Jon Joseph

LOL! Spot on regarding CA law. I am admitted to practice in California, Massachusetts, and Nevada, but inactive in all 3. I very much doubt that any of the above would give me CLE credit for my diatribe. But I am sick of ESPN and FOX 'destroying conferences' and the leftovers bending over and taking it in the tailpipe. At least Bob Bowlsby called out ESPN; GK in regards to FOX may as well be a sphinx.

Therein lies the rub. Do you blow off the B1G by bringing suit; or, by sharing the proposed litigation to be filed prior to filing do you put more pressure on the B1G/FOX and force an invitation possibly at a full revenue share? By doing so the plaintiffs arguably would have some form of leverage on the B1G, FOX, and SC/UCLA as regards their objecting to Oregon and other Pac-10 members joining the B1G. Leverage that without litigation does not exist. Being angry I realize does not often lead to measured decisions. But I think it is incredibly slimy of Kevin Warren to outright lie to the B1G's long-term Rose Bowl partner and for Folt in particular to lie by omission if indeed SC was in discussion with FOX and the B1G when she led the charge not to expand into the central time zone. This would have cratered the B12 and left one fewer player on the field to negotiate with the 'Pac-20.' I do recognize that many of today's Pac-10 problems were self inflicted but SC and UCLA were part of those who did nothing to rein in Larry Scott. SC and UCLA received the invite based far more on location than on on-field and on-court results.

During my career as a corporate attorney, I served as a member of The American Bar Association's RICO Cases Committee. The Committee was chaired by the author of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO,) George Robert 'Bob' Blakey. RICO, Title IX of the Organized Crime Control Act was signed into law in 1970 by president Richard Nixon. Since its adoption at the federal level state RICO Acts has been passed by the majority of states including California and Oregon. 'Predicate Acts' to bring a case under RICO require the use of wire and mail fraud being used to commit a series of ongoing crimes. I very much doubt that when FOX, B1G Commissioner Kevin Warren, the B1G board of directors (B1G college presidents,) USC, and UCLA the potential defendants (PD) 'discussed' USC and UCLA leaving the Pac-12 to become a full revenue-sharing member of the B1G that telephone calls and email contacts were not part of the discussions between and among the aforementioned parties. At the time of the discussions, the Pac-12, B1G, and the ACC had formed an alliance that in part included an agreement not to poach one another's member schools. This agreement was not in writing but The Statute of Frauds does not require such agreements to be in writing to be enforceable. All of the PDs including broadcast partner FOX were well aware of this agreement. Additionally, at a time when the Pac-12 had to opportunity to add B12 teams after Oklahoma and Texas announced both were leaving the conference to join the SEC Conference, USC president Carol Folt was the person who most vehemently objected to the Pac-12 moving into the central time zone. The vote against expanding was 9-3. The votes of the Pac-12 members have not been disclosed but certainly, the three-member institutions would have standing to file suit as would the ten-member schools 'defrauded' by Folt failing to disclose her discussions with the PDs. Many believe that her objection to expansion came when USC and also UCLA voted against expansion and were in contact with one or more of the PDs regarding the Trojans and Bruins' move to the B1G. If not a RICO violation if Folt, USC, and UCLA were in contact with one or more of the PDs, it is most certainly a breach of the fiduciary duty owed by the Trojans and Bruins to the other members of the Pac-12 conference not to disclose contacts with the PDs while voting against the expansion of the conference. One could also argue that FOX as a Pac-12 broadcast partner also owed a fiduciary duty to the conference. And the B1G's alliance agreement was well known to B1G commissioner Warren acting on behalf of the B1G. There is no doubt that Kevin Warren lied to both ACC commissioner Jim Phillips and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff (GK) about not going after ACC and Pac-12 conference members. Indeed, this could have been a tactic among the PDs to lull GK into a false sense of security. This is violative of any number of California statutes requiring full disclosure and fair dealing. Likely also a violation of similar state statutes across the Pac-12 footprint. We no longer live in a world of caveat emptor ('buyer beware.') If the Pac-12 had added the 'orphaned' B12 schools in whole or in part the B12 would not exist as a Power 5 conference today. FOX along would ESPN would be bidding for the expanded Pac-12 media rights making adding a streaming entity a luxury and not a necessity. If the predicate RICO acts are met, RICO provides for full recovery of the plaintiff's legal fees and expenses and treble damages. This being the case if the predicate acts did occur I believe any number of legal firms would be willing to take such litigation on contingency; the plaintiffs would be responsible for the firm's expenses but would not be charged for billable hours. I think proving damages with a new media deal including the LA schools versus one not including the LA schools would be easily accomplished and would run in the millions of dollars. As noted above if the plaintiff(s) won the case damages would be tripled. It is the world of academia in which Pac-12 sports compete and academicians are not prone to litigation. But to allow the PDs to destroy the conference or simply alter its long-term financial health should in my opinion not go unpunished.

