A group of more than 100 Pac-12 football players has said it will opt-out of both fall camp and the 2020 season if the conference doesn't meet its set of demands.
I agree with you, Joe, that many of these demands are overdue. I've felt that if coaches can bolt at a moment's notice and begin working elsewhere right away that athletes should have the same opportunity. Yes, we will see some more transfers, but I bet it will primarily be in football and I don't think it is going to be as big a deal as people imagine. Things like ensuring a scholarship covers sufficient time to get a degree and covering health insurance after leaving school are potentially negotiable but very reasonable ideals. But getting to things like reallocating money and asking schools to use endowments for athletics will be problematic, as is anything that requires money. And addressing social injustices is 100% appropriate and worthy, but enacting tangible changes in that arena has always been challenging.
It will be interesting to see how adamant the players are in standing behind these demands. On one hand I admire their stance and current solidarity. My fear is that this will cost us the 2020 season (never mind that virus thing that's already out there) and do irreparable damage to the conference. Honestly, right now this country could probably take or leave Pac-12 football. If the SEC had 100 football players sign on to this list of demands, I'd give it a much greater chance of coming to pass.
But no matter what happens, Larry Scott deserves an 80% pay cut. And move the damn offices to Fresno or somewhere more affordable.
I agree with you, Joe, that many of these demands are overdue. I've felt that if coaches can bolt at a moment's notice and begin working elsewhere right away that athletes should have the same opportunity. Yes, we will see some more transfers, but I bet it will primarily be in football and I don't think it is going to be as big a deal as people imagine. Things like ensuring a scholarship covers sufficient time to get a degree and covering health insurance after leaving school are potentially negotiable but very reasonable ideals. But getting to things like reallocating money and asking schools to use endowments for athletics will be problematic, as is anything that requires money. And addressing social injustices is 100% appropriate and worthy, but enacting tangible changes in that arena has always been challenging.
It will be interesting to see how adamant the players are in standing behind these demands. On one hand I admire their stance and current solidarity. My fear is that this will cost us the 2020 season (never mind that virus thing that's already out there) and do irreparable damage to the conference. Honestly, right now this country could probably take or leave Pac-12 football. If the SEC had 100 football players sign on to this list of demands, I'd give it a much greater chance of coming to pass.
But no matter what happens, Larry Scott deserves an 80% pay cut. And move the damn offices to Fresno or somewhere more affordable.