1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. COVID has been so 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: devastating and to see thirty eight thousand people at Funeray 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: Park it was really emotional and rewardings from the business side, 4 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: from ticket sales to jersey sale, the revenues are up. 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: Everything was really good as well as solid. There I 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 1: realized that at the beginning of nineteen would be a 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: very unique opportunity in terms of a lot of contracts 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:25,479 Speaker 1: being up at the same time and a lot of 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: sighting young wrestlers being available to go out and start 10 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,479 Speaker 1: a wrestling company. The country is finally deeply getting the 11 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: memo about how amazing the sport is. I think the 12 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: sky's a limit for MLS. Bloomberg Business of Sports from 13 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. Hello and welcome to the Bloomberg Business of 14 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: Sports show, where we explore the big money issues in 15 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: the world of sports. I'm Scarlet Fool along with Mike 16 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: Lynch and sitting in from Michael Barr. This week is 17 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: the star of our Wednesday Fantasy podcast of one and only, 18 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: Demien sess Our. Maybe alright, funny guys, good to have 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: your board. Thanks thanks for having me. All right, We've 20 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: got a great show. Planned today we got to sit 21 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 1: down with the American Athletic Conference Commissioner, the a a C, 22 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: not the a C c UH, the a a C Commissioner, 23 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: Mica Rosco, to talk college football and conference alignment realignment. 24 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: But first let's talk about some of the big stories 25 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: of the week. And this one is a doozy right 26 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: in a sign of the times, the l A. Staples 27 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 1: Center is shedding its old economy name. No more office 28 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: supply retailer Lebron James and his teammates will now play 29 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: at the Crypto dot Com Arena, and of course the 30 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: Clippers in the l A Kings also play in this 31 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: arena as well. Mike Lynch, this was a big, big 32 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 1: money deal here in the world of sports naming rights. 33 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: Reportedly it's seven million over twenty years, the biggest deal 34 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: ever in the history of sports. And the name is 35 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: going to transition on Christmas Day when the Lakers are playing, 36 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: of all people, very popular Brooklyn Nets, so the timing 37 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: is incredibly uh right on. And Staples Center has been 38 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: the old name the arena has had since it opened 39 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety nine. But Crypto dot Com is fastly 40 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: emerging globally they're involved with Formula one, UFC, Paris Saint Germain, 41 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 1: the Montreal Canadiens. Um, they're coming, it's here, They're here, 42 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: and it's come. It's going to become even faster and 43 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 1: more forceful. Yeah, Mike, I'm surprised it's not going to 44 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: be called the Rivian Center or something now. I mean, look, 45 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: I mean it's a big money deal obviously, I mean 46 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: naming rights, it's gonna go a long way. But you know, 47 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: I guess you know, it's just amazing that it's this 48 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: cryptocurrency movement that's really driving it. In my eyes, it's 49 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 1: just it's really quite unbelievable. You know. The thing that 50 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: comes to mind is the dot Com era when a 51 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: lot of stadiums were named up here. Gellette Stadium was 52 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: originally c mg I Field and then the dot com 53 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: went dot bom and c mg I you know, fizzled 54 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: and now the gillect took over the name. So you know, 55 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: I know a lot of people still aren't believers in 56 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: in cryptocurrency, but um, it's everywhere you turn and everywhere 57 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: you look. Well, there's real money involved here, as you mentioned, huge, 58 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: huge deal, more than seven hundred million over the span 59 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: of two decades, and credit goes to R. Jason Kelly 60 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: for his reporting on this. One thing that I found 61 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: interesting as well is that Crypto dot com is the 62 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: same company that recently spent a hundred million dollars on 63 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: this global advertising campaign featuring Matt Damon, So they are 64 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: splashing out left, right, and center right now. Also another 65 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: big sports story out there, Fenway Sports Group very active 66 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: right now, Lynchy, Well, this is a major story. We 67 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: have a professional baseball team owned by the Fenway Sports Group, 68 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: the Boston Red Sox of team the small team purchasing 69 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League UM. Pittsburgh 70 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: Penguins recent value by Forbes was eight million, and right 71 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: now Pittsburgh is ranked like fifteenth, right in the middle 72 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: in terms of a team value. Another big part of 73 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: this deal is the local TV package Pittsburgh is games 74 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: are broadcast by a T and T sports Net, and 75 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: they have the highest ratings of any team in the 76 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: National Hockey League. They have sold out fourteen years, six 77 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: hundred thirty three straight games in Pittsburgh. People have a 78 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: voracious appetite for watching the Penguins down there. But the 79 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: biggest part of this steal, I'm told is that across 80 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: the street from the arena where the Penguins play, there's 81 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: a parcel of land that's twenty eight acres and the 82 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Penguins hold the development rights to that parcel. Now 83 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: Here in Boston, the Fenway Sports Group has been very 84 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: active in real estate surrounding Fenway Park and that's a 85 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: big part of their package here why they're worth more 86 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: than seven billion dollars and this is one of the 87 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: most attractive parts of the steel for the Fenway Sports 88 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: Group is this development of real estate across the street 89 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: from the arena. Well, just along as Mary Lemieu is 90 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: still a minority owner of of the of the franchise. 91 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: Now I'm just kidding. You know, what's interesting is is 92 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: you're absolutely right. I mean for me, you know, there's 93 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: a lot of big money around. But John Henry has 94 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: been absolutely you know, very very successful you know, both 95 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 1: in you know, London football, you know, here in baseball 96 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: you know, and now in hockey at you know, kind 97 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: of managing these franchises, not just managing them profitably, but 98 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: managing them to championships. Right, So it's gonna be very 99 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: interesting and for me you know the Pens. Yes, while 100 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: the middle of the pack right now, you know, under 101 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: John Henry's leadership, I mean I expect good things. I 102 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: had for sure. Also they saw that you have Againny 103 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Let's not forget plenty of star 104 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: power even with Mario Lemieu. And wait, do we know 105 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 1: marl Amu is definitely staying on. He will be on 106 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: and he'll have a little equity stake in the in 107 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: the acquisition um, but the Burkele, the other owner, will 108 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 1: not be part of it. By Ron Burkele, Mary Lomiu 109 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: stays on. That's the name that