Big Four Title

[jman2004]

Maybe this was discussed, I'm way to pissed right now to dig through and read all these posts, but why was Drake given the Big Four Title tonight?

If we beat Drake at home, doesn't that mean we split it?

I guess it doesn't matter. It's a stupid title anyways and I don't care at this point. I've had too much to drink and I'm going to bed.

[TravelingPanther]

we wondered the same thing and came to the same conclsuion. i'll take a tourney birth over a mythical title.

[UNIPNTHR]

If we win tonight, do they have a huge trophy presentation at half court for the Panthers??

When we win at home, is there a sawing ceremony to halve the trophy?

[KaBullseye15]

they said on tv both AD's agreed to have the "title" tonight so whoever won got the sweet trophy. i dont agree with it since its on their home court but im guessing it was just to get it over with and in case there was a split. im sure the state is torn over what to do tonight though with the teams that everyone pays so much attention to and care about and get media coverage were playing. id like to see a poll of iowa people to see how many people actually knew this game was going on tonight

[Panthers to the Bone]

It may have alot to do with Fox having the tv rights to only this game...and not the other one. Oh wait, they do have the rights to that game, but they most likely won't pick it up, b/c it's during the week.

[Back2BackCats]

I guess I thought all along that because we are in the same conference that only the first game counted towards the mythical state championship. Up to this point the games between us and Drake didn't usually decide the champion. It just happened this year the first game was at Drake, fact is we are the better team and should have been able to win, but we were outplayed tonight. I've said it before, top to bottom there is not much difference between the teams in the MVC and you have to play your best every night to win, last night was not our night. I think we will still be OK.

[Newsbreaker]

KFXA is only televising one game, so they gave out the trophy during that one game.

I wonder, if next year ISU beats UNI, Drake and then Iowa, is KFXA (who won't have the rights to that game) going to show up and give out that trophy? I wouldn't count on it.

By the way, ugliest trophy ever. Was a mall kiosk having a sale friday afternoon?

[Deke3]

I guess I thought all along that because we are in the same conference that only the first game counted towards the mythical state championship. Up to this point the games between us and Drake didn't usually decide the champion. It just happened this year the first game was at Drake, fact is we are the better team and should have been able to win, but we were outplayed tonight. I've said it before, top to bottom there is not much difference between the teams in the MVC and you have to play your best every night to win, last night was not our night. I think we will still be OK.

I agree...makes no sense to split the trophey. As far as the trophey goes, its a great addition to the in-state games we play each year...yes we didn't win it, but it's somehting we can hunt for each year. It is a marker that the Big 10/12 aren't so big anymore. We can't dwell on the this aspect because quite frankly...we got are butts kicked last night and last night Drake deserved the trophey. Attribute it to bad refs, poor play, or lucky Bulldog shooting, we still lost.

[BCPanther]

I swear that KFXA had the rights to broadcast UNI PANTHER BASKETBALL, I don't remember them buying the rights to the "big 4 Classic" whatever they are promoting it as.

I thought it looked really stupid when UNI vs. Milwaukee was billed as part of the Big 4 Classic??

[Newsbreaker]

Here is how I understand it to have worked.

KFXA and KDSM, owned by two separate companies, formed a two station network which they call the 'Big 4 Network.' Through this network, they share the production costs of these games.

Their primary coverage is UNI Men's Basketball. They also have acquired the rights to occasional Drake telecasts....when Drake is at home vs Iowa, and when Drake is at home vs ISU, and when Drake is at home vs UNI (I think they rotate between the DM game and the CF game, depending upon which falls on a weekend.)

Whenever they do a game, they use the "Big 4 Classic" moniker, because that is the name of the Network.

I have felt, in the past, that when they are doing a UNI telecast, they act more like a "neutral" telecast then one signed by UNI. They feel, apparently, that they are a statewide network that has acquired the rights to multiple schools, and are not "loyal" to any one University.

Here is something that could be VERY important going forward. I have heard a rumor, and it is nothing but a rumor and I cannot substantiate it, that the person who owns KFXA is quite ill, and may not be with us much longer. I don't know if that would mean the station would be sold or not, but if it is, their interest in UNI may change in one direction or the other.