Notwithstanding the business aspects of conference expansion, at some point the ethics question really needs to be addressed (not that I would expect our bretheren in the SEC to spend any time dwelling on this uncomfortable point). The obscene ESPN contract with the SEC seems to have thrown the system into disequilibrium. All of a sudden, the overriding feature in the discussions seem to be about TV bucks rather than maximizing opportunities for universities and student athlethes. While I understand that bucks create opportunities, it is questionable whether schools ought to be kicking each other in the shins scrambling for advantage. This is fine for the NFL. It is not fine for institutions with altogether less mercantilistic missions.

One result of this is that it really re-opens the age old question as to whether the players should get paid. There is some threshold $20 mill., $30 million...where the gain for the athlete in exchange for his blood, sweat and tears becomes so disporportionate to the gains of all the hangers-on as simply to become immoral.