As much as I appreciate all the feedback about how to perfect a playoff system, the perfect system is not what is going to create change. The perfect system won’t be needed until we have the levers of change.
The tipping point that drives the current BCS system out of business won’t come from a perfect playoff system. It won’t come by reminding University Presidents that they are not maximizing the financial opportunity available to their schools and conferences. It won’t come from going to legislatures and Congress and pushing them to take action.
It won’t come from any of these elements because every stakeholder is already well aware of each and every one of these issues. They have heard them all and they have practiced their responses to them. I have no doubt it bothers them to no end to hear continuous criticism on the subject.
There is no point in repeating what has been well chronicled with an expectation that minds will be changed.
What all of us with an interest in this subject have got to do is ask questions rather than give answers. Rather than telling University Presidents/Chancellors and Conference Commissioners what they should do, we need to ask them about things they would like to do.
The thing about education in this country is that no individual or group on any level is proclaiming that a college or university education is perfect. No one is claiming that it is perfectly priced. No one is claiming that there isn’t a long list of wonderful ideas that each President /Chancellor has on their wish list that would make their institution far, far better.
What we need to find out is what those hopes, dreams and ideas of the schools leadership are. From those, we need to find some that we can all rally around .
Bottomline is that we need to be able to identify those aspirations that an enlightened leader can say “if you can show us how we can accomplish this goal(s) through the increased financial support a playoff system would provide, then I have no choice but to support this new system”
Then its up to me and the people I am working with to figure out how to make it work.
In some respects this may come across as a stretch, and even corny, but the more people I talk to , the more obvious it is that the BCS is about power. And the one thing that trumps the power someone has today, is the opportunity of power on a bigger playing field. Having a meaningful impact on the future of education is a far greater legacy and base of power for the head of a major university than having control over which bowl a team plays in.
So rather than posting your ideas on what a playoff structure might look like, tell me what you think the goals of your school’s administration are. Ask your school President what he/she dreams of for your school and would they trade their influence over bowl games to be able to support that goal for your school.
IMHO, thats the trade off that can get the ball rolling. Kill em with love and support. See if we can put them in a position to succeed like they have never imagined. Lets see what happens.
let me know what you think
m
Hey everybody, it looks like there is a college football playoff plan in play.
http://www.7nno.com/vb
And, it seems like a pretty clever idea. In theory, it should create top slots for best teams at the top of the rankings.
I assume this idea may shut out the upstart teams however since their end of the season schedule probably won’t match up with these playoff style of games played by the more established conferences.
Comment by 7nno -
Pingback: Mark Cuban Vs. the BCS, Part Three (or Maybe 50) - SportsNewser
CFB Playoffs … … we don´t need a new playoff system, nobody needs it. The old one system is complete in o.k. Why must one always invent the world anew? I am a follower of the old system and would not like to change it. I also do not think that a change of the CFB Playoffs is successful.
http://www.emlaklobisi.com
Comment by lionhyena -
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Comment by mariosonic -
I’m come from Memphis Tennessee. My school president said to me, 4 him it’s more important 4 us, that we learn more & play lower football. Only few guys became a change after the college to play in the NFL. After college all guys who they study only like football workless….look at the statistics.
Comment by katze1 -
Hey everybody, it looks like there is a college football playoff plan in play.
http://www.dailynews.com/rss/ci_17031953
And, it seems like a pretty clever idea. In theory, it should create top slots for best teams at the top of the rankings.
I assume this idea may shut out the upstart teams however since their end of the season schedule probably won’t match up with these playoff style of games played by the more established conferences.
Thoughts, Mark?
Comment by alexlogic -
Hey Mark…how about selling the pink and white hoodie in women’s sizes…the women in my life are driving me nuts!!! Also…how about a Christmas ornament of the AA Center with the Mavs logo? Love the Mavs!!!
Comment by mcrageous -
CFB Playoffs … … we don´t need a new playoff system, nobody needs it. The old one system is complete in o.k. Why must one always invent the world anew? I am a follower of the old system and would not like to change it. I also do not think that a change of the CFB Playoffs is successful.
Comment by trockenf -
I find the system is okay. Why we will change it? I have a friend in Alabama and he say it’s really okay! When we change it, it’s more charges 4 the young guys. I don’t understand the whole diskussion and my friend in Alabama too. What does have to do the whole excitement? Nevertheless, it is everything well in such a way.
Comment by susa24 -
Dear Mark:
I think it’s very clever and if you’re serious about it, has an excellent chance of overtaking the current system, due to the convening power of money. I posted about this at some length at
http://affordablehousinginstitute.org/blogs/us/2011/01/the-convening-power-of-money.html
and really encourage you to read it. Direct email, if you wish, at dsmith {at} affordablehousinginstitute [dot] org.
Comment by davidasmithahi -
I guess I just don’t care anymore. Maybe because I am the ‘minority’ that didn’t go to a big name college. I’m the consumer right? Do I still watch all the interesting games, especially the ones with top 10 teams…sure. Am I losing sleep night over night because a team got ranked 3rd instead of “National Champion”…not at all. Whatever! This is all about alumni and fans with no lives of certain big schools getting all worked up “but…but…we were better!!!!”…who cares! Idiots!
Get a life! Even if there was a Utopian playoff, how is that different, I’ll still end up watching the same amount of games, probably between the same top 10 teams, right?
Comment by audian -
The challenge to make it work so it’s engaging for the schools, alumni and casual fan breaks down to two things:
1: Selling inclusivity to an event designed to be even more exclusive than the bowl process and(the hard bit)
2: Logistics of having teams and alumni going to the games
Some numbers:
124: Number of FBS schools in 2013
70: Number of schools that went bowling this year
31: Number of games played in a 32 team tournament
5: Number of weeks that it would take to run a 32 team tournament
Going to a bowl helps with alumni donations even if it may be a net expense for teams that play before Christmas. So in order to get those kind of schools on board you have to make sure the money generated can surpass what the excess donations would be on any given year. The smaller the tourney pool is, then greater the number of schools that have to get that kickback.
Even if you make round 1 a higher seed home game before going to neutral sites you have 16 teams that need to have all travel arrangements made for the next two weeks on short notice.
After week 2 you have a pyramid structure for all venues, putting together the charter/travel infrastructure in place will take a bit of work.
Travel for even die hard fans over 4-5 weeks all on short notice would be daunting, but it would be necessary to have them there to make it the unique experience that is college football.
Schools could use it as a fundraiser by having a refundable travel programs for various tiers(from all games to championship only) and the schools could work the float from initial payment to the start of the tournament. Once aggregate demand is determined tourney organizers could block out all the necessary rooms and charter the necessary airplanes, only having to reposition the charter craft for fans each weekend.
