky Long will be forced to find another excuse why Boise State is so good at home.
The Broncos will play regularly in Southern California and Texas. The proposed western division of the Big East would include the Broncos and San Diego State, SMU, and Houston - teams who play in Boise State's favorite recruiting lands (Louisville and Cincinnati would also be in the western division).
The Big East agreed to make an effort to schedule non-conference home-and-home basketball games with the Broncos. I can't imagine Rick Pitino is too thrilled about this, but I sure am. Hello, RPI of better than 150.
The Big East's new TV contract will be worth at a minimum $6 million per school and at a maximum $10 - $12 million. The Broncos' current TV contract nets the a gift certificate to the Bonefish.
Boise State made provisions for BCS membership, TV money, and more. One of the concerns about the move to the Big East is that there is a heaping pile of unkowns, beginning with whether or not the Big East will keep its AQ status. The Broncos planned ahead for this by giving themselves a Press In Case of Emergency button in the form of variable buyouts.
- If everything goes according to plan and the world is full of rainbows and puppy noses, the buyout is $5 million.
- If the Broncos get hosed in the TV deal, the buyout drops to $2.5 million.
- If the Big East loses its AQ status and becomes a glorified C-USA, the buyout drops to $1 million
- And if the Big East fails to maintain western partners for Boise State, there is no buyout. Free Get out of Jail/Purgatory card.
Boise State will not forfeit its BCS money if it makes a BCS bowl next season. So the pressure's back on Joe Southwick now.
Big East commissioner John Marinatto wants the future Big East championship game to be held in Yankee Stadium. Road trip! I hear there is a Pop-Tarts store in Times Square.
The bad
San Diego State may be the Broncos' only western partner. Air Force and BYU both turned down invites from the Big East, but the conference will not take "no" for an answer. They will take "we're leaving for the Big 12/ACC" for an answer, but they will not take "no."
Boise State does not begin Big East conference play until 2013. The Broncos will have next year as a farewell tour of the Mountain West, and the Mountain West, in turn, will reward them with several really bad games (Colorado State, New Mexico, UNLV, Hawaii, and Fresno come to mind).
Boise State must give 27 months' notice prior to leaving the Big East. I know personally I have a hard time planning two-and-a-quarter hours ahead, much less two-and-a-quarter years.
The slightly awkward
Boise State's non-football sports will be returning to the WAC. Yes, the same WAC that the Broncos left one year Here's hoping Karl Benson does not hold a grudge.
The Big East has no plans to change its name. Oxymorons are the new non-sequiturs.
Your turn
What do you think is good, bad, and otherwise with the new Big East deal? Are you happy with the outcome? Are there areas you want to improve? Got any ideas on how to mend a relationship with Karl Benson? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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I can't quite figure out why they aren't able to determine Boise's percentage share of the new TV contract
That scares me.
But I have to keep a nightlight on too.
The key is not the "will to win" - everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important. ~ Bobby Knight
by Please Spay and Neuter Your Pets on Dec 8, 2011 8:15 AM PST reply actions
Boise state's percentage is not the issue
The contract is being renegotiated and based everyone getting to not watch Syracuse anymore the contract is expected to be much more lucrative..
Bonum virum natura, non ordo, facit. ---- Publilius Syrus
by Polynikes on Dec 8, 2011 9:26 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I am almost positive that it is equal revenue sharing.
But since the old TV contract is not up no one has put out bids on it.
Does anyone know
if the big east basketball contract flows into the football contract? In other words, will the big east lump them together for a better deal?
So this Irishman walks out of the bar....No really, he walked out...
never did before
and with football only, all sports, and everything-but-football members it would be really hard to do that fairly. The inability to do this was one issue that has always had fans of all-sports members pushing for a split.
big east
a no lose deal….pretty good western div with cincy and louisville along with the new members….who knows after 2013 and so what…..more money….better competition…….mtn west tv coverage is really poor plus the mountain west is owed no loyalty for inviting boise only as a last resort
Can't Wait To Get Away From Mntn TV
The TV coverage for the mountain west is horrible. I can’t wait for BSU to start getting on the screen again with real commentators and analysts.
Really, all we can do is wait and see..
