Joint statement from the 10 Pac-12 conference board members

[CA Mustang]

“My sense is we need to get it done in March — in mid-March, hopefully,” Schulz told the Hotline on Monday. “The longer it goes, the more noise there will be.”

There is already plenty of noise, with frequent reports speculating about a disappointing media contract and frustrated schools seeking salvation in the Big 12.

The public narrative became so bleak last week that the presidents issued a joint statement of unity. Schulz knew it carried a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” component.

“I thought people would see it as the same thing a head coach does when he says publicly that he loves his staff, then he fires them all,” Schulz said.

“But we were getting battered constantly with all the rhetoric out of the Big 12 (region), with talk that schools were leaving ΓǪ At the least, we had to let people know the 10 Pac-12 schools were committed to staying together.

“But the speed with which (the presidents) were willing to put that out — I was stunned by my colleagues. Somebody said, ΓÇÿWe should do something,’ and within an hour, everyone was saying yes ΓǪ Normally, everyone wants to be a wordsmith.”
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/02/21/ ... dent-says/

[EastStang]

Dennis Dodds who seems to be the one most stirring the pot with negative comments works for CBS whose bid was rejected by the PAC12. Is he reporting or posturing? This feeds the Big XII harpies as well. A watered down PAC12 TV deal would possibly cause schools like OR and WA to chase the Big Ten (which happens to broadcast on CBS) and maybe reopen discussions with CBS for the PAC12. TV and web suits are going to determine all of this.

[Mustangs_Maroons]

I believe we'll be waiting for Amazon to be our white knight.

[Topper]

Dennis Dodds who seems to be the one most stirring the pot with negative comments works for CBS whose bid was rejected by the PAC12. Is he reporting or posturing? This feeds the Big XII harpies as well. A watered down PAC12 TV deal would possibly cause schools like OR and WA to chase the Big Ten (which happens to broadcast on CBS) and maybe reopen discussions with CBS for the PAC12. TV and web suits are going to determine all of this.

You are so right about "journalists" stirring the pot. Most of us recognize that sports reporters, are rarely "journalists" in the classic sense. Newsprint and local broadcasters (with the notable exception of Dallas) are homers for the local college. The talking heads on the networks that carry the games seem to me to be attempting to influence either the braodcase contract or wrangle viewers for their matchups. I am amazed at the phony hysteria being drummed up by the Big 12 mouthpieces over what they allege to be the collapse of the PAC 12. Some of these characters that keep popping up on my Youtube feed are either hillbillies of some kind or else hosting from their mother's spare bedroom. This creates a vortex of paranoia for anyone who pays the slightest attention to their talk.

[Water Pony]

The above posts correctly identify the way this issue is being covered by writers and posters.

Speculating and projecting dramatic and disruptive scenarios is click bait. I have yet to see thoughtful comments on what is best for college football.

Is killing off the P5 status of the PAC-12 in the best interest of the game we love? Why is consolidating into fewer P5 conferences so desirable? LIttle or no effort is made to explore unintended or perhaps intented consequences of predatory moves against the PAC-12.

Leave aside our desire to join a P5, these efforts will further reduce college football to the economics of NFL style media coverage.

[BUS]

I loved the guy that I'm going to believe.... from his garage. With stuff hanging on the wall.

That pro reporting.

[AusTxPony]

Agree with Water, why do fans want mega-conferences? Maybe by the next round of expansion, some sanity prevails and we keep the P5 with a few more G5’s moving up.