1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports where in the situation 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, pandemic here 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: has really accelerated the investments that we've been advocating for 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: for years. From a macro standpoint, I think our sport 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: industry is really forced to look at the business a 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: little bit differently. In depth conversations with the leaders in 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: the sports industry. Who wants to be the sacrificial lambs 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: That shows up that the first big major sporting event 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: were part of something much bigger than the sport right now, 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: and the health and duty of our stakeholders and works 11 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: much important every moment. I think we're all from the 12 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: business respective thinking about the impact that the virus is 13 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: having across the countryst Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 14 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: I'm Jason Kelly, and I'm Michael barn and I'm Mike Lynn. 15 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: We're here with you Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays to explore 16 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: the big money issues in the world of sports. Talk 17 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: to some of the biggest players in the industry. It 18 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: is fast moving these days, stopping starting, trying to make plans, 19 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: trying to remake plans. Someone right in the middle of 20 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: that joins us. Right now, jod'ntone you he is the 21 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: commissioner of the Colonial Athletic Association. All right, Joe, this 22 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: has been quite a journey over the past few months 23 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: no fall sports, as I understand, tell us how you 24 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: come to that decision. Well, first of all, good morning 25 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: to all of you, and I appreciate you have in 26 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: the ond. You know, these have been a really some 27 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 1: unprecedented times that we're living in and I think first 28 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: thing I need you to separate just in terms of 29 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: the conversation is we have two conferences. We have the 30 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: S A Football Conference and then we have the C 31 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: A full Member Conference. So as we as we looked 32 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: at decisions in both entities, they were ultimately decisions made 33 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: by the presidents at each of our schools, and looking 34 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: through their lens, I would suggest to you at a 35 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: totality of the circumstances analysis as it relates to what 36 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: was best for their campus kind of drove the decision 37 00:01:56,080 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: making process at each point. Also know just deep in 38 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: mind that we have taken a little bit of an 39 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: unusual approach in some of our scenarios. Let's start with 40 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: the full member Conference and the full member conference, we 41 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: essentially issued a statement that spoke about allowing really each 42 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: institution to make their own decision based on the needs, wants, 43 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: and scenarios associated with their analysis of their own on 44 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: campus and or off campus community situations. Out of those 45 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: ten members, we had six members that said they were 46 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: shutting it down. We had four members that said they 47 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: were going to pursue continuing to try to play sports 48 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: in the fall. On the football side, where we have 49 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: twelve members that play their other sports and four different 50 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: Division one conferences, we did put in our press release 51 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: that while we were postponing and or canceling the tall 52 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: football season in the CIA, that we have board of 53 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:05,239 Speaker 1: directors did a firm that our policies allowed member institutions 54 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: to pursue playing an independent football schedule if they chose 55 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: to do so. And to date, we've seen three of 56 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: our institutions that have at least indicated that they're gonna 57 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: pursue that exploration, that being going over James Madison and 58 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 1: e on. So that's kind of the lay of the 59 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: Land of Wire things stand for us right now to 60 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: expand on that, there's a brand new Harris poll out 61 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: and it shows that most Americans don't expect to see 62 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: the NFL or college football games at all this fall 63 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: because of the COVID nineteen crisis. Sadly we won't see 64 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: the c a A have their conference games. But according 65 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: to the poll that was in USA today, just think 66 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: college football at all will be played. Can I get 67 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: your thoughts on that? Sure? You know, Michael, I've been saying, 68 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: really if you go back to some statements that I 69 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: made to our group internally back in mid April, that 70 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: this has become, or this was and is today in 71 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: my view, an issue of cost and complexity. And I 72 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: think that we had all hoped back in mid March, 73 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: when this all began, and when we reached the point 74 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: over now four months later in mid to late July, 75 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: that we would have seen those scenarios in dealing with 76 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: the virus, the cost and complexity scenarios, we would have 77 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: seen those mitigated greatly. The problem I think we're dealing 78 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: with right now as a nation is not only have 79 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: those scenarios not been mitigated. You can make an argument 80 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: that in many cases they've been exacerbated. And that's where 81 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: I think the problems lie. As you begin to try 82 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:48,919 Speaker 1: to formulate a plan as to is this actually possible. 83 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: I would suggest to you we're seeing some success or 84 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 1: some potential success at the professional sports level that's drastically 85 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: different than what goes on our college campus on a 86 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: daily basis, and even those within the college structure it 87 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,559 Speaker 1: might be able to handle the cost aspects of things. 