Colorado head soccer coach Deion Sanders was the voice of motive when it got here to the hypocrisy of faculty athletics on Friday.
Sanders was requested at his post-practice press convention on Friday concerning the ongoing convention realignment saga. Earlier than Sanders took to the rostrum, Yahoo Sports activities reported that Oregon and Washington could be becoming a member of the Large Ten. Their departure from the convention got here after Colorado, with the Buffaloes saying earlier this summer season that they’d return to the Large 12.
The three colleges — and probably others within the coming days — are leaving the Pac-12 as a result of the convention has been unable to discover a media rights cope with aggressive annual funds with the opposite 4 energy conferences. And Sanders made it clear that gamers shouldn’t be penalized for attempting to make as a lot cash as attainable by means of identify, picture and likeness offers whereas school directors are launched for chasing bigger funds as nicely.
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“I do not care which convention, who we play in opposition to; we’re attempting to win,” Sanders stated. “It is all concerning the cash. are you aware that. It is a couple of bag. Everyone seems to be chasing the bag. Then she will get offended on the gamers once they chase her. How is that? How do adults get mad at gamers once they chase her when faculties chase them? “
Yahoo Sports activities’ Dan Wetzel made the identical level in a wonderful column earlier this week. Faculty athletics leaders have lamented the consequences of the switch gate and the present lack of guidelines governing athlete endorsement offers whereas on the similar time the colleges try to make as a lot cash as attainable. The soundness of the Pac-12 collapsed a summer season in the past when USC and UCLA left for the Large Ten and bigger annual funds to media.
Sanders additionally made positive to fall for crack at Dan Lanning’s remarks earlier within the week. When requested about Colorado transferring to the Large 12, Lanning stated he did not “keep in mind them successful something” within the Pac-12.
“The identical groups that have been speaking about us, proper?” Sanders requested with a chuckle.
With all three colleges leaving the convention as of Friday, the Pac-12 might fully stop to exist after the 2023-24 sports activities seasons. Arizona was in negotiations with the Large 12 and Arizona State and Utah might observe. If these three colleges head to the Large 12 with Colorado, solely 4 of the Pac-12 colleges will stay at Cal, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State.
There aren’t many good choices for Oregon State and Washington State if the Pac-12 folds. Washington State President Kirk Schultz and Athletic Director Pat Chun stated in an announcement Friday that they’re their choices for the long run.
“We’re disillusioned with latest selections made by a few of our Pac-12 friends,” stated Schulz and Chun. “Whereas we hoped our membership would stick collectively, that final result was all the time a risk and we’ve been working arduous to find out what’s subsequent for Washington State athletics. We ready many eventualities, together with our present state of affairs. With distinctive student-athletes, a robust Cougar custom and unbelievable assist From our followers, donors, and alumni, collectively we are going to chart the perfect path ahead.”