FYI, Texas Tech had the most plays from scrimmage in 2022. Search plays per scrimmage and the entire list of P5 and G5 programs # of plays run in 2022 should pop up. I believe this information is on the ESPN website.

And what high handicapped golfer does not love a mulligan.

Yes. Thanks for the correction.

Great take. First, I want to see no potential starters injured in spring ball (duh.) 2nd, totally agree D and special teams must improve. Something on the D-side of the ball was missing last year. I hope in the 2nd season of Lanning guys on D will 'get' Lanning's system and play to their potential. Thanks for suiting up for Oregon but Sewell seemed to be often missing in action last season. 3rd, It would help the cause to find a quality TE out of the portal. The 2 TEs portaling out respectively to Miami and USC hurt the depth of the TE room. Nix needs an athletic safety valve TE; especially with 4 new starters on the OL. Thanks again for the great take.

I understand your POV and in general, I agree. But for the WSU women to win the tourney and be included in the Women's Tournay is a heck of a story.

Won't be eliminated. Why? $$$$$$$$$

Love the graduate school idea. I would expand it in the situation you described to an entire conference proving tuition-free graduate school opportunities. Loyalty in a day and age of players 'jumping ship' should be rewarded.

Amen David, Amen. Trying to build a college roster in a day and age of NIL, cut-throat recruiting, roster tampering, and restrictions on transfers governed only by dates when the transfer portal is open is chaos. Far easier to build a roster in the NFL than in the P5 and G5. Imagine how the Arizona coaching staff and fans feel about 3 of its best players being poached by USC. How about a very good Oregon TE room being hurt by losing a solid TE to USC? It's difficult to not see USC under Riley as the leader in roster tampering. Ask Coach Narduzzi at Pitt Opportunity for the players? I'm all for it but somehow in some way this 'chaos' has to be regulated and with an impotent NCAA there is nobody to provide regulation. IMO, with an 85 scholarship cap coaches should be able to 'cut' players so long, as you so noted David, players can retain their scholarship.

I think it is more likely that ACC teams will be individually picked off by the B1G and the SEC and that the ACC as a conference could disappear or drop to the G5.

However that Michigan team ended up defeating Tim Tebow and Florida, coached by Urban Meyer, in its bowl game sending Lloyd Carr into retirement with a sweet victory. After the back-to-back Ls against App St and Oregon that Michigan team rebounded and played well.

Good stuff. Oregon has played well against B1G teams, but the conference overall has several B1G losses. Utah lost to Penn State in the 2022/23 Rose Bowl. And lost to Ohio State the year prior. Before Coach DeBoer arrived UW was blown out at Michigan. Two seasons ago Oregon State lost at Purdue. Last season WSU did get a heck of a win at Wisconsin. I think it is probably .500 or so conference-wise since 2017. Especially if you do not count victories against USC and UCLA.

And if Utah had last season been in a 12-team playoff it would have had a 1st round bye. Maybe staying at 10 would be the right move?

Now living 'Down South' I can assure you that CFB is close to religious status here compared to viewership and interest on the west coast. The B1G? Many teams supported because of huge graduate let alone student interest. I do believe CAL, Stanford, Oregon, and UW will get a B1G invite but not at a full share like FOX gave the LA schools. The B1G cannot hang SC/UCLA out on a west coast island. But once the Pac-10 media deal is done it's certain that the new Left Coast invitees will not be offered a full share. Then do you abandon OR ST and WSU? Will the payout justify leaving OR ST and Wazzu behind? A 12-team CFB playoff field will soon be here. Might it not be better for the Pac-10 to remain as is and have a better shot at CFB playoff and the coming expanded CBB playoff? A bigger piece of the ultimate, to be determined, Pac-10 pie instead of adding more schools? Will SDSU and SMU be more 'accretive' than the Pac-10 staying as is?

