Jul. 10—LAS VEGAS — Standing at the dais, Gloria Nevarez smiled at the question.
What do you see as the biggest existential threat to the Mountain West in this changing landscape?
“You know, that changes day-by-day,” Nevarez laughed.
In her two years as commissioner of the Mountain West, Nevarez has been tasked with navigating perhaps the most significant period of conference realignment in history, its aftershocks and an expanded college football playoff all while exploring new revenue streams and distribution models within college athletics — all with another media rights deal looming.
Such is the life of a conference commissioner in 2024.
With that in mind, Nevarez sat down with the Journal at Mountain West Media Days to discuss some of those items and their effects on the Mountain West. Responses have been edited for clarity.
Is it a little surreal to look back on this time last year — when San Diego State’s status within the league was perhaps the main question at media days — only for the Pac-12 to basically dissolve just about a month later?
“It’s a blur, frankly. It seems like a long time ago, because so much else has happened. But yeah, it’s nice because I’ve had a chance to get around the entire footprint. I know a lot more faces — although we have a lot of new faces (now), it’s definitely a lot more familiar this year than last time.”
During your opening address, you said that there’s “mutual interest” in an agreement for another year of the “7+1” (football) scheduling agreement with Oregon State and Washington State — one that you also said would likely be announced before the 2024 season began. Right now, how satisfied are you with the current arrangement between both (remaining Pac-12) schools and the Mountain West?
“Really good. Felt really good about year one, looking forward to playing them. Still in conversations for year two. That’s really all we can look to — so much is (to be decided) on a lot of this.”
Has there been any angling for a multi-year agreement between the league and both schools?
“No, we’re only focused on (taking it year-by-year).”
On the flip side, the possibility of the Pac-12 attempting to rebuild pick up Mountain West schools — how do you accrue, and maintain, loyalty among member schools in this landscape?
“I’ve said this before: I would never bark or campaign to keep a school from doing what’s best for that school. My job is to do what’s best for the Mountain West. And what we’re doing right now is trying to look at all the options that make us stronger (and) try to avoid the ones that make us weaker.
“And those change. The ones in the stronger bucket could be the ones in the weaker bucket in a week, or two weeks, or a month, or a year. And so it’s constantly evaluating those opportunities we have to take advantage of, and those we have to protect (ourselves) against.”
Along with the Big 12 and Conference USA, the Mountain West was reported as being open to selling conference naming rights to a corporate sponsor. Are you exploring that right now?
“We are absolutely exploring everything. If there’s an idea out there, we are going to chase it down and our multi-media rights partner has got it on their radar. (But) I would say, for that type of sponsorship, it would have to be a very good, appropriate, right fit — something that matched our mission and values and made sense for us.”
The Big 12 has also reportedly explored a private equity investment from Luxembourg-based CVC Capital Partners for a 15% to 20% stake in the league. Is the Mountain West looking into any similar arrangements right now?
“Actually, I’m actively educating myself in that space. It’s new, it’s developing, this is a whole different idea of financing in the space. But (I’m) also talking to the companies, figuring out what it’s about, figuring out the different models and whether there’s something that makes sense for the Mountain West that I should bring to the board.”
There’s been some mixed public reaction to private equity’s potential presence in college athletics. What would you say to those who are skeptical about the Mountain West reaching a potential deal with an outside partner?
“Well, all folks would be excited about additional revenue. It would have to be right, and it would have to ensure it aligned with who we are, our core values and mission. And that’s not a small thing, that’s not a cliche saying. You really have to think about what educating young people in the (universities) means: it means health and safety, wellness, education, graduation. So, some of the returns on investment in an exchange with private equity would have to not take us backwards in those categories.”
There was some chatter earlier this year about a Group of Five playoff, separate from the College Football Playoff. Is this something the Mountain West has an active interest in?
“I liked the creative thinking behind the concept. But, once we solidified the (College Football Playoff) expanded playoff deals with ESPN, I think — you know, it would take us a lot to think about walking away from the CFP structure in the next 10 years.”
In your opening address, you mentioned that you were in support of the House v. NCAA settlement (the NCAA and its member schools must pay $2.8 billion to former athletes) and were working to provide resources to member schools to help support them as they prepare for its ramifications. What can you tell us about those resources?
“Well, we (the MWC) don’t build facilities. We don’t hire coaches. We don’t recruit athletes. What we…
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