Wish the NCAA would try to exclude USC and the California schools

Mark Emmert and the NCAA threatened California universities like USC and UCLA with a championship ban. Only one response is necessary.

When one makes an idle threat in hopes of intimidating another, the worst response the antagonist can receive is, “I wish you would.”  It is an indication the threatened party has great reason to believe the situation will not turn out as described.

Now, the NCAA and its president Mark Emmert, in what can only be described as a desperate attempt at intimidation, has threatened USC and the rest of the California universities with exclusion.

The only response should be, “I wish you would.”

The nuclear option is in response to SB-206 Collegiate athletics: Fair Pay to Play Act, which boils down to if a school makes over 10 million dollars annually from media rights surrounding athletics, then their students athletes are allowed to profit from their image and likeness.

The NCAA’s argument is this would give the schools in California an unfair advantage. It would. Being able to profit from your likeness while playing your chosen sport in California would be an unbelievable recruiting tool. Though, if the NCAA did exclude those schools from being able to participate in championships, it would ultimately lead to the end of the NCAA.

READ MORE: NCAA Threatens to Bar California Schools From Championships

Let’s take a minute and explore what this could like for USC and its rivals.

California could decide it is going to create its own collegiate federation and hold its own championships, which seems like the logical first step in trying to recover from being excluded from the NCAA.

The question everyone would be asking is how profitable would it be? Especially when the only schools that are nationally relevant are USC, UCLA, and Cal. The NCAA would be fine leaning on the Big Ten, SEC and the ACC to get them through, which would most likely be the destruction of the Pac-12.

Then, what steps could this California collegiate federation do to make itself more marketable across the nation? What if they decided since they are no longer hindered by the NCAA and its asinine rules, they are going to actually pay their players?

There are 23 Division-I schools in California. If they could pay their players, the first thing destroyed for the NCAA is the basketball tournament.

Sure, some prestigious universities outside of California will retain a few top-tier high school talent. Though we already live in a time where some opt to go overseas and play because they can earn money. Imagine them all having an option to stay within the United States to play and make money?

It would not be long before the talent was headed out west. Who’s going to watch an NCAA basketball tournament with terrible basketball because the talent is elsewhere? The tournament is already struggling because people don’t know the names and only watch for their brackets.

Also, don’t dismiss the effect it would have on college basketball coaches. They could finally pay players without fear of wiretaps and federal prison.

Similar things would happen in football.

Sure, NCAA football would be able to hang on a bit longer, because as we’ve seen with SEC schools, they get a little more leeway. But it would eventually happen. And if you think schools in the SEC and Texas —who pretty much print money because of football— would allow a talent migration west without exploring their own options in leaving the NCAA, then you are naive.

Realistically, the NCAA will most likely amend their rules or figure out a way to exist in a way that convinces the schools that they need them.

Though, I wish the NCAA would exclude California. It would mean the end for them.