We’ve made arrangements to attend the Michigan game this year. Excited to visit “The Big House.” Hope to be able to attend at least one away game per season in the future.
Appreciate your reporting from Indianapolis. Anxious to get the season started. Personally, I’ve mourned the PAC’s passing long enough, time to embrace the future.
Sorry, my love for the "old time football" is gone! I'll begin to try to like the Big Sky and the Division 3 schools in our area more than I have. I loved working for a school in Div. 3 (Minnesota schools), and I've worked for Portland State. So, maybe I'll find a new home where athletes are still scholarship folks and not paid employees.
Chris, I was sad, for sure...though I'm not quite that old. And, yeah, I should keep up with the times. And I thought the Pac 12 was fine (I don't have to worry about athletic budgets or keeping the highest paid state employee in an athletic department). Now a volley ball contest going back to the Big 10 (oh, no, that's the Big 18--they should change their name at least}. Does Michigan play sand lot volley ball...there's a sport UO could let go. Oh well, I do keep in mind the old notion of a student athlete, vs. a scholar athlete (U of Michigan designation), or just another paid institutional employee. So, maybe I'm just nostalgic (for 12 months ago or so). BUT, I get your point!!!
I used to work for a multimedia company in Portland in the 1990s and we produced speaker support for most of their sales meetings, both in the US and a few globally, plus we also did the same for the top 100 executives meetings, and I can tell you that Nike is one of the best at marketing. They made sure every product had an emotional story. The Ducks are blessed to have the creative forces of Nike behind them creating such amazing and emotional content. As much as I will miss the PAC-12, I am excited to see how the Ducks do in this elite conference. Go Ducks! Just Do It!
Good stuff. My idea for ties would be to make the NIL budgets for all schools PUBLIC. Then in any tie situation the school with the smaller budget would get the nod. They would have accomplished more with less - either through better coaching, superior player evaluation, or a more efficient football operation.
this for John: ask the big 10 commissioner what the exit fee is? since the Ducks are only getting 1/2 share of tv revenue, would they have to pay a full share if they want to leave?--ask the former Duck brain trust if they ever asked for a full share when they left, especially since they are the highest profile program, with the best-known brand of the four who left the Pac-12- who is Rutgers anyhow?-For the Ducks: three trips east while all big-10 teams only make one westward and two Friday night games, losing a day of practice for the game and even more considering the Purdue game requires a nation-wide trip...
Well, since it appears they get a full share of all other revenue like NCAA basketball tournament, Big Ten CFP payout, combined bowls payouts, etc. they may not be too concerned about the half-share of the one component? The B1G bought the L.A. market, wasn't necessary for Eugene and Seattle.
Seems an additional hour on a charter plane as compared to a trip to Tucson may not be too unbearable?
Uh, there are 14 teams in Central and Eastern, and 4 in the West. Simple math says those 4 in the West will cross time zones more often. I realize they aren't playing juggernaut Washington-St.Louis, but I believe they will show up prepared.
John, ask the commissioner if there is a plan to drop the conference name from Big 10 to just BIG. Purdue, my niece graduated from Purdue as did her husband. They now live in St. Paul and she works for the University of Minnesota. She was born in San Diego and graduated high school in Okinawa, winning a full ride scholarship to Purdue. With that said.. NO, I have never visited their home. I know it might sound odd, but when I moved to the Southwest in 1989 I was dead serious that good weather trumped all else in my life. Cold is not good weather and neither is hot and muggy. Tailgating at 5 degrees sounds like a horror storyline to me. Thank God for 120" screens in the comfort of my man cave during football season. Good luck covering winter time BIG road games.
Hard to believe that in a little over five weeks the CFB season will start. We shall see how the four former PAC12 teams play in the B10 conference. Looking forward to reading your takeaways John.
Agree. I think success will depend on how fast former PAC 12 teams can recruit and develop BIG 10 type rosters. It's always been a different brand of football in the Midwest.
