Jul 1, 2022·edited Jul 1, 2022Liked by John Canzano
I grew up hearing what seemed like dozens of references in TV shows to older characters who “never got over the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn.” I know we’re not losing our team(s), but for me this has the same feel to it in that it’s a defining moment where you know nothing will ever be the same.
The emergence of the LIV Golf organization and the Pumpkin Ridge tournament have linkage with the PAC 12 hole-in-bottom-of-boat story. LIV is about the Kingdom of Saudi sports-washing their image by buying - outright - these athletes. I am sure you know that the killing of the Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was pinned on the Saudis only because he was wearing an Apple iWatch. That device not only gave his geographic location via GPS, but made a continuous realtime recording of his murder. Maybe that recording should be played at the tournament convocation / brunch. Or maybe played on the music system in the private jet these mercenary athletes use as the wheels go up on takeoff to transport them to their next gig.
USC and UCLA's decision to bolt from the Pac 12, 100 years of tradition, rivalries, not to mention California taxpayer's support is appalling in it's naked greed.
The Pac-12 rebuffed a merger proposal from the Big 12, but that's the best hope now. Otherwise Oregon and Washington are gone to the Big10, and the Big 12 scoops up the Arizona and mountain schools.
Jul 1, 2022·edited Jul 1, 2022Liked by John Canzano
I remember when Mike Bellotti announced his retirement about four coaches ago and I thought, "Boy, that's a big change!" Nope. That was nothing. Who'd a thought it would end up like this?
Thank you for your thoughts - keep'em coming! I suspect we're just getting started.
Lots of options in there, and none of them good ones.
Oregon and Washington are looking for the exit door right now. Big Ten is the primary hope. SEC sounds like a pipe dream, poor fit all around. If Big Ten says no, would the two consider the ACC? Definitely a step down from the Big Ten, but more stable in terms of both membership and finances than the Pac-12 right now. Whatever influence Phil might have in getting UO into the Big Ten, he'll want to wield it.
If the remaining 10 teams stay put, does the Pac dust off it's old Pac-10 logos and letterhead? Feel bad for Kliavkoff. Seems like a bright guy who could do wonders in the right situation, but he just happened to walk into a minefield.
This will turn out very bad for both UCLA and USC as they will not have winning records for years but they will have $. Oh and they will love the constant cross country travel-think the other schools will point to beating them the next 2 years-this has ruined college football for me-what rivalries are all about is now totally lost-those 2 defector schools can drop into the ocean with the next earthquake as far as I am concerned (with no loss of life, just their football/basketball facilities into the ocean!)
John, good research on your take this morning. I've followed CFB for some 50 years, mostly Pac-8 and beyond. One of the biggest changes in the sport over the last decade has been a rabid focus on the National Championship. It didn't used to be that way. If you won it, OK, great, but if your team went 8-2, won its conference and you went to a bowl game, that was great, too. You could even have a fun, successful season if you didn’t win your conference! Now, it seems to be NC or bust. Everyone's chasing the elusive NC Playoff bid, and it's triggered a $ arms race that's sadly lessened conference loyalty, tradition, and history. Personally as a fan, I liked the old days more.
Again all these changes that are happening in college sports ignore the average fan. Fans should have a bigger say in what's going on. After all, bottom line they are financially supporting all of this.
Well I don't believe a big 12 move is in the works, or would even be a smart move...they just took in Houston, BYU, Cincinnati, and Central Florida. Those aren't earth shattering revenue makers. If going to a large conference was all that mattered then fine...but 20 schools where none of them draw a large TV Market share makes no sense. I doubt the Big 10 is open to sharing TV revenue with small market Oregon & Washington. But then they took in perennial bottom feeder Rutgers, so who knows?
Merge what's left of the Big 12 (8), PAC 12 (10), add BYU, cherry pick the Mt. West (Boise, UNLV, SD State, SJ State, Fresno) = 24 team "Semi-Super" conference. Split into two divisions (Pacific time zone + AZ schools) and everybody else. Of course, I could be overthinking this. (My wife just said, "you think?) What a sad, sad mess.
I grew up hearing what seemed like dozens of references in TV shows to older characters who “never got over the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn.” I know we’re not losing our team(s), but for me this has the same feel to it in that it’s a defining moment where you know nothing will ever be the same.
