When the Penn State site Lions247 launched in 2010, its staff received seats in the Beaver Stadium press box that were stationed right next to the crew from Fight On State. So on Nittany Lion game days for the past seven years, the two staffs — while being intensely competitive during some very difficult times for the program and the industry — developed certain levels of respect, camaraderie and even friendship.
That is coming in especially handy now, as the two sites are merging under the 247Sports umbrella (which is part of the CBS Interactive family). The new name is Lions247 With Fight On State. But you can call us FOS/247, for short. The merger is happening Monday night into Tuesday.
THE most important thing to know about this merger is that it is not a matter of one site absorbing the other.
Rather, this is TWO power sites and TWO power communities coming together to form one SUPER site and THE MOST dynamic Penn State message board experience anywhere.
The key people you know from both sites — including Mark Brennan, Sean Fitz, Andrew Callahan and Mark Harrington (aka PlaybookMark) — are all part of this exciting new endeavor. So are all of the primary moderators from both sites. Speaking of which…
Do you live on 247’s excellent The Lions’ Pride? Great, your home away from home is as strong as ever.
Have you racked up hundreds of months and thousands of posts on the popular FOS TAP board? Terrific, your community is still YOUR community. The other main FOS boards will remain, as well.
But now you are going to be able to float between different boards, and if you are not familiar with how things work on one, you can dip your toe in the water and check it out. Moderators will be there to help.
The BIG winners here are going to be the VIP members of both sites, as you will effectively be getting twice as much — and probably more — content and interaction for the price of your subscription. If you are currently a member of both sites under the same e-mail address, your subscriptions will automatically merge into one and be extended to cover the total amount of time left on both memberships. If you've been waiting to subscribe to one site or the other, now you can get BOTH for the price of one. Use the promo code FIRSTMONTH at the link to the right to getyour first month of VIP access for a buck.
We know change can be a little scary, especially when it comes to YOUR favorite Penn State message board communities. We’ve been through a lot together, and the folks who have managed Lions247 and Fight On State through Penn State’s recent lows and now highs are beyond thankful that you stuck with us the whole time.
As we insisted even during the darkest days of 2011 and 2012, none of us are going anywhere after the merge. We will be right here, covering and discussing Nittany Lion football into the next decade and beyond.
Then only real difference?
Now we’ll all be doing it together.
Specific FAQs For FOS Users
How is this merger working?
Fight On State still operates under its own LLC (Blue View Sports), which is an independent contractor to CBS Interactive. Mark Brennan is the primary partner of Blue View Sports.
Sean Fitz, the founder of Lions247, along with Andrew Callahan will remain as employees of 247Sports. Nobody’s specific roles are changing. We are just combing talent to give fans of both sites more.
Who is in charge now?
As opposed to anyone working FOR anyone here, we are viewing it as we always have — that we are all working TOGETHER. Think of it as a strong working relationship between Lions247, FOS and — obviously — CBS Interactive (via 247Sports).
If you have an issue or question for management, let a moderator know and they’ll point you in the right direction. As you might imagine, there will probably be a learning curve for all of us. But asking your moderators for help is always the best first step.
Why now?
When CBS Interactive bought Scout last February, the initial idea was to run two separate sites covering Penn State for the foreseeable future. But once FOS moved over to the CBSi platform that already housed Lions247 — and we began sharing things like recruiting content, photos and videos — it quickly became clear that a full merger could produce something special.
We can’t give specific details for confidentiality reasons, but several contractual matters had to be ironed out before the merger could happen. They’ve been ironed out, so it is happening.
We did not think it was prudent to mention details of a POTENTIAL merger before all contract matters were settled because we were not absolutely positive how things would play out on the timing end.
What is happening to the Scout brand?
It is being eliminated and is not part of the Lions247 With Fight On State brand. The recruiting teams from 247Sports and Scout are combining into one recruiting super team under the 247Sports brand.
You can see more FAQs related to some of the nuts and bolts of the merger right here.
Quotes Of Note
Cory Giger, ESPN RadioSports Central
"This sounds like it could be one of the best football sites the country — if not THE best — at covering a team. … This is a game-changer here. … You’re talking about a grand slam type of merger. …Congratulations to Penn State fans, because you’re gonna have a web site now that’s probably gonna kick some major rear end."
Mark Brennan On The Merger In General
"Our existing contract with CBS Interactive had multiple years left on it, so this was not something we HAD to do. But when we realized the sort of powerhouse a merger between FOS and Lions247 would create — and what that would deliver to Nittany Lion fans — it became something we knew wewantedto do. By combining the resources of both sites as well as the impressive tools of the 247Sports network, we believe we are positioned to compete with any media outlet on the Penn State beat.
"Maintaining stability for our users (and ourselves, frankly) in an extremely volatile industry was also important, and aligning with the 247Sports family under a reworked, longer-term deal provides that security."
247 Executive Producer For College Sports Pat Tholey
"As a Penn State alum and having known Mark, Sean and the team for years, I can’t tell you how excited I am for Fight On State and Lions247 coming together to become one site.
"It’s a huge win for the members of both sites since they’ll be getting more content and coverage than ever before. I truly believe with this merger that there’s no other media outlet that will be able to match the Penn State coverage that Lions247/FOS will provide."
Brennan On Sean Fitz
"Sean has taken Penn State recruiting coverage to new heights over the past decade-plus. Even when he was kicking our rear ends on that front, you could do nothing but respect how incredibly plugged in he was and how rock solid his info was. In my view, his team-specific recruiting coverage is unmatched in the industry.
"That goes for his Penn State team coverage, too. When Sean reports something, you can bank on it being accurate. It is exciting to finally have a chance to work with him."
247 Regional Recruiting Expert Brian Dohn On Fitz
"Sean’s work ethic is tremendous. I would be at camps that had very few Penn State targets, and it would be hours from his house. I’d turn around and he was there just to uncover a nugget or two that mattered to his community. He is a tireless worker and a true professional. When it comes to team-specific recruiting experts, Sean ranks among the best of the best."
Brennan On Andrew Callahan
"Andrew’s analytical approach to team coverage is exactly the sort of stuff the most ardent Penn State fans crave. He breaks down plays, snap counts, game plans — you name it. His unique, deep-dive style at the Lebanon Daily News made him an instant must-read on the beat, and he has gotten better and better since joining Lions247.
"It is about more than just football, too, as we’ve had a lot of fun talking Penn State basketball the last year or so. I suspect Nittany Lion hoops fans will enjoy what we’re going to be able to unleash moving forward."
