Post by Whup Em All on Nov 11, 2022 12:47:31 GMT -6
For those rare few of you who don't follow the General Discussion or Football forums... a quick recap: The new CUSA media deal, which will take effect next season, our first year in the league, will run for five years and pay member schools a decent amount of cash (not huge, but way better than we ever saw in FCS) with games on CBSSN or ESPN networks.
The wrinkle in the deal is that during the month of October, in order to insure our games are shown on linear networks (very loosely defined as networks available on regular cable/satellite or broadcast TV, as opposed to streaming-only) CUSA agreed to move its entire October slate of conference games to MIDWEEK. Most will be on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with a handful of games on Thursday and Friday nights.
This is NOT a discussion of the Saturdays vs midweek games or a comparison of the broadcast revenues to other FBS conferences or how college football has sold its soul to the devil or anything of that sort. If you want to debate that, please join one of the existing threads (or create your own) in the other appropriate forums. This is the Music and Performance forum, so we're going to limit it to HOW THIS DEAL IMPACTS THE SOUTHERNERS. (It's even in the name!)
First off, I don't believe there's been any concessions made as part of the broadcast deal to get halftime shows televised. Neither of these two networks is known for their love of the marching activity, so my guess is, they'll cut away during halftime to a desk back at the network, where they'll update folks on Aaron Judge's latest quest for the homerun crown, and preview the weekend's upcoming SEC and BIG 10 games. So don't count on the broadcast itself for any kind of recruiting boost for the band.
So that leaves the root question: how will the October midweek schedule -- impact the band? Are there any negatives?
Obviously, a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday game would muck up the practice schedule somewhat, but only one day per week. So the impact here would be minimal.
Band Day would be unaffected, since it normally occurs in September or (rarely) late August. Similarly, the Southerners Reunion would be unaffected, since it always falls in November.
Homecoming is a question mark for everyone. Will Jax State hold its Homecoming on a weeknight, or will it be moved crazy early or crazy late in the schedule to avoid October? Either way, this is a definite negative, but for Southerners specifically, it's not really that big a deal. Other than the Homecoming parade, and adjustments to the pregame and halftime routines to accommodate Homecoming presentations and activities, Homecoming is basically just another game for the band. Another minimal impact for the band, even though it's a major impact for the University as a whole.
The ability of prospective students from out of town to visit JSU (on their own) is hindered a bit, but Preview/Family days have often been held concurrently with Band Day during September, and I don't see any reason why they can't do that again when/if necessary. Some seasons, JSU could even move the preview days to early November. Again, I don't see this impacting Southerners much at all.
Are there any negatives I haven't thought about, especially ones which could actually do harm to the band? I just can't think of any.
Now the fun part-- the positives. We'll start with the biggest one of all:
October is the peak of High School Marching Band Competition season. This is when all the big contests are traditionally held:
Note: Both Albertville's NE Alabama Marching Invitational and Gadsden's Mid-South are usually the last Saturday in September, and Old South in Newnan, Ga., is usually the first weekend in November, so these contests are unaffected by the CUSA October schedule. Same with BOA Grand Nationals, which is always in November.
So what can we glean from this list? For starters, notice Southerners had to miss both Golden River and Peach State in 2022 due to football conflicts. This will not happen for the next five years, guaranteed.
Additionally, both JSU's Contest of Champions and the JSU BOA Regional have had to schedule around home (and certain away) football games. These contests can now be firmly established on a consistent October weekend, since football games are no longer an issue.
Many times, Southerners have had to play an early football game only to rush to load the buses and head to a local exhibition. It can be exhausting. Those days are over for the next five years, at least, for October exhibitions.
Some of the contests we've traditionally played are just not feasible, since we're having to work around JSU football. You can do two exhibitions in one day (Southerners did Albertville and Gadsden this year) but it's not possible to do this on a game day. With games off the table during October, the band office will have far more flexibility in scheduling. Imagine playing mid-day at Rome then traveling to play the post-contest exhibition at Warner Robins. (It's just under 4 hours between the two.) It's not something you'd want to do EVERY weekend, obviously, but the fact it's now on the table is huge.
Funding for travel would have to increase, probably. The band will almost certainly travel to away games at Kennesaw and MTSU. Possibly to WKU, plus any regional P5 guarantee games on the schedule. So the question would be, how many exhibitions could the Southerners afford to travel to each October? Maybe Warner Robins isn't feasible. But another exhibition in north Georgia or metro Atlanta might be, especially if you're able to knock out two different exhibitions on the same day.
Your thoughts?
The wrinkle in the deal is that during the month of October, in order to insure our games are shown on linear networks (very loosely defined as networks available on regular cable/satellite or broadcast TV, as opposed to streaming-only) CUSA agreed to move its entire October slate of conference games to MIDWEEK. Most will be on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with a handful of games on Thursday and Friday nights.
This is NOT a discussion of the Saturdays vs midweek games or a comparison of the broadcast revenues to other FBS conferences or how college football has sold its soul to the devil or anything of that sort. If you want to debate that, please join one of the existing threads (or create your own) in the other appropriate forums. This is the Music and Performance forum, so we're going to limit it to HOW THIS DEAL IMPACTS THE SOUTHERNERS. (It's even in the name!)
