[BostonCard]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/31/h...-strategy/


From Wilner...

Pac-12 presidents and chancellors are considering a major overhaul to “the entire structure and composition” of the conference, including “contract issues,” according to internal documents obtained by the Hotline.

A little vague, but it looks to be an attempt to bypass Larry Scott, with an eye at not re-hiring him in 2022 when his contract runs out.



BC

[BostonCard]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/31/h...-strategy/


From Wilner...

Pac-12 presidents and chancellors are considering a major overhaul to “the entire structure and composition” of the conference, including “contract issues,” according to internal documents obtained by the Hotline.

A little vague, but it looks to be an attempt to bypass Larry Scott, with an eye at not re-hiring him in 2022 when his contract runs out.



BC

[fullmetal]

The sooner the better.

[fullmetal]

The sooner the better.

[chrisk]

The email from Sonsini was sent to 1 CEO, who forwarded it to 2 others, and now it is already public.

Good luck keeping the media consultant’s work confidential.

[chrisk]

The email from Sonsini was sent to 1 CEO, who forwarded it to 2 others, and now it is already public.

Good luck keeping the media consultant’s work confidential.

[82lsju]

at the end of the day if the "CEOs" no longer have confidence in Scott then they should either sideline him or just pay his severance package, if there is no plan to continue with him then keeping him until his contract expires is not a good path

[82lsju]

at the end of the day if the "CEOs" no longer have confidence in Scott then they should either sideline him or just pay his severance package, if there is no plan to continue with him then keeping him until his contract expires is not a good path

[Phogge]

The network is bush league. They need a bold plan and programming reflective of the strengths of the various communities involved. Silicon Valley, the motion picture business, industry, medicine are Western strongpoints. Tap into Northwest ingenuity, Southwest lifestyle, Utah's recreational possibilities. Don't be aloof. Produce TV movies, actual reality and not a feeble effort to do a college "Hard Knocks," source the ongoing medical breakthroughs in Palo Alto, at UCSF, in Seattle and at UCLA. Going to take a much larger financial commitment from the universities.

Probably not going to happen. The network will fail because it does not appeal to a wider audience. Rehashed games, sophomoric "Our Stories," and lame panel shows don't help broaden the audience.

[Phogge]

The network is bush league. They need a bold plan and programming reflective of the strengths of the various communities involved. Silicon Valley, the motion picture business, industry, medicine are Western strongpoints. Tap into Northwest ingenuity, Southwest lifestyle, Utah's recreational possibilities. Don't be aloof. Produce TV movies, actual reality and not a feeble effort to do a college "Hard Knocks," source the ongoing medical breakthroughs in Palo Alto, at UCSF, in Seattle and at UCLA. Going to take a much larger financial commitment from the universities.

Probably not going to happen. The network will fail because it does not appeal to a wider audience. Rehashed games, sophomoric "Our Stories," and lame panel shows don't help broaden the audience.

[qwerty49]

The network is bush league. They need a bold plan and programming reflective of the strengths of the various communities involved. Silicon Valley, the motion picture business, industry, medicine are Western strongpoints. Tap into Northwest ingenuity, Southwest lifestyle, Utah's recreational possibilities. Don't be aloof. Produce TV movies, actual reality and not a feeble effort to do a college "Hard Knocks," source the ongoing medical breakthroughs in Palo Alto, at UCSF, in Seattle and at UCLA. Going to take a much larger financial commitment from the universities.

Probably not going to happen. The network will fail because it does not appeal to a wider audience. Rehashed games, sophomoric "Our Stories," and lame panel shows don't help broaden the audience.

That's a great vision but between the Chancellors and Scott I fear we have no one to articulate it, much less execute it.  That management combination is almost as bad as MLB owners and their commish.

I don't remember how the first conference HQ ended up in Walnut Creek, but moving it to some SF highrise and paying a kajillion dollars in rent was all on Larry.  At the end of the day he's just a hustler who's over his head and should go back to World Team Tennis.

[qwerty49]

The network is bush league. They need a bold plan and programming reflective of the strengths of the various communities involved. Silicon Valley, the motion picture business, industry, medicine are Western strongpoints. Tap into Northwest ingenuity, Southwest lifestyle, Utah's recreational possibilities. Don't be aloof. Produce TV movies, actual reality and not a feeble effort to do a college "Hard Knocks," source the ongoing medical breakthroughs in Palo Alto, at UCSF, in Seattle and at UCLA. Going to take a much larger financial commitment from the universities.

Probably not going to happen. The network will fail because it does not appeal to a wider audience. Rehashed games, sophomoric "Our Stories," and lame panel shows don't help broaden the audience.

That's a great vision but between the Chancellors and Scott I fear we have no one to articulate it, much less execute it.  That management combination is almost as bad as MLB owners and their commish.

