PAC needs the state of Texas (UH) BAD!

[P5_OR_Bust]

@UHFan79

Let me try to respond to some of the comments. First of all, those are valid numbers I posted but I’ve long since lost the references. And I have no desire to try to track them down. I have other lists that are pretty consistent.

What they show is UH is a strong program for pulling in viewers. Just like any other program numbers decline and rise with the team’s record. That goes for UT too. Before we’re too harsh about the last 2 years consider what UH has been through with Herman walking away like he did and the aftermath. Applewhite brought little to the table to turn things around and attendance and viewership reflected it.

I don’t know many programs that could continually take the body blows we’ve taken and still be in business. Don’t just skip over that. Let it sink in. Then ask yourself how does our future look. Because that’s what networks ask.

UH is a proven product. Our motto ought to be “Just add water” because as the basketball program has shown, with the right attention our programs blossom. Hell, they explode. And that’s what UT knows and fears.

One of the mantras spouted by many in the Big 12 is Houston doesn’t bring or add anything of value. At the very least that is an ignorant comment. The DATA says otherwise. At the worst it’s delusional. Just a denial of reality. And the conference will pay a price for it. Advertisers are locked into contracts but they know when they are being screwed. As for that last expansion fiasco no doubt ESPN and Fox each had a voice in the outcome. But don’t kid yourselves. The near hysteria from OU played a role as well. The networks don’t want to take steps that undermine their product and OU made their fears loud and clear.

And those fears were mostly hysterical with a dash of reality. From the beginning of time OU’s program has been built around recruiting Texas players. Yet when UH was in a major conference neither OU nor UT were negatively impacted by UH or our recruiting. They got their players and we got ours. It’s all smoke.

UT seems to be on the rebound. That’s good for the Big 12. But the larger picture is UT and OU are going to take turns winning the conference championship. As I noted elsewhere that means the other 8 teams will annually be playing for 3rd place. The viewership of those teams, especially in the No. 8 media market in the nation is getting smaller every year. It won’t be long before advertisers pull the plug. ESPN and Fox are not oblivious to this. When viewership of a game isn’t enough to pay for the cost of production it isn’t ESPN who will have their hair on fire. Ultimately it’s the advertisers who foot the bill - not ESPN or Fox.

Bottom line in spite of all the crap UH and it’s fan base have had to suffer through when the smoke clears we’re still here, reloading and getting ready for another season. ESPN knows this. So does Fox.

Historical college football ratings are available at College football TV ratings 2023 - Sports Media Watch. I don’t know what data you are referring to, but for the past 2 seasons UHs tv ratings have been abysmal! They were darn good for 2016 for sure. I couldn’t find the Houston market numbers for 2018, but for the 2017 season, in the top 20 highest rated football games in Houston, UH had just 1! That’s the reality! And if you are going to point to the good, you also have to accept the bad.

[UHFan79 (Mike)]

Well thanks for that dose of reality. Good grief, I acknowledged the points you make in the very comment you copied. You might want to actually read it. I’m not here to argue. You brought nothing new to the table. But thanks for sharing.

[VanCOOG (VancouverCOOG)]

You can blame opie for the decline in TV ratings over the last 2 years; as simple as that imo.

[OldtimeCoog]

@Gadfly

An unspoken rule in realignment for any conference with a network is that you need to deliver your state if you want to be considered a viable candidate. And UH, I’m sorry to say, doesn’t have a huge following outside of the greater Houston area.

population of Oklahoma 3.9 mil, Kansas 2.9 mil, Iowa 3.0 mil. Population of Houston MSA is 6.9 mil.

[genxcoog]

@Gadfly

outside of the greater Houston area.

The data in question is literally about the Houston market (no one said it was national data). Please read. I believe the data was from David Barron at the Chonicle.

[ddkately (DERRICK KATELY)]

I dont care what the numbers show. I dont watch Texas or the Big12, a bunch of tesms from small cities. It is Houston and no other school. Btw, I was surprised by the number of robberies that UT football players commited when I lived in central texas, what is the stats and ratings on that!!! Thought so, I take our players over yours…

[Gadfly]

You overlooked the part where I mentioned “network”. The Big 12 doesn’t have one.

[Gadfly]

But it doesn’t explicitly state what the geographic scope is. Which is another reason I question it’s numbers.

And on a side note, if you read the title of this thread, it says the PAC needs Texas. There’s more to Texas than just Houston.

[TucsonCoog (Robert Swearengin)]

So far 148 posts about something which is not going to happen.

In PAC 12 country there is NEVER a story about the need for the conference to expand.

[Ron1102 (Big 12 MBB Champs)]

@TucsonCoog

In PAC 12 country there is NEVER a story about the need for the conference to expand.

I don’t think any P5 conference is talking about expansion. They are not going to start talking about it until 2021. Only G5 schools talk about P5 expansion since it is their desire.

[UHFan79 (Mike)]

BOOM. It was. I had pestered him for data and this was what he came up with. Challenges of aging

[UHFan79 (Mike)]

Robert you are right! Actually my input applies to the merits of any conference wanting to expand and seeing the merits of adding Houston and UH. The issue right now is to get our fan base to understand and appreciate what this school and this city has to offer. I know it seemed to get more narrow but that’s my big picture. So it applies to the Big 12, the SEC, the ACC and even the PAC 12.

UH and it’s leaders and fans can not afford to go into the next round of whatever on a hope and a prayer. We have to have a strong sense of identity and purpose. That’s where fan support comes from.

[SACoog]

I agree with UHFan79. And just imagine what our following would be if we were playing P5 schools as opposed to UConn, ECU, Tulane, etc. Hopefully the networks and/or some other conference wanting to expand knows that and will take action sooner rather than later.

[Bear1132017]

I’m with you SA but there are those on this board that consider UConn, ECU, Tulane, etc. to be exciting, worthy opponents.
Not me.

[UHFan79 (Mike)]

And really, not many and certainly almost none who followed this team in all sports during SWC days.

[ddkately (DERRICK KATELY)]

@Gadfly

There’s more to Texas than just Houston

Houston is Texas…outside of Houston, you are in no mans land!

[aldineblue (Monte P Gilliam)]

.B1G is already planning to break 14 is max thing that in 2023…Their commish has plans for 16, and also 18…NOTHING is going to keep them from expanding when time comes…And when it happens, other conferences like ACC or PAC will likely react by also doing something…if they dont, we will be a part of a rebuilt Big 12, because OU and whorn are G O N E…there is a REASON they both refuse to extend the GOR…

[OldtimeCoog]

@aldineblue

if they dont, we will be a part of a rebuilt Big 12, because OU and whorn are G O N E…there is a REASON they both refuse to extend the GOR…

If UT and OU leave the B12 then it would not be worth joining. The American could add TT, OSU, TCU, and Iowa State.

[UHFan79 (Mike)]

Here’s the deal. You can question until Hell freezes over. We can tolerate that. But I’m telling you the numbers are for the Houston media market in 2016. Questions? Ask David Barron.

[UHFan79 (Mike)]

Again, we don’t need to get hung up on the Big12. They probably won’t exist in 5 years. What we need to do is work on our fan base and win, win, win. Pretty simple. The key to that is having coaches that don’t cut and run. We need stability so we aren’t constantly starting over. And for the first time I think we have coaches who want to stay and build.

Indeed, in one of the great sports ironies it could be the AAC that is picking up teams. They better come with heads bowed.