NBC Sports to Televise 5 CAA Games

[Dukie95]

The take from a CAA Basketball blogger

http://www.caahoops.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But, he includes this interesting football nugget:

Now let me take you out on a limb. Football, which has five TV games in this deal. Keep in mind CAA football is a wholly separate business. It’s books are its own P/L. That becomes very important.

Think about this sales pitch–hey Charlotte, UAB, etc. We’re going 1A in football. We have a national TV contract with NBC Sports, and we have Delaware, JMU, ODU, Georgia State, etc. ready to jump. All it takes is joining us in basketball, too. Presto–better all the way around.

[89Hen]

They should spread it around a little more, but they most definitely should have one from JMU, UD and ODU. Towson looks pretty good on TV as does W&M and Richmond. GaSt depends on how many butts they can put in the stands. Maine, UNH, Villanova... they can be the visitors.

Thankfully, you don't determine the line-up.

I can understand that YOU want to see a game from Maine, but why do you think the CAA should televise a game from Maine? Seriously.

[bluehenbillk]

I don't think you see home game at Maine or UNH televised.

I wouldn't jump at JMU/ODU being a NBC game - VU/UD is the same day & VU probably carries more national name recognition that anyone in the CAA as a whole athletic program...

[CAA Flagship]

I don't think you see home game at Maine or UNH televised.

I wouldn't jump at JMU/ODU being a NBC game - VU/UD is the same day & VU probably carries more national name recognition that anyone in the CAA as a whole athletic program...

Agreed, but if the schedule is set before the season starts, and based on what VU did last year, would you schedule the VU/UD game? It could be a 3-7 team against an 8-2 team.
I'm guessing that the schedule will be set before the season starts since Comcast is in the mix and will pick up the games that NBC does not take. Comcast will want to know what they have to choose from, no?

[bluehenbillk]

I don't think you see home game at Maine or UNH televised.

I wouldn't jump at JMU/ODU being a NBC game - VU/UD is the same day & VU probably carries more national name recognition that anyone in the CAA as a whole athletic program...

Agreed, but if the schedule is set before the season starts, and based on what VU did last year, would you schedule the VU/UD game? It could be a 3-7 team against an 8-2 team.
I'm guessing that the schedule will be set before the season starts since Comcast is in the mix and will pick up the games that NBC does not take. Comcast will want to know what they have to choose from, no?

Two things on that - 1- Yep VU was bad last season but they'll be better this year - probably around .500 I'd guess. 2- You have to look at this from a TV exec point of view - when you put games on nationally, key word nationally, it's different than how you fill out the local Comcast slate as how the CAA has operated to date. I think people in Colorado for example, or fill in the state, are going to be more likely to click on the game as they flip through the guide when they see recognizable team names - I'd argue that Villanova & Delaware would be right at the top in that list. There are only the FCS diehards across the country that are going to say "W&M is 5-3 and this game could be crucial to them making the playoffs - I'll tune in". Many of the FCS fans will be at their own schools games no matter what time the telecast is so I think "university name & reputation" and homefield telecast appearance are going to outweigh team's records. That being said - that's why VU will be real unlikely to ever have a home game televised on Versus - lile Maine & UNH - not the image the CAA wants the country to see....

[andy7171]

Took a quick glance at the schedule to try to predict what the 5 games will be. I took the liberty to put in some criteria, that may or may not be a factor, to eliminate games. The criteria is based on 2011 records and attendance.
- No GSU games
- No URI games
- No games at Maine or Villanova

Why no games at Maine????

I'm guessing that UNH at Maine on Oct. 20 gets some pretty good consideration.

Only if your home commentators do the game. Those guys are a hoot!

[89Hen]

would you schedule the VU/UD game? It could be a 3-7 team against an 8-2 team.

Which one will be 8-2?

[89Hen]

recognizable team names - I'd argue that Villanova & Delaware would be right at the top in that list.

I'd argue that Villanova is the only "recoginzable" name in the CAA to Joe Moran.

[CAA Flagship]

2- You have to look at this from a TV exec point of view - when you put games on nationally, key word nationally, it's different than how you fill out the local Comcast slate as how the CAA has operated to date. I think people in Colorado for example, or fill in the state, are going to be more likely to click on the game as they flip through the guide when they see recognizable team names - I'd argue that Villanova & Delaware would be right at the top in that list. There are only the FCS diehards across the country that are going to say "W&M is 5-3 and this game could be crucial to them making the playoffs - I'll tune in". Many of the FCS fans will be at their own schools games no matter what time the telecast is so I think "university name & reputation" and homefield telecast appearance are going to outweigh team's records. That being said - that's why VU will be real unlikely to ever have a home game televised on Versus - lile Maine & UNH - not the image the CAA wants the country to see....

