As recently as a year ago I'd have said I wouldn't like turning college football into a junior-NFL. Given what's happened since then, and what's likely to come, now I think it might be the best thing that could happen to the sport. Did some back-of-envelope pondering of how the seven 10-team divisions could be aligned, both to make geographic sense and preserve as many rivalries as possible (and even revive several that have gone dormant). I even restored some old conference names.
Instead of lip balm, the Trailtankers should be handing out Preparation H for fan appreciation night to offer some relief from the way they've been screwing them the last several years.
Using OSU's losing BB players to the portal as an example, I can't understand why they don't stay. Next year, all things remaining the same, an OSU women's team who went to the Elite 8 in a Power 5 conference would play in a lesser competitive conference with the same quality players. Why wouldn't they want to stay and slay everyone else in the conference? Are the players thinking they won't get paid NIL? Please help me wrap my head around this. Thanks.
All the schools not in the SEC/B10 need to band together and threaten to form their own playoff. Say an NCAA December Madness with it's own TV deal. Not having a legitimate national champion will torpedo the TV money for the BCS if only the SEC and B10 are in it. It's the only leverage the other schools have and they should use it.
John, of all the current or former college football coaches you have known, who would have been best equipped (in demeanor) to negotiate a union contract with his players? Conversely, who would have struggled the most if they had to do it?
Here's one for the mailbag: While I was driving home from the Hillsboro Hops' opening game the other night, I was pleasantly surprised to hear male commentators on a national sports talk radio show breaking down the Iowa-Connecticut women's basketball game the way men's games have been analyzed for years. To be honest, I haven't heard much of that, and to some degree, still don't. As the father of daughters, do you consider that a sign that women's sports and female athletes are finally getting the respect and recognition they deserve -- especially as women's basketball and other sports (such as soccer or softball) grow in popularity? If not, what will it take to get there?
I've been under the impression from you and Jon Wilner that Fox (especially) would want a piece of the new college football playoff telecast rights as the culminating payoff for their Billion$/yr contract with the Big 10. Any thoughts (or word from Bob Thompson) how this went down w/o Fox? They must have given the Big 10 their tacit approval, no? Would be fascinating to hear Bob's thoughts on Fox's strategy here.
The schools that are at the top are the schools and fan bases that invested big time. The Cougs and Beavers like it or not, were part of a cooperative of school presidents that killed the golden goose. Self inflicted damage should not be rewarded. Lawsuits? What did the top schools do, what are they guilty of? Investing too much? Being highly successful? Note: Alabama, the basketball team is in the final four and the football team was in the championship final four of football. Why? Because one visit to the school facilities and the level of fan support came about because Alabamans care. They care more than the rest. Oregon fans and boosters care more and that is why they are forecast to win it all in football. So what are they guilty of? Lawsuits? BS
I think the 70 member high level league is what fans want. It certainly honors the traditions of the game and its historic divisions. The P5 and G5 were created with this structure in mind. So I am all in with this CST proposal!! That said, I don't think this is what ESPN, CBS and FSN want. They want a 32 team league that is more concentrated which makes production cost lower and the ability to air all games easier for the networks, who pay the cost of production and distribution. Who has the power? The fans or the media? I think it is the media since they have all the money. Fans only spend a fraction on tickets and such compared to the networks. And money talks. If there is anything I can do to help the CST proposal, I would love to know.
A slight correction on the Final Night's Giveaway, Ticketmaster is the sponsor of the Lip Balm Giveaway, It is just being handed at at the Trailblazer's game.
Interesting prospect. Chip Kelly's remarks about separating out football from other sports was intriguing when he said several months ago. Sounds like others are running with the idea and it would be fun if it came to be. I'd love to see a Pacific Division of the old PAC-10 rise up from the ashes of the PAC12 implosion.
Big 10 & SEC will "go for it" when they realize this sort of deal can be offered as a settlement of the House lawsuit. Getting to a set salary structure with individual bonuses for performance will settle down the transfer portal. And relegation should be determined by a team's combined two-year record. Promotion should be for more than one year.
As recently as a year ago I'd have said I wouldn't like turning college football into a junior-NFL. Given what's happened since then, and what's likely to come, now I think it might be the best thing that could happen to the sport. Did some back-of-envelope pondering of how the seven 10-team divisions could be aligned, both to make geographic sense and preserve as many rivalries as possible (and even revive several that have gone dormant). I even restored some old conference names.
