1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,279 Speaker 1: Welcome to a special edition of the Dave Pash Podcast. 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: We branch way out, way beyond the Arizona Cardinals and 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: the National Football League. Today, our guests the commissioner of 4 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: the PAC twelve Conference, George Kleiovko. The hot button issue 5 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: right now in college sports is the College Football Playoff 6 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: expansion model of twelve teams, which recently fell through. Where 7 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: was the PAC twelve in all of this? What were 8 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: Georgia's thoughts on what went down inside that room when 9 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: they voted against the model, and what are his thoughts 10 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: on where the PAC twelve is with regard to scheduling 11 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: college football games, trying to be more of a player 12 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: with television and getting an audience beyond the West Coast. 13 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: I would like for our best teams, particularly late in 14 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: the season, if they put themselves in a position for 15 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: a CFP invitation or for a Heisman Trophy vote, to 16 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: be able to highlight them earlier in the day as 17 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: a post to playing in the nighttime West Coast game. 18 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: Also the nil name, image and likeness. How is that 19 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: shaping the future of college sports? George is very familiar 20 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: with all of this, even though he's in month number 21 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: nine as the commissioner of the conference. He was the 22 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: president of Entertainment in Sports for MGM Resorts. He worked 23 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: with Major League Baseball, with the National Hockey League and 24 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 1: bringing the Golden Nights to Las Vegas, so he's very 25 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: familiar with putting on a show with regard to sports 26 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: and making sports entertainment. They'll talk about that and much more. 27 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: We are presented by BETMGM, the official sports betting partner 28 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Hilo River Hotels and Casinos. 29 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: Sign up for BETMGM today using code cards one thousand 30 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: and get your first bet risk free you up to 31 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: one thousand dollars new customer offer paid in free bets. 32 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: Visit betmgm dot Comference Terms and conditions twenty one and 33 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: over Arizona only. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling problem call one 34 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: eight hundred next step here. He is the commissioner of 35 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 1: the PAC twelfth Conference. George kleof Coff Well, George, first 36 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: of all, I really appreciate you doing this. This is 37 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: actually primarily an NFL podcast through the Arizona Cardinals and 38 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: my job as the play by playhouse for the Cardinals, 39 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: but we branched out and done guests from the entertainment world, 40 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: from the NBA and college sports as well. We had 41 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: Kirk curb Street on during the college football season, and 42 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: I wanted to get you on to talk college football, 43 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: to talk college basketball, but to start by talking about 44 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: what the first eight months on the job have been 45 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: like for you in this position. Yeah, no, absolutely, you know. 46 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: The joke is that the last eight months have been 47 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: the most interesting decade of my career. My timing was impeccable. 48 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: I started on July first, which was the first day 49 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: of nil Mame image and likeness is a couple of 50 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: weeks after the Alston decision by the Supreme Court, and 51 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks before we found out about conference 52 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: realignment with Texas and Oklahoma, you know, leaving the Big 53 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: Twelve together to the SEC eventually. So it's been challenging. 54 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: There's been a lot of stuff going on. I would 55 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: say personally, it's been humbling and motivating to work with 56 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: our world class universities and to support the amazing student 57 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 1: athletes that we get to work with. So unprecedented change, 58 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: but but very exciting for me. And I'm you know, 59 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: I'm not a guy with a long background in history 60 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: in college athletics, which was a new space for me. Yeah, 61 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: you mentioned your timing. I mean, this is the wildest 62 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: time that I can remember in my forty nine years 63 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: on this planet for college sports and just everything that's 64 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: going on. You talked about nil and you you know 65 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: everybody right now that the hot topic is college football 66 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: and I want to get there in a second. But 67 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: your history in charge of being the president of Entertainment 68 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: in sports for MGM Resorts, how do you feel like, 69 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: I know you've talked about this else where or else 70 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: we're maybe a little bit more in depth here. How 71 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: do you feel like that shaped you for this job 72 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: and the challenges that being the commissioner of a major conference? 