Professor Elam

Monday Dec 10 2012

With declining support from state legislatures, Division One Teams are increasing their bets on elaborate football programs.  And television networks are betting big as well, with cable and HULU and such taking viewers the bet is that live college action will be a big seller. 

We need look no further than our local area to see schools like UTSA and Texas State trying to emulate UT Austin and College Station. Will that work?  UTSA has been fortunate to have a winning team. Texas State not so much. UNT in Denton, well does anyone ever hear about their team?

I am not boing to bet against football fever in the south, but this does look like a bit of a desperate measure. What could go worng?  Well for every winner there is a loser and fans don't buy tickets to losing teams. And a downturn in the economy wold have a harsh effect on the ticket sales. 

For big schools with tradition like UT Austin and College Station this looks like a winner, for th newbies, I am not so sure. Now that College Station has bolted the Big 12 conference and forfeited any chance to play 100 year old rival UT Austin, they have a winning team and  a Heisman Trophy. This would have sold thousands of pay for view tickets in a Thanksgiving Day match up, now no chance for that in years, what a missed opportunity.