counts. Yeah, Lebron James, 110 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: by the way, has a stake in Family Sports Group 111 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 1: to right he is uh he now is a tent 112 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: about a ten percent owner along with Maverick carter Um, 113 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: which is puts the Family Sports Group in position to 114 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: pursue an NBA franchise. They'd made no secret about it 115 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,719 Speaker 1: at all. I've talked to several members of that group, 116 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 1: and an NBA franchise or an NFL franchise is on 117 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: the horizon for them right now. Okay, so what they 118 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: have the Boston Red Sox, They're Gonna. I mean they 119 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: have Liverpool, right Liverpool, They have Rouch Racing Um. They 120 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: had an usion of capital Beck in March, Redbird capital 121 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:07,679 Speaker 1: seven dred and fifty million dollars cash, which certainly helps 122 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: finance this deal here with the Pittsburgh Penguins. And remember 123 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: that they also of New England Sports Network, which is 124 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 1: a huge, huge popularich covers with broadcast Red Sox and 125 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: Boston Bruins focus games. Okay, so John Henry is having 126 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 1: a pretty good week. Another big story that we've been following, 127 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 1: of course, is what's going on with the Chinese tennis 128 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: are Pengshuai. So the latest here, Damien, is that Chinese 129 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: state media says this tennis star sent a letter saying 130 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: that she's not missing, she's not unsafe, she's actually resting 131 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,799 Speaker 1: at home and everything is fine. And oh, by the way, 132 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: her previous allegation of sexual assault by a former senior 133 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: leader in China's Communist party not true, not true, not 134 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: written by her. It's an alleged you know, it's an 135 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: alleged force. And so look, I mean we have to 136 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: be clear, you know, just to put things in context. 137 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: Just last week with the six planetmuh of the Chinese 138 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: economy where President she had to basically make his pitch 139 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 1: to basically qualify for a third term and perhaps be 140 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: leader for life. And you know, the the alleged affair 141 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,559 Speaker 1: that was going on occurred with a Central Committee party member, 142 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: and so I think, you know, she and the powers 143 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: that be probably did everything they can to kind of 144 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: deadness until last week's meeting. Now the planum is over, 145 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: but you know, it's it's just kind of interesting. You know, 146 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: it's still there. It's still something that's hanging over the markets. 147 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: And certainly from I'm an emerging market guy, you know, 148 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: if that's that's my day job, you know, it's certainly 149 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: something that that adds to the risk of investing in 150 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: China and looking to China as a source for capital. 151 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just it's really quite unbelievable. I mean, 152 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: just the way that she and the powers that we 153 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: have their finger on the pulse of the story and Lynch. 154 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: The World Tennis Association's chairman and CEO, Steve Simon, had 155 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: urged an investigation into Pen's allegations that she was sexually 156 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: assaulted by John gal Lee, who is the former Vice 157 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: Premier of China. He was the number seven official in 158 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: China's Communist Party. He also Steve Simon told The New 159 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: York Times that the group might even reconsider its operations 160 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 1: in China if they didn't find a sufficient resonance, if 161 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: they didn't get a sufficient response. Would Tennis really pull 162 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: out of China if they didn't get a sufficient response 163 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: to details on this one tennis players allegations, Well, it 164 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: would be some type of a threat that have a 165 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: little bit of leverage. Um. I immediately think of the 166 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: comments by Ennis Cantor. Yes, and then all of a sudden, 167 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: they pulled the Celtics games from their streaming services over 168 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: in China, which was a big chunk of their streaming services. 169 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: And that goes back to the Houston Rockets, right and 170 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: what happened with their general manager. I mean, look, that's 171 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: exactly right. You know, China does not respond well when 172 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: you have you know, athletes speaking out of bounds, and 173 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: Enis Canner look outwardly. Enis Canner is on the Boston Celtics. 174 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: He's not really playing for the team right now, I think, Um, 175 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: But but the point, I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, Mikey, 176 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: But I mean, the reality is this you know, I mean, 177 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: he's kind of a firebrand. You know, he had made 178 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 1: some disparaging comments about President Urdawan and Turnkey more recently, 179 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: and you know, I think called him I don't even 180 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: want to say it on air, like the hit or 181 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: of our lifetime or something, but you know, you know, 182 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: so he's known for doing that, and the fact that 183 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: they're pulling Boston Celtic games off the air in response 184 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: is just unbelievable and not surprising at all. And cancer 185 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: has been out front of every social issue thing when 186 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: he's it's just a second uh term with the Celtics here, 187 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: and when the Black Lives Matter movement was just at 188 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: its peak and it's cancer was at the Boston Common 189 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: leading a group of marches through the city of the 190 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: City of Boston right at the front. It's even notable 191 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: that tennis stars like Naomi Osaka have tweeted concern as well, 192 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: because these athletes have skin in the game. It's not 193 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: as if they don't depend on China as a market 194 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: for for what they do as well. Um And I 195 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,359 Speaker 1: was just looking that w t A has eleven tournaments 196 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: and also a deal to hold its tour finals and 197 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: shinin so that's what's kind of at risk here if 198 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: China decides to pull the w t A from from 199 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: the Chinese market and from a from a monetary standpoint. 200 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: Rememberwy when China pulled the NBA for the full year, 201 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,080 Speaker 1: that costs on paper half a billion dollars, but we 202 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: all know the number was far, far, far greater than 203 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: that in terms of lost revenue to the league, and 204 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: the NBA is still trying to make up for that, 205 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: still trying to make amends for that. Today we are 206 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: joined by the Commissioner of the American Athletic Conference Mike Arresco. 207 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: It is time to talk about college football. We know 208 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: that the college football playoff rankings are out and heading 209 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 1: into this weekend, Cincinnati is undefeated, but it's on the 210 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: outside looking in at number five with a pair of 211 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: nine and one teams ahead of them. We've seen this 212 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: kind of story before in UCF went undefeated and finished 213 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: in the number six slot. So, Mike Arresco, my first 214 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: question to you is do the Cincinnati Bearcats deserve to 215 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 1: make the playoffs? The answer is yes, I believe again 216 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: if they finished undefeated. Uh, Frankly, we were always hoping 217 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: in our conference that a one lost team would be 218 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 1: seriously considered if it were worthy. But we understand the realities. 