73 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: What that requires. Well, I've been in sports and media 74 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: and digital technology for twenty five plus years. In my 75 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: career in different places professional sports as well as as 76 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: you mentioned MGM Resorts. I worked for Major League Baseball 77 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: Advanced Media, and I've worked for big media companies, And 78 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: you know, I think of sports and what we do 79 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: as kind of a subset of entertainment, and you know, 80 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,119 Speaker 1: we have other issues that we have to address because 81 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: of the unique nature of our student athletes. But at 82 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: the end of the day, we're putting on a show, 83 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: and we're creating made for television content. And I think 84 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 1: lessons learned at MGM Resorts and at Major League Baseball 85 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: and working for media companies really aligned well with what 86 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: we're trying to to do, particularly for the PAC twelve, 87 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: which you know has less than two and a half 88 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 1: years left on all of our current media rights deals 89 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: and we're just starting the process of renegotiating those. When 90 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: we think about that, we have to think about what's 91 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: great for our media partners and our fans and our 92 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: student ATHLETs. What made for TV programming should we be creating? Well, 93 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: the only VSPN just yet, George, feel like we're just 94 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 1: getting started with even though it's with Bill and obviously 95 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: doing the college football games on the PAC twelve. What 96 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: would you say your goals are that you know you 97 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 1: want to accomplish not just for the conference, but to 98 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: for college sports in general in the direction where college 99 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: sports is going. Yeah, I mean, I'll talk about college 100 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: sports sport broadly in a second. But but we've had 101 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: since I started. I think I actually announced it when 102 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: I was introduced months before I started, We've had four 103 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: key priorities for the PAC twelve and just an order 104 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: of kind of priority. The first is, historically our conference 105 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: has been the best in class in supporting student athletes. 106 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: We've been ahead of the game on benefits for student athletes, 107 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 1: We've been ahead of the game on diversity equity inclusion issues. 108 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 1: We were the first conference, as an example, to include 109 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: student athletes in our government structure, and that's a leadership 110 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,799 Speaker 1: role that I want to continue to extend for the conference. 111 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 1: Second priority is related to football and men's basketball. You know, 112 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: we are a Power five conference that hasn't won one 113 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 1: of those two sports a national championship in seventeen years, 114 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: and I think that's just a really difficult position to 115 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: be in and an unfortunate position and inconsistent with our 116 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: history going back of being very strong in those sports. 117 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 1: So everything we can do at the conference level to 118 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 1: optimize for CFP invitations and men's basketball tournament invites and seating, 119 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 1: we're going to do. Our third priority is to continue 120 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: our leadership position and being the conference of champions despite 121 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: kind of that drout in those two sports, we've dominated 122 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: all the other sports when we gets fifty three of 123 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: the last sixty years, including each of the last sixteen years, 124 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: we've won more national championships than any other conference, and 125 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: we intend to continue that and extend it. And then 126 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: finally four fourth priority is what I mentioned before, which 127 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,119 Speaker 1: is we have all of these media rights steals coming 128 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: up for renegotiation, and we have to balance how we 129 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: think about renegotiating those media rights steals and who we 130 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: choose to be our partner or partners in that space 131 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: with revenue and mind certainly, the money that we distribute 132 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: from our media rights steals is what supports a lot 133 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: of our student athlete programs, but we also have to 134 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: look at broader exposure and flexibility with how and when 135 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: we play our games to allow us to continue to 136 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: compete competitively in all of these sports. So along those lines, George, 137 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: and it's just something Larry Scott, your predecessor, had discussed. 