Just like most of us, Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi had no idea what the Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 alliance was but gave a little bit of clarity as to what it is while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
Narduzzi says Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke got the Pitt head coaches together to explain the alliance.
“It’s kind of a team thing, it’s like we focus here, it’s a few conferences getting together, 41 schools total getting together, like-mindedness of ‘hey this is who we are, this is our values’,” said Narduzzi. “I think it’s a great thing and it’s really sticking together and not falling apart.”
The alliance comes after drastic changes in college football the past few months, including a proposed 12-team playoff, Name, Image, Likeness going into effect and Oklahoma and Texas (founders of the Big 12) leaving that conference to join the SEC.
“We know there’s much going on in intercollegiate athletics across the country, it can’t be a cut-throat, we got to stick together to control the integrity of the game,” added Narduzzi.
While there is nothing in writing that binds the alliance to any contractual punishment, all presidents, chancellors and athletic directors unanimously supported the alliance, as stated in a news release.
While there isn’t officially anything in place, the alliance hopes to “stabilize a volatile environment” in college sports, and will work toward scheduling partnership and collaborate on big issues that arise in college athletics.