Comment by alecpappas -
Mark,
For the past 25 Years- I’ve been trying to start my non-profit youth organization! It is about power, and those in power do not want to loose it. In the Non-Profit sector, power links into politics- those behind the scene that wants something and already biased to those they need to serve.
I have a non-profit that would change our youth programming for the better- But, I will not give up my hard work in creating a system that will benefit youth, family, community, nation without benefiting those in power!
We have to look back in history and see what it took and how long it took to make a change? I’ve invested 25 years! With someone to back me, change could happen for millions of youth in a couple of years.
Mark, Look into my struggles and you will seek a path that is the currect thing to do! You will not be able to make everyone happy, even if you kill them with kindness because those in power will not allow them to be happy!
True Change is about Power- Are you willing to give up a little or compromise your values? I’m a Founder of Gil’s Professional Youth Services- http://www.gpys.org, and I’m at a point that I have to out weigh the pro’s with the con’s- If I would want to help millions of youth I need to compromise with the right individuals- not the corrupted politicians that control those that I’m trying to contact.
Mark, visit the website and check out the potential of GPYS. Youth Sports and Recreational Services will be change. You can have direct contact with the families and youth of America and possibly aroung the world.
Mark, I’m willing to give up what I need to benefit our future and I’m looking to you for your guidance and support that will change youth sports- including college and pro- True change is about Power!
Sincerely, Gilbert Sanchez,GPYS Founder
Comment by gpys -
Hey All,
I’m trying to get the ball rolling on this. I started a site called Topple the System. The premise is to hit the BCS where it hurts: financially. The plan is boycott the sponsors on a very targeted basis. One big weekend or one fiscal quarter, etc. The first initiative is to avoid buying any Tostitos products Super Bowl weekend. No Tostitos for the Super Bowl.
When sponsors see DECREASED sales for thier sponsorship dollars things change. Get on board and sign the pledge (so we can document how many fans are in) at Topple the System. Thanks!
Comment by toppleit -
It is real in such a way, a playoff system is´nt a perfect system. But I do not think that the legislatures and Congress provide money for the change. There initiative is demanded. Or maybe the Republicans or Democrats take it in her electioneering programme, this would maybe be a solution.
Comment by frins1 -
Hwllo Mr. Cuban, thanks for being so open with your thoughts, not just on this topic, but in everything you share on blogmaverick. To bring about real change in NCAA football, you might find more success by galvanizing the players (student-athletes) FIRST and helping them form a stronger lobby on behalf of their rights. If the players are organized and start to demand a bigger slice of the pie (or simply “a” slice to begin with), you might see college presidents, ADs and football administrators think more seriously about new revenue creating ideas.
To bring about the type of wholesale philosophical change you seek in the college football landscape, you need to create leverage and the traditional methods don’t seem to be enough to make the powers that be think twice. Money is already plentiful in the sport, the NCAA’s power is uncontested and fan interest/loyalty is as secure as any sport could enjoy (my $100k university education was a down payment on my lifelong football allegiance, right?). In order to change the landscape, the trick will be to convince the student-athletes themselves that THEY hold the key to initiating the change we all want. Only when you see an organized and resolute student-athlete “union” can you start to have a productive conversation about many less than ideal aspects of the NCAA sports landscape, including a college football playoff.
Hope this helps you think about the issue in another way. Good luck; I think we’re all pulling for someone to make this happen!
Andrew
While many will make the case that student-athletes are fairly compensated for their labor (scholarships, tutoring, etc.) — and these are valid points in most instances — in the case of college football the revenue these athletes generate is far superior to the compensation they receive. I believe wholeheartedly that despite all our idealism — as fans, ticket holders, and merchandise buyers — the NCAA won’t move an inch based on our arguments. The only chance they have of listening, is if the student-athletes themselves are willing to put their short college careers at stake in the name of gaining some power for future generations of s-a’s to enjoy..
Comment by Andrew Ladd -
Okay….everybody has hopes and dreams. For me it is sad to read if from the schools leadership no ideas are there as one can realise dreams with a bigger financial support. But I believe, the school guidance will awake forever further dream and never from her dreams.
Comment by druck125 -
So in the past week, with millions dealing with possibly unethical foreclosures not caused just by robo signing, but by other more nefarious methods such as bait and switch tactics involving HAMP and parallel foreclosure, we also had Barack Obama pre-occupied with Michael Vick, and Governor Ed Rendell saying we are a nation of whimps because the Philly Minnesota game was postponed for one day.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/29/the-cant-do-nation/
hey, lets have a football only economy!
Comment by alexlogic -
What we need for CFB Playoffs? We need the consciousness that the system BCS is the basis for aperfect playoff system. Without this it would not function at all. All Collegs and all politicians should remember this, but the whole system is sometime to an end.
Comment by giessfoermchen -
The approach of asking various leaders at our institutes of higher learning to leverage future growth is a good concept. People are always more open to ideas when they feel as if they contributed to it. Case in point the mom or dad who buys the $20 game card at Dave & Busters, but only ends up using $12. Did they just throw $8 away? Yes. But they’re not necessarily angry about it- especially compared to if they were forced to buy a $20 card from the get go. A user defined approach would lead more to feel as stakeholders to the process.
I think it prudent to also find what gets Unviersity Presidents promoted, or to look at various Org Charts. These are top level positions likely filled by successful individuals. If a University President at say, Iowa University does well, I can’t imagine they rest on their laurels. Do they not move to a bigger school? And conversely, the folks who handle the money in athletics- the AD’s…do they desire to be Presidents one day?
If we know what gets Presidents and others promoted to better and bigger jobs, can we not use that information to our advantage?
Good stuff.
Comment by bstanutz -
It seems to me that there are only about 20-25 teams (at the most) that would really care about a playoff. Most teams would not be affected. The only reason to care about the playoff is if the school got a lot more money. $10MM more than they currently receive is not enough, particularly when you consider the endowments of the schools that would be part of the playoff. The incremental cash to the school does not seem to make it worth the effort (from a school perspective).
Comment by jclivings -
Pingback: CFB Playoffs – Its a Grass Roots Movement. – What We Need | RuanLe
This is what you are up against, from wikipedia, about Ohio State and their endowment program…
start wiki excerpt…
Endowment and fundraising
Ohio State was among the first group[45] of public universities to raise a $1 billion endowment when it passed the $1 billion mark in 1999. At year’s end 2005, Ohio State’s endowment stood at $1.73 billion, ranking it seventh among public universities and 27th among all American universities.[46] In June 2006, the endowment passed the $2 billion mark.
