Hour 3: Live from Florida

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:01]The pride, [music] passion, and pageantry of college football lives here.

[00:00:10]This is the Paul Finebaum Show hour three podcast.

[00:00:15]>> This might be college football heaven right now.

[00:00:19]>> [music] >> Second half of day two of SEC spring meetings. It's been a very [music] eventful two days and we talked to a number of the leaders in the league. But we're extremely delighted to say [music] hello to Candice Lee who we last saw in Nashville during the season, the athletic director at Vanderbilt. And I don't want to start off with difficult questions. I'm not even going to ask you how you reacted because I want to your mom is here. She is.

[00:00:45]>> And I want to know how mom reacted recently when you were named the best athletic director in the country by the by the Sports Business Journal.

[00:00:53]Oh, well, my mom and my dad and my husband and everybody who is makes up my village was really proud and I'm very grateful. So, thank you. No, it's because I feel like I know you well enough that I wasn't going to get it much of an answer from you on this.

[00:01:08]>> [laughter] >> So, I thought I might even bring mom up here cuz I think she would probably be a little more effusive, but and I know these are there's there's the the reasons you you are selected is because of the the whole body of work. But that has been quite a quite a journey and and what a year for Vanderbilt.

[00:01:27]>> Thank you. I mean, I I you're right. I try to keep it in the middle. I try to I try to do that, but I am really grateful for the recognition because it is a testament to what we've done and I'm really proud of that. And you know, as the athletic director, you get to sort of stand in front and take the good and the bad, but I'm standing there on behalf of all of our coaches and our student athletes and our chancellor and our other leaders that made it possible. And I know that there's probably a good book or documentary in all this, but the journey to where you are now, uh never easy and I've got a chance to meet a couple of times with your chancellor. I know he's a key part of it. So many other people are as well, but when there were not many believers, how did you keep the faith and and get other people to buy in? You know, I felt like if Vanderbilt gave itself an opportunity, great things would happen.

[00:02:19]Couldn't guarantee you exactly what it would look like, but I did believe if we invested, we would see the fruits of those labor. All you want to do is give yourself a chance to compete. You know, but you have to invest to do that. And so, it was it was not easy.

[00:02:34]But I did feel confident that if we would continue investing, be clear on our vision, have alignment, have the right people in place, we would give ourselves a chance. And that's all you can ask for.

[00:02:45]Was there a moment that where I mean you worked so hard to get with your staff and your your your family and to get to a point where you finally feel like, okay, now we're getting by and now we've got to push this boulder a little more. I mean, really from the very beginning when I sat down with Chancellor Diermeier and we embarked on this journey together. So, I've now been in the position for 6 years and we we essentially began it together. We did begin it together. Um I knew we were going to go we knew we had to be aggressive.

[00:03:16]So, I I knew that I mean, when I took the job, every single thing that the Chancellor said I would be given the opportunity to do, it has happened. And so, you know, it can it's not easy, but if if you feel confident that um you can lock arms, right? And you're forging a path and there's clarity on the path, I mean, even when it's hard and it's been hard.

[00:03:43]It's been hard. Um I think that, you know, that confidence will prevail and you know, we're not we're not we haven't arrived. You know, I'm I'm very pleased with the progress we're making on the journey, but we still have a lot of work to do. So, what's your what's what's the chancellor because he he isn't just some person who grew up following college football. He He's a world-renowned economist. He comes from elsewhere.

[00:04:07]Um but he's a believer. Uh he's also doing great things for the university.

[00:04:11]We talked the last time I saw him about opening up uh branches in New York and other places.

[00:04:15]>> That's right.

[00:04:16]>> It's an amazing story, but uh you had to get him to believe and for somebody who had been to the University of Chicago and other places that Yeah, maybe in the 1920s they were in the Big Ten, but they aren't anymore. Um what was the the the the most important thing you had to convey to him cuz he had to say, "Okay, we will do this."

