I believe those claiming the exit fee is only 500,000 dollars don't understand contract language. In a contract, you have can't just penalize someone for doing something you don't like. If you could, anyone can sue anyone for anything. The bylaws for the conference would have to be thousands of pages long to cover just a small fraction of the possibilities. Thus, contract language is written in such a way as to justify a financial penalty against eventualities. I believe that 500,000 dollars as a flat fee is stated that way because tort law in some states limits the direct penalty for violating the bylaws to that amount. Any additional penalty must be justified in some way. In this case, it is justified as lost income from the media contract. Legally, the fact that CUSA invited other teams to replace the departed members and, therefore, avoided any major change to their media contracts does not apply: The law simply considers the new teams "additions" rather than "replacements". In other words, the bylaws imply that the conference is losing media value for each of the six departing teams, and that those teams are therefore on the hook to pay back at least some of that value. The addition of other teams is an entirely separate issue covered elsewhere in the bylaws. AFAIK, the ACC bylaws read very similarly to CUSA's, i.e. a 500,000 dollar penalty plus three times the media value (about 17.2 million dollars in this case).

My guess is this will be heading to the lawyers to figure out. Since the c-usa tv contract wasn't reduced, I can't see anything over $500k. Maybe we will have to put money in escrow if the tv contract gets reduced in the next 5 years. UCF has averaged $1.02 million per year in the c-usa. It would be hard to justify a huge buyout.

(02-26-2013 10:53 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  My guess is this will be heading to the lawyers to figure out. Since the c-usa tv contract wasn't reduced, I can't see anything over $500k. Maybe we will have to put money in escrow if the tv contract gets reduced in the next 5 years. UCF has averaged $1.02 million per year in the c-usa. It would be hard to justify a huge buyout.

I think the schools and the conference already agreed to the amount

Quote:The amount by which the remaining members of the Conference suffer reduced television rights fees, if any, shall be determined by the Commissioner after discussion with the withdrawing member, the other Conference members, and the holder(s) of the Conference television contract(s). The determination of the Commissioner relative to such reduction on a good faith basis shall be final and binding upon the withdrawing member and upon all other members of the Conference.

(02-26-2013 11:06 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 10:53 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  My guess is this will be heading to the lawyers to figure out. Since the c-usa tv contract wasn't reduced, I can't see anything over $500k. Maybe we will have to put money in escrow if the tv contract gets reduced in the next 5 years. UCF has averaged $1.02 million per year in the c-usa. It would be hard to justify a huge buyout.

I think the schools and the conference already agreed to the amount

Quote:The amount by which the remaining members of the Conference suffer reduced television rights fees, if any, shall be determined by the Commissioner after discussion with the withdrawing member, the other Conference members, and the holder(s) of the Conference television contract(s). The determination of the Commissioner relative to such reduction on a good faith basis shall be final and binding upon the withdrawing member and upon all other members of the Conference.

...and I would sincerely hope that "the lawyers" for the departing universities had already reviewed everything. Hopefully we don't have any C7 type university administrators in this bunch.

(02-26-2013 11:19 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 11:06 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 10:53 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  My guess is this will be heading to the lawyers to figure out. Since the c-usa tv contract wasn't reduced, I can't see anything over $500k. Maybe we will have to put money in escrow if the tv contract gets reduced in the next 5 years. UCF has averaged $1.02 million per year in the c-usa. It would be hard to justify a huge buyout.

I think the schools and the conference already agreed to the amount

Quote:The amount by which the remaining members of the Conference suffer reduced television rights fees, if any, shall be determined by the Commissioner after discussion with the withdrawing member, the other Conference members, and the holder(s) of the Conference television contract(s). The determination of the Commissioner relative to such reduction on a good faith basis shall be final and binding upon the withdrawing member and upon all other members of the Conference.

...and I would sincerely hope that "the lawyers" for the departing universities had already reviewed everything. Hopefully we don't have any C7 type university administrators in this bunch.

What has the c-7 done wrong? I can't blame them or any other team that is trying to improve their status.

Since the TV contract didn't pan out, I wonder if the NBE still intends to invite ECU for all-sports, because that would mean even less money to go around. And if that were to happen, I suspect ECU's entrance fee would also be reduced.

(02-25-2013 09:55 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  Interesting quote:

Asked about the league’s then-upcoming television negotiations last February, Johnson said: “The anticipated amount going forward is well into above $10 million per school.”


WOW....talk about being mislead. I'm serious when I say that it wouldn't surprise me to see Houston bolt to the MWC and for a few schools to consider a lawsuit against the Big Least on basis of false pretense.

Well, that was back when the league still included all those great basketball schools. You know, they had the Bridgeport College Scary Monks, and a bunch of other awesome teams I'm not cool enough to have heard of.