138 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: What are your thoughts on you know, noon Eastern kicks 139 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: but they're ninety local kicks on a Saturday, to try 140 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: to get the PAC twelve viewer into that early window 141 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: on ESPN or on Fox, or you know, having games 142 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: on different nights. Obviously, Thursdays and Fridays have been you know, 143 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: long standing, there have been games in the pac twelve 144 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: on both those nights. But can you just talk about 145 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:36,719 Speaker 1: with regard to scheduling, Yeah, listen, I think there it's 146 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: all trade offs. Right. We have played nine am bodyclock games. 147 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: I was at the game where Oregon beat Ohio State 148 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: at the horses Shoe earlier this year. That was a 149 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: nine am Oregon bodyclock kickoff and we did very well. 150 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: Making that a regular programming feature on the West Coast 151 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 1: I think might be a little bit more difficult. But 152 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 1: here how I think about it, we are the only 153 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: Power five conference that has teams in the Mountain and 154 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: Pacific time zones until BYU joins the Big twelve and 155 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,839 Speaker 1: a couple of years, and as a result, we are 156 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: able to provide programming in a primetime West Coast window 157 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: for our partners at ESPN and at Fox and others 158 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 1: can't provide. That's really, really valuable, and we get paid 159 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:26,199 Speaker 1: a premium to do that. Now, that comes at a cost, right. 160 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: Part of the cost is in the stadium. It's harder 161 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: to build kind of family traditions of going to games 162 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:34,839 Speaker 1: when the young kids of the game and starting at 163 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: seven thirty or eight o'clock on a Saturday night kids 164 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: might not be able to stay up for that. Part 165 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: of it is national costs, right. We have games that 166 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 1: are played whereby halftime, seventy five percent of the population 167 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: of the country is most likely not watching the game 168 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: because they're in bed, and that hurts us for AP 169 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 1: votes and CFP votes and Heisman Trophy votes if we're 170 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: focused on football and we just have to balance those. 171 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: So do I want to play and be more creative 172 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: and be more flexible about playing in different time slots. Absolutely? Do. 173 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: I want to work with our media partners to have 174 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: a little bit more control over which of our teams 175 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: played at which time slots. Absolutely. I would like for 176 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: our best teams, particularly late in the season, if they 177 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: put themselves in a position for a CFP invitation or 178 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: for a Heisman Trophy vote, to be able to highlight 179 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: them earlier in the day as opposed to playing in 180 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: the night time West Coast game. That doesn't mean we 181 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: won't be playing a game then, it just maybe two 182 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: different teams. Before we jump into the college football playoff 183 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 1: expansion discussion. I'm curious do you think, Georgie, that you're 184 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: the only commissioner that tweets out about shuffling Dre Snoop 185 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: and Eminem for his music listen in the morning. Like, 186 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 1: I don't know if I see Jim Phillips, the ACC commissioner, 187 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: or Greg Sanky in doing that, but I think I 188 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: think Greg, thank you, and I are the only ones 189 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: who routinely use Twitter personally as opposed to the conference. 190 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: All of our conferences use Twitter, but Greg, Greg and 191 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: I seem to be active on Twitter and follow each other. 192 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: And what I would say is Greg's an intellectual. Greg 193 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: often tweets out what the last book is that he 194 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: read and why it's important to him. I'm focused on 195 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: you know, when I'm not talking about conference stuff, I'm 196 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: focused on music, and I'm focused on fishing and other stuff. 197 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 1: And I think that probably explains the difference between Greg 198 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: and I. He's very cerebral now. But I appreciated that tweet. 