Longhorn Network

[layinwood]

I remember about a year ago we had a discussion on here and quite a few guys thought it was crazy that UT could even think they had a chance at having their own network. They're aren't many schools I hate more than UT but I really don't care about them having a their own network but a lot of people have been pretty upset by it.

BUT, now they're talking about carrying high school football games. They've stated that they want to carry an Aledo game. Jonathon Gray is the star RB for Aledo and already verbally committed to Texas. IMO this gives them a very unfair recruiting advantage. It's one thing selling your staff, your school and the potential but it's another getting to sell the fact that you'll put a kid on tv before he ever even signs an official letter with you.

 

[UGA12]

Dont know anything about the network, but this one looks cut and dry to me. If it is indeed the University of Texas' network, then airing High School athletics should not take place period!

 

[layinwood]

UGA, as of right now it's taking place. The NCAA has known it was something UT and ESPN were looking at but haven't said anything about it.

 

[sdf]

TLN is part of the ESPN family of networks. ESPN already shows high school football (and basketball). This gives ESPN another network to show high school sports, and I assume a focus on Texas high school football.

TLN will also air the series Friday Night Lights.

It would have been much better had this been the Big12-2 network instead of the Longhorn network, but I understand why it was done this way....especially considering the tenuous state of the conference

 

[layinwood]

TLN is part of the ESPN family of networks. ESPN already shows high school football (and basketball). This gives ESPN another network to show high school sports, and I assume a focus on Texas high school football.

TLN will also air the series Friday Night Lights.

It would have been much better had this been the Big12-2 network instead of the Longhorn network, but I understand why it was done this way....especially considering the tenuous state of the conference

It's part of the ESPN family of networks but it is indeed THE LONGHORN NETWORK. It promotes UT sports 24/7. It's not running stories on Florida, Ohio State or any other schools.

It will not focus on Texas High School football. Dodds has already stated that they're trying to schedule a game from Arizona that has the QB UT has gotten a commitment from. He stated that he thinks UT fans will want to see the new players while they're in high school. That sounds good and all but right now all that young man has done is said he will sign with UT, he hasn't actually signed there.

 

[layinwood]

Looks like the high school games are being put on hold. OU and A&M started talks to look at moving to the SEC if UT was able to do the high school games because of the unfair advantage.

That was enough to make Bebe put it all on hold until the Big 12 and NCAA could look in to school and conference networks.

 

[jhawksoon]

Expect the NCAA to make a ruling sometime during this season to go into effect starting next season. I can't see them allowing this to take place. Texas was also going to add another college game to their network coverage even though it was negotiated with the Big XII for only one game. Beebe squashed that quickly. Right now Texas is trying to get every advantage they can with their new network. It's going to be interesting to see where the lines are drawn between Texas and the rest of the conference.

 

[sdf]

The Austin paper has a completely different spin than everyone else.

Everyone else says "Texas is trying..." (not backed up by any quotes, mind you. Maybe this is just people's opinions from what they see)

whereas the Austin paper has the ESPN guys trying to pull all the strings. For example:

"The network's vice president of programming, Dave Brown, goofed earlier this summer when he said the Longhorn Network would target high school games featuring unsigned Texas recruits. Without even meaning to do so, he illustrated how big of a recruiting advantage a far-reaching network could provide. For now, the shelving of those high school broadcasts has to be considered a win for any school in direct competition with Texas in recruiting, and that would include teams outside the Big 12, if this thing takes off and makes money nationwide."

http://www.statesman.com/sports/on-longhorn-network-nfl-winners-and-losers-and-1638387.html


Seems like Texas is just along for the ride here, although I'm sure Dodds is talking with them about programming.

 

[UGA12]

The Austin paper has a completely different spin than everyone else.

Everyone else says "Texas is trying..." (not backed up by any quotes, mind you. Maybe this is just people's opinions from what they see)

whereas the Austin paper has the ESPN guys trying to pull all the strings. For example:

"The network's vice president of programming, Dave Brown, goofed earlier this summer when he said the Longhorn Network would target high school games featuring unsigned Texas recruits. Without even meaning to do so, he illustrated how big of a recruiting advantage a far-reaching network could provide. For now, the shelving of those high school broadcasts has to be considered a win for any school in direct competition with Texas in recruiting, and that would include teams outside the Big 12, if this thing takes off and makes money nationwide."

http://www.statesman.com/sports/on-longhorn-network-nfl-winners-and-losers-and-1638387.html


Seems like Texas is just along for the ride here, although I'm sure Dodds is talking with them about programming.

