Larry Scott Keeps Winning; Kevin Wilson Notches Score for IU

Larry Scott’s magic continues to impress. He closed out the Pacific 12 Conference’s media day event, saving the best for last. In May, details of the conference’s $3 billion mega-deal with FOX and ESPN surfaced. Among said details was the formation of a Pac-12 Network. Well, what that entails was revealed Wednesday:

• Partnership with Time Warner, Cox, BrightHouse and Comcast — essentially the four largest cable providers in the United States and each supplementing unique regions to ensure a continental distribution.
• Six regional channels for each member pairing and a national hub channel.
• Distribution for every men’s basketball and football game to each region is guaranteed.

You can read more at New York Times college sports blog, The Quad.

Start calling Scott “Gandalf,” because his wizardry is becoming legendary. His continued pursuit of a Web presence is pioneering given the explosion of on-the-go media via smart phones and tablets. This television deal provides that a solid foundation. The conference’s presence right in Silicon Valley is one that has gone untapped, but expect a major shift toward a more 21st century league.

Interesting note that The San Jose Mercury News college reporter Jon Wilner dropped: Scott has a close relationship with new Time Warner president David Rone. Admittedly I run hot and cold on Wilner tidbits, but this does coincide nicely with news that Rone was hired to “beef up” TWC’s presence.

Scott’s monumental changes were made in just over a year, a staggering pace to be certain. But even he must tip his cap to the speed with which Kevin Wilson made an historic move at Indiana. The longtime Big Ten punching bag has made short work of its coaches. Inability to compete with the traditional powerhouses both in recruiting, and thus on the field makes the head coaching position there a questionable career decision.

Former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Wilson took a step toward erasing that trend with today’s commitment obtained from top 2012 prep quarterback recruit Gunner Kiel. Kiel spurned one of the most tradition-rich programs, Alabama, and recruiting maven Nick Saban for his hometown Hoosiers.

Quarterback play hasn’t necessarily been IU’s problem in recent seasons. Ben Chappell put up solid numbers the past two seasons, and Kellen Lewis was good in 2007, leading the Hoosiers to a bowl game. Kiel’s presence doesn’t automatically make IU a contender. It does, however, change the program’s public perception. If a No. 1 NFL draft pick believes in Wilson, then Kiel believes in Wilson. And if two top quarterbacks believe in Wilson, others will follow.

This will be a fun plot to follow in the coming years. Fresh blood is always great for the college football landscape.