From The Godfather ...
Sal Tessio: 'Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him.'
This is what major college athletics has disintegrated into: organized crime.
The emergence of the LIV Golf organization and the Pumpkin Ridge tournament have linkage with the PAC 12 hole-in-bottom-of-boat story. LIV is about the Kingdom of Saudi sports-washing their image by buying - outright - these athletes. I am sure you know that the killing of the Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was pinned on the Saudis only because he was wearing an Apple iWatch. That device not only gave his geographic location via GPS, but made a continuous realtime recording of his murder. Maybe that recording should be played at the tournament convocation / brunch. Or maybe played on the music system in the private jet these mercenary athletes use as the wheels go up on takeoff to transport them to their next gig.
USC and UCLA's decision to bolt from the Pac 12, 100 years of tradition, rivalries, not to mention California taxpayer's support is appalling in it's naked greed.
The Pac-12 rebuffed a merger proposal from the Big 12, but that's the best hope now. Otherwise Oregon and Washington are gone to the Big10, and the Big 12 scoops up the Arizona and mountain schools.
Add Boise state and Fresno. Not a great media market but better than nothing and they are halfway decent teams.
Eastern Washington and PSU won’t help.
Maybe San Diego State and Fresno.
I think BYU, Notre Dame would be a good add.
I remember when Mike Bellotti announced his retirement about four coaches ago and I thought, "Boy, that's a big change!" Nope. That was nothing. Who'd a thought it would end up like this?
Thank you for your thoughts - keep'em coming! I suspect we're just getting started.
Lots of options in there, and none of them good ones.
Oregon and Washington are looking for the exit door right now. Big Ten is the primary hope. SEC sounds like a pipe dream, poor fit all around. If Big Ten says no, would the two consider the ACC? Definitely a step down from the Big Ten, but more stable in terms of both membership and finances than the Pac-12 right now. Whatever influence Phil might have in getting UO into the Big Ten, he'll want to wield it.
If the remaining 10 teams stay put, does the Pac dust off it's old Pac-10 logos and letterhead? Feel bad for Kliavkoff. Seems like a bright guy who could do wonders in the right situation, but he just happened to walk into a minefield.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Presidents Cauce and Schill hold the fate of the conference in their hands.
This will turn out very bad for both UCLA and USC as they will not have winning records for years but they will have $. Oh and they will love the constant cross country travel-think the other schools will point to beating them the next 2 years-this has ruined college football for me-what rivalries are all about is now totally lost-those 2 defector schools can drop into the ocean with the next earthquake as far as I am concerned (with no loss of life, just their football/basketball facilities into the ocean!)
Oregon and Washington are as good as gone.
John, good research on your take this morning. I've followed CFB for some 50 years, mostly Pac-8 and beyond. One of the biggest changes in the sport over the last decade has been a rabid focus on the National Championship. It didn't used to be that way. If you won it, OK, great, but if your team went 8-2, won its conference and you went to a bowl game, that was great, too. You could even have a fun, successful season if you didn’t win your conference! Now, it seems to be NC or bust. Everyone's chasing the elusive NC Playoff bid, and it's triggered a $ arms race that's sadly lessened conference loyalty, tradition, and history. Personally as a fan, I liked the old days more.
As usual, with your expeience and insights John, I think you have a legitimate view of the times and the future.
Again all these changes that are happening in college sports ignore the average fan. Fans should have a bigger say in what's going on. After all, bottom line they are financially supporting all of this.
👏Keep doing You😎
Well I don't believe a big 12 move is in the works, or would even be a smart move...they just took in Houston, BYU, Cincinnati, and Central Florida. Those aren't earth shattering revenue makers. If going to a large conference was all that mattered then fine...but 20 schools where none of them draw a large TV Market share makes no sense. I doubt the Big 10 is open to sharing TV revenue with small market Oregon & Washington. But then they took in perennial bottom feeder Rutgers, so who knows?
Merge what's left of the Big 12 (8), PAC 12 (10), add BYU, cherry pick the Mt. West (Boise, UNLV, SD State, SJ State, Fresno) = 24 team "Semi-Super" conference. Split into two divisions (Pacific time zone + AZ schools) and everybody else. Of course, I could be overthinking this. (My wife just said, "you think?) What a sad, sad mess.