[00:04:34]Well, he is a businessman first and foremost.

[00:04:37]And um what had to be made clear is that there could there would be return on this investment. And he he believed in athletics as a a big proponent for um increasing awareness about the university and you know, igniting communities and um creating pride and recruiting and retaining students and talented faculty.

[00:04:59]Like he understands athletics as an important part of core. And so, you know, if you can make the return on investment clear, that's what we did. And I mean, you had a lot of things uh working your way uh but you and I I grew up in West Tennessee and there was a time when Nashville was just some place you went through on the way to Knoxville. Now, it's where everybody stops and most of them never leave. Uh how important was that large, growing uh vibrant community to what you had to accomplish?

[00:05:32]>> it was a really important part of the trajectory of the university and so, uh you know, our leadership has understood that Vanderbilt needs to play an active role in Nashville and vice versa for for to accomplish what we want. And so, timing is everything cuz you're right that the trajectory of the city is just incredible, but um Vanderbilt wants to be active in that, right? And I think at times perhaps we had been more on the sidelines. And so just trying to seize every opportunity that we have and Nashville was a significant one. And I I don't want to take away from any other sport because your your basketball program this year has just set the world on fire and and on all levels. I I talked to Tim Corbin a week ago and we know what he's done with national championships, but the hiring of Clark Lee was very important and if not critical. Uh when you think back on that, I mean you're somebody that played at Vanderbilt, is a proud graduate. Uh what went into your conversations and your your decision on that? Well, you know, Clark was my first hire. I think I've hired I think seven head coaches and now Clark was my first. Um I think this is really important to say because I think it pertains to both myself and to Clark. We are very proud Vanderbilt alums, right? And Clark also is an is a native of Nashville.

[00:06:42]But so so of course the affiliation with the university is meaningful, but I didn't hire him because he's he went to Vanderbilt. That's a bonus and the fact that he's from Nashville is is bonus, but I hired him cuz he's the best person for the job. And he has clear domain expertise, he's an awesome leader, he creates healthy culture, he's a phenomenal partner.

[00:07:04]And he and I have the same vision. You can get anything done with alignment.

[00:07:09]And so the alignment was very clear and so that that was it just so happens that we're both Vanderbilt grads, but really I hope what people see is leaders and winners who are deeply committed and purposeful.

[00:07:22]Before you go, I'm what what where we lose mom over there? [laughter] Mom is over there on the Um I mean I I it's it's so I don't mean to to to overdo that, but it's I I just can't imagine watching your career as a young player, watching you grow up, have a family, uh a mother, and then just bring it full circle back to this moment in time for your mom. You know, my mom I've been coming to Destin for a long time, you know, for many years as the SWA and and early I wasn't married at the time. My mom would come and so she's familiar with this place and you know, since I've I've gotten married, I have a son who's married.

[00:08:03]I think it's just a reminder. It is a full circle moment, but I'm just so thankful. I have an incredible husband.

[00:08:09]I have an incredible father, an incredible mother, an incredible son, and now an incredible daughter-in-law. I have incredible in-laws. Like I'm very, very blessed. And so everything that I do, I appreciate all of those people pouring into me. And so I'm glad that they get to celebrate, but it's just a blessing. So thank you for asking about that. Candace Storey Lee SPJ's athletic director of the year and I know that that's a group effort, but that had to be an amazing moment. Congratulations again. Thank you for coming by.

[00:08:37]>> appreciate Thank you, Paul.

[00:08:39]We'll take a short break. We're live here at SEC Spring Meetings. We'll be right back.

[00:08:47]You're listening to the Paul Finebaum Show podcast.

[00:08:52]For some extraordinary conversations, I don't know who that is.

[00:09:01]Jonathan Livingston Seagull? Yeah, but I wish I wish her well.

[00:09:06]As we continue here on the beach the two most laid-back shows of the year, Andy Staples joining us. Andy, good to see you and uh Happy to be here. Happy to see you got sunshine. Yeah, I didn't think you were going to get sun all week. So this is this is beautiful.

