wrt the "large public school thing. Right now it is that UNC is a national brand and is wanted and VT are neither. I made a bad assumption that everyone should know there are only 2 national brands in the VA/NC area, UNC and Duke. Compared to Duke UNC is the larger public institution. And I do believe the name in the brand is not limited to any one sport. National viewers, IMHO will stop and watch a name they know. Only a few will actually do the research or find some of the things you are pointing out. Most national viewers will see the name they know and that is that. It does not matter if they are watching UGA Bball and rooting/watching them because it is the nationally known UGA. Similarly people will watch Duke and UNC football because it is a name they know. IMHO that is what big media is banking on in throwing away probably 100 schools in D1 football. Next, I grew up in the Richmond area and I can tell you that UNC was considered by many. including the RTD writers as the elite school in the region especially when Bill Dooley was their coach and half their successful teams were Virginians. UNC got the leading stories. And look at the map, Chapel Hill is 54 miles closer to Richmond, 117 miles closer to Norfolk. There are situations mileage doesn't matter as much in this day in time but when the end product is fewer teams at the highest level and how big media can get the most market with the fewest teams, national brand in any revenue sport matters.