In recent decades, and in response to continually shrinking state funding, Ohio State has conducted two significant multi-year fundraising campaigns. The first concluded in 1987 and raised $460 million—a record at the time for a public university. The “Affirm Thy Friendship Campaign” took place between 1995 and 2000. With an initial goal of raising $850 million, the campaign’s final tally was $1.23 billion, placing Ohio State among the small group of public universities to have successfully conducted a $1 billion campaign.[47] At his welcoming ceremony, returning President E. Gordon Gee announced that, in the Fall of 2007, Ohio State would be launching a $2.5 billion fund-raising campaign. end wikipedia quote.
So it looks like the university raises around 200 million dollars a year from endowments. The next analysis to consider would be, how much of that 200 million is based on how well the college football team does, and how much of that money comes in IRRESPECTIVE of how well the college football team does.
As it stands now, it appears that whatever the BCS brings in, it is dwarfed by the yearly endowment fund.
—————————————————–
As an aside, I still don’t think very many people are following the article request that is plainly laid out in the one paragraph article excerpt that accompanies the email notification……”As much as I appreciate all the feedback about how to perfect a playoff system, the perfect system is not what is going to create change. The perfect system won’t be needed until we have the levers of change. The tipping point that drives the current BCS system out of business won’t come from a […]”
Comment by alexlogic -
Right on Mark!
The NCAA is indeed a business. A business that tries to pretend its not. It is likely this cognitive dissonance that causes the NCAA to behave like a schizophrenic 20 year old.
As a successful businessman you correctly recognize that only business reasons will cause a change in the NCAA. Obviously, its all in the numbers, which I am sure you can make work.
I think its important to remember that even if the BCS is replaced by an actual business, supporters will continue to donate to their favorite schools. Therefore, I think its reasonable to assume that schools can only gain revenue by going into the football business.
Also, given the currently political climate in this country, I think that there will be surprisingly little objection the merger of business and education that you are proposing.
Comment by rambletron -
I wrote the following in response to the recent Ohio State suspensions. I agree with you Mark, their rebuttals are well rehearsed. Perhaps several more “foul-up” such as the one mentioned below are necessary before they realize their hypocrisy.
Why are these kids not suspended for the sugar bowl; you ask? Because the NCAA, BCS, Ohio State University, University of Arkansas, and (the private benefactor) Allstate entered into a contract for the 2011 sugar bowl prior to the findings. Had one of the marquee players in the match-up been suspended, at least two of the contract parties, the NCAA and BCS, would have likely been exposed to costly litigation. The “higher-ups” of collegiate athletics should stop touting integrity until they show a willingness to abstain from self-abasing practices themselves, e.g. the “negotiated” ruling at hand, and the contracted BCS in lieu of a play-off system.
Comment by martingjackson -
Mark. . propagate this article. . .problem solved:
COLLEGE BOWL DEBACLE—2010
(And Why It’s Getting Worse)
By Douglas daBoone Johnson
Doug Johnson is a screenwriter and author. He welcomes feedback to this article, and hopes that people will pass it on: doug@snowshoepublishing.com or 415-290-5322
(Thanks to key sport writers, who chose to remain unmentioned, for helping me write this article.)
Sports Illustrated magazine recently explored the benefits of a college football play-off system, and good points were made. They implied that the issue is about money, however, and I disagree. The general football public needs to understand that the BCS system, and the ranking and bowl games they dictate, are tools for established college football powers. In my opinion, the general college football public needs to grasp this harsh reality, and challenge these saboteurs of the game. Until they do, we will all suffer with the kinds of bowls they’ve given us this year. More so, teams who deserve a shot at the national spotlight will continue to be overlooked by the long-established contingency that uses rankings and the BCS to promote their conferences and their teams.
The game of college football is played by teams who are established as prominent powers, and those who are not. Unfortunately, the established teams and conferences in power are an unfathomably pretentious lot who have learned how to manipulate the system to keep the uneducated college football nations from gaining notoriety or prestige. Worse yet, because they remain three-steps ahead of the field, the situation will go downhill, if that’s at all possible given this year’s disastrous bowl match-ups.
It is hard to fathom the depth of money and power influencing college football. In cities like Eugene, Boise, and Salt Lake, we just don’t have the history of national strength that an Ann Arbor or South Bend regime has. Time and again it has been explained to me that when established college football powers play, entire towns shut down. One of my SEC friends likes to razz me about a high school football game he drove by in Montana.
“There were more people on the sidelines,” he scoffs, “than there were on the field.”
His point was clear, “We (Western schools) don’t take our football seriously enough to garner respect.”
Over the years, the old guard of college football has adapted to allow new powers onto its fickle radar screen. In 1990, for example, ACC power Miami was still considered by some, to be relatively new to the scene. Case in point, Notre Dame fans at my workplace were insulted that Miami was even allowed to play them. What did this upstart school know about football? While the burgeoning ACC had already climbed to power in the minds of ACC people in particular, it wasn’t being acknowledged just yet by the establishment. In fact, if you had the ill form to secretly root against a Michigan or a Notre Dame, you needed to keep it to yourself.
Ultimate power corrupts and the bastions of college football have had it for a long time, and they’ve no intention of letting go. Your average Western football fan needs to understand what they are up against. We are assumed to be babies on the scene—doormats whose sole purpose is to honor and exonerate the established powers. We also fail to understand that alums from major established college football powers will go to any length not just to put their programs in the spotlight, but to manipulate the system to support teams from their conference, their state, and ultimately, established powers from their region. Meanwhile, the harsh reality the established powers have faced in recent years is that college football is a game of passion and energy. Add a purpose to that, (like getting even for being deemed inferior by pompous teams), and you motivate teams like Utah and Boise State enough to topple college football icons like Oklahoma and Alabama.
And yes, while such things have happened, I wasn’t the least bit surprised when I asked a handful of born and raised SEC fanatics if they recalled that Alabama and Utah had played in the Sugar Bowl in 2009. All they remembered was that Florida had played Alabama that year, and that while it was close, Florida had won the national championship. While many a Fighting Ute might be surprised to hear of such selective memory, this, for me, is an example of how the established powers think. We don’t exist. And when we beat them, we still don’t exist. They block it out. Likewise, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone in the BIG 12 who remembers Oklahoma’s record-breaking season being stopped short when Boise State thumped them and Adrian Peterson in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. This fantastic game was considered a fluke and instantly forgotten by established college football powers everywhere.