[00:09:21]>> No, no, we're we're we're extremely happy.

[00:09:25]The conference We decided to little serenity in what has been otherwise a stormy week.

[00:09:30]Well, it's it doesn't seem that stormy inside cuz like everybody's arguing about the playoff. Yeah.

[00:09:36]We we've got the this Senate bill now that I I'm I actually cannot wait to hear what the conference leadership thinks of that cuz I'm I'm guessing they're not going to be huge fans. So, uh you know, it's it's an interesting time where the SEC maybe isn't on top of the world, which is a a spot they occupied for what? 15 straight years?

[00:09:57]>> Forever. Yeah.

[00:09:59]There ever been a time when the SEC wasn't >> [snorts] >> There was a time.

[00:10:03]>> you did cover Florida's.

[00:10:05]I was there Listen, Paul, I was in front of Jarvis Moss's locker when the whole SEC mythos started.

[00:10:12]Right. So, they beat they beat Ohio State 41-14 in that national title game.

[00:10:16]And Jarvis Moss sits in front of his locker, the Florida defensive end, and he goes, "There were five teams in the SEC that were as good or better than them." That That's where it all started.

[00:10:25]That's where all of it started.

[00:10:27]So, I I mean, I I I won't go chapter and verse on everything, but because some of this stuff gets lost. But in in terms of what you think is the most important thing going on here this week, what is it?

[00:10:38]So, I think the playoff stuff's interesting.

[00:10:41]I think that what gets lost in all the playoff stuff what bothers me the most is the Big Ten says, "Oh, if if we can go to 24, well, then we'll schedule good non-conference games because everybody will have a chance to participate." But history tells us they don't they don't do that. That doesn't And And I'm not just not just the Big Ten.

[00:11:02]I look at fan bases in the SEC and administrators in the SEC who have said, "Well, why are we scheduling tough non-conference games if it's not going to help us get in the playoff?" So, this all this angst about how you select the teams for the playoff.

[00:11:17]And I know there's a meeting and as we were saying, "Texas should have gotten in and Vandy should have gotten in." And somebody asked, "Okay, who would you have left out?" And you can't say Tulane and James Madison because they they were in because of the way the rules were written.

[00:11:32]And nobody nobody says anything cuz you're not going to say they got they should have gotten in over Alabama and you're not going to say they should have gotten in over Miami.

[00:11:41]In retrospect, should have gotten in over Oklahoma.

[00:11:45]Yeah, maybe. Maybe.

[00:11:46]But they were way up there.

[00:11:48]>> Yeah, no. They they had done something.

[00:11:49]>> But the thing is the thing about it is it's not about the field size. That's not going to make people schedule good games. Like what I care about is how do you incentivize people to schedule good non-conference games? Whether that's SEC schools, Big Ten schools, Big 12 schools, I don't care. I don't want to see Indiana playing nobody. I don't want to see Texas Tech playing nobody. Uh I love that Texas is playing Ohio State.

[00:12:11]Uh Alabama, there was some pressure on them to maybe not play Ohio State.

[00:12:16]They're going to play Ohio State next year.

[00:12:18]That we need more of those games, not less.

[00:12:23]Beyond beyond that, uh you know, this anarchy conversation. I mean, it's it's we've heard it before.

[00:12:31]Like last year and the year before and the year before.

[00:12:34]Is it Are we any closer to the to the abyss? Oh, the anarchy and it's unsustainable and Wild Wild West. Have you heard that one?

[00:12:41]It is the Yeah. Yeah, I've seen Yeah, listen. The the showdowns in the hallway in front of the Sand Castles bar. Right.

[00:12:48]>> Just horrible. But No, I mean, the I laugh when people say this is unsustainable. It's not unsustainable.

[00:12:54]There will be a point in roster spending where someone will say, "You know what?

[00:13:00]That's too rich for my blood. Yeah. I don't need to spend that much.