219 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: But if they finished undefeated, do I think they should 220 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: be in the playoff? Absolutely? Do um. I've decided, you 221 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: know the way a few weeks and no one asked 222 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: me to do this, to just take a lower key approach. 223 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: And I've made my points, as you know, pretty pretty 224 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:10,559 Speaker 1: vociferously over the last several years, at about the playoff 225 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 1: and how you know, the committee views teams from the 226 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: so called G five. And by the way, we hate 227 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: that label. We think that label is very destructive and 228 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: you know, talking about the business of sports, we think 229 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: that's affected, you know, everything we do. We we've had 230 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: outstanding teams, We've been very competitive. Should Cincinnati go undefeated 231 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: and not make the playoffs, this would mean we will 232 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: have had four undefeated teams and one one lost team 233 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: that was very worthy in the two thousand fifteen Houston 234 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: team who didn't make the playoff. And you know, that 235 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: to me is you know, an unfortunate situation. Now, it 236 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: could it be remedied down the road with an expanded playoff, sure, 237 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: but the key for us, Scarlett is to get rid 238 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: of the G five label. Access to the playoff is 239 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 1: one thing, but getting rid of the G five label. Uh, 240 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 1: you know, this notion that we somehow play junior college 241 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: football that we don't play the real, the real deal. 242 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: For instance, Uh, Cincinnati had a close game with Tulsa. Well. Uh, 243 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: the fans understand that Tulsa almost beat Oklahoma State this 244 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: year at Oklahoma State almost beat him last year as 245 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: well at Oklahoma State. Uh, they had the game you know, 246 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: in hand and should have won. Uh. In addition, they 247 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: went to Ohio State this year and it was a 248 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: seven point game with roughly four minutes left. You know, 249 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: Tulsa is not an easy team to play, and and 250 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: yet uh, the expectation was that Cincinnati would win, that 251 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: somehow win that game fifty to nothing. That's just not reality. 252 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: And so you know, it's things like that. But when 253 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: i've I'd like to take a you know, a lower 254 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: key approach. Right now, let's see how this plays out. 255 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: Cincinnati right now is ranked five. Um, you know, I 256 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: I think again, teams that have lost games ahead of them, 257 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: I'd like to see Cincinnati ranked ahead of them. But 258 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: that's the reality. I do respect the committee. I've never 259 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: used in flamm the Tory language. I've never made it personal. 260 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:08,439 Speaker 1: I just point out nuance. I point out different aspects. Uh. 261 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: You know again, I can go through a lot of 262 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: different examples. I won't do on on this podcast because 263 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: I really think at this point i'd rather, you know, 264 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: rather let let things play out. You know, We've got 265 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: some key games coming up. Cincinnati has a very tough 266 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: game with a really dangerous SMU team. Uh, really dangerous 267 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: offense and pretty good defense. Uh. You know. And and 268 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: they beat TCU at TCU game three fifty yards on 269 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,439 Speaker 1: the ground, pretty impressive performance. That will be a tough game. 270 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: In addition, ECU East Carolinas has come on under Mike Houston, 271 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: as we knew they would. They're dangerous team. And that 272 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: game is at at East CU. Uh. If if Sincinnati 273 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: gets by s m U and then they if they 274 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: win those they would have to play a really resurgent 275 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: Houston team. Uh. Dana Holderson has done a fine job. 276 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: They've won nine straight. They're very good team. They finally 277 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,719 Speaker 1: got ranked. They would have to play them in the 278 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: championship games. So that's probably as tough up at three 279 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: games as as most teams in the country. You know, 280 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 1: we'll have, so we'll see what happens. Uh. I've made 281 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: my points. You you've all heard them about you know, 282 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: what the committee should be looking at, what it shouldn't 283 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: be looking at. But I think right now, let's let's 284 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: just see how it plays out and uh, we'll have 285 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: more to say as as we get towards the end 286 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: of the season. Yeah, Mike, it's just unbelievable that, um, 287 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: you know, since he could be that they're eligibility could 288 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: come down to the SEC championship game in the margin 289 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: of victory between how and Georgia. It's just unbelievable. But 290 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, taking your point on the G 291 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: five P five differentials and all that goes with that. 292 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: You know, there's this new concept of the alliance that's 293 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: kind of thrown a lot of this into array, right 294 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: this whole um, the PAC ten, the Big ten um, 295 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: and the a SEC kind of you know trying to 296 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: you know, form this alliance and have more games between 297 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: each other. I mean, what are your thoughts on that 298 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: and how does that impact some of the you know, 299 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: progress that you've made towards a twelve team college football playoffs. Yeah, 300 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: I'm not sure yet. How it's it's all going to 301 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: UH play out. We Uh, this alliance is a loose federation. 302 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: We're not really necessarily sure what it means. UH scheduling, Well, 303 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: you can do that without an alliance. You know, you 304 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: can schedule big games with among conferences. We don't think 305 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: it's going to have too much impact on us relative 306 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: to UH scheduling and whom we play. We think that 307 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: we'll still play a CC teams will still play uh, 308 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: you know, big ten teams. We don't play the Pack 309 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: twelve very much. We have a six three record against 310 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: the Pack twelve. Incidentally, we played them nine times you 311 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: know in our you know history as a as a 312 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: reinvented American Athletic conference. Uh in the last time Stanford 313 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: went to UCF and UCF let thirty eight seven and 314 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: a half. Uh. So we you know, we don't play 315 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 1: them quite as much. The bigger issue is, you know 316 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: that that alliance group had favored an eight team playoff. 317 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: Obviously it's it's eight versus the twelve team concept, which 318 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: the as you know, the working group that was set 319 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: up as part of the College Football Playoff Committee system 320 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: recommended twelve teams six and six. We obviously favor the 321 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: six six concept. We think the top six conferences without uh, 322 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: without favor, without privilege, without uh, you know, is a 323 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: merit based program that that frankly is fair and rewards success. 