Living in the South

[grantland]

I need to rant:

My local ABC affiliate is playing the Clemson v. Texas A&M game instead of ND. Are you freakin' kidding me?

I cannot tell you all how utterly po'd I am. I called the local affiliate and told them their ratings will suck.

Jig - can I come up to Chicago and watch? Better yet I might just go to the damn game.

 

[Domer95]

DG3,
I feel for you. Looks like you'll have to move, or at least relocate during the fall/winter. However, you are like what, 20 miles or so from SoCar? So, unless we join the SEC, I'd be checking out frequent flyer programs....

 

[irishtexan]

I had to break down and order ESPN Gameplan for a day to watch. I freakin hate ESPN, and I feel like a traitor doing it, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I also made the cable operator I was talking to aware that I hate ESPN also.

 

[Guest]

I feel for you guys..

 

[bmf175]

Hey dgiorgioiii, try calling Sluggers on Abercorn next to Wedgies they usually had all the games on over there, I have watched acouple ND games before, I dont really care for the crowd there but I will put up with them if it means I get to see ND play. Locos on Broughton Street (or was it Liberty Street)might have it as well. Like [irishtexan] said I believe it will also be on ESPN so you could also order cable during the football season.

 

[Irish Legend]

I had to break down and order ESPN Gameplan for a day to watch. I freakin hate ESPN, and I feel like a traitor doing it, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I also made the cable operator I was talking to aware that I hate ESPN also.

I called Time Warner and they said that I had to buy the whole season package. They said they don't sell it on a game(or 1 day) at a time?
Did you order it?

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

I thought it had to be the package?

so everyone north of Virginia will be getting the ND game?

 

[grantland]

DG3,
I feel for you. Looks like you'll have to move, or at least relocate during the fall/winter. However, you are like what, 20 miles or so from SoCar? So, unless we join the SEC, I'd be checking out frequent flyer programs....

Maybe a late Summer early Fall home in Chicago.

 

[grantland]

Thanks to everyone.

bmf - is ABC broadcasting it in J'Ville. I actually called around and a few bars here are showing it. The problem will be: Georgia is playing Boise State (which could be an interesting game) at about the same time. I do not want to be in a bar with a bunch of dawgs while trying to watch ND - but I may have to suck it up.

ESPN may be the way to go.

By the way - I used to like the days when it was on radio - Lyndsey Nelson in Savannah, Georgia (we have alot of Catholics down here). We use to go to Saturday afternoon church and I was an altar boy, had to be to church early, so I often missed the last part of the game. Dad would sit out in the parking lot and listen with an old ND assistant coach (Bob McBride - coached under Leahy). They would come in late and give me the thumbs up or down. Then Sunday morning there would be a game summary on TV.

That should have been my post for the favorite memory thread.

 

[grantland]

Hey dgiorgioiii, try calling Sluggers on Abercorn next to Wedgies they usually had all the games on over there, I have watched acouple ND games before, I dont really care for the crowd there but I will put up with them if it means I get to see ND play. Locos on Broughton Street (or was it Liberty Street)might have it as well. Like [irishtexan] said I believe it will also be on ESPN so you could also order cable during the football season.

Locos is a good idea - I work right next to it. But again, it is a big Georgia bar.

I'll find it somewhere - i just like to sit in the privacy of my own home because I do tend to make a fool of myself.

 

[weisfaninmass]

This is the primary reason ND left ABC (and CBS) for NBC for its home games-- because they went to regional games back in the 90's and ND in a National School. So ND said "pound sand" and cut its own deal with NBC -- people think it was primarily the money but it started bc of the regional philosophy.

I feel for you. In Ty's first year 2002, local ABC in the Boston market broadcast a BC game instead of the Notre Dame - Florida State game when ND was 8-0. Talk about painful.

 

[grantland]

This is the primary reason ND left ABC (and CBS) for NBC for its home games-- because they went to regional games back in the 90's and ND in a National School. So ND said "pound sand" and cut its own deal with NBC -- people think it was primarily the money but it started bc of the regional philosophy.

I feel for you. In Ty's first year 2002, local ABC in the Boston market broadcast a BC game instead of the Notre Dame - Florida State game when ND was 8-0. Talk about painful.

There have even been times down here when we miss the first quarter of the ND game because NBC actually shows the end of an ACC or SEC noon game. (We do always get at least the second half.) Now, if it was UGA v.TN or something of that caliber, I could understand (sill would not like it, but I would think it was better business decision). However, in my opinion, the games are often much lower caliber games. I cannot remember exactly which games. I am sure it will happen this year - I'll get back to you on that.

What is the deal with that anyway? How much discretion do the local NBC affiliates have? Anyone in the business? Will ratings in Savannah or Charleston or New Orleans or Mobile (say a prayer for NOLA and the entire Gulf Coast), all very Catholic cities for the South, be higher by showing Duke play Maryland (for some reason that game sticks out as one that pre-empted ND) instead of ND v anyone? Maybe so - I do not know - but I have a hard time believing that.

One thing - when I called the ABC affiliate I said, "I have a question regarding college football programming...." The lady cut me off and stated "WE ARE NOT SHOWING THE ND GAME." Clearly I was not the first to call. I wonder if they would have had the same negative response if they did not show Clem play A&M. That is when I said their ratings will suck and hung up. I am usually a bit more controlled but man that pissed me off.

All speculation on my part - can anyone address with facts?

 

[irishtexan]

I called Time Warner and they said that I had to buy the whole season package. They said they don't sell it on a game(or 1 day) at a time?
Did you order it?