[00:13:04]They and they're probably approaching that. But the thing is we all know where it's going to be. Like if only there were other sports leagues where they negotiated with the players and those players negotiated a certain percentage of the revenues. Like we know it's going to be about 50%. They're going to get there where the players make about 50%.

[00:13:26]They're not there yet. They're not anywhere near it yet. Right. So, when they get there, that's when they'll go, "Okay, we've hit the number." And it's not like the players will stop asking for more. If you're if you're the employee, you're never going to just not ask for more money.

[00:13:40]But, the people paying the money are going to say, "Okay, this is our upper limit."

[00:13:46]And I I think hearing AD say, "Well, we can't stop ourselves."

[00:13:53]That's just every business in in the world stops themselves eventually. Sure. Like I I worked for a failing business. I've worked for a newspaper before.

[00:14:03]You know what they do? They sell off parts. They they sell the building.

[00:14:06]Like, they don't keep building more buildings or giving people raises. And that's what these guys are doing.

[00:14:11]>> they do is start getting rid of their talent or employees. Yeah. And then they just finally shut down and Exactly. So, I'm not worried about the industry because networks like yours continue to pay billions upon billions of dollars.

[00:14:26]>> do not I do not I do not I do not I do not I do not I do not I do not I do not I do Oh, I know you just work here, Paul, but I'm you know. Hourly wager.

[00:14:34]It's a good hour, though. It's a solid hour.

[00:14:36]>> You got it. I listen.

[00:14:39]4-hour 4-hour shift is it's hard to find.

[00:14:41]>> I listen. I've I've done 4-hour radio shows before. It is a It is a pain This is No one will ever listen hear you You can complain to me and I will empathize. There's nobody out there who's going to be like, "Oh, Paul, your life is so hard." Especially with that background right now.

[00:14:58]>> [laughter] >> The working conditions are really tough.

[00:15:00]>> But, but I will tell everybody if you're watching, 4 hours of solo radio is really hard.

[00:15:06]Now, when you have your man J'mar, who gets all the great guests.

[00:15:10]>> Yeah. No, I mean, I I I I don't shy I mean, I I walk in here 5 minutes before. I say, "What have we got?"

[00:15:18]And, you know, he goes down the list and then he then he I'm so okay, that's good. That's good. Then he goes Andy Staples Uh uh 5:15 and I go oh Well, you can ditch him.

[00:15:27]>> I'll have to work during that segment.

[00:15:29]>> Pull pull it out.

[00:15:31]Now, it I I laugh when when they say it look it's still a wonderful TV product. You know, the SEC you've seen them brag about their ratings from last year.

[00:15:39]>> I've heard that a few times.

[00:15:40]>> It it people want the product. And it's just it's hard for me as someone who does this year-round, you know, the off-seasons are are tough. They're a grind because it's so much fun when we get to the season. Yeah. It's the best sport in the world and you know, I I think that's the part that right now when we get in the the complaining about the rules portion of the proceedings that it kind of gets lost on us, but I you know, I I I've thought about that like talking to these coaches and I've tried to sprinkle in one or two football questions.

[00:16:11]Just saying, "Hey, Kalen DeBoer, your quarterback come You actually got those two guys to stay?"

[00:16:18]Well, one's one's making $20 million dollars. The other one's making Yeah, but they could be making $3 million starting somewhere. Yeah. One of them ain't going to start.

[00:16:27]And he's got a $70 million buyout, so he's not worried about anything.

[00:16:32]Hey, listen, I don't know if that's This is the league where somebody had a $77 million buyout and someone paid it.

[00:16:38]>> Yeah. No, and I think that was the moment when I mean, it was easy to sit here in late May and say there's no way A&M's paying that or a year ago and say there's no way LSU's paying >> I said I said with Stoops at Kentucky that that was never going to happen. That was my That was my line of demarcation because his his buyout was all due at once. Now, he was kind enough to them to let them pay in installments. He he gave them the layaway plan. But But he wanted he wanted to be on the staff at Texas. Oh, absolutely. Who Who doesn't want to move to Austin with millions of dollars in their pocket?

