1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: Base 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 Macers 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 at the first big major sporting event, 9 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: a part of something much bigger than the sport right 10 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: now and the health and d of our stakeholders the 11 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: works much important every moment. I think we're all from 12 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: the business respective thinking about the impact that the virus 13 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: is having on across the country against Bloomberg Business of 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 1: Sports From Bloomberg Radio. Hello, I'm Jason Kelly and I'm 15 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: Mike Lynch, and over the next hour we're going to 16 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: explore the big money issues in the world of sports, 17 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: talk to some of the biggest players in the industry. 18 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: Later on, we're gonna catch up with Rutgers Athletic Director 19 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: Patrick Hobbs. Lynchi. He is a guy, He's the CEO 20 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: of a major college program and as you will hear. Uh. 21 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: He's got a lot on his plate. He does, and 22 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,199 Speaker 1: he has. He has a background in law and spent 23 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: most of his career at Seton Hall and now was 24 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: staying in the state of New Jersey to uh hopefully 25 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: bring big things to Rutgers as a member of the 26 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: Big Ten Conference. Absolutely, we're gonna get to that in 27 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: just a few minutes. First, let's talk about what's been 28 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: going on this week and Rutgers. It's a big team 29 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: from a collegiate perspective in the New York metro area. 30 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: But the real big news in the world of New 31 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: York sports came with the introduction of a new owner 32 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: the Mets. The Mets, see, yep, that's right, the Mets fans. 33 00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: They met their new owner, Stevie Cohen, well known in 34 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: the hedge fund world, to the point that the show 35 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: Billions I think draws pretty liberally from some of his 36 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: adventures as an investor now here. He is the richest 37 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: owner in baseball. This we knew it was coming, but 38 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: a seminal moment for one of the most storied franchises 39 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: across baseball. Lynjie Well, we all know Mets fans worldwide 40 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,679 Speaker 1: and they're very proud group. They're a very loyal group. 41 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: And I heard that song, all I could think about 42 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: was Art Shamsky and Cleon Jones and Casey Stengel and 43 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: you know, the poor bumbling Mets of the sixties before 44 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: they shocked the world and beat the Orioles in the 45 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: World Series and sixty nine and then of course beat 46 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: my Boston Red Sox in Night six. But this is 47 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: a big day for for Mets fans, and I think 48 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: the Sandy Alderson, the team president, said it best. He said, 49 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: instead of worrying about costs, now along only going to 50 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: worry about acquisitions, and that thing pretty much says it 51 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: all absolutely. And Stevie Cohen himself made a rare appearance 52 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: and addressed the media. He's got a different role to play. Now. 53 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 1: Let's check out what he had to say. I want 54 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: to thank my fellow Met fans, the greatest fans in baseball. 55 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: Your support has been incredible. You want us to win 56 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: the World Series, and so do I. New York fans 57 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 1: have high expectations and I want to exceed them. I 58 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: want an exceptional team. I want a team that's built 59 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: to be great every year. I don't just want to 60 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: get into the playoffs. I want to win a championship. Well, 61 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: we'll see whether he can make good on that. But 62 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: to your point, Lynchy, it's gonna be about spending rather 63 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: than cutting. It certainly sounds like and making some front 64 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: office changes already. This is a guy who is used 65 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: to winning in the world of investing, and it sounds 66 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: like he's gonna put literally his money where his mouth is. 67 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:51,119 Speaker 1: And we'll see whether he's able to transform this franchise. 68 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: It's been a long time, as you well know, since 69 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: there's been a championship for the Mets. All went through 70 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: Buck's legs. Too soon soon he does he well, he 71 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: said he wants a winner world championship within three to 72 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: five years. The New York Mets are not going to 73 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: be his piggy bank. Uh. And he's gonna leave all 74 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: the baseball decisions up to his baseball people, um, which 75 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: is a nice statement. But you know, someone who's hands 76 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: on in his business and as successful and as powerful 77 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: as he is, that I think the temptation might be, 78 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: you know, just too tough to resist sometimes, as we've 79 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: seen with other big name owners like in football, you 80 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: looking at Jerry Jones or or Robert Kraft, but you know, 81 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: he sounded sincere. And if I'm a Mets fan, you know, 82 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: I'm walking on the air right now. I feel pretty good. 83 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 1: If I'm a Mets fan, which I am not, for 84 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: the record, I'm a Braves fan. And so we've got 85 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: a little bit of a tortured history of our own 86 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: with the Met's not quite as tortured as yours. But yeah, listen, 87 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: I think it is. It's a big change for Major 88 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,559 Speaker 1: League Baseball and uh interesting to see that deal go through, 89 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: for sure. Speaking of baseball and speaking of this program, 90 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: got to send out some congrats to a guest on 91 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: this show over the summer, Trevor Bauer winning the National 92 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 1: League's Young the first Cincinnati Read to win that coveted honor. 93 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: That's a big deal. It is a big deal. And 94 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,799 Speaker 1: that was that actually stunned me. We're both baseball people. 