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Mark Waldroop's avatar

Gould, a long-time conference lieutenant, was formally promoted to the job of commissioner on March 1. In a few short months, she’s scrapped with the SEC and Big Ten, increasing her conference’s College Football Playoff distribution from $300,000 to $3.6 million and negotiated a football TV deal with The CW and Fox. Now, she’s busy plowing head, forging relationships with the Power 4.

For only being here 5 months, that's an amazing victory record so far. She strikes me as no nonsense and can go toe-to-toe with any executive -- anytime, anywhere. Based on the story about her dad going up against the town when she was a kid, she probably inherited a lot of that grit and determination. Let's hope she can continue to make some financial headway.

GO BEAVS!!!

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John Canzano's avatar

They need her… particularly with Chun gone and and Schulz going…

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Steve Setera's avatar

The PAC-12 would be a stronger, more powerful conference if Ms Gould had been the commissioner instead of the two previous pretenders.

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Timothy E Larson's avatar

What would have been her plan for keeping the LA schools and the a real media deal?

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Craig Patti's avatar

If she wins, OSU and WSU better place statues of her in prominent campus locations

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Ed's avatar

Go Commissioner go!

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Brian M's avatar

I have a lot more faith in Ms. Gould, whom I have never even met, than I do in the scum-buckets that came before her. She has already done more good than the two put together and she is just getting started. I look forward to more bunnies she will pull from hats.

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Kevin Gillette's avatar

I wish we’d had her instead of the last two. From what I’ve seen so far, I believe she’s going to make it work, one way or the other!

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Dylan's avatar

I wished the Pac-12 had this type of fighter for their past two commissioners. Larry Scott was a wasteful out-of-touch narcissist and George Kliavkoff was a push-over & mild-mannered reactionist. Hopefully, Teresa Gould can pivot both Wazzu and Oregon State into a Power conference. There just seems to be quite a bit of scenarios on what can happen within the span of 2 years. Navigating the Pac-2 through this appears tricky as the landscape has so many moving pieces and variable agents as well as falling dominoes that are out of her control. But...she may be the right person for this. I have a lot of faith in her.

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Jay Nelson's avatar

The university president's at the time deserve at least 50% of the blame, if not more.

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Peter Howland's avatar

I agree, especially Ed Ray at OSU who stuck by Larry Scott until his departure. Ed Ray was a disaster as President.

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Dylan's avatar

That is also true. Most of them couldn't look beyond their individual selves as they sat on their high horses. Others were simply the blind following the blind. In retrospect, they were a dysfunctional group.

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Onewoodwhacker's avatar

As a life-long UW Husky fan (went to my first UW FB game in 1960) I realize I may be in the hated category here.

That said, I NEVER wanted the PAC to dissolve, and I am so sad over what was done to WSU and OSU. It's not right, and IMHO, BOTH programs deserve to be in a "Power" conference.

Furthermore, I'm NOT convinced that this move by old PAC schools to the B1G, ACC and B12, will last. I think the realization of the amount of time and travel involved, was/is a MUCH greater deal than folks anticipated.

It's my belief that when 2030 rolls around and the B1G's new media contract is renewed, we may well see UW, UO, USC and UCLA, rejoin in talks with WSU, OSU, Stanford, Cal, ASU, UA, UU and UC to re-open the PAC.

Personally, I think the belief by some, that the B1G schools will earn $100M/yr., is not very realistic. Additionally, I think folks forget that the PAC media value was DRASTICALLY DAMAGED when USC and UCLA announced they were bolting. But with them added, things change. If we could convince maybe a Nebraska and SMU to join, we'd have a VERY attractive line-up that would merit a solid $65-$75M/yr media deal.

With the savings in travel (estimated to be around $10M/yr for UW, UO, USC and UCLA), added in, we could easily become a very competitive league.

Just my belief and opinion.

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SonoranJeff's avatar

I like your premise. Wait awhile, keep your powder dry and try to get the band back together when conditions are favorable. I strongly reject the idea of stealing six Mountain West schools to form another Group of 5 conference and leave the Mountain West in tatters. We lost our beloved PAC-12 after 108 years and we are thinking of turning around and destroying another conference….to what end? For years after watching PAC games in the afternoon I would tune to the MWC and found a lot of good football. Many of those programs have been good at times but were not sustainable as a coach may have left. However there is potential there. Bronco Mendenhall is trying to revive New Mexico and with a few more good head coaches the league could be at the top of Group of 5 competing with AAC and Sunbelt. Gloria Navarez appears to be a good commissioner who can steer the MWC ship in the right direction. With regards to our beloved PAC-12, we should mourn, celebrate, and perhaps plan for a potential rebirth….not destroy someone else’s conference.

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Onewoodwhacker's avatar

Agree!

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SCBeav's avatar

This is the most important football season in the history of WSU and OSU. Think for a moment about these teams finishing 5-7. Irrelevant. Forgotten. Low TV ratings. "They belong in G5." Now think about 10-2. Spotlight. America's Teams. Strong TV ratings. "These guys belong in P4".