I can see how the CAA would be interested in seeing games in the biggest stadiums, whereas the TV execs could be interested in away games for the teams with the biggest followings. If UD, JMU, or ODU are on the road, the large fanbases, minus 1 or 2 thousand fans that travel, have a high potential of tuning in to the game. There may be other shenanigans at play. If NBC-SN is not carried well by cable companies in Atlanta, you might see GSU on the road somewhere. Similar to why the Duke-UNC basketball games were aired on ESPN2 for a couple of years when it was first launched.

[CAA Flagship]

would you schedule the VU/UD game? It could be a 3-7 team against an 8-2 team.

Which one will be 8-2?

Good point. But hey, the all-yellow uniforms look sweet.



PS - Break par last Friday?

[89Hen]

Which one will be 8-2?

Good point. But hey, the all-yellow uniforms look sweet.



PS - Break par last Friday?

Nope. 76, wrong direction. Pissed away 4-5 shots on stupid stuff. In my defense, it never got close to 50 degrees and I couldn't get warmed up. 53 and sunny this Friday, will try again.

[BDKJMU]

Here's the link:
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012 ... 0213nbc02/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Took a quick glance at the schedule to try to predict what the 5 games will be. I took the liberty to put in some criteria, that may or may not be a factor, to eliminate games. The criteria is based on 2011 records and attendance.
- No GSU games
- No URI games
- No games at Maine or Villanova

I would say no games @ Maine, @ UR, or @ UNH- don't think they're going to want to put 8,700 UR stadium or 8,000 Cowell, on national TV-esp Cowell. I wouldn't necessarily say no game @ Nova (who will be significantly improved (20 starters + 2 from 2010 back), has a 12.5k stadium, and has been pointed out, is the biggest national name.

[BDKJMU]

Don't you think we should put our best foot forward regarding home stadiums?
I say 2 at ODU, 2 at Delaware, and 1 at JMU (with cameras on lifts facing the new stands).

Yep, if you want it to look good on National TV, then it should be the 3 biggest stadiums that will likely be full/close to full, and shoould be games mostly between those they project to be in the top 5 or so teams:

If the games have to be picked before the start of the season then I'd say these 5 bolded games out of the likely biggest games of the week (2 @ ODU, 2 @ JMU, 1 @ UD):

9/15: W&M @ TU
9/22: UNH @ ODU
9/29: UD @ UNH
10/6: TU @ JMU
10/13: Maine @ TU/W&M @ JMU
10/20: ODU @ TU/UNH @ Maine
10/27: UD @ ODU
11/3: TU @ UD/JMU @ Maine
11/10: W&M @ ODU
11/17: ODU @ JMU/Nova @ UD/UR @ W&M

Thinking about it again:

9/15: W&M @ TU
9/22: UNH @ ODU
9/29: UD @ UNH
10/6: TU @ JMU (Parents' Weekend)
10/13: W&M @ JMU/Maine @ TU
10/20: ODU @ TU/UNH @ Maine
10/27: UD @ ODU
11/3: TU @ UD/JMU @ Maine
11/10: W&M @ ODU
11/17 Nova @ UD/UR @ W&M/ODU @ JMU

So that would involve 2 @ ODU, 2 @ UD, and 1 @ JMU, involving 7 of the 11 teams, with 3 appearances by UD, 2 by ODU, 1 by JMU, TU, Nova, and UNH and W&M.

Thinking about it again, 11/17 is probably a tossup:
-Nova @ UD since Nova is the biggest national name in the league @ Joe Flacco's alma mater, but that would mean 3 of the last 4 televised would involve UD, with the last 2 televised being @ UD.
OR
-UR @ W&M, Mikle Tomlin's alma mater & the South's oldest football rivalry.

Now if you had CAA fans picking the 5 games it would be:
-10/6 TU @ JMU instead of 10/13 W&M @ JMU. Won't do both, as don't see them doing games @ any one school in back to back weeks
-11/17 would pick ODU @ JMU.
But its not going to be CAA fans picking the matchups, but NBC execs who will be looking for name recognition.

