I don't think people from Portland south to Corvallis have thought through how damaging this will be to the state of Oregon. I would not want to be a business owner in Corvallis who depends on the big weekends from football, baseball and basketball games. They are goners. Corvallis will likely loise residents and shrink in size as businesses related to the campus fail and even students take Corvallis off their list of places to attend. But even as far as Portland, this implosion of the PAC12 will cast a giant shadow. There will be no more intrastate rivalry between the Ducks and Beavers, or the Huskies and Cougars, any more than there is between the Ducks and Willamette University, Western Oregon in Monmouth or Portland State. Without the power of the rivalry, the Ducks will get hit, too. This is NOT a win for the Ducks. It is a disaster for west coast college sports hollowing out west coast sports and all the tag along benefits of 12 rivalries up and down the coast. So Ducks can stop grinning now.
OSU is the largest public school in the state. It will remain so. OSU is the preferred choice by in-state students. It will remain so.
Its research budget dwarfs that of UO's. It won't be impacted by UO changing conferences.
The College of Engineering is far and away the biggest academic major at OSU, with about 10K undergraduates. Prospective engineers are not going to look at UO, which doesn't have an engineering program, to attend college.
I think athletics has a much smaller impact on where a student decides to go to school than you think. And all that Big 10 money won't stop Eugene from being a haven to the homeless.
Flash - You don't need to list all the amenities of Corvallis to take a shot at U of O. They are both great schools - different yes, but both great - and I believe the vast majority are not happy about today's news. It certainly is not most wanted.
well said Gary! The state of Oregon is pretty amazing in that it has 2 strong public universities with excellent national reputations with the overall population size we have.
Remember, The University of Oregon has an athletic budget that is self sustaining and not a part of the academic side at all. One of a handful in the nation that can say that.
LOL... that's the funniest thing I've read this year. The only reason why Oregon's athletic budget is "self-sustaining" is because it receives massive infusions of outside cash from the "Sneaker Don" Phil Knight. The bad news is that he's 85 years old and not long for this world. If you think that Nike will continue to financially dope Oregon athletics after his passing then you're wrong. I hope that Oregon has contingency plans regarding this because it's bound to cause a massive hole in its athletics budget.
That assertion about the source of U of Os budget is massively incorrect. The Knights have been generous with donations for capital projects indeed (as have alumni at every top 50 university in the country). As to the apparel deal with Nike... not in the top ten nationally. With an average annual value of about $9 million, Notre Dame’s apparel deal ranks in the top 10 nationally along with Texas (Nike), Louisville (Adidas), Kansas (Adidas), Washington (Adidas), Ohio State (Nike), Nebraska (Adidas), Michigan (Nike), Auburn (UA) and Wisconsin (UA).
So, the Knights have donated well over $1B in the last decade plus to Oregon Athletics. Boone Pickens is far behind with around a $500M donation to Oklahoma State. If that's not financial doping, I don't know what is.
Infrastructure personal donations are not annual revenue. I assume you know the difference. Check out the total Alumni donations at Alabama and Texas and get back to us. What school again?
All of what you say is in the context of OSU as a 100+ year PAC12 (or predecessors) participant. You don't think sports matter to a university's status with students? Why is OSU in Corvallis a bigger school than Portland State? Besides an early start, the difference is PAC12 participation. It sure is not the local population.
Maybe so today. But what would it be if were in the PAC12 the past 100+ years? U of MN is right in downtown Minneapolis (where I lived for 30 years). Here in Phoenix, ASU is in the city. So don't tell me a major university can't be in an urban environment. You are sure giving tradition a lot of credit at OSU on a day when tradition died.
Have you ever been to Portland? PSU has a campus very uninviting for residential students. It is built as a commuter college. I attended several classes over a period of years and did not feel a part of the college life. Maybe those who live in a few of the student apartments which exist have a different feeling? ...And remember Portland is home of Anarchy at its worst. Who would want to send a teenager to college in a war zone?
ASU isn't "in the city." Even in the 1980s, when I went there, it wasn't all that attached to Phoenix. You didn't have to drive far to get completely into very rural territory. It's part of a metropolitan area that largely grew up around it as the population in that are exploded.
I live here, dude. ASU is in the city and was when I went there in the early 80s. Tempe is an urban suburb of Phoenix with almost as many office towers now as downtown Phoenix. Why are you trying to split hairs?
you are taking this a little too personal...Oregon was invited....UW was invited...they both saw the writing on the wall...and had to do what they had to do to stay relevant. yes it's a tragedy for the conference over all IMO...it really will suck for all the shop owners, bar owners, pizza joints, restaurants, who have invested their life savings into local businesses who rely on gameday income.
I'm a Duck through and through...But I'm not happy about all this. Grinning??? oh hell no. I'm pissed off. But Fox sports doesn't care. They're still going to rake in their billions in ad revenue, even after the payouts.
YOU...EA flash and few other OSU fans/Alums need to stop the hate...it's childish and immature...I don't blame you for being angry. YOU SHOULD BE!! But your blame and hatred is misplaced and misdirected.
It is not personal for me. I have the Gophers who are safely ensconced in the B1G in a major market like Minneapolis. They will be there at the end of the day. Personally, I think all markets that do not have an NFL team are at risk. The same media types who are driving the college sports bus basically want to match the financial return of pro sports. That means a lot fewer teams so lower costs to cover the games with smaller conference / team payouts. 32 NFL teams = 32 college teams in the largest markets. That is what major media wants. Apparently, what they want they get. This is totally impersonal, just realistic. I wonder if the Ducks make the cut. I doubt it, to be honest, once Phil is gone to protect them
You do not understand my basic theory which is that the Media companies are running NCAA major sports using their money and programming. The NCAA is apparently willing to do whatever the Media companies tell them to do. They sure have not pushed back at all on these realignments, which they should have the power to do. The Media companies have the NFL in mind as a profit model which works. The Media companies want Saturdays to be as profitable as Sundays and so are orchestrating a two conference league from the largest and best programs. They want a team in each major market, where they make their big ad $$, and those markets have been defined over 100 years of pro football. So, look for the top tier college football league, the one that gets all the media coverage, to be in roughly the same market areas as the NFL. The Gophers are closest to the Minneapolis-St Paul metro market of the Vikings and so they will be a survivor even if not a Top 10 program. Wisconsin is in Madison, not Green Bay, but will also be a survivor representing the state, and so on. I was in Minnesota when the B1G seemingly without explanation, suddenly expanded east and picked up Rutgers (no sports powerhouse) and Maryland. That seemed such a stretch and there was a lot of writing on that at the time. Now we see the big plan was to create a national conference, in all the biggest northern markets, to compete with the SEC. This realignment (not done yet) has been in the works for decades.
Sure sounds like it personal to you as you can't stop taking potshots at U of O. I expect it will be a tough road for Ducks to win big and consistently in the Big 10. Again, not happy with the move. Very happy you live in AZ though. Please stay there.
I don't think the rivalries are necessarily gone. Other schools have split conferences and remained rivals. Clemson-South Carolina and Florida-Florida State come to mind. I'm not saying the rivalry games will remain, but they certainly could. And I certainly hope they do.
I'm confident they will remain...but they won't be the same. For starters, the Civil War won't be played at the end of the regular season - they'll cram it in the schedule where they can...if they can.
Times change. Rivalry games will change. It's not going to be the same for a lot of people. Sadly.
Chuck, its not Oregon's fault that no network was interested in the pac 12 after usc left. None of the schools would have survived in p5 on 20 million when everyone else was getting 32 to 70 million. When the Trojans bailed the conference was dead. You can blame them, or Larry, or George or all of the sleep walking university presidents for this, but not the ducks. If the shoe were on the other foot , OSU would have done the same thing.
Dude, in case you haven't noticed, U of MN is on the ascendancy with all of these realignments. I don't like that is how they got there, but they are. U of MN and OSU have a lot of tradition in common. Going back 80 years, the Gophs (team of legendary Bronco Nagurski) were a dominant football program as were the Beavers. They fell on hard times, athletically because of university leadership, but are still in a very large metro area with a lot of wealthy donors. They will do very well as the B1G and the SEC are developed into the two super-conferences by Big Media and its money.
Yeah, the rich kids with their billion dollar coaching staff, and then the poor kids from the other side will get walloped. No thanks. We do not want this game to continue.
Keep in mind it was Oregon's President who, at the last minute, blew this up. Let this POS remember what he just did.
I asked before, a couple days ago, and again today... can that jerk be fired almost before he gets started? What a shitty way to kick off your new career move, by f-cking the state you represent. Well done, Scholz, if that is your name.
John Karl Scholz, previously a provost at Wisconsin and previous to that dean of one of the liberal arts departments at Wisconsin...long tenure there. Interesting, Oregon's previous president left for the same job at Northwestern about a year ago. Last time I looked Northwestern and Wisconsin are in the Big Ten.
Yes you will play that game. And why do you hold Oregon's president solely responsible? Surely you know all five teams that left within 24 hours had been discussing this contingency plan well ahead of the ludicrous Apple+ deal offered. C'mon now.
Scott Barnes said in his Oregonian interview that he is thinking now there will be no rivalry games in any sport between Oregon State and Oregon. That tradition is now dead and so is the rivalry. They won't be in the same conference nor in the same money or recruiting league. Why would OSU, which will obviously be handicapped by the massive reduction of income to its sports program, ever book games against the much better paid Oregon, with its ability to attract the best athletes with the most NIL and program money? Does OSU try to book competitions with Linfield, Wester Oregon Univ or Willamette? Not for a long time. If money doesn't matter for competitiveness, then why did Oregon jump at the money? This is all obvious and no platitudes make it any better.
I don't blame Barnes one bit for reacting the way he has. It makes me sick and it's a travesty for Oregon State, Washington State, Cal and Stanford. Lots of "little people", like that church group Canzano wrote about, going to get badly hurt by this...there must be hundreds, maybe thousands, of examples like that.
Good post - you bring up a lot of good points. I wonder if Oregon and Washington thought it through strategically and thoroughly. I never have felt USC and UCLA did, it appears to me that emotions ran high at the last minute, people were bailing (Colorado) and reported to be bailing imminently (Arizona) and it became every man for himself. I'm a Ducks fan but I hope this burns Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA - burns them badly.
I'm sort of confused. You acknowledge that OSU will be weaker because they decided to stay in the PAC4 and then you fault U of O for going after a deal that allows them to stay competitive. Can't have it both ways.
