July 15, 2025 • 14 mins
Greg Sankey sat down with Craig Way and Mike "Hardball" Hardge to discuss the SEC's dominance in college athletics, what the college football landscape could look like in the future, the transfer portal and NIL, and the upcoming College Football Playoff expansion.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
When you have the opportunity to visit with your conference commissioner.
And the nice thing about it with Greg's hanky is
that there was enough, just a little bit smidge in
a history from his days when he was doing great
things of the Southland Conference up in Plano, when I
was working in Dallas at KRLD. So I almost feel
like it's kind of an old home week and it's
good to have you with us.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
And those Southland days at a nineteen ninety six greenhund
a car and I would drive to Nagadoches and Huntsville
and San Marcus and every place in between, and I
would listen to you doing games at some of that point.
But the Dallas KLD station back in the days the
norm hitskis was still on KRLD.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Our Dallas were ath affiliate on the Long Horn Radio network.
So it's good to see. I know you've been extremely
busy on this. I want to jump right into something
because I was kind of taken aback a little bit
by and I guess I shouldn't be by by some
of the reporting that's gone on that the impression that
they got from your statement, your message, your press conference
(00:59):
yesterday was more of and not just with the Big
Ten but with others coming from an adversarial approach. I
didn't get that vibe from you, and I said hope,
and you said something like hopefully that narrative is one
in just terms of the conference thing overall. But I
guess maybe it's just something you should expect or.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
So I'm glad you raised the issue Benjamin Watson did
on the SEC network, and I'm like, there's not a rift,
there's not like this adversarial relationship. We have different views
from time to time, and I'll go to the Big Ten,
but I'll talk about the Big twelve in the a
SEC as well. What we really want is the kind
(01:40):
of disagreement that produces better results. That's the kind of
disagreement you ought to have, and that means you talk,
you talk through the issues, you identify your concern Maybe
you can't resolve different perspectives. We shouldn't agree all the time.
If it's just some kind of passive situation of agreement,
we're not challenging ourselves to improve an idea or a concept.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Differences are inevitable.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Oh yeah, and especially when you have you know, eighteen
members in the Big Ten spread from New Jersey to Oregon,
and then you have sixteen members. Ours are in the
Southeastern footprint. Just different history, culture, expectations produce perspectives. Then
you add in that we work with the ACC and
(02:24):
Big Twelve, there are going to be. The more people
in a room, the more different views you have. The
responsibility is to work through those different views.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
And I'll give you a really good story.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Roy Kramer was the sixth commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.
I once called Roy and I said, Hey, what did
you do to when you had these moments? He said,
you know, back when we were developing maybe the BCS
or the Bull Coalition, He said, we get so angry
at each other we just had to stop and had
walked out the room and didn't talk at dinner. He said,
but you know, we always came back together and worked
through the issue. And I think that Craig is the
(02:58):
responsibility and it's fun write a narrative. And I said
this to Benjamin. I saw after our spring meetings when
I talked about a different view of the college football playoff,
that there was a rift.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
There's not a rift.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
We've actually never said we would never ever look at
this AQ model. We said, and I've said this to Brett,
to Jim, to Tony, the three colleague commissioners. You know,
we have an interest in that model, but we're not
committed to that model. What we do think needs to
happen is expansion is a positive step that's justifiable, and
then improving around the selection process and protocol.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
That's where we put our emphasis.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Now, if you get to a point where you can't
make progress on some of the key issues from our
perspective that could benefit others as well, then maybe we have.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
To look at a different direction.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Is it your thought that you're the vibe you've gotten
from your conversations with those commissioners that there is a
mutual interest in an expansion of the playoff, but everybody
has their own faults on how to get there, how
to build the mousetrap. The reality is the twelve team
(04:05):
playoffs approved for the twenty six season. People kind of
missed that, and the presidents on the CFP board said,
if you can start earlier, due so we did. We
started in twenty four, but there is a there is
a format for twenty six. There's also a process for
changing that format and that's where the Big ten and
SEC role has significance. Can we agree on something different?
