FSU to Big 12? School has inflated idea of self-worth
Jimbo Fisher and Florida State might think brand is worth more than it really is. (AP photo)
There is only one thing that throws me about this Florida State-to-the-Big-12 rumor that has been growing and mutating over the past several days: Do school officials consider themselves some kind of super power? Because I believe time machines are not applicable here.
In the last six years, Florida State has played in the Emerald Bowl, the Music City Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl, the Gator Bowl, the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl again.
They have played in one BCS bowl (Orange) in the last eight seasons (and lost). They haven’t won any BCS bowl game since the national title 12 years ago.
They haven’t won the ACC since 2005. They have played in only one ACC championship game in the last six seasons.
Before a school starts making financial demands and threatening to change conferences, shouldn’t it at least have to win the ACC Atlantic Division more frequently than Boston College?
This, of course, is all about money. The problem is that Florida State is living in its super power past. It’s frustrated that the ACC is not the SEC. Every conference is frustrated that it’s not the SEC. But, sorry, when a conference wins six straight national championships, the result is not going to be a level playing field, least of all when it comes to television revenue.
The ACC and ESPN recently announced a 15-year, $3.6 billion contract. That averages out to $17.1 million per school per year, which certainly seems good. But the fact that the deal is back-loaded — it will take nine years before schools see a $17.1 million take – has some members grumbling, particularly Florida State, whose athletic department is facing a $2.4 million shortfall.
Andy Haggard, an FSU trustee, mouthed off to Warchant.com. He complained that the ACC surrendered its third-their television rights to ESPN for football but not basketball, seeming evidence that the conference was favoring the North Carolina-based schools for basketball reasons.
There was a problem with that statement: It wasn’t true. The school had to issue an apology Saturday night. This goes back to my theory that many members of a school’s Board of Trustees are little more than more than big-money boosters who get to go to meetings and, it follows, talk too much.
Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher also said, “…I think you always have to look out there to see what’s best for Florida State. If that [jumping to the Big 12] is what’s best for Florida State, then that’s what we need to do.”
This from a coach who last season finished behind Clemson and Wake Forest. I’m not sure what Fisher believes the Florida State brand is worth right now, but I doubt the school can do better than what it has right now. Leverage comes with winning something.
By Jeff Schultz
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454 comments Add your comment
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
6:31 pm
What preferential treatment would FSU expect to get in the Big 12? Being on a 3rd-tier broadcast of a UT game in Texas only?
NF311
May 14th, 2012
6:38 pm
UGA hasn’t won a title in over 30 years. FSU has won 2 in that time. UGA hasn’t even played for one recently. Inflated sense of worth certainly applies to those ‘necks more than FSU
Tod
May 14th, 2012
6:42 pm
Beast your argument for dropping UM has a few valid points BUT who were your 1st two games last year, the year before, this year? BTW the Orange Bowl has been torn down. Are you playing for a NC or wins over teams that don’t stand a chance. Strength of schedule for the BCS was given less weight when certain AD’s and coaches objected. … The regular season for all ranked teams needs to be better. I am tired of being unable to watch games because TV refuses to broadcast them and rightfully so.
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
6:43 pm
DeLoss Dodds says to Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman: “They’re a long ways away,” Dodds told me. In distance or prospects of joining the Big 12, I asked. “Both,” he said. “There’s no traction” on this story, Dodds said. “There’ve been no conversations between Florida State and the Big 12.”
As we know by now, however, ADs can also say stupid stuff, disagreeing with their bosses. Case in point, the FSU AD on this topic.
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
6:44 pm
Now there is an idea: FSU and the University of Georgia swap conferences.
THE MAN
May 14th, 2012
6:46 pm
FSU = UGA
The most delusional fans in college football and maybe in all of the sporting world. At least FSU has won a title in the last 20 years. It has been over 30 for UGA and they will be lucky to win one in the next 30 years. Your teams aren’t that good. Get over yourselves
Tech Engineer
May 14th, 2012
6:48 pm
Bye, Bye FSU. The ACC can now upgrade its standing in the academic world. I was always disappointed that FSU hurt the ACC’s academic reputation. They have been good to improve the won loss records of other ACC schools. Now the ACC can add a school that is not SEC quality in academics like FSU. I would like to see the military academies join the ACC. Tech playing at West Point would be a thrill.
