Quote:The Big East’s efforts to combat the national media’s assessment of the league as “terrible” or “second-rate” — well, have there been any efforts?
Quote:When the 2011 Big East football race came down to the final day, with five of the league’s eight members finishing tied for first or a game out, how much celebration of the league’s furious competition was there? How much was the Big East doing to sell its uncommonly balanced competition?
There were 28 Big East football games last fall; 43 percent were decided by a seven points or less, 32 percent by three points or less. There was genuine drama in the games.
In the SEC, only 27 percent of games were as close as a touchdown, and only 12 percent as close as a field goal. Essentially, the SEC was a series of lovely tailgate parties interrupted by blowout games.
It’s no surprise the Big East administration couldn’t sell this to the public, though. It couldn’t even reinforce this message to its members.
This. So very much. The BE is a competitive league top to bottom and has no cellar dwellars (I'm looking at you, Duke, Indiana, Kentucky, Ole Miss, etc.) and the BE doesn't market that very well. They play exciting football and the BE doesn't market that well. This is why Marinatto had to go. This is what the BE needs to market.
That's what I was just saying on a different thread. This is probably is our only shot to get this hire right. The staff brought in needs to be very aggressive and also market to the Youth. They support Schools and are the long term future. Brand the Beast!
Quote:The Big East’s efforts to combat the national media’s assessment of the league as “terrible” or “second-rate” — well, have there been any efforts?
Quote:When the 2011 Big East football race came down to the final day, with five of the league’s eight members finishing tied for first or a game out, how much celebration of the league’s furious competition was there? How much was the Big East doing to sell its uncommonly balanced competition?
There were 28 Big East football games last fall; 43 percent were decided by a seven points or less, 32 percent by three points or less. There was genuine drama in the games.
In the SEC, only 27 percent of games were as close as a touchdown, and only 12 percent as close as a field goal. Essentially, the SEC was a series of lovely tailgate parties interrupted by blowout games.
It’s no surprise the Big East administration couldn’t sell this to the public, though. It couldn’t even reinforce this message to its members.
This. So very much. The BE is a competitive league top to bottom and has no cellar dwellars (I'm looking at you, Duke, Indiana, Kentucky, Ole Miss, etc.) and the BE doesn't market that very well. They play exciting football and the BE doesn't market that well. This is why Marinatto had to go. This is what the BE needs to market.
They've tried to advertise that. I've seen a Big East commercial advertising this. The problem is the Big East sucks at commercials. The mascot commercials are embarrassingly bad. Compare Big East hype commercials to B1G, PAC, and ACC commercials. They all talk about their prestige and history. While the Big East shows a few football highlights and says everyone's equal.
I agree that the Big East needs some better marketing, but emphasizing top to bottom parity and close games doesn't work with the public. They want to see elite teams. That's why the public gave so much credit to the MWC and WAC over the past few years - one TCU or Boise State and 8 other dwarfs gets a conference more attention and respect than a conference of 8 decent/good teams with no one standing out at all. The casual fan isn't going to be looking at depth - they watch and pay attention to the top 10 or 15 teams in the country and not much beyond that.
(This post was last modified: 05-08-2012 03:33 PM by Frank the Tank.)
(05-08-2012 03:32 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote: I agree that the Big East needs some better marketing, but emphasizing top to bottom parity and close games doesn't work with the public. They want to see elite teams. That's why the public gave so much credit to the MWC and WAC over the past few years - one TCU or Boise State and 8 other dwarfs gets a conference more attention and respect than a conference of 8 decent/good teams with no one standing out at all. The casual fan isn't going to be looking at depth - they watch and pay attention to the top 10 or 15 teams in the country and not much beyond that.
But the SEC, and to a lesser degree the B1G, do just that all the time - tell everyone how great their conference is top to bottom every week. Yes they have more top teams, but they'll even boast that bottom feeders like Ole Miss and Kentucky (well maybe not last year) could still jump up and grab you. But you're right, the conference needs a standout to go along with that and it needs to win.
