I have a Bachelor of Science degree. I run my own business for the last 24 years. I’ve done ok. These guys (the presidents and executive management members of the PAC12), couldn’t and shouldn’t run a business. Right now college athletics (as it has been for a very long time) is a business. They lean on the arrogance of having Doctorates and MBA’s. In the end they mean absolutely nothing. Either you have a skill set for business born out of necessity or you don’t. My degree in common terms means nothing in real world business. Either you win or you lose in business. Period. Larry Scott is no genius and quite frankly a possible criminal at some level, but those that followed him down the prim rose path are just a culpable if not more so. It stuns me the depth at which the basics weren’t handled.
The bylaws and articles of incorporation apparently need to be re-written. This is a business, plain and simple. It needs a proper board of directors, populated with business leaders who understand how to operate a business with accountability to its customers (in this case the member universities). They can still have the presidents/CEOs council, but let them lounge by the pool instead of steer the ship.
Might as well blow it all up and start over from scratch. It's the perfect opportunity.
T.J., you saved me a lot of time,, I was prepared to compare business experience with this fiasco, but you handled it better than I would have, well played. I would add one thing based on my experience, which you touch on with the "Board of Directors" who oversaw this over the years. It takes two to tango, and you can't lay it all on Scott; the board is guilty of tributary guilt as the mismanagement was ongoing. My son, who was a video producer at the time, did a lot of work with the women's tennis tour, Scott was commissioner. He says he never understood why the PAC12 would give Scott this job, or any job. In business it is called due diligence.
Exactly my thoughts, TJ. I’d go after SOB Scott on the basis of criminal malfeasance.
John, how about you publish a list of the inept dolts who allowed Scott to get away with all this rubbish?! As TJ said, they are just as culpable as Scott.
As some have already pointed out, there's (green) blood on everyone's hands. I blame the people who hired and continued to employ Scott and let him get away with such a lavish life style for so long. This whole thing makes me sick.
I hope columns such as the one you wrote about this begin to have some impact on the powers that be at these schools. Maybe Duck and Beaver fans and alums should mount a petition or some other way of communicating our expectation that athletic departments and school administration start acting like responsible stewards of the PAC 12 (or 10 or whatever). You know, doing things like hiring an Exec. who has some solid ethics and who doesn't expect to be treated like a king living in a fancy office building in S.F. Maybe stop paying these folks so many millions of dollars. Maybe holding them accountable for their actions and reminding them who they work for. Just for starters.
I just don't understand how the Pac12 Presidents have not sued Scott for malfeasance, if not fraud. Do they have any self-respect? What a bunch of academic weanies. They are embarrassing for every alumnus who attended any Pac12 school.
That plot would thicken though. There would be further fallout politically, as those past and current presidents are usually nominated and confirmed by the same people.
It would interesting to see ESPN or other big media pick up this story. Larry Scott needs to be exposed to all and I agree, Pac 12 should go after some of this wasted spending
As I read today's column, I kept thinking the same thing...then smiled when I saw your comment about that near the end of the column. Go get him, Pac-12!
The conference should counter-claim against the 'Comcast-terminated' Network executives and cross-claim against Larry. In any 'real' business this would be a no-brainer.
But after they just handed Larry a $1.5M severance knowing the claims of the terminated executives?
This gives Larry one heck of a defense.
If nothing else the conference needs a new general counsel. I don't know who the GC is but I wonder if he/she went to law school and passed a bar exam. Based on the advice the GC has rendered, I do not think the GC passes many bars selling adult beverages.
I used to do the GC thing as a living and I can tell you this is amateur hour.
Yes, Larry was a horrible performer. However, the fault lays at the feet of the PAC-12 Presidents who not only hired him, but completely failed to manage and supervise him. In my 25 years of managing my government's TV contracts with Comcast, I (the CFO) performed an audit of revenue every 3 years and shared the results with my Board and with Comcast. The Pac-12 leadership has a huge blind-spot where accountability is supposed to be found. This is really not that complicated. It's AKA "due diligence."
I was having a great morning until I read your column. Larry Scott is a travesty, but the chancellors and presidents that let this go unchecked are equally to blame. All but two universities in the PAC12 are public entities. We support them with tax money. We deserve some answers. I would love to see Larry Scott and his university cohorts be held accountable. Makes me question how these university honchos handle their school’s budgets. This is a mess.
