PAC 12 Announces Conference Division Alignments

--New Policies Established for Revenue Sharing, Football Divisional Structure, Football Championship Game and Schedules for all other Sports--

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 21, 2010) - The Pac-12 Conference took major steps to transform itself into a dynamic new enterprise by forming two football divisions that maintain traditional rivalries, creating the first-ever Pac-12 football championship game, establishing schedule models for all other sports and agreeing to move to an equal revenue sharing plan for the !rst time in conference history, it was announced today.

The Chancellors and Presidents of the 12 member institutions voted to create a new North-South division structure that allows the conference to continue to play its traditional rivalry games, including the long-standing annual games among the California schools, delivers a football championship game to the home !eld of the top team in the conference standings and is easy for fans to follow.

“Our key objective was to transform the Pac-10 to a modern 12-team conference that has long term strength, increased value, competitive balance and is fan friendly and we have done that with these monumental decisions today,” Commissioner Larry Scott said. “By unanimously adopting a plan for equal revenue sharing we have created a conference with a strong foundation for long term success. It’s an exciting day for the Pac-12 and all of our fans.”

“This has been a very thorough process that created a lot of discussion and has delivered results that we are all very excited about,” said Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University and Chairman of the Pac-10 CEO Group. “The engagement we have received from all 12 member institutions and their Presidents and Chancellors has been tremendous. We have an ambitious plan for the future of our conference and all of that input was vital in allowing us to take these transformational steps.”

The new divisions will feature California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington and Washington
State in the North and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah in the South. Each school will play !ve divisional games, and four cross-divisional games each year. To preserve all of the historic rivalries, including those among the California schools, the new scheduling format locks in annual inter-divisional games between the Northern and Southern California teams, that date back to the 1930s.

The traditional rivalries like Oregon-Oregon State (113 meetings), Cal-Stanford (112), Washington-
Washington State (102), Arizona-Arizona State (83) and UCLA-USC (79) will continue to be played at the end of each season. Not to be lost, USC has played Stanford (98 times) and Cal (89) more than it has faced cross town rival UCLA (79). Meanwhile USC, Cal and Stanford tie as UCLA’s most frequent opponent at 79 meetings apiece. The divisions were formed based on the combination of rivalries, location and competitive balance.

“Not only did we achieve a competitive balance in our divisions, but we were also able to preserve our traditional rivalries as cornerstones of our conference,” Scott said. “These great annual battles have produced some of the most memorable moments in sports history. It was imperative that we kept them in tact.”

The inaugural Pac-12 Championship game will be played in December 2011 at the home stadium of the team with the best overall conference record, ensuring a full stadium and an electric collegiate atmosphere be!tting of a major conference championship game.

There will not be divisions for Pac-12 basketball or any other sports. In men’s and women’s basketball, the teams will play an 18-game conference schedule that will include home and home games with traditional rivals, six rotating home and homes and single play games against the remaining four teams in the Conference.

Third Day In DC: The Moment

Do you know what's really scary? Going to a place where you know there will be more than one million people and finding out that about half of them arrived 4 hours before you planned to.

That was the scene I awoke to on Tuesday morning. A 6am wake up call and a quick turn to CNN revealed that several hundred thousand people were already celebrating on the National Mall. Granted all of these people did not possess a coveted Inauguration ticket as I did, but their presence in such mass did put an uneasy feeling in my gut.

Would getting to the Capitol grounds be an even bigger ordeal than I anticipated? No time to ponder. We better get going.

On the back of all the official Inauguration tickets, specific instructions told you exactly where to go and advised you on how to get there. Yellow ticket holders were informed to take the Metro and exit at Union Station. The security gate would only be a few blocks away.

Upon exiting the hotel, you could immediately feel an intensified sense of excitement. People were moving in all directions. Military personnel were posted on just about every corner helping with road closures, crowd controls and instructions. And this was all happening at 6:30am.

Amazingly enough, getting on and off the Metro was a breeze. The ride got more and more crowded as we got closer and closer to Union Station, but it was never a mad rush of people getting on or off the train.

