[OutsiderFan]

What are you talking about? The fact that the Pac-12 had the second largest media market in the country and that Larry squander it is telling. It also had San Francisco, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Phoenix. That he couldn't deliver ratings is telling. 

What does the Big 10 have marketwise? Chicago, Columbus, Lansing, West Lafayette, Madison, Iowa City, etc etc etc. How about the SEC? Lars should have been courting the networks years ago when we had a compelling product, USC, Oregon, and Stanford. But no, he missed the boat while he was moving into his new digs. He was an alleged marketing wizard. . . . .Total failure.

It's not just markets that create value for sports media deals. The assets in those markets must have demand. There is a profound difference between markets and the demand for the assets in them.

When you are in the entertainment business - that sports and football in particular is - you entertain and make things a big deal. That's how you ensure you are valued. For both reasons its member schools could and couldn't control, they did not do this and the Pac has outlived its market usefulness as a result.

I can make as many arguments to pin the blame on Cal and Stanford as I can Larry Scott, but who the hell am I to judge Cal and Stanford on making the decisions they made for their own cultures and institutions?

[OutsiderFan]

What are you talking about? The fact that the Pac-12 had the second largest media market in the country and that Larry squander it is telling. It also had San Francisco, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Phoenix. That he couldn't deliver ratings is telling. 

What does the Big 10 have marketwise? Chicago, Columbus, Lansing, West Lafayette, Madison, Iowa City, etc etc etc. How about the SEC? Lars should have been courting the networks years ago when we had a compelling product, USC, Oregon, and Stanford. But no, he missed the boat while he was moving into his new digs. He was an alleged marketing wizard. . . . .Total failure.

It's not just markets that create value for sports media deals. The assets in those markets must have demand. There is a profound difference between markets and the demand for the assets in them.

When you are in the entertainment business - that sports and football in particular is - you entertain and make things a big deal. That's how you ensure you are valued. For both reasons its member schools could and couldn't control, they did not do this and the Pac has outlived its market usefulness as a result.

I can make as many arguments to pin the blame on Cal and Stanford as I can Larry Scott, but who the hell am I to judge Cal and Stanford on making the decisions they made for their own cultures and institutions?