I think playing road games in new venues where teams play different style will be more impact for the Pac4 than many believe.
Utah was 13-0, 10-3, 10-3 in the last 3 seasons in the Mt. West. Then, went 8-5, 5-7, 5-7 in the Pac12. Whittingham talked about getting used to new venues/hotels, and types of players he needed to be competitive. Obviously he figured it out, but the first 3 seasons were tough.
"The same goes for the mannequins that lined the stadium hallways showing off each of the school’s 2024 uniforms." Because the apostrophe is not after the S, at first I thought it meant showing off each of Oregon's 2,024 uniforms.
Great article John. Bizzaro world is a great way to describe what's happening in college football. I feel so damn ambivalent about it, really feeling like I have less interest it than ever. Will that change once the season starts? Not sure I'm ready to let myself love this sport again — I suppose, when the Pac 12 imploded, I felt like I did when the Sonics became the Oklahoma City Thunder! Like a piece of your heart is ripped out, and now strangely I feel numb about all the hype, excitment of another college football season.
John....this is painful! Almost as painful as Lebron James being chosen as the US Flag bearer at the opening ceremonies. Come on...let's honor the true Olympic athletes, not the billionaires.
John,
We’ve made arrangements to attend the Michigan game this year. Excited to visit “The Big House.” Hope to be able to attend at least one away game per season in the future.
Appreciate your reporting from Indianapolis. Anxious to get the season started. Personally, I’ve mourned the PAC’s passing long enough, time to embrace the future.
“Oregon” falls between “Penn” and “Ohio”? Really? Someone in the Big10 might need a remedial reading course.
They were positioned in two rows, reverse order.
reverse order....took me a few seconds to work that one out.
Sorry, my love for the "old time football" is gone! I'll begin to try to like the Big Sky and the Division 3 schools in our area more than I have. I loved working for a school in Div. 3 (Minnesota schools), and I've worked for Portland State. So, maybe I'll find a new home where athletes are still scholarship folks and not paid employees.
Don, were you sad when the dinosaurs died?
Chris, I was sad, for sure...though I'm not quite that old. And, yeah, I should keep up with the times. And I thought the Pac 12 was fine (I don't have to worry about athletic budgets or keeping the highest paid state employee in an athletic department). Now a volley ball contest going back to the Big 10 (oh, no, that's the Big 18--they should change their name at least}. Does Michigan play sand lot volley ball...there's a sport UO could let go. Oh well, I do keep in mind the old notion of a student athlete, vs. a scholar athlete (U of Michigan designation), or just another paid institutional employee. So, maybe I'm just nostalgic (for 12 months ago or so). BUT, I get your point!!!
The Duck found its way to the river. https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comments/1eaat8r/there_is_a_gigantic_oregon_duck_floating_down_the/
Like the Ducks or not, they’re one step ahead of everyone else when it comes to marketing.
I used to work for a multimedia company in Portland in the 1990s and we produced speaker support for most of their sales meetings, both in the US and a few globally, plus we also did the same for the top 100 executives meetings, and I can tell you that Nike is one of the best at marketing. They made sure every product had an emotional story. The Ducks are blessed to have the creative forces of Nike behind them creating such amazing and emotional content. As much as I will miss the PAC-12, I am excited to see how the Ducks do in this elite conference. Go Ducks! Just Do It!
I'm not a fan of Oregon so to speak, but I do admire and have respect for their marketing and innovative branding.
You nailed it! A marketing machine. Taking a clue from Nike, one the best at it.
Was Uncle Phil riding on it's back?
Good stuff. My idea for ties would be to make the NIL budgets for all schools PUBLIC. Then in any tie situation the school with the smaller budget would get the nod. They would have accomplished more with less - either through better coaching, superior player evaluation, or a more efficient football operation.