Vulture
May 14th, 2012
6:50 pm
Living in the past is just that.
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
6:51 pm
Beast – I may be misreading something. Are you being accused of being a Georgia fan?
Beast from the East
May 14th, 2012
6:55 pm
Delbert,
If you’re on here enough, you get accused of just about anything and everything.
woof
May 14th, 2012
6:55 pm
UGA beats FSWho when they play….bite on them apples
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
6:57 pm
Beast – I think he’s referring to me. Must be a new guy.
What ESPN/ACC deal could mean for Tech | A.C.C. College Football
May 14th, 2012
7:08 pm
[...] couple thoughts on the ACC’s new deal with ESPN, which has fed the FSU-to-the-Big 12 talk (as deftly blogged by Jeff [...]
Nole-Energy
May 14th, 2012
7:13 pm
This blog is a joke right? Your final line “Leverage comes with winning something.” says (or doesn’t say) it all.
You have the gonads to call yourself a sports blogger? Do you know anything about what’s been happening in college football the past few years?
Somehow, despite not winning crap, teams like aTm and Mizou “leveraged” their way into better deals with a far flung conference. So did Colorado and Nebraska. Pitt Syracuse ring a bell? When was the last time they were relevant??
Your logic is so uninformed and misplaced, it’s really hard to know where to start. Do you know anything about TV ratings and how they drive $$$? Do you know where FSU stands in those ratings? A lot of people still tune in to our games, despite the recent downturn. Notre Dame, Nebraska, Michigan can all say the same.
We are still a national brand and if we can make more money for our school because of it, we damn sure better do it. That’s all the logic that’s needed.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
7:16 pm
Well said Energy!
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
7:18 pm
The “Free Shoes” branding will last a long time, that’s for sure.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
7:21 pm
Please Delbert if you want to go in the gutter was it 106 or 110 violations by Charley Pell a coach they hired to cheat. Our coaches knew nothing about the shoes. The college football WORLD knew why Pell got hired. Shall we move onto basketball violations???
Beast from the East
May 14th, 2012
7:21 pm
Nole-Energy,
IF FSU can get a better deal elsewhere, then they should absolutely do it. But keep in mind that your administration already made a bad move by joining the ACC instead of the SEC 20 years ago. I would think a move to a conference that was almost non-existent 8 months ago needs to be researched a little more before all of you jump ship. The grass is NOT always greener.
Parade of Knuckleheads
May 14th, 2012
7:23 pm
Jimbo needa a ‘ coach in waiting ‘
breathing down his neck.
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
7:26 pm
Tod – I’m no fan of Charley Pell, that’s for sure. I also think Bobby Bowden stayed much too long, hurting the program. Year before last, I was watching a Florida State game, and the ‘Noles kicked a field goal in the 2nd quarter. Bowden turned to the coach next to him and clearly said, “What’s his name?”
cupcakes and more cupcakes
May 14th, 2012
7:31 pm
FSU opens the season with two powerhouse opponents this year,
Murray State and Savannah State.
Anybody need tickets?
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
7:36 pm
Murray is on the Heisman Watch for 2012. I didn’t know they had renamed the university after him, though.
Vulture
May 14th, 2012
7:37 pm
Nole-Energy
Do you know where FSU stands in those ratings?
No, do you?
George Stein
May 14th, 2012
7:38 pm
Far too rational, Beast.
Beast from the East
May 14th, 2012
7:40 pm
Sorry, George. I forget my role from time to time.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
7:41 pm
Sorry Delbert but the Spurrier created Free Shoes carp bothers me. Under Bowden the Noles never had NCAA violations the coaches actually knew about. While Bowden may have stayed to long he turned a 2nd rate stadium and campus into one to be envied by many others. Just another tidbit only 2 coaches had winning records against Spurrier while while he was at UF guess which 2…….. Cupcakes who did FSU play in the 2nd game last year? Besides Savannah State was a replacement for a cancellation.
