How Much Money is BYU Athletics Really Worth?

[HotBox]

So at the Big Ten meetings, JoePa stated that he does not want Notre Dame in the Big Ten (they were invited a decade ago and declined, so I think he is still sour about that). In lieu of ND, he thought it would be better to invite a school from the east coast with an east coast TV market. He specifically mentioned Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse.

Now, he being a football coach, I am guessing his mind is not on the holistic benefit of inviting a particular school, but football specific. I think BYU football is over-rated, they have always been (for the most part) a solid mid-major program for nearly 30 years now, capable of beating up on lesser talent and winning a few games against the big boys. Their Mormon affiliation has allowed for a solid local and mostly regional fan base, but I would say the % of BYU fans that are not LDS has to be under 5% (I personally don't know a single non-LDS BYU fan) so its not like their tradition or play on the field is endearing to the national fan. With that in mind, how much revenue does a BYU athletic affiliation really bring to a BCS conference?

Working in NYC, I know my fair share of east coasters and I don't know any of them that are really interested in college football. I have a co-worker that recently graduated from BC and is a huge sports fan...he attended one football game in four years at BC and was raised about 45 miles outside of Chestnut Hill. I suppose with all the pro teams in such a close proximity, college football just isn't a priority when you are spending your time and money with the Giants, Jets and Patriots.

So JoePa's suggestion for inviting what I would consider three sub par football programs into the Big Ten for TV ratings doesn't really make sense considering what I know about east coast folks' interest in college football. But the question is: Does a team like Syracuse or Pitt or Rutgers bring more revenue potential to a conference than BYU? I would find it interesting to see some numbers on revenue generation by BYU football (ticket sales, TV market, ad revenues, donations) compared to any of these schools.

I am not arguing that BYU is Big Ten qualified, I just find it interesting that a legendary football coach would consider bringing in teams that aren't even consistent winners in the Big Least in the Big Ten, I would assume he would want the best available team willing to switch conference affiliations.

[Indy Coug]

Adding one of those teams doesn't threaten to disrupt the current balance of power in the Big 10 and immediately opens the way for a Big 10 + 2 championship game, which is what JoePa is really after here.

[byu71]

So at the Big Ten meetings, JoePa stated that he does not want Notre Dame in the Big Ten (they were invited a decade ago and declined, so I think he is still sour about that). In lieu of ND, he thought it would be better to invite a school from the east coast with an east coast TV market. He specifically mentioned Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse.

Now, he being a football coach, I am guessing his mind is not on the holistic benefit of inviting a particular school, but football specific. I think BYU football is over-rated, they have always been (for the most part) a solid mid-major program for nearly 30 years now, capable of beating up on lesser talent and winning a few games against the big boys. Their Mormon affiliation has allowed for a solid local and mostly regional fan base, but I would say the % of BYU fans that are not LDS has to be under 5% (I personally don't know a single non-LDS BYU fan) so its not like their tradition or play on the field is endearing to the national fan. With that in mind, how much revenue does a BYU athletic affiliation really bring to a BCS conference?

Working in NYC, I know my fair share of east coasters and I don't know any of them that are really interested in college football. I have a co-worker that recently graduated from BC and is a huge sports fan...he attended one football game in four years at BC and was raised about 45 miles outside of Chestnut Hill. I suppose with all the pro teams in such a close proximity, college football just isn't a priority when you are spending your time and money with the Giants, Jets and Patriots.

So JoePa's suggestion for inviting what I would consider three sub par football programs into the Big Ten for TV ratings doesn't really make sense considering what I know about east coast folks' interest in college football. But the question is: Does a team like Syracuse or Pitt or Rutgers bring more revenue potential to a conference than BYU? I would find it interesting to see some numbers on revenue generation by BYU football (ticket sales, TV market, ad revenues, donations) compared to any of these schools.

I am not arguing that BYU is Big Ten qualified, I just find it interesting that a legendary football coach would consider bringing in teams that aren't even consistent winners in the Big Least in the Big Ten, I would assume he would want the best available team willing to switch conference affiliations.

I guess you are talking in terms of $$ to some other conference. I imagine they would be worth more to the PAC10 than the Big 12 or Big 10. I really doubt a there would be much of an increase in attendance due to BYU in any BCS conf. except the PAC10.

[jay santos]

So at the Big Ten meetings, JoePa stated that he does not want Notre Dame in the Big Ten (they were invited a decade ago and declined, so I think he is still sour about that). In lieu of ND, he thought it would be better to invite a school from the east coast with an east coast TV market. He specifically mentioned Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse.

Now, he being a football coach, I am guessing his mind is not on the holistic benefit of inviting a particular school, but football specific. I think BYU football is over-rated, they have always been (for the most part) a solid mid-major program for nearly 30 years now, capable of beating up on lesser talent and winning a few games against the big boys. Their Mormon affiliation has allowed for a solid local and mostly regional fan base, but I would say the % of BYU fans that are not LDS has to be under 5% (I personally don't know a single non-LDS BYU fan) so its not like their tradition or play on the field is endearing to the national fan. With that in mind, how much revenue does a BYU athletic affiliation really bring to a BCS conference?

Working in NYC, I know my fair share of east coasters and I don't know any of them that are really interested in college football. I have a co-worker that recently graduated from BC and is a huge sports fan...he attended one football game in four years at BC and was raised about 45 miles outside of Chestnut Hill. I suppose with all the pro teams in such a close proximity, college football just isn't a priority when you are spending your time and money with the Giants, Jets and Patriots.