324 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: You can't. You have to earn your spot. You don't 325 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: just get it by virtue of your branding, virtue of 326 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: being in a particular conference. We like that. We think 327 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 1: it's a great system. We're talking internally to our colleagues 328 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: about that. We hope that ultimately that's the system that prevails. 329 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: We think it's a good, good plan. There was some 330 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 1: concern about health and safety, you know, the possibility that 331 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: somebody could play a seventeenth game. There is a possibility. 332 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: It's probably unlikely. We think that, you know, the minute 333 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: you say that, of course it happens, but it's it's 334 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 1: probably very unlikely. Uh. And if it did happen, I 335 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: think people would adjust their their pack the schedules and uh, Mike, 336 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: you you played football, you know, at a high level. 337 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: I played in high school. Uh, you know, you adjust 338 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: your schedules. And our kids would would crawl over glass 339 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:13,959 Speaker 1: to be able to play in a championship game if 340 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,919 Speaker 1: they ever got that opportunity. On that seventeenth game. It 341 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: would be again I think unusual. I do think that 342 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: people are are coming to the conclusion that you know, 343 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: the health and safety issues will be will be dealt with. 344 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 1: We talked about possibly, uh, you know, having the first 345 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 1: round of the playoffs be two weeks after the championship 346 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: game to give teams arrest to spread out the you know, 347 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 1: the season. Uh down the road, I think you have 348 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,479 Speaker 1: to take an overall look at college football and how 349 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: you schedule the entire season. Uh do you move the 350 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 1: season earlier and give everyone two buys during the season. Now, 351 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 1: the problem with that, of course, is that means training 352 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: camp opens earlier, and that causes issues in the summer 353 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: with with not only summer school, but with you know, 354 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,239 Speaker 1: time off and coaches usually the only time if they 355 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: really get is before training camp. So you know, there's 356 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: one problem. Always is just solve that. It leads to another. 357 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: That's always the case, and they have to make trade 358 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: of us. It's that simple, you know, you just have 359 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: to deal with it. Uh So Anyway, I think in 360 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: the end it's a good plan. We like it, We 361 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: support it. Uh. We think it it not only provides 362 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 1: access one of the biggest issues for us is it 363 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: gets rid of that G five label, which we think 364 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: has been so harmful and has really caused us all 365 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: sorts of problems. Uh, you know, we don't play junior 366 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: college football. You know, our our football is very good. 367 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: We've had multiple teams in the top twenty five over 368 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 1: the years. We've had teams in the top ten almost 369 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: every year we've won. Uh. You know, obviously the Big 370 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: Bowl games had Cincinnati. Uh you know, they had a 371 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: third and two with very little time left against Georgia, 372 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 1: and had they they threw a pass. But had they 373 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: made that and then won the game and they outplayed 374 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: Georgia that whole game, we would have had four wins 375 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: and six years in the Big Bowl games. You know, 376 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: we have really good teams. Our top teams can play 377 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: with anyone. Smells On as a perfect example, he coached 378 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: at Auburn when U c F beat Auburn and the 379 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 1: Peach Bowl. That Auburn team had beaten both Georgia and Alabama, 380 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: and Gus says that team could have played with anyone 381 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: in the country. And I'm convinced it could have beaten 382 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: anyone in the country. It's got a ton of players 383 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 1: in the NFL now from that team. In addition, the 384 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 1: U c F team the following year and until Mackenzie 385 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: Milton got hurt. Uh, you know, the the Houston team 386 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: in fifteen which beat Florida State by two touchdowns in 387 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: the Peach Bowl. Florida State was in the top ten 388 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 1: at the time. Jim both Fisher was a coach. Uh. 389 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 1: You know Cincinnati's team last year which took Georgia to 390 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 1: the limit, should have won the game. Uh. And then 391 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,959 Speaker 1: this year, another outstanding Cincinnati team, which by the way, 392 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: did something pretty remarkable. They went to Notre Dame and 393 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: they ended Notre Dame's twenties six game home winning street. 394 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,360 Speaker 1: When we think about that twenty six home wins, that's 395 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 1: pretty impressive. It's a hard place to win at. And 396 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 1: Cincinnati not only one. They dominated the game. So we 397 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 1: we think, again, we play really good football. The question 398 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: now becomes what kind of playoff system going forward? We'd 399 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 1: like to get rid of the G five label. Let's 400 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: make it all FBS. That's the fareer system now. Uh. 401 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: Some FBS conferences are are probably created more equal than others. 402 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: You know, let's face it, there's some that have more 403 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 1: resources some that typically have outstanding teams. Well, that's fine 404 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 1: if you've earned it. I have no issue with that 405 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 1: at all. You know, we're not going to be the 406 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 1: Big ten or the SEC. We understand that. But we've 407 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: been competitive with the other conferences pretty much regularly, and 408 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: some years we're competitive with the Big ten in the SEC. 409 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,160 Speaker 1: So all we're looking for is opportunity. And I think 410 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: it's really important because you know how important branding, as 411 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 1: we all do, Branding is critical, you know, uh, and 412 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 1: and something that we have to be Uh. It's a 413 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: larger issue than simply access to a playoff, Mike. I 414 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 1: would think that the expansion to a twelve team playoff 415 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: would benefit your conference and other conferences as well. Notice 416 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: how I didn't use that moniker that you want to 417 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 1: get rid of, um, But I look, I look right 418 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 1: at the n C Double A basketball tournament when it expanded. 419 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,199 Speaker 1: It gave teams like Butler a chance to reach the 420 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: final four. Loyal or Chicago George Mason when you were 421 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,199 Speaker 1: restricted with the thirty two team was basically what you 422 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 1: have now in college Football League champions and just somebody 423 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: the A C C teams and then and the pen 424 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: the Pact twelve teams. But I think this would give 425 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: your conference and other conferences an opportunity a twelve team playoff, Mike, 426 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: it would. And and it's interesting, as you know, Cinderella's 427 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: have not been uh typical in college football. It's a 428 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: different sport. One a very famous basketball coach once said. 429 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 1: I heard him say it. Uh, you know, Uh, with 430 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: two good guards, I can I can get to the 431 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: final four. But football's a corporation, you know. And uh, 432 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: and it is you know, it's it's it's it's different. 