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Glenn Benson's avatar

The Pac-12 or Pac-10 soon will not be able to compete with the ESPN/Fox semi-pro league that is starting to crystalize, $10M for a coach, NIL deals worth millions, transfer portals all of which make a sick joke out of the infamous "student athlete." oxymoron. being a Cal grad and someone who bled with season tickets for 35 years I hope one of two things happen...Cal leads the way and gives up football or joins up with other academic institutions out here to form a west coast league of some kind that plays an east coast league on New Years Day in the Rose Bowl. Ask yourself, what is the alternative to all of this for schools like Cal and Stanford? I have decided to no longer watch college football, except a few local games, as what is the point....playing to be in the Las Vegas Bowl or taking the $1M to be cannon fodder for an SEC team? Sad state of affairs.

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Charles A Roseberry's avatar

Well played Glenn, well played. Charlie

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AndyPanda's avatar

The question the Pac-x will have to answer is not whether they can compete, its whether they are willing to. Is relevance of any importance or not?

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jon joseph's avatar

Glenn, we already financially have a Power 2, the B1G and the SEC. The B1G is 'owned' by FOX and the SEC is 'owned' by Disney/ESPN.

A school like Northwestern, comparable to CAL in many ways, will be receiving $60M + per annum in revenue while CAL will be receiving @ one half of this amount.

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Glenn Benson's avatar

Last time I looked Northwestern, mostly known as the Mild Cats were 1-8 and THE Ohio State is undefeated. Maybe they will get $60M, but they have become as uncompetitive in the last few years as Stanfurd.

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jon joseph's avatar

And I think that ie he rub and what will ultimately help lead to a Super League of competitive programs.

SC was not willing to take a smaller equal share with teams in the Pac-12 that did not pend the capital on football and to a lesser extent on CBB.

With football fully capitalized how long will Ohio State be willing to give an equal share to NW and Rutgers.

The geographic nature of the sport of CFB and conferences has been ruptured by money. Flat out capitalism has taken over CFB yet revenues are distribute in a socialist manner. I do not see it lasting.

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Mike Doyle's avatar

Why not call it what it is? These college athletes participating in NIL are simply paid professionals, getting experience before they move up from the NCAA to the NFL. OSU, UO and the other PAC 12 schools should refuse to participate in such hypocritical fraud. If that means not being on the national scene or getting into the playoffs, so what?

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Charles A Roseberry's avatar

Well played Mike, well played. Charlie

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jon joseph's avatar

Mike, once upon a time the Yale Bowl, Harvard Stadium, Princeton Stadium, etc. sold out and were the center of college football.

Today, these stadiums are vacant except perhaps, for the annual rivalry game. There are no athletic scholarships in The Ivy League but generous academic aid to athletes; these schools are very well endowed. Ivy sports do participate in NCAA events but not football; no bowl games or playoffs for the Ivy League football schools.

Look at Stanford and CAL today and for that matter UCLA.. These schools play in close to empty stadiums; yet, all get the same revenue cut as does Oregon.

I think CFB will continue to coalesce to a league of 32 to 40 'big boy' teams who will be happy to pay their athlete-students and negotiate with a players union; a mini NFL. At that point in time I can easily see a 'west coast Ivy League' being formed.

No doubt in terms of the goal being 1st to educate young people many schools playing big time sports have lost their way.

I played football and ice hockey at D3 Bowdoin College. We were not paid a dime. We played for the love of the sport and for the love of our teammates.

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AndyPanda's avatar

The last time I checked, I thought the objective of colleges is to prepare and equip students to be paid professionals.

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Mike Doyle's avatar

Yes, college does prepare students to be paid professionals when they graduate. But, that preparation is accomplished by the students going to class, studying and learning. Ordinary students don't get paid to achieve these goals, other than scholarships based on academic merit, which pays tuition. These NIL "students" are simply being hired temporarily to play for the team that gives them the best deal.

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Chip Hilton's avatar

I am coming around to your solution and that is not participate by watching or attending.

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Sallee Lines's avatar

This kinda makes me sick! It seem out of control already.