88 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: I would suggest to you that even they at this 89 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: point are having difficulty handling the complexity piece. So if 90 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: cost and complexity don't get better, the unfortunate reality is 91 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: we're heading down the wrong road geographically, Joe, your your 92 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: conference ranges I think from South Carolina up to the 93 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: Hampshire UM, so you know you've got pretty much the 94 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: two thirds of the Eastern Seaboard. And the cost thing 95 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 1: I'm trying to figure out. I'm sure you could probably 96 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: handle a practice, set up your own locker room, but 97 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: now you've got to take a bus ride. Instead of 98 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 1: taking two buses, you probably have to take five buses 99 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,559 Speaker 1: to a to for a football game, am I correct? 100 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: At the hotels, instead of having you know, two kids 101 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 1: to a room, you might have one one kid to 102 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: a room. Although some of the costs that really fueled 103 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: this decision, well, I think there's a lot that goes 104 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,799 Speaker 1: into that, Mike, And you know, let's let's take for example, 105 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: even if you take even even if those are the 106 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: practical costs, absolutely, but you know, we had we had 107 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: internally had especially on the football side, had significant discussions 108 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: as it relates to what I would call alternative scheduling 109 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 1: modeling that would have allowed us to significantly mitigate travel 110 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: costs associated with getting on planes and buses and maybe 111 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 1: having not maybe not having to stay in hotel rooms. 112 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: So those things I think we were prepared to deal 113 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: with on a large scale if we had to, by 114 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: making adjustments things like playing home and home schedule so 115 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 1: for instance, you know, Maine would play a home and 116 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: home schedule against the home and home game against you 117 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: and h to try to mitigate some of those travel 118 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: costs and expenses. But over and above those scenarios, if 119 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: you go back and just simply review the Resocialization of 120 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: Sports document was released by the n CIA this past Thursday, 121 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: and you look at some of the testing requirements that 122 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: are quote unquote recommended in that document, I would suggest 123 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: to you that for any FCS football program and or 124 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: conference across the country, the meeting of those recommendations from 125 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: a financial standpoint, the cost associated with those are going 126 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: to be very challenging. So it's not only the practical 127 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: costs Mike that you talk about related to some travel issues, 128 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: but then it's also the other scenarios of who's paying 129 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: for the testing, who's paying for the PPE, who's paying 130 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: for the increased number of times you need to clean 131 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: the locker room, who's paying to keep the officials in 132 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: separate locker rooms, who's paying for the PPE, for all 133 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: the sideline personnel. So there are there are ancillary other 134 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: costs associated with this other than just the ones that 135 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: you you mentioned. It's so interesting, Joe, I mean, as 136 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: you start to lay all this out, I mean I 137 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: can only speak for myself, like my brain is starting 138 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: to break a little bit in terms of like the 139 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: complexity as you rightly describe. And one of the questions 140 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: that I have based on everything you said, is who 141 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: are ultimately the decision makers at at various points here, 142 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: Because as you said, you know, you had the n 143 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: C double a way in obviously the conferences have to say, 144 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: the university presidents have a say. I would imagine public officials, 145 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: especially when you're dealing with you know, some state schools 146 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: versus private institutions. I just wonder how do decisions ultimately 147 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: get made here? Well, Jayson, let's break that down at 148 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: a couple of levels. I think it's a really good question, 149 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: and I do think if something that folks are very 150 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: confused on. So let's start just at the conference level 151 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: as we could. I think it's important for ever, we 152 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: want to understand that when we're talking about decisions at 153 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,079 Speaker 1: this level that while certainly I have the ability to 154 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: have input, athletic directors have the ability to have input, 155 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: these decisions are being made by our board of directors, 156 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: which is comprised of the presidents. In the football conference, 157 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: it's our twelve institutional presidents, and in the C a 158 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 1: full member conference is the president is the ten presidents 159 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: of those full members. That's where that's where the buck 160 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: stops in terms of making decisions. When decisions have to 161 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: be made, especially decisions at this level. You know, we're 162 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: not talking about can we are you know, on a 163 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: road game, or we're gonna have twenty five towels or 164 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: fifteen towls in the visiting team locker room. We're talking 165 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: about decisions that have sweeping impacts on institutions, campuses and 166 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 1: the communities in which they are involved with. So at 167 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: that level, that's that's where decisions are being made. Certainly, 168 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: certainly as those individuals make those decisions, they are very 169 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: much in tune with the state and local regulations that 170 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: have been implemented by the authorities within the campus communities 171 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: that they are part of, the communities that they are 172 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 1: part of, So those are always being taken under consideration. 