Tag: Tony Petitti

Tony Petitti opens the door for Big Ten Championship Game moving West

The Big Ten commissioner offered hope that a Western site might host the Big Ten title game down the line.

During Big Ten media days on Tuesday, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti addressed the issue of where the conference championship game would be held in the future. He announced that it would remain in Indianapolis for the next four years, but explained that with expansion, things would change moving forward.

“Given the footprint of the  conference, the cities that are now interested in hosting Big Ten Champions have clearly expanded.  We are really comfortable with the decision to stay here in Indianapolis, with football here, for the next four seasons.  We think that it’s the right thing to do.  Now having said that I think you are going to see us begin to expand.  I think it’s really important to make sure that markets around the country are able to experience Big Ten Championships.  It’s a really good way to connect the conference.  I think that over time you will start to see the geographic footprint expand– keeping in mind competitive issues.  I think that you can fully expect that over time you will see the footprint of how we host championships change and grow.” 

Locations such as the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas seem like likely landing spots to decide the conference title in 2029 and beyond.

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Tony Petitti recalls suspending Jim Harbaugh, asked about the NCAA investigation

Was a joke, still is a joke. #GoBlue

INDIANAPOLIS — Unsurprisingly, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti got a question about Michigan football and the alleged sign-stealing scandal at Big Ten media days on Tuesday.

Seemingly taking unilateral action at the time in November when Petitti suspended former Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh, despite the NCAA still in the thick of its investigation, Petitti says now that the process when it took place was ‘collaborative’ in nature.

“I can tell you that it was a collaborative process inside the conference office with staff first, trying to understand, gather information,” Petitti said. “There was a lot of cooperation with the NCAA in terms of the information that we had access to, working with our administrators and ultimately our presidents and chancellors as well.

“It was a completely collaborative process. Look, I understand, having come from MLB and watching some of the discipline things that happened there, it’s a difficult process when you’re forced into a situation where you have to decide what to do with a member. That’s part of it. You go into that with a lot of respect and try and understand and do what’s fair and protect the entire conference.

“That was the approach we took, and I stand by the results of the decision we made.”

A notice of allegations from the NCAA is forthcoming, with recent indications seeming like the organization was close to issuing the NOA a month ago. However, the NOA has yet to arrive in Ann Arbor, and Petitti says he has no idea when the NCAA will reveal its findings.

“I don’t know of a timetable,” Petitti said. “I’m not aware yet when the NCAA will come to any final determination, whatever that might be.”

Big Ten commissioner says scheduling methods will evolve and change

Tony Petitti knows his scheduling practices will have to continuously be tweaked to create a better experience for athletes and coaches.

Big Ten football media days began on Tuesday in Indianapolis. Commissioner Tony Petitti began the festivities with his opening remarks, followed by a question-and-answer media availability session. In the process of fielding questions from reporters at Lucas Oil Stadium, Petitti noted that Big Ten sports scheduling practices are not set in stone for the next several years. The next two football seasons are in place, but future schedules have not yet been laid out in full.

Petitti called scheduling “a natural progression” in which he would expect the conference to continuously listen to coaches and athletes in a collaborative process which would lead to various adjustments and tweaks.

This is good to hear, because there are aspects of scheduling for USC and the other incoming West Coast schools which weren’t addressed in these first few schedules but need to be taken into account in the future. A good example is to have two road games at a time in close-by locations, and then play two straight games at home, so that the number of plane flights can be substantially reduced over the course of a season. Clustered scheduling — making teams play larger blocks of games at home or away, instead of having them alternate home and road games in smaller numbers (meaning more plane flights) — is something the Big Ten needs to pursue in the future.

Stay with us for full coverage of Big Ten media days all week.

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Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti wants more conference games with CFP implications

Would you like to see this? #B1G

Next college football season will usher in an exciting new era with the expanded, 12-team playoff coming to a streaming device or high definition television near you. Add that to expanded conferences, most notably the additions in the Big Ten and SEC, and it should make for some compelling and meaningful games, with more teams in the mix late in the year than what we have today.

However, to make it all the more enticing, games within conferences will need to look at scheduling and see what makes sense. In the case of the Big Ten, it appears that commissioner Tony Petitti would like to beef things up to have more games with College Football Playoff implications late in the year.

Petitti sat down with ESPN for a wide-ranging interview and touched on that very subject. He didn’t pull punches or look to make schedules as easy as possible for the big boys. No, instead, he seems to be ready to go all in.

“We’ve got some work to do to figure out what that [future model] is, because obviously, it has real impact on your regular season,” Petitti told ESPN. “You want to make sure that your teams have the ability to have a breakout season and qualify. And we also have to be realistic about what should get you access, in terms of number of wins. Look, we want meaningful games late in the season.

“We want fans to think that you know a game in the second week of November, even if you’ve already lost two or three games, still has a lot of value. That’s the goal.”

