MSU leaders tout Spartan Ventures' necessity at Detroit Economic Club

Guskiewicz on Friday defended the way Spartan Ventures has been created and set up to run, citing the MSU Research Foundation, a similarly spun-off nonprofit corporation that’s been affiliated with Michigan State since 1973.

“It's been a huge success for the university, generating the kind of revenue and opportunities to unlock potential that we couldn't have otherwise done on the research fund,” Guskiewicz said. “And we follow that same process. So we've been very transparent and very comfortable with where we are.”

While speaking as part of the main event for the DEC, Batt cited the unsustainable moment of college sports and constant change as putting “pressure” on the college sports model. In short, the need to devote money to paying athletes now is stretching departmental budgets.

And while Batt said the NCAA needed to evolve on paying athletes years ago, he alluded to the need for maximal revenue generation nowadays to not only support football and men’s and women’s basketball, but provide broad-based athletic opportunity at Michigan State. Batt repeatedly cited how raising revenues is not just to support big-ticket sports like football, but also to preserve what he views to be part of the college sports mission in providing opportunities across many sports.

In general, Batt said he wants something that’s nimble and can respond to the rapidly changing college sports landscape.

“What Spartan Ventures does is create a nimble organization that, as we know, as change continues to develop over three, five, seven, 10 years — whatever that horizon might be, we are gonna need to be nimble,” Batt said. “We're going to be able to react quickly to opportunities as they develop.”

Both Batt and Guskiewicz touted their alignment on needing Spartan Ventures and increasing revenues to keep Michigan State competitive. Batt repeatedly has banged the drum that Michigan State is a top-10 athletic program nationally and that’s a reality that, in the current paradigm, can’t exist without serious cash flow.

Guskiewicz and Batt both also cited the need for taking some risks and how regulatory change — in this instance, the House v. NCAA settlement — while disruptive, is an opportunity for innovation.

And when asked about paring down some spending along with increasing revenues to find a more sustainable status quo, Batt acknowledged that’s part of the equation.

“Ultimately, if we're going to continue to be focused on the opportunity mission, it's gonna take both sides of that thing to get us to a place where for the next 100 years for college athletics, it makes sense,” Batt said.

Batt supports CFP, NCAA tournament expansion

The NCAA on Thursday approved a change to the NCAA Tournaments for the men and women, expanding the fields to 76 teams.

This comes as the Big Ten is pushing for a 24-team College Football Playoff, doubling the field from the current 12 teams.

Batt is in favor of both moves.

“I certainly applaud the NCAA for continuing to find ways in which to increase opportunities,” Batt said. “Michigan State, we're focused on maybe those second, third, and fourth weekends to win championships and be in the Final Four. But certainly applaud the NCAA around the tournament, trying to add opportunity. I would say on the expansion of the playoff, I'm fully supportive of going to 24. That's an important evolution that provides more access, particularly access to the best leagues, and those that have the best opportunities.”

Big Ten not eyeing more expansion, Guskiewicz says

Guskiewicz also addressed on the podium the possibility of the Big Ten expanding again any time soon after adding four West Coast programs ahead of the 2024 academic year.

Right now, the Big Ten is not having much conversations about expanding once more, and Guskiewicz said any efforts on that front are “probably halted.”

Guskiewicz did intimate that the topic could be broached again more earnestly in a few years as the post-House settlement playing field of college sports evolves and the Big Ten approaches the window to renegotiate its media grant of rights.

“We need to see how the House settlement's gonna play out,” Guskiewicz said. “We haven't even finished the first year. That was July 1 of this past year, where, you know, revenue share, and I think that we're committed to seeing how that plays out, what it means to each of our individual schools in terms of their expenses at the end of every year, and then the conference, what that looks like. It can change, you know, over the next two to three years, probably closer to three or four, as we're renegotiating the next contract, media contract. But I think it's halted for now.”

Andrew Graham is a freelance writer.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan State leaders tout Spartan Ventures' necessity