Not at all confusing. If the Conference had stayed together, which was totally the Ducks' (Phil Knights) call, then they would have got their Apple deal which might have proved to be better than the cable deals of others over time since I think the entire media landscape is moving towards streaming. The sum was greater than the parts. You have probably have heard that expression. It is 50/50, but there is a path to the Beavers coming out all right on this if they can recreate the PAC12 without Oregon and Washington (won't miss them a bit, to be honest). John commented earlier that the PAC12 has a $420M war chest which now belongs to the remaining 4 schools. I had not been aware of that. There is also likely state action that will award more to the four schools from those who left. So, all is not lost if there is some leadership. I have been impressed with Scott Barnes and hope he will take the lead, kicking Kliavkoff to the curb where he belongs, and add (4) MWC and maybe (4) ACC schools and build an even better conference. We will see how leadership does with their opportunity. But no more Ducks. And I am happy about that.d
I think had Oregon opted to stay, given the weakness of the Apple+ deal, they also would be weaker. They chose to make a move that all Pac12 teams were considering... but not all had invitations. OSU and the three others in the Pac4 were left holding the bag. It will be interesting how this all ends up. I'm rooting for OSU, underdogs often come out on top.
It took Jonathan Smith 5 years to finish 2022 in the top 25 after crushing SEC Florida in their bowl game. This year they start again ranked as a top 25 team. How can anyone not say this represent a P5 caliber college football team? If Oregon State doesn't end up in a P5 conference shortly and respectfully is thus relegated to the MWC or some sort of Pac 4/MWC hybrid conference their entire coaching staff and roster will be poached during this season. Why in the world would you ever want to play UO after that with the clear disparity there will be in staff and roster caused by their greed and ego? They want UW to be their rival - have at it. As a Pro Beavers, Then State of Oregon (Ducks), then Pac12 (Huskies and others) fan, I will never root for the Ducks or Huskies again
Believe me, I get it. It's a travesty and disgrace. Jonathan Karl Scholz, the new Oregon president, put the final dagger in the heart. He just came from Wisconsin, where he had a long liberal arts tenure. He overruled everyone else in the Oregon administration (I have no idea Knight's thoughts, but Scholz is not afraid of Knight...yet...). Scholz didn't even have the courtesy to show up at Friday's 7 a.m. conference call where ASU, Arizona and Utah had agreed with Oregon's and Washington's AD's to confirm all these schools staying in the Pac. When Scholz didn't show - and didn't have the courtesy to tell others he would be a no-show - the trust in the room was obliterated. This jackwagon came with a condescending and arrogant Big Ten bias, believing in the overwhelming academic superiority of the Big Ten to the Pac, and particularly Oregon, where he now has the baton. He has no idea if a football is pumped or stuffed. He has no vision regarding Apple or the future of streaming. He actually settled for a 10-year agreement where the Ducks will not get a full media rights distribution in the Big Ten. Atrocious. Just so much damage this man was allowed to do.
I'm going to beg to differ...after much tossing this around with my best friend...we both think the rivalries just might go to the way side.
The thinking is, is that the big 10 is going to be a rough ride...usc, ucla, uw, tosu, mich, msu, psu, wisc, Iowa, Neb, Indiana, Perdue, minn, nw, Ill, RU, maryland, very few "breathers" or cupcakes there...the point is, if you have THAT tough a schedule, why add tough non conf games (OSU) that may keep you out of the playoff picture??? why not use them for directional or local schools like san jose state, or eastern wa, or Northern AZ...tune ups for a difficult regular season that may help you to a national playoff invite.
Who says we are grinning Mr. Doomsday???? I am really in disbelief and disappointed in what has transpired in college football particularly the demise of the Pac 12. The vast majority of Duck fans I expect are not happy about this change either. Most of your post I totally agree with but don't assume or tell Duck fans how they feel.
I find it interesting that so many are disappointed with this outcome. Perhaps the contracts will be less than profitable for the ESPNs of the world. I for one will find better things to do than watch college football on a Saturday from now on. Perhaps I am not alone
In communities like Corvallis and Pullman, and schools like WSU & OSU, the athletic departments are not siloed off from the rest of campus and community. Shop keepers, hotel owners, restaurants, typically break even financially and rely on special event weekends to be profitable for the year.
I know in Pullman, COVID definitely revealed how important those home football weekends were to the economy. Many restaurants and businesses went under because of the disruption in the athletic department.
And if this, in the end, means that either no one or very few people show up to these games, I'd agree with you. I just don't think that'll be the case.
COVID-19 isn't a good analog here because, in that case, people were literally *banned* from attending the game. That's not the case here at all. What you'd be looking at, at worst, is a reduction in attendance. While not great, it's not likely the end of the world.
What I tried to convey, is that if WSU is truly relegated to a G5 or lesser conference. They will have to schedule payday games in place of home games to make up revenue for the Athletics Department. When they do that, the massive cash influx for home games will not happen.
These people who say "nothing will change; people will still fill the stadiums on Saturdays" are living in la-la land. I have been a part of the worst years of the Beavers history. No One showed up on Saturdays. No one cared. I have been to early September games against 2nd tier competitors. The stadium is empty and no excitement. Playing a bunch of 2nd tier teams is like glorified high school football. Expect HS type crowds of a less than 10,000. If this were not so, then why was the league just realigned. Obviously money and competitive quality matter. A LOT
Businesses priced themselves out of market too often in Corvallis. I know of Bowl personnel, who when visiting Corvallis to watch the Beavs' opponent late in the season, would stay in PDX, due to the outrageous pricing structure of hotels.
Why do you say the Ducks are grinning? Oregon never wanted this chaos. UCLA and USC opened the door, Colorado went through it, the PAC12 fumbled the media negotiations, there is zero chance that the two Arizona teams, Utah, Washington and Oregon were having what if? conversations before the Apple+ offer was presented. After that is was simply a game of dominoes. Suddenly the PAC12 is the PAC4... soon to be who knows what?
Last posted details on the Apple deal was that they raised the minimum offer to 25M per year per team, that's more than what the ACC gets. There was a spattering of linear games from the networks included for another $40M+ per year so call it $3M per team. The combined media deal was a minimum of $28M per team per year. Apple would have had the rights to also add other games to linear partners (most likely ABC/ESPN) - there would have been more games on linear TV than people realized. Needless to say the Apple deal was misrepresented by people that didn't want to really understand how it work so they had a reason to leave - UO/UW. The MLS has a similar deal with Apple, $250M a year minimum. They are forecasted to do $50M more in the first year - $300M. They have 70% of the subscriptions needed already sold (over 1M subscribers added). Had the Pac12 rolled the dice they would have likely made more than the B12 offer or what UO/UW are getting from the B10. The media landscape was more challenging for sure but from a money perspective it was as good or better than the offers the departing schools got. The Arizona schools and Utah had committed to stay but it was conditional that everyone stay. UO and UW didn't show up for the call. UO later notified the group they were leaving for the B10, UW immediately followed. Later that evening after a lot of passionate discussion led by ASU's President to stay together, the last 3 corner schools decided to go. Sure USC orchestrated the first domino but UO delivered the death blow.
I love the Ducks and have been a DAF member for over twenty years. I've never felt so disappointed in Oregon as I do today. Part of the greatness of college ball are the rivalries. I loved to hate UW, OSU, USC, WSU, and Stanford. I was learning to love to hate Utah. I also always rooted for all of them when they were playing against a non-conference opponent, or in the case of Oregon State, every game they played other than against Oregon. So sad to see all that history go up in smoke.
Brian, I hear New Brunswick is lovely in late November. Why the Ducks can even take in a Broadway show on their trips to New Jersey. Expand and enrich their cultural boundaries and all that...
LOL...the Utes are going to a place where they can compete for a spot in the CFP and CCG every single year. I'll take that over countless millions that I'll never see or won't have any impact in my life and the numerous beatings your team will take in the B1G. Have fun being a punching bag. Then again, not judging, some people like that...
I get it. It’s ok you moved on from the PAC but you don’t think too much about Oregon and Washington moving on. I sense a touch of resentment and jealousy with your comment but then again, you’re a Utah fan.
Utah and ASU moved on from the PAC because Oregon and Washington forced their hands, not vice versa. I'm not jealous at all about your move because I know that Utah cannot compete regularly in the B1G. Just like Oregon and Washington will not be able to compete regularly in the B1G. Oh, you might put together a decent team here and there occasionally, but then your dreams will implode in Columbus, Happy Valley, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, wherever. I'd rather be part of a slightly lower tier conference, where I already have many historical rivals and can actually drive to away games, than be part of some Frankenstein that guarantees me more money but also the role of a perpetual underdog. Remember this, not all change is progress.
Awesome comment Ernie! My grandmother graduated from OAC. As a lifelong Beaver with a son who is a Duck I received a lot of interesting and very thoughtful text messages from my buddies who attended U of O. With no relationship to each other your comments make me think maybe there is a lot of this sentiment out there and it is not just my close pals. I am disappointed to see the demise of the PAC 12 and what this might ultimately mean to college football.
John I really appreciate your coverage of this sordid affair and for showing some real life impacts from this betrayal. Oregon is dead to me. Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered and I hope the ducks choke on all that fat. I will be lobbying our AD to never play them in any sport if we don't have to. I have a very empty feeling right now. Go Beavers.
Aye, Chip, I think I understand. It's raw, it's personal and there is no way to spin anything positive right now. I am a 3rd generation Duck and I am a Pac12 lifer. I hate this too. My most treasured road trips in our league have been Pullman, Corvallis and Tucson. LA doesn't excite me, and neither do East Lansing, Columbus, Ann Arbor.
I pray the four remaining will join forces to make to give the Mountain West gravitas it has never had and build something nobody thought possible.
A plausible path forward. Sports other than football need to be considered in any options being considered. It would be encouraging if the 4 members left in the PAC can form the basis for a new PAC -10 or 12. Obvious additions would include current MWC members. I also assume that the PAC 12 production facilities are still owned by the PAC -4 at this point. An asset to be levergred going ahead.
Chip, as a UW fan who lives in Oregon, UW visit to Reser was my favorite game to attend. I am going to miss it greatly. I’ll be there this year and will soak in the experience as it may not be available again for some time. Love me some Beavs
the time to cmplain was when a) USC left, that, as you well know, took away any chance of the Pac getting a decent tv deal b) George the Pac 12 killer! Could have had a deal a year ago that all 10 would have sighned on, (Right John?) so blame Oregon for taking a step to insure their own program , no Oregon should stay and drown w/ OSU
Sorry Chris... I just cant stoop to your level of meanness....
It appears your blame and bitterness is directed to the wrong people and companies.. I wish the breakup was just a dream. I sure don't want to see Ducks play in the Big 10.....
The issue is your coward university President - a guy, who coincidently came from Wisconsin. Pre-disposed to taking a dump on history, legacy, rivalry, etc.