95 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: We're both baseball people. We think we you know, have 96 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: gone through the baseball encyclopedia our entire lives before the 97 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: world went digital. And this actually shocked me. All the 98 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 1: great pictures that the Cincinnati Reds have over the years, 99 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 1: you know, down gullet they had, I mean, Saber pitch 100 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: for them for a little while. And this is the 101 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 1: first Cincinnati Red and one of the original teams in 102 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball, by the way, So they we're talking 103 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: well over a century and the first time they win 104 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: to say Young Award and happens to be one of 105 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: our guests, one of our more entertaining guests by a well. 106 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: And what's interesting too is we've not only talked to him, 107 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: we've talked to his agent, Rachel Lupa. She is the 108 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: only female agent in Major League Baseball, so it's a 109 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: bit of a coup for her as well. They were 110 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: classmates at u C. L A. And she's got even 111 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: more winded to her sales with this client now because 112 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: he's a free agent and his asking price probably just 113 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 1: went up. He got even more attractive, I would imagine 114 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: to his potential suitors across the league. So congratulations to 115 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: Trevor Bauer. He's a fascinating character and highly recommend going 116 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: back and listening to that podcast because he really breaks 117 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: down how he thinks of himself as a brand, how 118 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: he thinks of himself as a specimen. In some ways, 119 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: he pays a lot of attention to data and a 120 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: lot of attention to his training and it clearly paid 121 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: off of winning this young So from baseball to golf, 122 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: I have to say Lynch e, Um. You know, I'm 123 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: a Georgia guy, as you know. And usually if I 124 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: think of Augusta and I think of the Masters, I'm 125 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: thinking of dog Woods and I'm thinking of springtime. Uh. 126 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: Now the leaves are falling in Augusta and they're playing 127 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: the Masters. What a year. It's it's gonna be something. 128 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: It's gonna be a little different now because usually everyone 129 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: goes off the first tea and now they're gonna go 130 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: off ten and one. Obviously, daylight savings ended, so it's 131 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: gonna get dark a little bit earlier. I used to 132 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 1: be able to sit on your couch at seven o'clock 133 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: and watch the winner walk up the eighteenth hole around seven. 134 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: But you know, it's gonna get dark down there about 135 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: five o'clock. So they're teeing off early. Um, and it's 136 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a good weekend on the couch. As 137 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: they say it is. It is well. And what's interesting 138 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: is they're gonna be competing, you know, down south, you 139 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: have to compete with college football and with pro football. 140 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: Across the country as well. Uh, fewer college football games 141 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: owing to the virus continuing to surge in a lot 142 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: of games, especially in the SEC being canceled. But uh, 143 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: they they're still going to be some jockeying for viewership 144 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: for uh those golf fans maybe splitting. And I think 145 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: even the broadcast is going to change a little bit. 146 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: They're gonna end the broadcast earlier in order to carry 147 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: college and then later uh in the weekend pro football. 148 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: And if you want to listen to the Masters, just 149 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: tune into Bloomberg. We will be ring that live throughout 150 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: and always nice to see who's gonna win. Well. Up next, 151 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: our conversation with Rutgers athletic director Patrick Hobbs. He's got 152 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: a big job speaking of college football and a lot 153 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: on his plate at a time when they're trying to 154 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: get ready for the basketball season as well. He's a 155 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: chief negotiator for all the deals and putting that law 156 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,679 Speaker 1: degree to work. We get into a very interesting series 157 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: of conversations with him that's straight ahead on the Blueberg 158 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: Business of sports. I'm Jason Kelly, follow me on Twitter 159 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: at Jason Kelly News, and I'm Mike Lynch. You can 160 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: follow me at Lynch e w CVB and we're here 161 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: each and every week at this time. Catch our Apple 162 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: podcast as well that drops on Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 163 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: Get that where ever you get your podcast. You can 164 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: also there find extended versions of all our interviews, including 165 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: that Trevor Bauer interview we mentioned earlier. We caught up 166 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,599 Speaker 1: with him over the summer and he won himself a 167 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: cy Young the first four of Cincinnati Read Jason Kelly 168 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: here along with Mike Lynch. Today, we are so delighted 169 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: to be speaking with Rutgers Athletic Director Patrick Hobbsy joins 170 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 1: us from New Jersey. Pat, really nice to have you 171 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: with us. Uh, the world, as we were talking about 172 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: just before we came on air, it's a little bit 173 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: topsy turvy all over again as we head into a 174 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,479 Speaker 1: very uncertain time of the year and time of this pandemic. 175 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 1: I want to take us back, if we can, to 176 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: all the decisions that have gotten us to this point. 177 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: There are sports being played right now, including by Rutgers. 