{"id":13214,"date":"2023-08-10T13:30:24","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T18:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=13214"},"modified":"2023-08-10T13:30:24","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T18:30:24","slug":"mountain-west-commissioner-on-adding-pac-12-schools-everything-is-still-on-the-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/mountain-west-commissioner-on-adding-pac-12-schools-everything-is-still-on-the-table\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountain West commissioner on adding Pac-12 schools: \u2018Everything is still on the table\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two months ago, commissioner Gloria Nevarez<\/strong> oversaw a Mountain West Conference<\/strong> seemingly on the verge of being picked apart by a century-old league looking to expand after securing a major media rights deal.<\/p>\n

But in the zany world of college athletics, life comes at everyone fast. Fortunes change overnight. Roles shift or even flip.<\/p>\n

Now the Mountain West is the aggressor, pursuing adding what\u2019s left of the crumbled Pac-12 Conference<\/strong>, mulling a possible merger if it\u2019s advantageous, and looking unified in keeping its existing membership intact. Well, that\u2019s the state of play this morning, with market conditions subject to change and stakeholders confronting a new normal of fluidity that makes sense only in this topsy-turvy college sports enterprise.<\/p>\n

In an exclusive interview with On3, Nevarez discussed her league\u2019s expansion strategy, the broader direction of college athletics, the NCAA\u2019s efforts to reform the NIL space<\/a> and more. The Mountain West is interested in adding anywhere from one to four of the remaining Pac-12 schools \u2013 Oregon State<\/a><\/strong>, Washington State<\/a><\/strong>, Stanford<\/a><\/strong> and California<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 as the realignment wheel continues to spin. Interestingly, the ACC\u2019s pursuit of Stanford and Cal hit \u201csignificant roadblocks\u201d<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n

