Pollard: Let the Big10 and SEC Break Away

[NorthKCHawk]

Interesting quote. Probably not making him very popular in a lot of places. As much as I think he is a windbag used car salesmen who should buy a house with PJ Fleck, not sure he is wrong. The financial models between the SEC/Big10 and everyone else is too disparate from the other conferences. Even those handful of schools that can keep up (Duke, NC, A&M, Florida State) are just going to create a huge gulf between the haves and the have nots in the lesser conferences.

There is a lot of merit to the two big conferences plucking the few top end schools from the remainder and starting a new super league separate from the NCAA. And leave the remainder for a more controlled environment closer to the traditional approach to college athletics and run by the NCAA.

What is currently happening is not sustainable across the entire college landscape.

'We should break away from them': Why Iowa State AD has 'draconian' idea for Big Ten, SEC

Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard had a 'draconian' idea for the Big Ten and SEC during a media availability on Monday. Here's more:

www.usatoday.com

 

[longtimer]

Interesting quote. Probably not making him very popular in a lot of places. As much as I think he is a windbag used car salesmen who should buy a house with PJ Fleck, not sure he is wrong. The financial models between the SEC/Big10 and everyone else is too disparate from the other conferences. Even those handful of schools that can keep up (Duke, NC, A&M, Florida State) are just going to create a huge gulf between the haves and the have nots in the lesser conferences.

There is a lot of merit to the two big conferences plucking the few top end schools from the remainder and starting a new super league separate from the NCAA. And leave the remainder for a more controlled environment closer to the traditional approach to college athletics and run by the NCAA.

What is currently happening is not sustainable across the entire college landscape.

'We should break away from them': Why Iowa State AD has 'draconian' idea for Big Ten, SEC

Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard had a 'draconian' idea for the Big Ten and SEC during a media availability on Monday. Here's more:

www.usatoday.com

Pretty good analysis of current status of college football. May well happen.
I have to say as much as I am not a fan of the Clones I think Pollard has done a good job as AD

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Pretty good analysis of current status of college football. May well happen.
I have to say as much as I am not a fan of the Clones I think Pollard has done a good job as AD

He objectively has. He has made some really good hires, especially in MBB. While he may have mishandled the NIL part of things that nudged Campbell out the door, it was actually fairly amazing he kept Campbell as long as he did. But, the guy is just obnoxious at times and I generally feel that if the AD is the most prominent figure in your athletic department, you are doing something wrong.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I also think his idea to force the two major conferences to leave on all sports is dumb. Its cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Football really is the only problem right now. Breaking that up into two levels of leagues with differing financial constraints is probably needed. The only way it is not needed is if Congress can put a reasonable financial governor on NIL that all current P5 schools can functionally meet. I do not see that happening, so let the SEC and Big 10 form one football league and everyone else can be a second tier league. There is plenty of television revenue to go around. Streamers and traditional cable have so much content to fill.

No other sport really needs to do this. MBB and the March Madness are about as healthy as they have ever been. Baseball, softball, wrestling, volleyball all lack parity outside of the Top 15 or so, but that has always kind of been the case. The Olympic sports need a comprehensive stage for competition. I would carve off football only.

 

[Grady]

I also think his idea to force the two major conferences to leave on all sports is dumb. Its cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Football really is the only problem right now. Breaking that up into two levels of leagues with differing financial constraints is probably needed. The only way it is not needed is if Congress can put a reasonable financial governor on NIL that all current P5 schools can functionally meet. I do not see that happening, so let the SEC and Big 10 form one football league and everyone else can be a second tier league. There is plenty of television revenue to go around. Streamers and traditional cable have so much content to fill.

No other sport really needs to do this. MBB and the March Madness are about as healthy as they have ever been. Baseball, softball, wrestling, volleyball all lack parity outside of the Top 15 or so, but that has always kind of been the case. The Olympic sports need a comprehensive stage for competition. I would carve off football only.

I don't see any factual reason why football is a "problem" and is not sustainable with the current Power 4 structure. Are the media bailing or reducing payouts? No. Are the donors balking? No. Is the 12/16/24 team playoff system drawing tons of interest? Yep.

If the NIL/transfer portal problems can be tweaked and solved, and the major conferences can keep their top tier teams happy, where is the great need or pressure for change? And what's not sustainable about the current structure?

 

[Fryowa]

ISU has finally, and overtly, admitted they are a little brother and would rather play JV. I love it.

I love how he deliriously frames the issue by thinking anyone gives a shit about any sports other than football and men's basketball. Absolutely no ADs in either if those two conferences cares about wrestling, (B1G would be totally fine, BTW), baseball, golf, diving, or track. They will say they do, but it's lip service. Even at Iowa.