[89Hen]

I would say no games @ Maine, @ UR, or @ UNH- don't think they're going to want to put 8,700 UR stadium or 8,000 Cowell, on national TV-esp Cowell. I wouldn't necessarily say no game @ Nova (who will be significantly improved (20 starters + 2 from 2010 back), has a 12.5k stadium, and has been pointed out, is the biggest national name.

I would put a home UR game on before I'd put a home VU game on. UR's stadium looks every bit as good as Zable and Unitas even though it holds fewer.

[Blue_Trombone]

Yep, if you want it to look good on National TV, then it should be the 3 biggest stadiums that will likely be full/close to full, and shoould be games mostly between those they project to be in the top 5 or so teams:

If the games have to be picked before the start of the season then I'd say these 5 bolded games out of the likely biggest games of the week (2 @ ODU, 2 @ JMU, 1 @ UD):

9/15: W&M @ TU
9/22: UNH @ ODU
9/29: UD @ UNH
10/6: TU @ JMU
10/13: Maine @ TU/W&M @ JMU
10/20: ODU @ TU/UNH @ Maine
10/27: UD @ ODU
11/3: TU @ UD/JMU @ Maine
11/10: W&M @ ODU
11/17: ODU @ JMU/Nova @ UD/UR @ W&M

Thinking about it again:

9/15: W&M @ TU
9/22: UNH @ ODU
9/29: UD @ UNH
10/6: TU @ JMU (Parents' Weekend)
10/13: W&M @ JMU/Maine @ TU
10/20: ODU @ TU/UNH @ Maine
10/27: UD @ ODU
11/3: TU @ UD/JMU @ Maine
11/10: W&M @ ODU
11/17 Nova @ UD/UR @ W&M/ODU @ JMU

So that would involve 2 @ ODU, 2 @ UD, and 1 @ JMU, involving 7 of the 11 teams, with 3 appearances by UD, 2 by ODU, 1 by JMU, TU, Nova, and UNH and W&M.

Thinking about it again, 11/17 is probably a tossup:
-Nova @ UD since Nova is the biggest national name in the league @ Joe Flacco's alma mater, but that would mean 3 of the last 4 televised would involve UD, with the last 2 televised being @ UD.
OR
-UR @ W&M, Mikle Tomlin's alma mater & the South's oldest football rivalry.

Now if you had CAA fans picking the 5 games it would be:
-10/6 TU @ JMU instead of 10/13 W&M @ JMU. Won't do both, as don't see them doing games @ any one school in back to back weeks
-11/17 would pick ODU @ JMU.
But its not going to be CAA fans picking the matchups, but NBC execs who will be looking for name recognition.

If you wanted to space out the UD games you could do W&M at ODU instead of UD at ODU. That rivalry is becoming intense and I'm sure that fans would go crazy for that. It just depends on if they want to show the Oyster Bowl (UD at ODU) or the Battle for the Silver Mace (W&M at ODU... which I think will be going on next year too).

Also, does VU have any other good away games other than @UDel? I know they have the most national pull, but do they have to go against UDel? Just asking cause if they wanted the ODU@JMU or the W&M at UR game on that date they could do a VU game somewhere else.

[mainejeff]

Took a quick glance at the schedule to try to predict what the 5 games will be. I took the liberty to put in some criteria, that may or may not be a factor, to eliminate games. The criteria is based on 2011 records and attendance.
- No GSU games
- No URI games
- No games at Maine or Villanova

I would say no games @ Maine, @ UR, or @ UNH- don't think they're going to want to put 8,700 UR stadium or 8,000 Cowell, on national TV-esp Cowell. I wouldn't necessarily say no game @ Nova (who will be significantly improved (20 starters + 2 from 2010 back), has a 12.5k stadium, and has been pointed out, is the biggest national name.

Screw you! I would say no games at JMU or ODU......who outside of their delusional fan bases really cares about them or knows who they are???

[CAA Flagship]

There is also no reason they couldn't do 2 games on the same day to "solve" the 11/17 issue.

We can guess all we want but there are obviously many factors to weigh. I will be interested in seeing if they go with the big home crowd (better looking on TV) or big visitor following (greater viewership since they won't be at the game).

[mainejeff]

Seriously......you guys are delusional. They are going to spread the games around and televise the best match-ups and teams that are either are or predicted to do well. Some facilities will get bonus points.......but that won't determine WHO gets on TV.