(The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and context.)<\/p>\n

Q: You\u2019re looking to expand. Is there a \u201cright\u201d number of schools to add from the Pac-12, or anywhere between one and four?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cI think anywhere from one to four. We\u2019re actually pretty good where we are. But, obviously, you want to be capitalistic in this environment. And so both any opportunities that result from the movement in the Pac-12, but also, we have had on the docket, we actually pushed forward a membership subcommittee meeting to continue to explore the next phase, next-generation schools in case we lost schools during this round.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: And those would include what type of schools \u2013 Group of Five?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cWe have a variety of factors that we can look at. But we did a rank order prioritization, and a lot of it has to do with fit and strength, adding football excellence, because, as we can see in this current environment, that\u2019s the driver behind the success of a lot of programs in sports. And then really every school is so unique, it\u2019s kind of a cast a wide net and then start filtering through what might be a possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: With regard to the Pac-12, moving to add one or more of those schools is one path forward. A merger with what remains of the league is something else entirely. Is a potential merger with the Pac-12 on the table?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s not off the table, but we have a lot of questions. It is like buying a house. You wouldn\u2019t buy a house without a complete inspection. So there\u2019s just a lot of questions, and they\u2019re the type of questions that I think the Pac-12 or the remaining schools in the Pac-12 need to have time to figure out. Then also questions for us about assets and liabilities and fit and what\u2019s really there. But certainly \u2013 absolutely everything\u2019s still on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: How important is it to retain the conference name \u2013 the Mountain West Conference?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cBoth brands are really strong. And let me just say it breaks my heart. This is a 108-year-old league. I went to law school at Cal. I worked in the conference office. I\u2019m still a little bit shocked and a little bit crushed. People could argue brand strength, but I think it has an incredible brand. So that to me is an asset. But again, it\u2019s part of the greater calculation of assets and liabilities and what is there and what isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: I\u2019m still trying to figure out how a merger \u2013 rather than merely adding Pac-12 schools \u2013 would benefit the Mountain West. Is that answer clear to you at this point, or are you still mulling over what it could entail?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m still mulling it over myself. But it\u2019s\u00a0hard to think of that league in parts and pieces versus a whole. We have a really strong brand. I love our geography, and schools are in a lot of places where they are the only show in town. Large, public, a lot of\u00a0land grant institutions. We have a lot of commonality in that kind of first-generation, world-expanding opportunity at our schools.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of similarities with how the Pac-12 sees itself and is aligned. Going back to \u2013 I still can\u2019t believe it. Think about all the good things the Pac-12 did. Their student-athlete health summit. That\u00a0was incredible. They took all their medical thinking and research and put it all together to work on athletic issues. And they had this incredible data collection project, innovative, really powerful. They had an independent sales arm. So many good things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Nobody wanted to see the Pac-12 implode. If you had your preference, would the ideal scenario be adding Pac-12 schools instead of a merger?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m not at that point where I\u2019m rank ordering yet. There\u2019s still lots to be learned about a merger. It interests me a lot. But I\u2019m proceeding with eyes wide open and need a lot more information. So I\u2019m not yet at the point where I can put one above the other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Say everything worked out ideally for the Mountain West: You add multiple Pac-12 schools. Do you see a path forward for an expanded MWC toward potential Autonomous 5 status? Is there an opportunity there because of the current depleted condition of the Power 5 conference, the Pac-12?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s an interesting question because there are three different categories. Autonomy, CFP (College Football Playoff), and FBS. Autonomy is just the ability to vote on different language. The real key piece here, where the revenue is \u2013 it is CFP status. And the CFP is a separate corporation governed by the Board. And the Board has, like many corporations, the power to take away and give units. So it would really be up to the Board. Certainly, we would work through the process and make our arguments. But the way the votes are weighted right now, it would be an uphill battle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Would you be disappointed if the Mountain West did not add at least one Pac-12 school?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cI don\u2019t know if disappointed is the word.\u00a0It would feel like a missed opportunity for sure. These are four schools used to receiving $30 million a year. We are not in that stratosphere. But I certainly think we could provide an excellent landing place for those in need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: How confident are you that San Diego State and others will remain in the Mountain West?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m confident that we are in sync and united today. I\u2019m certainly not naive to think the market could not change again. This thing is so fluid \u2026 I really do believe where we stand today we are strongly together and it makes sense for us to stay together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Big picture, all the realignment moves we\u2019ve seen the last few weeks were driven by media rights dollars. That\u2019s reality. But are these moves, broadly speaking, in the best interest of the overall college sports enterprise?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cSo tough to say. I\u2019ve been on campus and I know the pressures of being on campus and having the resources to compete at the highest level. And right now, those are being provided in large part by media dollars. And so, on the one hand, you can hear the student-athletes expressing their concerns out there about the toll the travel will take.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, on the other hand, the resources that are being gained are the things that keep sports sponsored, people employed and resources at a high level for student-athletes. So, I\u2019m not one to judge. But also there\u2019s innate tension there I think that folks are feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: What is a commissioner\u2019s role like these days? Much like a college coach, recruiting and retention are critical. But not recruiting and retaining athletes, but rather schools for their leagues. What\u2019s it like navigating that?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cA lot of people ask me what is it like being a commissioner. And one of the things people find surprising is we have very little legitimate authority. There are very few things that I can just autonomously go out there and say, \u2018This is what we are going to do.