The Rest of College Football

[entropy]

jeff.. yep. seems to me someone is going to be held liable.

[entropy]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/the_bonus/07/11/leach.book.excerpt/index.html


Leach's new book is certain to stir the pot

[Jeff Buchanan]

Mike Leach is a good man who got screwed.

Craig James is a dick. He threw his weight around and in the process did damage to a good football coach who I am absolutely positive will return to coaching at some point.

.......... I'm not confident that Leach should have written that book though.

[entropy]

Leach's biggest problem will be convincing an AD and a School that he won't sue them if things go bad. Leach will need to prove to them he'll walk away like tressel and move on. Tough sell.

But I do think a Big East team would and should give him a shot

[Jeff Buchanan]

Dunno .... if the facts are as Leach describes them, T-Tech deserved to pay through the nose. He got F'ed in my opinon.

I listen to him all the time on Sirius. I like his stuff (along with Jack Aroot). He's actually pretty humble if his radio personna is to be believed. He's never whined once on the radio about how he got srewed (and he did) and not anything like the arrogant A-Hole he was made out to be after the James debacle (done mostly by T-Tech stories to the media).

Besides .... I like Black Sheep and he is one of them.

[entropy]

I actually think his show is the best on Sirius. I wish I could listen more often

[Mike]

I thought at the time this story broke that Leach got railroaded and I feel stronger about it now. I hope he wins big.

[Wild Hoss]

Jeff... I think you'll see the NCAA break into two. I've been surprised as to who is supporting additional money for scholarship players. Seems the NCAA has limited things schools used to provide (like travel) and many schools feel scholarships have actually declined in value. When coaches salaries are skyrocketing, tough to say scholarships are declininig in value. I think members are going to improve competition through like mindset and rules.

I think the process or thoughts have begun

The initial steps are already underway and have been for some time IMO, beginning (arguably) with the formation of the Big 12.

The underlying reasoning to this point hasn?t been the chafing under NCAA rules, but rather the widening gap between profitable schools like Texas and unprofitable ones like Iowa State, which are a burden on Texas? earning potential.

What we saw in 1995, with the formation of the Big 12, was the first major salvo in what I see as the battle leading to an eventual break between the BCS schools and the NCAA. That move was, in essence, Texas and A&M cutting loose from the dead weight of the SWC and aligning themselves with programs of similar earning potential; namely Oklahoma and Nebraska. Our move to the Big Ten was done for similar reasoning; the fear of being left in association with low revenue programs. This was spurred, as we all know, by learning that Texas (Seeing a pattern here?) was looking to trade-up and trim the fat once again; this time cutting loose the bulk of the former Big Eight, after surgically removing the beneficial parts. This time however, it was only Oklahoma, along with its retarded younger brother in Stillwater, along with in-state whipping boy Texas Tech ,and Baylor...pound-for-pound maybe the most politically astute program in the nation for its ability to weasel its way into Texas? U-Haul every time they start packing.

Fortunately we got wind of what was happening and had the value and will to protect ourselves, but it amounts to an ancillary firefight in the greater battle. We all know the Big Ten isn?t done, with its eyes on Notre Dame, nor do I believe the SEC plans to stand fast even though they appear to be waiting on the Big Ten to make the next move. The ACC will have to expand again as well, be it as a result of being raided by the SEC or simply by seeing the opportunity to scavenge some moderately valuable parts from a dying Big East as its last opportunity to do so.

Once these moves are made I see little reason for these ?mega-conferences? to be satisfied with living under NCAA mandate and its one-size-fits-all mentality. They will have consolidated the vast majority of power and revenue into a far more efficient and profitable structure, capable of writing its own ticket with television and advertisers, and re-working its relationship with the NFL as well. Free of the NCAA, they will be able to tweak the product towards even more profitability...add games, add scholarships, hack away at the ?amateur? status restrictions to attract more big name athletes, what have you.

Perhaps revenue and rules are both part of the issue, but I see market forces driving this particular bus with probable rules changes being a benefit. As usual, money drives the bus.

[entropy]

great post Hoss.. I agree. I think the steps are being taken. TO seems to be suggesting this, so do the AD's in the BigTen. Also, a guy with Oregon Booster connections was saying the same thing on another board. The ball may not be rolling, put people are starting to push it.

[entropy]

http://tamu.scout.com/2/1086147.html

Texas A&M getting restless?

[entropy]

Politics will play a large role in A&M's decision, but I do think they are taking it more serious this time.

[WM Wolverine]

Texas/ESPN's abuse of the Longhorn network is going to bust that conference...

Airing HS football (and other sports) games on a Longhorn station just seems wrong if not illegal.

[entropy]

I wonder how the NCAA will view the airing of HS games. Seems to me that would be considered a competitive advantage.

[whodean]

A&M/Clemson to the SEC seems like just a matter of time.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Texas/ESPN's abuse of the Longhorn network is going to bust that conference...

Airing HS football (and other sports) games on a Longhorn station just seems wrong if not illegal.

.............. Unless there's a plan in the works and behind tight security for the B12 (the SEC and B10) to split form the NCAA in the short term.

If the news this weekend that Yahoo Sports was about to break another big story and Texas might be a likely candidate for disclosure of NCAA rule breaking, whose to say they just won't say F it and depart?

Chaos within which an already prepared set of BCS conference members will define a new organization.