PAC-12 Network sets the bar very high

College athletics is big business.  College sports programs compete with professional entities for coaching talent, prospective players, and state-of-the-art facilities.  The introduction of networks such as NFL network and the Golf Channel provided an advantage to the professional sports by broadcasting their respective sports programming 24 hours a day.   Now the college programs have made a huge leap in the same direction. 

The larger conferences sign multi-billion dollar deals with networks such as ESPN to broadcast their sports year round.  However, The Big Ten made a huge leap by starting its own network.  This means they can generate income from games not typically shown nationally by putting them on their own network.  This helps to generate income.  In the offseason, they can show classic games from years past in various sports and adjust their programming to address the changing of the sports with the seasons.  Also, women’s athletics gets more national attention, since most men’s sports are more than likely going to be broadcast in preference. 

The creation of the Longhorn Network caused many shifts in conference alignment.  The Pacific-10 has now added two teams, changed its alignment to two divisions, and is now preparing to launch its own network.  One of the main differences between the new PAC-12 network and The Big Ten Network is how in formatting.  The prospective design of the PAC-12 network will include one national network and six regional networks.  Thy currently have deals with the four major cable providers in their geographic region: Bright House, Comcast, Time Warner and Cox. The Big Ten only broadcast through DirecTV at its onset and the Longhorn Network has minimal outreach.

There will also be a digital platform not featured with the Big Ten Network.  This takes advantage of the surge in social media and technology such as the iPad and various applications for other products such as phones and computers.  In addition, the PAC-12 will be the sole owner of its network, whereas the Big Ten Network is collaboration between its conference and television stations such as FOX. 

All of this comes from the desk of PAC-12 commissioner Larry Scott.  His vision for the conference and the network create a dynamic new arena for college sports.  With plans to host games overseas, such as in China, college sports will continue to ride at the front of the money train.

Gentlemen in College Athletics

February 2 of every year is National Signing Day.  It is a chance to be proud of the future of a football program, or at the very least know what to expect on paper.  It also marks the end of one of the more cutthroat aspects of college athletics: recruiting.  Many storylines emerge this season as Alabama signs more than they need, coaches bicker over understood recruiting practices, and of course other coaches commit NCAA violations.

Nick Saban had to inform one of his commitments that he couldn't sign him this season.  According to eh Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Justin Taylor, the seventh 2012 commitment to the Tide, was informed that the Alabama staff basically found a better recruit.  However, if he wanted to enroll at Alabama he could and they would hold a scholarship for him next season.  After a year of being a proud Bama prospect, Taylor ultimately signs with Kentucky.  Alabama is not new to the practice of over-signing players.  Mike Herndon at AI.com recalls it is arguably the reason Bobby Dodd pulled Georgia Tech from the SEC, since the conference would not reign in on Bear Bryant.  One major difference is the scholarship limits currently in place.  Regardless, it is not a god practice to lose trust with recruits and it damages the image of the program and can jeopardize future prospects willingness to commit.

Sporting News highlights another unfavorable practice.  The Big Ten usually has a "gentlemen's agreement" that once a player signs with one school in the conference, the other schools leave said player alone.  Enter Urban Meyer.  After pulling a player from Michigan State, he does the same to Wisconsin.  Wisconsin coach Bret Bilema has involved the Big Ten office in this dispute, and Meyer defends his position because even though he asked, the recruit should have said he isn't interested.  Most conferences do not have such understanding, including the Southeastern Conference, where Meyer spent a few years coaching at Florida.  Until a player signs, he is considered fair game, which is usually how smaller programs like Vanderbilt eventually lose out on stellar talent.  Because the importance in college athletics is about winning at all cost, it only stands to get a lot worse.

Ken Seguira of the AJC reports how text messaging costs a coach his job and may get a school already in trouble in even more heat.  Georgia Tech is already under probation, but text messages, which are not allowed from coach to recruit, made their way out from a school already on pins and needles with an appeal to the NCAA.  Only faxes and electronic mail are permissible from coaches to recruits.  Because Tech is already under probation, this may influence how the NCAA penalizes the school.  Fortunately, it will not affect the current appeal of the earlier violations.

Recruitment is a year-round activity.  It is one of the easiest ways for a school to violate NCAA regulations.  It highlights the importance of a good compliance office and a relationship between administration and coaches to ensure all aspects are by the book.  In many cases, recruiting doesn't violate regulations, but is considered unethical by practice.  Being accountable and respectful to your colleagues is just as important as obeying the rules of the governing body.  Ultimately, how a program is publicly perceived determines its success, in spite of rules violations or ethics practices.