It was hard not to crack a smile as we made our way from Union Station through Columbus Circle. With one of the most anticipated moments of my life just hours away, walking there seemed surreal and exhilarating. It was really about to happen, and I was really going to be there.

However, that feeling of euphoria quickly took a back seat once I saw the longest line of people I had ever seen in my life. These people couldn't possibly be waiting to get into the yellow section, could they? A short walk towards the front of that line quickly affirmed my fears. Yes, they were ALL in line for the yellow section.

Now the quest becomes finding the end of that line. A quest that took much longer than any person could ever expect. Feet became yards and then hundreds, if not thousands. The line was so long that it stretched all the way back beyond the gate for the purple ticket holders.



At this point, fear is really starting to build. Could all of these people really get through security in time for the ceremony? If this many people were already in line, how far away would we be from the podium? Would we even be able to see the actual swearing-in?

It was at this point, that I reminded myself that no matter my vantage point, I would still be a witness to history. Less than 48 hours ago, I was fully prepared to be anywhere on the National Mall, even if it meant being beyond eyesight of the ceremony. And I was excited about that possibility. So how could I now be so scared of not seeing anything with my own eyes, even if I did have a ticket?

Once I checked myself, I started to appreciate the entire experience for exactly what it was. An experience.

And you know what else happened shortly after my self-reminder? The line started to move! We crept at times and strolled at others. But either way, we were moving. Just as we learned throughout Barack Obama's campaign, progress moves at different speeds. But as long as you are moving, you are always making progress.

Once we finally arrived at the security gate, getting through the metal detectors was really fast. Not only was there a countless number of them, but people were actually ready and prepared to go through them with cameras and keys already in hand to place in the plastic bins. Too bad it never runs that smoothly at airports!

Now the goal was to find the perfect vantage point. I wanted to be able to see the swearing-in ceremony with my own eyes, but also be near one of the jumbotrons so I could see what everyone else was seeing on television. Luckily, we found that position within seconds of walking into our section. The only thing left to do was to wait for the ceremony to begin. A 2-hour wait!

We all knew the temperatures were expected to be below freezing, and everyone seemed prepared for it. From winter coats and scarfs to gloves and earmuffs, people were dressed for the season and the occasion.



But no matter how bundled up you were, standing still in the same spot for hours gave you the most accurate measure of the cold. By far the worst part of the day was simply standing. Not so much because it was tiring, but rather because it was the coldest you felt all day.

With so much time to kill, it gave me the opportunity to fully soak in my surroundings. And you know what I noticed most? People.. Everywhere!



Having covered so many sporting events in my career, I've been around large crowds countless times. But nothing matched the never-ending sea of humanity standing before me on the National Mall. Looking back towards the Washington Monument and not being able to see past the people was truly amazing. It was as if I was looking at every single person in America.

Knowing I would never have such an opportunity again in my lifetime, I smiled at America. And America smiled right back at me!

That feeling of pleasantness permeated the entire day. Even at USC and UCLA football games where upwards of 100,000 people are in attendance, there's always someone rooting for the other team. But not today. This was a completely pro-America crowd. Sure, some people may have been more excited to see President Bush leave office than President-elect Obama take office, but either way, they were elated about the future of America. And so was I.

Once the ceremony began with various musical selections and the arrivals of VIPs and dignitaries, you could feel the excitement start to build. One of the most anticipated moments in U.S. history was quickly approaching, and the people were at a fever pitch.

The first glimpse of the Obama's resulted in a loud roar from the masses. So loud you could feel it.

The shot of the new First Family of the United States reminded me of their appearance at Chicago's Grant Park following the election. It was a joy to see a black First Family. Not simply because of my African-American upbringing, but because it was even possible in a country built on the backs of slaves.

Shortly after the crowd got its first sight of President Bush, one section started to sing, in unison, "Nah, nah, nah, nah.. hey, hey, hey.. Goodbye!" More and more people joined the harmony, increasing the volume exponentially.

