46 Comments
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Mark Gilman's avatar

I don't know how you cram all that information about Jaydon into such a small space and still have it all make sense. Excellent.

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John Canzano's avatar

That's the job. Thank you Mark. Jaydon is a great story.

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Bob H's avatar

I, for one, hope the PAC-12 stays together and grows. Big talk from Warren after breaking his word on alignment and poaching USC & UCLA.

My hope for short term moves from the PAC -12: Add San Diego State and UNLV for the reasons you outlined. Add SMU, beating the Big-12 to the punch, along with either UTSA or Memphis. Spreads our footprint into Texas and surrounding areas, and prepares the PAC-12 to be attractive to Big-12 future additions.

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Tom Marinaro's avatar

Man, thanks for the great story about Jayden.

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CJ's avatar

Jaydon Grant is the exact reason that so many of us watch (or used to watch) college football.

We need more stories like this about him......and way less about all this drama with the university of spoiled children.

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John Canzano's avatar

Walk on --- to all-conference. Crazy fun story.

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Richard's avatar

According to Dennis Dodd if UO or UW are invited it will be at a substantial discount. I know that both schools want to be included in the P2 but if the bottom half of the existing B1G is getting a full share that is a slap in the face.

Kevin Warren is acting like CFB is the same as the NFL and all that matters is the bottom line. I wish that some of the college presidents would be more vocal and support what Jim Phillips said during his remarks at the ACC Media Days supporting the old model of college athletics. They need to decide if the university's mission is to to educate student athletes or be the owner of a major sports franchise and make as much money as possible.

For me the story about Jayden is everything that makes CFB so great. The reports from the B1G media day are the opposite.

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John Canzano's avatar

I don't think Oregon and Washington are going anywhere anytime soon.

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J ALEX's avatar

Agree. It is important to remember that only the Big Ten presidents accept/reject new members -- and they rarely show their cards. It is not Kevin Warren's decision and he doesn't have the respect or influence to sway votes. Furthermore, it is impossible to believe that Oregon, Washington, Stanford, and Cal were not considered at the same time as USC/UCLA. The Big Ten chose not to have discussions with any additional Pac-12 teams. Nothing has changed in the past four weeks so it is highly unlikely their position changed, either.

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Bob B's avatar

NCAA football should rebrand itself The Intercollege Professional Football League and cut its ties to any semblance of higher education. Those who wish to participate would play by their own set of rules. (Like the current pro golf LIV incursion) The remaining schools could decide to follow the more traditional scholarship, student-athlete model. (Minor example: When you can recruit older Australian Rules Football players (Max Duffy et al) to participate in college football, it does seem a disingenuous practice)

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UtahAlumnus's avatar

Kliavkoff on Friday announces Pac 12 invites to SDSU, Nebraska, UNLV, SMU, TCU, and Kansas. Per sources. Yes I am the source.

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Josh L's avatar

Nebraska? $75 M pay day at the Big-10 to the Pac-12 on shaky ground. Yeah sure.

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UtahAlumnus's avatar

Think about it. He offers them Vegas money. The conference signs a trillion dollar deal with MGM, Caesars, Balleys, etc, and with that money comes out swinging. And ESPN who LOVES gambling right now jumps right into to that!

The conference offers revenue based on how much you win and contribute and your market, etc., making it fair and appealing. And with this move, ties up San Diego and Las Vegas markets. Fights his way into Texas. And as a bonus steals from the Big 10 and 12. Adding two powerhouse basketball teams along the way. Bold? Yes. But tell me it couldn’t work. (Ok don’t tell me, just agree 😆)

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Mike's avatar

Outside-the-box thinking is badly needed right now. I would think Kliavkoff has some relationships in Vegas he could utilize in some way that might help. My big concern is whether the snooty academics in the president/chancellor's seats would go along with it.

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Mike's avatar

Several media outlets are asking if they can quote you on that? Anonymously, of course.

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UtahAlumnus's avatar

I’ll allow it.

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Mike's avatar

Since Warren's opening remarks yesterday two sources (Brett McMurphy from Action Network and Dennis Dodd from CBS) have reported the Big Ten is "evaluating" Stanford, Cal, Oregon and Washington. I would think that the Big Ten has evaluated just about every school out there at some point. But considering some of the language Warren used yesterday; words like "bold" and "aggressive," and the Sears & Roebuck analogy he threw out, reports like these take on a new sense of urgency. The media day event Friday is going to be a mess.

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Tom Marinaro's avatar

Good insightful comments.

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John Canzano's avatar

thanks Tom.

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John Canzano's avatar

I think he was grandstanding.

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Mike's avatar

It would make sense for him to do that, given how unpopular he was in the wake of his decision-making on COVID in 2020.

