Super League Discussion

[Lobot]

This is isn't quite realignment related and not quite CFP expansion related but it would be an additional sea change in college football if this concept goes through. As such it needs a thread. I think the Athletic had the first whiff of what this might be like back in April and I'll try and go back and lnk those older articles from Stewart Mandel and crew .

It is backed by venture capital and private equity people which makes me personally dislike it almost instantly. The organizational backing it Smash Capital is full of former Disney execs.

Here's the latest from Ross Dellenger and a rogues gallery of Smash Capital.

https://sports.yahoo.com/while-sec-a...130031534.html

https://smashcap.com/team/

[Lobot]

Here's the previous Athletic articles. ($) It's unclear whether this is the same group that Ross Dellenger is talking about. They look like different groups to me or maybe this is just the football side and Dellenger has the executive side.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/538...t-realignment/

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/580...eague-student/

[leeraymond]

These proposals have a lot of moving parts. I do not know if it is a good idea to get in bed with private equity. As was mentioned in the sports.yahoo piece, "private equity usually wants a high rate of return and a high level of control". Imagine what would happen if some of the most powerful schools in college football were controlled by private equity firms. What would happen if private equity wanted to sue some of these schools because of some disagreement? Some of conferences' ADs have expressed an interest in the schools controlling these super-mega conferences themselves. I think that is a good idea.

It is funny. This all boils down to media exposure (TV) and money. These ADs, schools, and conferences should be very careful of the kinds of deals and agreements they enter into. "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it".

[Lobot]

Ralph Russo has defected from the AP and joined the Athletic. His first article is on the Super League concept. ($)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/582...e-big-ten-sec/

[D.A.H.]

Ralph Russo has defected from the AP and joined the Athletic. His first article is on the Super League concept. ($)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/582...e-big-ten-sec/

i know greg flugaur gets ridiculed a lot, but he did a podcast on this, a day or two ago. "peek around the corner" podcast - he dug into it - the $$$$ being mentioned are crazy