(02-27-2013 06:57 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 11:19 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 11:06 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 10:53 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  My guess is this will be heading to the lawyers to figure out. Since the c-usa tv contract wasn't reduced, I can't see anything over $500k. Maybe we will have to put money in escrow if the tv contract gets reduced in the next 5 years. UCF has averaged $1.02 million per year in the c-usa. It would be hard to justify a huge buyout.

I think the schools and the conference already agreed to the amount

Quote:The amount by which the remaining members of the Conference suffer reduced television rights fees, if any, shall be determined by the Commissioner after discussion with the withdrawing member, the other Conference members, and the holder(s) of the Conference television contract(s). The determination of the Commissioner relative to such reduction on a good faith basis shall be final and binding upon the withdrawing member and upon all other members of the Conference.

...and I would sincerely hope that "the lawyers" for the departing universities had already reviewed everything. Hopefully we don't have any C7 type university administrators in this bunch.

What has the c-7 done wrong? I can't blame them or any other team that is trying to improve their status.

How about voting Tulane "in" and then leaving because Tulane was part of the new conference?

(02-27-2013 09:09 AM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 06:57 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 11:19 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 11:06 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 10:53 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  My guess is this will be heading to the lawyers to figure out. Since the c-usa tv contract wasn't reduced, I can't see anything over $500k. Maybe we will have to put money in escrow if the tv contract gets reduced in the next 5 years. UCF has averaged $1.02 million per year in the c-usa. It would be hard to justify a huge buyout.

I think the schools and the conference already agreed to the amount

Quote:The amount by which the remaining members of the Conference suffer reduced television rights fees, if any, shall be determined by the Commissioner after discussion with the withdrawing member, the other Conference members, and the holder(s) of the Conference television contract(s). The determination of the Commissioner relative to such reduction on a good faith basis shall be final and binding upon the withdrawing member and upon all other members of the Conference.

...and I would sincerely hope that "the lawyers" for the departing universities had already reviewed everything. Hopefully we don't have any C7 type university administrators in this bunch.

What has the c-7 done wrong? I can't blame them or any other team that is trying to improve their status.

How about voting Tulane "in" and then leaving because Tulane was part of the new conference?

...new age...new money...catholics change with the wind (now????? because THEY HAVE TO)....darwinism at its finest....called science...survival of the fittest...used to be land and food...now it's money

This from the Va Pilot ODU beat writer. Commissioner Brit Banowsky was in town Wednesday morning checking out ODU. He got some good press, both TV and paper. Also looks like ODU could be picking up some TV games within the CUSA package.

"The Tulsa World newspaper has reported that Tulsa, which won the 2012 C-USA football title, could follow those schools to the Big East in 2015. However, the TV deal the Big East recently struck with ESPN could give Tulsa reason to reconsider.

Big East members will make about $1.8 million per year in TV revenue -- less than what officials had hoped for. That’s about $500,000 more per year than C-USA schools, but Tulsa also must pay a $7 million exit fee to leave C-USA and a $2.5 million entrance fee to join the Big East."

So they're going to pay $9.5 mil to play in the Not-Named East, to make $500K more a year. They'll break even in 19 years. I'm not a money man, but isn't that a poor return on investment.

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/odu-will...ckage-2013

(02-27-2013 06:16 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  This from the Va Pilot ODU beat writer. Commissioner Brit Banowsky was in town Wednesday morning checking out ODU. He got some good press, both TV and paper. Also looks like ODU could be picking up some TV games within the CUSA package.

"The Tulsa World newspaper has reported that Tulsa, which won the 2012 C-USA football title, could follow those schools to the Big East in 2015. However, the TV deal the Big East recently struck with ESPN could give Tulsa reason to reconsider.

Big East members will make about $1.8 million per year in TV revenue -- less than what officials had hoped for. That’s about $500,000 more per year than C-USA schools, but Tulsa also must pay a $7 million exit fee to leave C-USA and a $2.5 million entrance fee to join the Big East."

So they're going to pay $9.5 mil to play in the Not-Named East, to make $500K more a year. They'll break even in 19 years. I'm not a money man, but isn't that a poor return on investment.

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/odu-will...ckage-2013

There is a lot of "hidden" money that the NBE will receive from somewhere, it's complicated, I will let NBE superfans explain it.

(02-27-2013 06:24 PM)Big Dub Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 06:16 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  This from the Va Pilot ODU beat writer. Commissioner Brit Banowsky was in town Wednesday morning checking out ODU. He got some good press, both TV and paper. Also looks like ODU could be picking up some TV games within the CUSA package.

"The Tulsa World newspaper has reported that Tulsa, which won the 2012 C-USA football title, could follow those schools to the Big East in 2015. However, the TV deal the Big East recently struck with ESPN could give Tulsa reason to reconsider.

Big East members will make about $1.8 million per year in TV revenue -- less than what officials had hoped for. That’s about $500,000 more per year than C-USA schools, but Tulsa also must pay a $7 million exit fee to leave C-USA and a $2.5 million entrance fee to join the Big East."