Lastly, Pollard's "cake and eat it too" temper tantrum about having to take all sports would never, and will never happen. When the Big Ten and SEC split off it will be for football, period. It's going to be a football league, not a school sports league. It just shows how even though the guy can raise money and apparently find coaches, he's completely detached from reality. He's trying to force said reality into his own dumb perception of it. It's what got Campbell gone ultimately. Pollard had his idea of how things are supposed to work but couldn't admit that that's not...reality.

I'll take Beth G over that lame brain any day of the week.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I don't see any factual reason why football is a "problem" and is not sustainable with the current Power 4 structure. Are the media bailing or reducing payouts? No. Are the donors balking? No. Is the 12/16/24 team playoff system drawing tons of interest? Yep.

If the NIL/transfer portal problems can be tweaked and solved, and the major conferences can keep their top tier teams happy, where is the great need or pressure for change? And what's not sustainable about the current structure?

What's broken is the financial disparity and the complete lack of any possible parity in football. Before NIL and the House settlement, theoretically, all teams were on the same playing field. They had the same scholly limits, coaching limits, recruiting restrictions, visits, roster sizes, etc. Now, we all know that the SEC was cheating, but at least the system was set up to be somewhat fair across all conferences.

Now, the majority of the ACC, Big 12 and others cannot compete financially with the Big 10 and SEC because of the TV money. That was basically Pollard's whole point: "we cannot swim in that pond."

Things are working fine in regards to revenue, TV, etc. But you essentially have a two tiered system on revenue and talent acquisition. That is not going to change. So, why not split into two leagues and embrace that reality? There are, in fact, JV and varsity in major college football. Admit it and move on. Frankly, 110+ teams is too many for a league anyway.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

The B1G and SEC initiating the process to break football away probably would be the one and only thing that would force congress to address the issue. The level of lobbying and public pressure would be too hard to ignore. If the politicians can get out of their own way, the goal would be to stablish a framework (likely an exemption similar to what was ratified for the NFL) that creates a level playing field, and also holds players more accountable to their contracts.

One could argue that doing so interferes with free market economics, but it is what it is. Without those regulatory constraints the Packers (and other small market franchises) would have been dinosaurs decades ago.

Even if that didn't happen, Pollard is dreaming if he thinks he can force the two conferences to take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm sure they would try, but the remaining conferences and/or NCAA would have no legal pathway to preventing it.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Even if that didn't happen, Pollard is dreaming if he thinks he can force the two conferences to take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm sure they would try, but the remaining conferences and/or NCAA would have no legal pathway to preventing it.

Exactly. Why would the two big conferences want to plan, schedule, and pay for a national championship for women's diving? At most, they want to chart their own course in football to maximize TV revenue and keep the whole pie. They still very much want the NCAA to run all the minor sports. To do that, they have to leave MBB as March Madness funds the NCAA. It will be a surgical divorce, not a complete divorce from the NCAA.

 

[BryceC]

I don't see any factual reason why football is a "problem" and is not sustainable with the current Power 4 structure. Are the media bailing or reducing payouts? No. Are the donors balking? No. Is the 12/16/24 team playoff system drawing tons of interest? Yep.

If the NIL/transfer portal problems can be tweaked and solved, and the major conferences can keep their top tier teams happy, where is the great need or pressure for change? And what's not sustainable about the current structure?

Because even very conservative programs like Iowa State will be out of money in a few years.

And if football splits off, the non power 2 won’t be competitive in basketball either.

I’m admittedly super jaded on all of this stuff now. I basically don’t watch college sports anymore outside of Iowa State and I don’t think I even watched all of the games.

I’d honestly just rather go to a local high school or club sport game now.

 

[BryceC]

The B1G and SEC initiating the process to break football away probably would be the one and only thing that would force congress to address the issue. The level of lobbying and public pressure would be too hard to ignore. If the politicians can get out of their own way, the goal would be to stablish a framework (likely an exemption similar to what was ratified for the NFL) that creates a level playing field, and also holds players more accountable to their contracts.

One could argue that doing so interferes with free market economics, but it is what it is. Without those regulatory constraints the Packers (and other small market franchises) would have been dinosaurs decades ago.

Even if that didn't happen, Pollard is dreaming if he thinks he can force the two conferences to take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm sure they would try, but the remaining conferences and/or NCAA would have no legal pathway to preventing it.

Of course they would, they’d just say you can’t have sports inside NCAA control and outside NCAA control and remain a part of the organization.

 

[Westernhawk]

Because even very conservative programs like Iowa State will be out of money in a few years.

And if football splits off, the non power 2 won’t be competitive in basketball either.

I’m admittedly super jaded on all of this stuff now. I basically don’t watch college sports anymore outside of Iowa State and I don’t think I even watched all of the games.

I’d honestly just rather go to a local high school or club sport game now.

