[lex24]

No, you can't solve a problem unless you are aware one exists. But being aware of it doesn't matter much unless you can solve it. All this is to say I don't know if it matters that the commish knows the conference can't beat teams OOC because it struggles recruiting "big guys in the trenches," unless he has some magic elixir to fix it. I don't see one based on what I gather.

Interesting how Commish K says the schools need to get control of when games are played. Kind of tracks to my suggestion fans should be allowed to pick the times Pac-12 football games are played. 

I'm gonna make a prediction and say CBS will end up with the Pac-12. It's losing the SEC to Mickey Mouse and it has the CBS Sports Network. That means a lot of empty Saturdays on the schedule.  Allow CBS to cary Pac-12 Network content and you can cut the cost for CBS to fill its schedule and expand Pac-12 Network access. To me, the Pac-12 Network not having a network affiliation now, while the Big Ten Network is 50% owned by Fox Sports, will provide the leverage/synergy to get it done.

The Pac-12 will take less money than the Big Ten demands, in a "let's take less money to increase our distribution" approach like Formula One took with ESPN. Of course, CBS will want to pay the schools enough so they can invest in the arms that lead to fielding competitive, entertaining teams that get ratings.

Well, let’s start with improving the reputation of the brand.  I think it was Stewart Mandel  that mentioned the enormous difference in talent in the trenches - particularly on the defensive side.  And it is, I think, an unassailable fact that the South is producing more quality players out of HS than others regions.  By a long shot.

So, recruiting nationally and getting some of those kids to come West is important.  How you do that is another question.  It doesn’t help that the TV times (and the PAC-12Network) stink.  Getting key games slotted so they are shown before half the country is sleeping would be nice.

And, no - the schools (and/or conference) getting control of game times is not remotely the same as letting the fans somehow decide.  Heck, id vote for SC to play at midnight….  

Speaking of SC, too much of the article focused on the Toejams and it’s new savior.  But when you get right down to it, the single most obvious key to the “return of PAC-12 to prominence” is to have a dominant SC  again.  Depressing.  But, I think, true.

[lex24]

No, you can't solve a problem unless you are aware one exists. But being aware of it doesn't matter much unless you can solve it. All this is to say I don't know if it matters that the commish knows the conference can't beat teams OOC because it struggles recruiting "big guys in the trenches," unless he has some magic elixir to fix it. I don't see one based on what I gather.

Interesting how Commish K says the schools need to get control of when games are played. Kind of tracks to my suggestion fans should be allowed to pick the times Pac-12 football games are played. 

I'm gonna make a prediction and say CBS will end up with the Pac-12. It's losing the SEC to Mickey Mouse and it has the CBS Sports Network. That means a lot of empty Saturdays on the schedule.  Allow CBS to cary Pac-12 Network content and you can cut the cost for CBS to fill its schedule and expand Pac-12 Network access. To me, the Pac-12 Network not having a network affiliation now, while the Big Ten Network is 50% owned by Fox Sports, will provide the leverage/synergy to get it done.

The Pac-12 will take less money than the Big Ten demands, in a "let's take less money to increase our distribution" approach like Formula One took with ESPN. Of course, CBS will want to pay the schools enough so they can invest in the arms that lead to fielding competitive, entertaining teams that get ratings.

Well, let’s start with improving the reputation of the brand.  I think it was Stewart Mandel  that mentioned the enormous difference in talent in the trenches - particularly on the defensive side.  And it is, I think, an unassailable fact that the South is producing more quality players out of HS than others regions.  By a long shot.

So, recruiting nationally and getting some of those kids to come West is important.  How you do that is another question.  It doesn’t help that the TV times (and the PAC-12Network) stink.  Getting key games slotted so they are shown before half the country is sleeping would be nice.

And, no - the schools (and/or conference) getting control of game times is not remotely the same as letting the fans somehow decide.  Heck, id vote for SC to play at midnight….  

Speaking of SC, too much of the article focused on the Toejams and it’s new savior.  But when you get right down to it, the single most obvious key to the “return of PAC-12 to prominence” is to have a dominant SC  again.  Depressing.  But, I think, true.