I didn't even go to OSU, I went to another Pac 12 school, that is apparently finding its way to the Big 12.
But I am a Pac 12 guy, Pac 10 in my day. This move by Scholz is pathetic. He lacks integrity and common decency and thats my opinion, and i am entitled to bad mouth him all the way. This was all settled until this AM meeting, and then this guy blows it up
Settled??? Games on a streaming app that will cost 100 bucks and no one will watch? Nothing was settled. It was a terrible deal for everyone and that, my friend, would have slowly bled everyone to death.
They were never costing $100, Get real. Stop making crap up. MLB is on Apple and its included. MLS game of week (sometoimes more than 1) is included. Yes, if you want the full cadre of Pac 12 sports you'd pay a little bit more.just like P12 Network..$100. No. You are really uninformed.
And FWIW, the PAc 12 Network was $1 per sub in market and 10 cents outside of market.
Channel 2 had an interview with UO President John Scholz, he really comes off as a clown and a nerd. This is your decision maker? A month in the state and this clown blows it all up.
First I'm not really a Beaver. My school already found its way to the Big 12. But I do have a family full of Beavers. And Ducks. And Cougs and Bruins. And a cousin went to Stanford
The way this came down is pathetic and lacking in class and integrity
LOL!! Don't hate the Ducks, but I do feel sorry for them (and you). You cling to this idea that Phil will save you. He is your Jesus. You are going to a very tough conference that will eat up Ducks. It is no panacea. Your Prez screwed everyone, including Ducks fans. Hopefully you will remember this and use your anger to get rid of this a$$ hole Scholz.
No, USC and UCLA should have kept the conference together as they controlled the biggest TV market. Once the LA schools left, it was easy to see how others would eventually bail and the media companies would encourage them
Wow...You knew what was going to happen and with all your knowledge you could not stop the insanity??? You think OR or WA had control of everything falling apart? The bitterness should be directed toward Fox, ESPN, Apple and Pac 12 leadership.....
Die hard Beaver here. Just say NO to playing against the Knight Ducks in any sport. Why reward them and their Fox Sports overlords with the 100+ year old rivalry that the Beavers and Ducks had. Obviously no more football games, but also no more soccer, baseball, or anything else. Let the Ducks go play Nebraska in baseball, Iowa in soccer. Why reward the Ducks with easy local games? Beavers are more about the state of Oregon than the Ducks will ever be.
I will keep and remind Scott Barnes of his words from last night when he said the same. I want nothing to do with the Ducks ever again. It isn't that hard when in different conferences. There are a lot of universities in Oregon the Beavers never play against.
Get Ducks out there on the road where they chose to be
Yep, OSU will probably still play Cal, Standard, WSU, and add regulars to Reno, UNLV, Boise State, etc. These kids will at least be in their time zone or one time zone difference. Its not always the distance, but the multiple time zones that cause the pain.
This is what I hope. If we can get those western MWC teams into the PAC12 then all will be forgotten. The Beavs have a lot of history with Fresno State, Reno and San Jose, if not also Boise State. Those are all fine competitors.
I'm amazed at the vitriol being directed at the Ducks. Beavers were asleep at the switch if they din't see this coming a mile away. Shake it off. Beavers without a Ducks rivalry are a little town team and everyone knows it. What could be better than a rivalry across conferences with a team down the road?
Washington is your rival. Only reason to play Beavs in the minor sports is so the Duck can save on travel. And in football, why give the Ducks and Fox Sports the greatest rivalry west of the Mississippi? Play your rival Washington, send your golf team to play Nebraska, Beavs aren't in your league anyway. How could you be amazed at the vitriol directed at the Ducks? People (everywhere, not only in Oregon) are amazed how one man, Phil Knight, can direct the fortunes of one state university (Ducks) at the detriment of other state schools. Forbes, about 6 years ago, and I believe ESPN also, published an article about the biggest donors to college athletics. Knight came in first with over $1.1 billion to Duck athletics. 2nd was T Boone Picken at $500 million to Oklahoma State.
Oregon is college football's version of PSG and Man City in soccer. A historically mid-table team, at best, elevated due to the financial doping engineered by its resident oligarch. Once Knight is out of the picture and cold hard logic regains its sway over Nike, the money will dry up and the Ducks will return to reality.
Right back at you Brian...you post some of the most insightful and well written commentary on this blog. I remember that long back and forth we had a long while ago about Dennis Erickson and his tenure in Miami. Neat stuff...by the way, did you see that video where Dr. Crow pointed the finger at Washington and Oregon for the PAC's demise? He literally said that both universities blew off the morning conference call and that's how they knew that they were leaving for the B1G.
As an ASU grad and still faithful Sun Devil, I can't stand Crow. My daughter went to ASU for one year, in 2009. I listened to the prick at the parents welcome address and thought he was too full of himself back then. Nothing has changed my mind. Apparently, he was Larry Scott's biggest backer. Tells me a lot about his judgement
Maverick - um, the only difference in all of this is Oregon is lucky to have an Uncle Phil. Sometimes who your Dad is can change your world.
The way this went down was awful - all roads lead right back to the Friday meeting where all expectations were it was settled. And then a new - rookie UofO President John Scholz, on the job one month - from Big 10 Wisconsin nonetheless - blows it all up. He knows nothing about this state, tradition, rivalry, etc. And some new guy blows it all up?
The reported money was a partial share $35M to $40M. UCLA estimated additional travel costs at $10M. UW estimates it greater than that. But use the $10M as a plug. Thats $25M to $30M! This is no difference (and might even be less) than the active Pac 12 deal on the table. Everyone left Thursday, after vetting their numbers, and came to the conclusion - that the dollars at stake were not really any different than the deal on the table without the hassle of all teams (non Revs) criss crossing the USA
Maybe terms changed overnight - but then Scholz could have raised them - should have raised them. WA didnt raise a change. Scholz, in his pre-disposition Big 10 blew it all up. Not just for Oregon, but Oregon State and every other loyal brother in the Pac 12 on what?
Many of us will make sure that OSU does not play Oregon anytime soon. UofO chose to make its athletes go thru pain of 2-3 time zone travel. This is on Oregon. You chose this path. You want an easy home game up the street - with the now depleted little guy who can't keep up with player recruitment, facilities, coaching, etc. We do not need to get clobbered. You chose your path, and its your problem.
UofO destroyed this rivalry and we have no intention whatsoever, There's consequences to action. UofO made theres
And it's not fans I am upset with - it is university administration and John Scholz, who hasn't even been here one month making a big decision that has regional and national impacts. Scholz is a disgusting disgrace and every chance we get we should remind this coward of his poor decision.
And many of my Duck friends feel the same way, and they're made about it all, and it will forever change them too. No doubt.
What role did Uncle Phil have in the hiring of Scholz? It wouldn't surprise me if that were Phil's personal pick and he made it stick. I sure hope I never hear Duck fans talking about limiting CO2 and global warming. This deal only adds to global CO2 with all the required plane travel. Hypocrits!
The Schmucks don't make or break the Beavers. Not having to put up with what was generally recognized as the most obnoxious fan base in the Pac-12 will be one of the silver linings of this situation.. It isn't vitriolic to part ways with an entity that sold you down the river.
College athletics is no longer about academics - nor has it been the past few years with NIL and the transfer portal. Evolve or die. It's plain and simple. Oregon's future isn't tied to Oregon State, and nor is it the other way around. Get with the times, and stop blaming the university for adapting to where the future is headed.
LOL!! "Beavers without Ducks are a little town team". And so Eugene is so much larger? I love the delusion of Ducks thinking Eugene is some collegiate mecca. NOT!!
I'm sure they saw it coming...and I'll bet there's scrambling that has been going on for a while now. BTW ducks will be a lower tier team in their new home. Ohio St will continue to dominate that conference, maybe SC will give them a run.
Disagree completely... Lanning and the Ducks are up for the fight. I for one will watch every game. Don't underestimate Phil and the new NIL (which I hate, but that is the new world we live in). Still want to keep the Civil War game alive... it's the only way OSU stays relevant.
Playing Oregon is the only way OSU stays relevant? That's the typical expression of casually delusional arrogance I've come to expect from Duck fans. Lanning and Ducks are up for the fight? Like they were when they crumbled against a UW team they knew could only pass to win and couldn't stop, and even better, when they crumbled against a Beaver team that could only run to win and couldn't stop it. Up for the fight maybe, but able to win it, not so much.
I'd say that all of the PAC defectors will be up for the fight for one or maybe two seasons. Once they go through the meat grinder that is the BIG football calendar a couple of times and realize that they can't really compete against the established B1G powers, they'll probably be singing a different tune.
This isn’t the schools fault, it’s the tv networks. We duck fans don’t like it but it’s evolve or get left behind. The money and exposure with the apple deal would’ve been terrible in comparison.
Question: Does Portland have an NFL team? So why do you think the Ducks are on the Media Networks short list? You don't think this is all an effort to create a Saturday college version of the NFL (to fill all those time slots with programming)? Of course it is! How many teams in the NFL? 32. That is roughly the number of teams that will be left in the FBS when all is said and done. The other 100 can go suck an egg as far as Big Media is concerned. That said, I think the entire University model is cooked. I think big changes are coming for 4 year schools and they are going to get smaller in a hurry with a lot more remote learning. This is the death of the University, not just their sports.
For sure, this is all about money. But if Oregon State was in the same position as Oregon they would've done the exact same thing. It's becoming a survival to make it into the final two college football conferences... who knows, maybe one day they'll apply the Premier League relegation type rules.
Actually, had the PAC12 stuck together and not allowed themselves to be picked off, one by one and played against each other, the media companies would have had to pony up to keep the LA market, let alone Bay Area and Seattle markets, for Saturday programming. But greed is greed and the league caved. The smallest market schools always were most at risk regardless of their tradition or current prospects.
And I do agree there will eventually be only two conferences, just like the American and National conferences in the NFL. Media understands the profitability model for the NFL and is seeking to duplicate that with college sports since University Presidents and ADs are so clueless. Media companies took away sports from the school admins and will now run the teams their own way. Is Eugene a big enough market to make the final cut of 32? I doubt it
No, if the league had solid leadership and the university presidents weren't woo'd by Larry Scott, we wouldn't be here and the Pac 12 would be just as successful as the big 10 and SEC, but they didn't listen and continued to make bad decision after bad decision. This was death by a million terrible leadership decisions.
LOLOL...as if that would do anything. our school leadership did not cause this...LARRY SCOTT caused this! the School chancellors and presidents caused this (they hired that SOB) Kliavkoff caused this. And most of all, FOX SPORTS and ESPN caused this.
Oh like we as fans had control...... or a vote in the process?? You really are unrealistic. Why don't you call your school and tell them to get on the phone to the Big 12 asap.....