199 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: I saw that, and then I also saw some of 200 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: your your tweets with a fish that you caught. There 201 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: are fish stories, but you actually have proof as you 202 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 1: tweeted out a picture of you or it actually might 203 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: have been your abbey on your Twitter at one point 204 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: with you and yeah, that was a I went ice 205 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,559 Speaker 1: fishing for the first time last month outside of Jack 206 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: and how Wyoming. And it was on a Friday, and 207 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: you know, I took Friday off and I kind of 208 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: felt proud of myself for taking a Friday off in 209 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: the middle of the basketball season. And the fact that 210 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: I caught a bunch of fish was great and I 211 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,319 Speaker 1: was happy to share it. But the message there was 212 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: really I'm taking a personal day, and I was encouraging 213 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: the other folks who worked for the Pac twelve to 214 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: take personal days as well. I think recharges is important, 215 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: particularly in this job. This is a twenty four seven, 216 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: three sixty five job, or there is no downtime in college. 217 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 1: I bought a three face well, I often take personal days. 218 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: George the day after working with Bill Walton, who you 219 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: know very well. Bill. He is a big champion of 220 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 1: the Conference of Champions. How much time have you spent 221 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: with Bill and what was your first experience like with him? Well, 222 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: as a fan, I have listened to him and watched him, 223 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: you know, on games for a long long time before 224 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: I actually met him. I met him when I was 225 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 1: at MGM Resorts in Vegas, and you know, part of 226 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: my responsibility was we ran the Mandeliday Event Center where 227 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: the women's basketball tournament for the PAC twelve is, NT 228 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: Mobile Arena where the men's basketball Championship is. And you know, 229 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,839 Speaker 1: as the person who was running sports and entertainment at MGM, 230 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 1: it's just natural that you run across Bill and get 231 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: introduced to Bill. And I was quite surprised in advance 232 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: of one of the tournaments. I think it was a 233 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: couple of years back. You know, he found my number 234 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: called Bay and he said, I want to know all 235 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: about MGM. I want to know about T Mobile. I 236 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: want to know about um, you know, everything that you 237 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: guys do and how T mobile fits into that and 238 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: how to PAC twelve fits into that. And what I 239 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: found is that he's just incredibly diligent about doing the homework, 240 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: you know, before he gets on the air and then 241 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: he drops all these little tickets, as you know better 242 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: than I do, but that those tickets come from lot 243 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 1: and lots of work behind the scenes before the game starts. 244 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: And I was the subject of a lot of that 245 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: when I was before I joined the conference. Oh yeah, 246 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: I think at one point you might have actually been 247 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: part of Walton Bingo. There might have been a square 248 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: with your name on it because there was where you 249 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: are getting a lot a lot of mentions, and you know, 250 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: with your work in connection to the city of Las Vegas, 251 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: I'm curious, what's the reception of the Raiders been like 252 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: there and how do you see that continuing to grow 253 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: in Vegas. Well, Listen, I think all professional sports that 254 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: have come to Vegas have seen great success. Right. I 255 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: was very fortunate at MGM to oversee and run the 256 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: Las Vegas Aces, which is a w NBA team that 257 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: we brought to Las Vegas several years back. One of 258 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: the last things I did at MGM before I left 259 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: was to actually sell the Aces to Mark Davis, who 260 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: owns the Raiders. As I mentioned running T Mobile Arena, 261 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: we were the beneficiaries of the Vegas Golden Knights expansion team, 262 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: I mean, maybe the most successful expansion team in the 263 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: history of professional sports, making the Stanley Cup Championship their 264 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: first year out of the gate and being the playoffs 265 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: every year. And the Raiders I think will find great 266 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: success there. And it's good for the Raiders. I think 267 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: they have a home and to have passionate fans that 268 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: you know, previously had not had an NFL team to 269 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: root for, but I also think it's great for the city. 270 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: I think, you know, more than two thirds of the 271 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: folks who are in that stadium are traveling from out 272 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: of town come to Vegas to go to those games. 