At this point the Cam Newton situation has been beaten to death. Considering that it is a bye week for Auburn and nothing of any real relevance that we didn't already know came out this week, I am going to skip that whole issue in favor of some some other things making news off the field.
Fox wins the rights for the Big Ten Championship Game instead of presumed frontrunner (and current regular season television partner ABC/ESPN). This could signal the beginning of a shift in where we watch our football. Considering that ABC has been being de-emphasized over the last couple of seasons in favor of ESPN and ESPN is running out of spaces to show games, there is room for another network to gain a foothold. Fox seems to want a piece of the television pie in college football and with the Big Ten Title game they have added another oddball piece to the puzzle like televising the BCS was with no regular season presence. This time though, it is possible that winning the Big Ten Title game rights are a harbinger of things to come. Remember that the Pac-12 rights are available after next season. That would make a nice centerpiece for Fox with that and the Big Ten Title game. Also, Fox could easily make a play for the enitre Big 12 rights when they come up in a few years. With all that in mid, I believe Fox is preparing to make a big stab for bowl season that would hit the current ESPN system at its core: the Rose Bowl. Things seem to be turning in the ESPN rules the world game. In addition to Fox, NBC-Comcast could make a play for some rights beyond Notre Dame if the timing is right. A few years from now, we could have even more football on tv than we do now and have most leagues with a dedicated network on broadcast television not unlike what the SEC currently has with CBS.
Remember the North Carolina issue earlier this season. Many have forgotten about it in the wake of Cam Newton, but two more players were rules permanently ineligible this week. This is getting ridiculous and some players still don't know their status going forward. Just a reminder that the NCAA has decided to crackdown on these acts that are against the rulebook.
What are the schools with open head coaching positions going to do? At this point, only Colorado and Minnesota have positions of note for potential head coaches. For Minnesota, it will take the right fit, but Glen Mason showed that winning is possible there if only for a short window every so often. For those interested in the Colorado job, run away as fast as you can. It is going to be a coach killer. Fans there and boosters (of which there aren't enough to truly sustain an elite level program) and the prohibition of multi-year contracts for assistants along with a cash strapped athletic department mean that whoever is going there is likely at his final coaching job barring a Gene Chizik at Iowa St. leaving for Auburn situation. Either the coach is going to win and stay forever or lose and get fired. I would bet on lose and get fired no matter who it is.
More on the Cam Newton saga next week.
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