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CJ's avatar

The main issue right now is with recruiting. My guess is we end up in the B1G by the 2024 season, but not being able to say that without a doubt is killing us. Case in point is Micah Banuelos from earlier this week.....but he is just the start.....sounds like Myles McVay may be saying the same kind of stuff. Too much uncertainty at Oregon so that is making their decisions for them.

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Mike's avatar

I'm skeptical that "for now" Oregon will be noticeably impacted in recruiting. All the things that make it an attractive spot for recruits remain the same, relative to other schools.

What would change that is if what we've recently heard about the CFBPA and players at Penn State comes to pass, and they are successful in convincing the Big Ten to share revenues with players. If the Big Ten does that, the SEC will obviously follow. No other conference will have the money to do that, at least not on the scale of the two big money conferences. If that happens then not only will Oregon lose recruiting battles against Ohio State, USC and Alabama; but they might start losing them to schools like Minnesota, Mississippi State and Maryland. And NIL probably isn't going to make up the difference.

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Buck's avatar

I'm sure PK will make sure they have the money to do what they need

He hasn't come this far to let them get left behind or out

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Josh L's avatar

Dennis Dodd and his 4 schools from Pac-12 in deep discussions with the Bg-12 and now the Big-10 rumors. He just throws out whatever comes into his head. Lousy reporter. I dont read what he puts our anymore. CBS reporters like him love to create stories rather than report on them.

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John Canzano's avatar

Sometimes sources tell you things that ONLY benefit their narrative. I think there was some of that going on there.

My sense from the beginning was that the Big 12-Pac-12 talks were only exploratory. They broke down quickly. Not great fits.

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Ed's avatar

As usual the best group of 5 team Boise state gets left out again, if you check viewer rating they get more viewship when on tv then any other group of 5 team out there that is left, it’s not always about tv market, you need to look at viewship

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E2148's avatar

> Said one conference employee: “The only people happy with the USC/UCLA move are those in the B1G, USC/UCLA and FOX.”

I’m not sure even everyone in the Bruin and Trojan families are happy about this, save for the fat stacks of cash they’re getting on joining.

John, have your PAC-12 sources mentioned anything at all about what litigation from the Uc Regents against UCLA might look like?

Also, there’s an interesting court battle taking place right now, Johnson v NCAA about the status of athletes as employees. There’s a lawyer/professor from the University of Illinois filing an amicus brief using the recent USC/UCLA defections as another example of how disingenuous it is to mischaracterize D1 athletes as amateurs vs actual university employees.

What does the fallout for college sports look like if Johnson (a Villanova football player) wins this case?

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Bob B's avatar

If the Saudis can sponsor pro golf, how about college football--maybe throw in the Chinese as co-investors as well...lots of money available....Show me the money.

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John Canzano's avatar

We're probably not far off...

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Bob B's avatar

That would be something, have the PAC 10 sponsored by Las Vegas Casinos/sports book...Show me the money!

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John Canzano's avatar

I like the casinos and sports books angle...

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Brad Weekly's avatar

Brian Grant is one of my favourite Blazers of all time - and I wish only success for Jayden. As for K. Warren: He can stuff it. There is no honour among thieves and he is in good company there - along with the brass at UCLA and USC. They just bought a boatload of bad karma.

I'd add SDSU and UNLV immediately. UNLV makes so much sense it boggles my mind we haven't heard about them as a possible addition before. It's a better-than-you-think school academically, located in the sports and entertainment capital, an NFL, NHL and probably soon to be MLB city. And it's growing rapidly. If the the conference can plant a pole or two in Texas, I place that entity on par with any in the land.

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John Canzano's avatar

UNLV media market is about No. 40. But it's growth potential is interesting.

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Bob B's avatar

From the description of Jaydon's various enterprises, I would say he has already achieved graduate level marketing skills. I hope he can use his experience toward an advanced degree.

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John Canzano's avatar

He's got a few degrees.

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Buck's avatar

Maybe it's just me, but UNLV does nothing for me.

Like...less than nothing honestly..

Do they actually draw viewers?

If not, it's just spreading out TV money across more schools with, possibly, not really adding much to the overall pie that gets divided up.

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John Canzano's avatar

I hear ya. The program isn't a needle-mover, but I wonder if you consider them because of the $$ buried there.

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Buck's avatar

Perhaps

The football side, as Wilner covered, is just so so bad...

I just don't see them as the #2 w/ SDSU

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Ron Miller's avatar

I keep hearing a rumor but you're the one I trust... are UW and UO asking for a bigger share of the new media contract? Are they threatening to bolt if they don't get it?

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John Canzano's avatar

I don't see Oregon and UW getting a larger share of the media dollars, however I'd ask for a larger share of the CFP payout should they make it. And I think they'd get that.

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J ALEX's avatar

It is a very empty threat unless they actually have somewhere to "bolt" that would be an upgrade.

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