178 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 1: Walk us through sort of how we got to this 179 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: point in the pandemic. Sure, let we go all the 180 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: way back to March twelve, when we're warming up on 181 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: the floor in Indianapolis, getting ready to start our Big 182 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: Ten Champion Conference championship and uh, right that the night before, 183 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: the NBA had canceled the rest of their season, And 184 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: so coach Pikel and I are looking at each other 185 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: waiting for the Big Ten call, and um, he said, 186 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: I have to give my pregame speech, and I said, well, 187 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: and give your pregame speech. And then we're about to 188 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: take on the Michigan Wolverines. And while he's giving the speech, 189 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: my phone starts buzzing in my pocket and the world changed, 190 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: all right. So that was when its shut down, and 191 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: for Rutgers especially, was was painful, right, Like you have 192 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: to measure pain in different ways when you think about 193 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: loss of life and the suffering that's going on in society. 194 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: But we had not made an n c A tournament 195 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: in twenty nine years and we're right on the doorstep. Uh. 196 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: And of course that that ended. So everything changed for 197 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 1: that moment for everybody, and the way we do things, 198 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: the way we approach things, the way we look toward. 199 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: Do we play, do we not play? What do we 200 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: have to do to play? And um, a lot of 201 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: work and a lot of effort has gone into being 202 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,719 Speaker 1: able to move forward with a football season. And even this, 203 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: you know, for Rutgers is somewhat unique because this season 204 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: heralded the return of Greg Shianna, who had had great 205 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: past success at Rutgers. And so we're excited to play, 206 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 1: our kids excited to play. But it's just different. Tell 207 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: me how the decision to go ahead and uh do 208 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: the one A D and play the football season come about? 209 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,199 Speaker 1: In September it was dead and gone. And then was 210 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 1: it the observation that the SEC and the a SEC 211 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: were able to pull it off, and then that increased 212 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: the pressure on the university presidents. The reason we were 213 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: able to sort of reverse course was UM the development 214 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: of medical protocols and a testing regimen that gave everybody 215 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: a comfort that you could actually do this, which we 216 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 1: didn't have that confidence in the summer when the decision 217 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 1: was made by the chances and presidents to suspend the season. 218 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: If you if you remember, we had sort of just 219 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 1: released i think a week earlier, a schedule which had 220 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: a number of fallback UM positions that you could take. 221 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: And then as we sort of received medicine is on 222 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: science is really driving all of this, right. So that 223 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: was when a lot of the concern about myocarditis UM 224 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: and the risks to sort of heart health for these 225 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: young athletes came about and the decision was made, Okay, UM, 226 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: we're gonna pause. UM. And then a medical subcommittee was 227 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 1: formed led by Dr Jim Borscher's Ohio State University and 228 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: UM as they reviewed the information around testing and our 229 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: ability to test every day while also developing a set 230 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: of cardiac protocols. That was really what gave the chances 231 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: and presidents the comfort to move ahead. I think if 232 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: if if they had not had that, UM, then they 233 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,319 Speaker 1: would not have moved forward despite the SEC and the 234 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,839 Speaker 1: Big twelve playing. But you know that's and and it's 235 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: working right. So that's the regiment that we find ourselves 236 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: in right now. UM. We have daily testing for our 237 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: for our football program. UM. The daily testing, the daily 238 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 1: and egine tests actually eliminates the need for contact tracing. 239 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: And this is I know more about this stuff now 240 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: than I ever thought I would. I have to know, UM. 241 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: But that's really what enabled us to move forward and 242 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: what's positioned us now whereas you saw, you know, Wisconsin 243 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: had to cancel two contests. But um, but that was 244 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: it sort it sort of didn't become a team or 245 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: program that was spreading virus, which is you know what 246 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: what you don't want? And so pat help us understand 247 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: the economics of this decision from an eighties perspective, because 248 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: you know, obviously this is a health crisis first and foremost. 249 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, you're running a business. 250 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: You're running a big business and a big important one 251 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 1: that extends you know, even well beyond uh, your team 252 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: and your campus. You're part of a community. Uh you know, 253 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: they're in New Jersey. So how does that all figure in? 254 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,439 Speaker 1: How do you sort of balance all that out? Well, 255 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: that is the challenge, right, So you know, and I 256 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: sort of think of us unless as just a business. 257 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: We're sort of more of a hybrid, right, So we 258 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: are in the world of higher education. What we do 259 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: give hundreds and thousands, thousands of student athletes across the 260 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: conference access to higher education, and we tend to focus 261 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: on the sports of football and basketball where you know, 262 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: there may be professional opportunities for them, um after after playing. 263 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: But you know, we have to think of Rutgers. We 264 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: have twenty four programs six hundred fifty student athletes and UM. 265 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: So on the one hand, you're providing them in education, UM, 266 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: but there's also a significant cost to what you're doing, 267 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: be it's scholarships, travel, recruiting, UH, and obviously football and 268 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: basketball on the sport of men's basketball because of the 269 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: content and television rights, that really generates most of your 270 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: revenues in addition to your ticket revenues and your other revenues. 