TEXAS NETWORK a BUST ?

People are not happy in the Big 12:
A big challenge for the LHN (TV) is that it serves a niche market, said Adam Swanson, a cable television industry analyst with SNL Kagan. While Texas is a big name with a famous logo and tens of thousands of alumni from coast to coast, it's still just one school.
Major cable and satellite providers can look at regional or national networks such as the Big Ten Network, now called BTN, or the soon-to-launch Pac-12 Network and see more programming punch, Swanson said. Time Warner, Comcast, Cox and Bright House all have deals to carry the Pac-12 Network. Those carriers are in about 40 million homes.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/02/14/texas-asking-fans-for-patience-with-network/

Happy Valentine - day PAC 12 $$$$$

Bryan Fischer: I think the athletic directors at Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, Washington and Washington State should be sending a Valentine to Larry Scott this year. The Pac-12 commissioner unveiled his Pac-12 Network studios just yesterday, and that's appropriate considering the media deals he negotiated were the biggest reason those schools were able to off the sweetheart deals that landed their new coaches. Do you think the Bruins or Huskies could have afforded the assistant salaries before that money started flowing?
Or that Wazzu was able to land a coach like Mike Leach? I don't think they do.
 Source: http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/24156338/34839389

Meanwhile, the new North end zone project at AZ is ticking. They stopped operations yesterday due to a cloud burst. Two cranes are now up and ready to start building. All have to wait while the underground work is finished.

PAC 12 Network on schedule

The conference held the groundbreaking for the Pac-12 networks in downtown San Francisco on Monday, about six months before it will hit the air with a national cable television network, six regional networks and a digital network.


"It's truly a seminal moment for the conference," Commissioner Larry Scott said at a ceremony featuring former great athletes from the conference, as well as San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. "It's an exciting time for college sports in general and there's no more exciting place to be than the Pac-12. We've got a great dynamic and bold vision for the future of college sports and the future of our conference."


This network is a major part of that. After reaching a 12-year contract worth about $3 billion last May with Fox and ESPN, Scott announced plans to launch a new conference-owned network to supplement coverage and create more exposure for Pac-12 athletes. 
Source: Online News 

AZ Football in 2012?

Where will games be held in the 2012/2013 season? The end zone project cannot be completed by start of the football season. http://www.pdc.arizona.edu/webcam/NorthEndZone.aspx
The field from the 20 yard line to the end zone is covered in 10 feet of dirt.
I see no way this can be completed by kick off.

UA Football field damaged

http://www.pdc.arizona.edu/webcam/NorthEndZone.aspx?hq_e=el&hq_m=245711&hq_l=9&hq_v=c50c165e68
I can't hold it in any longer. I watch the live cam everyday for the progress at UA north end zone improvement project. A couple of days ago, two big bulldozers (with buckets) parked on the end zone overnight. Their 'tracks' ripped up the turf.  I'm still in shock.

Arizona Shocker

TUCSON, Ariz.--Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez completed his football coaching staff today with the appointment of Jeff Casteel to defensive coordinator, David Lockwood as a defensive backs coach, Bill Kirelawich as defensive line coach and Spencer Leftwich as tight ends coach. Source ArizonaWildcats.com

I told you so. Naa na na

What has not come out yet is the fact that Jeff is being paid $400,000. That's what I said. That is actually less than he made at WVU. He made $400,000 a year there plus $25,000 for each year he stayed there.

Jeff, or Rich I should say, raided the assistant coaches from WVU too.

Why in the hell would those coaches leave WVU ? Here is the real answer. None of them got along with the head coach at WVU. OTOH, they all love Rich Rodriguez. 

That is the truth. It may leak out in a few weeks.

Jeff Casteel to AZ

You read it here first. Jeff Casteel is on the way to Arizona to be the Defensive Coordinator or Defensive Coach, put it any way you like. He will be a little richer working for Rich Rodriguez. The head coach reportedly gave up part of his salary to snag Casteel. Jeff made $400,000 at WV. Rumor is that he will make $750,000 at Arizona.

His arrival is barely in time for the recruiting season that will get rocking next Friday. He is one of the TOP defensive coaches in America. He will run a 3-3-5 defense. Rich likes the 3-3-5 scheme. Jeff will recruit speed rather than muscle for his defensive teams.

Arizona will now have a foot in every region for recruiting including the East Coast, West Coast, the Rocky Mountains, Texas, Arizona, everywhere.

Big time football is coming to Arizona. Defensive recruits will find Arizona an attractive school. The stadium is being upgraded as I write this. The 72 million dollar end zone improvement and new player facility can be seen on this live cam:

http://www.pdc.arizona.edu/webcam/NorthEndZone.aspx

Zona is on the move in football.

Bear Down