273 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: Most of those traveling teams are raiders fans from California 274 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: and other places, but there are also lots of fans 275 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: from visiting teams, and that really helps the economy here 276 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: in Vegas. So I think it's a great thing. So 277 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: let's shift gears to college football. In the recent news, 278 00:15:54,920 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: George about playoff expansion not happening, falling through. Not sure 279 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: if that's the best way to describe it, but I 280 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: think for you know, for people that were hoping that 281 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: there would be an expansion beyond the four teams to 282 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: twelve before the contract runs out in twenty twenty five, 283 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: the hope was that you guys would have been able 284 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: to get something done that didn't happen where And I 285 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: read that the PAC twelve is one of three conferences, 286 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: to the other two being you know, the Big ten 287 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: in the ACC part of the alliance with you guys 288 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: that you guys voted against it. I know you had 289 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: talked publicly a lot about being a proponent for expansion. 290 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: So can you just kind of tell everybody you know 291 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: the timeline of that, did something change along the way, 292 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: what ultimately was it about the YEA, yeah, I'll try 293 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: to make it as clear as possible. And again you 294 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: have to balance, like I really think one of the 295 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: mistakes we've made is to announce a formula that not 296 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: everyone that needed to agree to it had agreed to yet, 297 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: and to miss out the expectations. So to get into 298 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: the details of who said what in the room, I'm 299 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: not going to do that, but at a very high level, 300 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,479 Speaker 1: I'll tell you kind of what's public and will explain 301 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: what happened the way that the construct currently is for 302 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: college football playoffs. If you want to change the format 303 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: or anything else during the current term, you need unanimous 304 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: consent from all eleven people who get to vote, and 305 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:28,479 Speaker 1: the vote comes from the Board board of the CFP, 306 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: which is made up of eleven presidents and chancellors, one 307 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: from each of the ten FDS conferences and Father Jenkins 308 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: from Never Dame. And there's a Board of Managers, which 309 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 1: are the ten conference commissioners and the athletic directors of 310 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: neverdain that make recommendations to the board on how to vote, 311 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: but eventually the board has to vote, and you need 312 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: eleven yes votes to change anything within the current term. 313 00:17:55,400 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: And the proposal came down with the twelve teams, you know, 314 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: six automatic qualifiers, six at large playing games in December, 315 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:10,880 Speaker 1: four games New Year's weekend, and then semifinals and finals 316 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: and later in January. And I actually think there's quite 317 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: a lot to be sent for that formula. We had 318 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: some issues with it specific timing, you know, where the 319 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: playing games would be played, you know, some academic and 320 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 1: kind of student health issues that we actually worked through. 321 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: And if the question at her hand would have been 322 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: do you want to expand for years eleven and twelve 323 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: in the twelve team proposed model, our vote would have 324 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 1: been yes. And I think despite the fact that our 325 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 1: vote would have been yes, it would not have passed 326 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 1: because the other two conferences that you mentioned are on 327 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: the record saying they would not have voted for it 328 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,119 Speaker 1: for different reasons. The acc just doesn't think it's the 329 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: right time to expand, and the Big Ten has publicly 330 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: said that they don't think six automatic qualifiers to the 331 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 1: sixth highest ranked conference champions is appropriate. They think each 332 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: of the Power five should get an automatic qualifier, and 333 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,439 Speaker 1: then one automatic qualifiers should go to the next highest 334 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 1: ranked conference champion. So I would have voted yes, but 335 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 1: that wasn't the vote. The vote was, will you agree 336 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,679 Speaker 1: to expand to the twelve team playoff for years eleven, 337 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 1: twelve and beyond, you know, like years thirteen and beyond. 338 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 1: And what we have in year thirteen and beyond is 339 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 1: no current contractional commitment to each other. There's no granted rights, 340 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: there's no there's no contract. So what you need to 341 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: expand beyond that is just enough people to say they 342 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: want to agree on playing in a certain format and 343 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 1: then move forward. And I'm in favor the patch twelve 344 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: is in favor of all sorts of different extensions formats. 