Letter proposes making COO of college football

Published

2 years ago

November 18, 2022

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1:38 PM ET

Leaders throughout college athletics are considering appointing a chief operating officer of college football who would report to a proposed FBS football governing board, according to a lengthy letter from the LEAD1 Association obtained by ESPN.

The letter was sent this week to every Division I athletic director and eventually members of the NCAA’s Division I Transformation Committee, and the NCAA’s board of directors.

The proposal has been circulated at the highest levels of college football, including the 10 FBS commissioners and College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock, sources said.

The detailed recommendations for the sport’s future governance are the result of months of discussions, which began bubbling this past spring when some of the most prominent voices in college athletics, including Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, advocated for college football to separate from the NCAA entirely.

Any momentum for that shifted in September, when an overwhelming majority of Division I athletic directors at the annual LEAD1 meetings expressed a strong preference to keep FBS football under the NCAA if can be more streamlined and less bureaucratic.

Following the strong consensus in its fall meeting, LEAD1, which represents the 131 athletic directors in the FBS, established a working group comprised of representatives from all 10 FBS conferences.

According to the group’s proposal, the FBS football governing board would primarily be comprised of people with significant football knowledge, and appointed by their conferences. There would also be a representative from the American Football Coaches Association, along with four independent directors, including at least two former student-athletes — a combination of unbiased people and those who have a players’ perspective, which the Knight Commission has separately been pushing for.

The FBS football governing board would “decide all matters related to FBS football” except for rules related to academics, financial aid and health and safety. While the board would oversee things like officiating, rules and possibly scheduling, many agree there are issues that should remain at the level of university presidents, and the NCAA would remain a legal shield.

The liability issues are at the crux of why most athletic leaders want college football to remain under the NCAA. The NCAA currently has a football oversight committee, but six of the 18 members represent the FCS, and many athletic directors lament they have different challenges that should be dealt with separately.

The COO would be a similar position to that of Dan Gavitt, who is the NCAA senior vice president of basketball. FBS football is currently the only collegiate sport that is governed by the NCAA but runs its own national championship, through the CFP. The NCAA deals with issues such as rules, officiating, concussion litigation and enforcement, but doesn’t have a person like Gavitt at the table when significant decisions about the sport are made. This proposed position would also be on the NCAA president’s leadership team/cabinet.

While LEAD1 doesn’t have the authority to implement any of the recommendations, it’s another step toward changing how the sport of college football is governed as the NCAA undergoes sweeping changes to its own organization, and more power shifts to the individual conferences. The proposal also pushes for NFL to provide financial support, arguing “the NFL reaps the benefits of FBS football serving as its farm system without providing any financial support (and other resources) to the NCAA.”

It’s likely to take weeks to gather feedback, and the proposal would ultimately have to be approved by the Division I board of directors. While there could be some pushback to the plan, there could also be some who want to wait until the NCAA names a president to replace Mark Emmert before making such drastic changes to the sport’s structure. It’s also unclear who needs to vote to officially approve it, as there are differing legal opinions, according to sources.

According to the letter, “Failing implementation of these recommendations, our FBS ADs are in favor of examining options for such decision-making outside of the NCAA.”

Sports

Ball State fires Neu amid another losing season

Published

6 hours ago

November 16, 2024

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Ball State fires Neu amid another losing season

Pete Thamel, ESPNNov 16, 2024, 07:50 AM ET
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Ball State fired coach Mike Neu, the school announced Saturday. The Cardinals are 3-7.

Neu was 40-63 in nine seasons at Ball State. Neu led the Cardinals to the MAC title in 2020, which was his only winning season at Ball State.

Sources told ESPN that the staff was informed of Neu’s dismissal early Saturday.

Offensive line coach Colin Johnson will serve as the interim head coach for the last two games, athletic director Jeff Mitchell said in a statement. Ball State hosts Bowling Green on Nov. 23 then plays at Ohio on Nov. 29.

Neu, 53, is a beloved alum with a strong campus reputation, but the lack of results ultimately led to his dismissal. Ball State lost 51-48 in overtime at Buffalo this week and fell to 2-4 in MAC play.