So JoePa's suggestion for inviting what I would consider three sub par football programs into the Big Ten for TV ratings doesn't really make sense considering what I know about east coast folks' interest in college football. But the question is: Does a team like Syracuse or Pitt or Rutgers bring more revenue potential to a conference than BYU? I would find it interesting to see some numbers on revenue generation by BYU football (ticket sales, TV market, ad revenues, donations) compared to any of these schools.

I am not arguing that BYU is Big Ten qualified, I just find it interesting that a legendary football coach would consider bringing in teams that aren't even consistent winners in the Big Least in the Big Ten, I would assume he would want the best available team willing to switch conference affiliations.

JoePa's take on this could mean BYU is worth less than you think. JoePa is quantifying teams on their TV markets. Also JoePa is completely wrong. I'm sure ND's TV ratings on the east coast are better than any of those other teams.

[Hot Lunch]

I have no idea how much they are worth. I do think that because of the church and the small national following that they do have that other non-BCS schools don't have, they are worth more than any other non-BCS team right now.

I am sure that there are many on this board that would disagree with that though.

[Solon]

So at the Big Ten meetings, JoePa stated that he does not want Notre Dame in the Big Ten (they were invited a decade ago and declined, so I think he is still sour about that). In lieu of ND, he thought it would be better to invite a school from the east coast with an east coast TV market. He specifically mentioned Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse.

Now, he being a football coach, I am guessing his mind is not on the holistic benefit of inviting a particular school, but football specific. I think BYU football is over-rated, they have always been (for the most part) a solid mid-major program for nearly 30 years now, capable of beating up on lesser talent and winning a few games against the big boys. Their Mormon affiliation has allowed for a solid local and mostly regional fan base, but I would say the % of BYU fans that are not LDS has to be under 5% (I personally don't know a single non-LDS BYU fan) so its not like their tradition or play on the field is endearing to the national fan. With that in mind, how much revenue does a BYU athletic affiliation really bring to a BCS conference?

Working in NYC, I know my fair share of east coasters and I don't know any of them that are really interested in college football. I have a co-worker that recently graduated from BC and is a huge sports fan...he attended one football game in four years at BC and was raised about 45 miles outside of Chestnut Hill. I suppose with all the pro teams in such a close proximity, college football just isn't a priority when you are spending your time and money with the Giants, Jets and Patriots.

So JoePa's suggestion for inviting what I would consider three sub par football programs into the Big Ten for TV ratings doesn't really make sense considering what I know about east coast folks' interest in college football. But the question is: Does a team like Syracuse or Pitt or Rutgers bring more revenue potential to a conference than BYU? I would find it interesting to see some numbers on revenue generation by BYU football (ticket sales, TV market, ad revenues, donations) compared to any of these schools.

I am not arguing that BYU is Big Ten qualified, I just find it interesting that a legendary football coach would consider bringing in teams that aren't even consistent winners in the Big Least in the Big Ten, I would assume he would want the best available team willing to switch conference affiliations.

Interesting.

Maybe Joe Pa is trying to find a more natural in-conference rival for Penn State. As of now, the PSU vs. Michigan State game during rivalry week is a letdown. Pitt would be a good fit. Coach Schiano at Rutgers has Penn State ties (and is my pick to replace Joe Pa someday). Syracuse is only a 4-5 hour drive away.

[Hot Lunch]

Interesting.

Maybe Joe Pa is trying to find a more natural in-conference rival for Penn State. As of now, the PSU vs. Michigan State game during rivalry week is a letdown. Pitt would be a good fit. Coach Schiano at Rutgers has Penn State ties (and is my pick to replace Joe Pa someday). Syracuse is only a 4-5 hour drive away.

He may be. Having a true rival is really big for college athletics.

This is something that David Locke was talking about the other day here in Utah about BYU and Utah. He mentioned how they have a huge advantage in recruiting over other teams in the MWC conference because of the rivalry. How it is a very good one, that fans and both teams are passionate about it and that their really isn't another rivalry between other Mtn. West teams.

[YOhio]

...their really isn't another rivalry between other Mtn. West teams.

I think CSU and Wyoming consider themselves rivals. It's called the Border(line 1-AA) War.

[landpoke]

I think CSU and Wyoming consider themselves rivals. It's called the Border(line 1-AA) War.

<sigh> Has anything been killed as a direct result of Deseret First Duel for the Old Oquirrh Bucket Tied to a Handcart or whatever y'alls thing is called?

[byu71]

I think CSU and Wyoming consider themselves rivals. It's called the Border(line 1-AA) War.

Actually I think the Weber ST vs Wyoming and the Weber St. v Colorado St. are working into become pretty good rivalries.

[landpoke]

Actually I think the Weber ST vs Wyoming and the Weber St. v Colorado St. are working into become pretty good rivalries.

How can it be a rivalry if weber has never defeated us? Weber doesn't even rise to the level of an annoyance for Poke fans.

[byu71]

How can it be a rivalry if weber has never defeated us? Weber doesn't even rise to the level of an annoyance for Poke fans.

They have gone to NCAA tournaments more recently than you have. I would call that getting defeated. I agree, that might be a stretch.

[landpoke]

They have gone to NCAA tournaments more recently than you have. I would call that getting defeated. I agree, that might be a stretch.

I could be wrong, but I believe this thread is dedicated to football.

The problem with you old folks is you drift off subject so easily and start rambling on about crazy old Aunt Sally so and so and the time she wore a milk bucket for a hat to church and how that damn Rooo-svelt was a commie and such.

[YOhio]

How can it be a rivalry if weber has never defeated us? Weber doesn't even rise to the level of an annoyance for Poke fans.

One of the many reasons we'll never be considered rivals.

[landpoke]

One of the many reasons we'll never be considered rivals.

Dayton? Oh, I get it. Moron, you need to bone up on your college football history! We owned you mouth breathers back in the day!