271 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: So you are trying to balance all of these things. 272 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: I mean that the kids want to play, right, They 273 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 1: want to you know, particularly those who have professional aspirations 274 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: to play professionally. UM. They want to get out there, 275 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: they want to show what they can do, and they 276 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: want to draw the interest of professional teams. They want 277 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: to get out there and play. Now, from the business side, yeah, 278 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: there's significant costs. And our structural costs are not easily changed. Right, 279 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: So whether you have coaches contracts, whether you have debt 280 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: service on facilities that you've built, UM, those are costs 281 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: that are semi fixed costs for you, UH, and you've 282 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: got to find a way to fund them. So being 283 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: able to play, being able to access our media dollars 284 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: is really important. Because we've made the decision as a 285 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: conference that we're not going to have fans in our stadiums. 286 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: We don't have the ticket revenue, we don't have the 287 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: concession revenue, the parking revenue. So you're still challenged in 288 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: a way where, um, you probably can't close that gap, 289 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: and so you've got to work with the university to 290 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: find a way to bridge to the following year. Uh. 291 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: And we're still we're still doing that. We're still trying 292 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: to quantify um what the gap will be and and 293 00:15:58,040 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: just how we close that gap this year. And I 294 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: know that's being done at every university around the country 295 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: right now. Patrick, let me ask you about Big ten 296 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: football money. UM, I know you came in the conference. 297 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: Was that part of the agreement when you came in 298 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: that you would not receive a full share until is 299 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: it the next academic year? Is that right? No? That 300 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: was so? So it was it was a six year 301 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: on ramp into full participation UM. And ironically, this is 302 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: our first year full participation UM. So in a year 303 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: where you're having to do things differently than you would otherwise, 304 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: this would be our our year of full participation. So 305 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: in some ways we're healthier financially than we have been 306 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: the previous five years. Um, But at the same time, 307 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: not being able to generate those other revenues continues to 308 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: provide a challenge for us. But um, we feel very 309 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: very confident as we go forward and certainly in the 310 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: post COVID world, that we're going to be in a 311 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: very different financial position and we'll be able to be 312 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: competitive as a result. Uh. And that's you know, part 313 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 1: of the genius at Jim Delaney creating btn the relationship 314 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: we have with our our Fox partners and our other 315 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: media partners very very healthy. Um, It's been good for 316 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 1: both sides. So as we go forward, there's a lot 317 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: of optimism about the financial health of the conference and 318 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: the individual school members. But this remains sort of a 319 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: tough here that we still have to figure out how 320 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: to bridge. So Pat, let's look ahead. Right in front 321 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: of us is the basketball season. You talked at the 322 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 1: top of the conversation about how you were literally headed 323 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: out to the floor for the Big Ten Conference tournament 324 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: when the world stopped back in March. How are you 325 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 1: feeling about the potential for basketball and what it may 326 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: look like the mechanics of it. Yeah, so it's gonna 327 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: look different. UM one, we're we're we're excited, UM. Leaving 328 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: aside sort of the health issues and the logistical challenges, 329 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: we probably have the best team. We had a great 330 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 1: team last year. We were excited about where we thought 331 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: we could go, both in the Big Ten Tournament and 332 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: the n c A tournament. So we've got a great 333 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: team and those kids really want to get on the 334 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 1: floor and they want to show what they're capable of. 335 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 1: And you know, hopefully there is an n c A 336 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,120 Speaker 1: tournament come March, UH, and they believe that they will 337 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 1: be a participant in that. UM. So you know, football 338 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: has been a good UM window into what we'll be 339 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: doing for our basketball programs. We will be doing the 340 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: same UM everyday testing so that we know we'll have 341 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:38,360 Speaker 1: a clean cohort of participants. UM. We will have some 342 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 1: non conference contests early UM and UH those schools will 343 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 1: be testing the day of in the day before the game. 344 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:51,159 Speaker 1: In New Jersey, we will not have fans. So our limitation, 345 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,439 Speaker 1: based on Governor Murphy's current orders, is a hundred and 346 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 1: fifty total people in the rack, which is a shame 347 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:02,479 Speaker 1: because I think you know, by one one outlet the 348 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 1: ranked our arena the fourth toughest place to come and 349 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,360 Speaker 1: play a game. Uh for a visiting team. We had 350 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: ten straight sellouts to end our season last year because 351 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: of Steve Pike on what this team is doing. So 352 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: it'll be a very different rack this year with an 353 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,959 Speaker 1: empty rack. Um. And so you'll just have the teams, 354 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: You'll have the scorer's table, you have the officials, will 355 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: have the people who are working the game. UH. And 356 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: we won't have fans, so that's