No doubt i am clueless to what is really happening, but regardless of who is doing the talking, it would obviously be wrong and should/would never be allowed to happen.

 

[joefrog91]

TLN already signed an agreement to air a game for Brenham High School. The school district is acting like it's still a go even after the announcement of TLN not being able to air high school games.

Can't wait to see how this all shakes out. I can see A&M and OU acting outraged again before being put back in their place.

 

[Mr. Poon]

The fact that the logistics and parameters of what is allowed to be shown on TLN prior to its conception wasn?t done, highlights the ineptitude of Dan Beebe and the Big 12 conference.

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

The fact that the logistics and parameters of what is allowed to be shown on TLN prior to its conception wasn?t done, highlights the ineptitude of Dan Beebe and the Big 12 conference.

Let it go

 

[sdf]

The fact that the logistics and parameters of what is allowed to be shown on TLN prior to its conception wasn?t done, highlights the ineptitude of Dan Beebe and the Big 12 conference.

huh?

ESPN is trying to find programming for their network. Is that surprising to anyone?

showing high school football on ESPN is nothing new either. They've done it for years. So does Fox Sports. the problems are also obvious if they decide to show specific games that target players with verbal commitments to UTexas.

 

[joefrog91]

huh?

ESPN is trying to find programming for their network. Is that surprising to anyone?

showing high school football on ESPN is nothing new either. They've done it for years. So does Fox Sports. the problems are also obvious if they decide to show specific games that target players with verbal commitments to UTexas.

That's what the issue is. This is UT's channel. They will use it to target recruits. Not that they need the extra help because UT always has plenty of recruits to choose from.

It may not really be an advantage, but it sure looks like an advantage. If this was the Big 12 Network, there wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Old School]

any chance that college football could be an amateur sport again..:shrug:


and tell Pryor to bring my Vette back..:mj07:

 

[layinwood]

Talked to a friend that works in the Tech AD and he said word is they think the Big 12 is dead. Tech has been in talks with the Pac 12/16 or whatever it is about going there. The thought is Tech, OU, OSU will go to the Pac. I guess they feel like Texas getting this TV deal is the first step in them going independent.


If that happens I can't believe that the SEC would let OU go west. I don't think the SEC wants anything to do with OSU and OU won't go anywhere without them.

 

[Cie]

huh?

ESPN is trying to find programming for their network. Is that surprising to anyone?

showing high school football on ESPN is nothing new either. They've done it for years. So does Fox Sports. the problems are also obvious if they decide to show specific games that target players with verbal commitments to UTexas.

:facepalm:

 

[jhawksoon]

As I expected, the NCAA ruled today that there are to be no high school games to be aired on school or conference networks.

 

[Sun Tzu]

The funny thing about all of this is that when the LHN idea started DeLoss Dodds wanted it to be a joint venture with aggy, and they turned it down.

The LHN is just a pretext for aggy to leave. Te HS game thing turned out as expected and that won't change anything - it was never the issue.
They are just tired of being little brother.

As for some other things - Twch has not been talking to the Pac 12. Simply isn't true. In fact, The ONLY way for Tech to ever get there is if Texas goes as well. Stanford and Cal would veto Tech as they see Tech as an academically inferior school. Even last year Tech was only in because Texas insisted on it.

From what I am told independence is and always has been the very last option. I suspect it ends up with Tech, Texas and the Okie schools in PAC 16 with some sort of compromise to allow Texas to keep LHN. Mizzou ends up in Big 10 and the rest have real problems.

That said, I have heard scuttlebutt that ESPn wants a "super conference" of 16 schools or so - think ND,Texas, USC,BYU, and the like to go head to head v SEC.

 

[Mr. Poon]

From what I am told independence is and always has been the very last option. I suspect it ends up with Tech, Texas and the Okie schools in PAC 16 with some sort of compromise to allow Texas to keep LHN. Mizzou ends up in Big 10 and the rest have real problems.

TLN was what kept Texas from going to the Pac10at the 11th hour a year ago when all the schools were shuffling. Not sure what would change to make them reconsider.

If the Big 10 expands again (besides for continually pursuing ND), I think they will go back to their first intentions and look east towards Rutgers and other Big East schools.