BIG TEN RAIDS PAC 12 AGAIN?! This time, it's refs?!

The Big Ten is raiding the Pac 12 again?

Jon Wilner reported with the Bay Area News Group this week that the Pac 12 has confirmed that multiple officials have resigned and says it is in the process of replacing them. I know you’re thinking “Gary - what does that have to do with the Big Ten, or a tv deal, etc?”

This right here - Three top Pac-12 referees, Chris Coyte, Francisco Villar, and Steve Strimling, have resigned to join the Big Ten, while a fourth referee, Michael Mothershed, has retired. Pac-12 center judge Jim Wharrie, who also has experience as a referee, is reportedly heading to the Big Ten as well.

The three departing referees, who reside in Southern California, are expected to officiate home games for USC and UCLA once the schools join the Big Ten in 2024.

So, aside from calling games in LA, why are they leaving? The difference in salary between the two conferences is not believed to be substantial, but the departing referees are said to view the move as an enticing opportunity and a chance to separate from the Pac-12’s vice president for officiating, David Coleman. Coleman was an on-field official for two major college games before being hired to run the Pac-12’s officiating program, which has experienced significant scandals and gaffes in recent years, such as the Oregon / Oregon State game in 2019 and a USC / Washington State officiating goof that cost Washington State a game back when Mike Leach was still the coach in Pullman.

Ben Austro of Football Zebras reported this news as well, and pointed out that the Pac-12 does not have a good feeder program for officials from smaller conferences like the other four power conferences, so the fact that they will have new referees for at least half of its eight officiating crews one of the most anticipated conference seasons in recent memory doesn’t seem like good news.

The Pac-12 plans to replace the departing referees with officials from within the conference and from other conferences who have applied for the vacancies. But, again, who are the candidates?

Not only did schools leave, but some of the best officials the conference had are also deciding to leave. Oh, and there’s still no TV deal.

From Thursday 4/27/23 full show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN1AGxcCf8M

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