August 25, 2023

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Oregon State or Washington State have never been the flagship schools of the floundering Pac-12 Conference. But they’re still in a Power Five conference — with all the resources and advantages therein — so it’s no wonder they’re the target of expansion pitches from the Mountain West and American Athletic.

There’s more college football news heading into Week 0 as a bipartisan group of Congressmen have formed a new caucus aiming to preserve the history of the sport’s iconic stadiums. Meanwhile, Chicago’s mayor shows more confidence in the city’s ability to keep the Bears.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

MWC, AAC To Make Pitches To Leftover Pac-12 Schools [[link removed]]

Syndication Statesman Journal

Even mid-major conferences are getting increasingly involved in college football’s realignment drama.

Soon after the ACC accelerated [[link removed]] its pursuit of Stanford and Cal, the American Athletic and Mountain West conferences will each deliver [[link removed]] expansion presentations in the coming days to Washington State and Oregon State, the other two schools left without a conference after the dismantling [[link removed]] of the Pac-12.

The expansions, if completed, would represent a sizable step up for either the MWC or AAC.

The MWC and commissioner Gloria Nevarez have made no secret of their desire [[link removed]] to become a more highly regarded entity. On Thursday, Nevarez appeared before a Washington State expansion advisory committee including university president Kirk Schulz and athletic director Pat Chun, in what was described [[link removed]] as an “informing-gathering session.”

And after making history in 2021, when Cincinnati became the first non-Power Five team to reach the College Football Playoff, the AAC and commissioner Mike Aresco would also like a regular presence among college sports’ elite.

Oregon State and Washington State are located in more remote, smaller markets, but both schools’ football programs have been competitive on the field of late, have Power Five-level resources, and would likely aid either conference in future media rights negotiations.

Preserving The Pac-12?

In the case of the Mountain West, discussions thus far about adding Oregon State and Washington State have also included bringing along the Pac-12 brand name and intellectual property — a far more complex endeavor, and one that could introduce both additional revenue and numerous legal hurdles.

The schools’ decision will rely in large part on Stanford and Cal. If the Bay Area schools ultimately reject the ACC or another conference — or are rejected — the momentum toward rebuilding the Pac-12 in some form will likely resurface.

Chicago’s New Mayor Says Bears Staying In City Still Possibility [[link removed]]

Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

Despite no shortage of suburban suitors, the Chicago Bears could ultimately stay in the city — and mayor Brandon Johnson is newly optimistic they’ll do just that.

“As they continue to produce good conversations, of course the expectation is the opportunity to figure out how we can actually allow our ends to meet collectively,” he told [[link removed]] Crain’s Chicago Business. “Are we there yet? No. Are we moving in that direction in earnest? That’s what’s happening.”

Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren said the team plans to have “regular dialogue with Mayor Johnson” and added that the Bears have “embraced productive discussions since our first meeting.”

Johnson has made keeping the Bears a priority [[link removed]] since taking office earlier this year.

Taxing Issues

A tax dispute [[link removed]] with Arlington Heights — where the Bears own the site of the former Arlington International Racecourse — has kept the team from beginning construction on a new stadium in the Chicago suburb. Since then, Aurora [[link removed]], Naperville [[link removed]], Richton Park [[link removed]], and Waukegan [[link removed]] have all thrown their hats in the ring to host the Bears.

If the Bears were to stay in Chicago proper, it would likely require a serious upgrade to Soldier Field — or a new stadium. Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, previously pitched [[link removed]] the idea of adding a dome to the classic venue.

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A Day on the Water With J.K. Dobbins

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As one of football’s best young running backs, J.K. Dobbins is mostly known for his work on the field. But like many professional athletes – J.K has his own passions off the field.

In our new series, My Other Passion, presented by Chevrolet, we hit the outdoors [[link removed]] with some of the most recognizable athletes in sports to explore their interests outside the arena.

Learn how J.K. Dobbins grew up fishing in Texas, how it helps him practice patience on and off the field, the importance of family, his thoughts on the upcoming season and more.

Watch episode one [[link removed]] now.

Congress To Protect Historic Stadiums Amid College Football Facility Boom [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

A bipartisan group of U.S. Congressmen has created a new caucus devoted to protecting college football stadiums — a pointed response to an accelerating facility arms race within the sport.

Led by Rep. Garret Graves (R-Louisiana) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin), the Historic Stadium Caucus will develop strategies to preserve and modernize facilities that in some cases are more than 120 years old, but in a historically meaningful way.

The group will particularly focus on security and safety enhancements, technological upgrades, and securing funding for infrastructure improvements.

Initially, 18 college football venues have committed to participate, including iconic facilities such as the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Yale Bowl, Beaver Stadium, and Camp Randall Stadium. More venues are expected to be added to the list, and Graves and Pocan are also seeking additional legislators to join the caucus.

“Historic stadiums like the Rose Bowl have been the backbone of American sports and entertainment for over a century, but their viability and continued operations are in jeopardy with the evolving landscape and expectations of modern-day sports and entertainment,” said Jens Weiden, Rose Bowl GM and CEO.

“History is the soul of these stadiums … We believe the launch of the caucus will be a crucial step forward in protecting these iconic venues from being overshadowed,” Weiden said.

The caucus arrives as at least a dozen schools from Power Five conferences are currently in the midst [[link removed]] of large-scale stadium upgrades, along with a growing number of smaller-conference universities and independents. The cost of many of those projects extends well into nine figures.

Conversation Starters Adidas’ new ad for the Buenos Aires Marathon features flying sneakers [[link removed]]. Kerry Carpenter is one of the hottest hitters in baseball this season with 20 home runs for the Detroit Tigers. The 25-year-old also has an impressive LinkedIn profile [[link removed]] — including first jobs as a math tutor, a Publix cashier, and part-time employee at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Wake Forest’s 60,000-square-foot McCreary Football Complex is complete — and features 130 new lockers, sleeping pods, and more. Take a tour. [[link removed]]

SPONSORED BY MORGAN STANLEY

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As they pour effort into their crafts, a solid financial standing plays a pivotal role. Money in the Making offers digital financial education [[link removed]] tailored for emerging talent, covering vital topics like brand building, wealth management, budgeting, investing, NIL, and more.

This accessible resource accommodates busy schedules, fostering financial literacy without complexity. It addresses the critical need for financial education in a landscape where young talents have many avenues to monetize their skills.

Morgan Stanley GSE developed this program to empower tomorrow’s stars, providing tools and resources for them to navigate their financial futures effectively. Learn more [[link removed]].

Editor's Picks Spanish Women’s National Team Threatens Boycott [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Tensions continue following the unsolicited kiss from Luis Rubiales. Diddy To Donate $1M to Jackson State Football Post Coach Prime [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Jackson State-South Carolina State kickoff their season on ABC. Bally Sports Restructuring Ends in Layoffs for National Desk Staff [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Bally Sports eliminated its national desk. Your Chance to Win in Winner-Takes-All

Front Office Sports is partnering with Splash Sports to bring you a Season Long NFL Survivor Contest [[link removed]].

This contest follows a winner-takes-all format, meaning only one participant will be declared the winner and receive the entire prize of up to $2,250. In the event of multiple winners, the prize will be divided equally among all the winners. The grand prize is dependent on the number of entries. Deadline to sign up is September 10, 2023.

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