CUSA's new TV contact is less than 250K per school

[Tulsafanzz]

3 years ago, TU got the last boat out of CUSA. At the time, most of us knew we really needed to move, but there were some on here who questioned the move. Looking back, I'm not sure any of us realized just how important that move really was.

Financially, the move to the AAC is looking better each year. Today, CUSA's new TV contract will annually pay $250,000 per school, vs the AAC's $ 2 million per school. We also receive substantially more income from NCAA tournament credits.

Competitively, we played in a football & basketball conference last year that was significantly better than CUSA. Our strong b-ball conference allowed us to get an at-large bid that most of us weren't even expecting. Meanwhile, CUSA received one bid for 14 teams. Recruiting should also be easier in the AAC vs CUSA.

Even if the AAC does lose a team or 2 to the Big XII coming up, there is no question our future looks much brighter today, because of what happened 3 years ago.

 

[TUBballJunkie]

IMO we are still a heck of a lot closer to CUSA than the BCS leagues.

The way this is all heading is not good for TU. Or college sports fans in general, really.

 

[Tulsafanzz]

IMO we are still a heck of a lot closer to CUSA than the BCS leagues.

The way this is all heading is not good for TU. Or college sports fans in general, really.

I agree the gap is bigger looking up towards the P5 conferences than down at CUSA/MAC/Sunbelt. However, since TU has not shown any desire or plan to move up to a P5/BCS conference, that is a moot point to me. BTW, Tulsa may be the only AAC school that doesn't appear to be reaching out or lobbying any P5 conferences.

Still, the AAC is a much better conference, financially & competitively than today's CUSA. The horrible TV CUSA contract they just signed shows how far they have fallen. Tulsa was fortunate to be the final add to the AAC.

 

[TUBballJunkie]

But it's not a moot point. I don't want that fate.

That is like feeling bad for the staff on the Titanic who aren't passengers like us.

 

[red dirt]

If you do not think Tulsa is lobbying, you are mistaken. they have been trying for several years.

 

[TUBballJunkie]

If you do not think Tulsa is lobbying, you are mistaken. they have been trying for several years.

I'd say our current position is proof that TU has been proactive and we've certainly put our money where our mouth is on coaching contracts lately too.

 

[canerush]

It seems we have these kinds of discussions every year. And the conclusion is always the same. TU is a little force that does ok within their realm of expectations. Earns respect from their overachievements. Meriting worthy conversation from the establishment. Tulsa is fortunate to be in this AAC conference for sure, and should count their blessings, but it probably won't last long in the ebb and flow changing of market driven product, driven by the all mighty dollar.
I've got an idea, though facetious, TU should put their Law School Dept. on a project, figure out how to Sue the hell out of OSU for encroachment of their turf from these satellite schools being within city limits. Getting them kicked out of Dodge. Buying out their facilities for pennies on the dollar , doubling TU's student body instantly. Then just maybe we could come to the table with the big boys and have meaningful discussion.

Without more students enrolled at TU. They will never be a serious contender for top shelf athletics .

 

[HuffyCane]

IOW, thanks Stead for looking out for us. Let's hope the new guy has an equal commitment and hands on approach.

 

[TUBballJunkie]

Thanks Dr Bob and Judy for blazing the path.

 

[Novocaine]

Buy "high priced" tickets and donate to the GHC - that's about all we can do. Cord cutting is going to deeply destroy the financial gains - especially for the less watched products.

Anything outside of the NFL and the SEC is probably in trouble though, financially. The exponential growth days are over.

 

[TU_BLA]

TU is certainly lobbying for inclusion, we're just not pimping ourselves like Cincinnati and Houston are. Read a report on the $$$ investments schools are making and what they are getting back. Cincinnati and Memphis are near the top in spending in the G5 and arrow struggling to balance that budget as states and schools have to tighten their bootstraps with budget cuts everywhere.

 

[Tulsafanzz]

TU is certainly lobbying for inclusion, we're just not pimping ourselves like Cincinnati and Houston are. Read a report on the $$$ investments schools are making and what they are getting back. Cincinnati and Memphis are near the top in spending in the G5 and arrow struggling to balance that budget as states and schools have to tighten their bootstraps with budget cuts everywhere.

FedEx Chairman, Fred Smith, sent letters to 4 Big XII presidents, saying they would sponsor Big XII events. They even said they would subsidize Memphis, so they wouldn't need to take a full share of TV $ for several years. Houston, Cincy & UCONN have corporate backers, as well. With Fedex's backing, it doesn't appear Memphis is struggling.

For BLA & others who say you know TU is lobbying: Who is Tulsa lobbying to ? Who is Tulsa's corporate backer(s)? What facility improvements, athletic department growth plans, etc. have we promised ?

If everyone else is purposefully putting their name out there, what is the value/reason for Tulsa's apparently stealth game plan?

 

[Tulsafanzz]

I'd say our current position is proof that TU has been proactive and we've certainly put our money where our mouth is on coaching contracts lately too.

If the stories from a few years ago are correct, we turned down a football only invite in Nov. of 2012. Then, Tulane was given a full invite & ECU was given a football only invite. THEN ( & not before then), Upham did an about face on our commitment to CUSA, & seriously got after moving Tulsa out of CUSA. Fortunately, we got the final opening in the AAC.

In my opinion, Tulsa was forced to move, more than proactively moved. SMU, Houston, Memphis & UCF proactively moved to the Big East ( later the AAC).