The Pac-12’s got a new mission.

And academics got nothin’ to do with it.

The Pac-12 presidents are open to hiring a commissioner who would transform the conference’s business structure and implement a model used by professional leagues, according to the job description published by the search firm assisting the process.

The description includes the following passage:

“While historically intercollegiate conference offices have been focused on sport operations and the business of the ‘collective,’ the Pac-12 is open to a more modern conference structure and approach which can be seen in several professional sports leagues.”

Now one thing professional sports leagues have in common is that they pay the hired help.  So that’s certainly one possible take from the corporate gobbledygook.  Of course, the other one is simply “whatever we decide, it won’t be to hire another Larry Scott, thanks.”  I’ll leave you to decide on the more likely interpretation.

Say what you want about the tenets of amateurism, Dude, at least it’s an ethos.

Just a reminder that the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments for the Alston appeal.  You can read a good summary of what’s at stake here, but here’s a succinct reminder that, when push comes to shove, amateurism abides:

If Alston wins, would that mark the end of amateurism?

No. “Amateurism” is a label used to define a set of NCAA rules that govern college sports and that, by prohibiting certain types of commercial opportunities, attempt to distinguish college athletes from professional ones. These rules have changed over the years—including through reforms sparked by Ed O’Bannon’s litigation—and will continue to evolve, regardless of the Court’s forthcoming ruling. Nothing will “end” amateurism as much as change it.

Down and dirty

There’s a good piece today from Andy Staples ($$) about how the NCAA is trying to come up with an effective sanction when a football team fakes an injury to slow down the tempo of a game.

This is his starting point:

Notre Dame gets caught faking the injury against #UGA. #UGAvsNotreDame pic.twitter.com/Dsc3aTtDLB

— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) September 22, 2019

It seems nothing is easy in college football, and a solution for this is an example.  Nobody wants the on-field refs to make the call (for one thing, they can’t see what happens when a player goes to the sideline).  An automatic rule to keep out any injured player for an entire series if it led to an injury timeout risks discouraging injured players leaving the field.  (“According to Steve Shaw, 81 percent of players who come out of the game in an injury timeout miss at least six plays.”)

Staples says the NCAA appears to be coalescing around a different approach.

A solution may come via the targeting rule. According to NCAA rules, if instant replay is not available, a targeting penalty can be reviewed after the game. That’s where this injury framework could fit.

In this situation, a school or conference could request a review sometime after a game, which would go to Steve Shaw’s officiating committee. That group would then make a determination and recommendation.

As you can guess, the devil’s in the details.  What entity enforces the recommendation?  What is the nature of the penalty, assuming some body wants to enforce it?

“I would say, in a lighthearted way, we’re still all ears,” Steve Shaw said. “If you’re sitting at home tonight eating dinner and something pops into your head about a creative solution for this, we’re definitely all ears.”

Sounds like a solution is right around the corner.

Meet the front seven

Josh and Graham do their spring deep dive on Georgia’s front seven.

@DawgOutWest and I previewed the Defensive front 7 for @dawgsports Live. The stats and charts are in the replies https://t.co/HNFodXvAi1

— DawgStats (@Dawg_Stats) March 29, 2021

Honestly, they had me at Jordan Davis, but check out Devonte Wyatt’s production:

I love Adam Anderson’s game, but, damn, he’s got some big, big shoes to fill this season.

Bottom line:  Georgia’s got a stout front seven to work with, which is a good thing, because that inexperienced secondary is going to need whatever help it can get.

RBU, baby!

Dell, this is pretty badass.

#RBU #EndZoneStalkers pic.twitter.com/wa49WlRnm0

— Dell McGee (@DellMcGee) March 29, 2021

Musical palate cleanser, younger than yesterday edition

From his thirtieth anniversary concert, here’s Bob Dylan, with a little help from his friends, performing “My Back Pages”.