(05-08-2012 03:40 PM)CommuterBob Wrote: But the SEC, and to a lesser degree the B1G, do just that all the time - tell everyone how great their conference is top to bottom every week. Yes they have more top teams, but they'll even boast that bottom feeders like Ole Miss and Kentucky (well maybe not last year) could still jump up and grab you. But you're right, the conference needs a standout to go along with that and it needs to win.
That last part is key. The SEC and B1G still have those top marquee teams to combine with their perceived depth. Even then, conference perceptions are largely driven by the performance of the champion. Look at how much the ACC, Big East and even Big Ten have been bashed over the years for poor performances in BCS bowls while those leagues' records in other non-conference games are ignored. Meanwhile, the fact that the SEC has won 6 straight national championships has nothing to do with Ole Miss or even the performance of the SEC East for the past couple of years, but that doesn't matter because people just remember what happened to the very best team in the most high profile game.
BE needs a channel to pimp the product every week. ESPN does the weekly SEC/B1G pimping while BE is largely ignored. BE needs a channel dedicated to the BE.
(05-08-2012 03:04 PM)Bearcat_Bounce Wrote: This thread isn't positive enough
Well, you certainly changed that with your Times Square sized Bearkat basketball poster. This thread now appeals to the 12 and under demo.
Another less than positive post, you should be banned from this board. We come here to read overly optimistic posts about the Big East, not your negativity.
(05-08-2012 03:04 PM)Bearcat_Bounce Wrote: This thread isn't positive enough
Well, you certainly changed that with your Times Square sized Bearkat basketball poster. This thread now appeals to the 12 and under demo.
Another less than positive post, you should be banned from this board. We come here to read overly optimistic posts about the Big East, not your negativity.
(05-08-2012 03:54 PM)SF Husky Wrote: BE needs a channel to pimp the product every week. ESPN does the weekly SEC/B1G pimping while BE is largely ignored. BE needs a channel dedicated to the BE.
... and then we'd need more than a dozen people willing to watch it, eh?
(05-08-2012 03:54 PM)SF Husky Wrote: BE needs a channel to pimp the product every week. ESPN does the weekly SEC/B1G pimping while BE is largely ignored. BE needs a channel dedicated to the BE.
... and then we'd need more than a dozen people willing to watch it, eh?
All we saw on ESPN during the conference tournaments was BIG EAST BASKETBALL at MSG. If I didn't know better, I'd barely be aware they play hoops out West.
I'd say that's a pretty good sign we'd draw an audience for a Big East channel.
(This post was last modified: 05-08-2012 06:51 PM by BigEastHomer.)
(05-08-2012 03:54 PM)SF Husky Wrote: BE needs a channel to pimp the product every week. ESPN does the weekly SEC/B1G pimping while BE is largely ignored. BE needs a channel dedicated to the BE.
... and then we'd need more than a dozen people willing to watch it, eh?
All we saw on ESPN during the conference tournaments was BIG EAST BASKETBALL at MSG. If I didn't know better, I'd barely be aware they play hoops out West.
I'd say that's a pretty good sign we'd draw an audience for a Big East channel.
Nobody questions the elite value of Big East basketball. And nobody doubts that we already get paid well for it, and that it gets outstanding coverage on ESPN.
So clearly, "Husky" was talking about Big East football. And for that, we will need to drum up viewers, somewhere, somehow. Especially now that our matchups make no sense. Houston vs. Rutgers anyone?
(05-08-2012 06:54 PM)quo vadis Wrote: Nobody questions the elite value of Big East basketball. And nobody doubts that we already get paid well for it, and that it gets outstanding coverage on ESPN.
So clearly, "Husky" was talking about Big East football. And for that, we will need to drum up viewers, somewhere, somehow. Especially now that our matchups make no sense. Houston vs. Rutgers anyone?
I don't see that as an issue. Ever since Boise upset Oklahoma, they've been a media darling. Houston was the media darling last year as they marched through their regular season schedule unbeaten. Everyone loves winners. That's what draws viewers.
I don't see Mississippi State vs Vandy drawing viewers despite being in the SEC. Anyone?
Again, this was in the context of a channel. A channel would be geared toward All Sports.
(This post was last modified: 05-08-2012 07:04 PM by BigEastHomer.)