I don't remember how the first conference HQ ended up in Walnut Creek, but moving it to some SF highrise and paying a kajillion dollars in rent was all on Larry.  At the end of the day he's just a hustler who's over his head and should go back to World Team Tennis.

[OutsiderFan]

That whole article speaks to an operation run by people who have no idea what they are doing. I agree with those who say if you have so little trust in the current commissioner, you let him go. You don’t hire a consultant to work independently of the guy in charge.

Can you imagine a board of directors hiring a consultant to give it a strategic plan not prepared by the CEO? How does this media consultant relate to the hiring of Merton Hanks as head of Football? Was that a Scott decision or did “the CEOs” push for that too?

The conference acts like media rights are like diffusing a nuclear bomb set to explode. The reality is there are any number of fans of PAC-12 teams who understand this stuff more than those in charge of the conference. At minimum, you’d think the conference Athletic Directors would be the ones who should be making decisions about who runs the conference and how, not university leaders.

It’s almost like Larry Scott suggested he be overseen by people who don’t know anything, so he could bamboozle them. I mean again, why should the ADs who know the business of college sports not have been the ones overseeing him? Does anyone know of any instances where Scott wasn’t winning over the ADs but got support from the CEOs?

[OutsiderFan]

That whole article speaks to an operation run by people who have no idea what they are doing. I agree with those who say if you have so little trust in the current commissioner, you let him go. You don’t hire a consultant to work independently of the guy in charge.

Can you imagine a board of directors hiring a consultant to give it a strategic plan not prepared by the CEO? How does this media consultant relate to the hiring of Merton Hanks as head of Football? Was that a Scott decision or did “the CEOs” push for that too?

The conference acts like media rights are like diffusing a nuclear bomb set to explode. The reality is there are any number of fans of PAC-12 teams who understand this stuff more than those in charge of the conference. At minimum, you’d think the conference Athletic Directors would be the ones who should be making decisions about who runs the conference and how, not university leaders.

It’s almost like Larry Scott suggested he be overseen by people who don’t know anything, so he could bamboozle them. I mean again, why should the ADs who know the business of college sports not have been the ones overseeing him? Does anyone know of any instances where Scott wasn’t winning over the ADs but got support from the CEOs?

[gailtate]

I would LOVE to know what Bob Bowlsby knows--and privately thinks--about Larry Scott, the Pac-12 Conference and the inner workings of Larry's Pac-12 Network. My guess is that it's nothing he wants to go on record with. If so, it's all we need to know.

[gailtate]

I would LOVE to know what Bob Bowlsby knows--and privately thinks--about Larry Scott, the Pac-12 Conference and the inner workings of Larry's Pac-12 Network. My guess is that it's nothing he wants to go on record with. If so, it's all we need to know.

[BostonCard]

The AD's have subject matter expertise, but should not be the final decision makers, since we are talking about student-athletes, and AD's are not the right people to decide on that balance.


BC

[BostonCard]

The AD's have subject matter expertise, but should not be the final decision makers, since we are talking about student-athletes, and AD's are not the right people to decide on that balance.


BC

[Phogge]

Well BC they are student-athletes at SOME schools.

[Phogge]

Well BC they are student-athletes at SOME schools.

[OutsiderFan]

The AD's have subject matter expertise, but should not be the final decision makers, since we are talking about student-athletes, and AD's are not the right people to decide on that balance.


BC

I agree the Presidents should have veto power, but the ADs should at least be trusted enough to never allow the Pac-12 to get in the position it finds itself in right now.

[OutsiderFan]

The AD's have subject matter expertise, but should not be the final decision makers, since we are talking about student-athletes, and AD's are not the right people to decide on that balance.


BC

I agree the Presidents should have veto power, but the ADs should at least be trusted enough to never allow the Pac-12 to get in the position it finds itself in right now.

[Canalejas]

If conference matters were left to the ADs and the presidents/chancellors took a hands-off approach, conference membership might not be what it currently is.

[Canalejas]

If conference matters were left to the ADs and the presidents/chancellors took a hands-off approach, conference membership might not be what it currently is.

[BostonCard]

If conference matters were left to the ADs and the presidents/chancellors took a hands-off approach, conference membership might not be what it currently is.

Would that be a good thing or a bad thing?

BC

[BostonCard]

If conference matters were left to the ADs and the presidents/chancellors took a hands-off approach, conference membership might not be what it currently is.

Would that be a good thing or a bad thing?

BC

[Canalejas]

If conference matters were left to the ADs and the presidents/chancellors took a hands-off approach, conference membership might not be what it currently is.

Would that be a good thing or a bad thing?

BC

I guess that depends on if you like it when non-athletics factors guide membership decisions. We might have added BYU instead of Utah.  Or have given a serious look to Boise State or San Diego State. Or we might have given Scott the green light to add the Oklahoma schools without requiring that Texas sign on at the same time.