(04:29):
I don't know at this point.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
We'll certainly talk through the issues, but there's a format
and we can bring in others to that conversation. I
tend to think that the access of a larger number
is favored, but not guaranteed.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
I got, well, let me ask you. You talk about
its favor but not guaranteed. At what point do you
say too many is too much?
Speaker 4 (04:57):
You know?
Speaker 5 (04:57):
It's like you have a product, and I thought last
year was unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
You've got a chance to see some different teams.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
Arizona State looked amazing, and now a lot of folks
are looking at Kenny Dillingham and what he was able
to do. But when you look at the college football
landscape and all of the change that is continuing to
happen because it's inevitable, what is a good number where
everyone will be happy? I don't think it ever happened,
but I just thought i'd ask.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I think twelve, and it continue to think twelve was
a healthy number. When when we went through all kinds
of iterations on a subcommittee in twenty nineteen, twenty twenty
had the athletics director at Notre Dame at the time,
Jack Schwarbrick, Bob Bowlesby led the Big Twelve, Creig Thompson
led the Mount West, and myself, so I'm like the
(05:48):
only one still stamping. I don't know what that means
for my long time, but it was well reasoned, and
I think the year that we launched the twelve team
playoff was exactly the right year.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
You think about some of the.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Competitive games we had in the teams in that and
then you think about in Ohio State that wouldn't have
been in the playoff but for expansion, or Clemson that
wouldn't have been in the playoff, or SMU that would
not have been in the playoff but for expansion, and
our league did not need to go beyond four, and
we never.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Had unanimity about going beyond four.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
And last year, had we been a four, you would
have had two Big ten teams and two Big twelve,
or excuse me, two SEC teams and two Big ten teams.
The Big twelve and ACC wouldn't have been in the mix.
So I actually took a detour to explain the numbers.
Like I'm asked about my responsibility for the good of
the game. If that doesn't show taking that responsibility seriously, like,
(06:45):
I don't know what the second one is, and I've
got those as well, So I think we did something
healthy for the game. Your question, then, is is twelve
the only place you can reside for the health of
the game. To be at the center of this conversation,
here's the trick for us. So you've got an Alabama
team that beat Georgia and an Old Miss team that
beat Georgia. Beating Georgia was the best win on the
(07:07):
board last year in college football, they were ranked second.
Beating Texas was the next best win because Oregon was undefeated. Remember,
beating Texas was the next best win on the board.
Georgia had two of those, nobody else did. So you
look at Old Miss and you look at at Alabama
and say, well, they could beat the second ranked team
in the College Football playoff. They get some things figured out,
(07:28):
people get healthy, maybe they could have made a run.
You look at South Carolina that may have been playing
better than anyone outside of our top three teams.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
At the end of the year.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
They beat Clemson, who was the ACC champion. Clemson gets
in they don't get out. So that's what drives expansion
a little bit. You had Miami mixed in there, but
you know, I'm not responsible for representing there, but you
look at it and that's where you're trying to figure
out the balance. I do think a pressure point is
and I'm highly concerned about this. Teams outside the twelfth
(07:58):
brought in last year was Clemson. When we did the
modeling of the twelve team playoffs, you've never had a
Power five other than the COVID year.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Not in the top twelve. We just had one.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
You had a bunch of group of five teams outside
the top twelve.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Boise was inside.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
If you start to have multiple teams outside the top
twelve displacing the eleventh and twelfth ranked team and they're
coming from like twenty third in the ranking, that is
an enormous problem and that will create more pressure around
expansion or discussion about why are we allocating those five
spots the way we do.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Visiting with the Commissioner Greg Sanki here on thirteen hundred,
the zign okay, let's talk about another conversation piece that
involves a wry smile on that's the word unanimity. With
regard to scheduling conference because I was all set to
ask you yesterday in the press conference, and this flory
(08:54):
of hands went up, as they invariably do to ask
you questions after your opening cop and I thought, I'm
be willing to bet somebody's going to ask the question,
so I'm just gonna keep my hand down, And sure enough,
I think it was our friend from Charleston who asked
you about a time table if there was one on
the decision of eight or nine conference games, and your
(09:18):
comment was along the lines of, we're not that far
from it. You know, you didn't want to be pinned
down to it definite date, but eventually it's on the horizon.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
One of the lessons for me during COVID is I
said we wanted the decision by July twenty third, like
I wrote this timeline out. We made a decision July thirtieth.