173 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: When you then turn your attention to the n c 174 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: a A, I think it's important for folks to recognize 175 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:09,199 Speaker 1: that the n c A as a member ship driven organizations. 176 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: So the members drive the n c a A, and 177 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: there is an entity, it's called the Board of Governors 178 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 1: that has promprised of representatives in the three divisions Divisions one, two, 179 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: and three. When we saw what happened back in March 180 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: when the n c A made the decision to cancel 181 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: spring sports championships, that's a decision that was made by 182 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: the Board of Governors. If there's going to be a 183 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 1: similar situation may strike down. If it's going to be 184 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: a similar decision made at this point in time, that 185 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: would also be coming from the Board of Governors. That 186 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 1: group is scheduled to meet this Friday, and it's also 187 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: scheduled to meet August four. And if there is going 188 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: to be a unilateral decision coming down from the n 189 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: c A as it relates to fall sport championships and 190 00:10:55,800 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: whether or not those championships will be either postponed or canceled, 191 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: that's the entity that's making those decisions. So hopefully that's 192 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 1: response to your questions. Now, that's exactly that's exactly right. 193 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: I mean, because I do think and and maybe I'm 194 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,199 Speaker 1: just speaking for myself again, but I do feel like 195 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: I'm speaking on behalf of listeners, because you know, we 196 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: all have I think it's fair to say a complicated 197 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: relationship with the n c double A and understanding sort 198 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:24,199 Speaker 1: of when they you know, when and how they make decisions. 199 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: So that's that's incredibly helpful. And it sounds like we've 200 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: got some big dates sitting out ahead of us. Michael, 201 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: we're talking with Joe n Antonio, the Commissioner of the 202 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: Colonial Athletic Association. Can I talk about some good times now, gentlemen, 203 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: I want to talk about Joe, your practice with the 204 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:45,199 Speaker 1: Commissioner Initiative and it's where you participate in all the 205 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 1: campus workouts with each c A a championship team, and 206 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 1: I understand it has been popular, you know, disrespect to 207 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: Roger Goodell. I don't see that happening in the NFL. 208 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,559 Speaker 1: What is it like, Can you take us to that experience? Well, 209 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: pre shape that question, Michael, and yes, let's let's let's 210 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 1: talk about something we can all style about. I appreciate 211 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: that because it seems like we're we've always been talking 212 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: about is regulatory things here over the course of the 213 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: last month and a half, so I developed the practice 214 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: with the Commissioner program as an opportunity to really get 215 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: behind the scenes with the student athletes and be able 216 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: to interact student athletes and the coaches in a manner 217 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: in which you'd never have an opportunity to do. So. 218 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: It's an opportunity for me to say thank you to them. 219 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,199 Speaker 1: Thank you not only for their time, effort and dedication 220 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: and being a Division one student athlete, which I think 221 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: that you know, most people don't have a sense as 222 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 1: to what that time, commitment and dedication really is like, 223 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: but also a way for me to say thank you 224 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: to them for the first class manner in which they 225 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: represent the CIA and all sort of congratulate them on 226 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: being the defending CIA champion in their sports. So what 227 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: I do is I will travel around to each of 228 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 1: our campuses and try to practice one time with each 229 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: c A a defending champion that won a conference championship 230 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,559 Speaker 1: in the previous season. And uh, this is this is 231 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: real practice. So you know, I've I've suited up full 232 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: gear for football field, cocky practices, volleyball practices, uh, you 233 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: name it. We've gone suited the nuts. And it's been 234 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: an awful lot of fun. And I think maybe I've 235 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: gotten more out of it than than the kids have. 236 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: But it's it's really been a tremendous experience, I think 237 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: on both sides. All Right, So now the follow up 238 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: question to that is which of those sports that you 239 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: competed in was the most challenging And surprise you how 240 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: inept you were at it? Well? From an ineptness standpoint, Mike, 241 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: that's easy because I'm not the greatest swimmer. I can 242 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: I can keep myself, I can keep myself afloat. I'm 243 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: not going to drown. But but boy, oh boy, that 244 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 1: the fitness level of those men him in the pool, 245 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,199 Speaker 1: uh is phenomenal and then the other one I'll tell 246 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 1: you is I was involved in a volleyball practice and 247 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: they said to me, going into the practice, where could 248 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,319 Speaker 1: I have to be a set up? I'm like, Okay, 249 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: I'm thinking to myself, that sounds great to me. I 250 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: can I can set the ball and somebody else will 251 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: spike it, no problem. But boiled boy, we get into 252 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: some of those drills and I started, I started moving 253 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: myself around. Uh you know, you get it, you get 254 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: a true appreciation. I try to keep myself in decent shape. 