So they're going to pay $9.5 mil to play in the Not-Named East, to make $500K more a year. They'll break even in 19 years. I'm not a money man, but isn't that a poor return on investment.

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/odu-will...ckage-2013

There is a lot of "hidden" money that the NBE will receive from somewhere, it's complicated, I will let NBE superfans explain it.

He's obviously overlooking the $3 million in "I'm cooler than you" money, not to mention the $850k in "we had banners in NYC for goodness sakes" money and the $2 million in "but they promised us" money.

(02-27-2013 06:24 PM)Big Dub Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 06:16 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  This from the Va Pilot ODU beat writer. Commissioner Brit Banowsky was in town Wednesday morning checking out ODU. He got some good press, both TV and paper. Also looks like ODU could be picking up some TV games within the CUSA package.

"The Tulsa World newspaper has reported that Tulsa, which won the 2012 C-USA football title, could follow those schools to the Big East in 2015. However, the TV deal the Big East recently struck with ESPN could give Tulsa reason to reconsider.

Big East members will make about $1.8 million per year in TV revenue -- less than what officials had hoped for. That’s about $500,000 more per year than C-USA schools, but Tulsa also must pay a $7 million exit fee to leave C-USA and a $2.5 million entrance fee to join the Big East."

So they're going to pay $9.5 mil to play in the Not-Named East, to make $500K more a year. They'll break even in 19 years. I'm not a money man, but isn't that a poor return on investment.

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/odu-will...ckage-2013

There is a lot of "hidden" money that the NBE will receive from somewhere, it's complicated, I will let NBE superfans explain it.

I can't imagine any program making that choice based on the above financials alone, especially a small private university that's footing its bills on ticket revenue, TV and other conference revenue, and wealthy alum contributions. There are no state monies to draw from, whether it be above or below the surface.

Each university/program has to choose what universities it wants to partner with, which may or may not have an influence on Tulsa's decision.

(02-28-2013 01:12 AM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 06:24 PM)Big Dub Wrote:  

(02-27-2013 06:16 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  This from the Va Pilot ODU beat writer. Commissioner Brit Banowsky was in town Wednesday morning checking out ODU. He got some good press, both TV and paper. Also looks like ODU could be picking up some TV games within the CUSA package.

"The Tulsa World newspaper has reported that Tulsa, which won the 2012 C-USA football title, could follow those schools to the Big East in 2015. However, the TV deal the Big East recently struck with ESPN could give Tulsa reason to reconsider.

Big East members will make about $1.8 million per year in TV revenue -- less than what officials had hoped for. That’s about $500,000 more per year than C-USA schools, but Tulsa also must pay a $7 million exit fee to leave C-USA and a $2.5 million entrance fee to join the Big East."

So they're going to pay $9.5 mil to play in the Not-Named East, to make $500K more a year. They'll break even in 19 years. I'm not a money man, but isn't that a poor return on investment.

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/odu-will...ckage-2013

There is a lot of "hidden" money that the NBE will receive from somewhere, it's complicated, I will let NBE superfans explain it.

I can't imagine any program making that choice based on the above financials alone, especially a small private university that's footing its bills on ticket revenue, TV and other conference revenue, and wealthy alum contributions. There are no state monies to draw from, whether it be above or below the surface.

Each university/program has to choose what universities it wants to partner with, which may or may not have an influence on Tulsa's decision.

I know Tulsa's closer academically to SMU than it is to Rice, but if I were them, I'd rather hitch my horse to Rice than to Tulane and SMU...

(02-28-2013 01:42 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  I know Tulsa's closer academically to SMU than it is to Rice, but if I were them, I'd rather hitch my horse to Rice than to Tulane and SMU...

After looking at the numbers, there may not even be a need to have to make that decision.

I'm shocked that the BE still has that high of an entry fee.

(02-28-2013 01:54 AM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(02-28-2013 01:42 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  I know Tulsa's closer academically to SMU than it is to Rice, but if I were them, I'd rather hitch my horse to Rice than to Tulane and SMU...

After looking at the numbers, there may not even be a need to have to make that decision.

I'm shocked that the BE still has that high of an entry fee.

I'm not. Back when the USFL was around (in Birmingham and Memphis) the league expanded for its second season from 12 to 18 teams in a move that documents (made public in their anti-trust suit against the NFL) made clear was driven by a need to offset massive losses with new franchise fees.

Carlo Ponzi is alive and well, but has changed his name to "Aresco."

(02-28-2013 07:54 AM)58-56 Wrote:  Carlo Ponzi is alive and well, but has changed his name to "Aresco."

Blasphemer!


Aresco has single-handedly saved the NBE and is delivering all their wildest dreams on a silver platter.

The NBE really knew what it was doing when it fired Marrianato, no way could he have done the job as well as Aresco, proof is in the TV contract.

Today, the nBE outs are at 1.2 percent in Hold 'em terms...for their sake, the river better turn up Nile as it has played to denial to date.