A protocol from such losses, however, has apparently been set. As I’ve been told, it’s assumed that SEC teams have nothing to gain when playing po-dunk schools, out of conference. If the SEC or other prominent power wins, they were supposed to, but if they lose, it becomes a big deal. The latest method for dealing with threatening upstart teams, is clearly, to make them play each other.
Despite the number of fans and the dramatic enthusiasm within say, a Ute or Bronco Nation, these upstart powers are relatively uninformed. They assume that while the BCS rankings are biased, they are remotely fair. Unfortunately, they couldn’t be more wrong in regard to the want-on manipulation that happens to occur.
I wouldn’t know about the SEC nation, had I not moved to SEC country in 1990. I stepped off the plan and was ordered to pick a side: Seminoles or Gators. From there I was allowed access to the inner circle where a man who’d been in the Gator band was soon prosecuted for writing a five-figure check for the team. Beyond that, the fever for football was incalculable as everyone plotted the teams that should be allowed to play, and the po-dunk schools, as they referred to them, who must be kept out.
In short, I learned that there’s a reason that Utah leap-frogged to number 5 in the BCS polls this year, while SEC teams like LSU and established darlings like Oklahoma leap-frogged to number 1. The BCS rankings, I’m certain, are merely a tool used by established powers to maintain what is. Utah went to number 5 because they were being aligned to play red hot Western teams like Boise State or Stanford. Allowing other patsies to rank would protect their established regimes from these upstarts. In the 2010 Bowl Match-ups, established powerhouses were protected from upstart and consequently, highly-motivated teams, like never before. It was assumed by the established football nations that such lesser teams should not be allowed on the same field as a team that’s worked so hard and done so much for decades or more. So no, BCS rankings are far from random. While the computer favors conferences like the SEC, who were notably weak this year, the BCS rankings are controlled by the old-guard who want only old-guard teams playing each other, particularly in the National Championship. This makes sense to them because they are the toughest conference, they have to play each other, and in their opinion, nobody else should really be considered.
If the established and remarkably united guard were to stop their manipulation at the BCS Bowls, I wouldn’t be terribly concerned. What they do however, is manipulate every single bowl so that their supported and established college powers don’t have to play upstarts, and the result is a series of bowl match-ups that are lame beyond belief, as brothers in the effort to earn respect for their up-and-coming teams are pitted against one another until the public gets the least interesting college bowls imaginable.
Every year a few acceptable match-ups actually happen. They are mathematically unavoidable, to some degree, and this year, due to the uncharacteristic weakness of the SEC and of Eastern powerhouse teams in general, we succeeded in getting one, that’s right, one interesting game: Oregon versus Auburn. There was simply no denying this game after so many SEC teams were raised to the top, and they continued to lose. Had Alabama not lost twice, however, I can assure you that they would be in the National Championship against Auburn, and complain as they might, Duck nation would have been in a lesser bowl.
The other bowl match-ups are boring, by the way, because in a sense, they’ve already happened. Boise State already played and beat Virginia Tech in front of a raucous hometown crowd in weather that was humid enough to cook the rawhide off a horse. And so, because The Hokies were already soiled by a Western upstart wannabe, they have a fire in their belly from a year of razzing from the established powers, so they are a natural to throw at Stanford. Also, Virginia Tech is on a red hot 9-game run as well, so the timing’s good to correct the score against a relative newbie. A similar situation exists with Wisconsin. While they’ve been renting condos in South Florida for recruiting and building their program for decades, they still have little respect on the national scene. So tweak the BCS rankings and throw them into an eternal pit of obscurity by matching them up against fellow upstart TCU in a game that nobody will remember.
Again, the public believes that these bowls are somewhat random, but they fail to consider that in every case, bowl match-up’s are in part, a result of the BCS rankings, which are a chess game being played by established football powers to keep the established regimes on top, and to keep upstarts away from their established college football darlings.
More on this year’s manipulated and orchestrated bowl match-up’s:
Utah vs. Boise State: Utah has the top bowl win-streak in the country at 9, and the established college powers are ready to see this thorn in their side disappear. Neither team will want to be on the field against one another, playing their brother in the battle for college football respect. Passes will be dropped, motivation will be low, but Boise State will win.
Arizona vs. Oklahoma State: Arizona has lost four straight games. Oklahoma State has long been the red-headed step-child of the Big 12, and will be sent to the PAC 12 next year. So send them after Arizona, and make the PAC 10 look bad without risking a team that the established powers care about.
Missouri vs. Louiville: A patsy has been found to assure an SEC win.
Tennessee vs. North Carolina: Again, this one’s about manufacturing an SEC win and improving their paltry bowl record over the past few years.
Georgia vs. University of Central Florida: UCF is the most overrated 10 win team in the country. Again, this is a hand-picked SEC moral booster to improve their plummeting bowl standings.
FSU vs. South Carolina: Why keep these two SEC teams off the chopping block? Because they’d lose against any top twenty team dying to challenge the pretentious SEC stigma as the vastly superior college football conference.
Florida vs. Penn State, Miami vs. Notre Dame, Michigan State vs. Alabama, Arkansas vs. Ohio State, Pittsburgh vs. SEC darling Kentucky, LSU vs. Texas A& M, all hand-picked match-ups between established regimes that nobody West of the Mississippi, or anywhere, could possibly care about.
U-Conn vs. Oklahoma: U-Conn survived a 3-way tie and became the surprise shoe-in for their first bowl in school history. Pitt them against Oklahoma, who will blow them out, and they’ll never be heard from again.
Nevada vs. Boston College: The perfect BCS pick for upstart Nevada is fellow wannabe team Boston College. Boston College has a reputation as a giant killer in bowl games and yet, nobody really cares about them in the East. (BC is the last team to beat Boise State in a bowl, and thus, they are proven.)
Finally, in an effort to further taint the burgeoning PAC 10 bowl record of recent years, Washington Huskies vs. Nebraska: Nebraska obviously has Washington’s number, as it beat them by 40 points earlier this year. The SEC wants badly to see a replay of the Washington Huskies, a team from the PAC 10—an upstart conference they are sick of hearing about, take another certain beating.
Again, nobody has the slightest interest in any of these games, and we all lose. There is no conference rivalry, no unestablished teams looking to gain respect against established teams. Established teams are pit against each other and, that’s right, there’s nothing to lose in terms of prestige for teams or conferences. Would all of these established powers be blown out by a hungry team like Boise State? I think they would. Is it going to happen? Not until we get a college play-off.
