D1.ticker - Eliminate the barrage of articles & time-consuming searches. Efficient D1 athletics news in a daily email |
| |
|
#10: San José State Women’s Volleyball lost its first match of the season last Thursday against Colorado State as the Spartans were back on the floor after headlines of match cancellations. SJSU HC Todd Kress: “I walked up to (CSU HC) Emily (Kohan) tonight, and I was like, ‘Should I say thank you for playing us?’ I seriously meant that because, of course, we're disappointed that we're losing opportunities to play, but it's not just us that are losing opportunities to play. It's the people choosing not to play us, and that's very unfortunate when it comes to these young women that have earned the right to step on the court and play. [...] We're in a position where it appears that government and politics has kind of intertwined itself with college sports. And the one thing that I love about college sports, it's always been a safe haven for me, that's one area that government I don't think should be involved. And it seems that some of those decisions are being made at levels to where they're denying their student athletes as well, which is then denying our student athletes.” (link)
|
#9: West Virginia President Gordon Gee and Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud pen an op-ed in The Chronicle of Higher Education titled, “The Demise of College Sports as We Know Them,” on the heels of College Sports Tomorrow’s proposal for the College Student Football League, for which Gee and Syverud are ambassadors. On the industry, the pair write: “Our balkanized system of college football — the conference structure itself — is at the heart of the problem. Recent conference realignments have made the issue even worse, disrupting traditional rivalries — the heart and soul of college football — as well as diluting regional matchups and increasing cost and travel burdens for schools and student-athletes. Competitive balance has eroded, with the same few teams dominating every year. The introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, increased use of the transfer portal, and lack of salary caps are exacerbating the divide and have the potential to bankrupt the entire system.” They believe two major scenarios will prevail in the “absence of a major rethinking” of football: an FBS implosion that would leave only 36 schools standing to afford House and NIL or a Big Ten/SEC super league. As an alternative, the CSFL would be owned by FBS schools and partner with a college football players’ association to directly pay student-athletes that would remain full-time students “with no union on campus. We believe this would protect football players whether the courts rule them to be employees or not. All other college sports would remain in the current conference system or return to their traditional geographic conferences and financially benefit from growing college-football ratings and engagement.” In closing: “We have made no commitment to CST or this exact approach. But as university presidents, we need to get back in the game and take responsibility for our future. We can’t rely on commissioners or Congress to do this. More engagement, urgency, and leadership are needed from all of us to breathe new life into college sports and create a sustainable new model that is steeped in the cherished traditions we all want to preserve.” (link)
|
#8: Georgia Softball gets to move into their upgraded digs this week, as phase one of Jack Turner Softball Stadium renovations is complete. Check out the pictures. (link)
|
#7: Interesting graphics by consultant Tony Altimore on year-over-year rankings changes in the U.S. News & World Report for Power 4 institutions. Top risers: Louisville (+16), Missouri (+15), Colorado, Kentucky & Nebraska (+7), Arizona, BYU, Clemson & LSU (+6). On the other end: Utah (-21), Arizona State (-16), Auburn (-12), Arkansas, Houston, Oklahoma State & Oregon (-11), Cincinnati (-10), Ole Miss & Oklahoma (-8), TCU (-7), Iowa State, Syracuse & Washington (-6). (link)
|
#6: Temple has parted ways with Assoc. AD for Institutional Advancement Ed Stoner, according to The Temple News’ Samuel O’Neal and Ryan Mack. The Owls declined to comment on the matter. (link)
|
#5: Hawaii has selected Colorado Springs resident Isaac Daggett’s “sUHrf City” submission as the winner of its first-ever fan design Wahine Basketball Uniform Contest, which received 125 entries from 20 states and five countries. Uni-watch and Athletics Admin partnered with UH for the contest and the uniforms will be part of the festivities for Beeman's Bigger Bash on Jan. 25, 2025. Have a look at the winning submission. (link)
|
#4: The “Slobbering Hog” mark is back at center court for Arkansas thanks to a “late six-figure donation” and money from a Justin Moore concert, meeting the “$500K goal to match a $500K donation to hit $1M in one week. Center court logo added this morning as promised,” per Razorbacks AD Hunter Yurachek. (link)
|