345 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: We've been in favor of twelve teams eighteen six plus six, 346 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: five plus one plus, which is what the Big ten 347 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: has asked for. And the only thing I said is 348 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: there are some issues that we need to resolve before 349 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: I could vote yes or that. And the one that 350 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: gets widely reported is the rose Pole. We can talk 351 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:16,400 Speaker 1: about that, animate that's a tiny little issue. Set that aside. 352 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: The other thing I said is I also want to 353 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,199 Speaker 1: know whether we're sticking with the current revenue split or 354 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:25,879 Speaker 1: whether people are proposing changing the revenue split understanding that 355 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 1: the pie will be bigger, there'll be more money if 356 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: you're playing more games. And the answer I got is 357 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: we're not going to commit to the current revenue split 358 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: and we're not going to discuss that. So are you 359 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: voting yes or no? And in my life, I've never 360 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: voted or signed a contract. I don't know the financial 361 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: terms of the contract, so I was forced to vote no. 362 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: I would much rather have agreed on expansion. I continue 363 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,160 Speaker 1: to want to do the work behind the scenes to 364 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: solve the open issues. Are open issues issues, open issues, 365 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: Big Ten's open issues. I think we're going to get there, 366 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:03,199 Speaker 1: But what I really hope is that we actually do 367 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 1: the work first and then announce the outcome, as opposed 368 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: to announce what a couple of people have agreed to 369 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 1: and then hope everybody else comes along. So and I 370 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:16,360 Speaker 1: do want to get to the Rose Bowl, because yeah, 371 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: people have brought that up as a you know, as 372 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 1: a proposed sticking point. Why were there so many that 373 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:32,640 Speaker 1: voted for expansion not knowing the financials beyond twenty twenty five. Well, 374 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: I think several of them probably think that they deserve 375 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 1: more of the financials and or you know, may or 376 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: may not want to demand that. I think others are 377 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: desperate for access to the CFP and would have voted 378 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 1: for anything that gave them access. So, you know, I 379 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: can't speak for other commissioners. I don't know the answer. 380 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: I think we're going to get there anyway. And the 381 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: other I guess the other thing focus on is if 382 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 1: we know, because we can't get a unanimous boat, that 383 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: we're not expanding in years twenty four and twenty five, 384 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:08,399 Speaker 1: and we're really talking about what does it look like 385 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 1: in twenty six and beyond. We got a couple of 386 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: years to figure that out, and lots of other stuff 387 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: is going on in college athletics that we could hopefully 388 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: settle or resolve or get a little bit more piece 389 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: around before we have to decide this. This is not 390 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,719 Speaker 1: the highest priority, and I think kind of putting it 391 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 1: on the back burner for a little while is helpful. 392 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:31,679 Speaker 1: So touch on the rose bowl if you ken, George, 393 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: and then just if you can follow up on what 394 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 1: you just said about issues that are more important, maybe 395 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: kind of give us a sense of you know in 396 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: your mind what those issues are. Yeah, So just quickly 397 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 1: on the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowls, as have all 398 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: of the other Year six bowls, and the particularly the 399 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: contract balls, have been very flexible as the playoffs have 400 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: developed and expanded. And as an example, you know, one 401 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: every three years in the current cycle, the Rose Ball 402 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:03,719 Speaker 1: doesn't get to play on the day in time it 403 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 1: wants to play. It plays later, and it plays as semifinal. 