[Canalejas]

If conference matters were left to the ADs and the presidents/chancellors took a hands-off approach, conference membership might not be what it currently is.

Would that be a good thing or a bad thing?

BC

I guess that depends on if you like it when non-athletics factors guide membership decisions. We might have added BYU instead of Utah.  Or have given a serious look to Boise State or San Diego State. Or we might have given Scott the green light to add the Oklahoma schools without requiring that Texas sign on at the same time.

[chrisk]

Very few of the CEOs were in place when Scott was hired.

Whether it’s CEOs or ADs, there are going to need savvy media consultants. Part of the PAC-12 problem is that they really did not have the resources to take on the financial and operational risk involved in setting up a network. The other large conferences have made alliances with FOX and ESPN to reduce the risks.

PAC-12 was likely producing more content for sports other than football and basketball but given the quality of ads on those events, I doubt the viewership was significant.

[chrisk]

Very few of the CEOs were in place when Scott was hired.

Whether it’s CEOs or ADs, there are going to need savvy media consultants. Part of the PAC-12 problem is that they really did not have the resources to take on the financial and operational risk involved in setting up a network. The other large conferences have made alliances with FOX and ESPN to reduce the risks.

PAC-12 was likely producing more content for sports other than football and basketball but given the quality of ads on those events, I doubt the viewership was significant.

[Giants]

That whole article speaks to an operation run by people who have no idea what they are doing. I agree with those who say if you have so little trust in the current commissioner, you let him go. You don’t hire a consultant to work independently of the guy in charge.

Can you imagine a board of directors hiring a consultant to give it a strategic plan not prepared by the CEO? How does this media consultant relate to the hiring of Merton Hanks as head of Football? Was that a Scott decision or did “the CEOs” push for that too?

The conference acts like media rights are like diffusing a nuclear bomb set to explode. The reality is there are any number of fans of PAC-12 teams who understand this stuff more than those in charge of the conference. At minimum, you’d think the conference Athletic Directors would be the ones who should be making decisions about who runs the conference and how, not university leaders.

It’s almost like Larry Scott suggested he be overseen by people who don’t know anything, so he could bamboozle them. I mean again, why should the ADs who know the business of college sports not have been the ones overseeing him? Does anyone know of any instances where Scott wasn’t winning over the ADs but got support from the CEOs?

Gotta disagree...

The CEO Group should call the shots because they are responsible for the overall financial health of their institutions.  Given that most Athletic Departments run in the red, I think the expression putting the fox in charge of the hen house is applicable if the AD’s were given more authority at the conference level.  Also, the AD’s focus is on a non-academic department.  They should never be responsible for anything more than running their department.  

The foursome that is advising the CEO Group are experienced leaders with extensive knowledge of the conference.  I would not be surprised if the consultant they recommend winds up as the commissioner at some point down the road.

[Giants]

That whole article speaks to an operation run by people who have no idea what they are doing. I agree with those who say if you have so little trust in the current commissioner, you let him go. You don’t hire a consultant to work independently of the guy in charge.

Can you imagine a board of directors hiring a consultant to give it a strategic plan not prepared by the CEO? How does this media consultant relate to the hiring of Merton Hanks as head of Football? Was that a Scott decision or did “the CEOs” push for that too?

The conference acts like media rights are like diffusing a nuclear bomb set to explode. The reality is there are any number of fans of PAC-12 teams who understand this stuff more than those in charge of the conference. At minimum, you’d think the conference Athletic Directors would be the ones who should be making decisions about who runs the conference and how, not university leaders.

It’s almost like Larry Scott suggested he be overseen by people who don’t know anything, so he could bamboozle them. I mean again, why should the ADs who know the business of college sports not have been the ones overseeing him? Does anyone know of any instances where Scott wasn’t winning over the ADs but got support from the CEOs?

Gotta disagree...

The CEO Group should call the shots because they are responsible for the overall financial health of their institutions.  Given that most Athletic Departments run in the red, I think the expression putting the fox in charge of the hen house is applicable if the AD’s were given more authority at the conference level.  Also, the AD’s focus is on a non-academic department.  They should never be responsible for anything more than running their department.  

The foursome that is advising the CEO Group are experienced leaders with extensive knowledge of the conference.  I would not be surprised if the consultant they recommend winds up as the commissioner at some point down the road.

[winflop]

Very few of the CEOs were in place when Scott was hired.

Only two of the CEOs who hired Scott are still around. I forget which two they are, but that's not very many.

Scott needs to go

[winflop]

Very few of the CEOs were in place when Scott was hired.

Only two of the CEOs who hired Scott are still around. I forget which two they are, but that's not very many.

Scott needs to go