I do not disagree at all with you my friend but at least the football travel will be somewhat limited compared to all other sports. Traveling to the eastern time zone to play Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and possibly Michigan State will be a witch. Not so much Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, and Purdon't. The Boilermakers won the west last season and were then mugged in the B1G champ game by Michigan. And in the bowl game, LSU hung 60+ on these boys. The B1G is top-heavy and overrated in football.

Gator hater. I agree. But the tune does tie in so well with CFB headed into the 4th quarter. If Utah wins 1 game next season it best be the opener vs Florida; a team that will likely need a tutorial on how to lift the tray table and fasten a seat belt.

Join in a heartbeat? One would think so but the revenue share will be negotiated by B1G (FOX) and will not be a full share equal to that SC/UCLA will receive. More than the Pac-10 new media deal? Probably but not a whole lot more. Enough to entice Oregon and UW to abandon OR ST and WSU and subject the athletes, especially in CBB and non-revenue sports to absurd travel requirements?

Used by FOX to keep ESPN out of FOX's backyard, the LA market. I don't think football travel will be all that bad going on the road 4 to 5 times a year, perhaps 6 when SC travels to South Bend but for basketball and the non-revenue sports? Brutal.

Great take. I do not disagree but much of the B1G's strategy, including the success of the B1G Network is orchestrated by 'our friends' at FOX. Go to your room, Joel Klatt. A Pac-12 player at and graduate from CU. Now playing for 'the enemy.' Without FOX's input, USC and UCLA do not head east. Hades has no fury like a network scorned by ESPN's OK/TX theft from the B12.

The last member of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band, Leonard himself, has passed away. RIP. His passing got me thinking about the best rock-and-roll song adopted by college football teams. Here's my take in reverse order. 5. Virginia Tech - Enter Sandman - Metallica - This tune brings down the house when the Hokies enter the stadium. 4. Jump Around - House of Pain - The old stadium at Wisconsin rocks around itself when the fans jump around at the end of the 3rd quarter. 3. Shout - The Isley Brothers - Autzen Stadium also shakes its booty when this classic is played at the end of the 3rd quarter. Does anyone want to Gator? 2. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd - The fans at Alabama games love it when this song breaks out. 1. I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Speaking of Gators, see above, Florida fans go nuts when Gainesville-born and raised Tom Petty sings this classic tune at the end of the 3rd quarter. What says you Ducks fans? Have I hit the right notes or am I way off?

Thanks for this post. I doubt that schools like Clemson and FSU would make the B1G cut based on their respective academics. These two schools are AAU member institutions. The ACC has only 5 AAU member schools: Georgia Tech, UNC, Duke, UVA, and Pitt. I think Clemson and FSU would be a better fit in the SEC where they play every season. Clemson vs South Carolina and FSU vs Florida. When the B1G next expands will it look east, as noted Notre Dame would be a no-brainer, or west. How much will FOX pay each new team? I expect Notre Dame would get a full B1G share perhaps funded by NBC. NBC is now a 'junior member' along with CBS in the B1G media deal. I would not expect Oregon to receive an invitation from the B1G before a new B1G commissioner is hired and the Pac-10 finalizes the number of the next media deal.

Wow! Michigan State defeated Florida for the B1G's last basketball tourney championship in 2000! Considering the number of teams the B1G places in the field year after this is not good.

How about 'Too big to fail?' Both schools floundered in football for a decade plus and the UCLA athletic department is deep in red ink. Bailed out by the LA market and by FOX. The B1G may as well be referred to as FOX Inc. Like the SEC should be referred to as ESPN, Inc. Great take, 2002, but I don't think they were smart. I think they were seduced by FOX and by a scheming liar in B1G commish Kevin Warren and by an accident of geography. Would Oregon and UW leapt at a B1G invitation? Probably. But FOX/B1G is not going to expand beyond LA until FOX knows what Oregon and UW will receive under the new media rights deal. If invited, neither Oregon nor UW will receive a full share of B1G media revenue.