Imagine that, no love for the Big 10 from ESPN

[SheagleHawk]

Know-nothing analysts agree that should the winners of the Big 10, Big 12 and SEC all have one loss that the Big12 and SEC deserve to meet in the NC. I agree that the SEC team should get the nod, but the Big 12 is BEYOND weak this year. Thoughts?

 

[IowaNYYfan]

Yeah, seemed odd to me that a one loss Ohio State with games against Miami, Wisconsin, Iowa, and others wouldn't get the nod over a one loss Nebraska who's beaten nobody and lost to a nobody

 

[SheagleHawk]

Yeah, seemed odd to me that a one loss Ohio State with games against Miami, Wisconsin, Iowa, and others wouldn't get the nod over a one loss Nebraska who's beaten nobody and lost to a nobody

Others on here have stated that the lack of love stems from the momentum that the Big 10 networks is gaining. Do you think there's any truth to this?

 

[IowaNYYfan]

Others on here have stated that the lack of love stems from the momentum that the Big 10 networks is gaining. Do you think there's any truth to this?

I think the Big 10 Network's success plays somewhat of a subconscious role in forming a negative opinion toward the Big 10, but it would be highly unprofessional for ESPN to take a stance against a conference of teams made up of college athletes. ESPN also has a monopoly on the sports world for the most part and can do what it wants when it wants, so I doubt the higher ups feel threatened by a network in the 600s that shows Illinois vs. Purdue to the midwest, which isn't a huge demographic to begin with. And I doubt the everyday analysts care enough about the company's financial standing to make a foolish national opinion on a consistent basis, so it's probably more attributed to the lack of perspective into the midwest and misinformation.

 

[MidnightBlueSix]

I don't think it's so much that they hate the BTN and are downplaying the conference out of spite, but I DO think that their recent acquisition of SEC games compells the network to lean more toward the SEC. They spent a ton of money for the ability to broadcast SEC games, and I think they want to get the best bang for their buck. Either way, I'm not surprised about the lack of love. It extends beyond just college football; it seems like if you're not on one of the coasts or in Texas, you don't exist (Denard Robinson and ND excluded). Thank goodness for the BTN.

 

[SheagleHawk]

Good points, guys! I guess I understand about the SEC, but even the casual observer of college football knows the Big 12 is down. You're right though, thank God for the BTN and the fact that they don't employ the bumbling idiot that is Lou Holtz!

 

[DDThompson]

Others on here have stated that the lack of love stems from the momentum that the Big 10 networks is gaining. Do you think there's any truth to this?

Absolutely no doubt. ESPN is, after all, a business. The BTN is not only horning in on their business, it is showing other BCS conferences how to do it and that it can be done.

ABC doesn't talk about the shows on NBC. Or vice-versa. ESPN, while having to talk about Big10 schools, isn't going to give them the props they deserve.

 

[MidnightBlueSix]

Absolutely no doubt. ESPN is, after all, a business. The BTN is not only horning in on their business, it is showing other BCS conferences how to do it and that it can be done.

ABC doesn't talk about the shows on NBC. Or vice-versa. ESPN, while having to talk about Big10 schools, isn't going to give them the props they deserve.

You see the same thing with the NHL. Now that the NHL plays on Versus instead of ESPN, they receive significantly less coverage.

 

[tomhawk80907]

Do you think there's any truth to this?[/QUOTE]

tonight i will share bill o'reilly's penchant for steriotyping and suggest that what is abundantly evident to those of us who support the big ten is lost on that portion of the country known as the sec.......i don't think "cooder" and "billy bob" are the most sophisticated audience to have to fool and from all indications its working.

 

[kicker22]

Despite whether the BTN is an actual threat or not, I think ESPN is doing a good enough job of running their own network through the mud. Their Tim Tebow lovefest and SEC circlejerking plays a bigger role to them losing credibility than the emergence of the BTN.