Pat Haden is the athletic director at the University of Southern California. Until Friday, he was also a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee. And, according to this story in the L.A. Times, he is also a director of at least nine non-profits or foundations and three businesses.

According to the Times, Haden spends an average of 70 hours a week on his U.S.C. job. As a playoff selection committee member, he was expected to spend countless hours watching football games and evaluating teams.

So where does he find the time to serve as a board member? Not a problem, according to Haden. He has “never been to one meeting” of some of the nonprofits he serves. And he spends “very little” time on his board positions.

Haden’s attitude is representative of an earlier era when outside directors merely showed up at meetings and nodded their head to whatever the chairman said. Those days are long gone. Today, board members are expected to spend much more time on their board duties, at the risk of liability if they don't.

Mr. Haden, a former Rhodes Scholar, is a very bright guy, but even bright guys can say stupid things. I just hope he’s never sued. (At least one of the businesses he serves as a director is a public corporation.) A plaintiff’s lawyer could use quotes like this to mince him.

In the meantime, I suggest he read something on modern corporate governance. He has a law degree, so he shouldn’t have any trouble understanding it.