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
7:47 pm
Look, DeLoss Dodds is dead set against expansion beyond 10, and Texas will get their way, as usual. With the playoffs coming (probably for 2013), Dodds does not want a conference championship game. Unless Mack Brown’s boys continue their turkey-like performance on the field, that means beat Oklahoma, and they are in the playoff.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
7:49 pm
Do we really want to go into the 1st 2 games UF schedules ok here goes oh never mind this is just a dumb pissing match. They did play Miami in 2010 1st game to bad they were from Ohio smh
Saban Never Sleeps
May 14th, 2012
7:51 pm
Don’t buy cable. If you buy cable your son will see Bama win the NC and dominate the SEC.. If Bama dominates the SEC then other SEC teams will use TV money to recruit harder and improve faciliies.. If other SEC teams improve facilities and recruit harder then ACC teams will suffer..Your son will now see Jumbo Fisher and FSU admiinstration whine like losers. Dont be a loser.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
7:52 pm
UF 2009 Charleston Southern and Troy
2010 Miami (OH) and USF
2011 Fla Atlantic and UAB
Thats 3 straight years of no bodies
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
7:53 pm
Tod – No denying the facts. Bowden built that program from virtually nothing. A good quarterback can bring them back to life, and the ‘Noles frankly have not had that since Weinke.
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
7:58 pm
I have little doubt that Alabama will win the SEC, which really means winning the West, unless locusts, frogs and other apocalyptic signs appear before the game in the Georgia Dome. The likely game against the USC Trojans (always have to clarify which ones here in the south) might be interesting.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
8:00 pm
Oh and I almost forgot UF plays Louisianna Rajun Cajuns and and Jacksonville State with the 10th and 11th games this year. They shouldn’t be allowed in a bowl game for playing 4 HS teams in the same season. I guess they are hoping to get in some practice before playing FSU 12th. Someone please show me a Nationally known team that plays an out of conference schedule that weak.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
8:02 pm
Delbert I liked Weinke but he messed up our rotation. We always had QB’s before him sit 2 years and play 2 years. Weinkes 4 years hurt recruiting at the position.
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
8:06 pm
Tod – With Greg Reid and the other talent on defense, stopping people should not be a real problem. The offense has to get something done.
KG
May 14th, 2012
8:06 pm
Jeffy – where do I start? First off, speaking of inflated sense of worth, you haven’t done anything/wrote anything since the year of 2000, but people still read your material. You need to do more research before you open your can/break out the typewriter. Second, FSU is one of the most viewed teams on TV($$$) – year after year. As a matter of fact, go check the Wall Street Journal for that – it is well documented. Third, FSU is consistently in the top 5 for the Sears Directors Cup which recognizes on-field achievement in both men and womens sports. Finally, the 20 years marriage with the ACC appears to be over. When we joined 20 years ago, we helped them with their football image and they helped us with our academic/basketball image. So much so that FSU won the ACC basketball championship here in Atlanta a few months ago. The issue now is that it has become painfully obvious that we are what we are – a football school. We are not known for basketball like Duke or North Carolina nor are we known for our academic prowess like UVA or Wake Forest. We have a national brand known for football and football only. We are simply trying to align ourselves with similar institutions that think like us and share the same values.
230gr Full Metal Jacket
May 14th, 2012
8:07 pm
Who cares if FSU leaves the ACC??? They bring NOTHING to the table and have had ZERO positive impact on the conference since they joined. They say it’s not a “football conference”? Newsflash semenholes: The level of football has not changed since before you joined and it won’t be diminished by your departure. You have been for over a decade, and still are, irrelevant athletically — and you are an absolute embarassment to the ACC academically. Actually, we should all encourage FSU to take their ball and move on to whatever conference will have them — then fill the position with someone who actually has something to offer to the conference other than bubble-headed bleach blonde coeds!!! Hey FSU: Don’t let the doorknob hit ya where the good lord split ya!!!!!!!!
