OTish: OSU (not that OSU) and WSU seek restraining order against ex-Pac12
The two jilted Pac12 members would prefer not to hold board meetings with the 10 quasi-former Pac12 members in any voting capacity, given that the Pac12 holds assets that might be distributed. I think I agree with their take, and I hope they get control of the conference and assets. From that article, the bylaws seem pretty clear.
Assuming they do, what would you do if you were them -- with a dying conference, but $100M in cash-and-future-NCAA-payouts, plus a brand name? Split the cash and walk away (to join MWC)? Fire the conference office and start over while trying to invite anyone who will come?
September 8th, 2023 at 5:28 PM ^
Good, good.
Let the hate flow through you.
September 8th, 2023 at 5:33 PM ^
Seems pretty simple to me. Everybody wanted to leave the Pac-12, so OSU & Wazzu are now the guardians of the conference and anything it owns. If the other members wanted the money that the Pac-12 has, they should have....oh I don't know.....stayed in the conference.
September 8th, 2023 at 5:34 PM ^
Merge with the MWC, obviously. The Pac-12 is dead, long live the Pac-13.
September 8th, 2023 at 7:19 PM ^
yeah, that's the move. Take the name and go to the MWC, which then inherits the name (have seen this referred to as a reverse merger)
September 8th, 2023 at 5:36 PM ^
I’m not a lawyer but yea, they all bailed so they shouldnt have any rights to money.
Split any $$$ and rights between the two schools and let them become the richest mid-major teams
September 8th, 2023 at 5:40 PM ^
I'm also not a lawyer but I don't think that's how this works.
September 8th, 2023 at 10:38 PM ^
I am a lawyer, but not in PAC 12 territory. That said, the departing members clearly have no vote once they announce their departure. So, OSU and WSU should win this preliminary injunction motion.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:34 AM ^
I (also not being a lawyer) think it likely depends on how this all goes down. If the PAC12 simply folds, I’d assume all members are entitled to a share of the financial assets.
However, the precedent has been set that any members that have announced their intention of leaving lose their voting rights. Meaning WSU and OSU are the only remaining schools with voting powers. That gives them a great amount of power here if that holds true.
They could, in theory, vote to add 4 schools and then fold after the other schools leave and split the assets with the 4 new schools (likely at a reduced payout) and then join the MWC. Since the other 10 PAC12 schools already completed their exit, it’s unlikely they would be entitled to any of the money.
Or, they could simply complete the ol’ “reverse merger” where the MWC takes over the PAC12 but WSU and OSU find a way to bring the PAC12 brand and assets with them. I find it unlikely that the PAC12 leadership would be brought along, but I also have no idea how the naming/brand rights work. Who do they belong to when everyone but two schools is gone?
September 8th, 2023 at 5:44 PM ^
Owning the Pac2 is like randy marsh owning a blockbuster, at this point.
September 8th, 2023 at 5:56 PM ^
Come on, we all know the only ones that are going to make money out of this will be the lawyers.
September 8th, 2023 at 6:21 PM ^
I guess we’ll see what the rest of the schools do, but I read an article that stated that Pac12 bylaws state that when you serve notice to leave the conference you immediately losing voting rights. I think the last two schools are seeking the courts to validate that thinking which would mean they would get to control the last of the Pac12 money
September 8th, 2023 at 6:38 PM ^
Funny stuff that you just can’t make up. The IP assets of the PAC12 might have residual value for a couple decades. Never underestimate nostalgia and aging Americans (see DC comics, Marvel comics, etc).
September 8th, 2023 at 6:46 PM ^
I'm not sure that all of those future playouts will go to the two-member Pac 12, but it does seem that the two schools have a valid point regarding voting rights - as the Pac 12 explicitly endorsed when removing UCLA and USC from the board immediately upon their announcement.
I always love "biter bit" stories, and think that it is perfectly just that only OSU and WSU be allowed to vote on anything the Pac 12 board has power over.
September 8th, 2023 at 7:01 PM ^
Awesome!
September 8th, 2023 at 7:33 PM ^
Were I in their position, this is exactly what I would do. As the only remaining voting members, they should be able to keep the name and any revenue coming to the PAC-12. A merger with the MWC would be in everyone's best interests.
September 8th, 2023 at 8:20 PM ^
Better get it while the gettin’s good.
I think the real question to ask is if OSU and WSU hold on to the PAC-? name/brand, will they also retain their P5 status even if they raid some G5 conference schools? How ironic would it be for OSU/WSU to bitch about being left out of the realignment saga only to pillage other lesser conferences still intact. Round and round we go!
September 9th, 2023 at 12:44 AM ^
Read that they have two years to rebuild the conference to retain P5 status with 8 teams. Assuming they do, they also get to retain the automatic playoff bid (supposedly hard to revoke before the current CFP agreements expire). ESPN article said they also had $50 million in basketball revenue coming if the conference exists. Some value there, if they can rebuild it.
September 8th, 2023 at 10:32 PM ^
Don’t blame them. If I’m Oregon State or Wazzu, the next 5-10 years of funding for my athletic department rides on this. And I have zero love lost for anyone other than myself or the other remaining member. I’d happily do all of this out of spite.
Everyone else has folded shop and left town. OSU and Wazzu should be able to take whats left. I’m no lawyer but I dont know how USC, UCLA, Washington, Oregon or anyone besides Oregon State or Wazzu have ANY CLAIM to this money.
The aforementioned schools are in a far better place now, but they shouldn’t get to have any rights to come back and pick the carcass. You moved on. That money should not be yours anymore.
September 8th, 2023 at 10:49 PM ^
Does this then mean that they would get residual income from any historical games that end up on ESPN Classic (if that's still a channel) or BTN? I want to see OSU and WSU get as much out of this as possible.