"The Opening" Pulls Rivals Credentials

[Lord Vader]

Odd. They apparently approved TOS on 5/27 and just pulled them for no "valid" reason. I think Joeywa has some more info on this, but sounds like there has to be a backstory. 

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Under Armour vs. Nike feud?

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Very interesting.

 

[joeywa]

OBs was granted creds on 5/27.  Yesterday, an email was sent to Taylor stating "After further review, unfortunately we will not be able to provide a media credential because your media outlet did not meet our criteria.  We appreciate your understanding." 

The Opening begins Sunday, 7/6.  Taylor and Jason were due to arrive in Portland on Monday 7/7 for a three day trip to cover the event.

Calls and emails to the lady that both granted the creds and later denied them have gone unanswered.  Such has had one conversation with someone there, and they said sorry, but there's nothing they can do.

Some of the thought process is that this has to do with the Rivals Five Star Challenge, but Rivals has been credentialed at The Opening the last two years, and the FSC has been going on as long, so a power-play at this time makes no sense.  247, ESPNU, Bleacher Report, Scout, FOX, etc. are all allowed; but no Rivals. 

However it came down, I personally think it's a complete bullshit move for a company like Student Sports, (one that hosts high profile events like baseball's Area Code games, Under Armour Elite 24 Basketball, The Opening, UA All American Softball Game, and many more, as well as being owned by NIKE and ESPN,) would be so unprofessional as to pull this kind of stunt. 

You're talking about a pretty good chunk of change that Jason and Taylor are out of pocket on regarding travel, (assuming that they don't get their full refunds-which I'd think they won't.)  Add that to the fact that a handful of us in the Portland area were planning on getting together and having dinner and beers with Jason & Taylor and talk UT sports Monday night, it blows. 

 

[Lukus Alderman]

That's a very low move to pull.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Is this across the entire Rivals board or just OB?

 

[Aaron Carrara]

From a personal perspective, Student Sports has always been fantastic to Horn Sports in providing credentials to Nike -related camps and combines.  The staff at Student Sports that I have interacted with this past year have been nothing short of great.  These folks run a top-notch operation in my opinion.  

 

[joeywa]

I'd have to say that regardless of the professionalism shown by Student Sports in the past, the fact that they were granted access on 5/27, and sent the schedule/confirmation on 6/19, to pull credentials 5-days prior with no offer of reimbursement of travel expenses incurred, (yet,) would not be very professional.  This event is going to be carried live on ESPNU AND open to the public, so playing these kinds of games with credentials is somewhat humorous. 

 

[North Texas Golfer]

From a personal perspective, Student Sports has always been fantastic to Horn Sports in providing credentials to Nike -related camps and combines.  The staff at Student Sports that I have interacted with this past year have been nothing short of great.  These folks run a top-notch operation in my opinion.  

Don't understand how you can say they run a top-notch operation after they do something like this. Sounds like a pretty classless move to me.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Don't understand how you can say they run a top-notch operation after they do something like this. Sounds like a pretty classless move to me.

NTG, I meant based on my experience with them they seem to be a good group of folks.  The comment was not made as a judgment on how the Rivals thing was handled (because I know very little about it).

 

[Lord Vader]

Was told on TOS they dont allow these guys in because of the UA thing and their own camps.  Said its been that way since they started and it must have slipped through the cracks so to speak.

 

[joeywa]

Was told on TOS they dont allow these guys in because of the UA thing and their own camps.  Said its been that way since they started and it must have slipped through the cracks so to speak.

I don't buy that.  Jason was up here two years ago, without issue, (had credentials,) and the Rivals 5-Star Challenge was already up and running at that time.  Last year, Jason and Dustin were up here, as well as a Rivals guy from USC; all three were credentialed and did their thing.  All three had no issue, were able to have access to the players like any other media member and kept a very professional attitude throughout their interviews, whether in a group setting asking questions of a player or one-on-one interviews.  I was able to watch a few of their interactions in person last year and was pretty impressed on how they conducted themselves when participating in these interviews. 

If NIKE/ESPN/Student Sports had an issue, they should NOT have issued credentials in May, should NOT have re-confirmed in June, and at the very least SHOULD reimburse the non-refundable travel to any party that had been confirmed and then had their credentials pulled. 

Not handled well all the way around. 

 

[Lord Vader]

Dont shoot the messenger   Just what I was told. Maybe they let them in because of how big their subscriber bases were and got "caught" this year.  Most Rivals sites arent very large at all. 

 

[joeywa]

Dont shoot the messenger   Just what I was told. Maybe they let them in because of how big their subscriber bases were and got "caught" this year.  Most Rivals sites arent very large at all. 

No shooting going on here. 

I don't think they "got caught," per se.  Student Sports has even been using RIVALS on their website touting how big the event has become.

Several of Nike’s world-class football athletes will also be on hand during the tournament to assist in coaching and provide insights into athletic training at the highest level and what it takes to succeed on and off the football field.

The Opening has quickly become the high profile high school football event in the nation. Last year it drew media coverage from ESPN.com, Scout.com, Rivals.com, 247sports.com and every other major recruiting website, as well as being featured with six hours of broadcast on ESPNU.

 

[Topstarr]

well I just won't go..........HOOK'EM

 

[Lord Vader]

No shooting going on here. 

I don't think they "got caught," per se.  Student Sports has even been using RIVALS on their website touting how big the event has become.

Several of Nike’s world-class football athletes will also be on hand during the tournament to assist in coaching and provide insights into athletic training at the highest level and what it takes to succeed on and off the football field.

The Opening has quickly become the high profile high school football event in the nation. Last year it drew media coverage from ESPN.com, Scout.com, Rivals.com, 247sports.com and every other major recruiting website, as well as being featured with six hours of broadcast on ESPNU.

Well then.....