“But overall, student-athletes are in a better position today.”
Maybe, it would be interesting to conduct a longitudinal study and see if being in a better position, monetarily, from age 18-22 leads to better ‘life’ outcomes, or if the allure of money and being able to capitalize on themselves at such a young age leads to better outcomes in the short term and worse outcomes over the long term.
Interesting take on the search firm and differing destinies…hmmm
Let’s play football!
“ “Not a lot of people have my last name,” Tony Petitti told me on Tuesday. “My dad is sitting at home watching and he gets to hear them say: ‘Today’s game is produced by Tony Petitti.’
Thank you. What did you think of 'blow-up Puddles' floating gently down the stream?
Commissioner, please work on all conferences playing the same number of conference games and additional playoff sites in the west and midwest. 4 of the 6 playoff bowl sites are located in Dixie. Stadiums in Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, and Detroit work for the NFL playoffs and if available, would work for the CFB playoff.
Looking at many preseason polls, Oregon would be the 6th seed. The Ducks would open against a P4 opponent in Autzen (Texas would play the undercard G5 opponent in Austin.) Win and Oregon would play the ACC champion in Atlanta. Win and Oregon's 3rd round game, likely against Georgia would be played in Miami or Dallas, Win and Oregon would be back in Atlanta for the championship game.
Compare this travel to play a 17th game in Atlanta to Georgia's 16th game. Bye, New Orleans, Miami, and Atlanta.
Tony, hats way off to guys like your Dad. Hats off to you JC for going beyond the field of play and discussing family.
Already the time zone issue is a thing. I’m an early bird and like having your posts to read as part of my morning routine.
Mr. Petitti’s background is the sort of story line I’ve come to expect from you. He seems grounded in the real world perhaps due to his law enforcement background. It’s a refreshing change from the two former PAC commissioners, neither of which had the “ common touch” Mr. Petitti appears to possess. It’s a good first impression and makes me optimistic about conference leadership. Thanks for securing the interview.
Petitti sounds like he looks at a microcosm and applies to it everywhere. I hate those types of leaders as they grade everything on what makes them look good and ignore the problems
When it's midnight on the West Coast (3 a.m. EDT) and that football player from Rutgers is just boarding his charter for the 6-hour flight home he might not think it's such a good deal.
Or when that Oregon baseball player is standing in the middle of Indiana on a 40-degree day with 20-MPH winds while he plays three games against Purdue after flying from Eugene to Denver to Indianapolis and then taking a bus ride to West Lafayette.
Let's wait a few years before saying how the "student/athletes" all don't mind 5 or 6-hour road trips every other weekend.
If I had the chance, I would ask Mr. Petitti what his major was in college and if there were courses and/or professors that really helped him gain perspective in the business, that would prepare him for life after college. Another home run, John!!!! Thank you for being our eyes and ears in Big 10 country!!!
What makes me chuckle about all these new conference media days from B10 and B12 is the spin job of “the kids couldn’t wait to play in these iconic places”…..
Rutgers and USC could schedule a non con game in Coliseum. Penn State could schedule a non con game against any west coast schools for white out. Oregon just played at Columbus a few years ago. I have seen UCLA play Ohio State in the Rose Bowl as a non con game.
That spin job justifying these kids going everywhere for a conference game is silly. They have and could have played these games all the time as non cons.
College football scheduling is a joke and the rules to qualify for CFP are dumb. Frankly the last two championship games have been horrible viewing.
College football needs a commissioner to schedule games not these AD’s and then arbitrary committees to see who makes playoff do it like the NFL does it if you want competition including a salary cap since college has NIL with no reporting or cap.
There’s a reason college football has had like 19 schools win non split championship since 1960. It’s not a competitive sport.
Another great story. I was struck by the 'what if' notion if the Petitti had led the Pac12. If that had happened, I doubt you'd be reporting from Indy this week. In fact I imagine the ill fated league would have added 2 schools, spun off the expensive Pac12 Network, forged a TV partnership and eventually became one of the Big 3 conferences in CFB. It's a nice dream and fantasy for the dog days of summer.
He would have had to force the Conference to accept the $30 million ESPN offer. Perhaps he could have, but with the immediate pushback from Utah with the claim that each team should receive $50 million, what are the odds?
Well done John. Petitti's dad did work that benefitted everyone. Not so with college football today. The focus is on the elite and money that comes with that. Not all strudent athletes benefit. Maybe I'm a grumpy old coot, but I'm not impressed.
George Kliavkoff for the Pac-12 Was doomed from the start because of conference politics!
I wonder if the other two interviewed in private, did their background check and said no to the Pac 12 first with Kliakoff being last man standing! After the conference said no change in revenue sharing with USC the conference set it’s destiny and those who voted no are really the ones to blame!
That NYPD memo should be plastered all over Portland city hall. And Seattle, for good measure.
“But overall, student-athletes are in a better position today.”
Maybe, it would be interesting to conduct a longitudinal study and see if being in a better position, monetarily, from age 18-22 leads to better ‘life’ outcomes, or if the allure of money and being able to capitalize on themselves at such a young age leads to better outcomes in the short term and worse outcomes over the long term.
Time will tell.
Comes down to how each school also
Educates these kids!
They are better at less schools... No way are the PAC2, Cal, Stanford, the future scrums of the destroyed acc, and G5 athletes in better positions
Interesting take on the search firm and differing destinies…hmmm
Let’s play football!