So was I right or was I wrong?
Speaker 3 (09:37):
I did knock Canna, lie Lie, But we.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Made good decisions right. And so the lesson is when
you have time, use it. We've about used up all
our time. The shot gets drifting down. If we take
the play clock, I guess would be the right one.
In football or the pitch clock in baseball, and so
we're gonna have to make a decision because you either
have to remove opponents or you know, just make things
(10:01):
fit within games that are already scheduled. We wanted as
much information as we could access. So part of answering
the question is we really like to better understand the
CFP protocol. If there's going to be clarity or additional
information brought in, it shouldn't be all about that, though.
I think what we did last year. You think about
(10:22):
the Texas experience, right the Georgia game at home, the
Florida game at home and returning those going to Starkville
be an experience. If we're going to Kentucky, people are
excited about it. I've had more calls about going to Kentucky.
I think that's when Keeenland's running, maybe in October. I mean, yeah,
that'll be an experience like you didn't have as a
fan of the Big Twelve. And I'm unashamed of saying
(10:45):
the trips and the travel in the SEC and our
communities are at the top of the list.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
I mean it's just great communities, great people.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Now they want to beat you when you come into
for sure, but in the same by going to Norman
and Austin, So you.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Want to do that more.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
You want more of that, absolutely, and there's a balance
in there. In the COVID year, we played ten conference games. Man,
it was intense. It was intense where the coaches out.
But we had the best viewership we ever had on
our network that year because you weren't mixing in you know,
God love them Lamar and MacNeice. I mean, I worked
(11:25):
with those two schools. They're great when they play each other.
But I think our fans are sophisticated and.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
You want more.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Now, there's a balance in there because college football is
still a developmental game. The NFL is not a developmental game.
Minor league baseball is a developmental game. We're not a
developmental game like minor league baseball. But you have young
people going. You watched it with your quarterback situation for
the year, I had the fact that I think it
was in the US utsa game got some other snaps.
I mean, that's part of the growth process because man,
(11:51):
you guys know, it speeds up when you're actually live.
That's where we're trying to strike the right balance, and
there's a lot that goes into that eight or nine games.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Okay, the final thing the conference tournament.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
I got my first full ride experience of the SEC
basketball tournament in Nashville. I thought they do a bang
up job's a great building, great arena. Hoover is Hoover.
It was tremendous. I mean, obviously the only real challenge
I see that that is weather related when.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
We have that had that fog night fog just a
little bit.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
But you've.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
It's their thought about softball tournament going to true neutral site.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
I know you've done that with volleyball and Savannah.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Yeah, there is, and in fact with volleyball, I was
I was more of a westward lean myself, but that's
not where our members came out. Really a great opportunity
in Austin. We've got a couple of things, and I
just had a briefing today on softball. I'd like to
see us do more west We do that naturally. Rotating championships,
so you know, track and field and tennis and those events.
(12:54):
We've got a lot of legacy with some of these things.
You know, Sea Island for men's golf is one of
those traditions.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
It's special to us and especially.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I don't know if anyone who could would complain about it.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Yeah, you know, Hoover and Baseball were popping nine thousand
a night during the week, and people, once they experience
it with those RVs, they come back. What can we
create in softball is very much on our mind and
we'll see where that decision goes.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
It's always great to visit with you. I appreciate you
taking the time in a busy time, right.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Thanks, And I opened with, you know, watching from afar
what's happened in Central Texas and having friends. I called
Chris del Conti and just said, Chris, are you okay?
As your staff? Okay, is there any way we can help.
There's not much you can do from a far other
than pray and grieve with people, and then you see
kind of the ripple effect of people in other states
(13:44):
talking about loved ones or friends impacted. I just want
to say, the people make the Southeastern Conference special, and
when you see people affected, there's an effect that may
not be seen, but it touches us all. So our
prayers and are whatever we could do to encourage people
are real. For those affected by the tragedy and the flooding.
