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Capitalism is risk and private equity is an integral part of that risk diversification. Jon noted several huge and now publicly owned companies that received PE boosts during their 20th century startup phases. Add 21st century successes like Spotify, Uber, Fanatics, DocuSign, Shopify, AirBnB to that list. Not to mention the 800# gorillas Facebook (Meta) and Twitter (X). A significant majority of the universities that importantly figure in CFB are state run enterprises. We have seen how that management and fiscal wisdom sometimes works out: PAC12 demise. This is not to make an economic or political statement on state run vs private run entities, as billions of dollars of private money have been dumped into fruitless holes in the ground. It is merely to point out that PE is not to be feared or avoided simply because that part of the deal is focused on return to investors. Of course the PE suits will push for the best deal they can get. The negotiators for B1G are not babes in the woods that will give away the farm. They are not total fools like Larry Scott. Remember that Petitti's background is law, media and MLB, all hardnosed private enterprises. I imagine that he and the B1G negotiators know what they are doing so I would give them the benefit of the doubt as these proposals get fleshed out.

Hahaha... agree!

Thanks, Darren, for another most enjoyable read. It isn't easy putting together a schedule for 18 teams that cover four time zones. Seeming inequities in scheduling will happen. But compared to playing eight B1G teams in a row without an idle week, this year's schedule is a piece of cake. Every team and its fans have scheduling beefs. Ohio State and its fans feel dumped on having to kick off so often at noon. IMO, both teams being idle the week before playing one another is not hurting one team or the other. The only egregious game on the schedule is having to play Minnesota on a Friday night after playing at Iowa. However, this gives OBD one more day to prepare for USC. The B1G did not schedule OBD's game against Beavis in Week 4. Oregon, like Penn State, could have avoided playing a game in Week 4. Maybe this is a reason why OBD's D ran out of gas in the 4th quarter, but a win cures all concerns. One of the very few times I have been disappointed in Dan Lanning is his joining the LA crowd, beefing about rather than embracing the challenge of the schedule. Four of 18 teams are located in the Pacific time zone. Scheduling stuff is going to happen. Don't Let Mendoza Cross the Line! Put Out That Cig!

I plan to supervise my grandkids on a couple home maintenance projects while recuperating from romancing the (kidney) stone. I'll sit and critique while they clean the gutters.

Friend Solar, there is risk, of course. However, with a 95% equity stake in Big Ten Enterprises, I believe Tony Petitti and his advisers have mitigated the risk. How is a 5% stake holder going to call the shots? I also note that Microsoft, Google, and Apple start ups were all funded with private equity. The financial world opined that Microsoft and its idea of personal computers would never work. Microsoft came close to taking down IBM. If this deal happens as was the case with the Big Ten Network, others will follow suit.

Giving Lanning even the slightest bit of motivational material is a BIG mistake.

Gat, I'm not saying anyone's concerns about a new enterprise aren't warranted. But how does a 5% equity holder tell the other 95% what they have to do? The format of the newly formed Big Ten Enterprises will own 95% of the equity. In 2007, B1G commissioner Jim Delaney had an idea. The conference would start its own network dedicated solely to the broadcast and coverage of a single conference's athletics. He convinced Fox to provide 61% of the new venture's start-up capital. Delaney, the Big Ten, and Fox were laughed at and skewered coast to coast over an insane idea that would be a disaster for the conference and Fox. I'm pretty sure Jim, the B1G, and Fox got the last laugh.

Yep, seems like more than coincidence.... On the flip side, the CFP gave Oregon too many last December leading up to Pasadena: Bye, bye....BYE! Conspiracy!

Seems like human nature to me. Who wants the new team to come in and dominate? Going to be tossed a few barbs where possible imo. Be curious to see how we set up Utah their first couple years in the PAC. Or Texas and OU in the SEC.

Dante Moore, Fernando Mendoza matchup a clash of Heisman favorites, top draft picksAutzen ZooDante Moore, Fernando Mendoza matchup a clash of Heisman...When No. 2 Oregon hosts No. 8 Indiana on Saturday October 11, it'll be a clash of two of college football's best quarterbacks.

Josh Pate on Colin Cowherd: 'Dan's not leaving Oregon'Autzen ZooJosh Pate on Colin Cowherd: 'Dan's not leaving Oregon'As a guest on the Colin Cowherd podcast Josh Pate point-blank rejected the idea Dan Lanning would take another job in college football, even Clemson or Auburn.

Sorry John. I've literally never heard of a private equity deal that didn't ultimately screw over the little guy. They will find a way. They will be a stage 4 cancer the B1G office will never admit they have for the next 20 years as fans get the short end of the stick in an insidious manner.

Great to see Big Play VA making a living off his talent even if it isn't the NFL.

Sad news. Condolences to all his family and friends.

I see what Lanning is complaining about now. The scheduling bias by the Big 10. Penn st got a bye to prepare for us.. our second biggest game against Indiana and we get a bye and so does Indiana. 🤔🤔 We get a bye before our 3rd biggest game going to Iowa and Iowa gets a bye before that too.. we play a quick turnaround on a Friday the next week for Minnesota.. Minnesota would be coming off a bye too.. OSU first big game against Penn st.. guess who gets the bye to prepare for that game?..u guessed right! Penn st doesn't get a bye to take that trip to OSU and play They want us to lose🤬🤬🤬..not really but its definitely bias for some reason

I think Riggs might look to go or Harris or both.. I love both...

Former Oregon Ducks men’s basketball coach Don Monson dead at age 92 - oregonlive.com

Coach speak: "From the second he's been here, he's been working very hard, very intelligent young man," The method behind the Browns' quarterback development - ESPN

DeForest Buckner added to the PSU bets. This may have been the best yet Oregon Duck Fans Will Find DeForest Buckner's Indianapolis Colts Prank Hilarious

Roundtable discussion on the PSU game. What say you? Oregon football roundtable de-briefing for Ducks' Week 6 bye

Another Oregon QB getting their shot to start! I'm quite excited for this, although I wish it was for any other team in the NFL. The Browns have a long history with being a terrible place to be a QB but if anyone can come in and shine it's Dillon. It's going to be a tough go of it with Cleveland's offensive line but with Gabriel's quick release and elusiveness that's as good a shot as the Browns have had in a long time. The saving grace is the Browns D can keep them in the game as long as DG can avoid turnovers and make some plays. Part of me wants to see him ball out and crush it. The other part of me wants him to play just good enough to get traded to a team where he can actually shine. https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/dillon-gabriel-prepared-for-his-moment-to-start-at-quarterback-team-coverage

Oregon coach Dan Lanning talks returning to Autzen crowd noise after Penn State White Out Oregon football coach Dan Lanning discusses crowd noise at Autzen Stadium following Penn State White Out win.

New music video featuring Our Beloved Duck Mascot!

While I would agree that this edition didn't have the impact of some of the previous ones (think Colorado in 2023, Ohio St @ Autzen and Michigan last year), there was a quiet determination for most of it. It matched the 'thousand cuts' theme of wearing Penn State down over four quarters, showing the team's preparation and how the coaches create that buy in. Slow and steady, until the explosion in OT. Then it slowed down again with what I consider one of the best brief scenes of the entire series: Dierre Hill embracing Kenyon Barner after the game as the torch is passed from one great Duck to the next. Not every Ducks vs Them needs the fireworks that Happy Valley used to try and intimidate OBD as they stood waiting to take the field. The quiet determination on this video was a reflection of what we all saw in Dante's face during one of the best victories I can recall in my almost 40 years as a Duck fan.

Oregon STATEMENT Win @ Penn State WILL Have Recruiting Impacts for Dan Lanning