There seems to be some sentiment that this will be either A.) all good or (B.) all bad based on a few criteria:
1.) Re-negotiated TV contract
2.) Automatic BCS Bowl bid
3.) A strong western partner (by strong I don’t mean SDSU)
The likelihood of these things going all our way, or all falling apart, are slim. It seems that the most likely occurrence is a mixture of good/bad. But I see the success of this move being contingent on two things, the BCS bid and the new TV contract. If we stayed in the MWC neither of these opportunities were available. Our move at least gives us a chance to reap some of the benefits associated with these things. Honestly, I think the new and improved TV contract is a guarantee thanks to BE markets and basketball. The AQ Bid, well, we’ll know in 2014 if it’s a bonus or if we’re just chasing the dream. However, with the probability that the BCS will change dramatically in 2014 I don’t think we should overly concern ourselves with the bid. The truth is none of the six current AQ conferences know if they’re gonna have a bid after 2014, or if a “bid” will even exist after BCS restructuring. If there is a bid, and the BE has a renegotiated contract with ESPN I would expect it to maintain it’s bid. Because, let’s be honest, the BCS is about TV and money, not competition.
On another note, I really wish some of these BE programs would toughen up.They really need to earn their bid on the field over the next two years. But I would venture to guess that they’d rather just try and find another conference they can bottom feed off of. Seriously, Louisville will NEVER win the Big 12. Some schools are fine with being the schedule fillers I guess.
by ThePhlipinSituation on Dec 8, 2011 8:40 AM PST reply actions
the island of misfit toys
i look forward to trash talking during our non-conference home-and-home basketball games that may or may not happen in 2013.
welcome to the big east!
-georgetown fan
Good talk.
Oy.
it’s too bad we can’t/won’t play you guys in football. that’s the bread and butter.
the round ball and BSU? not so much (right now) but Leon Rice is making things happen, so it will be fun.
BUT WAIT. The detailed benefits are not just your average dollars-under-the-table, or some lameass "we let some players sleep at an apartment on the floor with a coach's help" allegations. No, you get the hell out of here, Boise.
--EDSBS
Twitter: @damienbsu
Bowl tie ins
If they get rid of the AQ it would be great if the Big East could somehow get a tie in with the COTTON Bowl which people say will become a BCS bowl. In the middle of the country. Easier travel than Orange bowl.
To say nothing
of the fact that even for a non-BCS bowl it is the most lucrative one. A $7.3 mil payout for a non-BCS bowl is pretty impressive, would love to have access to that one and the $5 mil payout holiday bowl.
I think the Goods out weigh the Bads by a long shot
Regardless of what the TV contract is, it can not be worse than the current contract with the MWC. I think the Big East should be able to keep its BCS bid, considering that Pitt, Syracuse, and West Virginia (maybe) are stuck until fall 14. That should give us some more power. Now that 5 schools have excepted maybe BYU, Air Force will jump on board.
I am also glad to see that the Big East has committed to schedule some home and home games for the basketball team. I thought that would make a big difference and RPI and give us some better competition. Whether we play in the WAC or MWC for basketball I don’t see much difference. Just win the conference and you at least get to the tournament.
The biggest GOOD for me….
I live on the East Coast. Should be able to go see a few games in the next couple years. Road trips!!!
Whoa
I didn’t know about the big east giving our basketball teams some non-conference play. That’s bigger than ANYTHING BSU has in the Mountain West for scheduling. As it sits right now our marquee game for the season would be UNLV. Take it from a guy who used to live in Big East/ACC country, you guys have no idea how big that media market is and having that at our disposal IS HUGE. I remember as a kid in the Washington DC metro area that you couldn’t go anywhere without running into a bunch of people wearing Georgetown Hoya sportswear of some kind.
Boise St. folks must have a heck of a travel budget.
With the travel you are staring at, you had better!
I understand that the Big XII, which would be a much better fit, isn’t available yet, and the Pac-xx, which is ultimately the right fit, is a long way aways, leaving you no better choice, but man, travel is going to be a killer.
Even at an institution in the corner of the country, and in the expansive west, I’ve only had 6 games in the last 30 that wold require the use of an airplane, and that was still budget brutal.
Andy Wooldridge, andy_wooldridge@yahoo.com
BuildingTheDam.Com
Go Beavs!