[00:17:11]>> Yeah. But if you'd have told me last year this time when we were here that Brian Kelly and Mark Stoops would get fired, I just said that it's absolutely impossible.

[00:17:18]There's no way it'll happen.

[00:17:20]And here we are. I I joked with I don't think he thought it was funny, but when when Circling's said on here about an hour ago, I said no Billy Napier questions.

[00:17:29]>> [laughter] >> He's answered plenty of those through the years. Well, he he is enjoying a nice honeymoon because Yeah. you you've had John Summerall on the show. The guy has the gift of gab.

[00:17:39]>> Yeah. Now, you got to win games. Like what once the games actually start if it doesn't matter how great a talker you are if you don't win, it doesn't matter. But as honeymoon periods go, this is about as fun as a honeymoon period as I've seen in a while. And by the way, the commissioner of the SEC will be here soon. Is that right? Because I mean there's a lot of people wondering like what is he going to say? Well, we'll find out. That's right.

[00:18:02]>> minutes away. That is uh That's That's what the Secret Service are telling us right now.

[00:18:08]He's He's He's currently involved in a conversation in the hallway.

[00:18:12]Uh Andy, great to see you. You Ted Cruz tomorrow on your show? Ted Cruz on my show tomorrow? This is a I I first sitting US Senator on the show.

[00:18:19]>> Oh. Seems Seems relevant today. Oh.

[00:18:22]That That's an accomplishment.

[00:18:24]>> [laughter] >> See, you've had like seven presidents.

[00:18:26]Nothing I can do about that. Uh Not to Well, we I'll be quiet. But I've stayed out of trouble for a long time.

[00:18:33]>> to climb your to your level, Paul.

[00:18:36]The only one Andy Staples. Thank you, Paul. And never again Ari Wasserman according to little tenor.

[00:18:43]We don't need him anymore. We'll be right back. Thank you, Andy.

[00:18:47]You're listening [music] to the Paul Finebaum Show podcast.

[00:18:52]What What is this experience been like?

[00:18:55]Well, it's been you know, extremely busy to say the least. I don't think it's every year in Destin that there is a bipartisan Senate college sports bill introduced on the second day of the meetings. Um, was also told that for many few media members showed up. Um, Greg Sankey said at the beginning of these meetings that if um, spring meetings have ever been as overhyped, you know, we we really succeeded in that. Um, so I can't imagine it being quiet. I mean, you know, there was that big party on Tuesday night. It was great. It's it's been beautiful and the rain is over. So, you know, I'm having a great time. Yeah, no, it I mean for young lady grew up in LA and lives in New York, this >> [laughter] >> this is this is how we live down here in the south.

[00:19:47]>> It's beautiful. I I got to say though, my dad's family's from New Orleans.

[00:19:51]Okay. So, you know, I spent a lot of time down here, just not by the beach.

[00:19:55]New Orleans is in the southern region of the country. I I it's it's impossible to classify New Orleans, so. It's its own country. They literally have their own laws. Um, and I say that in the best way possible. It's one of my favorite places in the whole whole world.

[00:20:08]>> So, we we will clearly uh, ask Sankey in a minute, as you will later, about this I mean, you say bipartisan bill. That makes it sound like everyone is is on board. I I we don't know that yet.

[00:20:21]Well, more people are on board with this bill from a bipartisan standpoint than were on board with the SCORE Act, I would say.

[00:20:30]Um, this bill has two Democrats, um, Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Chris Coons, and the two Republicans, Senator Ted Cruz and uh, Senator Eric Schmitt. And I mean, this is like the culmination of negotiations that have been taking place led by Senator Cruz for like 3 years.