A final note to the old guard of football: It’s convenient to make claims of greatness for your teams and conferences, and keep the computer on your side, when you won’t pursue bowl bids against allegedly inferior teams come bowl time. The obvious result is that nothing gets proven or disproven, and the college football hungry public doesn’t get to see the games they are dying to see. That said, during the 2011 season, be a sport, please? And if you continue in the fashion you have, I can assure you, your toys will be taken away.
Comment by mentalinfluenceblog -
I don’t understand why someone hasn’t formed a professional league for 18-21 year old football players. Once the league crossed a threshold of viability, any elite athlete out of high school is going to pick getting paid over a college scholarship.
The main obstacle would be ensuring that the NFL maintained its current eligibility requirements, which I imagine they would drop as quickly as possible once such a league formed, unless there was kind of agreement for the NFL to preserve the eligibility rules while the new league did not allow players to play in the league for more than three years (or something similar).
In this scenario, it would be easy to have a playoff. And the bowl games could get real amateur athletes and minimal (if any) television money … that is to say, what they deserve.
Comment by sweetjazz3 -
However … I find college football a great thing, with all discussions. Unfortunately, there is not such a thing in Europe, also American football is hardly played here. This is a pity really, because I am interested very much in the sport. Here also in the TV one sees only once in a blue moon plays from the USA.
Comment by vitalmobil -
Mr. Cuban, I have been following the BCS debate intently at my blog BCS Evolution for over a year. I agree 100% that there is no lack of good ideas. I feel that your idea of 12-16 teams is a bit much, as more than three rounds should really feature a double elimination tournament (a far better option for expanding March Madness than adding a few extra games at the beginning, but I digress.)
Due to a lack of capital, I have been focusing on developing ideas that would appeal to the conference commissioners who would eventually have to sign off on any changes. A handful of these are ready to be pursued this January (several of which have nothing to do with format). As for your goals, I feel your aim is too low. Here are two memes that the university presidents will understand about why we need to make changes to college sports, not just football.
1) A education at a major university is about more than a athletics or even earning a degree. It should be about preparing our citizens for the role they will play in society. Our universities are failing to prepare our top athletes for the high profile positions our society has created for them.
Athletes are able to be lured away by dubious agents because universities hands are tied to provide them with anything beyond clear definitions of what the limits are. When the integrity of athletes becomes impeached, the institution is punished, not the athlete in question. This is flat wrong.
Imagine a world where instead Universities are able to act as agents for their athletes, using their former athletes as ties to the sports leagues they are wanting to join. What back street agent could compete?
Further, while amateur status in Olympic sports or at a smaller university makes sense, it does not make sense for those near professional level of the NFL or NBA. It is hard to teach how to deal with money, when you don’t allow people to have any. I don’t believe in a free ride, so athletes would need to provide something additional to the table.
Allow student athletes to take courses in ethics, financial management and marketing as part of a celebrity minor making them eligible for commercial slots arranged by their agent – the Universities. This would include a healthy dose of examples of alumni who have done right and those who have made a mess of things.
2) The NCAA is about protecting our student athletes. Revenues from tournament and video game licenses provide a conflict of interest with this core NCAA value.
The NCAA seems more focused on run away agents and punishing institutions for the sins of their former athletes than allowing student athletes to earn fair revenue streams from the licensed use of their images.
Perhaps you should be presenting colleges with an alternative to the NCAA, not just the BCS. Tied with the idea above, this makes dollars, not cents.
Comment by benprather -
Hey Mark, I suggested to a Wall Street Journal reporter that they contact you for your opinion about the net neutrality legislation that is up for a vote tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010).
The wall street journal net neutrality article that I read seemed to imply that everybody is confused as to what side to take because they could end up on the same side as their perennial enemies. I am very curious what you think about the legislation.
I apologize for posting it on this topic but I don’t see a way to contact you. I hit the contact button and it said no such topic could be found.
Comment by alexlogic -
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The reason the NCAA non sports cable television channel idea could work is it would create a two tiered system for the colleges that would mimic the U.S. Congress.
The NCAA Sports side, based on which schools have the best sports programs and would therefore get the most say, would be the equivalent to The House of Representatives, which is based on population, the more population, the more representatives.
The NCAA non sports cable television channel, which would represent all NCAA schools’ educational outreach program, would be like the Senate, in which every state gets two senators as a check and balance to the House of Representatives.
Right now, it appears that there may not be a checks and balance between the sports side of a college, and the academic side, when it comes to the publicity each part receives.
It’s also possible that donations to established colleges outweigh what is collected from being in an NCAA BCS Bowl. This would put an ironic twist on the entire discussion, no?
Comment by alexlogic -
If it becomes really possible by a financial support, hopes, dreams and ideas of the schools leadership guidance after fair deciding matches, then I want to make a gift with pleasure or try to introduce other good ideas. It is real in such a way,, Having a meaningful impact on the future of education is a far greater legacy and base of power for the head of a major university than having control over which bowl a team plays in.
Comment by caweber125 -
Mark: My unscientific polling indicates that you’re right 90% of the time. Here is one of those “Cuban 10% Exceptions.” I don’t believe that you can make nice ask ask what they want to facilitate change. I think taking something away is a lot more effective than offering something. The fact that Division I college is the only major team sport that decides a Champion by having people vote (instead of battling it out on the field/arena) is obsurd. I’ve already dropped out—-I don’t care about the “pagentry” or “enthusiasm” of college football anymore. I’ll let the cheerleader Brent Musberger talk himself into beleiving it’s better than the NFL because he couldn’t cut it as a pro analyst. I’ve moved on to sports that are decided by the best teams playing each other—-sports where an undefeated team doesn’t have their season end without playing for a Championship. The moment a lot of others join me and the piggish revenue starts to dry up, that’s when we’ll see a playoff system to rejuvinate interest. By the way, I have a formula for a playoff system that would knock your monogramed socks off—it covers EVERYTHING and EVERYONE comes out a winner—I don’t see how it could miss. When I have more time, I’ll post the short version details.
Comment by dcangelo -
Hello Mr. Cuban,
Love your goal. And you are right that when one encounters someone doing something you want to change you can PUSH him or PULL him. I understand your strategy to envelope a playoff system in something larger for Universities. However I don’t have a clue what can super-motivate them. But I do have an idea.
You can push them, or pull them, OR go around them. What about an idea that goes around the BCS and the universities making up the power conferences?
I am sure you and most others here understand that the NCAA and the BCS are two different beasts. The NCAA owns the digital rights to the players and teams. The NCAA consists of a little over 1,000 schools each with 1 vote. The BCS schools comprise only about 6 dozen schools. How about a Virtual Playoff? Have EA sports do it real time and broadcast each round 1 per weekend, after CFB ceases and before the BCS bowls.