Boise State to Leave the Big East
Broncos join the Apollo 11 Conference and play their games in a stadium in a crater of the Moon, painted blue. Venius and Martians have already sold out season tickets.
The conference pays in gold and liquid oxygen.
And that's another Bronco... FIRST DOWN!!
Good news good...
bad news (with fingers in ears) LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA!
so a no brainer.
My parents and sisters are psyched – they live in Texas and now get to see the mighty Bronco’s (and me, in that order) once per year. I will personally attend every Houston game no matter where it is and be as rabid (but classy) as possible. Don’t like those guys.
Its good to have the triumvirate of Kustra, Coyle and Petersen working this deal…and watching it all like a hawk. I really hope the other schools look upon this as an upgrade and will stick.
The Big East agreed to make an effort to schedule non-conference home-and-home basketball games with the Broncos.
I really don’t like the wording of that. I made an effort to loss weight last week and gained 3 pounds.
The wording they used was...
“it was nothing contractual, but that Big East basketball schools agreed in ‘good faith’ to schedule two home & home games with Boise State and San Diego State.” There was a follow up question clarifying it was intended to be two home and two away games each year.
As part of the entrance of other schools to the WAC, Boise State agreed, “in good faith” to schedule WAC teams for out of conference football games. Hello Idaho!
"It's hardly a groundbreaking thought, but defeat is when you know you're a fan. It's easy to clap and cheer when a team wins, but when they lose, that's when you know if you care or not." - Craig Robinson
Ah Crap
I was hoping to avoid having our non-conference schedule cupcake free. Oh well, if we have to commit to scheduling one or two of them it’s not so bad. If LA Tech and Utah State stay I say we schedule them as both programs seem to be on the upswing.
One thing stuck out from the different press conferences.
John Marinatto said on multiple occasions that division alignment had not been determined. On Kustra’s call after the Big East press conference, he rattled off the West division members including Louisville and Cincinnati. Puting Cincinnati in the West would make six West division teams, but the conference will only have 10 members when WVU, Pitt and Syracuse leave.
Either Kustra was speaking out of turn and more invites truly are imminent or the decision has been made for the divisions for 2013 and division realignment will take place once the other teams bolt.
One other nugget I heard thrown out there was that there was talk of all of the new members would be in a division together. That would put UCF in the division with BSU, SMU, Houston and SDSU. – You could call the divisions “Old Money” & “New Money”
"It's hardly a groundbreaking thought, but defeat is when you know you're a fan. It's easy to clap and cheer when a team wins, but when they lose, that's when you know if you care or not." - Craig Robinson
Big East!
Better TV Contract-check
BCS Auto Bid-check
Better competition than MWC-check
Don’t have to be 12-0 to go to BCS game-check
No Craig Thompson-check
Blue uni’s for home games-check
More $$ for all other athletic programs-check
occasional big east Basketball games-check
Back in ESPN’s powerful and good graces-check
national exposure and East coast exposure-check
Money for stadium expansion-check
keeping our existing coaches-check
upgraded recruiting-check
giving annual beat downs to SMU and Craig James-check
Good to be a Bronco!!!!!!!
by Broncsfan4life on Dec 8, 2011 10:20 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
I don't know for sure if there is a Pop-Tarts store
Big East commissioner John Marinatto wants the future Big East championship game to be held in Yankee Stadium. Road trip! I hear there is a Pop-Tarts store in Times Square.
There are many things in Times Square (no prostitutes though…they all disappeared during the Giuliani years. I’ll tell you what though…concessions in Yankee Stadium are ridonkulous…pricey, but ridonkulous.
(For the uninitiated: “ridonkulous” is good.)
"Nobody likes it"
"I'm tired of even the BCS name"
"The whole thing needs to be changed."
-Coach Pete on the BCS.
mark may is a doughnut hole with empty calories.
Coach Chris P. creamed him a couple of days ago. Hoo Rah!
The only thing the BCS has to fear is fear itself and Blue is the color of fear.
Trophy
Maybe we could play SMU every year for the giant BWhead Trophy! It could be a giant bust of Craig James with his head slightly misshapen so that it looks like a …….. Oh, you get the point.
The Good, Bad, and Whatever
The Good: We will be able to “ef” ESPN again with a dog in the fight.
The Bad: I wont be able to use frequent flyer miles, I can’t even afford standby tickets.
