Pac-12 adding San Diego State shows why George Kliavkoff failed in 2023

Dec 3, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff speaks before the 2021 Pac-12 Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Before we talk about San Diego State going to the Pac-12 along with three other Mountain West schools, let’s step back and confront the harsh truth about George Kliavkoff in 2023: So much of Pac-12 realignment in particular, and college sports conference realignment in general, is really dumb. What we mean by that: So many things that happen in conference realignment could have been done in previous years, but don’t happen until the situation has gotten much worse and various parties benefit a lot less from the change. If the change had been made years ago, everyone would have benefited a lot more.

Negotiating parties fail to arrive at obvious agreements, hoping for better outcomes elsewhere. They get greedy. They fail to realize their bigger, less realistic “Hail Mary” plans. Humbled, they hope to salvage the situation, but by then, it’s too late.

This is how the Pac-12 imploded last year. This is why George Kliavkoff and the Pac-12 CEO Group failed so badly. They had an ESPN deal right there on the table — a competitive deal which, while not spectacular, would have enabled the conference to remain in business with its primary West Coast schools (Oregon, Washington) and Arizona anchor schools plus Utah and Colorado. The Pac-12 refused the ESPN deal. It held out for something bigger even though it simply didn’t have the leverage. The conference soon scattered, with Colorado leading the stampede which trampled the Pac-12 last summer.

All of this plays into the San Diego State situation. The Pac-12 is adding the Aztecs now, but it should have done so a year ago. It didn’t, and it will always remain…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/pac-12-adding-san-diego-154956962.html

Author : Trojans Wire

Publish date : 2024-09-12 15:49:56

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