Get read to pay through the nose for your TV though....cable tv is already at 1991 subscriber levels and all this will do is increase cord cutting. Shoot, as it is, because Comcast is loosing so many people I have had 4 price increases this year. Its just going to get worse to pay for those Fox ans ESPN bills, and all those over the air retransmission fees.
And I don't care - your school President is a coward, This was settled and the expectation was it was settled, and at the last second he blew it up. And it blows up all the tradional rivalries, etc. Get used to all those non rev sports traveling huge miles for very little. By the time you guys get done paying travel costs your take is going to be close to what this media deal promised - w/o all the travel hassles. I am sure Iowa in dead winter sounds good. Or New Jersey, or whatever. Its not even practical for away fans to attend now.
Dumb, and yes, its not your fault, but all fans have been complicit in this BS for far too long
This is all on Oregon. Maybe in 5 years it would have happened, maybe not. There was something worth saving.
Hey genius, newsflash...Comcast/xfinity is trying to get out of the cable TV business. They make more money selling cell phones and service there than they do with internet and cable TV. That's why they keep raising rates and don't care about losing cable customers.
BTW...that hatred of yours for everything U of O is going to eat you up one day...put your big boy pants on and Give it a rest!
And NOTHING was settled...and this is not all on Oregon...geezes...no blame for USC, UCLA, Fox, ESPN, Big 12, your own school president????
I get it, you're a cantankerous old curmudgeon who yells at everyone to get off your lawn.
And BTW hater..., you don't know a damn thing about our school president...hell we don't know anything about him...he's brand new. But then you're the toughest guy in your mom's basement. You know everything.
I will remain an OSU fan and will continue rooting for old OSU. My season tickets will never be in doubt. But the college football landscape will lose me as a fan. No magic in it anymore. Rivalries, School spirit, small team that punches up in its class, all gone. College football has become semi pro. Semi pro sucks….
Gut punch for this Beaver Fan. Thanks for the loyalty and support UofO and Uncle Phil. College athletics as we once knew them are gone. Guess the writing was on the wall with NIL and the transfer portal and multimillion dollar coaching contracts. Completely about the money now. Completely.
I am a duck fan, but I have the sense of loss and I am both sad, and it has tainted my view of college football. I hope the best for Pullman and Corvallis, and of course the Cougs and Beavs. I will miss those road trips. Thanks for such a good article John
I'm a Ute. And a resident of Oregon since the 70's. It's been a great 12 years in the PAC living behind enemy lines. Hanging my Utah flag out on game day amid all the orange & green. I hate that all of that is going away. For TV $. Have a ball Ducks playing in Kansas in November. As usual it's the fans who lose. If the Utes don't, I hope the Beavs or Cougs win the final PAC 12 game.
That's completely overstated. Utah draws a ton of their recruits from Texas and Florida as well and there's no reason why they wouldn't be able to continue to recruit California. In addition, Utah itself has a great HS football system. A lot of those guys that left the state for other PAC teams (guys like Penei Sewell) will think twice about departing now.
Yes but a lot of them, like Cam Rising, came in through the portal and not via the normal recruiting process. By the way, Utah has always recruited extensively in California, even when they were in the MWC. For example, the 2008 team that finished 12-0 and ranked #2 in the nation, had 31 California HS players on its roster. If playing in the MWC didn't affect access to California recruits, I fail to see how moving to the Big 12 impacts it adversely.
This is such a clusterf*%K that it is hard to even fathom what is next. basically you folks up north can forget about the Apple Cup and the Civil War, games I always watched by the way. Since those two schools are toast the best they can hope for is to join the MWC where WSU's big game will be against Boise State and OSU will start a home and home with Portland State. Wow!
As much as that is a mess Cal and Stanford are in even worse shape. For instance who are the other 25 sports going to play? Will Stanford's and Cal join the MWC too? Will we be fed huge games against San Jose State, UC Davis, and Fresno State...will anyone even show up at the stadiums for that garbage. If this is the future then as a Cal Bear would like to see the school just drop football. $20M from Apple will mean losing money on football for us, and Cal is a public institution. We have always sucked in football and I think the best protest, which we are good at going back to the 60's, is to say enough, and let ESPN and Fox have their college football. Bulldoze Memorial Stadium and put up enough student housing so the kids do not have to go broke living in Berkeley.
They should string up the last two Pac-12 Commissioners as they could have grown the conference 10 years ago and instead lined their own pockets and sold us all down the river.
Maybe you just think about football as most of us do, but the men's crew rivalry between Cal and the Huskies goes back 100 years and that is dead...in fact how will Husky crew feel when instead of Sacramento they head to Rutgers...now that is a long drive with a shell.
At some point, the juice isn't worth the squeeze. Personally, I wouldn't be opposed to universities sticking to education and leaving sports to the professionals.
And here is what Sports illustrated have to say and they too talk about the future for Cal and Stanford and that maybe deemphasizing (such a nice word for cutting it) football will be best and I agree.
Sports Illustrated has been a leading instigator in derogatory reporting about the Pac-12. Does that make them astute, or just a facilitator of the outcome.
Huck the Fuskies, F the Ducks. Ironic thing is, if Beavs and Cougs do just go to Mountain West. One of them might make playoff before UW/UO given the difference in schedules and that they would be starting with PAC 12 recruits in the Mountain West.
Thank you for finding the "off be beaten path" stories...e.g. the Presbyterian Church in Pullman. Because no one else in this chaos is thinking about them. :-(
The ramifications of this travesty will continue to ripple and hurt "little people" much further and longer down the line than we can even imagine at this early moment.
This is the worst day in sports that I have ever witnessed. Ever. Any sport.
It will rise and the Ducks will be in New Jersey....
sending tennis, golf, cross country, etc criss crossing across the country...stupid
It will never be easy to attend away games now for any Oregon fan, except maybe to Minnesota in Minneapolis and Northwestern in Chicago. Everywhere else is a change of plane, plus a drive. WA fan gets it a little better with non stops to Columbus and Indianpolis from Seattle. Rest has some OK airports, but a drive on the back end.
Perhaps we both misunderstood. I'll take my share of that. The point I am making is that this conference realignment is being taken way out of proportion to its significance. I think John's columns over the past many months were hinting at this type of explosion. When UCLA and USC departed, too many schools buried their heads in the sand. The Pac12 media negotiations were a farce. Maybe the conference overplayed their end early with potential networks and Apple+ became the only viable option at the final hour. I don't blame UO from going after the best deal they could find. End of the day, there is plenty of blame to spread around. But to call this a 'travesty' or the end of the world as we know it is hyperbolic - no? Another worst day in sport was ESPN's 'The Decision' show on July 8, 2010. 😎
Lot of what you wrote I agree with...some I don't. I agree far too many schools buried their collective heads in the sand...combine that incompetence with commissioners that were inept - without any leadership whatsoever - you get this end result. No question the media negotiations were a farce - Kliavkoff owns that, and he utterly failed. Disagree that Canzano's columns were hinting at this outcome - just the opposite - he was reporting precisely what his sources were giving him and the optimism was overwhelming right up to and including Colorado's running for the exit. Agree with you, also, that you cannot blame individual schools at the last minute going for the best deal. We can question their judgment, but if their judgment tells them moving on is the best for the university, that's a legitimate choice. Right choice? That remains to be seen. I also agree with you that it's not "the end of the world" (who the hell said that?)...but it is a travesty - that's not hyperbole. Lots of "little people" are going to lose their livelihoods or have severe revenue streams negatively impacted by this decision. So, yeah, if you're a longstanding supporter of a university or plural universities in the Pac-12, it is a friggin' travesty.
"The Decision" wasn't close to being the worst day in sports. Not close. Didn't move the needle in comparison, but thanks for the laugh.
I don't think people from Portland south to Corvallis have thought through how damaging this will be to the state of Oregon. I would not want to be a business owner in Corvallis who depends on the big weekends from football, baseball and basketball games. They are goners. Corvallis will likely loise residents and shrink in size as businesses related to the campus fail and even students take Corvallis off their list of places to attend. But even as far as Portland, this implosion of the PAC12 will cast a giant shadow. There will be no more intrastate rivalry between the Ducks and Beavers, or the Huskies and Cougars, any more than there is between the Ducks and Willamette University, Western Oregon in Monmouth or Portland State. Without the power of the rivalry, the Ducks will get hit, too. This is NOT a win for the Ducks. It is a disaster for west coast college sports hollowing out west coast sports and all the tag along benefits of 12 rivalries up and down the coast. So Ducks can stop grinning now.
OSU is the largest public school in the state. It will remain so. OSU is the preferred choice by in-state students. It will remain so.
Its research budget dwarfs that of UO's. It won't be impacted by UO changing conferences.
The College of Engineering is far and away the biggest academic major at OSU, with about 10K undergraduates. Prospective engineers are not going to look at UO, which doesn't have an engineering program, to attend college.
I think athletics has a much smaller impact on where a student decides to go to school than you think. And all that Big 10 money won't stop Eugene from being a haven to the homeless.
Flash - You don't need to list all the amenities of Corvallis to take a shot at U of O. They are both great schools - different yes, but both great - and I believe the vast majority are not happy about today's news. It certainly is not most wanted.
well said Gary! The state of Oregon is pretty amazing in that it has 2 strong public universities with excellent national reputations with the overall population size we have.
It’s most wanted by Oregon. Don’t kid yourself. Recruits were saved, new recruits see the credibility. All is good.
Remember, The University of Oregon has an athletic budget that is self sustaining and not a part of the academic side at all. One of a handful in the nation that can say that.
LOL... that's the funniest thing I've read this year. The only reason why Oregon's athletic budget is "self-sustaining" is because it receives massive infusions of outside cash from the "Sneaker Don" Phil Knight. The bad news is that he's 85 years old and not long for this world. If you think that Nike will continue to financially dope Oregon athletics after his passing then you're wrong. I hope that Oregon has contingency plans regarding this because it's bound to cause a massive hole in its athletics budget.
That assertion about the source of U of Os budget is massively incorrect. The Knights have been generous with donations for capital projects indeed (as have alumni at every top 50 university in the country). As to the apparel deal with Nike... not in the top ten nationally. With an average annual value of about $9 million, Notre Dame’s apparel deal ranks in the top 10 nationally along with Texas (Nike), Louisville (Adidas), Kansas (Adidas), Washington (Adidas), Ohio State (Nike), Nebraska (Adidas), Michigan (Nike), Auburn (UA) and Wisconsin (UA).
So, the Knights have donated well over $1B in the last decade plus to Oregon Athletics. Boone Pickens is far behind with around a $500M donation to Oklahoma State. If that's not financial doping, I don't know what is.