The Whatever: Always schedule a road game to UCF in November if you love a Bronco near you.
The only thing the BCS has to fear is fear itself and Blue is the color of fear.
The Whatever version 1.1
….and always schedule a UCF , SMU, or Houston game in Boise or away in November . yeah i like that too.
Vers 1.2 (upgrade) Always schedule a San Diego game in November as well coming or going. Its pointless to play these games in September.
Vers. 1.3 (upgrade) Play Northern tier teams Sept-October.
Waiting for full version 2.0 next upgrade.
The only thing the BCS has to fear is fear itself and Blue is the color of fear.
The Good and the Bad
The Good: Those of us who live in the midwest (like me in Chicago) have a conference road game within driving distance every other year (at Cincy).
The Bad: The rest of the nation further cements their notion that Boise is in either Ohio or Iowa. You have no idea how often I’ve had this exchange: “Where did you grow up?” “Boise” “Oh, what’s it like living in Iowa?” Or “I grew up in Boise.” “Really? I have a friend that lives in Columbus.”
by Blue and Orange on Dec 8, 2011 11:14 AM PST reply actions
Columbus....now that's funny! Bet you're good at drawing the outline map of Idaho. :)
"Grateful to the friends and the circumstances that enabled me to be a Bronco. I'm just glad I lived to see these days." SeniorChief
My turn..
The Good-
Better bowls against better opponents. If we won the BE this year, we’d be in a BCS bowl. If we were second, we’d be playing Florida State for more than 2x Maaco’s money.
I’m looking forward to rivalries with Houston and SMU. I see Houston as Fresno (is it all the red?) sort of respectful and such, while SMU will be Nevada. Stupid Nevada.
The Bad-
BYU/Air Force/both not joining…..I can understand BYU wanting to keep its whole faith-based independence thing going, but Air Force pledging allegience to the MWC is the band continuing to play on the Titanic, and I just want to throw them a life preserver. C’mon guys.
Constantly dealing with the fact that the conference that makes geographic sense didn’t want us, and never will, unless we develop a cure for cancer and replace one of the parking garages with a superb baseball team, apparently. BE > MWC, but I want me some more Duck and Beaver action, not to mention USC, et al.
The Akward-
If we’ve promised to play the odd WAC team in football to have a place for our other sports, we’ll probably end up playing Idaho, and right now the Vandals are the casual sex partner we cut ties with to try and form a long term relationship with the MWC. That’s an akward post-coital cigarette.
The whole AQ/BCS hate thing….I know we needed to take this, but it still feels dirty.
Casual sex partner?
I guess. That’s if your into a women way past her prime with a nasty drinking habit and delusions of past grandeur but still loves being entertained by fool.
The battle for hierarchy is more intense the lower the class.
entertained by *a* fool
Fill in the blank; shouldn’t be too hard.
The battle for hierarchy is more intense the lower the class.
Hey now. What did I ever say bad about you?
"Grateful to the friends and the circumstances that enabled me to be a Bronco. I'm just glad I lived to see these days." SeniorChief
I knew you couldn't resist that one, bb
The battle for hierarchy is more intense the lower the class.
behind every great epiphany,
every exhultation for the heady rush of freedom,
and every demonstration of strength beyond estimation,
is a fool of a husband.
kcam, I am wondering why you are offering up highlights of your autobiography here on OBNUG.
hahahahahahahahahaha I crack myself up. (Now I’m petrified whilst waiting for your incisive zinger backatme.)
"Grateful to the friends and the circumstances that enabled me to be a Bronco. I'm just glad I lived to see these days." SeniorChief
Only on Saturdays. On Sundays, I repent.
"Grateful to the friends and the circumstances that enabled me to be a Bronco. I'm just glad I lived to see these days." SeniorChief
Do, you know your wife is a Sweetie.
