Were Nevada's and Fresno's Actions Unethical?

[creekster]

So did Nevada have an invite last week? I would think they would have accepted it right away if they did. That would be a no brainer and something everyone but ER would agree with.

No. that's the point. They used inside knowledge and a promise they did not intend ot keep to leverage the MWC into extending the invite.

[Jacob]

That's a little different. It'd be more like buying a car from someone with an agreement to be able to return it at any time while losing your down payment.

Yeah, if the down payment were more than the cost of the car and you refused to pay it.

[creekster]

That's a little different. It'd be more like buying a car from someone with an agreement to be able to return it at any time while losing your down payment.

No, different issues. You are hung up on the penalty. FSU is going to pay it (or have it paid on its behalf) but UNR's defense is that it didnt sign the agreement. In fact, that is a very poor defense here (unless there is more to the story, which is always possible).

[Hot Lunch]

No! They got invited only because MWC was scared of losing BYU.

Great, good for them. They improved there situation. I don't blame them at all.

[falafel]

Great, good for them. They improved there situation. I don't blame them at all.

No one's "blaming" them for improving their situation.

[ERCougar]

No, different issues. You are hung up on the penalty. FSU is going to pay it (or have it paid on its behalf) but UNR's defense is that it didnt sign the agreement. In fact, that is a very poor defense here (unless there is more to the story, which is always possible).

No way does that defense hold up. It's a verbal contract, right? UNR's just talking out of their arses. That's just dumb, not unethical.

(Again, assuming we have the whole story.)

[Hot Lunch]

That's only because USU was involved in lobbying the WAC. That doesn't mean USU broke the news to the MWC. That's what we're talking about, after all. Which WAC team called Hair to rat out their own conference? No way it was USU. This is was what they wanted more than anything.

Was it calling Hair or was it Jay Drew's article?

[Hot Lunch]

No. that's the point. They used inside knowledge and a promise they did not intend ot keep to leverage the MWC into extending the invite.

But we have no idea that is what happened. The leak that I remember was Jay Drew quoting a source at Utah St. I believe Jay Drew is an Aggie alum. That was early in the day. All of this is assumptions.

[creekster]

No way does that defense hold up. It's a verbal contract, right? UNR's just talking out of their arses. That's just dumb, not unethical.

(Again, assuming we have the whole story.)

I agree. Like I said, it is a different issue. The ethical issue has nothing to do with UNR's obligation to pay the penalty. The issue is if it netered the contract no intending to perfrom and/or if it used confidential info to induce the MWC to act.

[ERCougar]

The biggest possible breach of ethics that I can see is Thompson surreptitiously working out a deal with UNR and Fresno behind BYU's back. Doesn't he have some fiduciary duty to BYU?

[Jacob]

It's also useful to remember that BYU hasn't been so sneaky, really. They have been saying for months that they are exploring all their options. BYU has also tried to re-negotiate with the conference re" TV, I'm certain.

Samuelson was being upfront with the others in the same conference call where they voted to add FSU and Reno after Cecil hung up the phone.

[ERCougar]

I agree. Like I said, it is a different issue. The ethical issue has nothing to do with UNR's obligation to pay the penalty. The issue is if it netered the contract no intending to perfrom and/or if it used confidential info to induce the MWC to act.

I've already agreed with you on the confidentiality breach being unethical (if there was an assumption of confidentiality). I'll still disagree with you on the other, but it seems like we're viewing the exit penalty differently. I'm viewing it as an exit clause that they exercised and you're viewing it more as a liquidation of damages, as Flystripper called it. Right?

[creekster]

But we have no idea that is what happened. The leak that I remember was Jay Drew quoting a source at Utah St. I believe Jay Drew is an Aggie alum. That was early in the day. All of this is assumptions.

I, for one, have said at least four times in this thread that I am making some assumptins. But the fact that the leak came from a USU source (if it did) doesnt resolve the issue. In fact, if I am USUS and I see what FSU and UNR are doing, I would be pissed and maybe try to screw them up. USU had turned down an invte ans assumed the other schools would too, as they had agreed, and then hears that FSU and UNR are LOBBYING for invites and realizes that this will liekly screw it all up so the leak it.

Or, it could have beena simple example of loose lips.

Either way it diesnt resolve the ethicality of UNR or FSU's coinduct.

[Hot Lunch]

It's also useful to remember that BYU hasn't been so sneaky, really. They have been saying for months that they are exploring all their options. BYU has also tried to re-negotiate with the conference re" TV, I'm certain.

Samuelson was being upfront with the others in the same conference call where they voted to add FSU and Reno after Cecil hung up the phone.

This is a great point. BYU's intentions weren't a secret. Bronoc mentioned independence at the MWC media days.

[creekster]

I've already agreed with you on the confidentiality breach being unethical (if there was an assumption of confidentiality). I'll still disagree with you on the other, but it seems like we're viewing the exit penalty differently. I'm viewing it as an exit clause that they exercised and you're viewing it more as a liquidation of damages, as Flystripper called it. Right?

right. But it doewnt really matter, from my POV. it was still fraud.