The Pac-12 Hosted A ‘Media Day,’ Complete With Drinking

Remember The Pac-12 Conference?

The conference that had major programs like USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington and 12 total teams in it? Exciting up-and-coming programs like Colorado and Utah? Those were the days, right?

Now it's the summer of 2024, college football season is rapidly approaching, and as a result, so are conference media days. The Big Ten, The SEC, The Big 12, all of these traditional, or even plus-sized conferences are hosting scores of media members to discuss expectations for the upcoming year. 

The Pac-12, or more accurately the Pac-2, apparently decided it didn't want to be left out. So on Wednesday evening, it held a media event of its own. Both the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars sent their mascots to the after-hours event, and new conference commissioner Teresa Gould gave an inspiring message as to what the conference hoped to accomplish. 

"We are drinking tonight," Gould said. "If anyone has earned the right to drink, it is the Pac-12."

Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pac-12 Conference A Dismal Indicator Of New Era In College Sports

The collapse of the Pac-12 Conference was and is a disappointing indicator of where college sports are headed. Things like geography, history and tradition have taken a back seat to increased financial opportunities, throwing aside rivalries and rationality. Cal and Stanford, located in the Bay Area on the Pacific Coast, now play in the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

USC is now conference rivals with Rutgers and Maryland. Washington and Washington State are now separated, as are Oregon and Oregon State. It's no surprise that it's all about the money, but it still leads to depressing sights like the Pac-12 "media day." 

Two mascots relaxing on chairs, as a "conference" commissioner jokes about drinking. The Pac-2 era is officially underway.