unfortunate. UM. We still 357 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 1: haven't really talked about what we might do by way 358 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: of sort of canned fan noise. UM. You know, it's 359 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: certainly being used now in our football games and I 360 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: think successfully to give the the kids more of a 361 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:45,640 Speaker 1: game feeling. UM. I didn't think it was gonna work, 362 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: but you know, I've now been at three games where 363 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: it does give you a little bit more of a 364 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 1: game field. So we'll have to figure out what you're 365 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: allowed to do in your venue, um to you know, 366 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 1: not make it too distracting, but at the same time 367 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: try to create a sort of a home court feel 368 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: for our team and as we go around the conference 369 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 1: as well. UM. But that testing that will be in place. UM, 370 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: the rapid testing that we have, UH, and so we 371 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 1: feel pretty comfortable that we're gonna be able to go 372 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:19,959 Speaker 1: through a basketball season successfully. Right now, Pat, the gigantic 373 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: elephant in the room of every athletic director is keeping 374 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: all your varsity sports. So I think you said you 375 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,880 Speaker 1: had twenty four of them. UM. Many schools have had 376 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: to eliminate some non revenue sports. Is this something that 377 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: has your tossing and turning at night quite often? Well, 378 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:40,239 Speaker 1: see Rutgers eliminated UH six sports. UM a little over 379 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: a decade ago. UH. And you know as you look 380 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: at it, and part of it is sort of the 381 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 1: way you account for for programs. UM. I give you 382 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 1: an example. You know, the sport of baseball. UM, there 383 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: are eleven points seven scholarships that are allocated to your 384 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: baseball program. And so that's a cost right to our 385 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 1: athletic department. But your typical roster of a baseball team's 386 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: thirty five student athletes. So you've got roughly twenty four 387 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: student athletes who are paying full tuition, room board, and 388 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: other fees to the university. And yet those dollars are 389 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: not counted as part of sort of the revenues of 390 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: an athletic of an athletic department. Obviously you have Title 391 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: nine issues as well that you've got to balance. UM. 392 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: And so what I think, and you've seen this with 393 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: some of the programs that have cut sports around the country, 394 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: they say it's not necessarily being done as a cost 395 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: saving measure. It's being more done to sort of find 396 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: the right balance of sports. Some of the dollars that 397 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,360 Speaker 1: have been saved, they're getting redirected into other sports. So 398 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: I know folks think that cutting sports is a way 399 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,719 Speaker 1: to sort of get to a balance, UM, but it 400 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: often isn't UM. And in many cases, schools are finding 401 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:57,159 Speaker 1: themselves in very costly litigation and having to reinstate sports 402 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 1: as a result. And so right now, we feel very 403 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 1: comfortable where we are. Obviously that can change at any time, 404 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 1: but UM, you know, we went through a very painful 405 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: process as I said some years ago, and UM, we'd 406 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 1: like to be able to support everything that we're doing. 407 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,400 Speaker 1: And as I said, many of these programs have very 408 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 1: few scholarships actually assigned to them, So UM, the university 409 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: is actually doing well to have these student athletes be 410 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 1: part of the university UM and pay their tuition, their 411 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 1: room to board their other fees to the university. And 412 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: in our case that's that's an excess of seventeen million 413 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 1: dollars a year, So it's not an insignificant contribution, if 414 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 1: you will, back to the university. So, Pat, you know, 415 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: I do think about a job like yours, which there's 416 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,439 Speaker 1: so many different inputs, so many different constituencies. One of 417 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 1: the things you mentioned earlier was the Big Ten network, 418 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 1: and obviously these conference networks have been I think by 419 00:22:55,960 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: all accounts, very successful as businesses and and economically. Help 420 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: us understand how you think about that and how it 421 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: fits into sort of the overall, uh, sort of running 422 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: of your program. Well, the immediate partners are really essential 423 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: to be able to do what we do the way 424 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:19,439 Speaker 1: we do it right. So, um, you simply can't spend 425 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 1: the dollars that we're spending without generating significant revenue UM 426 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:27,120 Speaker 1: as a result of your your content. And obviously we're 427 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 1: talking mostly football and men's basketball here, but other sports 428 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 1: as well. Um. One of the things that we saw 429 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: recently in a presentation by h BTN and Francois mcgilla cutty, 430 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: the president, there is just how much viewership there is 431 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: a Big Ten volleyball, Big Ten, wrestling. UM. So one 432 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: of the things that and that's a really important part 433 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,919 Speaker 1: of sort of being an owner of your own your 434 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:54,880 Speaker 1: own network. Obviously we're in a partnership with Fox as well, 435 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 1: and they are also a part owner of BTN, but 436 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: um finding ways to draw interest to your other sports 437 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: as well. You're they're never going to be quite what 438 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: football or basketball is, but any all of this content 439 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 1: and obviously generates advertising revenues, and those advertising dollars then 440 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 1: come back to the institutions. So it's a really really 441 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:23,679 Speaker 1: important part of how we think about our