Determining the ultimate goal of the SEC, Big Ten's new advisory group

The new joint committee between the SEC and Big Ten is going to have plenty on its docket starting out. However, on the macro level, On3’s Andy Staples expects their focus to be on creating a better administration that’s over collegiate sports.

Staples shared his opinion on the advisory group’s goals during an appearance on ‘The Paul Finebaum Show’ on Monday. In his eyes, the two leagues are likely going to do what they can to eventually build a new establishment for college athletics with the idea of forming a ‘super league’ also potentially on the table at some point.

“I think, ultimately, they’re trying to figure out a new governance structure,” said Staples on the SEC Network this afternoon. “The casual fan is going to look at this and go, ‘Oh, they want to create a super league!’, ‘They want to run everything!’. I don’t think necessarily that that’s the goal right now. That may be the end result if things don’t work out the way that they’d like it to.”

“I think the goal is to have a system that actually runs smoothly, that has rules that can be enforced, and everybody still makes money,” Staples said. “I think that’s the ultimate goal.”

Staples took that stance because it’s likely the best one for the future of athletics on this level. It’d be a way for everyone to get what they want without the confusing red tape or the common disorganization that many have noticed.

It’d also bring about a body that Staples believes SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey would very much be in favor of.

“When Greg Sankey says he’d like a robust, national picture? I think he’s telling the truth,” said Staples.

“I think, one, that’s better for the sport in general. That’s better for everyone to make more money ultimately,” Staples continued. “It’s also something that a guy like Greg, who was a compliance guy in the Southland Conference? Like, he still believe in the idea of college sports. It’s not just purely, nakedly corporate.”

This committee of presidents, chancellors, and athletics directors from across the two leagues could end up holding the future of college sports in their hands. It might be a necessary task, though, in order to keep everyone out of individual proceedings moving forward.

“The fact of the matter is it has to evolve or they’re just going to keep getting dragged back into court,” said Staples.

Finebaum: SEC, Big Ten joint advisory group is an ‘inflection point’

Paul Finebaum sees the SEC and Big Ten’s joint committee as a tidal wave in the future of college sports.

Finebaum spoke about the two conference’s group during an appearance on ‘McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning’ on Monday. To him, the news is a turning point in the history of collegiate athletics with its two most powerful conferences led by two of its most powerful figures essentially looking to take the reins in some form.

“I think this is an inflection point in the history of college sports. The two people, the two leagues that – have not most of the power but all of the power – have decided to join hands and start collectively making important decisions. As opposed to sitting back and allowing the NCAA office or somebody on the west coast who, really, has very little voice,” said Finebaum.

As Finebaum continued, he again stressed its importance considering who aligned together.

“I think it’s significant too. It’s a major shift in where the relationship has been between the two leagues,” said Finebaum. “When Kevin Warren was there, he barely gave anyone else in college athletics the time of day. Greg Sankey and Tony Pettiti very quickly came together, primarily because they knew each other. There were past relationships.”

“Tony Pettiti came down to Birmingham, as you guys may have heard, and spent time with Commissioner Sankey,” Finebaum said. “I think they both looked at each other and say, ‘You know, we have all the power in the sport? On the football field and most every other sport and field. Why don’t we try to figure some things out together? So it’s too late to let anyone else make these decisions or try to make these decisions?’”

“I think, ultimately, nobody is making any decisions. That’s why they’ve come together,” said Finebaum.