The English Football League system which offers a hierarchy of leagues may offer an insight into the future of DI sports. As we discussed yesterday in Under Armour Deal Signals either The Beginning of the End, the gap between the Power Five conferences and the rest of DI is getting bigger. If this trend continues, at some point non-Power Five schools will be unable to compete. Continue reading Could English Soccer Structure Fix NCAA Problems?
Category Archives: Women’s Sports
UCLA Under Armour Deal Signals Either the Beginning or the End
The big money, mostly in TV rights deals and clothing deals, continues to pour into the Power Five conferences. The latest ‘deal’ was struck by the Pac 12’s UCLA and Under Armour when they agreed to a 15-year contract worth $280 million dollars. This comes on the heels of a recently struck B1G deal where Fox will pay as much as $250 million per year for the Big 10 television rights: approximately 25 football games and 50 basketball games per year. That is for half the Big 10 conferences games – they likely can nearly double that revenue with ESPN or if another network buys the remaining inventory of games. Continue reading UCLA Under Armour Deal Signals Either the Beginning or the End
Blood Sucking at Transylvania
Photo: Proposed Pioneer mascots – Boone the wolf and Cassius the horse
A blood-curdling mascot controversy is raging at Transylvania. Not Transylvania, Romania – but Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. And this confusing story includes pioneers, a wolf, a horse and even Boone – but not our Denver Boone. Continue reading Blood Sucking at Transylvania
Top 5 Questions and Guesses for 2016-2017
So, what are the biggest questions facing University of Denver athletics over the next year? After such a successful run in 2015-2016, can the Pioneers make the moves necessary to keep the best non-football school in the land advancing forward? Continue reading Top 5 Questions and Guesses for 2016-2017
One Day for DU
Today is a 1-day fundraising effort at DU called One Day for DU. This is one of the DU’s first efforts at crowd funding. The good news is that you can specifically direct your contribution to an area of interest or make a general donation. The University has set a goal of 1,000 contributors for today. Continue reading One Day for DU
No Regrets After Historic Year
A cold, steady drizzle descended on the city of Denver following DU’s 10-9 loss to Towson. Much like the DU hockey team in Tampa, a two-goal deficit was just too much to overcome. The sticks that were flying into the air were not ours – again. The gloom engulfed Pioneer fans and the weather followed.
But really, is there anything to be feel bad about? Continue reading No Regrets After Historic Year
Denver Aces Court Case
According to sources with Denver Public Schools, the University of Denver is about to solve a campus space issue, put the men’s and women’s tennis programs on year-round footing, and work with the community in a joint venture which aligns perfectly to Chancellor Chopp’s strategic vision – joining the University and the Denver community closer together in perfect alignment with the DU’s Strategic Impact 2025 plan. Continue reading Denver Aces Court Case
Next Man, or Woman, Up
Photo: Veteran Associate Head Coach Matt Brown directs DU’s prolific offense. Youthful Assistant Coach David Carle contributed mightily to DU’s appearance in this year’s Frozen Four in Tampa.
Credit DU’s athletic success to Pegg-Bradley Doppes and the DU athletics administration, especially when it comes to hiring and developing coaches.
A host of examples come to mind. Continue reading Next Man, or Woman, Up
Will the Fox Deal Hound Denver?
Just when it seemed that TV money was drying up with ESPN’s parent company, Disney, pulling back on college sports television right fees, newcomer Fox Sports has jumped into the television rights business with the Big 10. According to CBS Sports, the new broadcast rights fees between Fox Sports and the B1G is worth $250 million to the conference schools for half of their television rights over a 6-year contract. The Big Ten’s reported new deal with Fox would go through the 2022-23 season. It also includes more of the conference’s basketball and football games on Fox, Fox Sports 1 and FS2. Continue reading Will the Fox Deal Hound Denver?
West Coast Conference Path a Minefield
While there is general agreement that the West Coast Conference is the best long-term fit for DU, the conference is currently facing its own issues.
The conference is a basketball-focused conference with three tiers – Gonzaga is in the first tier and their fans are frustrated with the WCC low low-level competition in the bottom tier, poor fan support and want to leave the conference if they can find a suitable conference fit. The Mountain West is their preferred option. Continue reading West Coast Conference Path a Minefield