That’s also a bit of a shift from what we’ve seen from other leagues. For example, the SEC has historically played one less conference game than the Big Ten and threw in a nonconference date towards the end of the conference schedule to almost stack the deck for its teams. Those late in the year nonconference games haven’t exactly been must-see television.

We’ll see if the SEC follows suit of this desired scheduling shift, especially after the two money brokers of the sport announced a joint venture to be lock-step in some of the emerging issues in college football. Even if not, Pettiti looks like he’s ready to make things interesting for fans and teams.

“When you’re as deep as we are, we’ve got to do things to make sure that we have the access to the postseason that we think we deserve and has to be earned on the field,” Petitti said. “I’m a big believer in that, and that helps your regular season. More teams playing more meaningful games later in the season, I think we still can do more there.”

Count me as a proponent of this type of mindset, especially win one or two losses won’t break a season like we’ve seen happen in years past. Opportunity would seem to be knocking on the doorstep of an expanded playoff, and let’s hope that everyone answers the door with scheduling.

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Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti says he and Michigan ‘have moved past the friction’

Yeah, no. #GoBlue

In November, as Michigan football was entering the meat of its 2023 schedule en route to Happy Valley to face Penn State, the Big Ten took unprecedented action, suspending head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games due to Connor Stalions’ alleged in-person sign-stealing scheme. The Wolverines sought an injunction through the courts, but it wasn’t granted, and ultimately, the school stopped its fight against the Big Ten and commissioner Tony Petitti.

Yes, there was some bluster. Michigan had workshopped the idea of leaving the conference, but ultimately it bowed, and the Wolverines won anyway. They beat Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State without Harbaugh. Then they beat Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, Alabama in the Rose Bowl, and Washington in the national championship.

Now, the maize and blue have to coexist with their conference and its first-year commissioner. And Petitti told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg that bygones are now apparently bygones.

Petitti called his first football season as Big Ten commissioner “remarkable,” noting the national championship won by Michigan, the first Big Ten team to earn a title since Ohio State in 2014. The Big Ten’s decision to impose in-season discipline for Michigan — coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the team’s final three regular-season games — amid the NCAA’s investigation into illegal off-campus scouting and signal stealing drew significant criticism for Petitti. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, in a piercing statement following the suspension, called the Big Ten’s actions during an NCAA investigation “completely unethical” and “an assault on the rights of everyone.”

Petitti said he and Manuel have moved past the friction and even sat next to each other at a dinner the night before Michigan played Alabama in the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl. Petitti called Manuel “one of the leaders in our room.”

“People sometimes misconstrue, these are never personal things, this is not personal,” Petitti said. “This is about doing what’s right for the conference, what’s right for our institutions. It doesn’t mean everybody’s going to agree with decisions that come from the league office, but that’s the job.

“At the end of the day, it’s about doing what you think is right in the process. That’s what we did, and there’s reaction to that, and we just worked our way through it.”

While it may not be personal between Petitti and the Michigan brass, certainly his involvement did not help the Wolverines retain Harbaugh, who went to the NFL this offseason. His contract demands featured immunity from the NCAA investigation, and the Big Ten’s meddling certainly muddled the waters. Now that Harbaugh’s gone, there will likely be a longtime fan distrust of the conference, and if there is any other arbitrary punishment that comes down from Rosemont, Illinois, the animosity could return in a hurry.

Media blasts Big Ten’s Tony Petitti for Jim Harbaugh suspension

The narrative continues to shift in #Michigan’s favor (outside of Columbus and East Lansing). #GoBlue

It’s been speculated for a week that Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti would suspend Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh under the guise of the sportsmanship bylaw, despite the NCAA still investigating the Wolverines’ alleged sign-stealing scandal and finding no connection with Harbaugh at this juncture.

Petitti acted on Friday while Harbaugh and his team were in the air en route to State College to face Penn State. The move appears to be quite malevolent in terms of its timing. Again, Petitti was rumored to be making this move Monday, then Wednesday or Thursday, before taking action in the 11th hour.

Several media members blasted the first-year Big Ten commissioner for the move, not just based on the timing. Here are some poignant reactions.

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SI: University of Michigan board considers leaving Big Ten

NUCLEAR OPTION IS ON THE TABLE! #GoBlue

First-year Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti may have thought the University of Michigan would lay down instead of fight when it came to punishing head coach Jim Harbaugh under the conference’s sportsmanship law. But the university is serious about defending its ninth-year head coach, and it very well may go nuclear with its response to Friday’s suspension.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Michael Rosenberg, the U-M board of regents has discussed leaving the conference if it unilaterally suspended the Michigan football head coach while the NCAA investigation continues.

Tony Petitti has no idea how badly he just botched his job, but here is a hint: In a meeting last week, Michigan’s regents discussed possibly leaving the Big Ten if Petitti suspended coach Jim Harbaugh without what the school considered due process, a person familiar with those discussions told Sports Illustrated.