First off, I don't believe there's been any concessions made as part of the broadcast deal to get halftime shows televised. Neither of these two networks is known for their love of the marching activity, so my guess is, they'll cut away during halftime to a desk back at the network, where they'll update folks on Aaron Judge's latest quest for the homerun crown, and preview the weekend's upcoming SEC and BIG 10 games. So don't count on the broadcast itself for any kind of recruiting boost for the band.
So that leaves the root question: how will the October midweek schedule -- impact the band? Are there any negatives?
Obviously, a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday game would muck up the practice schedule somewhat, but only one day per week. So the impact here would be minimal.
Band Day would be unaffected, since it normally occurs in September or (rarely) late August. Similarly, the Southerners Reunion would be unaffected, since it always falls in November.
Homecoming is a question mark for everyone. Will Jax State hold its Homecoming on a weeknight, or will it be moved crazy early or crazy late in the schedule to avoid October? Either way, this is a definite negative, but for Southerners specifically, it's not really that big a deal. Other than the Homecoming parade, and adjustments to the pregame and halftime routines to accommodate Homecoming presentations and activities, Homecoming is basically just another game for the band. Another minimal impact for the band, even though it's a major impact for the University as a whole.
The ability of prospective students from out of town to visit JSU (on their own) is hindered a bit, but Preview/Family days have often been held concurrently with Band Day during September, and I don't see any reason why they can't do that again when/if necessary. Some seasons, JSU could even move the preview days to early November. Again, I don't see this impacting Southerners much at all.
Are there any negatives I haven't thought about, especially ones which could actually do harm to the band? I just can't think of any.
Now the fun part-- the positives. We'll start with the biggest one of all:
October is the peak of High School Marching Band Competition season. This is when all the big contests are traditionally held:
- GOLDEN RIVER (Haralson County) - Almost always the third Saturday of October. Southerners had to miss this year due to the UNA game.
- PEACH STATE (Rome) - Almost always the fourth Saturday of October. Southerners had to miss this year due to SELA/Homecoming.
- JSU CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS - Whenever possible, the contest has been held the 2nd Saturday in October, to avoid direct conflict with Golden River and Peach State, but the contest date is contingent on the JSU football schedule. If there's a home date or travel game for the band on the second Saturday, it has to be moved elsewhere. This year's contest was originally scheduled for Oct. 8, but was canceled.
- BANDS OF AMERICA JSU REGIONAL - As with the Contest of Champions, the date of this event has to be flexible based on the football schedule, but they aim for the final Saturday in October. This year's contest was Oct. 29.
- SUPERBOWL OF SOUND (Carrollton, Ga) - We've done this one multiple times in the past. It draws from the same general pool of bands as Golden River and Peach State, but much later in the season, usually the final Saturday in October.
- HOOVER INVITATIONAL (Hoover) - It's been a few years since Southerners did this one, but it's normally the third Saturday in October.
- HEART OF DIXIE (Prattville) - It's been 20+ years since we played Prattville, but this is one of the biggest in southeast Alabama, in the heart of enemy territory. Normally the 2nd Saturday in October. FYI, this year's exhibition band was that little group of kids who try so hard from up in Florence.
- HEART OF GEORGIA (Warner Robins, Ga) - We've never done this one, which is a shame. This contest has a HUGE Jax State alumni presence and draws some outstanding bands, many of whom have never seen Southerners in person. It's usually the fourth Saturday in October.
- LAKE MARTIN INVITATIONAL (Alexander City) - Not sure if we've ever done this one, but it draws a pretty decent set of bands from Birmingham and east Alabama. It's normally the 1st Saturday in October.
Note: Both Albertville's NE Alabama Marching Invitational and Gadsden's Mid-South are usually the last Saturday in September, and Old South in Newnan, Ga., is usually the first weekend in November, so these contests are unaffected by the CUSA October schedule. Same with BOA Grand Nationals, which is always in November.
So what can we glean from this list? For starters, notice Southerners had to miss both Golden River and Peach State in 2022 due to football conflicts. This will not happen for the next five years, guaranteed.
Additionally, both JSU's Contest of Champions and the JSU BOA Regional have had to schedule around home (and certain away) football games. These contests can now be firmly established on a consistent October weekend, since football games are no longer an issue.
Many times, Southerners have had to play an early football game only to rush to load the buses and head to a local exhibition. It can be exhausting. Those days are over for the next five years, at least, for October exhibitions.
Some of the contests we've traditionally played are just not feasible, since we're having to work around JSU football. You can do two exhibitions in one day (Southerners did Albertville and Gadsden this year) but it's not possible to do this on a game day. With games off the table during October, the band office will have far more flexibility in scheduling. Imagine playing mid-day at Rome then traveling to play the post-contest exhibition at Warner Robins. (It's just under 4 hours between the two.) It's not something you'd want to do EVERY weekend, obviously, but the fact it's now on the table is huge.
Funding for travel would have to increase, probably. The band will almost certainly travel to away games at Kennesaw and MTSU. Possibly to WKU, plus any regional P5 guarantee games on the schedule. So the question would be, how many exhibitions could the Southerners afford to travel to each October? Maybe Warner Robins isn't feasible. But another exhibition in north Georgia or metro Atlanta might be, especially if you're able to knock out two different exhibitions on the same day.
Your thoughts?
