Commissioner Scott considers Sunday games, Pac-12 as a new leader
Apr 15, 2011, 4:39 PM | Updated: 6:01 pm
Even if the NFL lockout continues into the fall, the tradition of Sunday football might not be as nonexistent as fans believe.
Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott sees an opportunity on that beloved day of the week and most likely isn’t the only conference commissioner with that mindset.
“We are always looking at the chess pieces on the board, realizing this is a possibility,” Scott said as a guest with Sports 620 KTAR’s Doug and Wolf Friday morning. “We’ve been thinking about what that would mean and what kind of opportunity in a way that would represent for college football.”
The market for football fans on Sunday is definitely there, but Scott admits it would be a shame for fans of the NFL for it to come to that point.
While the reactions of fans having to replace Tom Brady on their TV screens with Brock Osweiler is something Scott can’t predict, he does have his prediction for how the lockout dominoes will fall.
“We’re not having many discussions about broadcast partners yet or schools because I think it’s likely things will settle before the season,” Scott said. “I think chances are better than not this thing gets settled.”
In the wake of a college football future filled with super conferences, Scott is optimistic that his conference will become a leader for years to come. After all, with institutions known for innovation pioneering, Scott claims it is “part of our DNA going forward.”
“Being true to the spirit of what our universities stand for, we’re leaders in academia [and] we’re research leaders in so many areas, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be leaders in sports,” Scott said. “I think we’ll be part of defining whatever new models there are going forward and, through our new TV deals and our expansion, my job is to make sure the Pac-12 is a coveted place to be going forward regardless of what happens in the national landscape.”
