College Hoops Thread '09-'10

The Poet · 06-14-2010, 02:17 PM

Thanks for this info, Joe . . . I hadn't heard this story. My take? First, if the money is coming out of this CEO's own pocket, there are certain "moral" issues regarding the possibility that this may be seen as bribary, but it really is not much difference than any other major endowment a benefactor might give a particular university. If it is company funds, and does not include any "naming rights" stipulations (thus making it a legitimate business write-off, and thereby affecting the bottom line), your point about the lay-offs and stockholders being cheesed is certainly valid. And as for the amount itself . . . well, $10 million is big bucks to you and me, but split it between all the members of a BCS conference and it ain't such a big deal. But if this man's point is to allow his son to compete in the BCS, there's no guarantee that Memphis can do so even if they are a member. Shoot, when's the last time a Duke or Kentucky has competed in football?

I could see the Big 12 offering Memphis an invite in an attempt to save itself, or I could see the Big East and ACC making a nibble, but at this point I think the Big Ten, SEC, and Pac-10 are busy looking for bigger fish to fry at the moment . . . like Texas or Oklahoma.

06-14-2010, 02:17 PM	#16
The Poet Il megglior fabbro Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 8,420 Trading: (2)	Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10 Thanks for this info, Joe . . . I hadn't heard this story. My take? First, if the money is coming out of this CEO's own pocket, there are certain "moral" issues regarding the possibility that this may be seen as bribary, but it really is not much difference than any other major endowment a benefactor might give a particular university. If it is company funds, and does not include any "naming rights" stipulations (thus making it a legitimate business write-off, and thereby affecting the bottom line), your point about the lay-offs and stockholders being cheesed is certainly valid. And as for the amount itself . . . well, $10 million is big bucks to you and me, but split it between all the members of a BCS conference and it ain't such a big deal. But if this man's point is to allow his son to compete in the BCS, there's no guarantee that Memphis can do so even if they are a member. Shoot, when's the last time a Duke or Kentucky has competed in football? I could see the Big 12 offering Memphis an invite in an attempt to save itself, or I could see the Big East and ACC making a nibble, but at this point I think the Big Ten, SEC, and Pac-10 are busy looking for bigger fish to fry at the moment . . . like Texas or Oklahoma.