Oregon, Washington to Big Ten!

[mildone_rivals]

That tweet is very reality-TV-esque. Just need to imagine some overly dramatic music in the background while reading the tweet.

Did FOX Sports have a vested interest in the Pac-12 Conference’s demise? Did the network, fueled by its own self-interests, pull realignment strings to create a coast-to-coast superconference? Will Luke marry Laura? We'll let you know... right after this commercial break.

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

That tweet is very reality-TV-esque. Just need to imagine some overly dramatic music in the background while reading the tweet.

Did FOX Sports have a vested interest in the Pac-12 Conference’s demise? Did the network, fueled by its own self-interests, pull realignment strings to create a coast-to-coast superconference? Will Luke marry Laura? We'll let you know... right after this commercial break.

Are we saying what ESPN did to the Big East is what FOX did to the Pac-12? IMO, Larry Scott did in the Pac-12 with that sh*tty media deal several years ago. The networks bumped the weakened tree, and the fruit fell to the ground. The Conferences/Networks just picked up the fruit and went about their business. Every Pac-12 team was looking for a way out.

I like General Hospital during the 80s

 

[brgRC90]

This is, ultimately, a consequence of a weak NCAA and colleges wanting to run the show. If the conferences had worked together on media instead of as free agents they would've all gotten relatively equal deals. Instead, the better-run/more aggressive conferences have won out and the losers are diminished or ruined.

 

[rutgersguy1_rivals]

Are we saying what ESPN did to the Big East is what FOX did to the Pac-12? IMO, Larry Scott did in the Pac-12 with that sh*tty media deal several years ago. The networks bumped the weakened tree, and the fruit fell to the ground. The Conferences/Networks just picked up the fruit and went about their business. Every Pac-12 team was looking for a way out.

I like General Hospital during the 80s

Well Larry Scott's tv deal was actually the richest in CFB when they signed it. Not being able to fully monetize the PAC networks (created too many of them also) by taking on a partner like ESPN (who offered) was the big mistake.

 

[rutgersguy1_rivals]

This is, ultimately, a consequence of a weak NCAA and colleges wanting to run the show. If the conferences had worked together on media instead of as free agents they would've all gotten relatively equal deals. Instead, the better-run/more aggressive conferences have won out and the losers are diminished or ruined.

Well isn't the a consequence of the lawsuit back in the late 70s or 80s when the NCAA did control tv deals. Some conferences wanted to control their own rights, ND too later and they sued to break free. I think back then there were even limits on how often a particular team could appear on tv.

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

Well isn't the a consequence of the lawsuit back in the late 70s or 80s when the NCAA did control tv deals. Some conferences wanted to control their own rights, ND too later and they sued to break free. I think back then there were even limits on how often a particular team could appear on tv.

Yes, it was called CFA. Some people say that was the beginning of the downfall of the NCAA. Once the NCAA lost control of TV games to the schools/conferences, they were no longer needed. Others ask why it took the conferences so long to cash in on TV money.

 

[brgRC90]

Well isn't the a consequence of the lawsuit back in the late 70s or 80s when the NCAA did control tv deals. Some conferences wanted to control their own rights, ND too later and they sued to break free. I think back then there were even limits on how often a particular team could appear on tv.

Eventually college athletics is just going to have to do what every other sports league does and have a strong central office and work collectively. The NCAA was forced on them and they've resisted it ever since. Left to their own devices they've brought about slow chaos and a never-ending arms race. Baseball hit that point in the 80s and instituted salary caps. College football will have to figure something out.

 

[NickRU714]

Are we saying what ESPN did to the Big East is what FOX did to the Pac-12? IMO, Larry Scott did in the Pac-12 with that sh*tty media deal several years ago. The networks bumped the weakened tree, and the fruit fell to the ground. The Conferences/Networks just picked up the fruit and went about their business. Every Pac-12 team was looking for a way out.

I like General Hospital during the 80s

The differing reactions from many is quite amusing:
ESPN/ACC conspire to break up Big East: Terrible!!

Fox/Big 10 conspire to break up PAC-12: Great!!

 

[Knight Shift]

The differing reactions from many is quite amusing:
ESPN/ACC conspire to break up Big East: Terrible!!

Fox/Big 10 conspire to break up PAC-12: Great!!

Name the "many." I see more people unhappy about PAC12 demise than happy. And some could see it differently. PAC12 was dying and in a tailspin because of incompetent leadership and an inability to ink a media rights deal.

I don't recall that to be the case with the old Big East. A bunch of teams left for a single conference, the ACC, helped by ESPN.

The Big12 was poaching PAC 12 teams and the conference was already shambles and down to 6 teams. It's fair to argue that the moves of USC and UCLA to the B1G started the process. But wasn't the start of this due to PAC12 leadership ineptitude?

 

[RUTGERS95]

no one should lament the break up of the pac12. It was poorly managed for years and that is what happens. This benefits us, period

 

[rutgersguy1_rivals]

Name the "many." I see more people unhappy about PAC12 demise than happy. And some could see it differently. PAC12 was dying and in a tailspin because of incompetent leadership and an inability to ink a media rights deal.

I don't recall that to be the case with the old Big East. A bunch of teams left for a single conference, the ACC, helped by ESPN.

The Big12 was poaching PAC 12 teams and the conference was already shambles and down to 6 teams. It's fair to argue that the moves of USC and UCLA to the B1G started the process. But wasn't the start of this due to PAC12 leadership ineptitude?

I've mentioned this before but mentioned again here from Ourand/Marchand (sports biz reporters). The PAC had every chance to stay together and this despite not acting on the B12 when Texas/OU left or getting a partner for the PAC network.

They were offered a similar deal if not slightly better than the B12 one and rejected it out of hand. The B12 would be in their position if they had just done that but they didn't. They thought they belonged closer to the B10/SEC. Also bad job by their media consultant not advising and emphasizing to them their place in the food chain and the media environment of pinching pennies unlike the WME who emphasized the urgency to Yormark and the B12 on getting a deal done. They had to screw up a bunch of opportunities along the way to end up where they are now.

 

[Knight Shift]

On the recruiting front, was reading a Q&A about how the 4 remaining PAC-12 schools are dealing with recruiting.

Of interest, is this recruit:



"Oregon State commits Exodus Ayers and David Abajian indicated that they’d consider reevaluating their options if the Beavers got left out of a “power” conference."

Oregon State is hoping Exodus retains his commitment and does not live up to his name. These stories seem to write themselves sometimes, don't they?