255 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: I'm trying myself on that. But when you get in 256 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: with Division one student athletes and you look at the 257 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: fitness level these men and women, You're like, wow, this 258 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: is a completely different level. So that was an interesting 259 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: day and at the volleyball practice, but I'm happy to 260 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: report I did survive and made a thrill be yelling 261 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: oh Lord mcgal helping so Joe, you know, on a 262 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: professional level as well. I mean we've been we were 263 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: talking with you before we officially came on ERA about 264 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: the arc of your career, and it's been a really 265 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: interesting one, you know, working at a the administrative administrative level, 266 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: both at colleges. I believe your alma mater as well 267 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: as at the Big East and now to to the 268 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: ce A. What have you sort of what's the most 269 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: important thing you sort of learned from those different positions, 270 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: especially from the business of running sports that you're applying 271 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: especially in this time, I dare say of crisis, Well, 272 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: that's an easy one for me to answer, Jason. You know, 273 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: I think that as you as I've to be able 274 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: to walk through my career, I've been really fortunate that 275 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: folks have given me some tremendous opportunities, and I'd like 276 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: to think that I've made the most of those opportunities. 277 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: But to answer your questions specifically, what I value most 278 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: is just my relationships with people and how you treat people. 279 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: And you know, one of the things I think that 280 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: we're seeing during these very difficult times are in right 281 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: now is people there's a lot of stress. People are 282 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: reacting to certain situations very differently. We're seeing polarizing opinions 283 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: on a lot of different topics. And what I've tried 284 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: to stress to my to my own self is you 285 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: need to stay respectful. You need to respect the fact 286 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: that what is good for one entity organization, especially in 287 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: these unprecedented times may not be good for another entity 288 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: organization right now, and that that speaks volumes. I think 289 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: within our conferences some of the flexibility we've had of 290 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: allowing institutions to make decisions that are most applicable to 291 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: their situation, that are going to be the best decision 292 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: for their institution at the present time. And ultimately, what 293 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: people will remember is did you treat them fairly during 294 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: difficult times? And that's really how I try to really 295 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: live my life, as you know, treat people with respect, 296 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 1: understand that there's going to be differences, but never let 297 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: those differences come in the way of treating people the 298 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: right way. I like to expand on that what you 299 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: were saying about your personal experiences now, of I'm right, 300 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 1: you have two children and they're around the college age, 301 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: and obviously with COVID nineteen uh, there's been a big 302 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: mess going on. I don't know if they're going to 303 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: college or not, but if they are, how do you 304 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: tell them how to experience you know, the college in 305 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: a COVID nineteen eras when I'm trying to say, yeah, 306 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 1: it's a great question, Michael, and we we are experiencing that. 307 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: My son is getting ready to start his senior year 308 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: at Villenois, but he's actually on the football team there. 309 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 1: He's a he's a long snapper and holder in their 310 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: in their organization. And my daughter is getting ready to 311 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: stop her college career. She's going to be a freshman 312 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: at my all amount of Providence College. And you know, 313 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: we're just continuing to monitor the landscape with both of 314 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,880 Speaker 1: them as it relates to the different decisions that their 315 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: institutions are making. I feel very confident that, you know, 316 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: based on the locals of those institutions, again, going back 317 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: to the way I answered one of the earlier questions, 318 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 1: those institutions understanding the rules and regulations within their state 319 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 1: and local communities, uh that they will make the right 320 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: decisions as it relates to the safety of their students. 321 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,959 Speaker 1: And we will certainly as a family be supportive of 322 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: our children and in those institutions as those decisions are made. 323 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: Certainly not easy times, but really just a matter of 324 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: working together, making commons, making common sense decisions, I think 325 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: is really important for everyone right now. So, Joe, if 326 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: I remember correctly, Villanova is one of the along with 327 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: James Madison and Elon one of the teams that will 328 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 1: seek an outside conference schedule in football. What's what's your 329 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 1: comfort level with your son going back knowing that Villanova 330 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: is going to try to do something and probably take 331 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: it to the to the eleventh hour unless another decision 332 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: is made. Yeah, I think it's very similar, Mike, to 333 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: the way I answered the first question. I have. Uh, 334 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 1: I have the utmost respect for the situitions that have 335 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: said that they're willing to explore paying playing an independent schedule, 336 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 1: such as Villanova, you want to JMU, and I also 337 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: have the utmost respect for the institutions has said they're 338 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: going to shut it down and look to see whether 339 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: or not playing in the spring would be a possibility. 