That’s a pretty good piece of meat at St Elmo’s.
this for John: ask the big 10 commissioner what the exit fee is? since the Ducks are only getting 1/2 share of tv revenue, would they have to pay a full share if they want to leave?--ask the former Duck brain trust if they ever asked for a full share when they left, especially since they are the highest profile program, with the best-known brand of the four who left the Pac-12- who is Rutgers anyhow?-For the Ducks: three trips east while all big-10 teams only make one westward and two Friday night games, losing a day of practice for the game and even more considering the Purdue game requires a nation-wide trip...
Well, since it appears they get a full share of all other revenue like NCAA basketball tournament, Big Ten CFP payout, combined bowls payouts, etc. they may not be too concerned about the half-share of the one component? The B1G bought the L.A. market, wasn't necessary for Eugene and Seattle.
Seems an additional hour on a charter plane as compared to a trip to Tucson may not be too unbearable?
Uh, there are 14 teams in Central and Eastern, and 4 in the West. Simple math says those 4 in the West will cross time zones more often. I realize they aren't playing juggernaut Washington-St.Louis, but I believe they will show up prepared.
I love the marketing of the Ducks, they never cease to amaze me. A blow up Duck in the river LOL
Very good! Go Ducks!
John, ask the commissioner if there is a plan to drop the conference name from Big 10 to just BIG. Purdue, my niece graduated from Purdue as did her husband. They now live in St. Paul and she works for the University of Minnesota. She was born in San Diego and graduated high school in Okinawa, winning a full ride scholarship to Purdue. With that said.. NO, I have never visited their home. I know it might sound odd, but when I moved to the Southwest in 1989 I was dead serious that good weather trumped all else in my life. Cold is not good weather and neither is hot and muggy. Tailgating at 5 degrees sounds like a horror storyline to me. Thank God for 120" screens in the comfort of my man cave during football season. Good luck covering winter time BIG road games.
Hard to believe that in a little over five weeks the CFB season will start. We shall see how the four former PAC12 teams play in the B10 conference. Looking forward to reading your takeaways John.
Agree. I think success will depend on how fast former PAC 12 teams can recruit and develop BIG 10 type rosters. It's always been a different brand of football in the Midwest.
I think playing road games in new venues where teams play different style will be more impact for the Pac4 than many believe.
Utah was 13-0, 10-3, 10-3 in the last 3 seasons in the Mt. West. Then, went 8-5, 5-7, 5-7 in the Pac12. Whittingham talked about getting used to new venues/hotels, and types of players he needed to be competitive. Obviously he figured it out, but the first 3 seasons were tough.
Yes, they breathe, eat and bleed football! It’s a lifestyle.
Oregon is always finding ways to promote their brand...
"The same goes for the mannequins that lined the stadium hallways showing off each of the school’s 2024 uniforms." Because the apostrophe is not after the S, at first I thought it meant showing off each of Oregon's 2,024 uniforms.
my bad
Great article John. Bizzaro world is a great way to describe what's happening in college football. I feel so damn ambivalent about it, really feeling like I have less interest it than ever. Will that change once the season starts? Not sure I'm ready to let myself love this sport again — I suppose, when the Pac 12 imploded, I felt like I did when the Sonics became the Oklahoma City Thunder! Like a piece of your heart is ripped out, and now strangely I feel numb about all the hype, excitment of another college football season.
Great article John. I saw the big duck floating on the river!🤣 Great PR for sure.
Surprised none of the Elmer Fudd's in Indiana took a shot at it with their shotguns.
From a UW fan’s perspective, I appreciate your perspective. All of this is really weird. Will take some getting used to.
John....this is painful! Almost as painful as Lebron James being chosen as the US Flag bearer at the opening ceremonies. Come on...let's honor the true Olympic athletes, not the billionaires.
"There was a film crew on the grass, presumably shooting some kind of marketing video for the Big Ten Conference."
Are you sure it wasn't UO making a marketing video? They're kinda self promoters.
likely oregon