One person told Wolverines Wire earlier in the week under the condition of anonymity that such a discussion did take place.

Petitti admitted in his response to the Wolverines that there is no evidence Harbaugh knew about Connor Stalions’ scheme but noted this is a punishment for the action regardless.

Michigan and Harbaugh have filed for an emergency injunction or temporary restraining order against the Big Ten that would allow for Harbaugh to return to the sidelines for Saturday’s game at Penn State.

11 state lawmakers send letter to Big Ten urging patience vs. Michigan football

Not just U-M, but #Michigan as a state is gearing up for war! #GoBlue

The University of Michigan is already loaded for bear as it pertains to Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti potentially levying a punishment against Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh. Now the Big Ten may be getting more than it bargained for.

Not only has U-M hired powerhouse law firm Williams & Connolly out of Washington D.C., lawmakers in the state of Michigan have sent a warning shot of their own.

According to The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach, 11 members of the Michigan Legislature have sent a letter to the Big Ten commissioner urging him to show restraint and let due process take its course.

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. Petitti,

As members of the Michigan legislature, we write to you today to urge you to act prudently and refrain from taking any premature measures against one of our state universities, including their athletic program, football team or coaching staff. These individuals are our constituents, and we feel the need to ensure they are treated fairly.

In the legislature, we pass laws to ensure every citizen and organization in Michigan is guaranteed their rights to due process under the law. These principles of justice should also be followed by the Big Ten Conference. Allegations of misconduct against conference members from the State of Michigan should be taken seriously, but accusations, especially those made by interested parties, must be met with thoughtful and thorough investigations based on fairness for all of those involved.

We all know the passion surrounding college athletics, not only in our state, but around the country. With social media speculation and public rumors running wild, it is important that any investigation and determination is based on carefully considered facts. The University of Michigan and its football program, like all of our collegiate athletic programs, is entitled to an impartial and deliberate process that takes into account all evidence, allows for opportunities for the accused to refute allegations, and comes to conclusions based on the whole truth.

It is essential that the Big Ten Conference not take any disciplinary action against the University of Michigan until the final results of its own or, more appropriately, the NCAA investigation are officially announced. Should those results demonstrate misconduct, an appropriate punishment should be imposed. In the meantime, the players and coaches should be free to continue to participate in the game that they love without being punished with premature or unsubstantiated sanctions.

Should you, as the Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, rush to judgement or engage in any ill-considered actions, we will vigorously support our public universities in their efforts to compel fairness and due process.

The most notable part is the final paragraph, with the thinly-veiled threat of action by the state.

Stay tuned as the story develops.

ESPN: Big Ten not expected to take disciplinary action for 48 hours

Stay tuned! #GoBlue

Member institutions of the Big Ten are urging commissioner Tony Petitti to take action against Michigan football and suspend Jim Harbaugh amid the controversy surrounding alleged illegal sign-stealing.

University of Michigan president Santa J. Ono is urging the conference to let the NCAA’s due process play out.

The tug-of-war is ongoing, and though it appeared there might be  disciplinary action taken as early as Monday, it appears the conference is at least allowing the Wolverines to defend themselves before taking action.

Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel on X, formerly Twitter:

Don’t expect any action by the Big Ten in the Michigan sign stealing case for at least the next 48 hours, as the league’s sportsmanship rules allow for a “reasonable” chance to respond to an institution or individual. Sources have told ESPN that there will be a legal battle if there’s a punitive suspension by the Big Ten to Jim Harbaugh.

Stay tuned as this story continues to develop.

Big Ten coaches reportedly want conference to act on Michigan scandal

This is going to get interesting … #GoBucks

It has been almost two weeks now since hated [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] rival Michigan’s most recent scandal broke.

The sign-stealing allegations look like they are mostly true, with more allegations and evidence coming almost every day. It’s something that has people raising an eyebrow at the Michigan program, along with the Big Ten, but for different reasons.

ESPN’ s [autotag]Pete Thamel[/autotag] reported late Wednesday night that the conferences coaches have “expressed their frustrations with the ongoing signal-stealing investigation at Michigan” during a call with new commissioner [autotag]Tony Petitti[/autotag].

Wolverines head coach [autotag]Jim Harbaugh[/autotag] was on the call, and Thamel noted that he “hung up after the regularly scheduled Big Ten business to allow the conference’s coaches to speak freely about the NCAA’s investigation.”

During that time, it seems as if the coaches were not happy with how Petitti has handled the scandal. Thamel’s source was quoted as saying “collectively, the coaches want the Big Ten to act — right now.”

It does seem extremely odd that the conference nor the university has made a statement on the matter. With Michigan scheduled to play Purdue this weekend, the conference coaches want some clarity on the matter, and soon.

This story isn’t going to die down anytime soon.

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