404 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 1: So what I would say is, in the twelve team 405 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 1: proposed model, each of the six New Year's Day Bowl 406 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: games would commit to play a semi sorry, the quarterfinal, quarterfinal, semifinal, 407 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 1: and the quarterfinals would be on New Year's weekend. So 408 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: two years out of three they'd be the Rose bol 409 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 1: would be playing in its traditional time slot, and the 410 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 1: third year it would be playing a semifinal or a 411 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: week or two later. And the Rose Bowl has the 412 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: right if they want. On the years where they're playing 413 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:45,880 Speaker 1: a semifinal, Tosti also host a traditional Rose Bowl, and 414 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: I don't know whether they would do that or not, 415 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: but they have the right to do that. Now, remember 416 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,920 Speaker 1: they wouldn't be getting my number one or two team 417 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:55,919 Speaker 1: against the big ten's one or two team, because if 418 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:59,439 Speaker 1: you put twelve teams into the playoffs, now they're getting 419 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: my give or take third best team against the big 420 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 1: tens give or take order fourth test team. If you 421 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 1: look back over the last nine years of the CFP, 422 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 1: so you've already kind of hams from what the Rose 423 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: Bowl looks like. And what we were asking for is 424 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: very simple. During the times if the Rose Bowl choose 425 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,679 Speaker 1: is to have one of those games every three years, 426 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 1: we don't want the CFP to further harm the Rose 427 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 1: Ball by counter programming a quarter final in that same 428 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: three hour time slot on January first. So literally the 429 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: protections we're asking for the Rose Ball is three hours 430 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:45,440 Speaker 1: every three years. And we've also said if other Bowl 431 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: games want the same protection, we think it's worthy of 432 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 1: giving them the same protection for their traditional time slots 433 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 1: to the extent they have them during the New Year's weekend. 434 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,959 Speaker 1: And for me, that's like a very small ask that 435 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: helps balance progress and expanding the CFP against the more 436 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 1: than one hundred year tradition of the Tournament of Roses 437 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: and the granddaddy of them all. That's a difficult balance, 438 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 1: but it's what you're asking others to give up is 439 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: counterprogramming three hours every three years. I think it's an 440 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 1: incredibly small ask. I think the vast majority of people 441 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: in the CFP room support that. I think there are 442 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:26,120 Speaker 1: a few folks that you know, would like to see 443 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:29,399 Speaker 1: the Rose Bowl harm but the vast majority understand the 444 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:33,920 Speaker 1: tradition and the importance of balancing the tradition. There last 445 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 1: one because I know you got to go, and another 446 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,479 Speaker 1: time maybe we can talk about the NCAA tournament. But 447 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 1: I'm curious because you did mention there are some other 448 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: things you think are more important right now in college sports, 449 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: the need to be addressed. What would that be, Well, 450 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 1: I'll give you four that I think are kind of 451 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:54,120 Speaker 1: top of mind right now, you know. So we we 452 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 1: had in late June, the Supreme Court decided a case 453 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,920 Speaker 1: called Allston, which was whether or not the NCAA could 454 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:05,360 Speaker 1: create a limit on the educational benefits that we provide 455 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:09,359 Speaker 1: to our student athletes. And basically, the Supreme Court said, 456 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: any decision you make that applies to everybody will be 457 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: subject to any trust courtiny, and you can't make a 458 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: broad decision that limits any school's ability to make a 459 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: decision to provide those kind of benefits. I agree with 460 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: that there happened to be a concurring opinion in that 461 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 1: Supreme Court decision from Justice Kavanaugh that took it ten 462 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,919 Speaker 1: steps further and said, not only would it be subject 463 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 1: to any trust courtiny, but your student athletes should be 464 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: deemed to be employees. And I think if you go 465 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 1: down that path, we have not done the work to 466 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,439 Speaker 1: determine all of the harms that that would create. I 467 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:46,880 Speaker 1: believe if our student athletes are deemed to be employees, 468 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:50,159 Speaker 1: you would be creating a really really bad situation for 469 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 1: the student athletes. Right if you're an employee of a 470 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:55,879 Speaker 1: professional sport, you get to choose where you play or 471 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: are you drafted? Can the schools trade you? Can the 472 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 1: schools fire you of your employee if you're not playing well. 473 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,679 Speaker 1: Plus I think there would be knock on negative implications 474 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 1: of that kind of a finding that would include probably 475 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 1: a defunding of most or all of the other sports 476 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:17,959 Speaker 1: that are not profit generating. So I think that's a 477 