She chose you. You can’t really be so naive as to think you chose her, now, can you? :)
"Grateful to the friends and the circumstances that enabled me to be a Bronco. I'm just glad I lived to see these days." SeniorChief
Big East
Perhaps I’m an unjustified optimist, but I see mostly good things in this, especially given the provisions Kustra et al worked into the deal if things fall apart. The revamped Big East is better competition that the MWC (but I wish BYU and/or Air Force would join) and it’s gonna be a better TV deal than the terrible MWC one. Joining this new Big East, whatever becomes of it, I think, will go even further toward making Boise State a truly “national brand,” which will only be a good thing, not only for football recruitment, but for the school in general. It will give fans like me a chance to see the Broncos much more on TV and to actually see the Broncos play live! I realize this is specific to me, but I grew up in NYC, and am a die-hard Yankee fan. The only team I love more as much as the Yankees is Boise State. It will be a truly amazing experience to get to see, in person, in Yankee Stadium of all places, my beloved Broncos win a conference championship! And lastly, no matter how good or bad the Big East was/is/will be, and no matter if you think joining amounts to “selling out” or we really belong in the Pac-12 or Big-12 (we do) I think Bronco fans can and should take pride in the delicious irony that an AQ conference sought Boise State to rescue it…
by VABronco on Dec 8, 2011 12:05 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I, too, enjoy that irony.
Smurfturf as an AQ saviour….gottaloveit.
"Grateful to the friends and the circumstances that enabled me to be a Bronco. I'm just glad I lived to see these days." SeniorChief
The Big East just added the San Diego/southern California, Houston, Dallas, and Orlando media markets.
And may not be done yet. Something tells me that ESPN loves money more than they hate BSU. Pretty sure they will give the Big East a big a$$ media deal.
We'll still need to schedule some out-of-conference games
I keep thinking we should sign a deal with TCU. After all, Coach Pat’s ticked off at Coach Pete because of the #18 vote. This would give him the opportunity to pay us back.
I mean, ignore the fact that TCU’s ranking was pushed down by the votes of nearly 58 other coaches as well.
Oh, and let’s remember his remark that since we were planning to jump ship for the Big East, that it behooved us to change the site of the BSU-TCU game back to Texas, instead of forcing the Frogs to play up here.
Good team. Wanted us to win but I’m happy for TCU. But some of Coach Pat’s comments come across as though he’s already practicing being in the Big-12/10 next year.
Yeah, you’re right. It is personal.
The Bad
Why didn’t this happen 4 years ago! That is when I moved to New Jersey close to all these schools. And I’ll be moving … in the summer of 2013, so I won’t be here either. With my luck, I’ll be moving to a MWC city, and thus miss out on seeing the Broncos live all over again. :)
I'm focused on the good.
AQ bid. More money from TV. More national exposure. And most importantly for this Tennessee girl, Louisville and Cincy are in driving distance! You can bet your butt I’ll be loud and proud at Boise’s first game at Louisville.
As for the bad, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. ;)
by michellemtsu on Dec 9, 2011 11:42 AM PST via mobile reply actions
I'm focused on the good.
AQ bid. More money from TV. More national exposure. And most importantly for this Tennessee girl, Louisville and Cincy are in driving distance! You can bet your butt I’ll be loud and proud at Boise’s first game at Louisville.
As for the bad, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. ;)
by michellemtsu on Dec 9, 2011 11:42 AM PST via mobile reply actions
We need two more western teams AND a new conference name
Personally, I support two separate conferences. A Big East for all non-football sports, and separate football only division with a name that fits a nationwide conference better than “east”
Although the Big East used to work like that
I don’t think NCAA rules allow it anymore. Having said that, I expect Louisville and/or UConn (and possibly one or two others) to leave the Big East in the next few years, at which point it will probably split into CUSA+ and the Catholic Basketball League (which doesn’t sponsor football) possibly with a straggler or two (like Cinci or Rutgers) playing football in CUSA+ and other sports in the Catholic Basketball League.
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2012 Boise State Football Schedule
@ Michigan State  |
Fri 08/31 | 6:00 p.m. MT |
| Miami (OH) | Sat 09/15 | 2:00 p.m. MT |
| BYU |
Thu 09/20 | TBA |
| @ New Mexico | Sat 09/29 | TBA |
| @ Southern Miss | Sat 10/06 | TBA |
| Fresno State | Sat 10/13 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| UNLV | Sat 10/20 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Wyoming |
Sat 10/27 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| San Diego State | Sat 11/03 | 8:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Hawaii | Sat 11/10 | 5:00 p.m. MT |
| Colorado St. | Sat 11/17 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Nevada | Sat 12/1 | TBA |
