More conference realignment talk

[MU82]

From Yahoo Sports:

Power conferences working on contract to bind schools to new enforcement rules, with strict punishments

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/power-conferences-working-on-contract-to-bind-schools-to-new-enforcement-rules-with-strict-punishments-005652210.html?

Officials from the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC are circulating a draft of a groundbreaking and first-of-its-kind document intended to prevent universities from using their state laws to violate new enforcement rules and, in a wholly stunning concept, requires schools to waive their right to pursue legal challenges against the new enforcement entity, the College Sports Commission.

The document, now viewed by dozens of leading school administrators, would bind institutions to the enforcement policies, even if their state law is contradictory, and would exempt the CSC from lawsuits from member schools over enforcement decisions, offering instead a route for schools to pursue arbitration.

The document, described as an "Affiliation" or "Membership Agreement," is not finalized but a draft of the contract has been distributed to several school presidents, general counsels and athletic directors — many of whom have expressed legal concerns with several of the document's concepts, which are now being refined.

The document is meant to be signed by all power conference schools, perhaps as well as others opting into the settlement, as a way to bind the group and provide stability around the enforcement of rules. That includes, most notably, decisions from the new Deloitte-run NIL clearinghouse, dubbed "NIL Go," an entity expected to more strictly enforce booster pay.

The consequence for not signing the agreement is steep: a school risks the loss of conference membership and participation against other power league programs.

"You have to sign it," says one athletic director who has seen the document, "or we don't play you."

"As a condition of membership, you must comply with the settlement and enforcement," says a power conference president with knowledge of the document.

[SaveOD238]

Further proof that the turmoil and legal finagling will continue until Congress acts to codify new laws regarding college athletics, including an exemption from anti-trust laws.

[The Sultan]

Further proof that the turmoil and legal finagling will continue until Congress acts to codify new laws regarding college athletics, including an exemption from anti-trust laws.

I just don't see much agreement on what this should look like either though.

[MU82]

Further proof that the turmoil and legal finagling will continue until Congress acts to codify new laws regarding college athletics, including an exemption from anti-trust laws.

Yeah, after reading that article, I was wondering how it could hold up with no antitrust exemption.

[dgies9156]

Yeah, after reading that article, I was wondering how it could hold up with no antitrust exemption.

+1,000!

[Litehouse]

So does this give the Big East a competitive advantage because we don't have to play by their rules?  or does it bring us closer to a split within the NCAA between these 4 conferences and everyone else?

[MU82]

So does this give the Big East a competitive advantage because we don't have to play by their rules?  or does it bring us closer to a split within the NCAA between these 4 conferences and everyone else?

It does neither because that situation doesn't exist. We'll see if it ever does.

[forgetful]

Don't get me wrong, I love college sports, but all of this kind of points in the direction of one logical conclusion.

Sports don't belong in college under this "professional" type model. There is zero alignment, besides possible profit, between the educational mission of a school and sports.

We won't see sports removed from college, because too many people live and die by college athletics, but the reason all of this is hard and makes no sense, is that inherently, college sports don't make sense.

[brewcity77]

So does this give the Big East a competitive advantage because we don't have to play by their rules?  or does it bring us closer to a split within the NCAA between these 4 conferences and everyone else?

In theory, yes. Big East programs have the most money to allocate of non-football schools. For football schools, probably 75+% will go to football, which leaves them with a lower ceiling of what they can offer athletes. Even if Big East schools spend a third of their available revenue (because that's all they can afford), that's more than 25% of football schools that maximize spending.

But that's in theory. In practice, do any of us really believe the SEC is going to sign on to an agreement that puts them at a competitive disadvantage without a plan in place to circumvent it? I don't. This will all lead to the same place it's always led, to cheating. Putting these rules in place will just put cheating back behind the curtain.

[The Sultan]

Don't get me wrong, I love college sports, but all of this kind of points in the direction of one logical conclusion.

Sports don't belong in college under this "professional" type model. There is zero alignment, besides possible profit, between the educational mission of a school and sports.

We won't see sports removed from college, because too many people live and die by college athletics, but the reason all of this is hard and makes no sense, is that inherently, college sports don't make sense.

Well the other issue is that the conferences treat one another as rivals instead of as partners.

[muwarrior69]

So in 2033 it will be TCSC National Championship Tournament.

[WhiteTrash]

Well the other issue is that the conferences treat one another as rivals instead of as partners.

This is very true.

The Packers and the Bears only compete on the field, everywhere else they are partners. It's sorta working well for the NFL.

[The Sultan]

How bleak is it for the WAC?

Utah Valley has accepted an invitation to join the Big West, where it will be the only member outside of southern California. (Cal Baptist is making the same move.)

That means the WAC will be down to five schools, three in Texas and two in Utah. If I were one of those Texas schools, I would beg to go back to the Southland. Utah schools should probably just go back to D2.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

How bleak is it for the WAC?

Utah Valley has accepted an invitation to join the Big West, where it will be the only member outside of southern California. (Cal Baptist is making the same move.)

That means the WAC will be down to five schools, three in Texas and two in Utah. If I were one of those Texas schools, I would beg to go back to the Southland. Utah schools should probably just go back to D2.

The WAC has apparently been whacked.