how we 442 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 1: sell our content going forward, how we're able to afford 443 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:29,680 Speaker 1: to do the things we do. UM. And in a 444 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,919 Speaker 1: very fast changing sort of media landscape, cord cutting and 445 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 1: everything else. UM, you're always assessing sort of where where 446 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 1: are the next sort of pieces of this where we 447 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,120 Speaker 1: can start to generate some revenue. But I think everybody 448 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: would agree, you know, beat In may be the most 449 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 1: successful of the of the conference uh media partners. You 450 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: know that's been created. And I'm just looking at the 451 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: thinking about the role of the athletic director and how 452 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: it is evolved over the last half century or so. 453 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 1: Used to be a place where it was sort of 454 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: a bridge between coaches that went before they retired. I'm 455 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: thinking of Duffy Dougherty, Frank Broyle's, Bohm Beckler and somewhere. 456 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: But before the turn of the century, that role changed 457 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 1: dramatically to the one who cultivates relationships with alumni, compliance, 458 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 1: and probably most importantly, a fundraiser. Is that an acturate 459 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: assessment of you would your job description right now? I 460 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:28,719 Speaker 1: don't think twenty years ago I would have been an 461 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,919 Speaker 1: attractive candidate for a place like a Rutgers University because 462 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: my background. A'm a lawyer. I was a law school 463 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: of being at Seton Hall University for sixteen years. Twice 464 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 1: I was brought in at Seton Hall to assist on 465 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: the athletic side because of issues that they had. So, um, 466 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 1: it's a very different job today. UM. I used my 467 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: law degree probably more in this job than any previous 468 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: job that I've had. Whether it's contracts, whether you know, 469 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 1: we talked about media contracts, we talked about Title nine, 470 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: we talked about employee discrimination, all the things that you 471 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:05,479 Speaker 1: have to think about just internally. And then there's, as 472 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 1: you just said, there's the fundraising component. Um, we we 473 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:12,719 Speaker 1: we started. I'm coming up on my fifth anniversary at 474 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 1: Rutgers and we started shortly after Arrot something called the 475 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 1: Big ten Build. We generated over a hundred twenty million 476 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: dollars of donation support as a result of that. So yeah, 477 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 1: the role is very, very different. UM. I started in 478 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: some ways wish it was the role where you'd spent 479 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: sort of some nice time, you know, winning on the 480 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 1: football field or or on the basketball courts, and then 481 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: sort of retired to it. But it's a seven day 482 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: a week job. You know, in this COVID nineteen world, 483 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 1: you typically begin in the morning with seven thirties zoom 484 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,199 Speaker 1: or WebEx call. In the meantime, I'll be trying to 485 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 1: touch base with some of our donors, some of our 486 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 1: board members. UM. So it is, but that's what makes 487 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:57,120 Speaker 1: it a wonderful job too. Um. You know, the best 488 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 1: part of the job is being around six aren't fifty 489 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 1: student athletes, But it's also you know, it's wonderful to 490 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 1: be able to use your background, be at your law background, 491 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: your fundraising background, um, to try to build something. And 492 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:11,119 Speaker 1: that's the way we sort of look at it at 493 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 1: Rutgers is we've got this wonderful opportunity now as a 494 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: member of the Big Ten to really make some noise. 495 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: We're the only Power five institution in the New York 496 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: metropolitan area. So when we make some noise at Rutgers, UM, 497 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 1: there's a twenty two million people in the New York 498 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,959 Speaker 1: metropolitan area that can respond and get excited about what 499 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,119 Speaker 1: we do. So uh, yeah, there are many, many different 500 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 1: facets to the job. Um. There no day is the same. Uh. 501 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: And then of course there's a public university. You know, 502 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: you have the media scrutiny as well. So it's a 503 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: it's a fascinating job. There's days where I think I 504 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 1: should have my head examined. That could be uh, you know, 505 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: sitting there in a nice chaired professorship back at the 506 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 1: Team Hall Law School. But but I'm enjoying the job, 507 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:57,880 Speaker 1: and I think we're starting to make some noise. Uh, 508 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: and a lot of work to do. But UM really 509 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: excited where our football program is really excited, where our 510 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 1: basketball men's and women's are wrestling in a number of 511 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 1: other sports. So uh, it's it's a CEO role, UM, 512 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 1: no question about it. UM. But it's an exciting role 513 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 1: because of the environment that you're in and that you're 514 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,920 Speaker 1: around young people who are not just sort of displaying 515 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 1: their athletic talent, but they're also achieving sort of academic 516 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: dreams and going on a success there as well. You know, Pat, 517 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 1: as you were talking, one of the things that I 518 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,520 Speaker 1: was thinking about that that may manifest so many of 519 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: so much of what you're talking about from the prominence 520 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: of the program as part of the Big Ten and 521 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,920 Speaker 1: in the New York metro, as well as your background 522 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: as a lawyer and as a dean, is you're also 523 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: a dealmaker. And I wonder if you could tell us 524 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: a little bit about the Adidas deal because obviously that 525 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: was seminole. It feels like for for the program, you 526 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: really shepherded that