340 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: So if if my son goes back to Villanova and 341 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: ultimately they do decide to pursue playing an independent schedule 342 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: and he has an opportunity to be a part of that, 343 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: you know, I'm going to be just as supportive as 344 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: a parent as I would be whether I was the 345 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 1: commissioner or not the commissioner. So, um, we're certainly going 346 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 1: to support him and that endeavor in know in respect 347 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: that the institution is making the right and proper decisions 348 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: as it relates to the environment that they're in understanding 349 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: the facts of the situation. So, Joe, just as we 350 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: wrap up, you know, one last question I wanted to 351 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 1: ask you, is you know, as you look out, obviously 352 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: these are as you have rightly said, unpress event at times, 353 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: there's still months into this, a certain amount of triage 354 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: that we're all doing and responding in re acting and 355 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 1: doing the best that we can. And you've done such 356 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: a nice job of laying that out for us. I 357 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 1: do wonder though, as you look ahead too, hopefully a 358 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:14,439 Speaker 1: new and better world and a vaccine world and whatever 359 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 1: it takes to sort of get us back to something 360 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: that people are calling the next normal. What do you 361 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: think we take from this when it comes to collegiate 362 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: sports to the way you run the conference that maybe 363 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 1: you're doing now because you have to, but looking forward 364 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: you think, huh, actually, that's something we might not have 365 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: thought of if we didn't have this, but we're going 366 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: to keep doing it. Yeah, Yeah, that's a that's a 367 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 1: really good question, Jason, because as we've gone through these 368 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 1: last four months, I think that one of the things 369 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: it's opened our eyes all of us, not just in 370 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: college athletics, but it's opened all of our eyes to 371 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: is are their potential ways in which we can do 372 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: things differently that maybe more cost effective, potentially at times, 373 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 1: UH more more time effective in terms of being efficient 374 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: with your time, and potentially in the world of college sports, 375 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: just be a little bit more efficient in the way 376 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: that we're able to run things, especially with you know, 377 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: conferences that don't have it many times the budgets that 378 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: you might see at the autonomy five level. So I 379 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 1: do think that we're going to continue to analyze those things. 380 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: So from a from a very pragmatic standpoint, I've talked 381 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 1: to our staff about whether it's in person meetings we 382 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: have with our board of directors or athletic directors. I 383 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: don't know if you're going to see people traveling to 384 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: meetings in the future like they did in the past, 385 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: So that those are that's maybe a little bit more 386 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 1: of a pragmatic situation. You know, could conferences look at 387 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: potentially a little bit more of a regionalized scheduling philosophy 388 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: you you might see that could you look at the 389 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: scheduling philosophy that have UH members trying to save some 390 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: additional costs on travel expenses, And I think you could 391 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: see some of those scenarios as well. But you know, 392 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 1: I think it's also important to understand that there's a 393 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 1: there's a certain cassee maybe of the college athletic mystique 394 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 1: involving some of the traditions that I think we hold 395 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 1: dear to our heart, whether it relates to rivalries, whether 396 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 1: it relates to traveling for those rivalries to exist, that 397 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: if we can at some point we turn to a 398 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: level of normalcy that I don't I don't think we'd 399 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,480 Speaker 1: want to just take those things and throw them into 400 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: the wind simply to say, well, we're changing the way 401 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: we're doing things. So I think there needs to be 402 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: a balance. You need to be able to strike a 403 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:51,160 Speaker 1: balance in understanding what worked well in the past and 404 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 1: and then certainly understanding what we've learned and gleaned from 405 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 1: these unprecedented times that we've been in and how we 406 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: can apply those things that we've learned to make going 407 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: forward even better than it was before. All right, well, 408 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 1: that's a nice place to wrap up. Thank you so much. 409 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 1: We really appreciate the time. Joe D'Antonio, Commissioner of the 410 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: Colonial Athletic Association. A big job and a complicated one. 411 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 1: To say the least. We really appreciate your time. Great 412 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:18,880 Speaker 1: to be with three of you appreciate having me on. 413 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 1: Thanks Shoe and go Green Wave. All right, thanks Mike, 414 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 1: and you correct g w PEA Green Wave Pride, Go Greenway. 415 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: You gotta all right. Well, you can catch our podcast 416 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: right here every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I'm Jason Kelly. 417 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,400 Speaker 1: Catch me on Twitter at Jason Kelly. I'm just daydreaming 418 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 1: about me trying to believe volleyball. I'm Michael Ball at 419 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: Big Car Sports on Twitter, and I do not want 420 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: to swim with any college swim team. Mike Lynch, you 421 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: can find me at Lynch e w CBB. You're listening 422 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Pusinessist Sports for Bloomberg Radio around the world.