Were Nevada's and Fresno's Actions Unethical?

[pellegrino]

As I read over the account of events that came out, I've changed my mind regarding Fresno, but not UNR. Fresno participated in setting up the deal, let everyone believe they were in on it, then backed out. That's shady, at best. It looks like UNR didn't even vote in support of the deal, so I don't see how they breached any ethical code.

all we know is that they didn't participate in the vote, we don't know what they their colleagues believe about their intentions. Given Albrecht's reaction it seems that their final decision was a surprise to everyone. It appears as though UNR intentionally mislead the WAC.

[Top Ute]

I know you have. There are couple of people that quoting this stuff as fact (falafel).

I feel awful for Utah St. They are the team that gets kicked in the nutz more than any other school in this drama. BYU got screwed as well. I actually feel bad for them as well. They put together a bold plan that they felt would improve their situation and were acting on it and it blew up in their face.

There was a leak. Where that came from NOBODY knows right now. Thompson acted quickly to save the MWC. It was about to blow up. He did what he had to do to save his job and his conference. I don't think Nevada or Fresno had to leverage this at all to get an invite. I think that the minute Hair found out BYU was leaving for sure, he had to act quickly and aggressively to save the conference because he knew it would have been dead without BYU and Utah.

If ya'll are going to be mad at someone, be pissed at Hair. Nevada and Fresno did what was best for them. I can't blame them one bit for that. Maybe I am a bad person for thinking this way. The world of sports is a dirty cuthroat buisness. When you have a chance to better yourself you do it right away.

I know that all my thoughts are assumptions as well, please don't remind me.

EDIT: This message wasn't directed just at you creekster.

Looks like the leak came from either UTEP, C-USA or San Diego State, since Benson approached the Aztecs about rejoining the WAC. Whatever I've said in the past on this issue ... I'm starting to lean strongly toward believing Benson sabotaged it because he was talking to everyone about expanding the WAC.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100830_Fleeing_members_foiled_conferences_big_plans.html#axzz0y0vVlEif

[ERCougar]

Looks like the leak came from either UTEP, C-USA or San Diego State, since Benson approached the Aztecs about rejoining the WAC. Whatever I've said in the past on this issue ... I'm starting to lean strongly toward believing Benson sabotaged it because he was talking to everyone about expanding the WAC.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports...#axzz0y0vVlEif

Interesting stuff.

[LA Ute]

I think the key word is "dishonorable." From what we know it appears that FSU and UNR acted dishonorably. They look ethically shady too. But as far as the civil law goes, as my contracts prof used to say, "The right to breach is sacred." Anyone can breach a contract if they are willing to pay the consequences. In this case the consequences were $5 million (unless there was some way to escape that penalty - e.g., the WAC falling apart), not to mention the PR price of looking dishonorable. In the overall scheme of things I think honor is more important than ethics or the civil legal ramifications of people's behavior.

I think BYU acted honorably. Hard-nosed is hard-nosed, and it may carry a PR cost, but it is not dishonorable. USU sure seems to have acted honorably.

I hope that makes sense.

[Top Ute]

I think the key word is "dishonorable." From what we know it appears that FSU and UNR acted dishonorably. They look ethically shady too. But as far as the civil law goes, as my contracts prof used to say, "The right to breach is sacred." Anyone can breach a contract if they are willing to pay the consequences. In this case the consequences were $5 million (unless there was some way to escape that penalty - e.g., the WAC falling apart), not to mention the PR price of looking dishonorable. In the overall scheme of things I think honor is more important than ethics or the civil legal ramifications of people's behavior.

I think BYU acted honorably. Hard-nosed is hard-nosed, and it may carry a PR cost, but it is not dishonorable. USU sure seems to have acted honorably.

I hope that makes sense.

Acting honorably is what Albrecht will insist upon when it comes down to whether or not he keeps his job, but acting honorably is not always in the best interests of any institution, especially in such a competitive business like intercollegiate athletics.

USU may have acted honorably in its actions with the WAC and with BYU, but stabbed its major constituents -- boosters and alumni -- in the back.

[pellegrino]

Acting honorably is what Albrecht will insist upon when it comes down to whether or not he keeps his job, but acting honorably is not always in the best interests of any institution, especially in such a competitive business like intercollegiate athletics.

USU may have acted honorably in its actions with the WAC and with BYU, but stabbed its major constituents -- boosters and alumni -- in the back.

no, Fresno and UNR were the only ones with a knife.

[OrangeUte]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700061462/WAC-demands-5-million-payments-from-Fresno-St-Nevada.html

lawsuits that come from hasty decisions are delicious for attorneys because there are so many legal and factual arguments to make. if this ends up in the courts, it will cost loads of money in attorneys' fees to resolve it. sounds to me like there is good legal and factual arguments on both sides as to whether there was an actual binding agreement.

[KillerDog]

The questions I have are:

(1) Did UNR and FSU know that they had an agreement and, knowing the cost was going to be $5mm, break that agreement?

(2) Are UNR and FSU, if they answer yes to question #1, going to pay up as required by the contract?

If they answer to both is yes, then they are acting ethically. If the answer to #1 is yes but not to #2 then they are not acting ethically. If UNR and FSU slipped through a crack because the WAC did not draft the contract well or did not get committments as required by the contract, then they are acting ethically.

[statman]

seriously?

The MWC is DOOMED...

The remaining teams will have NO TV contract, and no reason why anyone would want to make one with them. If I were Comcast, I'd make the MWC pay me to put their games on TV...

[Hot Lunch]

The MWC is DOOMED...

The remaining teams will have NO TV contract, and no reason why anyone would want to make one with them. If I were Comcast, I'd make the MWC pay me to put their games on TV...

You are right. The other non-bcs conference that don't have BYU don't have T.V. contracts either. I don't think I have ever seen any of their games on T.V. let a lone ESPN.

[falafel]

The MWC is DOOMED...

The remaining teams will have NO TV contract, and no reason why anyone would want to make one with them. If I were Comcast, I'd make the MWC pay me to put their games on TV...

This seems unlikely, at best. After all, ESPN was willing to broadcast the WAC. Why wouldn't they be willing to throw a little money at a MWC that has 1/3 of the WAC's old teams, plus some other solid teams? Seems like the new MWC has at least the same, and likely a better, chance of getting an ESPN contract as the WAC did.

[Coach McGuirk]

You are right. The other non-bcs conference that don't have BYU don't have T.V. contracts either. I don't think I have ever seen any of their games on T.V. let a lone ESPN.

Espn makes those teams pay to have there games on tv! Thompson will shit his pants when he gets the cable bill!

[Hot Lunch]

Espn makes those teams pay to have there games on tv! Thompson will shit his pants when he gets the cable bill!

no wonder ESPN is so rich. Maybe Thompson will have to go easy on the hair products to afford that cable bill.

[Jacob]

Based on Holmoe's assertions, BYU acted in a manner that is one plane higher than merely ethical.

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=6004836

[woot]

Based on Holmoe's assertions, BYU acted in a manner that is one plane higher than merely ethical.

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=6004836

That's a really good post. I wonder if there are any other accounts of the presentation online.