\u2019 Ninety-nine percent of what we do is building consensus, finding a way through that is best for the league and trying to wrangle everyone toward a common position or lead them into what I think is right for the group.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that is a lot of different constituents and a lot of different agendas. And their first priority is always their own school, and you have to remember that. So modern commissioning \u2013 it used to be about governance and officiating, and level playing fields \u2013 and now it\u2019s about media rights, membership, marketing and brand. It has\u00a0really been an interesting evolvement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Let me pivot to NIL. The NCAA, of course, is working on formalizing a new NIL policy<\/a> centered on transparency and consumer protection measures. Is that enough? Or would you endorse the NCAA working on a broader, more comprehensive so-called Plan B in case efforts toward a federal NIL bill<\/a> fall short?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m actually very much aligned with new NCAA<\/strong> President Charlie Baker<\/strong>\u2018s NIL plan, his strategy for it. And I think there does need to be congressional intervention, at least to help us level-set state laws<\/a> to help us be able to enact national NCAA policy without the constant threat of litigation and restraint of trade.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe strongly that student-athletes shouldn\u2019t be deemed employees. I\u2019ve heard from a lot of student-athletes, and it\u2019s not what they want. And I would like to see a way for campuses to get more involved, to help stop pay-for-play, but also to help provide protections for student-athletes. I\u2019ve heard a ton of stories about signing away rights into perpetuity, or deals that didn\u2019t come to fruition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Many industry leaders told me the employee model would be a net negative for student-athletes and schools. But it is possible to implement a revenue-sharing model without ushering in an employee model. A revenue-sharing model in which student-athletes would receive a slice of the TV media rights revenue. Do you believe it is time to at least explore \u2013 just explore \u2013 what that type of revenue-sharing model would entail?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cYeah, I\u2019m absolutely for exploring innovative models that help us balance the system. And then I read\u00a0a lot of student-athletes\u2019 statements about these most recent moves by schools about the lack of revenue sharing. So, again, I think it\u2019s something we should explore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Under such a revenue-sharing model, what are the Title IX implications?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cAnything that goes through a campus is subject to Title IX. And it\u2019s incumbent upon that campus to do whatever they do in accordance with Title IX. That\u2019s what\u2019s imbalanced about the current NIL\u00a0situation because it\u2019s outside the school. It\u2019s not subject to Title IX. So I would think that\u2019s a little bit more why I believe NIL should come into the campus because then it would be subject to all those controls and regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: I\u2019m in Texas, where there is a new, school-friendly<\/a> NIL law. There are others in Oklahoma<\/a>, Arkansas, Missouri<\/a> and New York<\/a>. They conflict with NCAA guidance. And the NCAA is hesitant to enforce its own policies because it is vulnerable to legal challenges. How can that conflict between new state laws and the NCAA be reconciled?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cI saw the memo from the NCAA saying the NCAA rules on this are the rules on this. If you\u00a0have a state law that\u2019s different, the NCAA rule stands, because it\u2019s not a right that you need to compete in the NCAA. You can compete in the NAIA<\/strong> or whatever, which would be a completely different proposition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: A different subject: Data deals. It\u2019s a complicated, evolving space. The Big 12 will soon announce a data deal. The MAC has a highly publicized one with Genius Sports. How much has the Mountain West explored this space?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWe are deep in it. We are up to the eyeballs. We\u2019ve talked to all the vendors and are researching. It\u2019s such an evolving space. When you go to market for media rights, everyone\u2019s bidding on your media rights. And there are some different ways to couch it, but, by and large, they pay us. They license the rights, whereas this space is so different. Vendor A offers something that sounds like, \u2018We\u2019ll buy your rights for data for the purpose of entertainment.\u2019 \u00a0Another [says], \u2018We\u2019ll use it for gambling.\u2019 It\u2019s just so different.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really trying to get our arms around, \u2018Ok, where do we fit? What pieces and parts do we want? And can we monetize that in the market?\u2019 So, we\u2019re optimistic. We actually have quite a few states in our league that do have legalized sports wagering. But we also really need to balance the integrity piece, making sure that the integrity of our games, contests and protecting our student-athletes from undue influences, that we have controls around that in place as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Are concerns regarding sports gambling implications heightened on the heels of the Alabama<\/a> baseball scandal<\/a> and the investigations involving dozens<\/a> of student-athletes at Iowa<\/a> and Iowa State<\/a>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cIt used to be, you know, \u2018Oh, Nevada, legalized gambling, Vegas, Reno, both of which are in our league.\u2019 But now you can gamble anywhere. While there are states that prohibit it, it\u2019s really a national, if not international thing that we can\u2019t ignore, and need to continue to monitor from an integrity piece and then make sure that our data is being used \u2013 owned by us, controlled by us and being used the way we feel best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Political poll questions always ask are you satisfied with the direction of the country. So are you satisfied with the overall direction of the college sports enterprise?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThat is a tough question because I am not one who shies away from change. I embrace it. I think it\u2019s good. I think enterprises need to go through it, but even the change that\u2019s happening right now is pushing my boundaries of comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: Can you say definitively, as of today, that the Mountain West will not dissolve?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEVAREZ:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cYes. Yes, I can say that definitively today, right now at whatever time it is \u2026 It is such a dynamic, fluid environment. And to one of your earlier questions, you just can\u2019t take that for granted. That is now part of the job, trying to really anticipate that, keeping in touch with your membership and being in tune with how the dominoes are falling around the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post Mountain West commissioner on adding Pac-12 schools: \u2018Everything is still on the table\u2019<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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