Obviously we've all been speaking a lot about this topic and whether ASU can ever truly compete in this new era. I believe the answer is a resounding no when it comes to football. But what I've been thinking about lately is how college administrations (Pres and ADs) need to adjust their thinking big time.
When it comes to ASU basketball I was a huge advocate of ASU hiring Bobby Huggins (instead we got limp &$%# Herb) and then going after Bruce Pearl (who has already been to a Final-4 with Auburn and has them at #2 right now). The common refrain from many on the message boards started off as "ASU would never hire.......because we're afraid of sanctions". Well, those days and that type of thinking needs to be euthanized immediately.
The enactment of the NIL is the NCAA and the country finally saying out loud "college sports is only about money". The belief in amateurism is misguided and probably died in the 1970's, but it took the NIL to finally admit it. With the NIL the only things that matter are whether a program:
1. Wins (a lot)
2. Makes a lot money (or at least doesn't lose money)
3. Has an identifiable following (5 or 6 people showing up to watch some obscure sport does not make sense)
Would ASU be willing to hire a Pitino or a Sean Miller? Yes, they were caught offering money, which is now legal. So what's the problem?
How about Kelvin Sampson or Gregg Marshall? They had their scrapes with the NCAA but the NCAA has been completely neutered.
All four of those coaches would answer a resounding yes to the 3 questions above. They're all winners, Bobby Hurley is not. Concerned about the NCAA? Why? WVU, Auburn and Houston have all reaped MAJOR benefits from hiring those "suspect" coaches, meanwhile ASU continues to wallow in mediocrity. We hired Mr. Squeaky clean in Herm and we are now staring at an NCAA investigation without reaping any benefits from the hire in terms of wins.
ASU needs to hope Hurley is so frustrated that he bolts for a eastern conference team. He is not a winner but he is a narcissist. Then ASU needs to hire a true winner regardless of any baggage they may come with. The NIL has changed the landscape and thus our thinking as fans and as the universities administration needs to change as well. All that matters is winning and money. Period.
When it comes to ASU basketball I was a huge advocate of ASU hiring Bobby Huggins (instead we got limp &$%# Herb) and then going after Bruce Pearl (who has already been to a Final-4 with Auburn and has them at #2 right now). The common refrain from many on the message boards started off as "ASU would never hire.......because we're afraid of sanctions". Well, those days and that type of thinking needs to be euthanized immediately.
The enactment of the NIL is the NCAA and the country finally saying out loud "college sports is only about money". The belief in amateurism is misguided and probably died in the 1970's, but it took the NIL to finally admit it. With the NIL the only things that matter are whether a program:
1. Wins (a lot)
2. Makes a lot money (or at least doesn't lose money)
3. Has an identifiable following (5 or 6 people showing up to watch some obscure sport does not make sense)
Would ASU be willing to hire a Pitino or a Sean Miller? Yes, they were caught offering money, which is now legal. So what's the problem?
How about Kelvin Sampson or Gregg Marshall? They had their scrapes with the NCAA but the NCAA has been completely neutered.
All four of those coaches would answer a resounding yes to the 3 questions above. They're all winners, Bobby Hurley is not. Concerned about the NCAA? Why? WVU, Auburn and Houston have all reaped MAJOR benefits from hiring those "suspect" coaches, meanwhile ASU continues to wallow in mediocrity. We hired Mr. Squeaky clean in Herm and we are now staring at an NCAA investigation without reaping any benefits from the hire in terms of wins.
ASU needs to hope Hurley is so frustrated that he bolts for a eastern conference team. He is not a winner but he is a narcissist. Then ASU needs to hire a true winner regardless of any baggage they may come with. The NIL has changed the landscape and thus our thinking as fans and as the universities administration needs to change as well. All that matters is winning and money. Period.
