Gary Barta Discusses Ongoing Changes in College Athletics

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Gary Barta mentioned on Friday he doesn’t count on any extra Huge Ten growth information within the close to future.

What comes subsequent, he mentioned, was understanding the entire logistical particulars of how the convention will work with 16 colleges after final week’s addition of USC and UCLA starting in 2024.

The largest concern, Barta mentioned, is with journey, together with the concept of journey companions throughout the league to chop down on, for instance, a number of journeys to at least one aspect of the USA or one other to play video games.

“Regardless of the resolution is — and sure, we have talked about that chance (about journey companions) — regardless of the resolution is, one of many first issues the ADs and the presidents mentioned to the convention is we have to determine how you can mitigate the journey problem,” Barta mentioned throughout a press convention at Carver-Hawkeye Area. “As a result of should you’re at Rutgers and you are going to USC or should you’re at UCLA and you are going to Maryland there’s going to should be some kind of recognition of that after we get into journey.”

Barta mentioned he was “a little bit bit shocked” when he was first advised of USC’s and UCLA’s curiosity in becoming a member of the convention, however the concept of including two blue-blood athletic packages within the nation’s second-largest TV market because the Huge Ten will get near finishing a brand new rights deal was one thing the league couldn’t cross up.

“​​We had been breaking down — does it make sense, does it meet the factors, ought to we are saying sure,” Barta mentioned. “And clearly after these 4 or 5 days of discussions, we determined that the time was proper, the faculties had been proper, and so I am enthusiastic about it as a result of I do know what they carry to the desk.”

Barta mentioned the Huge Ten had talked about the potential of growth was mentioned final summer time within the wake of the transfer of Oklahoma and Texas to the Southeastern Convention, nevertheless it was put aside because the convention started the dialogue for its new TV rights deal.

The anticipated substantial improve in cash will assist cowl among the logistical challenges, together with how groups will get to and from websites.

“With an elevated and anticipated improve in cash, I feel all of us have talked about we now have to verify if our soccer crew or volleyball crew is predicted to go play on a Tuesday night time in (Los Angeles) … we have been chartering in volleyball, however that could be a scenario the place possibly previously we would not have chartered in soccer, possibly we’ll should now,” Barta mentioned. “It is excessive on our listing to have a look at scheduling and journey because it pertains to student-athlete well-being on this new day.”

However there are nonetheless loads of transferring components to the growth speak, and Barta tried to reply the entire questions:

— On Notre Dame being a doable growth candidate. “I’d let you know that Notre Dame, after we went by means of that dialogue when Oklahoma and Texas had been added to the SEC, we talked about ought to we (increase) — if we do, why, and if we do, with whom, Notre Dame was definitely on that listing. I’d reiterate we’re not looking for purposes, however as folks come to the Huge Ten, they’re definitely being acquired, after which attempting to decide.

“I do know your direct query is would I help it. I’d most likely finally help it. I do not anticipate that being a call that I will be making this summer time. However once more, I haven’t got a crystal ball. Nevertheless it’s not earlier than us proper now.”

— On whether or not the Huge Ten would contemplate including different West Coast groups, like Oregon and Washington. “Once more, my reply may be very related in that we have studied the varieties of colleges. I am not going to speak instantly about anybody faculty. I doubt that I will be pressured or requested to make that call or our president will probably be this summer time, so proper now my sense is we’re the place we’re, and we’ll transfer ahead with who we now have, with the addition of USC and UCLA. Proper now I am not likely going to take a position whether or not or not, as a result of I do not suppose we’ll be including any extra this summer time. That is only one individual’s opinion.”

— On the response of Iowa’s head coaches to growth. “I spoke with all the pinnacle coaches, some in a bunch after which a number of individually, and I can not converse for all of them aside from to let you know usually they’re excited. Usually they know what USC and UCLA convey by way of historical past and custom.

“However I additionally know — they do not know but and we do not know but — should you’re the baseball coach or the soccer coach or the gymnastics coach you do not but know what your schedule goes to appear like. So usually they’re excited due to the competitors. Simply attempting to get the logistics within the subsequent 12 months — there is a two-year interval earlier than it happens, so I determine we now have a couple of 12 months, 12 months and a half on the most to get the schedules discovered.

“What we have talked about is we’ll work on that sport by sport. So the monitor coaches will get collectively within the Huge Ten and herald USC and UCLA and say, what are crucial parts in your sport, what are crucial in baseball and softball and basketball. We’ll undergo that course of.

“Soccer frankly would be the best to resolve as a result of it is at some point every week, and also you simply fly in and also you fly out. Among the different sports activities that play like softball, taking part in a three-game collection over a weekend, how do you issue that in, the place are the championships in every of these sports activities.”

— On the nine-game Huge Ten soccer schedule, and whether or not Iowa would maintain some or all of its rivalries. “I need to play all these rivalries. I need to play Minnesota, I need to play Wisconsin, Northwestern, Nebraska, the bordering states, notably the place we now have trophy video games. I wish to play every of these yearly.

“On the flip aspect, I am a member of an even bigger group, and so the place it lands, I’ll battle for as most of the rivalries as we will get, however I additionally perceive it might be in the very best curiosity of the convention to not play each a type of yearly.

“If a type of will get in a rotation that is not yearly, we’ll be OK, however I like taking part in these rivalry video games. It is simply not doable to do all of them, particularly when you will have 14, quickly to be 16 completely different colleges which are concerned within the equation.”

— On whether or not Iowa will renew its soccer collection with Iowa State when the present contract ends in 2025. “(Iowa State athletics director) Jamie (Pollard) and I have never talked about it particularly. We each know the place it sits proper now, the place it ends, however I feel you’ve got heard me say over time, so long as each of us are right here and until one thing had been to alter dramatically, we each know or imagine that it is good for each of our packages and there is each intention to proceed it going. However this summer time we’ve not had further conversations about it.”