(14:06):
And I know there's still weather challenges taking place right now.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Appreciate the time, Thanks so much, thank you all right,
this is Commissioner Greg. Thank you to the SEC. We
will continue here from Atlanta on thirteen under the zone
When you have the opportunity to visit with your conference commissioner.
And the nice thing about it with Greg's hanky is
that there was enough, just a little bit smidge in
a history from his days when he was doing great
things of the Southland Conference up in Plano, when I
was working in Dallas at KRLD. So I almost feel
like it's kind of an old home week and it's
good to have you with us.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
And those Southland days at a nineteen ninety six greenhund
a car and I would drive to Nagadoches and Huntsville
and San Marcus and every place in between, and I
would listen to you doing games at some of that point.
But the Dallas KLD station back in the days the
norm hitskis was still on KRLD.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Our Dallas were ath affiliate on the Long Horn Radio network.
So it's good to see. I know you've been extremely
busy on this. I want to jump right into something
because I was kind of taken aback a little bit
by and I guess I shouldn't be by by some
of the reporting that's gone on that the impression that
they got from your statement, your message, your press conference
(00:59):
yesterday was more of and not just with the Big
Ten but with others coming from an adversarial approach. I
didn't get that vibe from you, and I said hope,
and you said something like hopefully that narrative is one
in just terms of the conference thing overall. But I
guess maybe it's just something you should expect or.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
So I'm glad you raised the issue Benjamin Watson did
on the SEC network, and I'm like, there's not a rift,
there's not like this adversarial relationship. We have different views
from time to time, and I'll go to the Big Ten,
but I'll talk about the Big twelve in the a
SEC as well. What we really want is the kind
(01:40):
of disagreement that produces better results. That's the kind of
disagreement you ought to have, and that means you talk,
you talk through the issues, you identify your concern Maybe
you can't resolve different perspectives. We shouldn't agree all the time.
If it's just some kind of passive situation of agreement,
we're not challenging ourselves to improve an idea or a concept.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Differences are inevitable.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Oh yeah, and especially when you have you know, eighteen
members in the Big Ten spread from New Jersey to Oregon,
and then you have sixteen members. Ours are in the
Southeastern footprint. Just different history, culture, expectations produce perspectives. Then
you add in that we work with the ACC and
(02:24):
Big Twelve, there are going to be. The more people
in a room, the more different views you have. The
responsibility is to work through those different views.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
And I'll give you a really good story.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Roy Kramer was the sixth commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.
I once called Roy and I said, Hey, what did
you do to when you had these moments? He said,
you know, back when we were developing maybe the BCS
or the Bull Coalition, He said, we get so angry
at each other we just had to stop and had
walked out the room and didn't talk at dinner. He said,
but you know, we always came back together and worked
through the issue. And I think that Craig is the
(02:58):
responsibility and it's fun write a narrative. And I said
this to Benjamin. I saw after our spring meetings when
I talked about a different view of the college football playoff,
that there was a rift.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
There's not a rift.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
We've actually never said we would never ever look at
this AQ model. We said, and I've said this to Brett,
to Jim, to Tony, the three colleague commissioners. You know,
we have an interest in that model, but we're not
committed to that model. What we do think needs to
happen is expansion is a positive step that's justifiable, and
then improving around the selection process and protocol.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
That's where we put our emphasis.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Now, if you get to a point where you can't
make progress on some of the key issues from our
perspective that could benefit others as well, then maybe we have.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
To look at a different direction.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Is it your thought that you're the vibe you've gotten
from your conversations with those commissioners that there is a
mutual interest in an expansion of the playoff, but everybody
has their own faults on how to get there, how
to build the mousetrap. The reality is the twelve team
(04:05):
playoffs approved for the twenty six season. People kind of
missed that, and the presidents on the CFP board said,
if you can start earlier, due so we did. We
started in twenty four, but there is a there is
a format for twenty six. There's also a process for
changing that format and that's where the Big ten and
SEC role has significance. Can we agree on something different?
(04:29):
I don't know at this point.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
We'll certainly talk through the issues, but there's a format
and we can bring in others to that conversation. I
tend to think that the access of a larger number
is favored, but not guaranteed.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
I got, well, let me ask you. You talk about
its favor but not guaranteed. At what point do you
say too many is too much?
