What Would Happen if Harlan Didn’t Pay the 40K Fine?

[The Miami Ute]

What would happen if Harlan refused to pay the $40K fine that Yormark levied against him? Is anyone familiar with how something like this is enforced? Maybe it’s just me, but I’m starting to feel like Utah is a breakaway, seperatist movement within the Big XII.

[Tony (admin)]

I would imagine they’d dock his pay.

[The Miami Ute]

I thought about that, but how? Harlan isn’t an employee of the Big XII but of the University of Utah. Where’s the enforcement mechanism?

[2008 National Champ]

Well, Utah did make sure they didn’t sign the 100 year blood oath or whatever was required of all the other schools upon entering. Probably doesn’t stop them from paying the fine but neither side is endearing themself to the other.

[The Miami Ute]

You know what, I could be wrong, but I’m starting to get the feeling that there might be a nasty divorce brewing…I can’t imagine saying stuff like what he did last night without something going on behind the scenes. At this point, it’s become patently obvious that Utah and the Big XII aren’t very well suited for each other.

[Trailgoat]

I thought the same thing Miami. Why not spin up some drama :). Seems out of character for Harlan who is very careful about how he presents himself through the media. To go scorched earth from his usual smooshy persona seems odd. Good on him. That said, he could be fed up with his pathetic football team and needed a public vent. Personally, not sure what options there are, I am down with getting out of the B12 asap, bring back the old P12 band mates minus UO, USC, and UW. UCLA is a lost soul.

[The Miami Ute]

Options? In my mind, there are only really two, go to the ACC or to the reconstructed PAC. I’m not certain whether the ACC, at this point would want us or, if it did, would make Utah take a well below market deal like it did for Cal, Stanford, and SMU. If money isn’t the primary factor, (yeah, I know, fat chance, right?) then the smart play would be to join the reconstituted PAC, which currently has Washington State, Oregon State, Utah State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State for football and also Gonzaga for all sports with the exception of football. You never know…Utah splitting from the Big XII might provide impetus for other name schools to return to a regionally based conference. We’d also earn the eternal gratitude of Wazzu and OSU fans, which is no small feat.

[2008 National Champ]

You never know…Utah splitting from the Big XII might provide impetus for other name schools to return to a regionally based conference.

That’s what I would hope my 12 team idea on the other thread would accomplish. These 14, 16, 18 team conferences aren’t sustainable when they don’t have similar geography and rarely play each other. One scenario for the SEC has up to 7 schools ending up with two losses and having to go through the same tie-breaker crap that the PAC did in 2022. No one signed up for that and the dollars will only matter until enough schools feel they got left out unfairly to force change. Having a conference that was self regulating and not dependent on the two sports networks crumbs to survive would be the best indicator to the big boys that going from the bowl committees controlling their most important assets to TV is not a smart business model.

I know what I’m proposing is along the lines of what Kliavkoff (sic?) tried to do with the Apple deal but that was a non-starter. Utah taking a haircut to join the new PAC wouldn’t be the smartest financial decision in the short term but man would it be great for the sanity.

[The Miami Ute]

Great for sanity and the away traveling schedule…

[Rick Walker]

He shouldn’t, it’s about as valid as the high school parking tickets I never paid for not having a parking pass. Don’t do it until someone can actually make you

[The Miami Ute]

I hear you Rick…about the only enforcement mechanism that my uneducated self could come up with is suspend the entire Utah Athletic Department until Harlan paid his fine.

[Matt]

Wonder if a fine like this is subject to wage garnishment or harm to his credit. I doubt he would care. He’s a wealthy man.

[The Miami Ute]

Hard to see how they could garnish his wages since the Big XII doesn’t pay his salary. Only the University of Utah can garnish his wages.

[Matt]

It would have to be some kind of court order, like with child support. I don’t see that happening in a case like this.

[The Miami Ute]

Exactly. It isn’t like the Big XII is some government entity like the IRS. From where i’m standing, the only hammer they have is the ability to suspend the athletic department and ban other conference teams from competing against Utah. That would make for some compelling theater.

[2008 National Champ]

The fine is ultimately against the University, since that is who has a relationship with the Big 12 conference. Harlan is just acting as the University representative. If Utah felt his comments were a fireable offense and got rid of him, the University would still be on the hook for the fine.

Saying that he personally is being fined is out of the purview of the Big 12 and an error in statement. I think the proper way to phrase it would be something like “We are fining the University of Utah for the actions of its Athletic Director who called in to question.,,”

Utah can certainly choose to garnish his wages, which I’m sure is in the language of his contract under the ethics section, but the Big 12 has no recourse against an individual. Just my 2 yen and I’m sure there’s a legal eagle on here who can clear it up better.

[DataUte]

Big 12 could withhold 40k from the distribution and make Utah athletic department collect (or not) from Harlan.

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