I think your comments nail it. I'm also becoming super jaded, which is tough because I love college sports. My dad starting taking me to Iowa football and basketball games when I was maybe 6 years old, and I've been going to them ever since. Having said that, the current state of "college" athletics is depressing. Like many things in our culture, money rules everything. And, the "invisible hand" of the free market doesn't quite work the way people hope it does. It isn't a free market, and some things do need a fair amount of regulation.

I'm also saddened by what may be happening to "olympic sports" in the future.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

As I have posted in another thread, if the SEC/Big10 football divorce does occur, and the remaining teams that do not go with them establish a second tier league that more resembles traditional college football (no NIL, just a pay for play by each school at a capped amount; kids must go to class; age limits; bring back walk-ons; transfer limits; 5 for 4; bowls; bands; etc), then I would be very much torn if I would want Iowa to leave with the Big 10.

I actually think that the remainder schools could establish themselves as true college football and have plenty of tv, money, and play for the real collegiate national title. There could be some real juice there and Iowa could be a player in that sort of league.

 

[Westernhawk]

As I have posted in another thread, if the SEC/Big10 football divorce does occur, and the remaining teams that do not go with them establish a second tier league that more resembles traditional college football (no NIL, just a pay for play by each school at a capped amount; kids must go to class; age limits; bring back walk-ons; transfer limits; 5 for 4; bowls; bands; etc), then I would be very much torn if I would want Iowa to leave with the Big 10.

I actually think that the remainder schools could establish themselves as true college football and have plenty of tv, money, and play for the real collegiate national title. There could be some real juice there and Iowa could be a player in that sort of league.

...and if there is a b10/sec pro league, it should work as such. Contracts for players. They would then clearly be employees if they don't go to class and get paid millions to play a year or two.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

IMO, the gap between the top two and the rest is just going to continue to widen more drastically over time. Of course $$$$ drives it all. All top recruits are going to seek out and gravitate towards the BIG or SEC. All the top coaches, including up and coming assistants will head towards the top two. They will do it for the honor of coaching in one of the top two conferences and they will get paid more in the two as well.

In addition, I think the top AD's will end up in the BIG and SEC. This will leave the other conferences as the minor leagues that the big dogs will rake over in the portal and offer $$$$$ after each season. The other conferences will be the building blocks for younger coaches and players. Once they prove themselves, they will eventually move on the the BIG or SEC. Once those young players develop physically, they will be looked at and offered thru the portal. The other conferences will be in a constant state of building/developing a program with coaches and players.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

...and if there is a b10/sec pro league, it should work as such. Contracts for players. They would then clearly be employees if they don't go to class and get paid millions to play a year or two.

If the players are no longer students, what about it is college football except for the name on the jersey and the location where the games are played? I think the big boys need to strongly consider whether going totally pro will lose fans and the spirit of the product. I think they will want to be careful here. They should position themselves to be the elite college football league, not the pro minor league.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

If the players are no longer students, what about it is college football except for the name on the jersey and the location where the games are played? I think the big boys need to strongly consider whether going totally pro will lose fans and the spirit of the product. I think they will want to be careful here. They should position themselves to be the elite college football league, not the pro minor league.

It isn't anymore, especially with football and b-ball and it does truly suck. College sports was never completely innocent, but in general it now has lost all its innocence. So, basically college sports, in particular football and b-ball, will be a specific program in a college or university. I guess that's how they are going to sell it and have the athletes under contract or as employees. WTF!

 

[Westernhawk]

If the players are no longer students, what about it is college football except for the name on the jersey and the location where the games are played? I think the big boys need to strongly consider whether going totally pro will lose fans and the spirit of the product. I think they will want to be careful here. They should position themselves to be the elite college football league, not the pro minor league.

I agree with you 100%. Having said that, everything the sport is doing is heading the other way (NFL junior league).

 

[NorthKCHawk]

While there is a semi-professional feel to football and MBB now, there still is a residual amatuerism. Yes, some of the stars are making millions, but the back up guard is probably making 20k, going to class, and understands he may need a degree when this is over because his chances of making the NFL are low. As has been discussed elsewhere, there are workarounds to the class work, but at least by the rules, all players most be enrolled as students at the university and pretend to be a student. I would say the majority of players at most schools are trying to get a degree. Less than 5% will make the pros and they are told that.

If a super conferences go to some sort of outsourcing model, or otherwise just jettison the student athlete component of college football, I doubt I would watch. Just JV pro ball at that point. I don't watch minor league baseball on TV and I attended minor league baseball games in person once a year mainly to get cotton candy and face painting for my kids.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Of course they would, they’d just say you can’t have sports inside NCAA control and outside NCAA control and remain a part of the organization.

That kind of "forced control" would not hold up against anti-trust challenges, not even close. It also would put the NCAA under the monopoly microscope.