Pac-12 Commish George Kliavkoff Said He Has Been ‘Defending Grenades’ From Big 12
Jul 29, 2022, 11:07 AM | Updated: 11:07 am
(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)
(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – With everything going on in the world of college sports, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff threw a jab toward the Big 12 Conference.
The jab from Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff to the Big 12 Conference came during the Q&A portion of the press conference to open Pac-12 Media Day.
The mini-jab came earlier when Kliavkoff was asked about his confidence in the 10 current members of the conference sticking together in the Pac-12.
We’ve had two board meetings a week for the last four weeks,” Kliavkoff said. “Looking my colleagues in the eye, understanding their commitment, that their first priority is making sure that the Pac-12 survives, thrives and grows and is successful. They’re committed to the conference. I think the best thing to do is to ask them about it. With respect to the Big 12 being open for business, I appreciate that. We haven’t decided if we’re going shopping there or not yet.”
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A question followed up later in the Q&A session in regards to “We haven’t decided if we’re going shopping there or not yet.” Included in that question, Kliavkoff was asked about being collegial and if the days of trying to be collegial is over when it comes to expansion.
“I hope they’re not over. But they’re certainly harmed,” Kliavkoff stated. “That remark was a reflection of the fact I’ve been spending four weeks trying to defend against grenades that have been lobbed in from every corner of the Big 12 trying to destabilize our remaining conference. I understand why they’re doing it, when you look the relative media value between the two conferences. I get it, I get why they’re scared, why they’re trying to destabilize it. I was just tired of that. That’s probably not the most collegial thing I’ve ever said.”