It would provide a revenue stream to the NCAA, it would provide a lot of media grist, and it would give great pressure from the teams and alumni that did well in the Virtual Tourney and didn’t place highly in the BCS allotment.
And it would make content for a competitor of ESPN.
Comment by darvon86 -
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Mark,
I’m not exactly sure of what you know about College Station and the Fightin Texas Aggies. I am a first generation Aggie, with Sooner blood in my family, so I went to college station with no history, just a desire for an excellent education. Here is what I have learned. There is no greater fan base in the country in terms of stubborn pride. Take for example the 12th Man tradition. To the outside world, it is merely a bunch of students standing all game. In terms of the Athletic Director, it is ridiculous loss of money. To the season ticket holders, its a sense of pride. To the students, its the best seats they will ever pay for in their lives. 28,000 tickets for student allotment(31,000 against Nebraska setting a record). You see the student allotment isn’t shoved in to the corners of the endzone in the third deck like every other school in the country, its the prime 50 yard line real estate that is the entire east end of Kyle Field. After the Nebraska game this year, where we broke the record, where fan noise most certainly helped hold Nebraska to 6 points, all the old Ags were on a high, claiming “we will gladly keep paying for you students if you can be that loud”. I encourage you go to Kyle Field once in your life, or at least youtube a couple of videos of Kyle Field for the Nebraska game this year.
Mark. Is there anything like that in the rest of sports? A decade of frustration for season ticket holders, that pay a price higher than any other stadium of fan base would, and they know that it gave their team a win over a top 10 team. It’s pride Mark. Stubborn pride. But I promise you that Aggies will put their money where their mouth is. And your idea about pulling funding from boosters seems like a brilliant step. And there will be no easier sell in terms of a fan base.
Now what do I think the Administration would want? The recent flirtation with the SEC was telling in a lot of ways. The SEC is the best conference in college football, but the best and most competitive football games aren’t the sole focus of any University or it’s football program.
– First I believe that any college football playoff will end the conference realignment shuffle, and this is a point that seems highly favorable to the Administration as opposed to the fans. (From what I’ve heard, the Administration did not want to lose college application due to its football program becoming relevant to Mississippi State fans as opposed to the rest of Texas. The drastic improvements to OU and OSU in terms of college applications from the state of Texas in the last 20 years seem to be the most telling fact here.)
– This summer, A&M did not join the SEC. Education standards, cultural familiarity, lack of desire to cheat, awareness in the state of Texas, all of these things played a factor. Long story short, finances did not seem to be the driving force. It seemed to be self-preservation(as it is with the BCS).
– A&M recently began an annual game with Arkansas. This was not a step to play the best competition or anything close to that. In fact, playing Arkansas was a detriment to the Aggie Football team this year as it probably held us out of the Big XII Title game. But it was a chance to increase our awareness. We lose money not having an extra home game. But having a marquee game in the metroplex increases awareness. Another example of how the Aggie administration believes awareness is a worthwhile investment.
How I feel you can market to my administration:
1.) Preach how being a top 3 team in the conference can get you in the tournament every year. In the new Big XII it feels like its going to be a 3 horse race between Texas/OU/A&M. Show that this means getting in the tournament. Whether thats true or not because of the smaller conferences automatic bids doesn’t matter. Preach it. A&M is in a 10 team conference. It’s an easier route to the title game finishing second in the conference.
2.) A&M is a global University – show how the tournament would bring national awareness to our school. Texas A&M has 3 main campuses. College Station, TX. Galveston, TX. Doha, Qatar. A&M is playing the Cotton Bowl this year. And playing against LSU on Jan 7th with no other games to compete with seems like a pretty good deal. But show how a tournament can trump that.
3.) New students. A&M was a small, all-male military academy until the 70s. It now has 48,000 students. Show that these games will be an unbelievable experience for students and former students and prospective students. Show how if Aggieland has the opportunity to play host to a game in the national title race, how it would be an incredible experience for people to come from all corners of Texas to come watch a game. College Gameday times twenty.
I was presently surprised to hear your interest in this(I heard Norm talking about this book and picked up a copy myself).
If you have any ideas or questions, I would love to hear them, and will probably keep shooting you ideas as I think of them.
Thanks,
JM.
Comment by jmfern -
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Mark,
This is how we pull it off:
Use a system like Kickstarter for college football fans to fund the playoff system. Pledges of $200 or more gets two tickets to a round one game of your choice with 5 year limit to redeem. Pledges of $500 or more gets you 6 tickets to a round one game of your choice with 5 year limit to redeem. Proceeds will fund a playoff system that will yield more money to the participating D-1 schools than the current Bowl system.
Now here is where it gets very interesting. Tickets to the championship game work like this:
– Before week 1 of season, fans select their team of choice and pay a slight discount to face to reserve tickets. This reservation is NON REFUNDABLE. If your team is in the championship, you have tickets at a discount.
– Each week during the season the reserve price increases or decreased based on supply and demand for your choice team. Tickets reserved per team is limited to 50% of the championship stadium’s capacity. This will yield 10x in ticket revenues for this game.
– 16 team playoff, first round hosted by higher ranked college. Remainder at neutral sites.
– Cities and stadium owners bid to host neutral site games.
– Obviously, TV stations also bid for rights. Don’t count out PPV.
Contact me if you want to explore further. I was the President of a company you once considered acquiring, before we merged with a public company. I have a team in place that can build the online infrastructure to pull this off.
Comment by tobyteeter -
Mark, thank you for taking on this challenge.
You would be well served to read “Switch” by Dan and Chip Heath. They present a framework for successfully addressing change. I will borrow their template to share my ideas:
DIRECT THE RIDER
follow the bright spots (investigate what’s working and clone it): the ncaa already has a great and lucrative product (ncaa fball) and tournament (basketball) that is loved by their fans and produces a clear national champion. College athletics give students an opportunity to learn and grow and produces productive citizens.
script the critical moves (don’t think big picture, think in terms of specific behaviors): this one is tough, what must university presidents do in order to change the system?
point to the destination (change is easier when you know where you are going and why it’s worth it): you (university presidents) will have a wildly popular and lucrative championship in just two years.