#3: Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger breaks down “Project Rudy,” a “super league-esque concept — separate and more simplified than the one made public last week — that incorporates football programs of the four power conferences in a 70-team structure.” The project, which has been presented to more than 25 power conference ADs in the last four months, proposes to preserve the “four power conferences, expand the postseason, overhaul scheduling, tier revenue distribution and, most importantly, infuse as much as $9B of private capital cash into the system.” The architects behind the project – former Disney execs Evan Richter, Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs – work for Smash Capital, and they recently recruited former Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick to join the team.” Miami (FL) AD Dan Radakovich tells Dellenger: “Of all the ideas I’ve seen, this one makes the most sense. Conferences are kept intact, commissioners still have an important and valuable role, and there is the ability for schools to make increased money from bigger matchups and more playoff games.” As for the plan itself, Dellenger reports it is built on two main principles: arranging more games between power conference programs by eliminating all games against Group of 5 and FCS opponents; expanding the playoffs; and pitting blue-blood powers more often against one another; and consolidating the media rights of the 70 schools under one agreement, instead of the current structure of five different packages (one for each power league and Notre Dame). The plan’s other concepts — tiered distribution with relegation, for instance — hinge on the cash boon from those two ideas. According to the slide presentation, the proposed changes will result in an increase of media and sponsorship revenue of about $15B over a 12-year period. … An upfront infusion of $5.3B in private capital — borrowed from future media revenues — would provide schools immediate cash during a three-year transition period, helping them buy out non-power opponents and supplementing their annual television distribution. Tiered revenue would break down roughly to $130M per top 16 school in Year 1 to $250M in Year 12. The next 22 schools would earn $60M to $110M, while the last 30 schools would bring in $30M to $60M. The idea would need the blessing of SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, who declined to comment for the story; however, Dellenger reports that several officials at their schools agree the conferences can figure this out for themselves, with one SEC AD saying: “We don’t need a middleman.” Lots more. (link)
|
#2: The Big 12 is set to hire WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton as the league’s new VP of Men’s Basketball, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. (link)
|
#1: U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken has granted preliminary approval to the House settlement, concluding that “on a preliminary basis only, the settlement complies with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 that the agreement be fair, reasonable and adequate,” according to Sportico’s Michael McCann. The process of officially notifying current and former athletes of the terms and claims procedures is set to begin on October 18. Those who would be covered by the agreement will have the opportunity to object or opt out by January 31, 2025, with a final approval hearing scheduled for April 7, 2025. NCAA President Charlie Baker: "We are thrilled by Judge Wilken’s decision to give preliminary approval to the landmark settlement that will help bring stability and sustainability to college athletics while delivering increased benefits to student-athletes for years to come. Today’s progress is a significant step in writing the next chapter for the future of college sports. We look forward to working with all of Division I, and especially student-athlete leadership groups to chart the path forward and drive historic change." USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz notes schools could begin paying their athletes in the first academic year after final approval and the resolution of any potential appeals. “So, in theory, payments to athletes could begin during the 2025-26 school year. And [House plaintiffs’ attorney Steve] Berman has said current and former athletes could begin receiving checks from the damages pool in fall 2025, if not sooner.” McCann: “For the NCAA and the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Monday is a positive development but by no means represents the crossing of the finish lines. There are still miles to go on that front.” (link, link); Berkowitz adds that Wilken’s “order today did not include any specific commentary concerning her reasons for granting preliminary approval other than fairly standard general language saying that she will ‘likely be able to approve the Settlement as fair, reasonable and adequate ... subject to further consideration’ at the final approval hearing.” (link); Full order. (link); Following the preliminary approval of the House settlement, Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger highlights some of the finer points, noting that “schools have a choice to opt out of settlement terms, thus prohibiting them from sharing revenue. Many FCS & basketball-playing programs plan to opt out of the settlement. There is ongoing debate on future competition between P4 schools & those that opt out.” (link)
|
|
|
|