dayooper
It's what I do. I drink and I know things.
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2013
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You do realize that ADs have nothing to do with changing conferences right? In a few isolated cases they have input or even some level of autonomy to negotiate, but in most cases it all happens at the presidential level and most athletic directors are not given routine (if any) updates on realignment discussions.
Like I pointed out earlier, Kevin Anderson was not informed of his schools changing leagues until a few days before it happened even though they had been talking for 6 months and had an NDA signed for nearly 4 months. I assure you that not only is it not impossible to think the Illinois AD could be out of the loop, it is a likelihood.
Actually, Kevin Anderson was in on the original meetings between Maryland and The Big10 on October 12th. At least according to The Washington Post detailing how the move was made. Anderson told Loh he was crazy for even thinking of moving, but went with him to the October 12th meeting with the Big10.
Collegial maybe, but in College Park, even the thought of such a meeting was unconventional. When Loh told his athletic director, Anderson responded, “Wallace, you are not serious? You realize this is such a hot issue with our fans. You don’t want to go that direction.”
But acting on Kirwan’s advice, Loh accepted the meeting. On Oct. 12, he, Anderson and two of Anderson’s deputies — Kelly Mehrtens and Nathan Pine — flew to Chicago, where they met Delany and other Big Ten officials at the Hilton at O’Hare Airport.
They also signed a NDA before they met. From the same article:
Before the meeting could take place, the Big Ten asked Maryland officials to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Delany did not want public discourse. A year earlier, when the Big Ten had inquired about several Big 12 schools, conference officials initially wanted transparency in the process. Instead, the public discussion led to mayhem
Anderson did know and knew before there was an NDA.