He did a horrible job handling questions and the conference as a whole has done a terrible job communicating the decision making process. Those are definitely his responsibility. If not, then what responsibility does he have in his position?
Big Ten Meltdowns
- Thread starter 3rdCoastClone
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I agree with this, but I also think it's inaccurate to think he didn't play a role in the decision they came to. At the end of the day, it's the leaders' vote, but I imagine they way they voted had alot to do with the wishes of the Commissioner.
He is a leader of a disaster of an organization right now and has pissed off the influential players in his organization. It is absolutely signs of a weak leader. You can’t piss off the top 6 schools in your league. You don’t have a league if those six leave.
I know on a personal level I have used every possible opportunity to remind my Iowa fan friends that my availability this Fall is likely going to be limited as I still have football to watch.
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To be clear, he's definitely responsible for messaging, and does deserve negative feedback for that, because it hasn't been great. But, the decision not to play was made by the university presidents.
It suppose it is exactly his job to be the scapegoat, and if necessary, the sacrificial lamb. It's just funny to me that so many Big 10 fans seem to think that this issue can be laid entirely at his feet. He's just the mouthpiece for it.
Buckeyes now referring to their own conference as a national laughing stock and the "Little 10".
If you are throwing Iowa in as one of the big six, you are off a little. That conference is OSU, Michigan, Penn state. Wisconsin can get a little play since Alvarez has been there long enough and they have been consistent long enough. Outside of that, the rest are along for the ride. Nebraska still doesn't see itself as basically the conference whoar to get more money for their name, but they are like a 40 year old stripper who was a huge name in her early 20s. They let her dance still because people still remember the name, but nobody really cares to see their show after they see her in person.
The irrational meltdowns on Big Ten message boards are predictable and entertaining. The P3 conferences are living in their heads.
Gene Smith: Your Move
OSU carries the water for the B1G in college football. Ironically, college football happens to be the most profitable amateur sport in history. OSU's athletic department ranks in the top 2 in the nation annually in terms of "worth" and it isn't because of that run the women's lacrosse team made...www.elevenwarriors.com
Nebraska's biblical hypocrisy is entertaining. "Let's form our own network to broadcast games." If only such a conference ever existed...
I'm sure Rutgers and Maryland will steady the ship.
I know there have already been discussions on what that looks like at UNI. If the Big Ten goes that way, UNI might get 2 or 3 games as an 'overflow site'.
That would help the gaping holes in the budget that this thing has caused.
I mean the six biggest are clear and Iowa and Nebraska are in that. Whether it is more of a three team or four team group is a fair argument. No school not within the six can really even threaten to be more influential than Nebraska other than maybe Michigan State and they are a disaster right now.
I would have Iowa at number 8 in that conference in the order of influence.
Not sure how other states hire their university president, but in Iowa they are hired by the BOR. Who appoints BOR members? The Governor. So pretty obvious the Governor has influence.
Also the state universities receive funding from the legislature and that has to be approved by the Governor.
Look at the states where P5 universities are playing and those that are not. There are a lot of red state governor's in those states.
Look at California. Newsome was one of the first governor's to close things down. And he was one of the most restrictive on what businesses could reopen. California University system around 2 months ago decided to go 100% online learning and restrict fall sports collegiately (and HS).
There is silence from the Pac-12 because the Covid policies set by the Governor's of CA, WA and OR.
Also the state universities receive funding from the legislature and that has to be approved by the Governor.
Look at the states where P5 universities are playing and those that are not. There are a lot of red state governor's in those states.
Look at California. Newsome was one of the first governor's to close things down. And he was one of the most restrictive on what businesses could reopen. California University system around 2 months ago decided to go 100% online learning and restrict fall sports collegiately (and HS).
There is silence from the Pac-12 because the Covid policies set by the Governor's of CA, WA and OR.
I'd have Iowa and Nebraska fighting it out for 6th, and I'd probably give Iowa the edge. Strictly talking about influence only as it relates to conference-wide athletics policies.
If the governor's of OH or PA cancelled fall football, they would be committing political suicide. HS Football in those states is as popular as in FL and TX.
kcbob79clone
Well-Known Member
I tend to agree. An unnamed AD said the P5 meetings are like a big Dk contest. Pac-12 was always going to cancel and when the B1G heard it was immenient from the Pac-12 they rushed a decision cause everyone knows they are the big Dk of the P5
I was going full overall influence since the presidents are the ones who voted.
Top for me was OSU, MICH, PSU,(dropoff a little) Wisconsin (then a good drop off to fifth) to Nebraska (I question this and I may be putting them here due to athletics) then MSU (coattails from Mich some), Illiniois and then Iowa .
Well, I just realized that Iowa got exactly what they wanted and have been talking about forever. They talk about how january games are the biggest ones and are more important than any others. Well, now they have four or five of them. Damn they have a lot of important games this (next?) year.