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chris's avatar

I just don't get this Big 12 is not interested right now. ESPN is weak in the Saturday late game. They've got Stanford, Cal, and part season with ASU and UA. Then it's Utah, BYU, and Colorado with 830pm local kick offs. I know those fans hate it

The CW is a player too. Suppose they, Amazon, Apple bring a late window. How about the Beavs stick with this third tier and accept whatever the market will pay for now.

If not then the ACC with Stanford and Cal. Add on SDSU, CSU, and maybe UNLV and lock the Big 12 completely out of the Pacific states and pacific time zone. As it is, I can't see much turn out of the Big 12 without a single team on the west coast..

I also hear that there's some potential litigation over ESPN's role in this? What's that all about?

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Jim Burns's avatar

That's my thoughts too. I would think there's a heck of a collusion case against the Big 10 and the networks. Stop playing nice.

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E2148's avatar

ESPN gave Colorado a signing bonus for defecting to the Big 12. Collusion with the B1G might be hard to prove because FOX ultimately paid freight for Oregon and Washington, but there’s certainly an argument to be made that both conferences and networks colluded to end the Pac-12 network (and possibly keep Amazon and Apple from entering the ring).

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Matt Kelly's avatar

I find a rebuilt PAC with a handful of top MWC (e.g., San Diego State, Colorado State, UNLV, Boise State) along with a couple of AAC schools (e.g., Rice, UTSA) a high probability outcome. Yeah, it’s G5, but it’s a high end G5. And I think over time can build a powerful brand, and even woo a few schools back west (e.g., Cal, Stanford, SMU, Arizona, Arizona State, even UCLA). To your point, box out and outmaneuver for markets and colleges in the west, that actually play markets and colleges in the west. Over time, it could rival the B12 in viewership.

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chris's avatar

Problem is web probably have to cut sports then. MW does not sponsor the same number of sports

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Matt Kelly's avatar

You are missing the point, a rebuilt PAC12 is not the MWC. There would be certain AD budgetary floor requirements, which in turn would fund programs. As is, programs can opt in/out of sports in virtually any conference.

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chris's avatar

This is not the answer.

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Sally Riley's avatar

It will still be G5+ at best and won’t bring a decent TV revenue deal

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Matt Kelly's avatar

I agree. In the short term. Value low, probably $10m a year or so. But we don’t know the future college football landscape.

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Al Powell's avatar

That's the Canzano plan, and I like it!

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John-Henry Cottrell's avatar

I was wrong.

Months back you interviewed Gould and I was critical, thinking she gave milk toast answers,and figured her to be a milk toast Commissioner. I was wrong, she with Barnes, Schultz and Murthy, have been absolutely brilliant.

I do have one complaint though. The Pac-12 After Dark media event is a perfect example. Great setup, heartfelt, outside the box thinking, great way to entice reporters that normally would have given up on us... But one HUGE issue... No marketing to the fans on how to view the event. I'm really invested in knowing what is going on, probably more than your average fan, and I accidentally fell upon it seven days after it was posted!!!

So I absolutely love the work they are doing, CAN THEY DO SOME FREAKING MARKETING!!!!

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Jim T's avatar

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve also mentioned that there has been absolutely no information on how and when to watch a game on CW. Streaming? Live? . Its ridiculous that we’ve not gotten any information about this.

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Ray Hacke's avatar

Here's a question for your Mailbag: You mentioned that "Brett Yormark’s conference (the Big 12) covets TV windows." In making decisions concerning what schools to go after, do conferences ever consider that a school in a relatively small market may have a huge following in a much larger market? For instance, Oregon State (Corvallis) and Washington State (Pullman) may be located in small college towns. However, I'm fairly certain there are a ton of OSU fans and alumni in Portland, and there are a ton of WSU fans and alumni in Seattle. Does that factor into conferences' and network executives' thinking at all?

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SonoranJeff's avatar

Good point. When I hear they covet the eyeballs of the big markets I often think of Lubbock, Stillwater, Manhattan (KS), Ames.

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Matt Kelly's avatar

I like Teresa Gould. I like Anne McCoy. I like Scott Barnes. The 2 universities are in the best hands they can be in. Whatever the outcome, we know these 3 will leave it all on the field

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Sally Riley's avatar

Rebuilding the PAC with MW schools only makes it G5+ at best. Fingers crossed for B12. Both schools are a good fit

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Monte Olsen's avatar

I’m hoping for a reformation of the PAC-12. It will provide compelling TV and with the right teams will be popular with most current fans and onlookers ready to jump in and support them.

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Sally Riley's avatar

It will be the death of us. MW schools won’t make for a decent TV deal

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David Gulickson's avatar

All this is so bizarre…watching “Washington Training Camp” on the B1G Network

crazy

GO DAWGS

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Bruce Mandel's avatar

Great 3rd basemen have Cat-quick reflexes, Extraordinary understanding of the game in motion, and a GUN for an arm. Many hit for both power and average. (Brett/Schmidt/Cal/Alex/Adrian) to name a few... Gould is on her way... Let's hope she can find a Road Grader also...

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Ed S.'s avatar

Often times the shiny new object ( GK, LS) just can’t do the job and aren’t worth the money. These two tools don’t compare with the strength and leadership Gould is exhibiting. We are lucky (finally) to have her on the job.

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