[bluehenbillk]

Seriously......you guys are delusional. They are going to spread the games around and televise the best match-ups and teams that are either are or predicted to do well. Some facilities will get bonus points.......but that won't determine WHO gets on TV.

Then again Jeff, Maine shouldn't be as good this year (Cosgrove can't get lucky 2 years in a row can he?) and do you really think they'd televise a game IN New England???

[89Hen]

2011 CAA Games on CSN or TCN

Old Dominion at Georgia State [CSS, TCN, CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*Rhode Island at Massachusetts [CSN-NE, CSN-MA] 6:30 p.m.
*Old Dominion at Delaware [TCN, CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*New Hampshire at Richmond [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*James Madison at William and Mary [CSN-MA, CSN-NE] 7:00 p.m.
*William and Mary at Villanova [TCN, CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*Richmond at James Madison [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*Maine at James Madison [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*New Hampshire at William and Mary [CSN-MA, CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*Massachusetts at Delaware [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*New Hampshire vs Massachusetts (Foxborough, Mass.) [CSN-NE, CSN-MA] 3:30 p.m.
*Rhode Island at New Hampshire [CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*Delaware at Towson [TCN, CSN-NE] 7:00 p.m.
*James Madison at Old Dominion [CSN-MA] TBA
*Villanova at Massachusetts [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*Richmond at Delaware [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*Maine at New Hampshire [CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*William and Mary at Richmond [CSN-MA] 12:00 p.m.
*Delaware vs Villanova (Chester, Pa.) [TCN]

@ Delaware - 3
@ UMass - 3
@ JMU - 2
@ W&M - 2
@ UNH - 2
@ UR - 2
@ VU - 2
@ Towson - 1
@ ODU - 1
@ GSU - 1
@ Maine - 0

What's your best guess for the five hosts for 2012?

Me, I'll go UD, JMU, ODU as locks, and two of W&M, UNH, VU, Towson or VU.

[bluehenbillk]

2011 CAA Games on CSN or TCN

Old Dominion at Georgia State [CSS, TCN, CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*Rhode Island at Massachusetts [CSN-NE, CSN-MA] 6:30 p.m.
*Old Dominion at Delaware [TCN, CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*New Hampshire at Richmond [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*James Madison at William and Mary [CSN-MA, CSN-NE] 7:00 p.m.
*William and Mary at Villanova [TCN, CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*Richmond at James Madison [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*Maine at James Madison [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*New Hampshire at William and Mary [CSN-MA, CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*Massachusetts at Delaware [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*New Hampshire vs Massachusetts (Foxborough, Mass.) [CSN-NE, CSN-MA] 3:30 p.m.
*Rhode Island at New Hampshire [CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*Delaware at Towson [TCN, CSN-NE] 7:00 p.m.
*James Madison at Old Dominion [CSN-MA] TBA
*Villanova at Massachusetts [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*Richmond at Delaware [TCN, CSN-NE] 3:30 p.m.
*Maine at New Hampshire [CSN-NE] 12:00 p.m.
*William and Mary at Richmond [CSN-MA] 12:00 p.m.
*Delaware vs Villanova (Chester, Pa.) [TCN]

@ Delaware - 3
@ UMass - 3
@ JMU - 2
@ W&M - 2
@ UNH - 2
@ UR - 2
@ VU - 2
@ Towson - 1
@ ODU - 1
@ GSU - 1
@ Maine - 0

What's your best guess for the five hosts for 2012?

Me, I'll go UD, JMU, ODU as locks, and two of W&M, UNH, VU, Towson or VU.

Thanks for the list. It'll be interesting to see the methodology, if any different on the 5 NBC games. Personally to me, it's nice if UD has a home game or 2 on there for the exposure, but I'm at all those games - would be nice to see any road games on TV....

[mainejeff]

Seriously......you guys are delusional. They are going to spread the games around and televise the best match-ups and teams that are either are or predicted to do well. Some facilities will get bonus points.......but that won't determine WHO gets on TV.

Then again Jeff, Maine shouldn't be as good this year (Cosgrove can't get lucky 2 years in a row can he?) and do you really think they'd televise a game IN New England???

Why not????? New England foliage looks pretty good on TV.

[mainejeff]

So UNH at Maine and JMU at Maine will not be considered after 2 really AWESOME 2011 games???.......yeah, OK.......whatever.

[mainejeff]

Might be worth noting that Maine is the only CAA team to make the Q-finals in 2011 too.