Love the line: “I was having a great morning until I read your column.” I hope good ol’ Flim-Flam Man Larry feels the same way when he receives his legal notices (whatever they may be…)
I am 0% convinced that an intrepid state auditor or federal agent couldn't find cause to clawback at least some portion of Scott's theft of public resources. Guys who are this cavalier tend to make a mistake somewhere along the way, and he deserves to pay for his full-freight.
It’s really starting to feel like Larry Scott should be in prison for fraud, and the PAC-12 should be able to liquidate all of his personal assets. But shame on all the school leaders at that time as well.
Still waiting to read ANYTHING about actual football. Yeah, Larry Scott is / was bad news. But as a big proponent for increased "investments" by football programs I'm disappointed you have NOT even mentioned:
Between January 2010-January 2021 FBS programs paid over $533 million to fired (not working) coaches. The media and some baffling fans think spending is the answer to everything.
Larry was/is a horrible manager but make no mistake: he was entrusted into that position and despite MULTIPLE red hot scorching red flags- some waved frantically by you John—the conference Presidents and ADs did NOTHING.
A rare disagreement w/John: I’d say that’s hail freezing over throughout the conference (yeah, that’s a bad pun)—not drizzle.
Couple other thoughts:
1. As John has noted here, the campus prez’s/chancellors had a chance to cut their losses in 2018 and didn’t. They bear some of the responsibility for this fiasco.
2. That is relevant because, as JC also notes, the cost of Scott’s blunders affect real people on campuses and communities across the conference footprint. For example: Cal athletics are heavily subsidized by the university’s operating budget. (A source of long-standing resentment on campus.) That means dollars that otherwise would be spent serving the needs of Cal students and front line employees will be diverted to paying off its share of Scott’s spending sprees.
3. If — and it’s a big “if” — there’s proof Scott knew and wasn’t forthcoming about the $50M Comcast overpayments, perhaps legal action can be taken? If nothing else, wouldn’t you love to read a transcript of his deposition?
Some sort of accountability or lawsuit would seem to be welcome justice. However, the Presidents and chancellors probably don’t wanna go down that road. Why? They were the ones who were supposed to supervise and hold to account Scott. The discovery process would be more embarrassing for them than the incompetent commish. So pay the millions and hope it all goes away....
That arrogance comes from the fact that he negotiated, what was then, the richest tv deal in the NCAA. But the ignorance that followed is very telling of the moral fibers he was constructed of. And San Francisco? Almost every single OTHER market in the footprint would have been a wiser choice to house the network.
...could at least saved 50% by being in the East Bay!
Why do Universities have Presidents and Chancellors involved in Athletics. They could care less about Athletics. Example: When Pac 12 wants to add schools their concern is will the school harm or help their Academic Standard. Fans could give a hoot about Academic Standard. They are concerned about the Athletic Programs and how the new school will help the Conference Athletic wise not Academic wise.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree. I run my own business for the last 24 years. I’ve done ok. These guys (the presidents and executive management members of the PAC12), couldn’t and shouldn’t run a business. Right now college athletics (as it has been for a very long time) is a business. They lean on the arrogance of having Doctorates and MBA’s. In the end they mean absolutely nothing. Either you have a skill set for business born out of necessity or you don’t. My degree in common terms means nothing in real world business. Either you win or you lose in business. Period. Larry Scott is no genius and quite frankly a possible criminal at some level, but those that followed him down the prim rose path are just a culpable if not more so. It stuns me the depth at which the basics weren’t handled.
You are $.
Man, I wish I could Like this comment a hundred times over.
Pac-12 presidents and business sense do not fit in the same sentence.
I think in addition to a commissioner the presidents need an advisor.
The bylaws and articles of incorporation apparently need to be re-written. This is a business, plain and simple. It needs a proper board of directors, populated with business leaders who understand how to operate a business with accountability to its customers (in this case the member universities). They can still have the presidents/CEOs council, but let them lounge by the pool instead of steer the ship.
Might as well blow it all up and start over from scratch. It's the perfect opportunity.
Not a bad thought.
Yet, they already hire consultants left and right.
And they need an auditor! Hire a big 4 accounting firm and have annual audits.
Do the AD’s play a role?