[00:20:50]So, you I've never been optimistic on this show about, you know, a bill actually becoming a law. But if I were a betting person, I would say this is the best shot that they have. I talked to one of those people you just mentioned earlier and that's exactly how he described it.

[00:21:07]And there's a lot of optimism in this being our best shot. But But Uh maybe in an in in normal times uh it would have a better shot, but these are these are abnormal times. These are abnormal times and it's a very strict timeline. I just got off the phone with Senator Schmitt and he was saying, "Look, we want to have a hearing as quickly as next week, maybe a markup later in the week." But he said, "We're on a condensed timeline. You know, we have our August recess that we're going up against in the Senate. Then we have midterm elections, which we do every 2 years, and we need to get this bill at least to the House of Representatives and through the Senate by that August recess in order for it to have a chance of passing."

[00:21:52]>> So give us a civics lesson on what really It has to It has to get It's been It's been introduced. I mean, Senate's not in session at the moment, but >> Right. It has to be formally introduced in session.

[00:22:03]>> um and then take us through it.

[00:22:06]So then we'll do hearings, mark a markup in the Senate similar to what was the case with the SCORE Act. Then it's got to pass the Senate. Then the Senate sends it to you know, and then it goes to the House.

[00:22:17]>> it need to pass the Senate?

[00:22:18]>> So that's the problem, though.

[00:22:19]>> very important.

[00:22:20]>> And that's that's what has always been the problem in the Senate.

[00:22:25]Uh I know some people are trying to eradicate that 60 votes, but it didn't work. Um There's 53 Republicans, if my math is correct, and that that right now it's hard to it's hard to gauge some of those people because there is so much going on. Right.

[00:22:41]Again >> Other >> I would say that And Cantwell, who else is Who Who else is going to come over?

[00:22:51]Well, we don't know for sure yet, but what I can say, right, and which is usually the answer to that question, that because Senator Cantwell is the ranking member of the Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over this bill, theoretically she's the person empowered in the Democratic Party to be um sort of leading the way on this. So, theoretically she will have um the backing of Senator Schumer, for example, who has empowered her to take on this issue. So, if we You don't have to get all the Democrats, but you can get enough and then most of the Republicans and then you can get to 60. Okay.

[00:23:28]So, the people you talked to, including Schmitt, who is from Missouri, think it's doable.

[00:23:34]They are optimistic.

[00:23:36]I'm not sure anybody wants to say it's doable, but I do think they've also said, you know, looking at a broader view, folks in Congress and in you know, folks in the country are really looking they're they they are starving for bipartisan support. They're starving for bipartisan leadership and and for both parties to come together on anything. So, I think that this is an opportunity for them. Whether or not they will fumble it as they often do, we'll see.

[00:24:07]Yeah, and and and listen, I I don't I don't know. I mean, you you you've laid it out, but there are a lot of things that even the president wants enacted right now and he can't get it done. If he can't get it done, I I know he's in favor of this, but there's I I doubt this is ahead of a a number of other projects. No, it's it's definitely not. And then one other thing I'll say as well, um that, you know, you are going to have Commissioner Greg Sankey on. I'm curious whether he is fully endorsing this bill, right?

[00:24:37]>> Well, there's some things in there that I have a hard time believing he could endorse.

[00:24:40]>> Exactly. Exactly. Um and one of those things is the there's a neutrality clause on athlete employee status. A neutral that that is really like not a thing that we have in this country on anything, neutrality. Um Yeah, no, what he's again what he's about to say I think are among the most eagerly anticipated moments of this week because if he and we know he and Petitti were recently in Washington but I know as of a week ago when I interviewed commissioner he he was still unclear.

[00:25:16]Yeah, I mean last week he basically said look I I haven't seen the bill. So how can I sign on to it without reading it and today I'm not even sure he'll have had time to go through all 111 pages like I did during the break.

[00:25:29]>> Something tells me he's probably got people that are He's got people telling him. in in in charge of doing that. But he's a very meticulous person. So knowing him he wants to read at least most of it before he can he can come to an agreement and I'm sure that there there definitely things in there that he's on board with for sure.

