CBS: Ohio State AD to ask NCAA for help paying for future playoff family travel

[BleedGopher]

per CBS:

Urban Meyer has been adamant that the families of players participating in the College Football Playoff -- the first-ever families needing to fund both a trip to the Rose or Sugar Bowl and one to a national championship game 11 days later -- should have received financial assistance from either their schools or the NCAA in order to attend both CFP games.

"Are we going to get their families to Dallas?" Meyer said after his Ohio State team had upset Alabama for the right to play Oregon, per the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. "We should. That should happen immediately. ... Let's get them to Dallas and watch their sons play in college football history. And I hope you all write that. That's more important than anything else being said today."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>STATEMENT: I have always been in agreement with Coach Meyer. I wish we could help the families of players more than we currently can...
More</p>— gene smith (@OSU_AD) <a href="https://twitter.com/OSU_AD/status/551510899820101633">January 3, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Go Gophers!!

 

[die hard gopher]

Noticed that Urban really stressed this in the BTN post game show. I'm sure some of you will spin it into the whole "Urban is a shady cheater" narrative.

 

[Coolew01]

I would support paying for one of the games, not both. Make the families pay like every other both family assuming that is the case.

 

[BleedGopher]

Well that was quick:

College Football Playoff to Provide Travel Assistance for Student-Athlete Parents or Guardians

IRVING, Texas – The College Football Playoff (CFP) announced today that, subject to NCAA rules, it will defray the cost of expenses for student-athletes’ parents or guardians to travel to the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship on January 12.

The reimbursement will cover expenses for hotel accommodations in North Texas and travel reimbursement and meal expenses for a maximum of two parents or legal guardians per athlete. The reimbursement will be capped at $1,250 per parent or guardian.

“We know how expensive travel can be, so we’re pleased to provide assistance for parents or guardians who want to see their sons play in the first College Football Playoff National Championship,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff. “It will make the game even more special for the student-athletes to know that their family members are receiving this benefit.”

The CFP moved quickly to provide this benefit as a pilot program just six days before the National Championship Game. The program will be evaluated going forward to make certain it provides the appropriate amount of permissible assistance.

http://www.collegefootballplayoff.c...ance-for-student-athlete-parents-or-guardians

Go Gophers!!

 

[mplsbadger]

Good. Selfishly, I'd rather see travel benefits than player pay. Travel benefits to regular season games would partially neutralize geographic advantages in recruiting.

One thing that pisses me off is that you never see Delaney working on stuff that provides competitive advantage for the the Big Ten via a vis the other conferences The only exceptions are things that involve making more money (I.e. Big Ten Network).

How about:
- Pay for recruits to come to campus in the summer
- Pay for their families to come to games
- More big games in the north

 

[tinyarch]

Here's to hoping the parents from our women's National Championship rowing team are able to get their travel and stay paid for when the girls row in the championship!!! s/

 

[e.bigelow]

Good. Selfishly, I'd rather see travel benefits than player pay. Travel benefits to regular season games would partially neutralize geographic advantages in recruiting. One thing that pisses me off is that you never see Delaney working on stuff that provides competitive advantage for the the Big Ten via a vis the other conferences The only exceptions are things that involve making more money (I.e. Big Ten Network). How about: - Pay for recruits to come to campus in the summer - Pay for their families to come to games - More big games in the north

I like this line of thinking. +1.

 

[KGF]

Don't think for a second that Urban Meyer isn't trying to use this as a recruiting advantage for Ohio State as an elite team in the conference and nation. Why didn't he propose this for any bowl game before the College Football Playoff system was instituted? IMO, because it didn't give Ohio State an advantage if any bowl team would receive this benefit for its players' parents. Ohio State, as an elite national program, can use this to their advantage in recruiting by telling parents that by your son playing for Ohio State, you'll be more likely to have your post-season travel expenses paid for. This just creates more separation between the haves and the have nots of college football programs. Unless they institute this for ALL bowl games, it is just a tool in Urban Meyer's recruiting resource toolbox.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

Don't think for a second that Urban Meyer isn't trying to use this as a recruiting advantage for Ohio State as an elite team in the conference and nation. Why didn't he propose this for any bowl game before the College Football Playoff system was instituted? IMO, because it didn't give Ohio State an advantage if any bowl team would receive this benefit for its players' parents. Ohio State, as an elite national program, can use this to their advantage in recruiting by telling parents that by your son playing for Ohio State, you'll be more likely to have your post-season travel expenses paid for. This just creates more separation between the haves and the have nots of college football programs. Unless they institute this for ALL bowl games, it is just a tool in Urban Meyer's recruiting resource toolbox.