433 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 1: But but could there be Cinderella stories in football? Absolutely? Uh, 434 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 1: look at look at us the last several years. Now. 435 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 1: I don't really think we're in that category anymore because 436 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: we're just pretty good. Our conference is very good. But 437 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 1: look at Coastal Carolina this past, you know, a year ago, 438 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 1: look at some of the other our teams, look at 439 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: some of those boisy teams from the old days. Uh, 440 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: it can happen, but it hasn't been allowed to happen. 441 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 1: And I think it would be good. It would be 442 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 1: refreshing for the sport. I think we've seen ratings struggle now. 443 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: COVID was a uh, you know, definite factor last year 444 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: in ratings. But I think there's less interest when the 445 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 1: same teams, the same teams, the same teams continue to 446 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: be you know, in the playoffs. And I think the tournament, 447 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: as the basketball tournament, has tremendous charm because of that, 448 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:29,640 Speaker 1: the early rounds, all the upsets now go in basketball 449 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: is a different sport. We all understand that. But this 450 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,400 Speaker 1: this system, if you had a six six system, uh, 451 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,880 Speaker 1: if a team didn't make it, it probably didn't necessarily 452 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: deserve to be there. You know, this gives you six 453 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: at largest, which is you know, uh roughly, you know, 454 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 1: obviously you have six automatics because and we hope the 455 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: plan that utimately has adopted is the one proposed by 456 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:56,919 Speaker 1: the working group, which is the top six conference champions period, 457 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: whoever the committee ranks. And as you know, the committee 458 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 1: has tended to, you know, to really emphasize strength of schedule. 459 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 1: That's helped the P five to some degree. Although I 460 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: think our strength of schedule has been underestimated for a 461 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: number of years. But be that as it may, you know, 462 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 1: it's a good system. The system in the n c 463 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: a A is thirty two conferences, all thirty two Division 464 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: one conferences, get an automatic bid and then you have 465 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: thirty six at large. Is well, this is very similar 466 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 1: you know six and six. It's it's rough, you know, 467 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: it's very similar to the to the roughly half that 468 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: you have in the n c A A. And it 469 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: provides more access. And the main thing is it doesn't 470 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: differentiate anymore between you know, the so called P five 471 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 1: and G five. Now the media may still use that, 472 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: I hope eventually though it would go away if it 473 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: were just ten FPS conferences competing for uh, you know, 474 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: for those slots. I mean, the Sun Belts had some 475 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 1: pretty good teams. You know, we've dominated you know, the 476 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: so called G five the last you know eight years 477 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: or so nine years if you go back to thirt 478 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: team which wasn't playoff, didn't start the four team we 479 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: had you know, you c f back in thirteen that 480 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: won the Fiesta Bowl be a Baylor team that was 481 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: in the top five in the country. So we we've 482 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 1: been there and we've we've you know, we've made our mark, 483 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 1: but some of these other conferences could do it as well. 484 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:15,959 Speaker 1: And the last thing I'll mention is things change, you know, 485 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,959 Speaker 1: nothing stays the same. There's been realignment already. You know, 486 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: it's it's changed our conference. I think we're gonna be 487 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 1: fine going forward. Big twelve though, has lost Oklahoma, Texas 488 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: not the same conference. Do you just lock in things 489 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: that that frankly could change over the years. I mean, 490 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: you've got to be careful about that, and change is constant, 491 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 1: and uh, I think it's important to recognize that, Mike, 492 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: we had started to talk about conference realignment obviously a 493 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: huge topic among the n C Double A ever since 494 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:49,880 Speaker 1: the original Big East collapsed. Now we know that losing Houston, 495 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: UCF and Cincinnati a big hit for the a C. 496 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 1: What have you done to stabilize the a C and 497 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 1: more importantly, what's the plan for the future. You know, 498 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: we recognize the fact that conference realignment is has been 499 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: effective life for decades, literally decades, going back thirty forty years, 500 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,439 Speaker 1: and even even prior to that, you know, you've had movement. 501 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: These are voluntary organizations. If you pay your exit fee 502 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 1: and you stay a particularly amount of time, you can leave, 503 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: and teams tend to leave for what they perceive as 504 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 1: greener pastures. UH, Texas and Oklahoma leaving for the SEC 505 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: that that created a domino effect that's typically what happens 506 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 1: usually conference realignment plays when these these uh spasms occur, 507 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: when these you know, earthquakes occur, things play out there aftershocks, 508 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 1: and they play out over a period of maybe a 509 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: year even two. That's what happened back in two thousand 510 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 1: and ten all the way through two thousand twelve, which 511 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,680 Speaker 1: definitely affected the Big East. I was commissioner at the time, 512 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:48,880 Speaker 1: so I've been through this before. This isn't my first 513 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: realignment rodeo, unfortunately, and I've been on both sides of it, 514 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,399 Speaker 1: and neither either side of it is pleasant. But you know, 515 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:58,959 Speaker 1: you know, you'll make a long story short here. We 516 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: we basically have instituted and we can talk about that 517 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 1: if you'd like, but we reconstituted with six we think 518 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: really good teams that have tremendous potential and some have 519 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: already realized. You know, some of that teams like you A, 520 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: B U, T. S. A. Is in the top uh 521 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: right now. Uh. We've got teams that are in big 522 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: markets that fit our philosophy. So we think that although 523 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: we're losing three very good schools, the incumbent schools and 524 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,359 Speaker 1: in our conference have been very competitive with those the 525 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 1: schools that are leaving. These aren't dynasties that are leaving. 526 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: We've we've had tremendous success against those schools and they've 527 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: been great for us to um you know, we feel 528 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 1: that ultimately we help them by being a conference that 529 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: has a great TV deal and great TV exposure. We 530 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: helped them build their brands, but they helped us to 531 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: develop into a great conference. And I have no animosity 532 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: towards them and leaving. You know, you cannot take this personally. 