through. What did you sort of take 527 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: away from that? What are some interesting things that that 528 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 1: we should know about how that all came together when 529 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: it came to UM revisiting sort of our apparel partner UM. 530 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: That was one of the things that we did as 531 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 1: a team, which the three companies which we presented to 532 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 1: all said that no one had done. That is, we 533 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: put together a whole deck to show just the impact 534 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: that our brand can have in the New York metropolitan 535 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 1: area and sort of the uniqueness of our brand obviously 536 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 1: had some struggles over over the years. But once this 537 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 1: brand is winning, um, there's probably um, there's there's few 538 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 1: schools that are as good a partner as a Rutgers 539 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 1: University would based. So we sort of in any of 540 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: these deals, we've been aggressive in showing what the future 541 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: of Rutgers is, what the opportunity is for that partner, uh, 542 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 1: and they've embraced that and gotten excited about it. Whether 543 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 1: it's Adidas as our apparel partner, Shi International International as 544 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: our naming rights for for our stadium. We're in conversation 545 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 1: with a number of different companies about naming rights on 546 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 1: our basketball facility. Um. People are seeing sort of where 547 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:01,120 Speaker 1: Rutgers is headed. And that's that's also a really fun 548 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: part of the job is is getting those deals done. Um. Yeah, 549 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 1: My my background as a lawyer and somebody who sort 550 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 1: of was on the deal side of being a lawyer 551 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 1: has has been helpful there. Um. But really the most 552 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 1: important thing is the brand of Rutgers is going to 553 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 1: keep getting stronger, and so you'll see better and better 554 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:23,240 Speaker 1: deals for Rutgers, whether it's with apparel partners, are media 555 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: multimedia rights partners as we go ahead, Pat, what is 556 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 1: this whole pandemic done to recruiting, no contact with the coaches? 557 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 1: And what's it done to a number of applications. I 558 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: know a lot of student athletes want the full college experience, 559 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 1: knowing that can be on campus. Are a lot of 560 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 1: applicants just pausing and taking a gap year and waiting 561 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 1: to see what happens? Well, we haven't seen that so 562 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 1: far in terms of the pause, what it certainly has 563 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 1: done has changed the way that we all have to recruit. Right, 564 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 1: So without on campus recruiting, you're really confined to zoom 565 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: and WebEx um, and coaches have had to be innovative. 566 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 1: We a lot more use of sort of video tours 567 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 1: of of of our facilities. Um and uh so yeah, 568 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 1: I mean listen, whatever it was nine months ago. Um, 569 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 1: I don't know how many how many hours of video 570 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 1: conferencing I did in any month? Now I'll do, you know, 571 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: four to five hours every day. And that's true of 572 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 1: our coaches as well. So they've embraced the technologies. Um, 573 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:27,400 Speaker 1: it's not is it perfect? No, we would love to 574 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 1: get the kids on campus and meeting more student athletes. 575 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:36,120 Speaker 1: But UM, whether it's Great Siano and football or Steve 576 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: Pikel and basketball, youw they this is what we're all 577 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 1: working with. UM. We feel like we're a university that 578 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 1: kids should want to be at. There's great talent here 579 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: in the New York metropolitan area. Now in some cases, 580 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: I think kids are re examining their decision to travel 581 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 1: far from home. UM. You know, you're not going to 582 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: have a pandemic. We hope we get through this as 583 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 1: quickly as we can. But I think bull of seeing 584 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: sort of the value of being closer at home as well. UH. 585 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:06,480 Speaker 1: And so you know, I think that's provided a little 586 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:11,520 Speaker 1: bit of uptick in our recruiting advantage. UM. We UH 587 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 1: much more speak to UM the opportunities that are available 588 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 1: to these kids and being in the New York market, 589 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 1: being seen on television in the New York market, and 590 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:23,600 Speaker 1: so we feel that we have some real advantages. But 591 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: we would love to get the kids come back on campus. 592 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 1: We've opened a couple of new facilities, which were very 593 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:31,720 Speaker 1: proud of UH and those help and recruiting UM. But 594 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 1: in the end, what they want is they want to 595 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 1: play in a great conference, to be at a great university, 596 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:38,239 Speaker 1: and I think Rutgers represents that very well. Pat. As 597 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: we wrap up here, I did want to ask you, 598 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: and especially given your background as a lawyer, I wonder 599 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 1: what you make of the debate in the ongoing discussions 600 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 1: around name, image and likeness when it comes to collegiate athletes. 601 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: And you know, it feels like it has back burnered 602 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 1: a little bit at least in the public conversation amid 603 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: the pandemic and decisions about when to play, how to play, 604 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: and all of that. But where do you see this 605 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 1: headed over the next couple of years. Well, I always 606 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 1: start with any of these conversations with what is the 607 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: student athlete currently getting? UM and they're getting a scholarship 608 00:33:13,280 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 1: that um you know, we we started jump past that 609 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 1: pretty quickly. But you know, having spent almost a million 610 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 1: dollars in tuition, uh fees, board room board books on 611 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: on the education of my children, I know just how 612 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:31,959 Speaker 1: valuable that scholarship is. And so you know, for the 613 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 1: vast majority of our student athletes who are not in 614 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 1: those sports where there may be some professional opportunities, what 615 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,240 Speaker 1: we're providing them is something that I think is priceless, 616 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:47,040 Speaker 1: and that is quality education. From a great university, so 617 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 1: I always started there. And then UM, I think about 618 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 1: you know, this is a time where students are whoever 619 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 1: heard of Twenty years ago none of us said we 620 00:33:56,760 --> 00:33:59,680 Speaker 1: were building our brand. Now everybody's always building their brand. 