Moan all you want

[Pudge]

This Conference Realignment stuff all point to Congressional hearings & Lawsuits. For those who thought the 2004 mess led to ineffectual litigation, you can put your head under your pillow. Lawyers will be used to pursue economic gain by the dispossessed. And gars was right ... this ultimately has the BIG hammer coming their way: Senators grandstanding. (cause that is what they do)

And there was a subtle line in one of BL's posts weeks back that rings loudly: Title IX.

And I bet ESPN was particularly unhappy about the Target put on them by BC's foolish mouth.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Possibly. More likely, everything will shuffle because the media rights for a playoff will be so overwhelming as to cause a schism within the major conferences.

 

[toppencil]

Congressional hearings would be likely if it weren't for the economy. Any attempt to start hearings would put a target on the respective congressman.

Playoffs will happen, it's just a matter of when. Once they do, conferences will no longer want to be larger than 12.

 

[upstater]

What I don't get is this. Clearly the conferences are assuming superconferences are down the road, or else none of the expansion makes any sense.

And since we're talking about superconferences, then clearly the next move is to dismantle the NCAA.

So, since conferences are already acting on these expectations, wouldn't it be fair to say that the superconference idea has been vetted with lawyers?

 

[upstater]

Congressional hearings would be likely if it weren't for the economy. Any attempt to start hearings would put a target on the respective congressman.

Playoffs will happen, it's just a matter of when. Once they do, conferences will no longer want to be larger than 12.

You're assuming the NCAA will hold playoffs.

 

[upstater]

Maybe I'm wrong though and the endgame is to wear down the "excluded" through economic attrition.

 

[flyonthewall]

Congressional hearings and $5 will get you the latte of the day at Starbucks. Sure, some of the people who testify will be grilled and made to look bad but hearings are NOT legislation. When BCS conference realignment is done there will be only a few schools who will be left out and the Senators from those states will not be able to pass any laws without a lot of support from elsewhere. Do you think ther Senators from SEC states will care about UConn or Rutgers being left out? You need 60 votes to do anything in the Senate and all you have to do is to add up the states from the SEC, Pac12, ACC, etc. and you will find a lot of Senators who think things are just fine.

As far as lawsuits, sure anyone can always find a lawyer to sue. Problem is that you need a real claim and after the 2004 BE raid people have learned to be much more careful and to lawyer up at the start. Look at how the SEC handled adding A&M. The SEC said they will not offer membership to any team that is currently in another conference so A&M had to leave the Big12 first and then the SEC offered. Not to say some lawsuit may conjure up a colorable claim but like last time when Blumenthal sued, that will get the plaintiffs a few dollars but will not force any conference to take them.

 

[ctchamps]

Any congressional action will be stymied by the numbers of states who have a vested interest in this process. Too many universities in too many powerful states with too many congressman who support this process because it helps their states. Any hearing that might come into play will be downplayed.

 

[toppencil]

Certain schools have already done enough to exclude other institutions. The major SEC and B1G powers often play 8 home games a season. They simply won't travel to "lesser" institutions. The creation of the BCS system has been under scrutiny for years. The BCS threw Utah off the trail by inclusion in the Pac-12.

If the 5 major conferences go too far, I think the American people will demand something be done. At that point, Congress will get involved.

Yes, I would hope that playoffs would be unde the NCAA banner and not some new organization.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think it is entirely possible, 50% chance or better, that the BCS will dissolve after the end of the current contract. As the money increases, the likelihood of an antitrust claim increases. It is entirely likely that the current BCS contract is illegal under the Sherman Act. The bigger piece of the overall market that the BCS covers, the more likely it is that it will come under scrutiny. It is already very unpopular.

Right now, everybody wants to join the illegal cartel, so nobody will bring the claim against it. But as it winds down, that will change.

 

[toppencil]

Congressional hearings and $5 will get you the latte of the day at Starbucks. Sure, some of the people who testify will be grilled and made to look bad but hearings are NOT legislation. When BCS conference realignment is done there will be only a few schools who will be left out and the Senators from those states will not be able to pass any laws without a lot of support from elsewhere. Do you think ther Senators from SEC states will care about UConn or Rutgers being left out? You need 60 votes to do anything in the Senate and all you have to do is to add up the states from the SEC, Pac12, ACC, etc. and you will find a lot of Senators who think things are just fine.

The Justice Department of the United States simply needs to sue the BCS for violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Congress does not have to do anything. Hearings would bring some plublicity to the issue.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=5984364

 

[toppencil]

I think it is entirely possible, 50% chance or better, that the BCS will dissolve after the end of the current contract. As the money increases, the likelihood of an antitrust claim increases. It is entirely likely that the current BCS contract is illegal under the Sherman Act. The bigger piece of the overall market that the BCS covers, the more likely it is that it will come under scrutiny. It is already very unpopular.

Right now, everybody wants to join the illegal cartel, so nobody will bring the claim against it. But as it winds down, that will change.

Here's hoping you're right.