[00:25:46]You know, like this idea of regulating NIL, transfers, eligibility but I mean that the concept about the no Big Ten SEC super league, you know, not that he's ever indicated he's interested in that but to take away that opportunity not sure he'd like that.

[00:26:05]So that is what we wait and we'll talk to him in a minute. I'm not trying to build up anything cuz I have no earthly idea what he's going to say and he he may just say I haven't read it and I haven't I I can't comment until I read it. So but but I am quite interested I think so is everyone else.

[00:26:19]So just to wrap this up you you kind of worked your way into our world I've seen you at various places you I mean just just I realize this is an SEC network show but just your being immersed into some of this and you've seen a lot you've seen a lot but I saw a tweet you put out you were at I think one of the playoff games in Austin you were somewhere else I can't remember but it's pretty amazing to to uh to welcome you into our little world here. Oh well thank you for having me. I I love SEC country because everybody's animated. I mean, football in particular is is a religion here and and basketball, you know, I live in New York City. Basketball is a big deal in New York City. SEC basketball is very impressive, too. So, like I'm having a great time. Well, Amanda, thank you. We will continue following this especially on the uh the bipartisan bill, a word I haven't heard in a long time coming out of Washington, D.C. Amanda, thank you for being here. We we've enjoyed it. We'll see you soon. The commissioner of the SEC expected to join us.

[00:27:25]You're listening to the [music] Paul Finebaum Show podcast.

[00:27:32]And we continue here. One of the more the most eagerly anticipated moments of the week, not not floating away from the beach or fishing, but uh talking to the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, Greg Sankey. There's so many important and weighty moments going on, but I want to start, commissioner, with this bill that was introduced today. You knew it was coming. You were in Washington recently and one of the senators said earlier that he dined with you. So, you're you're as aware of what's been going on there as anybody.

[00:28:03]Um and I don't know how much you have been able to read 111 pages, um but uh a lot of people in our world, if not everyone, are very curious and waiting for your first comments.

[00:28:16]Well, it's nice to provide those comments along the beach. So, that'll be a unique memory.

[00:28:22]Um in some ways it's been an interesting couple of weeks, which my visit to D.C. was 2 weeks ago, I think finishing today uh in both the House and Senate. Then we had a score act that was poised to go to the the floor for consideration of the House or actually to the Rules Committee and then to the floor, and that was withdrawn. And now we have a bipartisan Senate bill.

[00:28:48]Because of my schedule today, which was football coaches, then athletics directors, and the last what, six or seven hours with our presidents and chancellors, I've not had a chance to digest the bill.

[00:28:59]I've read through parts, and we'll have a statement that basically uh acknowledges, thanks the the two senators involved, Senator Cruz and Senator Cantwell, for their continuing work.

[00:29:12]But, we need to reserve comment until we can digest what's in the bill.

[00:29:18]Uh it's not that long ago the conversation was about a skinny bill uh coming out of the Senate.

[00:29:26]And I think we'd all agree 111 pages is not skinny uh by any stretch of the imagination.

[00:29:33]And we want to be able to focus on how we support our student athletes in this new era, and that's why we have to understand before we comment. And I think you and I have had a conversation about I did not sign on to an endorsement letter of a bill in advance because you simply want to be able to review a bill, have your advisors review the bill, and well, we're engaging in that work now. So, that's that's that's my view at this this time. Yeah, and and not to put you in an awkward spot because you even though what you've just said, but there there's a there's an anticipation, there there's a I wouldn't call it an air of celebration, but there there's a an air that we find that collectively the college sports world finally got something moving ahead. Uh so, that's why I think your comments as well as your colleague up north are are are being so anxiously anticipated.

[00:30:22]We'll give some more anticipation because one thing I have learned is what is written is important to understand.

