(07-08-2015 06:59 AM)VirginiaPirate Wrote: Hmm..could definitely create some legal issues. Will be interesting to watch. Why are P5 teams more deserving than the G5, FCS, Division 3, etc to reap the rewards of inclusion? History, Donor connections, etc.
No matter P5, G5 or other, All are approved colleges and universities with student athletes who pay tuition and taxes or their parents pay tuition and taxes in the USA. Last time I checked, all these Schools were located in the USA.
We all know the P5 is the Exclusive Country Club or at-least this is the truth that has been perpetuated and supported but at some point the division being created is a class issue. The difference in payout to each university is driven by a lot of factors but proving financial loss is clear among the Non P5 schools. Football clearly generates the most $$$ for schools so creating a level playing field should be the goal. See NCAA Basketball. It works there.
Lawyers? Chime in here??
NON LAWYER POINT OF VIEW: Universities formed athletic conferences to govern regular competition among a select set of members.
Conferences formed a regulatory body to oversee interconference competitions, standardize rules, and organize championship play.
Within the NCAA schools/conferences placed themselves in categories that allowed them to compete against schools with similar resources.
Along the way, televised college sports, especially among major conferences, became a revenue source for TV networks and the schools/conferences. Conferences entered into contracts with TV companies. The money became obscene, especially for football.
All of this structure was simply like-minded institutions choosing their associations and entering into contracts. Nobody objected much to any of it. Now that that the money is gushing out of control, envy has showed-up like your in-laws.
The individual universities have always chosen what level of resources they wish to commit to sports. Even some relatively small schools are competing at the highest level. I don't see that anyone has been deliberately denied the choice to swim with the big fish. Those decisions were made eons ago. Now, some conferences and individual schools have entered into a contract for a televised football championship playoff. Should other schools demand that they be included? A handful of them have a fighting chance, if they were allowed to compete. But why shouldn't these five conferences be allowed to form this association for their own purposes and benefit? Is it more that a simple matter of freedom of association?