I wondered if the song could be heard on the Inauguration platform. If so, what in the world do you think President Bush was thinking? I actually hoped he didn't hear it. His presidency will be regarded by most as an embarrassment. I didn't think he needed any more humiliation.

After some opening remarks by Senator Diane Feinstein, the invocation by Dr. Rick Warren, and a rendition of "America Tis of Thee" by Aretha Franklin, it was time for Vice President-elect Joe Biden to be sworn in.

He seemed so proud of the moment. I was truly happy for him--mostly because his 91-year old mother was there to witness it. Having lost my father when I was 24, I often wish he were alive to see some of the things I have accomplished--none of which I could have done without him and his support. I'm sure Vice President Biden has similar feelings about his mother.

Next on the program was a performance of a John Williams arrangement by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill. I have never been a fan of classical music, but this song and its performance were truly beautiful. The moment and the venue definitely added to the appeal.

I did wonder, however, how they could play so well in such freezing temperatures. A musician's fingers are their most gifted instruments. Mine were numb, and I was wearing gloves.

(Editor's note: Later, of course, we all found out that the performance we heard was not the performance we saw. The song had been recorded a few days before and played back on tape. Unlike some, the lack of an authentic performance did not matter to me. The selection was perfect for the moment, whether it was live or not.)

Now, it was time for the moment. The moment so many had anticipated for so long. The moment so many others believed would never happen, at least not in their lifetime. President-elect Barack Obama was about to become President Barack H. Obama.

A loud cheer erupted as he rose from his seat and approached the podium with Michelle, Malia and Sasha. It was really happening.

But just as quickly as the cheer broke out, it dissipated. As excited as everyone was, we all wanted to hear the words as Obama became only the 44th person to take the oath of office as President of the United States.

The sight of him standing there in front of the U.S. Capitol with his left hand on Abraham Lincoln's bible and his right hand in the air was truly majestic.



The only thing to take away from this moment was Chief Justice John Roberts' fumbling of the words. It was obvious Obama recognized his mistake and wanted to give him an opportunity to correct it. I felt sorry for them both. Every President wants his oath to go perfectly, and no Chief Justice wants to mess it up.

The good news was it did not prevent the inevitable. Obama had already become President three minutes prior to taking the oath of the office. The Constitution says the President starts his term at the strike of noon, whether he had taken the oath or not.

I had kept my emotions in check throughout the ceremony. While others cried around me, some uncontrollably, I never as much got misty-eyed. Not because I didn't fully understand or appreciate the magnitude of the moment, I just don't usually display my emotions in the form of tears, especially when I am happy. I am way more apt to shout than weep at such occasions.

When Obama completed the 35-word oath by saying, "So help me, God", my emotions came bursting out. I threw my arms in the air and shouted at the top of my lungs, "YES!!"

Our nation was positively living out the true meaning of its creed. The same creed that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had recited on the steps of the nearby Lincoln Memorial some 46 years ago: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

Raised at times by a single mother and having a mixed racial background, Barack Obama had still become the President of the United States. To most, such a feat seemed impossible. But today, we all learned that nothing is impossible in America. While, we all can't be president, we can all be the best we can be at whatever endeavor we choose.

We can all achieve greatness. We all can make a difference. We can all affect change.

And it took all of the above for this moment to take place. It took a nation to believe that its people could correct what was wrong. And this moment was the celebration of that triumph.

It had happened. It had really and truly happened.

And I was there to witness it.

Second Day In DC: Karma Reigns Supreme

I am a firm believer in karma. Whether it's the golden rule of treating others the way you would have them treat you, or the thought that all positive energy you exude returns to you, I think that stuff works. And having traveled to DC without official tickets for the Inauguration, I was holding out hope that karma made its way into my travel bag.

I had already been on a pretty good roll after lucking into a hotel just 2 miles from the National Mall one week before I was to leave. That roll seemed to still be intact after arriving in DC as well. How else do you explain crashing the HBO party? But how long could it last? And more importantly, would it eventually lead to a coveted inauguration ticket?