MOTIVATE THE ELEPHANT:
find the feeling (make people feel something): this is the heart of your blogpost. you (university president), will help provide additional scholarship monies for students who would otherwise not receive the opportunity had it not been for the new playoff system. You will create additional research funds for your professors and students. Most importantly, your support and action will leave you with a lasting legacy as the president that was in power when the playoff system was implemented and all this new opportunity was unleashed. Fans around the country will love you for giving them what they want. Also, we want to motivate the bowl executives and the tv executives (with financial opportunity), get them pressuring the presidents and fighting on our side.
shrink the change (break down the change so that it no longer spooks the elephant): convene a summit with the key stakeholders, lay out everyone’s minimum requirements (demands that must be met) for changing the system, meet those demands.
grow your people (cultivate a sense of identity and instill the growth mindset): create and us vs. them mentality among the stakeholders. The changers are the reformers. They are the ones that took up this challenge and created the new opportunities that benefited everyone.
SHAPE THE PATH:
tweak the environment: accept that the playoff system is the best thing for the students and the schools. Accept that a playoff system will be implemented. If everyone accepts this they can get over fighting it (maintaining the status quo) and start working towards solutions. Have the stakeholder meeting take place somewhere other than a boardroom. Have it take place in Africa, tell the presidents that the NCAA can provide more opportunities to improve public health, innovate and solve world problems by producing more scholarship opportunities for students to address these problems. If nothing else, the presidents may be less petty about their stupid demands while they are surrounded by poverty. Heck, create a post-graduate program funded by the new system specifically for former student athletes to become world wide ambassadors for the NCAA. These former student athletes would have a 2 year program in other countries like peace corps. They could engage the populace and play their sport with the local population and explain the great opportunity the NCAA provided them. This would serve as a recruitment tool for young children. Imagine how much better college athletics would become if we could draw from a wider world population? Soccer, track, basketball, football all of these sports would have a greater talent pool and further increase their revenues as fans would finally want to go to soccer games because the talent will be improved. All the while the NCAA would be providing opportunites for foreign born student athletes. Also, the “peace corps” would give student athletes more incentive to complete their degree and a job straight out of college, finally these athletes would be “paid” to go to school.
Rally the herd (behavior is contagious, help it spread): get presidents who buy into the playoff to pressure the other presidents.
Mark, these are my ideas using the Switch framework. The most important thing you can do is “find the feeling” for these university presidents (as you have basically written in your blogpost). Tell them that they will make the WORLD a better place using their position and the great opportunity laying in their hands. Once you have them convinced it should be the easiest thing to get the change we want. After all, the fans want a playoff system! The presidents aren’t solving America’s debt problem and making hard choices, the change they would be providing is something everyone actually wants.
Comment by srockcapital -
Mr. Cuabn,
Every university has a faculty athletics representative (FAR) who serves as the intermediary between the president/chancellor/academic faculty and the athletic department. They are familiar with the needs of both academia and athletics. The FAR’s input is crucial in determining key issues and discovering potential obstacles due to their unique understanding of both sides. I believe it would be beneficial to consult the FAR prior to making contact with the president. Also, they are generally more accessible to students and the general public than a university president or chancellor.
– Matt
Comment by wvut1911 -
The hopes and dreams of a university president? Not to lose his or her job since in the real world the type of experience that they have is generally not worth what they’re getting paid.
How do you change that? You need to create an environment where teachers get paid an amount that makes people in the business world think about going back to school so they can get a job teaching because the money is so good. Not a bad thing, but people don’t pay for education…even at the top schools they’re paying for the school’s name on the degree, not the actual education they’re getting. The brightest know they can learn whatever they’re learning over the internet. What they’re paying for is the networking and contacts that they hope will pay off down the road. Like buying a house in a nice subdivision later on, they know that they’re going someplace where only people of their same caliber are being let in.
The teachers could be replaced at anytime and they know it. The presidents come from this background and feel the same way. The presidents at the big schools are scared to death that they’re going to get run off because of the failings of an athletic program that they generally don’t have a clue about how to run. The marginal gain that would be brought about by a playoff system certainly isn’t worth the risk to someone that doesn’t understand why 100,000 would show up for a football game in the first place.
So how do you change all that without having to go get elected to your local school board and maybe 50 years later accomplishing a football playoff?
For the kind of money you’re talking about, there are people that can accomplish what you want. They’ll do anything for the kind of money you’re talking about. For them, the goal is to get elected and they’ll sell out their own mother to do that. They’re called congressmen and senators.
The playoff system doesn’t have a lobbying organization, right? It’s not organized enough to have one. You can create it and put enough money into the pockets of the people in Washington to make it happen within the next two years.
What am I missing here?
Comment by 90tiger -
This also would be infinitely easier if the people that controlled the sports media weren’t also “in on the action.”
ESPN is very sly about how they do it. They bring it up and complain enough to make themselves look innocent, but we all know that they are (along with Fox) the only bowl game broadcasters.
In the end, they make it seem like I should feel bad for wanting it to stop. I feel like the old lady who cheers for Arnold in “The Running Man”
Comment by sirstruggle -
Mark, would not it be ironic that if a college cable channel were formed, and the channel showcased the achievements of colleges all over the country in such a way as to create a donation stream for all colleges from those who watch the channel, that you might find yourself caring less about a playoff system as you too get engrossed in other aspects of college life besides the sports side.
The point being that in thinking about this from the university presidents perception, as was your request in your article and a request that appears to have fallen on deaf ears, both sides have to be flexible to change.
Comment by alexlogic -
The problem is that all of these plans seem to be trying to keep the BCS bowls in the mix….
Screw ’em. Give me 1 reason why the Orange Bowl is even considered a big game every year. It’s played in a 20 year old stadium (now) with all the profits coming from TV contracts.
Everyone knows that the money from BCS games is split between the BCS Bowl bigwigs (moochers,) the TV networks (moochers, but necessary,) and then the BCS conference schools with a slight throw in to non BCS conference teams if they happen to survive the BS that it took to get there. Attendance doesn’t even matter. There could be no one sitting in the stands at the Auburn/Oregon game and the bowl would still profit.
Stop trying to convert the BCS Monopoly Bowls, and just leave them out altogether. I would personally donate half of my income just to see the Rose Bowl forced to have a lame matchup on New Years Day.
I’m pretty sure Jerry down I-30 would love to donate his palace for such an event, as would many others with large stadiums that go needlessly unused during bowl season. With an 8 team tourney, that’s 7 stadium owners and 7 sponsors that would easily provide enough to help finance such an effort.
Your problem will still be TV. Without TV contracts, it’s a real uphill battle.
-Andy
Comment by sirstruggle -
Mr. Cuban, I have a radical idea that I would like for you to take a look at. I only need a few minutes of your time to explain it to you. This idea would be more beneficial to you financially than what you are currently attempting.
