MEMO

MEMO

FROM: All Network Sports Television Executives

TO: All Colleges and Universities participating in Bowl Games in 2012 and 2013

SUBJECT: Bowl Games

It has been brought to our attention by our accounting department that many previous bowl games have been boring, uneventful,unattended and  financially not profitable for all concerned. For those and other reasons, we are asking all 68 teams to strive to keep the games as close as possible through the third (03rd) quarter. All network executives would be exceedingly appreciative if all games were tied at the end of the third (03rd) quarter.

The monetary rewards that your school (conference) will receive remains the same regardless of the competitiveness and outcome of the game, but advertisers have complained that viewership has declined greatly, on some occasions, at halftime due to lopsided scores and teams being greatly outplayed by their opponents.

Realistically, the games have no importance, they are, after all, created solely for the benefit of creating "television revenue," and filling dead air time during a previously slow season.

So, please, to appease our advertising family, please keep the games as close as possible. Look at the game as Three Quarters for Advertisers and one quarter for the team, the fans, and the school, and whatever minuscule benefits are derived by emerging victorious over a much lesser opponent. After all, in most cases you are receiving a nice vacation in a highly desirable climate.

In future years we hope to expand the number of games to include every collegiate college program in the country, and by 2015 it is our goal to include high school teams in some selected areas, i.e. Texas and Florida.

Remember, this is "show business," ratings, and audience, save the athletics and heroics  for your regularly scheduled games.

Please take this memo as a "suggestion" and not as a threat in any way, keeping in mind that it is we who determine who goes to many bowl games, and therefore who is part of the multi million dollar payday. 

Wishing you all the best of luck in the "fourth quarter."

An Opinion

James, I look forward to hearing your response.

The Ohio State University: Comments about

I think that Dr. Gee should confine his comments to his world of academia and keep his not and comments away from the Athletic Department. I understand that he goes in to a furious rage at the mention of football coach Tressel's salary, which is more than his. Gee's comments about Boise State were uncalled for and now he is making statements about their opponent tonight on the gridiron.

It is common knowledge that AD Smith, the staff, students of all athletic departments, FREQUENTLY discuss the DO's and DONT 's about what is and what is not allowed by the NCAA. The OSU stand that athletes were not adequately counseled on the subject is a cause for great humor at every university, college, junior college, whatever, in the country.

Many fanatical OSU fans feel that the FIVE should not be allowed to participate in the bowl game, and it is a black mark on the otherwise sweaterfestively clean record of the coach. I personally think it is a travesty that they will be allowed to play tonight. Coaches little "they are all coming back next year" comments mean nothing and perhaps only sooth his guilty conscience. If he has any integrity at all he knows that they should not play tonight, and if he allows them to it will be on his conscious the rest of his life.

The sports talk shows I listened to this morning all agreed that he might best either stay at OSU, or, if he enters the NFL draft, teams are looking at his as a possible tight end, not as a quarterback. I don't know what he could accomplish next year in a shortened season, other than perhaps picking up some more trinkets he can sell, and more tattoos he can get.

I personally think the reputation of OSU is tarnished by this issue. I think some recruits are going to take a long hard look at the program. The President shoots his mouth off, the coach won't stand up for his players, and the AD has no spine. The program is definitely blemished, to say the least. There is an opening for a quarterback for the first five games next year, if you like the offense, and all the other stuff going on.

The State, the University, the Athletic Department, the Big Ten, the Athletic Direcctor and The Coach would command some respect, and show that they had integrity, if the five WERE NOT allowed to play in the Bowl Game. I think they could still win the game, and a great deal of respect from sports fans everywhere.

To The NCAA

An email I sent to the NCAA...................

As a sports fan for many years, I think your decision to allow the OSU players to play in the bowl game has done harm to the NCAA, OSU and sports in general. You claim that you derive no money from the bowl games, but I find that a bit of a stretch. I am inclined to think your decision was guided by the TV networks involved.

I have been on a number of OSU sites, and as avid as their fans are, they too seem to feel your decision was wrong.

I, like many of them, WILL NOT WATCH THE BOWL GAME. I intend to convey this message to the networks and the advertisers as well.

YOUR DECISION TO ALLOW THEM TO PLAY WAS COMPLETELY WRONG.

I have also heard a rumor that Coach Tressel was not going to let them play, but was advised by the AD, the President of the University and the NCAA THAT THEY WOULD PLAY.

The NCAA has raised the bar on corruption, congratulations.