Longhorn Network

I think it would be four 18-team super conferences if that happens, for a total of 72 teams. With the current Power 5 setup, plus Notre Dame, you've already got 65 teams.

In that scenario, you'd have schools like BYU, Air Force, Boise State and the entire AAC scrambling for those last 5 to 7 spots like people climbing onto the last helicopter out of Saigon.

(I suppose you could shitcan teams like Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Oregon State, then add Notre Dame and maybe Houston and BYU and keep it at 64, but I can't see the conference commissioners allowing that to happen).

 

And that, in a nutshell, is the LHN problem; the number of people "in the demo" who would want to tune-in to watch a documentary about a team from 1963 is miniscule.

I wonder if ESPN's apparent ignoring of problems at ut is proof that the LHN is one-and-done; otherwise, I would think Bob Iger or Skipper would have arranged for Strong to get the boot and a headline grabbing guy like Gruden or Saban to be his replacement.

 

It would be better if it were the Foghorn Leghorn Network. I'd watch, I say, boy, I'd watch that network, yessir.

 

The Southwest Conference came apart largely because the TV networks were not interested in a conference which was entirely in Texas (plus Arkansas). There simply are not enough eyeballs for a UT only network to thrive. Even the Teasips will get tired of it after a while.

 

Those ESPN types are about as sharp as a bowlin' ball.

 

If you venture over to a couple of satellite TV message boards, there are tons of (2-3) anecdotes of people who will sit around and watch UT softball coach's shows and swimming meets.

 

In 50 years, this will be an arcane footnote in sports history akin to the Seattle Bowl or the consolation game of the NIT.

 

It's kind of an interesting thing to ponder with the changing cable landscape. When the current deals expire, what will the schools be willing to do in order to keep revenue as steady as possible. Won't be surprised to see more mergers which are directed by the TV networks more than schools. Figure it makes sense for the northern schools in the ACC to join the Big 10, perhaps the ACC and SEC to form some type of alliance and the Pac 12 and Big 12 to team up.