Infrastructure personal donations are not annual revenue. I assume you know the difference. Check out the total Alumni donations at Alabama and Texas and get back to us. What school again?
EA Flash coming in strong!!!
All of what you say is in the context of OSU as a 100+ year PAC12 (or predecessors) participant. You don't think sports matter to a university's status with students? Why is OSU in Corvallis a bigger school than Portland State? Besides an early start, the difference is PAC12 participation. It sure is not the local population.
Not THAT much, no.
PSU is an urban pseudo university with no campus life
Maybe so today. But what would it be if were in the PAC12 the past 100+ years? U of MN is right in downtown Minneapolis (where I lived for 30 years). Here in Phoenix, ASU is in the city. So don't tell me a major university can't be in an urban environment. You are sure giving tradition a lot of credit at OSU on a day when tradition died.
You can play the "what if?" game all day long, it doesn't change a thing.
ASU wasn't in the city when it started. Tempe was a little dusty town. It's obviously been a long, long time since you lived in Oregon.
Have you ever been to Portland? PSU has a campus very uninviting for residential students. It is built as a commuter college. I attended several classes over a period of years and did not feel a part of the college life. Maybe those who live in a few of the student apartments which exist have a different feeling? ...And remember Portland is home of Anarchy at its worst. Who would want to send a teenager to college in a war zone?
ASU isn't "in the city." Even in the 1980s, when I went there, it wasn't all that attached to Phoenix. You didn't have to drive far to get completely into very rural territory. It's part of a metropolitan area that largely grew up around it as the population in that are exploded.
I live here, dude. ASU is in the city and was when I went there in the early 80s. Tempe is an urban suburb of Phoenix with almost as many office towers now as downtown Phoenix. Why are you trying to split hairs?
you are taking this a little too personal...Oregon was invited....UW was invited...they both saw the writing on the wall...and had to do what they had to do to stay relevant. yes it's a tragedy for the conference over all IMO...it really will suck for all the shop owners, bar owners, pizza joints, restaurants, who have invested their life savings into local businesses who rely on gameday income.
I'm a Duck through and through...But I'm not happy about all this. Grinning??? oh hell no. I'm pissed off. But Fox sports doesn't care. They're still going to rake in their billions in ad revenue, even after the payouts.
YOU...EA flash and few other OSU fans/Alums need to stop the hate...it's childish and immature...I don't blame you for being angry. YOU SHOULD BE!! But your blame and hatred is misplaced and misdirected.
It is not personal for me. I have the Gophers who are safely ensconced in the B1G in a major market like Minneapolis. They will be there at the end of the day. Personally, I think all markets that do not have an NFL team are at risk. The same media types who are driving the college sports bus basically want to match the financial return of pro sports. That means a lot fewer teams so lower costs to cover the games with smaller conference / team payouts. 32 NFL teams = 32 college teams in the largest markets. That is what major media wants. Apparently, what they want they get. This is totally impersonal, just realistic. I wonder if the Ducks make the cut. I doubt it, to be honest, once Phil is gone to protect them
The gophers will definitely not make the final 32 either
You do not understand my basic theory which is that the Media companies are running NCAA major sports using their money and programming. The NCAA is apparently willing to do whatever the Media companies tell them to do. They sure have not pushed back at all on these realignments, which they should have the power to do. The Media companies have the NFL in mind as a profit model which works. The Media companies want Saturdays to be as profitable as Sundays and so are orchestrating a two conference league from the largest and best programs. They want a team in each major market, where they make their big ad $$, and those markets have been defined over 100 years of pro football. So, look for the top tier college football league, the one that gets all the media coverage, to be in roughly the same market areas as the NFL. The Gophers are closest to the Minneapolis-St Paul metro market of the Vikings and so they will be a survivor even if not a Top 10 program. Wisconsin is in Madison, not Green Bay, but will also be a survivor representing the state, and so on. I was in Minnesota when the B1G seemingly without explanation, suddenly expanded east and picked up Rutgers (no sports powerhouse) and Maryland. That seemed such a stretch and there was a lot of writing on that at the time. Now we see the big plan was to create a national conference, in all the biggest northern markets, to compete with the SEC. This realignment (not done yet) has been in the works for decades.
Sure sounds like it personal to you as you can't stop taking potshots at U of O. I expect it will be a tough road for Ducks to win big and consistently in the Big 10. Again, not happy with the move. Very happy you live in AZ though. Please stay there.
Trust me, I will never live in California North, which is Oregon, ever again.
you're not alone...
Lol stay away.
I don't think the rivalries are necessarily gone. Other schools have split conferences and remained rivals. Clemson-South Carolina and Florida-Florida State come to mind. I'm not saying the rivalry games will remain, but they certainly could. And I certainly hope they do.
I'm confident they will remain...but they won't be the same. For starters, the Civil War won't be played at the end of the regular season - they'll cram it in the schedule where they can...if they can.
Times change. Rivalry games will change. It's not going to be the same for a lot of people. Sadly.
As a dedicated Beaver fan of over 50 years, in the wake of UO's action, I'd prefer we no longer schedule UO. Move on. Time for new rivalries.
I completely understand your feelings...terrible day for college sports. Just terrible. And completely avoidable.
Chuck, its not Oregon's fault that no network was interested in the pac 12 after usc left. None of the schools would have survived in p5 on 20 million when everyone else was getting 32 to 70 million. When the Trojans bailed the conference was dead. You can blame them, or Larry, or George or all of the sleep walking university presidents for this, but not the ducks. If the shoe were on the other foot , OSU would have done the same thing.
Exactly! Western Oregon University, only 20 miles away.
Enjoy getting motorboated in the BIG1X.
Lol. Ok.
Dude, in case you haven't noticed, U of MN is on the ascendancy with all of these realignments. I don't like that is how they got there, but they are. U of MN and OSU have a lot of tradition in common. Going back 80 years, the Gophs (team of legendary Bronco Nagurski) were a dominant football program as were the Beavers. They fell on hard times, athletically because of university leadership, but are still in a very large metro area with a lot of wealthy donors. They will do very well as the B1G and the SEC are developed into the two super-conferences by Big Media and its money.
We're not playing the Civil War anymore.
Yeah, the rich kids with their billion dollar coaching staff, and then the poor kids from the other side will get walloped. No thanks. We do not want this game to continue.
Keep in mind it was Oregon's President who, at the last minute, blew this up. Let this POS remember what he just did.
No, we are not playing Oregon anymore.
Agree that Scholz is a jerk. And the guy just took over a couple of weeks ago. Nice start to his tenure.
I asked before, a couple days ago, and again today... can that jerk be fired almost before he gets started? What a shitty way to kick off your new career move, by f-cking the state you represent. Well done, Scholz, if that is your name.
John Karl Scholz, previously a provost at Wisconsin and previous to that dean of one of the liberal arts departments at Wisconsin...long tenure there. Interesting, Oregon's previous president left for the same job at Northwestern about a year ago. Last time I looked Northwestern and Wisconsin are in the Big Ten.
Yes you will play that game. And why do you hold Oregon's president solely responsible? Surely you know all five teams that left within 24 hours had been discussing this contingency plan well ahead of the ludicrous Apple+ deal offered. C'mon now.
We are not playing the game. It's not happening. That's consensus
chris, one person does not a consensus make. That game will go on.
Nice. Eat my dust.
I don't subscribe to your sexual fantasies
Scott Barnes said in his Oregonian interview that he is thinking now there will be no rivalry games in any sport between Oregon State and Oregon. That tradition is now dead and so is the rivalry. They won't be in the same conference nor in the same money or recruiting league. Why would OSU, which will obviously be handicapped by the massive reduction of income to its sports program, ever book games against the much better paid Oregon, with its ability to attract the best athletes with the most NIL and program money? Does OSU try to book competitions with Linfield, Wester Oregon Univ or Willamette? Not for a long time. If money doesn't matter for competitiveness, then why did Oregon jump at the money? This is all obvious and no platitudes make it any better.
I don't blame Barnes one bit for reacting the way he has. It makes me sick and it's a travesty for Oregon State, Washington State, Cal and Stanford. Lots of "little people", like that church group Canzano wrote about, going to get badly hurt by this...there must be hundreds, maybe thousands, of examples like that.
Good post - you bring up a lot of good points. I wonder if Oregon and Washington thought it through strategically and thoroughly. I never have felt USC and UCLA did, it appears to me that emotions ran high at the last minute, people were bailing (Colorado) and reported to be bailing imminently (Arizona) and it became every man for himself. I'm a Ducks fan but I hope this burns Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA - burns them badly.
I'm sort of confused. You acknowledge that OSU will be weaker because they decided to stay in the PAC4 and then you fault U of O for going after a deal that allows them to stay competitive. Can't have it both ways.
Not at all confusing. If the Conference had stayed together, which was totally the Ducks' (Phil Knights) call, then they would have got their Apple deal which might have proved to be better than the cable deals of others over time since I think the entire media landscape is moving towards streaming. The sum was greater than the parts. You have probably have heard that expression. It is 50/50, but there is a path to the Beavers coming out all right on this if they can recreate the PAC12 without Oregon and Washington (won't miss them a bit, to be honest). John commented earlier that the PAC12 has a $420M war chest which now belongs to the remaining 4 schools. I had not been aware of that. There is also likely state action that will award more to the four schools from those who left. So, all is not lost if there is some leadership. I have been impressed with Scott Barnes and hope he will take the lead, kicking Kliavkoff to the curb where he belongs, and add (4) MWC and maybe (4) ACC schools and build an even better conference. We will see how leadership does with their opportunity. But no more Ducks. And I am happy about that.d
OSU will be weaker because Oregon, Washington, ASU, Arizona, and Utah are all leaving. Why is that hard to understand?
I think had Oregon opted to stay, given the weakness of the Apple+ deal, they also would be weaker. They chose to make a move that all Pac12 teams were considering... but not all had invitations. OSU and the three others in the Pac4 were left holding the bag. It will be interesting how this all ends up. I'm rooting for OSU, underdogs often come out on top.
