Pollard: Let the Big10 and SEC Break Away

[BryceC]

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.

The Big 10 and SEC breaking away from an organization in football, while forcing that same organization to keep handling all of their other events programs would be anti-trust? Okay.

 

[Westernhawk]

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.

I'm with you, and agree that by rule students must go to class and make progress. If the history of the sport (especially in the NIL era) is any indication, I'm very leery of thinking that, say, the Georgia football team's second string all goes to class. Maybe I'm just cynical. I mean, if the entire Texas Tech program is built on highly paid transfers, how likely is it that they are all going to class and progressing in academics? I hope I'm wrong but I doubt it. I do think that at many schools, there is residual amateurism and players go to class, work hard, and graduate. I'm just suspicious of some, I guess.

I'm thinking back to my confusing first few years in college, and I wasn't a football player. It was all I could do to get decent grades and make my way. Some of these guys play at 3 or more schools in their "college" careers. I think it would be a tall order for them to succeed academically in many of these situations. Again, I hope I'm wrong about that.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

The Big 10 and SEC breaking away from an organization in football, while forcing that same organization to keep handling all of their other events programs would be anti-trust? Okay.

The B1G and SEC wouldn't be "forcing" anything. In fact, the individual schools along with the NCAA could opt to continue their own NCAA-sanctioned football programs if they wanted to. It probably would be pointless, but they have the legal right. The legal issue would be primarily copyright-related, not antitrust.

The NCAA forcing schools to eliminate all other sports programs as a strong-arm response to the SEC and B1G forming their own independent football league - in the complete absence of an alternative option -would face all kinds of legal challenges.

Ironically, the schools could decide that the legal expense isn't even worth it and collectively give the NCAA the bird, opting instead to form a completely new sports governing organization. The already inept NCAA in that case would effectively be signing its own death warrant.

 

[BryceC]

The B1G and SEC wouldn't be "forcing" anything. In fact, the individual schools along with the NCAA could opt to continue their own NCAA-sanctioned football programs if they wanted to. It probably would be pointless, but they have the legal right. The legal issue would be primarily copyright-related, not antitrust.

The NCAA forcing schools to eliminate all other sports programs as a strong-arm response to the SEC and B1G forming their own independent football league - in the complete absence of an alternative option -would face all kinds of legal challenges.

Ironically, the schools could decide that the legal expense isn't even worth it and collectively give the NCAA the bird, opting instead to form a completely new sports governing organization. The already inept NCAA in that case would effectively be signing its own death warrant.

Nobody said anything about the NCAA forcing anybody to eliminate their other programs. What they would do is just say you can’t compete with other ncaa schools, and the big 10 and sec would just have to compete within themselves in all sports.

 

[trj]

Nobody said anything about the NCAA forcing anybody to eliminate their other programs. What they would do is just say you can’t compete with other ncaa schools, and the big 10 and sec would just have to compete within themselves in all sports.

Is this just Jaime Pollard trying to show bravado? Chest thumping? The B1G/SEC would just call them(NCAA) on their bluff.

 

[Hawke]

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.

King Clown could easily be the poster child for Little Brothers Unanonymous if ever there were such an organization.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Nobody said anything about the NCAA forcing anybody to eliminate their other programs. What they would do is just say you can’t compete with other ncaa schools, and the big 10 and sec would just have to compete within themselves in all sports.

Thanks for the clarification.

Depending upon the contract language, it's doubtful that the NCAA could enforce an all-or-nothing stance on the schools. It's one thing if a program decides to carve itself out, another to force programs out.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

People seem to forget that the NCAA has no legal jurisdiction over its members. Its members created the NCAA as the governing body for college sports. They can leave whenever they want. But, as has been said many, many times, if you get rid of the NCAA, you have to create something to replace it. Every major entity needs rules and enforcers of the rules.

Again, I see football breaking off at some point to start a super-league, but everything else is too much. The NCAA is needed just from an infrastructure standpoint to manage the dozens of other sports.