Larry Scott wants Pac12 to get into China

[MNCyGuy]

In the summer, it would be. During the semester, that's still a huge distraction.

I'm assuming there's some sightseeing involved here. I think jetlag is a necessary assumption.

It would be a huge distraction from their semester routine. It takes them away from attending classes, which is kind of a big part of being a student-athlete. Add an extra measure of physical challenge with the travel, and I think it's making a mess of that part of their semester.

That said, if they're going to go through with this, the kids ought to be paid for the trip. If they're going as cultural ambassadors/moneymakers for the school and network, they ought to get paid for this trip (assuming it happens).

I think you're overplaying the cost vs. benefits to the players. In 2008 the ISU marching band applied to be a representative of Iowa in President Obama's inauguration parade. Now, the logistics for that trip aren't as extreme as what the Pac-12 is proposing, but it still would have been several days of missed classes, travel, cost, etc. for band members. If ISU's application had been accepted I doubt many people would have said much negative about it. It would have been seen as a great opportunity for the students and awesome exposure for the university. Unless this becomes more than a 1-time or every few years type of event, I guess I don't see the big issue.

[CycloneErik]

How is it going to be of value for the student-athletes? Unless this is the first game of the year, the athletes aren't going to be in China with any appreciable time to do any meaningful site seeing or cultural exchange. If they are, it will come at the expense of their college studies.

From the "ambassador" standpoint, wouldn't it make more sense to send a couple of the better Pac-12 volleyball/ basketball/gymnastics teams on a short summer tour? At least the Chinese have some interest in those sports and there would be some common ground on which to relate to each other. Do the Chinese even give a hoot about American football???

As a guy who does a lot with international students, Chinese care a lot about American football, but tend to feel they don't understand it until they watch with people that have seen it before.

So it doesn't make as much sense as an ambassador to play it there.

[MNCyGuy]

How is it going to be of value for the student-athletes? Unless this is the first game of the year, the athletes aren't going to be in China with any appreciable time to do any meaningful site seeing or cultural exchange. If they are, it will come at the expense of their college studies.

From the "ambassador" standpoint, wouldn't it make more sense to send a couple of the better Pac-12 volleyball/ basketball/gymnastics teams on a short summer tour? At least the Chinese have some interest in those sports and there would be some common ground on which to relate to each other. Do the Chinese even give a hoot about American football???

Did anybody in China really care about basketball before the NBA made a point to market over there?

Look, everybody is just assuming this is Scott's idea alone. Why? It seems like this may have been an idea that Stanford and Notre Dame have been kicking around for awhile. The people running these programs aren't stupid. They aren't going to fly over, walk off the plane, play the game and then fly right back home. I'm sure their entire schedules for the season will be built around making that game work. I wouldn't even be surprised if maybe they petitioned the NCAA to somehow play the game early so it didn't interfere with as much of the semester. That would be a hell of a start to the season.

[MNCyGuy]

As a guy who does a lot with international students, Chinese care a lot about American football, but tend to feel they don't understand it until they watch with people that have seen it before.

So it doesn't make as much sense as an ambassador to play it there.

Ok, this isn't going to help the "it's not necessarilly all about money" case, but this is different from the NFL playing game in London how?

[CycloneErik]

Ok, this isn't going to help the "it's not necessarilly all about money" case, but this is different from the NFL playing game in London how?

Professionals get paid....

[CyJack13]

In the summer, it would be. During the semester, that's still a huge distraction.

I'm assuming there's some sightseeing involved here. I think jetlag is a necessary assumption.

It would be a huge distraction from their semester routine. It takes them away from attending classes, which is kind of a big part of being a student-athlete. Add an extra measure of physical challenge with the travel, and I think it's making a mess of that part of their semester.

That said, if they're going to go through with this, the kids ought to be paid for the trip. If they're going as cultural ambassadors/moneymakers for the school and network, they ought to get paid for this trip (assuming it happens).

