Cryptocurrency arrives on college campuses
Oregon lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux, seen by many as the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, just announced he is starting his own cryptocurrency. That's right, his own cryptocurrency.
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First, I don't understand cryptocurrency, so I’m no expert. This coin is expected to be priced at a little less than a dollar with about 100,000 in the initial offering. Eventually, there are plans to release over 20 million. Basically, the coin is traded exclusively by Rally and will offer certain "benefits," including merchandise unavailable to the general public perhaps bearing his name, image or likeness. It could be as insignificant as a signed autograph, I guess. The more you own, the greater the "benefits." This is where we are headed as corporate America invades student-athletes and utilizes their NIL rights to market themselves.
This idea is similar to what professional teams call licensing fees, which are up-front fees paid just for the "right" to buy season tickets. The greater the demand, the more opportunity to raise the price. Here, investors are betting Thibodeaux will be in high demand at some point during his present and post-college career. Greed has no boundaries.
◘Just as was predicted here weeks ago, the College Football Playoff (CFP) board of managers, which consists of 11 presidents and chancellors of various universities, have delayed their vote next week to expand the playoff to 12 teams. Why? Start with SEC expansion by inviting Oklahoma and Texas, the subsequent alliance (between the Big Ten, ACC and Pac 12 and Notre Dame) and finally the raiding of three schools from the AAC by the remaining Big 12. All have only magnified the division and distrust in college football. The SEC is attempting to dominate the national landscape and the remaining schools are trying to figure out how to minimize or prevent that from happening. Before these developments, CFP expansion to 12 teams was a lock. Now, not so fast. Expect more delays as resistance grows. College football has never been more unhealthy.
The surprises
◘The PAC 12 has only one undefeated team left in No. 3 Oregon. No. 24 UCLA is clearly a solid team (3-1) showing physicality and effort we haven't seen in years, and USC has shown flashes. But the bottom six are a combined 5-13 with Washington losing to FCS Montana. The frontrunner at this juncture appears to be independent BYU, which is a perfect 3-0 against Pac 12 competition, including victories over two ranked teams. The Cougars still have two more PAC 12 foes on their schedule, including the finale against USC. Shouldn't a 5-0 conference record warrant consideration in making them the de facto champion? That would be historic. Fuggedaboutit! Keep an eye on both No. 19 Michigan and No. 20 Michigan State, which are a combined 6-0 so far. The coming weeks will tell if their early season success is fake or fiction.
◘You probably missed it but the SEC became the first conference to pay its student-athletes "education-based benefits" after the recent U.S. Supreme Court's decision against the NCAA in Alston v. NCAA permitted such payments. The amount is capped at just less than $6,000. This money is supposed to be used for education-based needs but that's open to interpretation and will probably be abused by many. A car? An all-expenses-paid “education” trip certainly qualify. It's also only the beginning as others must follow or the SEC will be the only league with yet another recruiting advantage.
◘Players have already started entering the transfer portal. Utah quarterback Charlie Brewer is the latest. Benched last week against San Diego State for poor play, Brewer quit. "If I ain't playing, I ain't staying” has to become the popular reaction but this is the world we live in.
What's next
No. 18 Wisconsin (1-1) vs. No. 12 Notre Dame (3-0) +6: This game will be played at a neutral site of Soldier Field in Chicago. Why? Money, of course. While the venue has a storied history, college football belongs on campus. The other obvious negative is the local starting time of 11 a.m. Why? To accommodate television, of course, Which means more money in each team's coffers. I'm sure there will be a lot of West Coast fans watching when they awaken at 9 a.m.
Playing games under the lights, in primetime and on campus creates the finest, purest and unparalleled atmosphere in sports. Nevertheless, with national implications, we will be there in Chicago to attend.
Both teams have looked unimpressive so far with the Badgers losing to Penn State by committing three red-zone turnovers and Notre Dame, having trouble with all three of its inferior opponents (FSU, Toledo and Purdue). The irony is that Irish starting quarterback Jack Coan is a Wisconsin transfer and thus, facing his old teammates. The Badgers quarterback is Graham Mertz, who’s looked shaky this season. If Notre Dame can pressure him and cause turnovers, it will prevail but if Wisconsin controls the ball with its running game, the Badgers can overpower the Irish. Irish coach Brian Kelly is among the best signal-callers in the game and will try to control the football. Take the points in a close game.