Jake Dickert calls Pac-12 brand strong amid realignment reports
As Fall Camps get started across the country, the cloud of conference realignment is hanging over the Pac-12’s head. Rumors are swirling around more than half of the remaining Pac-12 schools after Colorado announced its departure. Despite this, Washington State head coach Jake Dickert says that the Pac-12 brand is strong.
Dickert explained that the Cougars aren’t worried about conference realignment at all and are focused on getting ready for the season.
“I mean, not a single player has asked me one time about it,” Jake Dickert said. “We gotta control what we can control. It’s amazing to me…the old question — how long would it take TV money to destroy college football?”
The Pac-12 media deal has been a major issue sparking conference realignment rumors. After months of seeking a media deal, Commissioner George Kliavkoff presented a streaming deal with Apple that would see the financial value fluctuate based on subscriptions. Given it’s been days since the deal was presented to conference leaders, all indications are that deal hasn’t blown many programs away.
“Maybe we’re here. Maybe we’re here. To think even remotely, five years ago, the Pac-12 would be in this position, it’s unthinkable to think that we’re here today,” Dickert said. “And to think that local rivalries are at risk and fans driving four hours to watch their team play in a road game, and rivalries (are) at risk, to me is unbelievable.”
One of the most prominent rumors is that Washington may be on the move to the Big Ten. One report is that the Big Ten has everything they need to add them while Washington has a late-night Board of Regents meeting scheduled for Thursday night.
Unfortunately for Jake Dickert and the Cougars, Washington State hasn’t been involved in any rumors. So, they’ll likely be left behind. Despite this, Dickert feels the Pac-12 brand could be strong.
“And I know our place at the table. At the end of the day, Pac-12 football, Pac-12 brand, if we stay together, is really strong, and we’ll have a strong future. I firmly believe in that. So, it’s important that we stay focused here in the now in maximizing what we can. But, at the end of the day, we’ll look back at college football in 20 years and be like, ‘What are we doing? What are we doing?'” Dickert said.
“Let’s let our guys stay regional. Let’s play. Let’s preserve the Pac-12 and what it is. So, I’ll let the people that make those decisions make those decisions. But, at the end of the day, we can focus on right here, right now, and maximizing this team.”
Dan Wetzel says the Big Ten could kill the Pac-12
Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel made an appearance on Andy Staples On3. There, he warned that the Big Ten could potentially kill the Pac-12.
“The [Big Ten] doesn’t want to be the conference that killed another conference, especially their supposed alliance partner. It was a really beautiful relationship that they had. I find this comically hysterical because it encapsulates college athletics. We’re not going to kill you, but we already killed you … Taking USC and UCLA away is what will eventually kill the Pac-12,” Wetzel said.
“There is a scenario where they survive, but if Arizona goes and all of a sudden it gets rocky. If Utah and Arizona State go with them to the Big 12, we don’t know if the Big 12 can get to 16 teams. Will their broadcast partners keep giving $31 million to the bill to add Arizona, Arizona State and Utah. … If this thing falls, the [Big Ten] is circling the [Pac-12’s] carcass and saying, ‘What do we want?’ and just pick this apart. It’s quite amazing because they could essentially get Oregon, Washington and Stanford at a discounted rate … [The Big Ten] could own the west coast. The whole thing makes no sense.”