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#10: The NCAA changed the definition of a quality win in the context of MBB NCAA Tournament access starting with the upcoming season in a move that could shift national scheduling dynamics. "Effective with the 2017-18 season, team sheets will place greater emphasis on where the games are played rather than the ranking of each opponent." Outgoing committee chair & Michigan State AD Hollis: "The emphasis of performing well on the road is important, as was the need for teams not to be penalized as much for road losses. Beating elite competition, regardless of the game location, will still be rewarded, but the committee wanted the team sheets to reflect that a road game against a team ranked 60th is mathematically more difficult and of higher quality than a home game versus a team ranked 35th. We feel this change accomplishes that." Additionally, there's talk of the RPI being replaced by 2018-19. NCAA hoops chief Gavitt notes the need for a new metric, but wants plenty of time to get it right. More. (link); Here's how the new team sheets will look with the changes. (link)
#9: The Chicago Tribune's Svrluga caught up with former Ohio State FB student-athlete & college FB TV analyst Spielman in connection to the lawsuit filed against the university & others. "'I said, ‘Hmmmm.' I don’t recall signing anything or talking to anybody about this. It’s my picture, my name — with a giant logo. […] I think I deserve a courtesy call: 'Do you want to be a part of this program that we’re doing with Honda?' I was never given this right. I think it’s a basic human right to control your name and image. [...] Ohio State is a leader in so many areas. I think Ohio State can be in the lead on this." Svrluga's take is sharply negative. (link)
#8: The wrap-around video boards in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium are just ridiculously cool. New pic. (link)
#7: UCLA & Under Armour rolled-out newly-designed FB unis for the Bruins. Sticks to tradition. (link)
#6: The 90-day lock on an in-depth piece covering multimedia rights deals by Portland Business Journal's Kish has finally expired, meaning you can now read the whole thing in front of a pay wall. It's quite long, but full of nuggets, like details within the 10-year $150M deal between IMG College & UCLA, as well as Oregon's six-year $53M pact with IMGC. North Carolina sports marketing professor & industry expert Jensen on the pact in Westwood, "I’ve never seen such an exhaustive list. I’ve been doing sponsorship deals for 20 years. Anything you could potentially think of that you could put a brand on is in this contract. The corporate branding they’re going to allow inside Pauley Pavilion is insane." Piece also includes comments & insights from Learfield boss Brown, IMG College Prez Pernetti, as well as UCLA AD Guerrero & Oregon's Mullens. (link)
#5: Three notable events are in full swing, starting with Women's Leaders in College Sports' Executive Institute. Looks like 12 premier DI female executives are in attendance. Names you'll recognize from across the country. Second link here is a Twitter feed on what went on Monday in Kansas City. (link, link); The LEAD1 Institute got moving Monday in Boulder. Not a bad backdrop. (link); Also, the SEAT Conference is in Atlanta this year. All sorts of solid takeaways via Twitter from Monday's discussions. (link)
#4: Ole Miss FB HC Freeze exits due to a "a pattern of conduct that is not consistent with our expectations as the leader of our football program." More from Rebels AD Bjork during Thursday night's presser: "Chancellor Vitter and I spoke with coach Freeze last night. We discussed the entire situation. Coach Freeze was very transparent, open, honest, and admitted the conduct. Earlier this afternoon, Chancellor Vitter and I met with coach Freeze again. He offered his resignation, and we accepted. He has taken responsibility and is accountable to his actions. We will respect his privacy, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his entire family. […] it’s important to note that this matter is not related to our NCAA case. We believe our response speaks for itself. As leaders, we must do the right thing in every step of the way, no matter the consequences. This has tested all of us in unimaginable ways, but I know that we will live by our core values every day and our ultimate purpose is to serve our student-athletes." Freeze's departure includes no buyout or severance monies. (link)
#3: UIC brass turned to George Washington Senior Assoc. AD for External Relations Klassy as new AD for the Flames. Klassy has spent the last four years on Foggy Bottom after stints at Oregon & Alabama. Chancellor Amiridis: "Garrett is the right person to lead the Flames into a new era. He has the passion and experience to help us achieve competitive excellence and continue to enhance the academic success and overall experience for our student-athletes." Parker was the search firm of record. (link); In conjunction with the hiring release, Klassy penned first-hand for AthleticDirectorU, "Growing up on a dairy farm, one might imagine the daily thoughts about one’s future would start at about the same time as the 5:30 am buzz of the alarm, as I pulled myself up, rolled up my sleeves and got to work. […] Entering college athletics more than 21 years ago, I quickly realized that my upbringing prepared me for what I faced with my new career path. There is no substitute for hard work, integrity, character and respect. […] My every thought and action will be about our collective journey forward in service to each student and to UIC, as I approach this opportunity with optimism and a determined purpose." More. (link)
#2: AthleticDirectorU & Spencer Fane's Lattinville & Denny release the 2016-17 FBS Athletic Directors' Compensation Survey (link - review, link - database). The review highlights 10 key economic, competitive & demographic takeaways, along with "a simple observation." Tons here. Of particular note:
+ Top 5 in total compensation: Louisville's Jurich ($2.76M), Duke's White ($1.451M), Ohio State's Smith ($1.379M), Northwestern's Phillips ($1.338M) & Tennessee's Currie ($1.315M).
+ "Over the last five years, average compensation across the FBS has increased by 31.90%. Among athletic directors who have maintained the same position for the last five years, compensation has increased 25.66% on average."
+ "The average bonus compensation available to an FBS athletic director is $134,409. […] 34% of all contracts reviewed included bonus opportunities for fundraising. Notably, 83% of the contracts providing for such bonuses were executed in the last five years."
+ Michigan's Manuel has the lowest percentage of compensation vs. combined FB/MBB/WBB pay in the 'Autonomy 5' of 7.09% ($920K vs. $12.984M). Wisconsin's Alvarez with the highest at 24.28% ($1.236M vs. $5.092M).
+ "Mike Alden, Barry Alvarez, Mitch Barnhart, Joe Castiglione, Gene Smith and Kevin White and their former staff members make up over 25% of the current class of FBS athletic directors."
+ Lots more (link - review, link - database)
#1: Judging from interest in the lawsuit filed by former Ohio State FB standout & Fox Sports analyst Chris Spielman against the university, IMG College & others, here's key analysis from Sports Illustrated's Michael McCann: 1) The O'Bannon case paved the way, but does not mean Spielman's suit will be successful. "Jurisdiction matters a great deal here," but Ohio is not part of the Ninth District, therefore it is “not obligated to follow the Ninth Circuit.” 2) Spielman's lawsuit could see copycats of the same nature pop up around the nation; 3) The more cases of this nature increases the odds the U.S. Supreme Court could choose to take a look; 4) Spielman's suit is not yet a class action, "In fact, it normally takes months, and sometimes years, for a plaintiff to convince a federal judge that the lawsuit contains enough common issues and other unifying features that would authorize the judge to bind other persons into the class." 5) "Ohio State finds itself in an altogether different position from the NCAA. It doesn’t have a system to defend and it doesn’t have a philosophy to protect. If accepting a proposed settlement with Spielman makes more financial sense than litigating, and if the proposed settlement doesn’t cause Ohio State to breach NCAA rules, Ohio State will agree to the settlement. Similarly, IMG College is a business that centers on licensing deals. Whether college players are paid in some form or another in a licensing deal won’t change the core function of IMG College." Pretty much a must read. (link)