533 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 1: It's not a personal thing. Well, Mike, you know, I 534 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: mean my question for you is this, I mean, with 535 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:55,879 Speaker 1: the six new teams that are coming in, obviously, you know, 536 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: it changes the town pole that the that the American 537 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: is going to basically be leaning on, right, And so 538 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 1: for my question, you've been able to despite all of 539 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: the turnover you know, in the a C since you know, 540 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 1: since it's really been formed, you know, players like Antonio Gibson, 541 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: Quentin Grimes, you know, I mean, you've still been able 542 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,120 Speaker 1: to generate you know, elite performers at the next level. 543 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: And so, you know, my question for you is how 544 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: does that you know, that talent pool that you're kind 545 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 1: of you know, you know, accessing change and how do 546 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:23,960 Speaker 1: you see that kind of evolving over the future. Well, 547 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 1: it's really going to be a factor of whether the 548 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: team's coming in, you know, can can elevate their their game. Uh, 549 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 1: by virtue of the tremendous exposure we received from ESPN UM. 550 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 1: We have a great TV deal that helped build our brand. 551 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: You know, we get ABC appearances. Memphis when they went 552 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:44,720 Speaker 1: to the Cotton Bowl appeared four times on ABC during 553 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: that season back in nineteen You know, you CEF built 554 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: its brand with all those great national appearances. Four times 555 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:52,640 Speaker 1: game Day has come to our campus. And think about 556 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: that four times. If you had told me in two 557 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 1: thousand thirteen, when we were reconstituting that uh uh five 558 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: years later or so, Memphis and uh, you know SMU 559 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 1: would play on national TV on ABC at night and 560 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: Game Day would be in Memphis, you would have said, 561 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 1: you know, what is this guy doing here? You know? Uh. 562 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: The point is, it did happen, and I think it 563 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: will happen again. We have brought in some really good 564 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 1: teams now, we have had elite performer performers all along 565 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: the way. I don't think that will necessarily change. One 566 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:29,640 Speaker 1: one issue, though, is the transfer portal and the and 567 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 1: the elimination of the ear and residency for transfers. That's 568 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: going to have an impact on everyone. I don't know 569 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: how many players, you know, will lose as a result. 570 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: I don't know how many players will gain as a result. 571 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: SMU has built its team through better recruiting, but also 572 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: through uh transfers because being in Dallas, you know, they 573 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: get a lot of players who played in the area 574 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: and then want to come home at some point, whether 575 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 1: as grad transfers or as regular transfers. We typically concentrate 576 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: on teams in big markets who where there's also a 577 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 1: real passion for football, which drives this. But we also 578 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: want to be good in basketball, you know, we really do, 579 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 1: and I think we will be. Uh that's another factor, 580 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: but I think I think we'll we'll get you know, 581 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: we'll still get great talent coming to our our schools 582 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 1: and UH, I'm pleased that the teams that are coming 583 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 1: in have made real investments and they're serious. If you 584 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: don't make an investment, you're not going to get there. 585 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: And we think that that's a hallmark of of what 586 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 1: this conference has has been about. Mike, just for the 587 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 1: fans out there that are uninitiated. That's a four team playoff. 588 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 1: They met in Dallas last week and they're considering expanding 589 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: to eight and possibly twelve. Can you just tell everybody 590 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: how this thing works and how it plays out. They 591 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: need a unanimous consent, is that right? Well, you need 592 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:47,080 Speaker 1: unanimous consent to expand within the current term, which ends 593 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: after the twenty five season. So if you in the 594 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 1: earliest you can do it, Mike is twenty four, So 595 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 1: to expand the playoff in twenty four and you would 596 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: need unanimous consent. Beyond that, I'm not sure what the 597 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: process is going to be. If you know, when we 598 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: negotiate a new deal, are you Are you on that committee? Mike? Yes, 599 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: All ten FBS commissioners are on the committee. Uh. And 600 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,200 Speaker 1: Jack squar Brick from Notre Dame also is a voting member. 601 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: And we also have a board of managers are presidents 602 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: who will ultimately have the final say each school, each conference. 603 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 1: Rather that's on that committee. Each tent, each of the 604 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: tent has a president on the board and also Notre 605 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: Dames president. So that's that's the governing structure. And Uh, again, 606 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: you need the unanimity during the current term. If you 607 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: want to change things beyond that, I'm not sure, Mike. 608 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 1: I want to get from you a sense of how 609 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: N I L will help the a C, your conference, 610 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 1: and what you've seen so far in terms of impact. 611 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: You know, it's hard to judge engage the impact so far, Scarlett, 612 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: it's um, you know, we're in the incipient stages. Obviously, 613 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: there have been deals done. I guess there's been plenty 614 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:05,680 Speaker 1: of them, but I don't know what impact they've had yet. Uh. 615 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: We we ultimately favored uh, you know, loosening the restrictions 616 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 1: and and uh allowing you know, essentially student athletes to 617 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: capitalize on their name, image and likeness. But you know, 618 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: it's a double edged sword. It's it creates some unintended consequences. 619 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: You know, it's not supposed to affect recruiting, right, it's 620 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 1: not supposed to be used as a recruiting tool. But 621 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: it's really hard to imagine that that it won't be, 622 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,600 Speaker 1: you know, or hasn't been already. You know, when you 623 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:38,320 Speaker 1: know the the Alabama quarterback hasn't played it down gets 624 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 1: endorsement deals of almost a million dollars. Well, is that 625 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:46,160 Speaker 1: you know has had a recruiting issue. You know, a 626 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:49,479 Speaker 1: donor at b y U, I guess a business person, 627 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: uh decided to give every b YU walk on the 628 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 1: equivalent amount of money as as to a scholarship. Well, 629 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 1: does that violate our five scholarship restrictions? That's that's an important, 630 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: uh deal because you know, we thought that the scholarship 631 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: limits have made college football much more competitive than it 632 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: was decades ago, and it's really created a tremendous amount 633 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:17,360 Speaker 1: of interest in college football. And all of a sudden, 634 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:19,120 Speaker 1: you know, if you do something like that now, the 635 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 1: n c A A, as you know, based on that 636 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 1: recent court case, has really been kind of shying away 637 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:25,240 Speaker 1: from a lot of these issues. So the n c 638 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 1: A doesn't have the same impact. So n I L 639 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,000 Speaker 1: could be. We're gonna have to monitor it pretty carefully. 