Post by rainman on Nov 28, 2007 7:09:50 GMT -5
Big East couldn’t refuse Friday TV games
MORGANTOWN — Commissioner Michael Tranghese said Monday the Big East had no choice but to agree to play football games on four Friday nights each of the past three or four seasons.
Those intrude on what has been traditionally the day or night reserved for the high schools, which sorely need to sell tickets in order to finance their programs.
But Tranghese said the conference four years ago wasn’t really in position to reject Friday night spots.
“We were either going to play Friday night or we weren’t going to have a television contract,” he revealed.
“We were left with little choice. But now things are changing,” he said. “We’ve done very well, as you know. Not just West Virginia but Rutgers, South Florida, Cincinnati, Louisville. ... Everybody.
“And our goal is that the next time we negotiate a television contract and the next time we negotiate a bowl deal, we’re going to be in a significantly better position.”
Speaking to the media on the Big East’s weekly teleconference, Tranghese said one of this year’s five Friday night TV appearances was to play a non-conference game on the road and the league had no control over that. “I’m like you,” he told the writer who brought up that question, “if I could not play on Friday night I’d gladly not play on Friday night. And if our coaches had their choice, they would not play on Friday night. “But I’m being as honest with you as I can. If we’d elected not to play those Friday night games, we would have been left without a TV contract. We basically would have been on another network and nobody would have seen our games.
“Our programs couldn’t sustain loss of (a lucrative TV contact) with games on Thursdays and Saturdays. I understand your question. I happen to agree with you. But the conditions that we faced wouldn’t allow us to do (otherwise).”
Tranghese recalled that four years ago, when the contract talks were being held, people were saying the Big East was no good after losing Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“We hadn’t played a game. But they were telling us our league was lousy. They said we didn’t deserve the BCS bid. And we had to negotiate a television contract.
“So we were left with little choice.”
But, as the commissioner said, the Big East will try to get away from playing on Friday night when the current contract comes up for renewal.
MORGANTOWN — Commissioner Michael Tranghese said Monday the Big East had no choice but to agree to play football games on four Friday nights each of the past three or four seasons.
Those intrude on what has been traditionally the day or night reserved for the high schools, which sorely need to sell tickets in order to finance their programs.
But Tranghese said the conference four years ago wasn’t really in position to reject Friday night spots.
“We were either going to play Friday night or we weren’t going to have a television contract,” he revealed.
“We were left with little choice. But now things are changing,” he said. “We’ve done very well, as you know. Not just West Virginia but Rutgers, South Florida, Cincinnati, Louisville. ... Everybody.
“And our goal is that the next time we negotiate a television contract and the next time we negotiate a bowl deal, we’re going to be in a significantly better position.”
Speaking to the media on the Big East’s weekly teleconference, Tranghese said one of this year’s five Friday night TV appearances was to play a non-conference game on the road and the league had no control over that. “I’m like you,” he told the writer who brought up that question, “if I could not play on Friday night I’d gladly not play on Friday night. And if our coaches had their choice, they would not play on Friday night. “But I’m being as honest with you as I can. If we’d elected not to play those Friday night games, we would have been left without a TV contract. We basically would have been on another network and nobody would have seen our games.
“Our programs couldn’t sustain loss of (a lucrative TV contact) with games on Thursdays and Saturdays. I understand your question. I happen to agree with you. But the conditions that we faced wouldn’t allow us to do (otherwise).”
Tranghese recalled that four years ago, when the contract talks were being held, people were saying the Big East was no good after losing Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“We hadn’t played a game. But they were telling us our league was lousy. They said we didn’t deserve the BCS bid. And we had to negotiate a television contract.
“So we were left with little choice.”
But, as the commissioner said, the Big East will try to get away from playing on Friday night when the current contract comes up for renewal.
