What Utah, Pac-12 Fans Think The Conference Can Improve On

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The fans have spoken on social media about the many issues that the Pac-12 faces and continues to ignore.

Earlier this week, KSL Sports decided to ask Utah and Pac-12 fans about what the conference can improve on.

That’s when the fans’ thoughts came pouring in on Twitter with many of the reasons making sense.

Here is the suggestions and reaction from the fans on what they want to see the conference take action on in order to improve it’s product.

1. Fire Larry Scott

When I initially posted the question on Twitter, the responses that immediately came in was the infamous hashtag #FireLarryScott. While that is at the top of the list for most fans, I wanted to get more information and dig deeper.

#FireLarryScott

— Charles Barnard (@ccb1212) October 27, 2020

@snwbound on Twitter believes that hiring a “competent commissioner” would fix all of the issues.

Easy. Hire a competent commissioner who will then fix issues 2-200 by simply doing thier job.

— snowbound (@snwbound) October 27, 2020

2. Television Agreement

The television deal that the Pac-12 is currently under has made fans frustrated. The Pac-12 Networks is not available on any digital streaming service or even on DirecTV. As @Utefan444 responded on Twitter, a new TV deal would fix most problems.

TV. That would fix most of the problems. It would get better recruits all around, more eyes for cfp and overall respect, it would improve officiating (more eyes, more scrutiny, therefore more desire to be better) etc. Not to mention more support from fans who actually watch.

— Utefan for life! (@utefan444) October 27, 2020

KSL Sports producer and SportsBeat Afterhours podcast host Zak Hicken had a few suggestions, including an improved TV package, conference headquarters relocation and pay cuts for conference executives.

Improve TV package, move conference HQ to Las Vegas, pay cuts for conference execs

— Zak Hicken (@zakhicken) October 27, 2020

Those are all solid suggestions. I even responded to Zak on Twitter that he should be the next Pac-12 Commissioner.

3. Move Conference Headquarters

After the general public found out about how much the Pac-12 spends each year to rent their space for headquarters and the Network in San Francisco, that opened many eyes.

As @ccb1212 on Twitter stated the obvious, it’s too expensive.

Move conference headquarters out of San Fran. Too expensive.

— Charles Barnard (@ccb1212) October 27, 2020

In fact, I wrote a story in September that the headquarters should be moved to Salt Lake City. Portland or Las Vegas would work too.

4. Scheduling Model

The Pac-12 is currently one of two conferences in the Power-5 that play 9 conference games. The other three conferences play 8 games. That has been talked about with Kyle Whittingham and others throughout the Utah program and the Pac-12.

That was one of the things @Utah_Wachalal wants to see changed.

1.) TV
2.) 8 game schedule (SEC model)
3.) Move conference HQ to Vegas

— Mr Steal Your Wins (@Utah_Wachalal) October 27, 2020

The stance I would take is let’s have all Power-5 conferences on the same page. It doesn’t matter if it’s 8 or 9 games but I would like to see the Pac-12, SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 all playing the same amount of conference games.

5. Improved Non-Conference Schedules

Some went outside the box, one of them was @aljmac, who said a partnership with the Big Ten in football and basketball for non-conference games would be his preference and breaking up the California schools in the conference from having to play each other annually in football.

– Partner with the B1G in fb and bb for regular non-con scheduling
– Break up the Cali 4 from having to play each other annually in fb

— Alan Macfarlane (@aljmac) October 27, 2020

That’s not a terrible idea. I thought back when both the Big Ten and Pac-12 postponed their seasons, that the two conferences should partner up at the end of the football season and play each other.

6. Officials

@MatthewJaques had a few items on his list but one that stood out was signing a partnership with a smaller conference to develop officials for promotion.

The easy answer if #FireLarryScott, but aside from that, there is a laundry list

1) 8 game conference schedule
2) Dump Pac 12 Network and get an ESPN deal
3) Move conference HQ
4) Sign a relationship with a smaller conference to develop referees for promotion

— Pronounced Jakes (@MatthewJaques) October 27, 2020

I like where he is going with this. Everyone is looking for promotion in any job. This would be ideal so that they get the proper training. But this would need to be done under the new Pac-12 leadership.

Jokes

The Pac-12 has announced at least three different partnership agreements over the past week. The one that made social media crack jokes was the Official Meat Provider of the Pac-12.

When I posed the question of what the conference can improve on, @Uteman_forever tweeted that a multi-year partnership with a bakery would be ideal.

Getting a multi year partnership with a bakery so we have an official apple pie provider. This should have happened years ago. Can’t wait any longer

— KiYi (@Uteman_forever) October 27, 2020

KSL Sports Director Nate Dowdle didn’t realize that having an official meat provider for a conference was a thing.

I was today years old when I learned collegiate conferences have official meat and seafood providers. pic.twitter.com/tmjQwqMvlE

— Nate Dowdle (@NateDowdle) October 27, 2020

To be honest, I was in the same boat as Nate. Keep in mind that it is 2020 and anything is possible.

Back to the big question, @Uteowski said to get fans in California to care about college football again.

Get fans in California to care about college football again.

— Uteowski (@uteowski) October 27, 2020

Now, what fans are we talking about? USC is on the rise, UCLA is not, Cal is looking to have a great season and Stanford is a question mark. As far as fans go, USC would have a more packed stadium this season if not for the pandemic. We all know how empty the Rose Bowl is during the regular season.

Just from the list above, it looks like the Pac-12 has a lot of work to do. The big question is will they accomplish any of these issues?

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.