Speaker 4 (04:57):
You know?
Speaker 5 (04:57):
It's like you have a product, and I thought last
year was unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
You've got a chance to see some different teams.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
Arizona State looked amazing, and now a lot of folks
are looking at Kenny Dillingham and what he was able
to do. But when you look at the college football
landscape and all of the change that is continuing to
happen because it's inevitable, what is a good number where
everyone will be happy? I don't think it ever happened,
but I just thought i'd ask.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I think twelve, and it continue to think twelve was
a healthy number. When when we went through all kinds
of iterations on a subcommittee in twenty nineteen, twenty twenty
had the athletics director at Notre Dame at the time,
Jack Schwarbrick, Bob Bowlesby led the Big Twelve, Creig Thompson
led the Mount West, and myself, so I'm like the
(05:48):
only one still stamping. I don't know what that means
for my long time, but it was well reasoned, and
I think the year that we launched the twelve team
playoff was exactly the right year.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
You think about some of the.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Competitive games we had in the teams in that and
then you think about in Ohio State that wouldn't have
been in the playoff but for expansion, or Clemson that
wouldn't have been in the playoff, or SMU that would
not have been in the playoff but for expansion, and
our league did not need to go beyond four, and
we never.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Had unanimity about going beyond four.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
And last year, had we been a four, you would
have had two Big ten teams and two Big twelve,
or excuse me, two SEC teams and two Big ten teams.
The Big twelve and ACC wouldn't have been in the mix.
So I actually took a detour to explain the numbers.
Like I'm asked about my responsibility for the good of
the game. If that doesn't show taking that responsibility seriously, like,
(06:45):
I don't know what the second one is, and I've
got those as well, So I think we did something
healthy for the game. Your question, then, is is twelve
the only place you can reside for the health of
the game. To be at the center of this conversation,
here's the trick for us. So you've got an Alabama
team that beat Georgia and an Old Miss team that
beat Georgia. Beating Georgia was the best win on the
(07:07):
board last year in college football, they were ranked second.
Beating Texas was the next best win because Oregon was undefeated. Remember,
beating Texas was the next best win on the board.
Georgia had two of those, nobody else did. So you
look at Old Miss and you look at at Alabama
and say, well, they could beat the second ranked team
in the College Football playoff. They get some things figured out,
(07:28):
people get healthy, maybe they could have made a run.
You look at South Carolina that may have been playing
better than anyone outside of our top three teams.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
At the end of the year.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
They beat Clemson, who was the ACC champion. Clemson gets
in they don't get out. So that's what drives expansion
a little bit. You had Miami mixed in there, but
you know, I'm not responsible for representing there, but you
look at it and that's where you're trying to figure
out the balance. I do think a pressure point is
and I'm highly concerned about this. Teams outside the twelfth
(07:58):
brought in last year was Clemson. When we did the
modeling of the twelve team playoffs, you've never had a
Power five other than the COVID year.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Not in the top twelve. We just had one.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
You had a bunch of group of five teams outside
the top twelve.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Boise was inside.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
If you start to have multiple teams outside the top
twelve displacing the eleventh and twelfth ranked team and they're
coming from like twenty third in the ranking, that is
an enormous problem and that will create more pressure around
expansion or discussion about why are we allocating those five
spots the way we do.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Visiting with the Commissioner Greg Sanki here on thirteen hundred,
the zign okay, let's talk about another conversation piece that
involves a wry smile on that's the word unanimity. With
regard to scheduling conference because I was all set to
ask you yesterday in the press conference, and this flory
(08:54):
of hands went up, as they invariably do to ask
you questions after your opening cop and I thought, I'm
be willing to bet somebody's going to ask the question,
so I'm just gonna keep my hand down, And sure enough,
I think it was our friend from Charleston who asked
you about a time table if there was one on
the decision of eight or nine conference games, and your
(09:18):
comment was along the lines of, we're not that far
from it. You know, you didn't want to be pinned
down to it definite date, but eventually it's on the horizon.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
One of the lessons for me during COVID is I
said we wanted the decision by July twenty third, like
I wrote this timeline out. We made a decision July thirtieth.