The way I read it, only the championship game gets the travel reimbursement, since it is an extra game that most families don't budget for.

 

[upnorthkid]

Don't think for a second that Urban Meyer isn't trying to use this as a recruiting advantage for Ohio State as an elite team in the conference and nation. Why didn't he propose this for any bowl game before the College Football Playoff system was instituted? IMO, because it didn't give Ohio State an advantage if any bowl team would receive this benefit for its players' parents. Ohio State, as an elite national program, can use this to their advantage in recruiting by telling parents that by your son playing for Ohio State, you'll be more likely to have your post-season travel expenses paid for. This just creates more separation between the haves and the have nots of college football programs. Unless they institute this for ALL bowl games, it is just a tool in Urban Meyer's recruiting resource toolbox.

can see this b/c it's 2 games they have to pay to travel to, but I don't see why, in agreement with your post, they can't help to pay for all families of players to travel to CC games, bowls, etc. Would be a chance for the NCAA to score some PR points right now.

 

[KGF]

can see this b/c it's 2 games they have to pay to travel to, but I don't see why, in agreement with your post, they can't help to pay for all families of players to travel to CC games, bowls, etc. Would be a chance for the NCAA to score some PR points right now.

I agree with the concept b/c it certainly is an additional expense for players' parents, and why shouldn't they be allowed to have their costs defrayed if coaches' and administrators' spouses are. It just seems to me that this is more of a self-serving gesture by Meyer for programs that are more likely to reach the playoffs than those that are not. If it's good for Ohio State's parents, why not for other bowl teams' parents for one game to be subsidized?

 

[upnorthkid]

I agree with the concept b/c it certainly is an additional expense for players' parents, and why shouldn't they be allowed to have their costs defrayed if coaches' and administrators' spouses are. It just seems to me that this is more of a self-serving gesture by Meyer for programs that are more likely to reach the playoffs than those that are not. If it's good for Ohio State's parents, why not for other bowl teams' parents for one game to be subsidized?

I would say in concept the idea makes sense, but the odds of making the championship game consistently are going to be so miniscule that this is in no way really going to serve anyone b/c it's not like parents are going to say "go to OSU b/c we'll get funded if you go to the NC" b/c everyone will be funded and you were going to go there b/c they win anyways, the same as if it was covered or not. And it doesn't aid in developing an advantage for home field, b/c both teams are sponsored equally. Don't really see any self-serving way other than to get more of his fans in the stands for this one time game. I can see this getting expanded.

 

[GreasyGopher]

So do parents whose kids play in the National Championship game in bball get reimbursed for every weekend they travel during conference and national tourneys?

 

[supadupafly]

So do parents whose kids play in the National Championship game in bball get reimbursed for every weekend they travel during conference and national tourneys?

Yes. See linked article for the reference to the basketball final four as well. As a side note, the College Football Playoff structure (CFP), which is separate from the NCAA as we know it, will be fronting the money for the football side of things. The NCAA for the basketball side of it.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/ohio-state-buckeyes-oregon-ducks-college-football-playoff-pays-parents-travel-ncaa-010615

 

[KGF]

I see this as the NCAA throwing a bone to student-athletes rather than a broad based benefit to the many student-athletes whose families travel to play for the 70-some bowl teams that play in bowl games every year. I suspect the NCAA is making far more money with the College Football Playoff than they did under the BCS bowl system, and this helps minimize the complaints about the financial gains that the NCAA will make off of the playoff. And though it is true that the likelihood of playing in the CFP game is low for most any team, Ohio State's, Alabama's, FSU's, and Oregon's chances of playing in that game are far greater than Minnesota's, and is another perk that will be mentioned in a recruiting pitch by any of those football programs. All of those teams have a recent history of playing in two or more national championship games in the last 10 years, except FSU which played last year and missed by one game this year. It's also true for Texas, LSU, Auburn and USC.

