When the preliminary information got here down that the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins had been planning to ditch the Pac-12 Convention for the Huge Ten, followers of the Oregon Geese had been doubtless beginning to surprise the place they is likely to be headed quickly.
Even right here at Geese Wire, we had been lining up potential touchdown spots for Oregon, and predicting the place every group within the Pac-12 would possibly find yourself with the convention seemingly headed for the metaphorical iceberg.
That hasn’t occurred but. Whereas there are nonetheless talks about potential convention realignment, every thing is shifting at a slower tempo than I feel many individuals anticipated. At this level, it looks like what we thought could be a fireplace sale within the Pac-12 has changed into everybody standing pat and ready for the highest two groups remaining — Oregon and Washington — to make their subsequent transfer.
What’s that subsequent transfer? It’s fairly unclear in the mean time, which might be a bit unsettling for followers of the Geese who could concern being neglected of the large celebration. Nonetheless, columnist John Canzano has a brand new report out that Nike co-founder and Oregon mega-booster Phil Knight is working onerous to drag some strings in these negotiations.
Per a supply in Knight’s interior circle: “The excellent news is Phil is working onerous to find out the proper path ahead and hopefully to find out additionally one that’s viable. My guess is, his aspirations aren’t sensible or achievable. However attempt to inform that to the person that has received most battles in his life that appeared out of attain.”
The person often known as “Shoe Canine” didn’t pour a fortune into the UO athletic division eco-system to be left within the minor leagues. If I’m a Pac-12 member, I like that the Geese (and by extension, Knight) are on this with me. However media rights income is just a part of the problem in Eugene.
Will Knight be capable of navigate his alma mater’s method into an excellent convention just like the Huge Ten or SEC? Looks as if an extended shot. Will the Pac-12 be capable of kind a partnership with the ACC and discover a good juicy tv media rights deal within the course of? That might be attainable.
No matter what occurs, although, we are able to relaxation assured realizing that one of the highly effective males in all of sports activities is in Oregon’s nook, and doing every thing he can to make it possible for the Geese are within the thick of issues when all is alleged and executed.