I actually think GK gets too much heat. No one watches Pac12 sports, what kind of deal was he supposed to get? GK lying to everyone and being overly optimistic about how much money he though they could get was a terrible approach, but I don't think another commissioner would have magically saved the conference. Once it was clear they were only going to get like 60-70% of the Big 12, the Pac12 was doomed.
As for the Pac12 ADs. It seemed they've just been sitting on their hand for 1-2 decades doing nothing to drum up fan support. Pollard spent 20 years promoting football, touring the state, etc.. to get the Iowa State fanbase to where it is now, mostly on the backs of losing seasons too.
He had a lousy product that was mismanaged for a decade. But there is no reason the conference should have collapsed
He made a series of missteps that ultimately doomed the conference, that were his decisions (or a result of a failure to sway his presidents)
- Formed an alliance with ACC/B10 to block the SEC and prevent the extension of the current playoff format with 6 AQs
- Not only failed to merge with the Big 12 after OUT, but failed to expand with any of the leftover schools. One or two more defections would have killed the Big 12
- Set unrealistic expectations on the P12’s value by asking for 75% of the B10/SEC tv contracts right off the bat. Eliminating any potential partnership with Fox
- Rejected a proposed ~$30M tv deal as the media market took a downturn
- By rejecting that deal, they got blindsided when then Big 12 expedited negotiations and agreed to that deal. This was a huge blow
- Failed to convince the presidents to add SDSU to help stabilize the conference, and, unbelievably, allowed June 30 to pass which caused any MWC additions to cost $34M rather than $17M. This now makes it impossible for the conference to backfill with multiple (any?) MWC schools, financially speaking
- Failed to present CU numbers during P12 media day, to at least appease them that progress was being made. Causing CU to bolt
To be honest, there was nothing GK could do to prevent the P12 from being wounded. He absolutely could have prevented it’s complete destruction