So was I right or was I wrong?
Speaker 3 (09:37):
I did knock Canna, lie Lie, But we.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Made good decisions right. And so the lesson is when
you have time, use it. We've about used up all
our time. The shot gets drifting down. If we take
the play clock, I guess would be the right one.
In football or the pitch clock in baseball, and so
we're gonna have to make a decision because you either
have to remove opponents or you know, just make things
(10:01):
fit within games that are already scheduled. We wanted as
much information as we could access. So part of answering
the question is we really like to better understand the
CFP protocol. If there's going to be clarity or additional
information brought in, it shouldn't be all about that, though.
I think what we did last year. You think about
(10:22):
the Texas experience, right the Georgia game at home, the
Florida game at home and returning those going to Starkville
be an experience. If we're going to Kentucky, people are
excited about it. I've had more calls about going to Kentucky.
I think that's when Keeenland's running, maybe in October. I mean, yeah,
that'll be an experience like you didn't have as a
fan of the Big Twelve. And I'm unashamed of saying
(10:45):
the trips and the travel in the SEC and our
communities are at the top of the list.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
I mean it's just great communities, great people.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Now they want to beat you when you come into
for sure, but in the same by going to Norman
and Austin, So you.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Want to do that more.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
You want more of that, absolutely, and there's a balance
in there. In the COVID year, we played ten conference games. Man,
it was intense. It was intense where the coaches out.
But we had the best viewership we ever had on
our network that year because you weren't mixing in you know,
God love them Lamar and MacNeice. I mean, I worked
(11:25):
with those two schools. They're great when they play each other.
But I think our fans are sophisticated and.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
You want more.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Now, there's a balance in there because college football is
still a developmental game. The NFL is not a developmental game.
Minor league baseball is a developmental game. We're not a
developmental game like minor league baseball. But you have young
people going. You watched it with your quarterback situation for
the year, I had the fact that I think it
was in the US utsa game got some other snaps.
I mean, that's part of the growth process because man,
(11:51):
you guys know, it speeds up when you're actually live.
That's where we're trying to strike the right balance, and
there's a lot that goes into that eight or nine games.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Okay, the final thing the conference tournament.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
I got my first full ride experience of the SEC
basketball tournament in Nashville. I thought they do a bang
up job's a great building, great arena. Hoover is Hoover.
It was tremendous. I mean, obviously the only real challenge
I see that that is weather related when.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
We have that had that fog night fog just a
little bit.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
But you've.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
It's their thought about softball tournament going to true neutral site.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
I know you've done that with volleyball and Savannah.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Yeah, there is, and in fact with volleyball, I was
I was more of a westward lean myself, but that's
not where our members came out. Really a great opportunity
in Austin. We've got a couple of things, and I
just had a briefing today on softball. I'd like to
see us do more west We do that naturally. Rotating championships,
so you know, track and field and tennis and those events.
(12:54):
We've got a lot of legacy with some of these things.
You know, Sea Island for men's golf is one of
those traditions.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
It's special to us and especially.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I don't know if anyone who could would complain about it.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Yeah, you know, Hoover and Baseball were popping nine thousand
a night during the week, and people, once they experience
it with those RVs, they come back. What can we
create in softball is very much on our mind and
we'll see where that decision goes.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
It's always great to visit with you. I appreciate you
taking the time in a busy time, right.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Thanks, And I opened with, you know, watching from afar
what's happened in Central Texas and having friends. I called
Chris del Conti and just said, Chris, are you okay?
As your staff? Okay, is there any way we can help.
There's not much you can do from a far other
than pray and grieve with people, and then you see
kind of the ripple effect of people in other states
(13:44):
talking about loved ones or friends impacted. I just want
to say, the people make the Southeastern Conference special, and
when you see people affected, there's an effect that may
not be seen, but it touches us all. So our
prayers and are whatever we could do to encourage people
are real. For those affected by the tragedy and the flooding.
(14:06):
And I know there's still weather challenges taking place right now.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Appreciate the time, Thanks so much, thank you all right,
this is Commissioner Greg. Thank you to the SEC. We
will continue here from Atlanta on thirteen under the zone
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