That clinched a fourth consecutive losing season for Ball State.

“Coach Neu has poured his heart into the Ball State football program,” Mitchell said in the statement. “I commend him for his professionalism and the positive team culture he has constructed. His efforts have greatly impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. He has represented the Ball State brand with integrity and class, and I wish him well in future pursuits.”

Neu led Ball State to two bowl games. That included a win over San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl to conclude the 2020 season, when Ball State finished 7-1 and won its first MAC title since 1996.

Sports

Pitt QB Holstein out; Yarnell starts vs. Clemson

Published

6 hours ago

November 16, 2024

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Pitt QB Holstein out; Yarnell starts vs. Clemson

Pete Thamel, ESPNNov 16, 2024, 09:27 AM ET
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Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein will not play against No. 20 Clemson on Saturday, with redshirt junior Nate Yarnell getting the start for the Panthers.

Holstein hadn’t been cleared medically, sources said, and was considered a game-time decision by coach Pat Narduzzi after leaving two of Pitt’s past three games following apparent head injuries. Holstein took part in warmups Saturday.

Yarnell, who lost a camp battle to Holstein, will make his first start this season and fourth in his career for the Panthers. He has a 2-1 record as a starter, with wins over Western Michigan (2022) and Boston College (2023) and a loss to Duke (2023).

Yarnell has a strong amount of experience for a backup, as he has thrown for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career. That includes a 65.3% completion percentage and an average of 8.9 yards per attempt. This season, he has thrown for five touchdowns and two interceptions while playing in the past three games.

Holstein has been a revelatory player for the Panthers under new offensive coordinator Kade Bell. Holstein, a transfer from Alabama, has thrown for 17 touchdowns with six interceptions.

Pittsburgh has the country’s No. 16 scoring offense at 36.7 points per game. That’s up from No. 114 last season, when it averaged 20.2 points.

Holstein has completed 61.9% of his passes and thrown for 2,174 yards.

Sports

10-0 Indiana gives Cignetti new 8-year contract

Published

6 hours ago

November 16, 2024

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10-0 Indiana gives Cignetti new 8-year contract

ESPN News Services

Nov 16, 2024, 08:00 AM ET

Indiana has agreed to a contract extension with Curt Cignetti amid the Hoosiers’ unprecedented 10-0 start, the school announced Saturday.

Cignetti’s new eight-year contract runs through the 2032 season and will pay him an average of $8 million per year with an annual $1 million retention bonus, putting the total value of the new contract at $72 million.

“I am beyond appreciative for the tremendous commitment, confidence, and support from President Pam Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson,” Cignetti said in a statement. “Manette [his wife] and I love Bloomington and are grateful for how the IU community has embraced us. I look forward to leading this outstanding program and doing my part to continue the momentum for Hoosier football.”

Cignetti originally received a six-year, $27 million contract when he was hired in December. He took the Indiana job after leading James Madison to an 11-1 season in 2023 — when he made $677,311 — with the goal of changing the Hoosiers’ historically woeful image in football.

He then led Indiana to the first 10-win season in school history and a possible push for the College Football Playoff. No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) has one more win than its combined total over the previous three seasons. Its No. 5 ranking is one spot shy of the team’s highest ever, last reached in 1967, also the last time the Hoosiers won or shared a Big Ten title.

Indiana has scored at least 40 points seven times, won nine times by 14 or more points and trailed only twice briefly all season.

“We were confident IU could become a winning program and we love what he’s building here,” Dolson said in a statement. “We love the student-athletes that he’s bringing here. We love how our fanbase has rallied around this team and made Memorial Stadium the place to be on Saturday afternoons. And now, we love the fact that he’s going to be doing all those things right here in Bloomington for a long, long time.”

A source told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg that Indiana will also significantly increase the pool for Cignetti’s assistants and staff.

The Hoosiers are on a bye this week before a pivotal matchup with No. 2 Ohio State next Saturday that could determine Indiana’s playoff hopes and a potential spot in the Big Ten championship game.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.