It took Jonathan Smith 5 years to finish 2022 in the top 25 after crushing SEC Florida in their bowl game. This year they start again ranked as a top 25 team. How can anyone not say this represent a P5 caliber college football team? If Oregon State doesn't end up in a P5 conference shortly and respectfully is thus relegated to the MWC or some sort of Pac 4/MWC hybrid conference their entire coaching staff and roster will be poached during this season. Why in the world would you ever want to play UO after that with the clear disparity there will be in staff and roster caused by their greed and ego? They want UW to be their rival - have at it. As a Pro Beavers, Then State of Oregon (Ducks), then Pac12 (Huskies and others) fan, I will never root for the Ducks or Huskies again
Believe me, I get it. It's a travesty and disgrace. Jonathan Karl Scholz, the new Oregon president, put the final dagger in the heart. He just came from Wisconsin, where he had a long liberal arts tenure. He overruled everyone else in the Oregon administration (I have no idea Knight's thoughts, but Scholz is not afraid of Knight...yet...). Scholz didn't even have the courtesy to show up at Friday's 7 a.m. conference call where ASU, Arizona and Utah had agreed with Oregon's and Washington's AD's to confirm all these schools staying in the Pac. When Scholz didn't show - and didn't have the courtesy to tell others he would be a no-show - the trust in the room was obliterated. This jackwagon came with a condescending and arrogant Big Ten bias, believing in the overwhelming academic superiority of the Big Ten to the Pac, and particularly Oregon, where he now has the baton. He has no idea if a football is pumped or stuffed. He has no vision regarding Apple or the future of streaming. He actually settled for a 10-year agreement where the Ducks will not get a full media rights distribution in the Big Ten. Atrocious. Just so much damage this man was allowed to do.
Maybe. Clemson-South Carolina is still the last game of the regular season.
I'm going to beg to differ...after much tossing this around with my best friend...we both think the rivalries just might go to the way side.
The thinking is, is that the big 10 is going to be a rough ride...usc, ucla, uw, tosu, mich, msu, psu, wisc, Iowa, Neb, Indiana, Perdue, minn, nw, Ill, RU, maryland, very few "breathers" or cupcakes there...the point is, if you have THAT tough a schedule, why add tough non conf games (OSU) that may keep you out of the playoff picture??? why not use them for directional or local schools like san jose state, or eastern wa, or Northern AZ...tune ups for a difficult regular season that may help you to a national playoff invite.
What a tool.
Yes, he is. Never a positive thing from this guy. And he apparently hides behind his son, Grant, which is sad
that's what she said.
Good luck with that invite 🤣🤣🤣
Who says we are grinning Mr. Doomsday???? I am really in disbelief and disappointed in what has transpired in college football particularly the demise of the Pac 12. The vast majority of Duck fans I expect are not happy about this change either. Most of your post I totally agree with but don't assume or tell Duck fans how they feel.
I find it interesting that so many are disappointed with this outcome. Perhaps the contracts will be less than profitable for the ESPNs of the world. I for one will find better things to do than watch college football on a Saturday from now on. Perhaps I am not alone
I don’t think it’ll be that bad for the schools. For their athletic departments? Maybe. But not for the schools.
In communities like Corvallis and Pullman, and schools like WSU & OSU, the athletic departments are not siloed off from the rest of campus and community. Shop keepers, hotel owners, restaurants, typically break even financially and rely on special event weekends to be profitable for the year.
I know in Pullman, COVID definitely revealed how important those home football weekends were to the economy. Many restaurants and businesses went under because of the disruption in the athletic department.
And if this, in the end, means that either no one or very few people show up to these games, I'd agree with you. I just don't think that'll be the case.
COVID-19 isn't a good analog here because, in that case, people were literally *banned* from attending the game. That's not the case here at all. What you'd be looking at, at worst, is a reduction in attendance. While not great, it's not likely the end of the world.
What I tried to convey, is that if WSU is truly relegated to a G5 or lesser conference. They will have to schedule payday games in place of home games to make up revenue for the Athletics Department. When they do that, the massive cash influx for home games will not happen.
These people who say "nothing will change; people will still fill the stadiums on Saturdays" are living in la-la land. I have been a part of the worst years of the Beavers history. No One showed up on Saturdays. No one cared. I have been to early September games against 2nd tier competitors. The stadium is empty and no excitement. Playing a bunch of 2nd tier teams is like glorified high school football. Expect HS type crowds of a less than 10,000. If this were not so, then why was the league just realigned. Obviously money and competitive quality matter. A LOT
We'll see. I don't see this as being as big of a hit to gameday attendance.
Businesses priced themselves out of market too often in Corvallis. I know of Bowl personnel, who when visiting Corvallis to watch the Beavs' opponent late in the season, would stay in PDX, due to the outrageous pricing structure of hotels.
Like any small college town the rooms sell out months before. Just reality everywhere.
Why do you say the Ducks are grinning? Oregon never wanted this chaos. UCLA and USC opened the door, Colorado went through it, the PAC12 fumbled the media negotiations, there is zero chance that the two Arizona teams, Utah, Washington and Oregon were having what if? conversations before the Apple+ offer was presented. After that is was simply a game of dominoes. Suddenly the PAC12 is the PAC4... soon to be who knows what?
Last posted details on the Apple deal was that they raised the minimum offer to 25M per year per team, that's more than what the ACC gets. There was a spattering of linear games from the networks included for another $40M+ per year so call it $3M per team. The combined media deal was a minimum of $28M per team per year. Apple would have had the rights to also add other games to linear partners (most likely ABC/ESPN) - there would have been more games on linear TV than people realized. Needless to say the Apple deal was misrepresented by people that didn't want to really understand how it work so they had a reason to leave - UO/UW. The MLS has a similar deal with Apple, $250M a year minimum. They are forecasted to do $50M more in the first year - $300M. They have 70% of the subscriptions needed already sold (over 1M subscribers added). Had the Pac12 rolled the dice they would have likely made more than the B12 offer or what UO/UW are getting from the B10. The media landscape was more challenging for sure but from a money perspective it was as good or better than the offers the departing schools got. The Arizona schools and Utah had committed to stay but it was conditional that everyone stay. UO and UW didn't show up for the call. UO later notified the group they were leaving for the B10, UW immediately followed. Later that evening after a lot of passionate discussion led by ASU's President to stay together, the last 3 corner schools decided to go. Sure USC orchestrated the first domino but UO delivered the death blow.
I love the Ducks and have been a DAF member for over twenty years. I've never felt so disappointed in Oregon as I do today. Part of the greatness of college ball are the rivalries. I loved to hate UW, OSU, USC, WSU, and Stanford. I was learning to love to hate Utah. I also always rooted for all of them when they were playing against a non-conference opponent, or in the case of Oregon State, every game they played other than against Oregon. So sad to see all that history go up in smoke.
The new great rivalry for you to learn to love: Oregon vs. Rutgers. Made in heaven!
Brian, I hear New Brunswick is lovely in late November. Why the Ducks can even take in a Broadway show on their trips to New Jersey. Expand and enrich their cultural boundaries and all that...
Haha. We'll take it. Oops, guess we left you in the dust.......again. And the utes are going where?
LOL...the Utes are going to a place where they can compete for a spot in the CFP and CCG every single year. I'll take that over countless millions that I'll never see or won't have any impact in my life and the numerous beatings your team will take in the B1G. Have fun being a punching bag. Then again, not judging, some people like that...
I get it. It’s ok you moved on from the PAC but you don’t think too much about Oregon and Washington moving on. I sense a touch of resentment and jealousy with your comment but then again, you’re a Utah fan.
Utah and ASU moved on from the PAC because Oregon and Washington forced their hands, not vice versa. I'm not jealous at all about your move because I know that Utah cannot compete regularly in the B1G. Just like Oregon and Washington will not be able to compete regularly in the B1G. Oh, you might put together a decent team here and there occasionally, but then your dreams will implode in Columbus, Happy Valley, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, wherever. I'd rather be part of a slightly lower tier conference, where I already have many historical rivals and can actually drive to away games, than be part of some Frankenstein that guarantees me more money but also the role of a perpetual underdog. Remember this, not all change is progress.
Have fun with all the non revenue sports and that long travel through multiple time zones
It did not need to be this way.
Awesome comment Ernie! My grandmother graduated from OAC. As a lifelong Beaver with a son who is a Duck I received a lot of interesting and very thoughtful text messages from my buddies who attended U of O. With no relationship to each other your comments make me think maybe there is a lot of this sentiment out there and it is not just my close pals. I am disappointed to see the demise of the PAC 12 and what this might ultimately mean to college football.
All for $$$$
John I really appreciate your coverage of this sordid affair and for showing some real life impacts from this betrayal. Oregon is dead to me. Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered and I hope the ducks choke on all that fat. I will be lobbying our AD to never play them in any sport if we don't have to. I have a very empty feeling right now. Go Beavers.
Aye, Chip, I think I understand. It's raw, it's personal and there is no way to spin anything positive right now. I am a 3rd generation Duck and I am a Pac12 lifer. I hate this too. My most treasured road trips in our league have been Pullman, Corvallis and Tucson. LA doesn't excite me, and neither do East Lansing, Columbus, Ann Arbor.
I pray the four remaining will join forces to make to give the Mountain West gravitas it has never had and build something nobody thought possible.
A plausible path forward. Sports other than football need to be considered in any options being considered. It would be encouraging if the 4 members left in the PAC can form the basis for a new PAC -10 or 12. Obvious additions would include current MWC members. I also assume that the PAC 12 production facilities are still owned by the PAC -4 at this point. An asset to be levergred going ahead.
Good point on the production facilities.
Chip, as a UW fan who lives in Oregon, UW visit to Reser was my favorite game to attend. I am going to miss it greatly. I’ll be there this year and will soak in the experience as it may not be available again for some time. Love me some Beavs
the time to cmplain was when a) USC left, that, as you well know, took away any chance of the Pac getting a decent tv deal b) George the Pac 12 killer! Could have had a deal a year ago that all 10 would have sighned on, (Right John?) so blame Oregon for taking a step to insure their own program , no Oregon should stay and drown w/ OSU
USC and UCLA, sure, but we were fine, and all was settled, but at that minute Oregon's POS President leveled it all.
For what it's worth OSU is the bigger university. It just doesn't have an Uncle Phil.
It's flat out ridiclous.
And Oregon's President is a POS to do it this way at the last minute. He's shown himself as a true coward
It is soooo sad you are so misinformed Chris.
Facts matter and this guy is the pure definition of a coward.
Sorry Chris... I just cant stoop to your level of meanness....
It appears your blame and bitterness is directed to the wrong people and companies.. I wish the breakup was just a dream. I sure don't want to see Ducks play in the Big 10.....
The issue is not directed to you.
The issue is your coward university President - a guy, who coincidently came from Wisconsin. Pre-disposed to taking a dump on history, legacy, rivalry, etc.
I didn't even go to OSU, I went to another Pac 12 school, that is apparently finding its way to the Big 12.
But I am a Pac 12 guy, Pac 10 in my day. This move by Scholz is pathetic. He lacks integrity and common decency and thats my opinion, and i am entitled to bad mouth him all the way. This was all settled until this AM meeting, and then this guy blows it up
Dude, the more I read your posts, the more in the tank you become. You are not an objective person, but full of bias. That is a hard way to live life.