640 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 1: You can't roll back the ocean. I mean, I think 641 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 1: student athletes will benefit. I think there are certain things 642 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 1: they should have been able to do before that probably 643 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 1: would have, you know, forestalled where we've gotten to. I 644 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 1: think we could have probably loosened the rules ago in 645 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:46,960 Speaker 1: some ways. But that's you know, that's always the case. 646 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 1: You know, you can always say that, Come on, Mike, 647 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:51,880 Speaker 1: what's not to like about Georgia Tech football is wearing 648 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:54,760 Speaker 1: Tevo branded pajamas. But no, I mean from my from 649 00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:56,560 Speaker 1: my perspective. You know, the question is this, if you 650 00:32:56,600 --> 00:33:00,360 Speaker 1: look back at the at the inception of the see 651 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 1: you know, it was really driven by you know, the 652 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: economy between basketball and football and the amount of money 653 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: you know that was you know, TV rights and all 654 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 1: that goes hand in hand with that. And you know 655 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:12,400 Speaker 1: now that we have n I L you know, individual likeness, 656 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 1: all of that stuff. Wouldn't you think that maybe favors 657 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 1: a pivot back toward the basketball player as opposed to 658 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: the football player from a branding perspective, And how did 659 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:25,040 Speaker 1: that change the conference? And you know your focus going forward? Well, 660 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:29,640 Speaker 1: you know they mean they're also shifts focus to Olympic 661 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 1: sports too, and especially women's sports. You have some outstanding 662 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:36,960 Speaker 1: women gymnasts, you have standing women's basketball players who obviously 663 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,680 Speaker 1: are probably they may have more Twitter followers and may 664 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:44,640 Speaker 1: have more social media followers than a lot of the men. 665 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 1: So you know, it's it's a gender equity to this 666 00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: issue too. It helps women, you know, uh, you know 667 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 1: obviously uh capitalize on on what they've done. And I 668 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: think that's all good. Uh, And and Olympic sports that 669 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 1: don't get as much attention at bass it well, sure, 670 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 1: you know, you'll you'll see you know, some high profile 671 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:06,959 Speaker 1: basketball players and you have you know, the rosters are smaller, 672 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:10,680 Speaker 1: so therefore there's more attention. But you know, football's you know, 673 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:14,080 Speaker 1: the sport that drives everything, and it it drives the money, 674 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:17,759 Speaker 1: it drives realignment, it drives the TV deals, and so 675 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:20,280 Speaker 1: there'll be a lot of focus on the football stars 676 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:25,080 Speaker 1: who are getting the endorsement deals. And the real issue is, okay, 677 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:27,799 Speaker 1: can can it be controlled to the point where it's 678 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 1: just not being It's not just a way to pay players, 679 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:32,840 Speaker 1: it's not a way to just you know, buy players 680 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: and essentially recruit players by virtue of what you know, 681 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:39,920 Speaker 1: the local business can offer them. Uh. That's really going 682 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:41,879 Speaker 1: to be the issue. And I don't know where it's 683 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: going to go. Nobody knows at this point. I think 684 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:46,560 Speaker 1: we're to some degree in the wild West, and we're 685 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:49,880 Speaker 1: trying to look for some the term is guardrails on 686 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 1: the trail of that term, But the point is we're 687 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 1: looking for some kind of limitations that it don't hurt 688 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:59,000 Speaker 1: our student athletes ability to monetize certain things, but you've 689 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:01,360 Speaker 1: gotta be careful to because our fans gonna get turned 690 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 1: off if they see that. You know, there's there's less 691 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 1: emphasis on the play on the field, on on the 692 00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: name on the front of the jersey, that it's just 693 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:12,080 Speaker 1: all about the money. I hope it doesn't come to that, 694 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 1: and I think that's what you have to worry about. Uh. 695 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:16,520 Speaker 1: And I don't like this. I don't want to see 696 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:20,720 Speaker 1: our student athletes become employees. I just think that's, uh, 697 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:22,879 Speaker 1: that's not what college sports is about. I'm not sure 698 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:26,319 Speaker 1: fans would would embrace that. But then again, I don't know. 699 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:28,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm not willing to make any any predictions. 700 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:30,200 Speaker 1: I'm not a prophet, and I don't know how this 701 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: is all going to play out. So far, it's had very, 702 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:34,759 Speaker 1: you know, I think, minimal effect on how people are 703 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:37,000 Speaker 1: viewing the teams and how they view college sports. But 704 00:35:37,120 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 1: down the road that could change, especially if you get 705 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:42,080 Speaker 1: into squabbles about money and other things that maybe a 706 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:44,000 Speaker 1: lot of fans would find distasteful. So we're just not 707 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:46,640 Speaker 1: sure where worth's going yet. So, Michael, let me ask 708 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 1: you about the name, image and likeness internally, can it 709 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:52,239 Speaker 1: be a force that can divide a locker room? You know, 710 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:56,600 Speaker 1: Johnny from gets a brand new car from Fred's Car 711 00:35:56,640 --> 00:36:01,320 Speaker 1: dealership and the the rest of the team has uh, you know, cameos. 712 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:04,200 Speaker 1: You know, Mike, I think you probably could discuss that 713 00:36:04,239 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 1: more intelligently than I could, because you've been there. You've 714 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:09,600 Speaker 1: been in that locker room. Uh. You know, I was 715 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:12,000 Speaker 1: in a high school locker room, and that's a little different. Uh. 716 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:14,520 Speaker 1: But even if this is filtering down to the high schools, 717 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:16,759 Speaker 1: you know, and you know, some people might find that 718 00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:20,160 Speaker 1: very disconcerting. You know, certainly it's a real concern kids 719 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 1: giving up their senior year of high school in order 720 00:36:22,239 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 1: to monetize you know, their their performances. I mean, those 721 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,120 Speaker 1: years can never be recaptured, and those kids going to 722 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 1: regret that, uh, you know, not being you know, able 723 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:34,920 Speaker 1: to have some of those experiences down the road just 724 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:38,319 Speaker 1: to get a few bucks. I hope that isn't isn't 725 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 1: is an issue. But yeah, in terms of the locker room, sure, 726 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:42,840 Speaker 1: we don't know yet. I mean we don't know what 727 00:36:43,120 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 1: about performance. What if somebody's performances is you know, is 728 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:50,120 Speaker 1: slackening off, and and uh, people feel that maybe you 729 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:53,359 Speaker 1: know that particular player has been spending too much time 730 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:55,719 Speaker 1: doing endorsements, or too much time doing this or that, 731 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:58,239 Speaker 1: or you know, like you said, other guys don't have 732 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:01,960 Speaker 1: the endorsements that some have, and is there a built 733 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:04,840 Speaker 1: in resembment. We don't know. There's just no way to 734 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:08,200 Speaker 1: know yet how that's going to affect locker rooms, and 735 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:10,560 Speaker 1: we'll just have to wait and see. So far, it 736 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:12,400 Speaker 1: seems to be the kids are all pulling together, and 737 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:15,520 Speaker 1: if somebody gets a nice endorsement, everybody seems happy for 738 00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:18,359 Speaker 1: him or her. So we'll see what happens. Lynchy, if 739 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:20,480 Speaker 1: they had an ill back in your day, how much 740 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:22,120 Speaker 1: do you think you could have made off that that 741 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:26,880 Speaker 1: one kick? You know? I uh, I didn't do a 742 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:28,920 Speaker 1: home on the team bus. I went home in the 743 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:31,040 Speaker 1: back seat of a friend of mine, was the hockey captain. 