Comment by keiserhog -
In all seriousness, ask Dick Vitale for some ideas. That man is more passionate, thoughtful and outspoken about student-athletes than anyone I’ve ever seen. He has great connections, a lifetime of ideas and a genuine interest in making college sports more more equitable for the kids. As he’s fond of saying…student-athletes are treated like professional athletes in every way except one, they don’t get paid.
Comment by jeremygossett -
Mr Cuban
I’ve always been a huge advocate of a playoff in major college football. it’s litarally the only level, from youth league to NFL, that doesn’t have a playoff. It doesn’t make sense. The BCS is destroying smaller conferences. Note recent conference expansion aftermath
You know what i’ve thought about for a long time? What if somebody organized a tournament for teams that did not make a bowl? Sort of like college football’s version of the NIT. Think about it…Do you know how many poeple want a tournament at that level? I’ll bet you that if you organized a 4 week tournament comprised of those teams, it would rival the bowl series in tv mula. And what would the BCS say if all the sudden the teams that ESPN loves to hate suddenly were garnering more attention than their precious computer picked BCS games? What would that prove??? EXACTLY…Mr Cuban, Sir, if you’re willing to take me up on this idea, i’ll dedicate my life as your employee doing whatever i can to help make this happen. Passion; i have it
Comment by whallonj -
As a founding President and member of the Executive Team of the All American Football league, I will share the following, solely because your brother is a ROCKSTAR a fellow Big Ten Guy (like yourself) and an excellent Twitter friend whom is getting bombarded on this issue;
1. We Spent $25 Million to answer your questions, with actionable change.
2. We secured sound advise, and relations with Presidents/Chancellors from many top BCS Schoools and clearly understand
3.Our Operation & Executive Board consisted of the former President of the NCAA, and former Presidents of Kentucky, UCLA, Florida aka some of the grand poobahs of College Sports. These men, get the ear of the Presidents as they are in the ring of decision fire, which they respect.
The solution for you is to send me an email chris@aafl.com I will give you what you need, to accomplish our mutual goals. However, be prepared to;
a. Spend $15M less than 2% of your proposed $500MM
b. Create a new March Madness styled tournament, as well.
c. Only allow amateur student-athletes whom have GRADUATED or completed all requirements for graduation, to compete. NO degree no play.
d. Set aside a portion of proceeds to support our troops, and for academic scholarships for underserved populations.
Cook this recipe for 2 years. Proving that student athlete graduation rates are up 10%, and you will have ‘mind share’ and grass roots credibility for leading the REVOLUTION of inspiring student-athletes to graduate, which is how Presidents, Coaches and AD’s are measured.
Although we shelved ourselves, until a better economy and a best strategic plan. We received, BLUE RIBBON respect from Academia, for sending kids back to graduate BEFORE they were eligible to play, which many kids in fact did do.
The graduation rates of some schools is around 50%. A college degree is the ONLY real pay off a kid get through college sports. Only 2% go on to pro sports. The other 98% go to work, and only around half of those are finishing their degree. Thus, Partnering with me and us, to seed your dream, will save you money, and push the playoff system concept to reality. As you state, its not the money, its REPEALING THE STIGMA OF EXPLOITATION. Playoff sounds and feels like NFL. Bowl Games sounds like college.
Creating a ‘playoff only’ season in the spring-summer, creates highly valuable content, for media outlets. Inventory for Beer advertisers, and more apparel exposure for Adidas and Nike….best, it sets the foundation that it can be done, progressively starting with the commitment to graduate only products. Let me know chris@aafl.com
From MC> While I would love to learn more, my email is mark@hd.net , i have zero interest in a post graduate league geared towards alums.
Comment by aafl -
Mark, it sounds a lot like the type of “investment opportunities” that you are often presented: short on solutions, long on hope and logic.
– Until Bowl Commissioners are not guaranteed six figure compensation there will be no change.
– Until traditional bowls are guaranteed their yearly payouts there will be no change.
– Until Universities will be assured a profitable relationships to post-season games [see: Connecticut] there will be no change.
Attempting a ground swell, grass roots movement where activity and effort are based on hope and dreams will unequivocally result in nothingness.
From MC> Doing all those things is easy. None are inhibitors. Getting the right parties to agree to the above and allow a playoff is the hard part. We need a reason for them to allow us to just “pay them off”
Comment by markmontoya -
What is preventing a college football national champion sounds like what Columbia legal scholar Michael Heller has termed a “tragedy of the anticommons”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_anticommons
http://www.gridlockeconomy.com/
Too many conflicting interests, highly fragmented ownership, a wide range of contracts spread out over various competing parties in media, merchandising, and academia. And more.
What’s good for some fans is not good for other fans. What’s good for some schools is not good for other schools. What’s good for some marketing and media groups is not good for some local bowl, tourist, and hotel committees. And so on.
More money often does nothing to fix tragedies of the anticommons. In many cases it only exacerbates them by more firmly cementing the fractured market that exists.
Comment by texasdawg -
Based on what Mark was asking about, maybe college university presidents would like a nationwide cable channel devoted to academia. The purpose would be less to compete with every other university, but moreso to convince the public at large they can feel comfortable making endowments to college universities in general.
Comment by alexlogic -
While I love the concept of a playoff, what I see as the sticking point here is if you ask 100 Presidents what they want, you are going to get 100 different answers, most of which don’t align. In addition, while the engine for change may be revving at the have-nots, those currently in the AQ conferences have guaranteed revenue streams, not potential ones. Bird in hand if you will. I do think change can/will/must be made. But I believe to get any budge from those reaping the benefits of the current system, that change will have to be incremental. I’m a huge fan of yours Mark. You get sports and sports fans. You are also a captain of industry and should understand the makeup of these BCS/Conference heads and University Presidents. They are CEOs and are looking to make a buck. They also have egos, and they have put years of time and money defending the system as is. If you can work it so that they can claim credit for the whole idea, you will be golden!
From MC> we just need the idea they can take credit for. I dont care where it comes from, they can take all the credit. I will enjoy the results
Comment by hypno1 -
I think the current non-BCS AQ schools will say the same thing – give us a chance to play for the championship. Maybe they do not make the same money as Texas, USC and Ohio State, but a 12-0 Boise State or TCU does deserve and opportunity to prove it on the field.
Comment by dfnsports -
Great idea Mr.Cuban. If you can’t beat them join them. You can’t beat the big boys so kill em with love. That is a great chess move. Eductaion is the most important.
Mark Farwell
Comment by whitewoody77 -
I feel like I was just handed a homework assignment, and I got nuttin.
Comment by alexlogic -