Settled??? Games on a streaming app that will cost 100 bucks and no one will watch? Nothing was settled. It was a terrible deal for everyone and that, my friend, would have slowly bled everyone to death.
They were never costing $100, Get real. Stop making crap up. MLB is on Apple and its included. MLS game of week (sometoimes more than 1) is included. Yes, if you want the full cadre of Pac 12 sports you'd pay a little bit more.just like P12 Network..$100. No. You are really uninformed.
And FWIW, the PAc 12 Network was $1 per sub in market and 10 cents outside of market.
Channel 2 had an interview with UO President John Scholz, he really comes off as a clown and a nerd. This is your decision maker? A month in the state and this clown blows it all up.
Typical angry beaver...you hate us cause you ain't us! You can blame Oregon but our fate was sealed when SC bolted. The Apple offer was laughable.
First I'm not really a Beaver. My school already found its way to the Big 12. But I do have a family full of Beavers. And Ducks. And Cougs and Bruins. And a cousin went to Stanford
The way this came down is pathetic and lacking in class and integrity
LOL!! Don't hate the Ducks, but I do feel sorry for them (and you). You cling to this idea that Phil will save you. He is your Jesus. You are going to a very tough conference that will eat up Ducks. It is no panacea. Your Prez screwed everyone, including Ducks fans. Hopefully you will remember this and use your anger to get rid of this a$$ hole Scholz.
No, USC and UCLA should have kept the conference together as they controlled the biggest TV market. Once the LA schools left, it was easy to see how others would eventually bail and the media companies would encourage them
100%...USC and george killed the conference, not Oregon or Washington. No one is going to watch college football on apple for 99 dollars.
What happened to all your great and positive posts....???? I did not expect you to go this direction. Very few if any are happy with today's news....
No F kidding Gary. How and why would anyone be happy?
Amen brother!
Well said, Chip! Let Uncle Phil drown in the fat
sour grapes
LOL!! No, just a big dose of reality. I have been on this for a couple months now seeing this sinking ship and have been proven right.
Wow...You knew what was going to happen and with all your knowledge you could not stop the insanity??? You think OR or WA had control of everything falling apart? The bitterness should be directed toward Fox, ESPN, Apple and Pac 12 leadership.....
Apple+... why blame the only guys who made a bid?
Why are you defending your pathetic University and its leadership? The more you complain the worse you look. "The man doth protest too much, methinks"
Die hard Beaver here. Just say NO to playing against the Knight Ducks in any sport. Why reward them and their Fox Sports overlords with the 100+ year old rivalry that the Beavers and Ducks had. Obviously no more football games, but also no more soccer, baseball, or anything else. Let the Ducks go play Nebraska in baseball, Iowa in soccer. Why reward the Ducks with easy local games? Beavers are more about the state of Oregon than the Ducks will ever be.
Hi Rick I agree with you. Ducks betrayed everyone. I never want to play them in anything unless we have to like in a tournament.
I will keep and remind Scott Barnes of his words from last night when he said the same. I want nothing to do with the Ducks ever again. It isn't that hard when in different conferences. There are a lot of universities in Oregon the Beavers never play against.
Get Ducks out there on the road where they chose to be
Yep, OSU will probably still play Cal, Standard, WSU, and add regulars to Reno, UNLV, Boise State, etc. These kids will at least be in their time zone or one time zone difference. Its not always the distance, but the multiple time zones that cause the pain.
This is what I hope. If we can get those western MWC teams into the PAC12 then all will be forgotten. The Beavs have a lot of history with Fresno State, Reno and San Jose, if not also Boise State. Those are all fine competitors.
I'm amazed at the vitriol being directed at the Ducks. Beavers were asleep at the switch if they din't see this coming a mile away. Shake it off. Beavers without a Ducks rivalry are a little town team and everyone knows it. What could be better than a rivalry across conferences with a team down the road?
Washington is your rival. Only reason to play Beavs in the minor sports is so the Duck can save on travel. And in football, why give the Ducks and Fox Sports the greatest rivalry west of the Mississippi? Play your rival Washington, send your golf team to play Nebraska, Beavs aren't in your league anyway. How could you be amazed at the vitriol directed at the Ducks? People (everywhere, not only in Oregon) are amazed how one man, Phil Knight, can direct the fortunes of one state university (Ducks) at the detriment of other state schools. Forbes, about 6 years ago, and I believe ESPN also, published an article about the biggest donors to college athletics. Knight came in first with over $1.1 billion to Duck athletics. 2nd was T Boone Picken at $500 million to Oklahoma State.
Oregon is college football's version of PSG and Man City in soccer. A historically mid-table team, at best, elevated due to the financial doping engineered by its resident oligarch. Once Knight is out of the picture and cold hard logic regains its sway over Nike, the money will dry up and the Ducks will return to reality.
Have always liked your take, Ute. I will be sorry when you inevitably leave this blog to join its B12 equivalent.
Right back at you Brian...you post some of the most insightful and well written commentary on this blog. I remember that long back and forth we had a long while ago about Dennis Erickson and his tenure in Miami. Neat stuff...by the way, did you see that video where Dr. Crow pointed the finger at Washington and Oregon for the PAC's demise? He literally said that both universities blew off the morning conference call and that's how they knew that they were leaving for the B1G.
As an ASU grad and still faithful Sun Devil, I can't stand Crow. My daughter went to ASU for one year, in 2009. I listened to the prick at the parents welcome address and thought he was too full of himself back then. Nothing has changed my mind. Apparently, he was Larry Scott's biggest backer. Tells me a lot about his judgement
Maverick - um, the only difference in all of this is Oregon is lucky to have an Uncle Phil. Sometimes who your Dad is can change your world.
The way this went down was awful - all roads lead right back to the Friday meeting where all expectations were it was settled. And then a new - rookie UofO President John Scholz, on the job one month - from Big 10 Wisconsin nonetheless - blows it all up. He knows nothing about this state, tradition, rivalry, etc. And some new guy blows it all up?
The reported money was a partial share $35M to $40M. UCLA estimated additional travel costs at $10M. UW estimates it greater than that. But use the $10M as a plug. Thats $25M to $30M! This is no difference (and might even be less) than the active Pac 12 deal on the table. Everyone left Thursday, after vetting their numbers, and came to the conclusion - that the dollars at stake were not really any different than the deal on the table without the hassle of all teams (non Revs) criss crossing the USA
Maybe terms changed overnight - but then Scholz could have raised them - should have raised them. WA didnt raise a change. Scholz, in his pre-disposition Big 10 blew it all up. Not just for Oregon, but Oregon State and every other loyal brother in the Pac 12 on what?
Many of us will make sure that OSU does not play Oregon anytime soon. UofO chose to make its athletes go thru pain of 2-3 time zone travel. This is on Oregon. You chose this path. You want an easy home game up the street - with the now depleted little guy who can't keep up with player recruitment, facilities, coaching, etc. We do not need to get clobbered. You chose your path, and its your problem.
UofO destroyed this rivalry and we have no intention whatsoever, There's consequences to action. UofO made theres
And it's not fans I am upset with - it is university administration and John Scholz, who hasn't even been here one month making a big decision that has regional and national impacts. Scholz is a disgusting disgrace and every chance we get we should remind this coward of his poor decision.
And many of my Duck friends feel the same way, and they're made about it all, and it will forever change them too. No doubt.
John Scholz is a clown
What role did Uncle Phil have in the hiring of Scholz? It wouldn't surprise me if that were Phil's personal pick and he made it stick. I sure hope I never hear Duck fans talking about limiting CO2 and global warming. This deal only adds to global CO2 with all the required plane travel. Hypocrits!
The financials are coming out now.
It's not so great.
And when Ducks get relegated to Peacock its gonna be funny
The Duck will be proud as a peacock.
The Schmucks don't make or break the Beavers. Not having to put up with what was generally recognized as the most obnoxious fan base in the Pac-12 will be one of the silver linings of this situation.. It isn't vitriolic to part ways with an entity that sold you down the river.
College athletics is no longer about academics - nor has it been the past few years with NIL and the transfer portal. Evolve or die. It's plain and simple. Oregon's future isn't tied to Oregon State, and nor is it the other way around. Get with the times, and stop blaming the university for adapting to where the future is headed.
LOL!! "Beavers without Ducks are a little town team". And so Eugene is so much larger? I love the delusion of Ducks thinking Eugene is some collegiate mecca. NOT!!
Not playing Dux again, ever, would be better, to be Frank.
I'm sure they saw it coming...and I'll bet there's scrambling that has been going on for a while now. BTW ducks will be a lower tier team in their new home. Ohio St will continue to dominate that conference, maybe SC will give them a run.
Disagree completely... Lanning and the Ducks are up for the fight. I for one will watch every game. Don't underestimate Phil and the new NIL (which I hate, but that is the new world we live in). Still want to keep the Civil War game alive... it's the only way OSU stays relevant.
Playing Oregon is the only way OSU stays relevant? That's the typical expression of casually delusional arrogance I've come to expect from Duck fans. Lanning and Ducks are up for the fight? Like they were when they crumbled against a UW team they knew could only pass to win and couldn't stop, and even better, when they crumbled against a Beaver team that could only run to win and couldn't stop it. Up for the fight maybe, but able to win it, not so much.
Go see your new daddies in the midwest.
I'd say that all of the PAC defectors will be up for the fight for one or maybe two seasons. Once they go through the meat grinder that is the BIG football calendar a couple of times and realize that they can't really compete against the established B1G powers, they'll probably be singing a different tune.
I'm pretty sure the Sun will come up tomorrow and bless this old Coug with another day on the right side of the grass.
It has been a great ride.
Bring on the future!
Great post Dave!
Most of us are sick.....even a lot of Duck fans.
Then communicate that to your school leadership because thet hosed us all
This isn’t the schools fault, it’s the tv networks. We duck fans don’t like it but it’s evolve or get left behind. The money and exposure with the apple deal would’ve been terrible in comparison.
Question: Does Portland have an NFL team? So why do you think the Ducks are on the Media Networks short list? You don't think this is all an effort to create a Saturday college version of the NFL (to fill all those time slots with programming)? Of course it is! How many teams in the NFL? 32. That is roughly the number of teams that will be left in the FBS when all is said and done. The other 100 can go suck an egg as far as Big Media is concerned. That said, I think the entire University model is cooked. I think big changes are coming for 4 year schools and they are going to get smaller in a hurry with a lot more remote learning. This is the death of the University, not just their sports.
For sure, this is all about money. But if Oregon State was in the same position as Oregon they would've done the exact same thing. It's becoming a survival to make it into the final two college football conferences... who knows, maybe one day they'll apply the Premier League relegation type rules.
