36 Comments

Pretty hard for George to read minds, as apparently lately USC and UCLA weren’t overtly screaming for bigger slices of the pie, and in any event it’s clear the other schools would have voted them down. The schools’ own self interest/greed blinded them to the value of the L.A. schools and the vast amounts of money they were leaving on the table. Kind of like in the workplace, you underpay your star performers at your peril, because they always have other opportunities.

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IMHO, the only beauty to this whole thing, John, is knowing that SC will remain as an also ran & UCLA ‘may occasionally’ get an invitation to the Dew Drop In Hotdog Bowl’.

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At the risk of oversimplifying, college sports is a broken model. More profound changes will have to occur in order to fix it.

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My take is this is a mostly manufactured crises. Al this talk about TV revenue.....Oregon doesn't have to rely on it.

Look, we likely just got the best QB in the country to sign with the Ducks, plus the best running back is about to sign and several defensive line beasts are looking to jump on the Lanning train as well.

To me, this whole thing has become a non-issue.

The Ducks will be competing for a National Championship with the roster Lanning and Co. are putting together. Heck they might already compete this year and next before their first recruiting classes even start to see the field.

Regarding Oregon at least, I am looking at the bright side. Also the Beavers are on a roll as well. We are going to be just fine no matter how this all shakes.

I am officially putting it behind me. I hope UCLA and USC don't let the door hit them on the way out.

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Let's see, the Washington St. AD thinks parity in revenue is the best thing for the conference. Ha! Now that's a shock!

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Hang in there George and keep plugging away...I'm sure you'll find a way.

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As always, another good read.

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Money talks. For all the supposed collegiality BS, the Alliance, etc.. it is every man for himself, and keep an eye on your back. Opinion: TV networks have it all wrong, paying a premium for the LA market because you have UCLA & USC in your league makes no sense. If I have a choice as an LA resident to watch Maryland vs USC or Oregon vs Michigan, I am watching Oregon. Is Birmingham a big market? South Bend? Greenville SC? It is the content, not the schools location that is important.

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Very little discussion anywhere about the affect on players regarding these emerging mega-conferences and media megadeals. The players are going to want more than NIL money. Eventually there will be unionization, players associations, etc. What a time for college football fans. Lesser schools within the mega-conferences will certainly want parity. Perhaps the teams left outside looking in will move on to reestablish a CFB atmosphere from the old days, less obsessed with the playoffs. The drama is just beginning. Hoping just to enjoy the Beavers play on Saturdays after some tailgating.

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Great perspective. Nicely put JC.

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Jul 8, 2022·edited Jul 8, 2022

Do NOT expand...the object is to consolidate and maximize the revenue for schools. Not dilute it. There aren't any other schools out there that would increase revenues. The ONLY one, and I doubt they would increase media share payouts is BYU...and they just signed a deal with the Big 12. so basically it's 1). break up and the member schools go their separate ways. 2) figure out a way to stay together and join the Big-12. 3) Join the ACC in a sort of loose affiliation together East vs West. and Div. winners play each other for conf. championship. (that sounds the most prosperous, and fundamentally sound for all members.)

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Loyalty begets loyalty. George has done more good in a year than Larry ever did. Let the SoCal schools go, they're mediocre anyway. Enlist some rising schools like Fresno State and Boise State and a TV partner like ESPN so that college sports are still national and not focused on the Eastern Time Zone. Or let everyone sell out.

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George is an enormous improvement over Larry Scott and I think he will produce the best possible outcome of this situation. Nonetheless, did George and the Pac-12 CEO group mistakenly believe that USC did not have any other realistic options? Everyone knew USC was unhappy with equal revenue sharing and had to have realized that USC was exploring its options. Perhaps the real oversight was not recognizing that USC and UCLA were closely aligned and, if USC left, they would take UCLA with them?

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Sorry to say, but this has been a dumpster fire of a conference for a long time and Larry Scott turned out to be the final mail in the coffin. I hope Oregon can escape to a conference that has a chance of not just surviving but actually thriving in whatever this new landscape looks like.

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Can some one refresh my memory of the last time the LA schools deserted the NW? Was it in the days of the old PCC? I seem to recall a 6 school conference at one time. The LA schools eventually came back. Details?

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Granted, they're not competitive in the TV world. But it's surprising how often they are really competitive with PAC12 schools. But college athletics are about money and TV, not sports, right?

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