Wisconsin and Michigan St. played in Tokyo during the season in the early 90's and I don't think it ruined all the players involved semesters. Notre Dame and Stanford played Thanksgiving weekend this year, if they play it at the same time two years from now the players would have the entire week off from school anyway.

[jbhtexas]

Did anybody in China really care about basketball before the NBA made a point to market over there?

Yes. The Chinese have been playing basketball for decades, and have been one of the dominant Asian teams since the mid 1970's. Granted that basketball has become more popular in China because of Yao Ming and other Chinese players who have tried to make a go of it in the NBA.

When have two NBA teams gone to China to play a regular season game?

[HFCS]

No kidding! Can you imagine being USC/Stanford and playing 9 conference games + a Big 10 team + Notre Dame. That gives you no scheduling flexibility and only 1 cupcake. Throw on top of that the loss of another home game to China.

He is maximizing TV dollars in the money grab, but at what cost will it come? Sometimes W's are more important for the overall health/success of a program than money if you're already in a BCS conference.

You are right, but you have to realize...

Larry Scott is 100% positive he will get all of college football to expand to a 14-17 game regular season schedule. That is truly how this dude rolls.

[MNCyGuy]

Professionals get paid....

I guess I meant that more in response to the idea that it wouldn't do them any good to play an actual game in China because nobody in attendance would know what was going on.

I get what you're saying Erik, but I guess I signed on for lots of things in college that took me away from my studies that probably had a lot less value than a trip to China would. If you don't think both schools are going to bend over backwards to make sure those guys stay caught-up on coursework and make this thing work academically, you're just looking for a reason to hate something that has Larry Scott attached to it. The China trip will probably do more to put them behind in terms of on-field practice than it does in the classroom.

[ThatllDoCy]

Larry Scott is just trying to keep the PAC 12 in the news. Better than the 4 super conferences he was touting last year. He should be working in a professional league or in Television. His vision has only revenue in mind, not the improvement of College Football.

[MNCyGuy]

Yes. The Chinese have been playing basketball for decades, and have been one of the dominant Asian teams since the mid 1970's. Granted that basketball has become more popular in China because of Yao Ming and other Chinese players who have tried to make a go of it in the NBA.

When have two NBA teams gone to China to play a regular season game?

Hasn't the NBA played early season games in both Asia and Europe on a regular basis for at least the past decade? I know Minnesota played in Tokyo one year and I'm pretty sure there was at least one Rockets game played in China while Yao was playing.

[jbhtexas]

He should be working in a professional league or in Television. His vision has only revenue in mind, not the improvement of College Football.

+1.

[CycloneErik]

I guess I meant that more in response to the idea that it wouldn't do them any good to play an actual game in China because nobody in attendance would know what was going on.

I get what you're saying Erik, but I guess I signed on for lots of things in college that took me away from my studies that probably had a lot less value than a trip to China would. If you don't think both schools are going to bend over backwards to make sure those guys stay caught-up on coursework and make this thing work academically, you're just looking for a reason to hate something that has Larry Scott attached to it. The China trip will probably do more to put them behind in terms of on-field practice than it does in the classroom.

I don't care about Larry Scott. I care about the idea that making money in college football is more important than the students going to school.

[MNCyGuy]

Wisconsin and Michigan St. played in Tokyo during the season in the early 90's and I don't think it ruined all the players involved semesters. Notre Dame and Stanford played Thanksgiving weekend this year, if they play it at the same time two years from now the players would have the entire week off from school anyway.

Exactly. Everybody oos and aahs over UNC and Mich St. playing a game on an aircraft carrier for no real reason other than it's cool, but they have a big problem with this? It's different, but it's not THAT different.

[benjay]

Larry Scott is just trying to keep the PAC 12 in the news. Better than the 4 super conferences he was touting last year. He should be working in a professional league or in Television. His vision has only revenue in mind, not the improvement of College Football.

He believes they are one and the same.