Actually, had the PAC12 stuck together and not allowed themselves to be picked off, one by one and played against each other, the media companies would have had to pony up to keep the LA market, let alone Bay Area and Seattle markets, for Saturday programming. But greed is greed and the league caved. The smallest market schools always were most at risk regardless of their tradition or current prospects.
And I do agree there will eventually be only two conferences, just like the American and National conferences in the NFL. Media understands the profitability model for the NFL and is seeking to duplicate that with college sports since University Presidents and ADs are so clueless. Media companies took away sports from the school admins and will now run the teams their own way. Is Eugene a big enough market to make the final cut of 32? I doubt it
No, if the league had solid leadership and the university presidents weren't woo'd by Larry Scott, we wouldn't be here and the Pac 12 would be just as successful as the big 10 and SEC, but they didn't listen and continued to make bad decision after bad decision. This was death by a million terrible leadership decisions.
No They had 2 yrs and every day the $ offered diminished The best offer they had was a year ago, w/o apple there was no other offer
LOLOL...as if that would do anything. our school leadership did not cause this...LARRY SCOTT caused this! the School chancellors and presidents caused this (they hired that SOB) Kliavkoff caused this. And most of all, FOX SPORTS and ESPN caused this.
Larry Scott was a problem and he was supervised by the University Presidents. GK was also hired by university Presidents. The Presidents own the mess
Oh like we as fans had control...... or a vote in the process?? You really are unrealistic. Why don't you call your school and tell them to get on the phone to the Big 12 asap.....
I get that.
Get read to pay through the nose for your TV though....cable tv is already at 1991 subscriber levels and all this will do is increase cord cutting. Shoot, as it is, because Comcast is loosing so many people I have had 4 price increases this year. Its just going to get worse to pay for those Fox ans ESPN bills, and all those over the air retransmission fees.
And I don't care - your school President is a coward, This was settled and the expectation was it was settled, and at the last second he blew it up. And it blows up all the tradional rivalries, etc. Get used to all those non rev sports traveling huge miles for very little. By the time you guys get done paying travel costs your take is going to be close to what this media deal promised - w/o all the travel hassles. I am sure Iowa in dead winter sounds good. Or New Jersey, or whatever. Its not even practical for away fans to attend now.
Dumb, and yes, its not your fault, but all fans have been complicit in this BS for far too long
This is all on Oregon. Maybe in 5 years it would have happened, maybe not. There was something worth saving.
Hey genius, newsflash...Comcast/xfinity is trying to get out of the cable TV business. They make more money selling cell phones and service there than they do with internet and cable TV. That's why they keep raising rates and don't care about losing cable customers.
BTW...that hatred of yours for everything U of O is going to eat you up one day...put your big boy pants on and Give it a rest!
And NOTHING was settled...and this is not all on Oregon...geezes...no blame for USC, UCLA, Fox, ESPN, Big 12, your own school president????
Hatred for UofO? No. School President, absolutely. He's a low life coward
You don't like it, don't read it. Problem solved
I get it, you're a cantankerous old curmudgeon who yells at everyone to get off your lawn.
And BTW hater..., you don't know a damn thing about our school president...hell we don't know anything about him...he's brand new. But then you're the toughest guy in your mom's basement. You know everything.
I will remain an OSU fan and will continue rooting for old OSU. My season tickets will never be in doubt. But the college football landscape will lose me as a fan. No magic in it anymore. Rivalries, School spirit, small team that punches up in its class, all gone. College football has become semi pro. Semi pro sucks….
Semi pro my ass it's pro as far as the media is concerned.
This whole thing was like watching the titanic go down except less dignified. There were no gentleman and the band was on the first frickin raft….
Well said
Gut punch for this Beaver Fan. Thanks for the loyalty and support UofO and Uncle Phil. College athletics as we once knew them are gone. Guess the writing was on the wall with NIL and the transfer portal and multimillion dollar coaching contracts. Completely about the money now. Completely.
Amen!
Thanks for putting a human face on this, John. No one else will do it as well.
Sitting here with our son (who played hoops at Stanford, ‘06-‘10), just speechless. End of something special.
And Keith Jackson as a Coug is rolling over in his grave.
I am a duck fan, but I have the sense of loss and I am both sad, and it has tainted my view of college football. I hope the best for Pullman and Corvallis, and of course the Cougs and Beavs. I will miss those road trips. Thanks for such a good article John
Classy insight Harry…yes the road trips will be missed 😥
I'm a Ute. And a resident of Oregon since the 70's. It's been a great 12 years in the PAC living behind enemy lines. Hanging my Utah flag out on game day amid all the orange & green. I hate that all of that is going away. For TV $. Have a ball Ducks playing in Kansas in November. As usual it's the fans who lose. If the Utes don't, I hope the Beavs or Cougs win the final PAC 12 game.
Anybody but SC
Utes benefitted hugely from connection to So. Cal. They don’t have it any more.
That's completely overstated. Utah draws a ton of their recruits from Texas and Florida as well and there's no reason why they wouldn't be able to continue to recruit California. In addition, Utah itself has a great HS football system. A lot of those guys that left the state for other PAC teams (guys like Penei Sewell) will think twice about departing now.
I counted 28 California HS kids on the 2023 Ute roster. That’s a lot.
Yes but a lot of them, like Cam Rising, came in through the portal and not via the normal recruiting process. By the way, Utah has always recruited extensively in California, even when they were in the MWC. For example, the 2008 team that finished 12-0 and ranked #2 in the nation, had 31 California HS players on its roster. If playing in the MWC didn't affect access to California recruits, I fail to see how moving to the Big 12 impacts it adversely.
This is such a clusterf*%K that it is hard to even fathom what is next. basically you folks up north can forget about the Apple Cup and the Civil War, games I always watched by the way. Since those two schools are toast the best they can hope for is to join the MWC where WSU's big game will be against Boise State and OSU will start a home and home with Portland State. Wow!
As much as that is a mess Cal and Stanford are in even worse shape. For instance who are the other 25 sports going to play? Will Stanford's and Cal join the MWC too? Will we be fed huge games against San Jose State, UC Davis, and Fresno State...will anyone even show up at the stadiums for that garbage. If this is the future then as a Cal Bear would like to see the school just drop football. $20M from Apple will mean losing money on football for us, and Cal is a public institution. We have always sucked in football and I think the best protest, which we are good at going back to the 60's, is to say enough, and let ESPN and Fox have their college football. Bulldoze Memorial Stadium and put up enough student housing so the kids do not have to go broke living in Berkeley.
They should string up the last two Pac-12 Commissioners as they could have grown the conference 10 years ago and instead lined their own pockets and sold us all down the river.
Maybe you just think about football as most of us do, but the men's crew rivalry between Cal and the Huskies goes back 100 years and that is dead...in fact how will Husky crew feel when instead of Sacramento they head to Rutgers...now that is a long drive with a shell.
Screw every person involved in this mess.
At some point, the juice isn't worth the squeeze. Personally, I wouldn't be opposed to universities sticking to education and leaving sports to the professionals.
Miami Ute... we agree!
Worked out well for the University of Chicago, just sayin', Charlie
And here is what Sports illustrated have to say and they too talk about the future for Cal and Stanford and that maybe deemphasizing (such a nice word for cutting it) football will be best and I agree.
https://www.si.com/college/2023/08/04/pac-12-death-oregon-washington-big-ten-realignment-conference-expansion
Sports Illustrated has been a leading instigator in derogatory reporting about the Pac-12. Does that make them astute, or just a facilitator of the outcome.
Huck the Fuskies, F the Ducks. Ironic thing is, if Beavs and Cougs do just go to Mountain West. One of them might make playoff before UW/UO given the difference in schedules and that they would be starting with PAC 12 recruits in the Mountain West.
Until they enter the portal. Its gonna happen. Coaching staff can't handle the lower payments from TV.
Stadium loans and bonds just went bust
Thank you for finding the "off be beaten path" stories...e.g. the Presbyterian Church in Pullman. Because no one else in this chaos is thinking about them. :-(
Great column. In fact, two great columns today.
The ramifications of this travesty will continue to ripple and hurt "little people" much further and longer down the line than we can even imagine at this early moment.
This is the worst day in sports that I have ever witnessed. Ever. Any sport.
I mean, ever.
Wait... what? The worst day in sports ever in any sport? C'mon man, I think the sun will rise tomorrow.
It will rise and the Ducks will be in New Jersey....
sending tennis, golf, cross country, etc criss crossing across the country...stupid
It will never be easy to attend away games now for any Oregon fan, except maybe to Minnesota in Minneapolis and Northwestern in Chicago. Everywhere else is a change of plane, plus a drive. WA fan gets it a little better with non stops to Columbus and Indianpolis from Seattle. Rest has some OK airports, but a drive on the back end.
Name a worse day, Maverick...maybe I'm wrong.
Conflating sports with terrorism but I get your point. My point was different - guess you didn't get it.
Perhaps we both misunderstood. I'll take my share of that. The point I am making is that this conference realignment is being taken way out of proportion to its significance. I think John's columns over the past many months were hinting at this type of explosion. When UCLA and USC departed, too many schools buried their heads in the sand. The Pac12 media negotiations were a farce. Maybe the conference overplayed their end early with potential networks and Apple+ became the only viable option at the final hour. I don't blame UO from going after the best deal they could find. End of the day, there is plenty of blame to spread around. But to call this a 'travesty' or the end of the world as we know it is hyperbolic - no? Another worst day in sport was ESPN's 'The Decision' show on July 8, 2010. 😎
Lot of what you wrote I agree with...some I don't. I agree far too many schools buried their collective heads in the sand...combine that incompetence with commissioners that were inept - without any leadership whatsoever - you get this end result. No question the media negotiations were a farce - Kliavkoff owns that, and he utterly failed. Disagree that Canzano's columns were hinting at this outcome - just the opposite - he was reporting precisely what his sources were giving him and the optimism was overwhelming right up to and including Colorado's running for the exit. Agree with you, also, that you cannot blame individual schools at the last minute going for the best deal. We can question their judgment, but if their judgment tells them moving on is the best for the university, that's a legitimate choice. Right choice? That remains to be seen. I also agree with you that it's not "the end of the world" (who the hell said that?)...but it is a travesty - that's not hyperbole. Lots of "little people" are going to lose their livelihoods or have severe revenue streams negatively impacted by this decision. So, yeah, if you're a longstanding supporter of a university or plural universities in the Pac-12, it is a friggin' travesty.
"The Decision" wasn't close to being the worst day in sports. Not close. Didn't move the needle in comparison, but thanks for the laugh.