It's not the team. The ESPN contract is with the Big East as a whole, and it was signed when things were looking very lean for the conference; it gives the four-letter network a lot of say in the nights played. Louisville gets hit worst of any team in the conference because they're the biggest TV draw in the Big East... so in that sense it should increase your perception of the program.

 

Louisville is forced to play these nights?

Touche' haha... especially with UL's track record recently

 

Please, look at ANY schools track record EVER. And it only gets worse the more money gets involved... sorry, I just saw that thing about OJ Mayo the other night and it got me thinking about the guy in Florida with the dead woman's credit card and all that just makes me think there should be some sort of psychological test that you have to pass to become a college athlete.

Louisville is forced to play these nights?

Ding Ding Ding...

It's not the team. The ESPN contract is with the Big East as a whole, and it was signed when things were looking very lean for the conference; it gives the four-letter network a lot of say in the nights played. Louisville gets hit worst of any team in the conference because they're the biggest TV draw in the Big East... so in that sense it should increase your perception of the program.

 

 

Not (totally) just to be a U of L basher, but all that means is that they are the big fish in the little pond.

Please, look at ANY schools track record EVER. And it only gets worse the more money gets involved... sorry, I just saw that thing about OJ Mayo the other night and it got me thinking about the guy in Florida with the dead woman's credit card and all that just makes me think there should be some sort of psychological test that you have to pass to become a college athlete.

 

This would probably better served in it's own thread, but that is a profound statement and begs the question: Is winning really worth it? I can't help but think back to the best UK teams in my lifetime, the teams of the 77 and 78 seasons, and how they were rife with scandal ranging all the way from academic to point shaving to even suspicion of murder. Food for thought, I guess.

Ding Ding Ding...

 

So why did they raise such a fuss when Barnhart did not want to play on a Monday night? With so many games of theirs being FORCED upon them already at such ungodly time slots, wouldn't being able to actually play a Saturday game have been a welcome relief?

Not (totally) just to be a U of L basher, but all that means is that they are the big fish in the little pond.

No, the pond WAS little when the Big East signed their ESPN contract right after getting humiliated in back-to-back BCS bowls and poached by the ACC. The last three years have actually been good for football Big East and they'll be looking at a better contract next time through.

So why did they raise such a fuss when Barnhart did not want to play on a Monday night? With so many games of theirs being FORCED upon them already at such ungodly time slots, wouldn't being able to actually play a Saturday game have been a welcome relief?

 

The game already isn't on a Saturday...

..Additionally...WVU gets to play two Thursday Night games and two Saturday games on ESPN. Since UL carries the largest viewing audience, how did they not get to have those 4 timeslots and instead had to settle for one Thursday game and the rest on unconventional days?

The game already isn't on a Saturday...

 

Barnhart wanted a Saturday... he was trying to do UL a favor apparently haha

 

(For the record I didn't think the game should be on Monday, but I also thought Barnhart was an absolute crybaby during the whole thing)

No, the pond WAS little when the Big East signed their ESPN contract right after getting humiliated in back-to-back BCS bowls and poached by the ACC. The last three years have actually been good for football Big East and they'll be looking at a better contract next time through.

 

If you're implying that a "better" contract would mean more Saturday games, then aren't you agreeing that the weekday games are less prestigious?

Barnhart wanted a Saturday... he was trying to do UL a favor apparently haha

No... Barnhart wanted it played on the usual date, a Sunday.

If you're implying that a "better" contract would mean more Saturday games, then aren't you agreeing that the weekday games are less prestigious?

Not the Thursday games or on Labor Day Monday, but you aren't going to find anyone thrilled with three Friday night games. More importantly, a new contract that just gives the conference more control.

No... Barnhart wanted it played on the usual date, a Sunday.

 

"Usual" huh? Why did UL want it on Monday again?

"Usual" huh? Why did UL want it on Monday again?

 

 

On account of other events that would cause crowd and traffic control issues that were already planned for Sunday by the city. Monday woud have been a primetime slot without the nightmarish congestion that is going to end up happening this time.