621 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 1: So I think we as universities have a role to 622 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 1: play in that. UM. I do think there is a 623 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:09,799 Speaker 1: pathway where some student athletes, because of who they are 624 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:12,239 Speaker 1: in the talent that have, they may be able to 625 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,880 Speaker 1: make money off their name, image and likeness. UM, whether 626 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:19,239 Speaker 1: it's UM doing a camp, whatever it happens to be 627 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:24,080 Speaker 1: in maybe some commercial opportunities. Again, ten years ago, UM, 628 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 1: I would not have known how you define the name 629 00:34:26,640 --> 00:34:29,600 Speaker 1: to somebody to be an influencer. But but there's value 630 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,080 Speaker 1: and being an influencer now too. Uh, And some of 631 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:35,319 Speaker 1: these young people are the better influencers than anybody. So 632 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 1: I think we have to be careful with it, all right, 633 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:40,400 Speaker 1: So you know, we have to evolve, we have to change. 634 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:43,399 Speaker 1: If there is an opportunity, if there is a way 635 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:47,600 Speaker 1: without corrupting what we do, so that some of these 636 00:34:47,640 --> 00:34:50,640 Speaker 1: young people can make money off their name, image and likeness, 637 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 1: then I support that, UM. But we'll just have to 638 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: see I think the devil will be in the details. Um. 639 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:58,960 Speaker 1: There's certainly there are plenty of unscrupulous people out there 640 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 1: who've gotten involved on recruiting side, um in a non name, 641 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: image and likeness world, and it's probably only going to 642 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:08,640 Speaker 1: increase the challenges for athletic directors and coaches in the 643 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 1: days and months of months and years ahead. That's probably 644 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 1: why it's even better to be a lawyer in your job. 645 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,239 Speaker 1: All right, Well, Pat Hobbs, thank you so much, really 646 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:19,680 Speaker 1: good to spend some time with you. Good luck finishing 647 00:35:19,719 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 1: up the football season onto the basketball season. And as 648 00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:25,800 Speaker 1: a as someone who lives here in the New York area, 649 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:28,759 Speaker 1: I can attest to the fact that, uh, you're you 650 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: guys have really kicked it up in a lot of 651 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:33,120 Speaker 1: ways to see a lot more Rutgers around. So good 652 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:36,120 Speaker 1: luck continuing to, as you say, built that brand. Thanks 653 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:38,000 Speaker 1: very much, great being with you guys today and go 654 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 1: are you so Lynchi fascinating interview. I mean, this is 655 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:46,240 Speaker 1: a guy who you know obviously has a big job 656 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:49,280 Speaker 1: and I think we and I was glad you asked 657 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: the question about you know, what an a D was 658 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 1: and what an a D is Now it's it's complicated. Yeah, 659 00:35:57,239 --> 00:35:59,560 Speaker 1: it is some, he says. The job description has changed 660 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 1: so much over the last twenty years. And um, as 661 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 1: we know, he uh, he said, he's using his law 662 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:07,879 Speaker 1: degree more now than he ever has in his entire 663 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:11,279 Speaker 1: life as an athletic director, negociating contracts with the Big ten, 664 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:16,359 Speaker 1: with Fox, with Adidas, and he now plays the role 665 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:18,800 Speaker 1: of a CEO more than he does an athletic director. 666 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:20,920 Speaker 1: And we all remember there was a day when I 667 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:22,520 Speaker 1: don't want to call it a cushy job, but it 668 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:26,479 Speaker 1: was sort of a nice little little bridge into retirement guys, 669 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:28,279 Speaker 1: the guys that had coached, you know, for twenty or 670 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 1: thirty years and then okay, let's go sitting behind a 671 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:33,200 Speaker 1: desk and show up at a couple of games and 672 00:36:33,239 --> 00:36:35,719 Speaker 1: shake some hands with some alums and you know, just 673 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:38,560 Speaker 1: wait for the pension to kick in. Yeah exactly. Yeah, 674 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:42,319 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm sure he does his his fair his 675 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:45,560 Speaker 1: fair share of schmoozing. But you know, you think about 676 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:49,640 Speaker 1: negotiating a media deal, you know, being a part of 677 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 1: what is a shall we say, robust uh an important conference, 678 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:56,719 Speaker 1: and you know, and he even alluded to to some 679 00:36:56,800 --> 00:36:59,239 Speaker 1: of the drama that we all saw from the outside 680 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:02,480 Speaker 1: of you know, the Big ten and Kevin Warren the 681 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:06,880 Speaker 1: commissioner reversing their decision, uh to to play football and 682 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,719 Speaker 1: ultimately they're on the field and uh and as he said, 683 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:15,279 Speaker 1: he knows more about um, we all do, we all do, 684 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:17,960 Speaker 1: we all do. So really really enjoyed that. All right, 685 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:20,520 Speaker 1: you've been listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports. We're here 686 00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:23,240 Speaker 1: each and every week at the same time, plus online 687 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcast. There you can find extended 688 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 1: versions of this and all of our interviews. Those podcasts 689 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 1: they drop on Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Jason Kelly. 690 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:36,799 Speaker 1: Follow me on Twitter at Jason Kelly News. And I'm 691 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:39,400 Speaker 1: Mike Lynch. You can follow me at Lynch e w CDB. 692 00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 1: You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio 693 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:43,640 Speaker 1: around the world.