Big Ten: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Pac 10: Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State
SEC: Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
ACC: Georgia Tech, Clemson, South Carolina, UNC, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland
Big East: Miami, Florida State, West Virginia, Pitt, Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston College, UCF, Notre Dame
SWC: Texas, Texas A&M, Houston, TCU, SMU, Baylor, Arkansas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
Big Eight+: Utah, BYU, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Louisville
Instead of lip balm, the Trailtankers should be handing out Preparation H for fan appreciation night to offer some relief from the way they've been screwing them the last several years.
Why is Coach Graves continually losing his top recruits to the transfer portal?
For the Monday mailbag:
Using OSU's losing BB players to the portal as an example, I can't understand why they don't stay. Next year, all things remaining the same, an OSU women's team who went to the Elite 8 in a Power 5 conference would play in a lesser competitive conference with the same quality players. Why wouldn't they want to stay and slay everyone else in the conference? Are the players thinking they won't get paid NIL? Please help me wrap my head around this. Thanks.
All the schools not in the SEC/B10 need to band together and threaten to form their own playoff. Say an NCAA December Madness with it's own TV deal. Not having a legitimate national champion will torpedo the TV money for the BCS if only the SEC and B10 are in it. It's the only leverage the other schools have and they should use it.
John, of all the current or former college football coaches you have known, who would have been best equipped (in demeanor) to negotiate a union contract with his players? Conversely, who would have struggled the most if they had to do it?
Here's one for the mailbag: While I was driving home from the Hillsboro Hops' opening game the other night, I was pleasantly surprised to hear male commentators on a national sports talk radio show breaking down the Iowa-Connecticut women's basketball game the way men's games have been analyzed for years. To be honest, I haven't heard much of that, and to some degree, still don't. As the father of daughters, do you consider that a sign that women's sports and female athletes are finally getting the respect and recognition they deserve -- especially as women's basketball and other sports (such as soccer or softball) grow in popularity? If not, what will it take to get there?
Will you be covering Pac12 baseball this season?
If Jody Allen sells the blazers will it stay in Portland?
The prize: lip balm. I thought this was a very good sarcastic joke until I read further.
"Come on Man" you cant be serious...
John,
I've been under the impression from you and Jon Wilner that Fox (especially) would want a piece of the new college football playoff telecast rights as the culminating payoff for their Billion$/yr contract with the Big 10. Any thoughts (or word from Bob Thompson) how this went down w/o Fox? They must have given the Big 10 their tacit approval, no? Would be fascinating to hear Bob's thoughts on Fox's strategy here.
The schools that are at the top are the schools and fan bases that invested big time. The Cougs and Beavers like it or not, were part of a cooperative of school presidents that killed the golden goose. Self inflicted damage should not be rewarded. Lawsuits? What did the top schools do, what are they guilty of? Investing too much? Being highly successful? Note: Alabama, the basketball team is in the final four and the football team was in the championship final four of football. Why? Because one visit to the school facilities and the level of fan support came about because Alabamans care. They care more than the rest. Oregon fans and boosters care more and that is why they are forecast to win it all in football. So what are they guilty of? Lawsuits? BS
I think the 70 member high level league is what fans want. It certainly honors the traditions of the game and its historic divisions. The P5 and G5 were created with this structure in mind. So I am all in with this CST proposal!! That said, I don't think this is what ESPN, CBS and FSN want. They want a 32 team league that is more concentrated which makes production cost lower and the ability to air all games easier for the networks, who pay the cost of production and distribution. Who has the power? The fans or the media? I think it is the media since they have all the money. Fans only spend a fraction on tickets and such compared to the networks. And money talks. If there is anything I can do to help the CST proposal, I would love to know.
A slight correction on the Final Night's Giveaway, Ticketmaster is the sponsor of the Lip Balm Giveaway, It is just being handed at at the Trailblazer's game.
Interesting prospect. Chip Kelly's remarks about separating out football from other sports was intriguing when he said several months ago. Sounds like others are running with the idea and it would be fun if it came to be. I'd love to see a Pacific Division of the old PAC-10 rise up from the ashes of the PAC12 implosion.
Big 10 & SEC will "go for it" when they realize this sort of deal can be offered as a settlement of the House lawsuit. Getting to a set salary structure with individual bonuses for performance will settle down the transfer portal. And relegation should be determined by a team's combined two-year record. Promotion should be for more than one year.