Yeah I got it, this is what the lady I emailed said :
In response to your last email, I will be glad to order the event for the 1 day. At this time is not in our system to order but it should be by Friday and I will email you back once I have done this. If you need any further assistance please give me a call or an email. Thank you again for the customer service inquiry.

Legend if you want to email her like I did, here is her address:

margaret.simpson@twcable.com

 

[bmf175]

bmf - is ABC broadcasting it in J'Ville.

I actually have no idea if it will be broadcasted on ABC in J'ville, but assuming by the local college football teams we have around here (Jacksonville University the "mighty' Dolphins) there should be no conflict.
I know that FSU plays Miami on Monday night (I am more than likely going to that game) so that is two Florida power houses that I will not have to worry about. I don't know when U of Florida plays on Saturday. I always assume they will show ND games, if not I will have to high jack my buddies television and watch it on ESPN, this would be so much easier if he were a ND fan as well. If I had my own place I would host the game for nearby ND fans, but until I get married I can not.

Oh yeah, try Kevin Berrys, the Irish/Ranger (go to the second floor) Pub on River Street. And theres also McConnels on Congress across from Ibiza, but I think they changed their name to Gulligans Way or some crap like that. Oh yeah and theres also B&D Burgers on Abercorn awesome Burgers and cute ladies with all the beer you could want. They advertise as having all the football games (at least when I was up there they did). But as you said you might want to call ahead, because I have been to a few bars in the south that have about 20 tvs and instead of letting me see the ND game on 1 tv they insist they need all 20 televisions on FSU or UGA. Damn I hate the South.

 

[jiggafini19]

I need to rant:

My local ABC affiliate is playing the Clemson v. Texas A&M game instead of ND. Are you freakin' kidding me?

I cannot tell you all how utterly po'd I am. I called the local affiliate and told them their ratings will suck.

Jig - can I come up to Chicago and watch? Better yet I might just go to the damn game.

The doors to Fox and Hound in Schaumburg are always open to ND fans. Michigan fans have their wings spit on....by ND fans, not the kitchen staff.

 

[irishnd31]

Yeah I got it, this is what the lady I emailed said :
In response to your last email, I will be glad to order the event for the 1 day. At this time is not in our system to order but it should be by Friday and I will email you back once I have done this. If you need any further assistance please give me a call or an email. Thank you again for the customer service inquiry.

Legend if you want to email her like I did, here is her address:

margaret.simpson@twcable.com

Yeah, usually they will promote the season package and try to get as much money from you as they can. The past couple of seasons, they would wait to see how many people would purchase the season package to determine whether or not to offer the day package. Not alot of people were buying the NCAA package, rather opting for the NFL package instead. They figured that they may as well do the pay for a day deal to bring in the money they lost on the season package. The pay for a day package is nice if ND is playing in Salt Lake or any other away games that are not televised on the regular local stations.

 

[kickerbg31]

anybody in Chicago remember when the 2001 ND-A&M game was dumped on ABC in favor of Illinois-Michigan? While that game was a better game than Davie's ineptitude in College Station, it was painful to know that ND couldnt be seen in CHICAGO!

FWIW, I really enjoy the NBC coverage of Notre Dame a lot more than the ABC/ESPN coverage (probably the reasonable pro-ND slant)

 

[kickerbg31]

NDnation.com has a great map of which game the ABC affiliates will be picking up in case you want to know which game will be shown in your area

http://www.ndnation.com/boards/showpost.php?rockreport+60136-THEROCK

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

great map, thanks for the link

 

[bmf175]

What the crap? Why would Clemson and Texas A&M take precedence over Notre Dame in Florida? What the hell is going on here?
Its OK I have a plan B and a plan C. Im not worried.

 

[grantland]

What the crap? Why would Clemson and Texas A&M take precedence over Notre Dame in Florida? What the hell is going on here?
Its OK I have a plan B and a plan C. Im not worried.

No doubt, how about VA? Who makes these decisions and how, i.e., what factors go into the determination of whether to show ND v. Pitt or Clem v. A&M especially in the non-obvious regions?

 

[jiggafini19]

anybody in Chicago remember when the 2001 ND-A&M game was dumped on ABC in favor of Illinois-Michigan? While that game was a better game than Davie's ineptitude in College Station, it was painful to know that ND couldnt be seen in CHICAGO!

I was at the 2001 Illinois-Michigan game in Champaign and recall people telling me ND was not on.

Simple fact of the matter was that Illinois was having a better year and the Illini alum base is just as big, maybe bigger, in Chicago as ND's is.

What I remember most was Michigan being the beneficiaries of two horrible calls and winning the game subsequently. Made me want to puke.

 

[kickerbg31]

I believe that game was one of the ones that was cited in the Big 10's decision to try out instant replay.

I agree that the Illini have a bigger alumni base in the Chicago area, but who really cares about Illini football? They have 40,000 students and can't even sell out their home games!

 

[Vince Young]

Something to consider, guys... what other team in the country could go 5-7 and 6-6 in back-to-back years and still have the next season's opener broadcast in prime-time on close to 80 stations?

With Notre Dame's recent history and the steady erosion of ND's TV ratings over the past few years, we should consider ourselves lucky, quite frankly. Most of us will still be able to see the game at home, and those who can't can probably catch it in a sports bar. There are worse situations to be in... see New Orleans.

Of course, that's easy for me to say... my local ABC affiliate is taking the ND game.