T.J., you saved me a lot of time,, I was prepared to compare business experience with this fiasco, but you handled it better than I would have, well played. I would add one thing based on my experience, which you touch on with the "Board of Directors" who oversaw this over the years. It takes two to tango, and you can't lay it all on Scott; the board is guilty of tributary guilt as the mismanagement was ongoing. My son, who was a video producer at the time, did a lot of work with the women's tennis tour, Scott was commissioner. He says he never understood why the PAC12 would give Scott this job, or any job. In business it is called due diligence.
Exactly my thoughts, TJ. I’d go after SOB Scott on the basis of criminal malfeasance.
John, how about you publish a list of the inept dolts who allowed Scott to get away with all this rubbish?! As TJ said, they are just as culpable as Scott.
As some have already pointed out, there's (green) blood on everyone's hands. I blame the people who hired and continued to employ Scott and let him get away with such a lavish life style for so long. This whole thing makes me sick.
Completely agree with the enablers.
I hope columns such as the one you wrote about this begin to have some impact on the powers that be at these schools. Maybe Duck and Beaver fans and alums should mount a petition or some other way of communicating our expectation that athletic departments and school administration start acting like responsible stewards of the PAC 12 (or 10 or whatever). You know, doing things like hiring an Exec. who has some solid ethics and who doesn't expect to be treated like a king living in a fancy office building in S.F. Maybe stop paying these folks so many millions of dollars. Maybe holding them accountable for their actions and reminding them who they work for. Just for starters.
Theoretically Kilavkoff is supposed to be that.
I just don't understand how the Pac12 Presidents have not sued Scott for malfeasance, if not fraud. Do they have any self-respect? What a bunch of academic weanies. They are embarrassing for every alumnus who attended any Pac12 school.
I also wonder...
Because it will show the absolute incompetence and neglect of the PAC12 presidents.
10/12 of those are long gone. The new presidents wouldn't be harmed by that narrative. But they are collegial folks.
That plot would thicken though. There would be further fallout politically, as those past and current presidents are usually nominated and confirmed by the same people.
And apparently as clueless when it comes to business as the old presidents.
The prez knew the claims of the fired executives from the wrongful termination lawsuit.
If they didn't the general counsel of the conference needs to be fired ASAP
The terminated executives are saying that they reported the Comcast situation to Larry and Larry covered it up.
Handing Larry a $1.5M severance fee when this Comcast stuff was being swept under the rug is gross negligence.
In a just world, fans would have standing to sue both Larry and his bosses. But here on Earth?
You’d find it difficult to draw a solid line between malfeasance and incompetence. Scott clearly touched both.
C'mon Brian, tell us how you really feel. Well played, Charlie
It would interesting to see ESPN or other big media pick up this story. Larry Scott needs to be exposed to all and I agree, Pac 12 should go after some of this wasted spending
This does fit into the narrative posted on ESPN and many other sites predicting the demise of the Pac-10.
But Larry is going to walk with $50M in total and escape his role in the Comcast cover-up.
Sure wish the conference would try to claw back some of that money from his bloated pay.
What's that? You say clawing back would have to start with the university presidents getting tough?
Never mind.
I wonder if they'll sue him.
As I read today's column, I kept thinking the same thing...then smiled when I saw your comment about that near the end of the column. Go get him, Pac-12!
The conference should counter-claim against the 'Comcast-terminated' Network executives and cross-claim against Larry. In any 'real' business this would be a no-brainer.
But after they just handed Larry a $1.5M severance knowing the claims of the terminated executives?
This gives Larry one heck of a defense.
If nothing else the conference needs a new general counsel. I don't know who the GC is but I wonder if he/she went to law school and passed a bar exam. Based on the advice the GC has rendered, I do not think the GC passes many bars selling adult beverages.
I used to do the GC thing as a living and I can tell you this is amateur hour.
I'd like to know why they don't
Yes, Larry was a horrible performer. However, the fault lays at the feet of the PAC-12 Presidents who not only hired him, but completely failed to manage and supervise him. In my 25 years of managing my government's TV contracts with Comcast, I (the CFO) performed an audit of revenue every 3 years and shared the results with my Board and with Comcast. The Pac-12 leadership has a huge blind-spot where accountability is supposed to be found. This is really not that complicated. It's AKA "due diligence."
Very coincidental...that many years of overpayments goes “undetected”
I was having a great morning until I read your column. Larry Scott is a travesty, but the chancellors and presidents that let this go unchecked are equally to blame. All but two universities in the PAC12 are public entities. We support them with tax money. We deserve some answers. I would love to see Larry Scott and his university cohorts be held accountable. Makes me question how these university honchos handle their school’s budgets. This is a mess.
