Coaches, athletic directors and conference commissioners came out today and criticized the NCAA’s intention to take the NCAA Tourney to 96 teams.
(More say on 96 than all college coaches, ADs, conf. commishes combined)
So what effect will today’s high profile outcry have? None.
Thanks to the go-ahead from 18 people, and four major television networks, negotiations for broadcast rights to a 96-team tournament have already started.
So who are the people at the center of the decision to junk the 64-team format?
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors:
Any comment about the NCAA Tournament that doesn’t come from someone on the above list or from upper management at CBS, Fox, Turner and ESPN about the future of the NCAA Tournament is mostly meaningless.
Board members Shirley Raines, Judy Genshaft and F. Ann Millner have more pull about the decision to go to 96 teams than all the basketball coaches, athletic directors and conference commissioners combined. (Welcome to the wonderful world of the NCAA!)
Despite a NCAA denial that the 96-team tournament format will start next season, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors have already given the greenlight to negotiations on a 96-team tournament with television networks that would take effect next season.
I haven’t been told why Board Members feel the need to somehow extract more money out of the tournament, but colossal shortfalls at mismanaged and overextended university athletic departments around the country probably has something to do with it. Shortfalls that can largely be attributed to Title IX-wrought non-revenue sports.
For all of you who were blindsided by this news, I’m sorry to say that the hard part for the NCAA getting over on this plan is already in the rear-view mirror. That is, the TV networks supporting the 96-team plan.
Lastly, I have three letters for those of you who think that public opinion can kill the 96-team concept: B.C.S.
4:00 pm on February 2nd, 2010
The 3 Emperor’s of the NCAA…………Women?
4:12 pm on February 2nd, 2010
Isn’t it convenient that almost every one of the schools affiliated with those 18 would finally have a shot at making the tournament, if it had 96 teams.
4:27 pm on February 2nd, 2010
Title XVI. The gift that keeps on giving…like the herp. If your sport can’t generate enough revenue to provide scholarships for its student-athletes or the university can’t vacuum enough money out of its alumni, then get rid of the sport.
4:56 pm on February 2nd, 2010
Is that Dick Vermeil on the far right with the tinted glasses????
5:03 pm on February 2nd, 2010
Why did you single out the only 3 female members but none of the men? That’s at least a little sexist, Brooksy.
5:38 pm on February 2nd, 2010
This is complete and utter BS if this actually happens its going to be bad as in REALLY bad, 96 teams? the regular season won’t mean_____ and there’s going to be 32 extra scrub teams that probably wont even have a winning record. IF this decision is made it will come back to haunt the ncaa
6:59 pm on February 2nd, 2010
We can’t let this happen! What will happen to the NIT? Oh the humanity.
11:19 pm on February 2nd, 2010
The NIT is de facto getting annexed into the NCAA tournament if it goes to 96 teams. Also, the regular season will mean less.
You’ve got to know when to stop and not overdo something. 96 teams overdoes it and ruins this wonderful thing they’ve created called the NCAA tournament, as well as does tremendous collateral damage mentioned above.
11:19 pm on February 2nd, 2010
Forgot to mention…the lady in the middle…I’d tap that.
12:08 am on February 3rd, 2010
I’m anti-96 but blaming Title IX is silly.
Take Alabama per Department of Education all women’s sports combined cost $12 million. St. Nick made $4 million. Texas spent just under $17 million on all women’s sports and paid Mack $5 million. Texas spent $3 million more on men’s basketball than women’s and women’s has more scholies.
Athletic departments are in trouble because they blow through money like a 3 year old blows through Easter candy with the charter flights, mega-jumbo-trons and etc.
2:34 am on February 3rd, 2010
Fuck Title IX.
8:15 am on February 3rd, 2010
Might as well not have confernence tournaments and just open it up to every team.
9:33 am on February 3rd, 2010
The Onion was spot on one more time:
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/ncaa_expands_march_madness_to
2:49 pm on February 3rd, 2010
@Little Billy: “billy” must be a reference to your brain because you are a moron. If schools followed your advice, there would be no college athletics. Or maybe title 16 is different than title 9, but either way, you obviously know nothing about college athletics.
4:50 pm on March 3rd, 2010
Take a look at WHERE these people come from….a bunch of teams on the Bubble, trying to cash in for their schools…Siena, Northern Illinois, South Florida, Jacksonville State, IUPUI, Portland State, Weber state, Robert Morris, etc…
ANYONE care to make the link ???