744 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:34,000 Speaker 1: And we pull up to the mass Turnpike to to 745 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:36,880 Speaker 1: pay the forty cent toll, and they said, I was 746 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:41,000 Speaker 1: sitting in the back seat and the guy waved the tolls. 747 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:45,399 Speaker 1: You know, that just shows where inflation is taken. Yeah, 748 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:50,319 Speaker 1: that toll now ten dollars. It probably is. It probably is. Mike, 749 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:52,960 Speaker 1: all right, good stuff, Mike, we want to thank you 750 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:56,040 Speaker 1: for your time today. Mike Rusco is the commissioner of 751 00:37:56,080 --> 00:38:00,360 Speaker 1: the American Athletic Conference the a C. Scarlett, You and 752 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:03,200 Speaker 1: Mike and Damien really enjoyed being with you and happy 753 00:38:03,239 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 1: to do it again. Sometimes Mike A Rusco there with 754 00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:08,080 Speaker 1: the A C, and I have to confess that, um, 755 00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 1: sometimes it throws me for a loop a A C 756 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:12,480 Speaker 1: versus A C C. But then I remember that he 757 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:14,879 Speaker 1: used to head up the Big East and you've got 758 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:17,440 Speaker 1: all these different names. The A C to me, doesn't 759 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:20,799 Speaker 1: really tell you what kinds of schools are in the conference, 760 00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:24,160 Speaker 1: which makes the whole conference realignment discussion all the more 761 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:29,080 Speaker 1: interesting that it's not immediately recognizable which schools are where 762 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:31,399 Speaker 1: and how they all come together. That's a great point. 763 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:33,600 Speaker 1: I mean nine different states, and now with the three 764 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:35,799 Speaker 1: teams that are gonna be leaving that conference, Scarlett, I mean, 765 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:37,759 Speaker 1: it's gonna it's gonna stay at nine states, but you're 766 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:40,040 Speaker 1: swapping Ohio for Alabama, right, So, I mean there's a 767 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:42,240 Speaker 1: lot of bit of transition. What's what's really interesting about 768 00:38:42,239 --> 00:38:45,120 Speaker 1: the location, or shall I say the regional diversity of 769 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:47,359 Speaker 1: the league is with n I L you know that's 770 00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:49,200 Speaker 1: going to hit first at the state level, not at 771 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:51,440 Speaker 1: the national level. There's gonna be like a federal policy 772 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:54,480 Speaker 1: that this basically lays down the foundation for what n 773 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:56,759 Speaker 1: I L is. So now you know Mike has to 774 00:38:56,800 --> 00:39:01,279 Speaker 1: deal with nine different states, nine different bodies regulation. I mean, 775 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:03,520 Speaker 1: it's a lot to manage, a lot to unpeel there. 776 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:06,279 Speaker 1: I would think, you know, I feel bad his league 777 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:08,600 Speaker 1: is sort of like the Rodney Danger Field of of 778 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:11,000 Speaker 1: of the n C Double A Athletics. I mean, they've 779 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:14,360 Speaker 1: had teams that are deserving to get for serious consideration 780 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:16,360 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, like the University of Central Florida and 781 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:19,720 Speaker 1: this year Cincinnati. But as long as it remains at four, 782 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:22,520 Speaker 1: the Committee's gonna go where the where the money is, 783 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:25,080 Speaker 1: and the money is with the Southeastern Conference teams and 784 00:39:25,160 --> 00:39:28,680 Speaker 1: the big the Big Ten teams and the a c 785 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:32,440 Speaker 1: C teams, and until they open it up, teams like 786 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:35,680 Speaker 1: Cincinnati and University of Central Florida, I'm going to have 787 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:39,640 Speaker 1: the opportunities. Monro will be pigs. I'm not in German 788 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:41,480 Speaker 1: and the kids. It feels better to be number one 789 00:39:41,520 --> 00:39:43,560 Speaker 1: than number five. Were a number Because of Mike, we 790 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:45,040 Speaker 1: have a chance to go for three in a row. 791 00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:47,040 Speaker 1: Good numbers are a good time. When I first started 792 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:49,680 Speaker 1: wearing the number, how would just have been proud Bloomberg 793 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:54,040 Speaker 1: Business of Sports, the number of the week. Okay, let's 794 00:39:54,080 --> 00:39:56,160 Speaker 1: turn to our number of the week. Michael Barr is 795 00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:58,480 Speaker 1: not with us today. He will be back later, but 796 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:03,000 Speaker 1: I get to fill his slot, So yeah, that means 797 00:40:03,239 --> 00:40:08,520 Speaker 1: I won't lose. Um. Let's stay with football because back 798 00:40:08,560 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy four, the NFL introduced a rule that 799 00:40:11,719 --> 00:40:14,560 Speaker 1: called for a single period sudden death overtime for all 800 00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:17,600 Speaker 1: games that had ended in a tie. So before this 801 00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:20,720 Speaker 1: rule came into effect, a total of two hundred fifty 802 00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:24,760 Speaker 1: eight regulation ties actually occurred from nineteen twenty to nineteen 803 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:27,200 Speaker 1: seventy three. Bars not here, so we're gonna give a 804 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:30,399 Speaker 1: shout out to Bar. Last weekend, Michael Barr's own eight 805 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 1: Lions tied the five and three Steelers. The question is, 806 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:38,200 Speaker 1: since nineteen seventy four, when this rule came into effect, 807 00:40:38,440 --> 00:40:41,799 Speaker 1: how many NFL games have ended in a tie. Let's 808 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:43,920 Speaker 1: just talk about that Steelers Lirons game. I mean nobody 809 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:45,879 Speaker 1: wanted to win it, huh. I mean I just kept 810 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:48,319 Speaker 1: going on and on. But my guest to that. All right, 811 00:40:48,320 --> 00:40:51,960 Speaker 1: how many ties since nineteen seventy four? I don't know 812 00:40:52,440 --> 00:40:58,439 Speaker 1: five maybe? Is that your final guests? Yeah, Lynch, Well, 813 00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:01,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to uh, I'm going to just try to 814 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:04,640 Speaker 1: weaseling on the prices right here. I'm gonna go one above, 815 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:08,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go six. Okay, twenty six for Lynch and 816 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:12,400 Speaker 1: five for Damien. Once again, Lynchy wins because he answers, 817 00:41:13,360 --> 00:41:16,680 Speaker 1: how do you do this? He's cheating. Damien made the 818 00:41:16,760 --> 00:41:20,560 Speaker 1: mistake of going first. Yes, yes, actually, Damien, I wasn't 819 00:41:20,560 --> 00:41:22,320 Speaker 1: going to tell you my trick, which is you always 820 00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:24,719 Speaker 1: always let Lynch you go first. Okay, Well we're the one. 821 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:26,520 Speaker 1: The one interesting thing about it all is if you 822 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:29,200 Speaker 1: count all those ties before nineteen seventy four, I mean, Lynch, 823 00:41:29,239 --> 00:41:30,840 Speaker 1: she since you're pretty good at this. What team is 824 00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:33,279 Speaker 1: that who has the most ties in NFL history going 825 00:41:33,320 --> 00:41:35,160 Speaker 1: back to the beginning of time. Well, I'm gonna go 826 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:38,160 Speaker 1: with have to be the Chicago got it? You got it? 827 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:42,200 Speaker 1: Well done, well done, Lynch. Well, I just think of 828 00:41:42,239 --> 00:41:46,719 Speaker 1: what teams went around the longest process of elimination works. Well, 829 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:50,720 Speaker 1: here this is the Bloomberg Businesses Sports Show. I'm Scarlet 830 00:41:50,880 --> 00:41:53,800 Speaker 1: Foo on Twitter at Scarlet Food and I'm Damien sass 831 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:56,319 Speaker 1: Are on Twitter at d sass Hour and I'm Mike Lynch. 832 00:41:56,360 --> 00:41:59,040 Speaker 1: You can follow me at Lynch WCVB and tune in 833 00:41:59,120 --> 00:42:00,920 Speaker 1: again next week for the latest on the story is 834 00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:03,520 Speaker 1: moving big money in the world of sports. You're listening 835 00:42:03,560 --> 00:42:06,759 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world. 836 00:42:09,160 --> 00:42:09,200 Speaker 1: M