 

[supadupafly]

I see this as the NCAA throwing a bone to student-athletes rather than a broad based benefit to the many student-athletes whose families travel to play for the 70-some bowl teams that play in bowl games every year. I suspect the NCAA is making far more money with the College Football Playoff than they did under the BCS bowl system, and this helps minimize the complaints about the financial gains that the NCAA will make off of the playoff. And though it is true that the likelihood of playing in the CFP game is low for most any team, Ohio State's, Alabama's, FSU's, and Oregon's chances of playing in that game are far greater than Minnesota's, and is another perk that will be mentioned in a recruiting pitch by any of those football programs. All of those teams have a recent history of playing in two or more national championship games in the last 10 years, except FSU which played last year and missed by one game this year. It's also true for Texas, LSU, Auburn and USC.

Actually if I am not mistaken, the NCAA organization that we all know that is headquartered in Indy has no organizational control nor does it get any financial windfall from the College Football Playoff (CFP) system. The CFP system (like the BCS system before it) is a totally separate entity from the NCAA itself and the CFP is "run" by the CFP Committee/board who is appointed in part by the member institutions of the CFP structure (i.e. the Power 5 & the Group of 6 universities).

And the CFP bylaws, which purposefully work in concert to many degrees with existing NCAA competition/eligibility bylaws, etc. are in and of themselves not controlled by anyone at the NCAA office in Indy. I am sure they talk at length though and work together on many issues/topics of discussion.

In essence the CFP system (and the BCS before it) works in a balanced partnership with the NCAA since they govern things like eligibility, Graduation APR, any financial aid or financial stipend bylaws, etc. But the NCAA, and thankfully the non Power 5 schools who don't contribute anything, don't make any money from us Power 5 football schools and our CFP (or the old BCS) playoff structure/bowls.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong. Didn't have time to look it all up.


P.S. However the NCAA does financially "own" the NCAA basketball tourney and the NCAA Final Four system/format though. That is where the NCAA actually makes the overwhelming majority of their operating money/budget each year. Division 1A football and it's postseason is, and really always has been, run by those universities themselves and the partnering bowls.

 

[OSUfan]

I don't think there is any real recruiting advantage for OSU that there is now travel reimbursement to the title game, It's not like they are going to make the game all the time. Seriously, who picks a school because they think their parents might get to attend one extra game with travel expenses paid for? To me, Meyer may have earned some brownie points from parents who may notice he lobbied for this, that is the potential advantage he gets out of backing this change.

 

[KGF]

I don't think there is any real recruiting advantage for OSU that there is now travel reimbursement to the title game, It's not like they are going to make the game all the time. Seriously, who picks a school because they think their parents might get to attend one extra game with travel expenses paid for? To me, Meyer may have earned some brownie points from parents who may notice he lobbied for this, that is the potential advantage he gets out of backing this change.

That depends how you define a "real" recruiting advantage. I think Urban Meyer would disagree with you. Urban Meyer tells recruits (as he should) "we compete for championships". Big Ten and National championships. Does that make a difference to a recruit? If not, why would he say it? According to you, since "It's not like they are going to make the game all the time.", there would be no point in saying that "we compete for championships" b/c, afterall, what's the chance that it actually occurs. IMO, it's no different than scheduling Hawaii and telling a recruit we will be playing Hawaii in a couple years. That would be cool, right?
I'm not saying that it will be a major influence on whether a recruit goes to school there, but it has a cumulative impact on a long list of advantages (at least in a recruit's mind) of attending a football powerhouse. And, Ohio State has been in the national championship game 3 times in the last 10 years. I'm sure Urban Meyer thinks he will be back in a few more in future years.

I am simply proposing that the every scholarship player, heck maybe even walk-ons on the 105, on a bowl team, could or should have their parents' bowl trip costs defrayed in the same way they are proposing for the national championship game. If they are proposing $3,000 per couple x 200 players, that is about $600,000 at most. If they did that for all 40 or so bowl games, that would be about $24 million. ESPN is paying $7.3 Billion over 12 years for the TV rights. After annual expenses of $125-150 million per year, college football will clear $500 million a year. I think they can afford it. Players are asked to play extra games, like conference championships, and now, playoffs, at the expense of their time and health. And, there is no practical benefit to them for playing extra games. There will still be only one national champion and one national championship game. This is not for their benefit, it's for the fans, TV, and moneymaking.
As I said before, this is just a bone that the NCAA is throwing to the players on two teams, so that the critics stay off the NCAA's back.