“ “Not a lot of people have my last name,” Tony Petitti told me on Tuesday. “My dad is sitting at home watching and he gets to hear them say: ‘Today’s game is produced by Tony Petitti.’
“He loved it” “
What dadstuff is all about
GO DAWGS
Sliding Doors II -- a movie about college football?
Another great article. I like how it's not simply a FAQ-style, but more of a storytelling style. And that it goes beyond football. Thanks John.
I believe a student athlete either receives a scholarship or NIL. Not both. Give that scholarship to another student in an underfunded sport.
Thank you. What did you think of 'blow-up Puddles' floating gently down the stream?
Commissioner, please work on all conferences playing the same number of conference games and additional playoff sites in the west and midwest. 4 of the 6 playoff bowl sites are located in Dixie. Stadiums in Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, and Detroit work for the NFL playoffs and if available, would work for the CFB playoff.
Looking at many preseason polls, Oregon would be the 6th seed. The Ducks would open against a P4 opponent in Autzen (Texas would play the undercard G5 opponent in Austin.) Win and Oregon would play the ACC champion in Atlanta. Win and Oregon's 3rd round game, likely against Georgia would be played in Miami or Dallas, Win and Oregon would be back in Atlanta for the championship game.
Compare this travel to play a 17th game in Atlanta to Georgia's 16th game. Bye, New Orleans, Miami, and Atlanta.
Tony, hats way off to guys like your Dad. Hats off to you JC for going beyond the field of play and discussing family.
Your thought on leveling the playing field with conference games is spot on.
John,
Already the time zone issue is a thing. I’m an early bird and like having your posts to read as part of my morning routine.
Mr. Petitti’s background is the sort of story line I’ve come to expect from you. He seems grounded in the real world perhaps due to his law enforcement background. It’s a refreshing change from the two former PAC commissioners, neither of which had the “ common touch” Mr. Petitti appears to possess. It’s a good first impression and makes me optimistic about conference leadership. Thanks for securing the interview.
Petitti sounds like he looks at a microcosm and applies to it everywhere. I hate those types of leaders as they grade everything on what makes them look good and ignore the problems
Like the conference insights.
LOVE the personal stuff about Petitti. You don’t get it anywhere but here. Thanks, John.
When it's midnight on the West Coast (3 a.m. EDT) and that football player from Rutgers is just boarding his charter for the 6-hour flight home he might not think it's such a good deal.
Or when that Oregon baseball player is standing in the middle of Indiana on a 40-degree day with 20-MPH winds while he plays three games against Purdue after flying from Eugene to Denver to Indianapolis and then taking a bus ride to West Lafayette.
Let's wait a few years before saying how the "student/athletes" all don't mind 5 or 6-hour road trips every other weekend.
They have a choice, don't they, EA.
They can go to OSU or Oregon.
Athletes who were already there didn't have a choice.
I expect if it's baseball we're talking about, most would go to OSU over Oregon.
Should have asked him about River Duck... B1G better get ready for some serious Oregon marketing.
River Duck was AwesomelyKool
If I had the chance, I would ask Mr. Petitti what his major was in college and if there were courses and/or professors that really helped him gain perspective in the business, that would prepare him for life after college. Another home run, John!!!! Thank you for being our eyes and ears in Big 10 country!!!
Really nice article. Captured the man as a person and the essence of the challenge of managing the B1G. Well done.
What makes me chuckle about all these new conference media days from B10 and B12 is the spin job of “the kids couldn’t wait to play in these iconic places”…..
Rutgers and USC could schedule a non con game in Coliseum. Penn State could schedule a non con game against any west coast schools for white out. Oregon just played at Columbus a few years ago. I have seen UCLA play Ohio State in the Rose Bowl as a non con game.
That spin job justifying these kids going everywhere for a conference game is silly. They have and could have played these games all the time as non cons.
College football scheduling is a joke and the rules to qualify for CFP are dumb. Frankly the last two championship games have been horrible viewing.
College football needs a commissioner to schedule games not these AD’s and then arbitrary committees to see who makes playoff do it like the NFL does it if you want competition including a salary cap since college has NIL with no reporting or cap.
There’s a reason college football has had like 19 schools win non split championship since 1960. It’s not a competitive sport.
Another great story. I was struck by the 'what if' notion if the Petitti had led the Pac12. If that had happened, I doubt you'd be reporting from Indy this week. In fact I imagine the ill fated league would have added 2 schools, spun off the expensive Pac12 Network, forged a TV partnership and eventually became one of the Big 3 conferences in CFB. It's a nice dream and fantasy for the dog days of summer.
He would have had to force the Conference to accept the $30 million ESPN offer. Perhaps he could have, but with the immediate pushback from Utah with the claim that each team should receive $50 million, what are the odds?
Well done John. Petitti's dad did work that benefitted everyone. Not so with college football today. The focus is on the elite and money that comes with that. Not all strudent athletes benefit. Maybe I'm a grumpy old coot, but I'm not impressed.
George Kliavkoff for the Pac-12 Was doomed from the start because of conference politics!
I wonder if the other two interviewed in private, did their background check and said no to the Pac 12 first with Kliakoff being last man standing! After the conference said no change in revenue sharing with USC the conference set it’s destiny and those who voted no are really the ones to blame!
Good post.
I've always thought blaming Kliavkoff was questionable.