After writing countless senators and congressmen without any success, I was still determined to be one of the 240,000 people fortunate enough to receive an actual ticket for the Inauguration. Even if I had to stand, I just wanted to be as close as possible to the swearing-in.

A few days before leaving LA, a friend of mine, who had been involved in Barack Obama's campaign in the very beginning, told me to e-mail a guy who might have access to some tickets. I was also given strict orders not to divulge the name of my friend. Not the best way to make contact with a complete stranger in an attempt to ask for a monumental request, but I had nothing to lose.

The first response, albeit almost immediate, did not give me much hope. It was extremely last-minute and millions of people had requested tickets since election day. But he did say to check back with him the next morning just in case some tickets became available. Although not likely, hope was still alive.

The next morning, I e-mailed my "ticket guy" as he had informed me to do. More than anything, I really wanted to thank him for even considering the request on such short notice. This time, however, I did not get an immediate response. In fact, I didn't think I would receive a response at all as a couple of hours turned into several. But right before going to bed Saturday night in preparation for my early flight Sunday morning, I received an e-mail from ticket guy saying that he SHOULD have some tickets for me, but to e-mail him again once I arrived in DC. Hope is just not alive, it's walking around the room with swagger.

As you might imagine, my first order of business after checking into the hotel was to fire up my laptop and shoot off a quick e-mail to ticket guy. But again, no response. Was my karma running on fumes? Had hope been replaced at the last minute by despair? The answer would come in the morning.

Having not set an alarm and still adjusting to the time zone changes, I slept a little later than I intended. I wanted to be at that computer first thing in the morning to see if hope prevailed.

It was similar to the feeling of anticipation on Christmas morning when we were kids. The real anticipation is not whether you received something, but rather if you received what you really wanted. I was fully expecting some type of e-mail response at this point, but would it say what I wanted it to say?

I'll let you read for yourself.


Michael,

I’ve been busy at events and apologize for the delay. I will have tickets for you tomorrow. You should pick up at the convention center.


YES!! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!! I GOT TICKETS TO THE INAUGURATION!! HELL YEAH!!

Obviously, I was rather excited. It was truly special to be one of the few (relatively speaking) to receive official inauguration tickets. But getting them at the last-minute from a person I had never met in my life made it even more amazing.

Now, the trick was to hide my excitement, as I wanted to surprise Crystal with the tickets. I've always been that guy. Hold out on some great news, only to spring it on somebody at the last-minute. I'm a sucker for spontaneous responses from my friends.

I told her we were going to the convention center to meet a friend of mine. And from there, we would walk down to the mall to get a look at the scene the day before the madness. She had never been to DC, so she was more concerned about seeing the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial than she was about the pit stop at the convention center.

Trying to figure out where exactly I was supposed to pick up the tickets at the convention center was not that easy. The building is massive in scope. Plus there were no visible signs saying anything about the inauguration or tickets. But once again, this is where my buddy karma comes into play.

I spotted a guy who looked like he might know where he's going. And indeed, he did. He, too, was going to pick up tickets and told us to follow him. After finding a door guarded by a security person, our escort flashed some badge and told the guard we were with him. Score!

Although I didn't realize it at the time, the biggest obstacle in securing these tickets was finding my ticket guy in the throngs of people at the convention center. To say the place was teeming with activity would be an understatement. In addition to being the distribution hub for inauguration, parade and ball tickets, the convention center was also hosting 6 balls on inauguration evening. Let's just say it was a little hectic.

While waiting in line to see about finding my tickets, I heard the lady behind me on the phone talking about my ticket guy. She was looking for him too. Her name was Agape, the sister of Arianna Huffington. The Huffington Post was having a big party later that evening, and for a moment, I considered asking her for some tickets to the party. But I was more concerned about inauguration tickets and didn't want to use up all my remaining karma on another party.

After finally reaching a volunteer table to see if the tickets were being held under my name, I find out that they are not!

What? You mean I came all the way over here and there's no tickets for me? I couldn't believe it.

But as I was discussing this with another volunteer, I once again heard the familiar voice of Agape. She was on the phone with the ticket guy trying to locate him. When I finally spotted her, she was actually hugging the ticket guy. She now had her tickets. But where were mine?

