Posted: 9/12/07 Section: Columns

I recently talked to Marshall Duncan, a sportswriter from the University of Georgia's school newspaper, The Red and Black, and asked if he thought the Big Ten Network helped or hindered the conference. He said: "If they take games that would normally be televised on network TV, then it hurts them because it cuts down on those who will be able to watch. Until the Big Ten Network is nationally offered in a regular package, it seems like they're hurting themselves more than helping."

He's exactly right; without a national audience, the conference's prestige suffers, the teams will be faced with a lower ranking (do you really think a team as bad as Michigan gets a preseason No. 5 ranking without the prestige factor?), and worse than that, recruitment suffers for both students and athletes alike.

Who would a nationally ranked football recruit rather play for? Illinois, on the Big Ten Network, in front of an eight-state audience, or Florida, where every game is on national television?

The idea seems like a quick way to make a couple of dollars for Big Ten sports programs, but in the long run, poor publicity will lead to worse ratings and less money in the Big Ten coffers. Putting Fans First, an organization outraged by the fact that it will have to pay for what was once free, is already turning this into a public relations nightmare. Ten thousand fans have signed up across the nation opposing what they call "The Big Ten Tax."

"I definitely think the Big Ten Network will have a negative impact on the conference, especially when it comes to recruiting and creating new fans," said Ben Falk, spokesperson for the Putting Fans First coalition. "With less access to games, potential recruits may believe that the SEC or Pac-10 are better conferences because they are more visible on national television."

I agree - potential recruits will believe the SEC and Pac-10 conferences are better. That is, until those conferences form their own networks.

Kevin Spitz is a senior in Engineering. He can be reached at sports@dailyillini.com.

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