Oh my Gawd.
That’s so bad, I’m almost embarrassed for Mullen. Almost.
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UPDATE: Ted Lasso was more coordinated.
Daily Archives: July 31, 2021
Tales of NIL
James Cook, getting some of that sweet fried chicken and biscuits money:
Filed under Georgia Football, It's Just Bidness
Whole lot of nothin’
Jere Morehead’s Q&A with Seth Emerson ($$) is a tour de force of deflection. A sample:
I think people understand that when Texas and Oklahoma come to you it’s too compelling to not discuss. But to people who worry that it’s becoming too big, that college sports are going to super leagues, that you’re losing intimacy and regionality that makes college sports and college football special, do you share any of those concerns?
Well, change is never easy. But these were the same arguments made a decade ago when Texas A&M and Missouri joined the Southeastern Conference, and I think they’ve been very strong and capable members. So I think we have to adapt to a changing landscape, and really just always keep at the forefront that our focus is on our student-athletes, and on what’s best for our young people in the decades ahead.
Yes, this was all about doing it for the kids. Isn’t it always?
If we’re to believe Morehead, the SEC presidents haven’t discussed conference consolidation, yet it’s “transformative”. They haven’t discussed scheduling. Nor have they discussed a particular time frame for when the new schools will actually participate in conference play. The CFP never came up in discussion. As a bonus, he has no strong opinion on Georgia’s current conference rivalries.
Honestly, I give Seth some credit here. I would have given up half way through. Instead he managed to finish on this high note:
Is there anything else on this that you want to add?
I would just emphasize that (Texas and Oklahoma) are two great institutions, great athletic programs, a lot of tradition, culture and success. And we think they align very well with the current members of the Southeastern Conference.
The whole thing is truly five minutes of my life I’ll never get back. Thanks, Jere.
Filed under Georgia Football, SEC Football
More of the same
One other interesting thing this morning (at least I think it’s interesting):
If the NCAA and conferences were truly honest about their complaint regarding different jurisdictions with different NIL compensation laws (I know, I know), they’d embrace this effort as a means of leveling the legislative landscape. But we all know the real reason they want Congress to manage this is because they believe it’s their only faint chance for an antitrust exemption.
Filed under Political Wankery, The NCAA
Our newest founding fathers
Whoever did the PR for this announcement…
… needs a refresher course in their field of expertise. A “constitutional convention”? Really, could pipsqueaks sound more pompous if they tried?
Besides that, are we seriously supposed to believe that a group of clowns that’s had years to reform their amateurism protocols is going to “dramatically overhaul its governance model” in a matter of a few months? Sure they will.
One day, historians will look back at this era of college athletics and wonder what the people who put Mark Emmert in charge were thinking.
Filed under The NCAA
In a shocking development, Jed Clampett discovers water is wet.
The chances of the College Football Playoff growing to 12 teams in 2023, the first year officials have stated it could expand, appear to be diminishing.
The combination of uncertainty in the environment and a building skepticism over the power being collected by ESPN and the SEC after recent realignment moves have prompted a more cautious approach to expansion. The exploration of growing from a four-team model to 12-team model was announced in early June and is being deliberated on, with a decision expected in the fall.
“I think the pause button should be hit,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told Yahoo Sports. “We need to evaluate the landscape and what it’s going to look like. We still need to evaluate the 12-team playoff. We don’t need to rush into that when there’s legitimate concerns that need to be addressed.”
… Other leaders around the country have expressed a skepticism toward the financial value of allowing ESPN to continue to be the sole owner of the most powerful rights in college football. The College Football Playoff is, essentially, a television contract with ESPN that runs through the 2025 season. ESPN owns all of it now, which includes three playoff games and other New Year’s six bowls.
After sucking at Disney’s teat all these years, that’s just now dawned on them, eh?
These people are so clueless they make ordinary clueless people look like geniuses.
Filed under BCS/Playoffs, ESPN Is The Devil
Get The Picture 