I'm sorry... in about 12-18 months... it will be out of the system.
12 step program?! 😂
Love the line: “I was having a great morning until I read your column.” I hope good ol’ Flim-Flam Man Larry feels the same way when he receives his legal notices (whatever they may be…)
Me too. It's our tax dollars.
Not exactly. At least in Washington, university athletic programs are not funded by tax dollars - especially the salaries.
I am 0% convinced that an intrepid state auditor or federal agent couldn't find cause to clawback at least some portion of Scott's theft of public resources. Guys who are this cavalier tend to make a mistake somewhere along the way, and he deserves to pay for his full-freight.
Almost in the Santos league.
It’s really starting to feel like Larry Scott should be in prison for fraud, and the PAC-12 should be able to liquidate all of his personal assets. But shame on all the school leaders at that time as well.
Still waiting to read ANYTHING about actual football. Yeah, Larry Scott is / was bad news. But as a big proponent for increased "investments" by football programs I'm disappointed you have NOT even mentioned:
Between January 2010-January 2021 FBS programs paid over $533 million to fired (not working) coaches. The media and some baffling fans think spending is the answer to everything.
You're not wrong about the money.
See below. Are you the Pac-12's General Counsel?
Great comment but any business self-induced business foul up deserves IMO to be discussed.
Of course, this alone would be a full-time job for JC.
I have two jobs and three daughters. Busy. LOL
Anyone in mind? We would love your input
Well played Curly etc. Charlie
No cross-claim has been filed against the terminated 'Comcast-fired' executives who are suing the conference for wrongful termination
No cross-claim has been filed against Larry who the terminated execs claim knew about the Comcast over payments and covered it up.
Good luck filing suit now when knowing this, Larry's bosses handed him a $1.5M severance payment.
Does the conference's General Counsel have a law degree? And did he pass a bar exam in one of the states in the Pac-12 footprint?
This is amateur hour and another reason why the conference is on the brink.
ASU's Michael (Eat) Crow and UCLA's Block (Head) are the only 2 gurus remaining from the group that hired Larry.
Meet the new boss, the same as the old boss.
Larry was/is a horrible manager but make no mistake: he was entrusted into that position and despite MULTIPLE red hot scorching red flags- some waved frantically by you John—the conference Presidents and ADs did NOTHING.
The emperor... had no clothes.
😆 LOL
A rare disagreement w/John: I’d say that’s hail freezing over throughout the conference (yeah, that’s a bad pun)—not drizzle.
Couple other thoughts:
1. As John has noted here, the campus prez’s/chancellors had a chance to cut their losses in 2018 and didn’t. They bear some of the responsibility for this fiasco.
2. That is relevant because, as JC also notes, the cost of Scott’s blunders affect real people on campuses and communities across the conference footprint. For example: Cal athletics are heavily subsidized by the university’s operating budget. (A source of long-standing resentment on campus.) That means dollars that otherwise would be spent serving the needs of Cal students and front line employees will be diverted to paying off its share of Scott’s spending sprees.
3. If — and it’s a big “if” — there’s proof Scott knew and wasn’t forthcoming about the $50M Comcast overpayments, perhaps legal action can be taken? If nothing else, wouldn’t you love to read a transcript of his deposition?
Some sort of accountability or lawsuit would seem to be welcome justice. However, the Presidents and chancellors probably don’t wanna go down that road. Why? They were the ones who were supposed to supervise and hold to account Scott. The discovery process would be more embarrassing for them than the incompetent commish. So pay the millions and hope it all goes away....
When arrogance turns to blind ignorance...
Leisure Suit Larry.
That arrogance comes from the fact that he negotiated, what was then, the richest tv deal in the NCAA. But the ignorance that followed is very telling of the moral fibers he was constructed of. And San Francisco? Almost every single OTHER market in the footprint would have been a wiser choice to house the network.
...could at least saved 50% by being in the East Bay!
Why do Universities have Presidents and Chancellors involved in Athletics. They could care less about Athletics. Example: When Pac 12 wants to add schools their concern is will the school harm or help their Academic Standard. Fans could give a hoot about Academic Standard. They are concerned about the Athletic Programs and how the new school will help the Conference Athletic wise not Academic wise.