It's amazing how many people are so blinded by their need to call ordinary fans stupid that they miss this point.

The contract is probably not optimal for maximizing revenue, no matter how indignant the fanbase-haters in this thread get. It was a split-the-baby approach to try to placate both CBS & ESPN. Thus, there is definitely a logical space for negotiations to take place among (A) LSU, (B) the SEC, (C) CBS, and (D) ESPN, such that LSU gets to play in at least one SEC night game a year.

Perhaps the clause would have resulted in ESPN paying a little more to SEC schools and CBS paying a little less. Perhaps the clause would be seen as being triggered in so few years that it wouldn't have affected the values much at all. Perhaps the clause would have required LSU to shell out a little penalty money to get a game shifted from CBS or SECN during the day to ESPN at night in such "oddity" years.

The point is, there are all kinds of ways negotiations could have gone, and contracts this big and with this many parties always involve tons of suboptimal details.

I just wish Alleva would be more straightforward in stating that LSU is working on lobbying for points X, Y, & Z, in future SEC contract negotiations. That's all he has to say to keep us happy regarding this issue.

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Posted by AlwysATgr

Member since Apr 2008

16568 posts

Posted on 10/18/11 at 9:32 pm to Doc Fenton

Excellent post Doc Fenton.

Just some summarizing thoughts:
1) A few, but only a few, suggests LSU act unilaterally and "play at night anyway." This won't happen under the current contract which we have agreed to.
2) The current SEC TV contract is not monolithic. It can be amended. It would be minimal impact revenue wise to accommodate our tradition.
3) CBS/ESPN are not the problem. Their first order is profit, not our traditions. The SEC Office (Slive, Womack, et al) are the problem and perhaps to a lesser degree Alleva if he is not bringing this incessantly (yet respectfully) to their attention.
4) There is no reason to conclude that it is either success or tradition. We can have both.
5) It would be telling to say the least if one of the SEC reporters would quiz Slive on this.
6) So much was made about Updyke and Auburn's (150 yr old) live oaks. It was their tradition at stake. But alonog the Gulf Coast 150 yr old live oaks are a dime a dozen. 70+ yr football traditions are not.
7) In the meantime, my advice would be to make our afternoon games as loud as possible.
8) I for one will not stop complaining, whining, etc as long as our tradition is being compromised by the SEC Office.
9) If Slive doesn't come around, there may be a "nuclear solution."

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