I left the volunteer in mid-sentence as I jogged towards the ticket guy. He was just about to disappear from sight. I couldn't come this close only to lose him.

Just before he ducked behind a tall, blue curtain I shouted his name. He heard me. He stopped and turned around.

I said, "Hi, I'm Michael Eaves. From Fox Sports Net in LA. We exchanged some e-mails about inauguration tickets?"

He replied, "Oh yeah. Hold on one second."

He disappears behind the curtain only to reappear a few seconds later. Not only does my ticket guy have two tickets on the Capitol grounds for me, but he also has two parade tickets. My karma didn't just come through. It doubled up!

I wanted to hug ticket guy, but instead I gave him a very affectionate handshake and told him to contact me if I can ever return the favor. Not fully certain that I could ever match such a hookup, but I would definitely be determined to try.

When I made it back to the volunteer table, Crystal was sitting there waiting for me. I'm not really sure if she had figured everything out at this point. Did she think I really had tickets or was I trying to talk my way into some? But once, she saw the envelope in my hand, I could sense her excitement, although she was obviously trying to hold it together. But that could only last so long.

Once we exited the doors, and I showed her those beautiful inauguration tickets, we proceeded to sing, "We going to the Inauguration! We going to the Inauguration!" as we made our way out of the convention center.

I'm sure the song was off key and our harmony was horrible, but it was music to our ears!

First Day In DC

I must first apologize for such a late posting, but between walking around our nation's capital and getting in and out of so many different airports, I simply have had enough time to tell you about my experiences at the 56th Presidential Inauguration. But without any further delay, here goes!

Upon getting off the plane at Dulles International Airport, there is an obvious feeling of excitement in the air. It's not as if every person traveling is headed to the National Mall, but it sure seems like it.

I'm not sure if I have ever seen so many smiling faces at an airport, especially one as busy as Dulles.

One surprising thing about the airport experience was the short cab lines. In the days leading up to my departure, I heard and read so many fears about the mad rush of people at the area airports. Dulles was immune to such worries. Crystal and I walked straight from the baggage claim to the backseat of a Washington Flyer taxi.

Washington, DC, here we come.

I have flown into Dulles several times in the past, meaning I have a pretty good idea of how long and how much cab fare it will take to get into the city. Well, that previous experience did not apply today.

In addition to a major bridge closure, city traffic was also affected by the "We Are One" concert at the Lincoln Memorial. By the time we made it near the city center, the concert was ending. And you know what the means: hundreds of thousands of people walking.. everywhere!

Intersections became parking lots as pedestrians took advantage of the congestion to make their own crosswalk rules. Although we ended up sitting in the back of that cab for about 2 hours, I really wasn't mad at the people adding to our commute. I was more mad that we didn't arrive in time to join them at the concert. Thank God for dvr!

After a much needed rest at the hotel, we met some of my good friends out for dinner at Neyla in Georgetown. This neighborhood is my favorite in DC, something I share with most people, I'm sure. In addition to the tasty restaurants and chic shopping, there's just so much history in Georgetown. Even if you aren't exactly familiar with that history, you know it's there. It's a comfortable feeling.



Following dinner, it was off to the Newseum near the National Mall for a HBO-sponsored party.

(Editor's Note: I've only been in the city for a few hours, and here I am already crashing a party. It's all about who you know, and oftentimes, who they know. This is where knowing Dr. Ian Smith and Stephanie Elam comes in real handy. And for those of you looking to crash any type of party in the future, one hint: Always keep moving!)


The party was held at the same place where CNN did the majority of its reporting on the Inauguration festivities. This is definitely a place I would want to come back and visit sometime. For anyone interested in media, it is a must-stop! Plus, you can get some great shots of the Capitol Building.

HBO threw a pretty nice gig. Nothing spectacular, but there was free food and booze--two staples of a successful party.

But after making a few new friends and running into some old ones, it was time to hit the bed, as Monday would be all about securing Inauguration tickets!!