Bad take myth buster moment.
A lot of people seem to think that two reporters who cover Oregon and Stanford respectively are ‘clinging’ to the Pac-1X staying together because ‘if Stanford and Oregon go to the B1G they won’t have jobs.’ This is about as uninformed as the economic forecast opinion of a 3-year old. No matter which conference Oregon and Stanford are in, those reporters will still cover them.
While I have had my share of disagreements with both, the thought that either of them ‘actively cheer against’ the teams they cover also lacks intelligence. In fact, it is better for both when Oregon and/or Stanford are good in football.
Will they have to establish some new sources? Of course, but that is what reporters do every year. It’s what they do when coaches are changed. It’s what they do when new athletic directors are hired. It’s what they do when new conference commissioners are hired.
The real reason that fans want to think that those two reporters are ‘clinging’ to the Pac-1X? Because they simply do not want to hear what either have to say if it does not fall along their preferred story line. I.E., because fans want Oregon to go to the B1G, anyone who says it is unlikely is somehow fearful of losing their job? That take is laughable at best.
What should be obvious, though, is that even in the ‘split’ Bob Thompson gave to John Canzano for unequal revenue distribution of the remaining Pac-1X members in a new contract makes the long-term viability of every Pac-1X team a question mark. That projection has Oregon and Washington getting $38.7-million per year. Simple math shows that over six years the yearly discrepancy of $33.3 million per year leaves them about $200-million short of every B1G school. That means that the remaining Pac-1X will truly be a steppingstone. B1G teams will have more analysts, more staff, and pay its coaches significantly better than most of the Pac-1X can afford. A $33-million difference every year is unsustainable.
As the USC athletic department staffer told Canzano – every other school in the conference would have done the same thing (as USC and UCLA). This is absolutely true. And a reason to believe that Brett McMurphy is likely more accurate in his assessment of the long-term future for Oregon, Washington, and Stanford. When the B1G comes calling, those schools are likely to leave, and no amount of tradition will save it. The money is just too big
But I also feel like the Pac-1X will survive – as a name. I think that whoever does not leave (which seems likely to be Oregon State and Washington State) will form a new Pac-12 with the best that is left on the west coast. No. It will not be the Pac-12 of old. Yes, it will offer a lower quality as a conference. But I think that the name remains.
