Thoughts on Kenny Minchey

[PMWinSTP]

Yeah, but what are their interests? Third party NIL doesn't affect them, and right now no one is forcing them to cover medical or tuition expenses after the athletes leave the school.

Seems like they would have a lot to lose and nothing to gain.

At least with other "pro" leagues you have the owners and players going after the same pot of money, so they are naturally on opposites sides of the negotiating table.

I just don't see that scenario with schools.

I simply answered your question.

 

[Dave H]

[Not a lawyer or union expert]

I think schools on the level of Minnesota and below would be the impetus for the NCAA member schools forming a collective for the purposes of bargaining. I know Indiana has everyone talking about how anyone can become a power but fact is that is going to be the exception not the rule as this goes along. And truth is competitive balance will crash and burn if a few billionaires can just buy teams with no consequence for a run which will hurt interest in the support. Its not sustainable. Schools that dont have access to that cash sooner or later will not want to stick around to be cannon fodder.

If the schools and fans want true balance the NFL system is the way to go. Right now is MLB on steroids. (or the NHL before multiple lockouts) The problem is that some schools will have zero interest in giving the NCAA the kind of authority needed to negotiate these types of deals so it will take the other schools (the ones they need around to play and beat) banding together and saying "we arent doing this anymore" to force their hand.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

PJ says we’re a development program for reasons.

 

[GopherTheJugular]

The problem is that some schools will have zero interest in giving the NCAA the kind of authority needed to negotiate these types of deals so it will take the other schools (the ones they need around to play and beat) banding together and saying "we arent doing this anymore" to force their hand.

How would the details work? If the Gophers and such just don't show up to play Ohio State or Oregon, our athletic department's revenue will crash, along with our athletic department, before the top spenders will feel their hand being forced.

Don't our TV contract agreements require us to play until the GoR expires? And it will never expire because a new one is always negotiated years in advance.

 

[Dave H]

In reality outside of fines there isn't much that can be done. Yes the athletic department will crash and burn but the point is the schools would rather go broke (in athletics) than play under the current system. And it would take well over half the member schools to make it work. Ohio State cant be Ohio State without teams like the Minnesota, Iowa, and Northwestern.

Make no mistake, it isn't going to happen anytime soon. It will take a lot of steps to get there. It would likely start with conferences doing something and then the P4 forcing changes.

 

[GopherTheJugular]

In reality outside of fines there isn't much that can be done. Yes the athletic department will crash and burn but the point is the schools would rather go broke (in athletics) than play under the current system. And it would take well over half the member schools to make it work. Ohio State cant be Ohio State without teams like the Minnesota, Iowa, and Northwestern.

Make no mistake, it isn't going to happen anytime soon. It will take a lot of steps to get there. It would likely start with conferences doing something and then the P4 forcing changes.

Not trying to argue (in case it sounds that way lol). I just think athletic departments like ours would prefer to tell our football team to keep playing in an uncompetitive landscape while preserving the non-revenue sports, vs. any risk to those just to try and change the football landscape.

In other words, we'd be happy to be a doormat in exchange for non-revenue sports not being hurt.

 

[Dave H]

In the shorter term absolutely...and if fans keep showing up then probably forever. But the revenue from the Big Ten Network wont go up forever and there is only so much expanding you can do. If interest starts to wane things will change in a hurry. (look at all the stupid stuff baseball tries as fans stop caring)

The thing is you are asking hypothetical questions about scenarios that aren't going to happen in the near future. We have no clue how things will change next year let alone in the time it would take for unionization to happen. Right now there is so much money out there it is masking the fundamental issues and inequalities and until that shifts (or until something really crazy happens like schools start moving down or de-emphasizing sports in protest) we might never see any of this. Things are moving at breakneck speed and everyone has the gold rush fever.