George Stein
May 14th, 2012
8:07 pm
Chris Rix didn’t help, either, Tod.
Beast from the East
May 14th, 2012
8:09 pm
Tod,
Every major program plays patsies. Even your beloved Semis. Heck they get to do within the conference. Duke and BC ring a bell? Honestly, I don’t like the steady diet of patsies for non-conference games, but I am capable of understanding the reasoning. Maybe if the administration at FSU understood it, they wouldn’t be facing a $2.4 million deficit.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
8:12 pm
George Rix had talent he just was off in his decision making threw bullets when he should put some air under it and visa versa. EJ Manuel is good but we had 4 freshman and 1 Jr on the O line after playing OU because of injuries in that game, Give EJ time he is a very big strong QB I think has a shot in the NFL because he is a legit threat to run or throw. Hopefully the O line stays healthy the defense I have no concerns about.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
8:15 pm
Does Vandy, Ole Miss ring a bell?
Delbert D.
May 14th, 2012
8:16 pm
KG – Give it all up to join Texas and Oklahoma? Not a good move. Didn’t Florida State make the NCAA tournament in all qualifying sports last season? Throw that away to join UT and Oklahoma, who very likely would have been accepted into the PAC-14 last year if it weren’t for the baggage of Oklahoma State. Texas Tech was UT’s albatross.
George Stein
May 14th, 2012
8:16 pm
The issue with non-conference games is that there isn’t really any incentive to play them anymore. The voters overvalue the undefeated season above everything else. Unless or until they actually analyze the substance of a team’s schedule, the non-conference games will continue to degenerate.
Rix was also victimized by the Jeff Bowden era, Tod, and his penchant for parking in handicapped spots (which, I suppose, one could argue he was).
Tdawg
May 14th, 2012
8:16 pm
1980’s baby! Liar. Georgia fan’s aren’t gloating about anything. We aren’t the ones on here crying about jumping to some other conference because our football program hasn’t been relevant in over 10 years and the rest of the ACC won’t kiss your arse anymore.
Having said that, the Big 12. Are you kidding me? Why not seek membership in the SEC? Preferably in the SEC East. Would love to add at least 1 more team to each division, 2 would be even better.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
8:17 pm
I don’t know why BC keeps getting mentioned as a patsy. Isn’t Matt Ryan starting for the Falcolns and has been since he was a rookie. Who was the last UF Qb to start the NFL as a rookie?
KG
May 14th, 2012
8:18 pm
Full Metal Jacket – you and Jeffy must be cut from the same idiotic cloth. FSU has won two national championships in football and a few in other sports since joining the ACC. You say they bring nothing but I say they bring everything. Everything that is relevant that is. Not only did we beat Notre Dame this year in a sold out bowl game, we also won the ACC Championship in basketball. And oh yeah btw – we have the #1 baseball team in the country. Some of you amaze me with the bull-ish that you come with, without doing research.
Bob
May 14th, 2012
8:20 pm
Beast, typical Gator spewing the “scheduling” argument. Truth be told, UF couldn’t stand losing to the Canes on an annual basis so they dropped them like a bunch of sissies. Funny how Bama and others in the SEC find time to play away games against big out of conference teams, but UF hasn’t left the state since 1991 to play an out of conference game (a Syracuse stomping of the Gators, by the way).
George Stein
May 14th, 2012
8:21 pm
FSU is a good program, KG. I hope y’all don’t leave. However, if y’all get a better deal from the B12, no one could begrudge y’all for leaving. I just don’t think the B12 is all some think it is.
Tod
May 14th, 2012
8:21 pm
George I could understand 2 out of conference patsies but 4? Mark my words playing 2 that late in the season and I see them dropping in the polls even after wins because someone else will be playing a real team and win and the voters are going to look at the Rajun Cajuns and J state and go wtf???
George Stein
May 14th, 2012
8:22 pm
Don’t have a dog in this fight, Bob, but Florida plays y’all every year. Bama plays a max of one difficult non-conference game, same as the Gators.