[00:30:33]And as I've been able to look at the bill, there are clear issues it seems around managing transfers in a healthy way, eligibility, uh drawing lines between those who've chosen a professional athletic career and those who've chosen to go into a college participation before doing so.

[00:30:55]Um and then there are elements that you and I've talked about around the Sports Broadcasting Act. You know, understanding what optional means or voluntary as it's been described to me, and that's where that the text matters.

[00:31:09]And as I understand even within that, there are references to how schedules are to be made in football.

[00:31:16]Um there's references that our presidents and chancellors have talked about it after the hiring activity last year about the timing of uh coach hiring. Uh that could be really healthy, but it needs to be seen and understood uh before providing much comment. And there may be parts of the the proposed legislation that are are helpful and and those that may not. And then you may have to comment on different ways on on the legislation itself. And it it seems with that since you have met with the key participants, they're well would it be safe to assume they're well aware of your concerns?

[00:31:52]Yes.

[00:31:53]We had uh we we're able to voice um in in really I think healthy conversations because I have with both Senators Cruz and Cantwell, you know, individually over the last four or five years had many many conversations. And so where we might have different views, those have certainly been surfaced.

[00:32:19]Uh well, we'll talk we'll finish this up and get to some of the other weighty issues, but the the sche- the schedule and the calendar is very tight. Everyone knows that. And assuming that this takes some time and doesn't get through in in this session, everyone seems to be going, "Well, what is the plan B?" and I know that's been part of the conversation all week. We spent a great deal of time on that issue today. So the the interesting piece of timing today was we're at our spring meetings. We have a lot of people involved and in fact yesterday I indicated as I made the rounds of our coaches meetings and with football coaches this morning that you can anticipate a bill being introduced this week. So that expectation was not a surprise.

[00:33:04]Our presidents have challenged us as staff and and we had some just really direct conversations about college sports and returning our focus to the expectations of college students participating in college sports and our commitment to making a system work. So any system could be designed but unless there's a commitment to make that work effectively you know, the system's doomed from the beginning. We had the opportunity to talk with Brian Seely from the college sports commission and learn about the reality of a process that did not exist now that does exist that is producing results.

[00:33:46]We're going through they've gone through one arbitration in that and how do we one of the questions is how do we make that system even more productive, more effective.

[00:33:58]And Paul that is the conversation that takes place with the acknowledgement that there is legislation but no certainty whether that's actually enacted and so we're serious about our responsibility to lead as a league.

[00:34:15]And just a second or two left before we break but we've heard so much and Jerry Moorhead was here yesterday talking about you know, where we are today versus a year ago before the house went through and there's one the level of anarchy.

[00:34:32]I know this this is this is not new to you. You hear that you hear this from everyone, but are we any closer to working our way through this assuming this bill does not Well, based on my last 6 hours, I would say yes.

[00:34:46]Is it like like right here?

[00:34:49]No, but there are actions that can be taken to make the environment more healthy. And and I'll go back and I shared this in a press conference earlier this week to to COVID and our presidents asked me to look at leadership during COVID and and take that same approach. How do we lead? And I said, you know, one of the lessons was in times of uncertainty, which we're in, what people need is clarity. And so part of the challenge and I think part of the conversation tomorrow and the days after is where can we make decisions to provide some clarity. I think that challenge is there for Charlie Baker and the NCAA around some of these eligibility standards around I told the basketball coaches, you know, I I filed one affidavit. I'll file more affidavits because we have to have clarity and I told the presidents and chancellors this around what we expect of college athletes in a college setting.

[00:35:43]Um and if that's the way we have to manage these things, we will. And so I think moving down a road where we can make some decisions maybe not every decision provides a kind of clarity and that's what we did you know, 6 years ago when we were returning to competition. I think that's what we need to do to return to some sense of I'll call it normalcy, but it's a new normal.

[00:36:06]With the commissioner, that's just one issue. Uh there's a lot more and we will talk about some that you probably have heard about by now when we come back with the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.

[00:36:32]>> Mhm.