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jon joseph's avatar

The pendulum has rightfully swung but IMO it has swung way too far.

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AndyPanda's avatar

That was a predictable reaction to the NCAA and many of its members being unreasonably stuck in a controlling and outdated system for far too long.

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Nov 11, 2022
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jon joseph's avatar

If ever? Perhaps when our species further evolves?

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Brad Weekly's avatar

Let's acknowledge the obvious: when the Supreme Court bitch-slapped the NCAA it opened the door for what has happened since. I think most of us agree compensating players is long overdue. But I do think some measure of regulation is in order.

Go Ducks.

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Jerry's avatar

Guess I’m old fashioned but it seems to me this is a downward spiral that is infecting collegiate athletics. These kids are no longer amateurs. It has become all about money and greed and that has polluted sports at this level. Money and the LIV has ruined watching professional golf. Having the same effect for me on Saturdays. You are wiser than me John but when I read about what’s going on I feel a little sick. Thanks for letting me ramble. And, thanks for your columns keeping us informed!

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AndyPanda's avatar

It's called modernizing college athletics.

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Brian M's avatar

This is an interesting post. I am not familiar with these collectives, but I am with the new NIL concept. I have been expressing my support for something like an NIL for decades. I thought it was fundamentally unfair to exploit generally financially disadvantaged athletes for the benefit of a wealthy college or university and the entertainment of students and alumni. It had a plantation feel to it. Now that NIL is legal and a reality, just like with the portal, Oregon State has to catch up and play the game. There is no point in reminiscing (and for the Beavs, reminiscing to the 70s and 80s is just painful anyway). Lets get a financially strong "collective" going and bid for these special athletes against the other universities. As long as what they demand is legal, who are we to judge? The kids will get the resources they need to get a leg up in life, even if they don't become academic all-stars, and the university alumni will still be entertained and provided a feeling of pride in their school. It is win-win as far as I am concerned.

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Jim Stewart's avatar

Sigh...

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David Gulickson's avatar

my sentiments exactly

GO DAWGS

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Joe Ping's avatar

Wtf did Nike pay Bo?

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Rick Olson's avatar

It would be nice to see a star player come in and distribute his NIL among the

whole team...better yet if a school decided that was their policy for all players.

There's got to be some hard feelings among players that work just as hard and are

even starters but receive way less.

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jon joseph's avatar

A number of the big time NIL guys have distributed gifts to teammates.

One of the Texas NIL collectives pays each O lineman at least $25,000.00 a year.

Don't forget that players in other sports are receiving NIL money. Including many women engaged in women's sports.

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JimS's avatar

I appreciate players being able to be compensated. The sad result is programs like Tennessee and USC have bought their way into playoff contention in less than a year because they are paying more than other schools.

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Joseph N. Smith's avatar

Seems like the NFL should be contributing to their minor leagues.

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jon joseph's avatar

Won't happen until the NFL is forced to do so. Why pay for a free lunch?

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RJBobby's avatar

JT + Daddy reminds me of another famous ex-Trojan QB/Daddy duo, Todd and Marv Marinovich. Except JT is allowed to eat sugar.

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Ole Dame's avatar

I hope the Beavers do what WSU is doing and use it to keep the good ones from leaving instead of going for outside guys to the highest bidder.

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Bob Lowe's avatar

That’s kinda gross. Why does a college kid need a 4 BR house? Hey, ask and ye shall receive. Eeek.

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Jim O's avatar

It’s nice to see Daniels and his father got their comeuppance. Even if they got the house and cook, which is doubtful, ending up in West Virginia on a poor team is just rewards. Perhaps they learned too late that it pays to have your priorities in order.

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Mark Waldroop's avatar

John, I'm sure in the past, you've asked for Coach Smith's opinion on the transfer portal. I'd be curious as to what he said. But....I have to wonder if Coach is falling behind by not giving the portal enough consideration to find a quarterback who can help the team immediately. I'm glad a collective has been formed to help OSU athletes. I just wish they would have created it a year ago. I hope they can catch up and reap the benefits, like Oregon and USC did.

My prediction: Beavs 42, Cal 24

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