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: really slippery slope. So that's all stome Nil is something 478 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 1: we're working through. The fact that we have a patchwork 479 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 1: of state laws is a problem. We really need a 480 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,719 Speaker 1: federal kind of standard there, And for me, there are 481 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: three right lines on name, image and likeness. One is 482 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,159 Speaker 1: it shouldn't be able to be used for inducement. I 483 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,120 Speaker 1: can't pay you to go to a particular school. Number Two, 484 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 1: it should not be used as pay for play. I 485 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 1: think everybody's in agreement with that as well. And then third, 486 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 1: the payment for name, image and likeness has to be 487 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: commiserate with the work required. Right. I think if we're 488 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,399 Speaker 1: paying a kid a million dollars to show up for 489 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: an hour for the opening of a grocery store, I 490 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 1: think that's not really paying that kid for his or 491 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:03,919 Speaker 1: her name imagining likeness, right, It's it's kind of hiding 492 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: one of the other two things under the eyes of 493 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: the name imagined likeness. But all those can be resolved 494 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:14,680 Speaker 1: with federal legislation. The two others that kind of jumped 495 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,360 Speaker 1: to mind is the NCAA decided to undergo a constitutional 496 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: convention starting in July that is continuing through this year, 497 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:27,479 Speaker 1: and that's really about how will some subset of the 498 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: schools within Division one or within the NCAA self government. 499 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: How will we set our rules and force our rules 500 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: and set kind of guidelines that make sense and run 501 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 1: our championships. What's clear is it won't be kind of 502 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: the way historically has been, which is kind of one 503 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: rule for all of Division one, two or three that 504 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: doesn't make sense. And then lastly, you know, we had 505 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: starting in July with the leaking of the news about 506 00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 1: Texas and Oklahoma, a bunch of conference realigned and issues 507 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: that have not yet fully resolved themselves. You see schools 508 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 1: suing conferences about when they get to leave their conference. 509 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 1: We are very fortunate that the pat twelve and our 510 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: friends at the Big ten and at the ACC all 511 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: independently decided that, you know, all of our members are 512 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: happy where they are and that we actually don't want 513 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 1: to expand. And part of the reason why the alliance 514 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 1: was formed and announced was when we have each independently 515 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:30,200 Speaker 1: come to that conclusion. We thought announcing that would actually 516 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: add some stability to what, if you recall back in 517 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: July and August was a vibrating kind of environment in 518 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: which no one was comfortable. Everybody thought of my school 519 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 1: could give poach to that conference or this conference. So 520 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 1: a little stability we thought would help Lesten George, I 521 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 1: appreciate the time. I know the two of us have 522 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 1: not had a chance to connect in person yet, and 523 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 1: with as you know, Fox having the Paxel Tournament this 524 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 1: year for men's basketball, I won't be able to see it, 525 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: but hope I'll have a Pack twelve football game this 526 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 1: fall we'll be able to connect. I appreciate the time. 527 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: So a lot of new information there from Pack twelve 528 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 1: Commissioner George Kleovkoff with regard to where the PAC twelve 529 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:23,200 Speaker 1: stood on playoff expansion for college football, the finances that 530 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:25,560 Speaker 1: were involved, also a little bit of the scheduling and 531 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: how the twelve team model would have looked in terms 532 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: of how far and deep into January it would have gone, 533 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 1: and also what that would have meant for the Rose Bowl. 534 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 1: It seems like maybe some of the reports about how 535 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: important the Rose Bowl was in the decision by the 536 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 1: PAC twelve to say no to the college football playoff 537 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:46,680 Speaker 1: expansion model seems like that was just a little bit 538 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:49,880 Speaker 1: overblown based on what George was saying there. We are 539 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 1: presented by bet MGM, the official sports betting partner of 540 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: the Eurozona Cardinals, and by Hila River Hotels and Casinos. 541 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 1: Thanks again to our guests, Pack twelve Commissioner George KLAIOF call, 542 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 1: I'm Dave Pash. Thanks for listening to the Dave Pash Podcast. 543 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 1: H