I think the 4 corner schools will and should. Move to the big 12! The pac 12 brand is not good right now. They can't even pick the best expansion candidates. Boise state and fresno have way better national brands than smu or sandiego state.
Arizona and ASU belong in the Big 10. There is no alumni market for the Big 12 or Mountain West teams here. There is a huge, and growing Big 10 alumni network in Arizona. If it’s about having games people want to watch, then that’s the answer. These states aren’t like Midwestern states where different schools can easily drive to each other’s games. The distances are really far here. Will common sense prevail? Probably not.
Where cal really failed in the last decade was a failure to attract “t-shirt” fans. The majority of the eyes on USC and UCLA’s games are in LA, are fans, but are not alumni. This is where the money is in a large market.
We absolutely should be doing everything we can to fill the east bay football void left by the raiders. Hell run promotions for a free cal hat if you show up in raiders gear, have a “black hole” night, do something to attract non-alumni and alumni alike.
We are the public university with arguably the best academic reputation and research in the country. I get us not being the belle of the ball given how awful our game day experience has been and the lukewarm support of our students, but I’m somewhat shocked we are just down there with Waxzu and Oregon state
I don't think we're with OSU and WSU. Cal is just in the position of having to wait to see what the Big Ten does to expand further. It's likely we wind up in one of three scenarios:
1. In a diminished but still intact Pac-10/12 (if the B10 decides not to poach anyone else).
2. In the Big Ten (if they invite us as part of a West Coast pod).
3. In the Big 12 (if the B10 invites Ore/Wash/Furd but not us).
Dropping to mid-major status seems really unlikely. It's a lot more likely for the Beavs and Cougs, sadly. They don't have a lot to offer to a major conference. Cal has a major media market, a decent-sized fan base (compared to other West Coast teams), and top-shelf academics.
I'm skeptical that we join the Big XII. Does the Chancellor really want the Olympic Sports flying across three time zones for league games? Morgantown is more difficult to get to than the Paloose.
If they want Olympic sports at all, then yes, they would want us flying across timezones. The Pac-12 is on life support. I don't really see any path for its survival. Anything less than an invite to B1G or an or unlikely Big 12 merger and we are cutting programs--many of them. The best scenario--and i think (and hope) the most likely one--is that Cal, Furd, UW and UO join the B1G and make our own pod.
Why is that a surprise? This is all about eyeballs on TV/cable. The Bay Area does not support college sports very well, at least in comparison to the football=king culture in the midwest and southeast. Moreover, the Admin has demonstrated year after year that football success is not all that important, as long as its a cash cow. Academics and research are required (really AAU membership), but not sufficient for an invite.
Branding problems has neutralized the first part of your argument, maybe...just maybe that all the talks about Cal to the B1G will finally teach people that Cal = UC Berkeley.
It’s so funny how SoCal students get used to calling it “Cal” when they’re there, then when they go back to LA and say “Cal” the response is always: “Oh, which one? Cal State Long Beach? Cal State Fullerton?”
No one outside of the Bay Area who doesn’t have a personal connection to the university knows what “Cal” is.
As an okie let's merge both Big 12 and PAC 12 for a super conference. Everybody is in and add UNLV for Vegas then go after ACC to complete a 32 mega conference.
It does appear that for Arizona, ASU, Colorado, and Utah to go with the BIG12 is the best survival decision at the moment. In fact, it may be the only option they have.
Money rules and at the moment the PAC12 commissioner has nothing with which to negotiate. Nada.
Cal's best case scenario is to run the table this fall in PAC12 play, demolish Notre Dame (this game has a lot riding on it) and play in the conference championship. Perhaps then the B1G may give Cal a momentary consideration but that is doubtful. The odds of Cal running the table are as good as the B1G offering Cal (the beggar) a seat at the table.
Even if Cal accomplished the impossible, I would not support a move to the B1G unless there was a Pacific pod of at least 6 original PAC12 teams. Again, currently this does not look like a possibility at the moment.
Should Cal even want to keep football ~ I doubt the powers that be do ~ then I'm all for joining some hybrid of remaining PAC12 and Mountain West combination.
the problem with a hybrid Mountain West-Pac leftovers is one of $$. U-Nevada-level TV rights (a few $m, not $30m) would barely pay for Cal football, much less the other 29 sports. It just not a viable option w/o wiping out a huge portion of men's and women's athletics. If that is the case -- and it is most likely at this point -- time to look seriously as football's continuance.
I agree that this entire discussion is one of money, simple. The $$$ isn't there for Cal and will likely, as you stated, discontinue football in the near future.
SEC will add UNLV, SDSU, Hawaii and Boise State to keep up with B1G sources told me.
I love you guys who voted for Cal to blow them away, but this will be tough
Win this game, you will change the program.
If corner schools move huskies and oregon will bolt immediately
I think the 4 corner schools will and should. Move to the big 12! The pac 12 brand is not good right now. They can't even pick the best expansion candidates. Boise state and fresno have way better national brands than smu or sandiego state.
If what is said about big 12 poaching the four Pac-12 schools then the conference would be over . Stanford would go to Big Ten for sure
Stanford and Notre Dame are the two schools the Big Ten want to complete their conference
The PAC 6 should form a division in the Mountain West.
Arizona and ASU belong in the Big 10. There is no alumni market for the Big 12 or Mountain West teams here. There is a huge, and growing Big 10 alumni network in Arizona. If it’s about having games people want to watch, then that’s the answer. These states aren’t like Midwestern states where different schools can easily drive to each other’s games. The distances are really far here. Will common sense prevail? Probably not.
Big 10 will never invite arizona schools. Big 12 is the best option. Every school wants to join big 10 or sec
Cal better have watched NASCAR at Sonoma because they need to get the hell in gear and get off pit road while SC and UCLA lap us on track.
Where cal really failed in the last decade was a failure to attract “t-shirt” fans. The majority of the eyes on USC and UCLA’s games are in LA, are fans, but are not alumni. This is where the money is in a large market.
We absolutely should be doing everything we can to fill the east bay football void left by the raiders. Hell run promotions for a free cal hat if you show up in raiders gear, have a “black hole” night, do something to attract non-alumni and alumni alike.
I'm going to pretend I'm an ND fan and write to their AD not to join Big 10. Signed, GoIrish49
We are the public university with arguably the best academic reputation and research in the country. I get us not being the belle of the ball given how awful our game day experience has been and the lukewarm support of our students, but I’m somewhat shocked we are just down there with Waxzu and Oregon state
I don't think we're with OSU and WSU. Cal is just in the position of having to wait to see what the Big Ten does to expand further. It's likely we wind up in one of three scenarios:
1. In a diminished but still intact Pac-10/12 (if the B10 decides not to poach anyone else).
2. In the Big Ten (if they invite us as part of a West Coast pod).
3. In the Big 12 (if the B10 invites Ore/Wash/Furd but not us).
Dropping to mid-major status seems really unlikely. It's a lot more likely for the Beavs and Cougs, sadly. They don't have a lot to offer to a major conference. Cal has a major media market, a decent-sized fan base (compared to other West Coast teams), and top-shelf academics.
I'm skeptical that we join the Big XII. Does the Chancellor really want the Olympic Sports flying across three time zones for league games? Morgantown is more difficult to get to than the Paloose.
That said, a pac-big xii merger is a possibility.
If they want Olympic sports at all, then yes, they would want us flying across timezones. The Pac-12 is on life support. I don't really see any path for its survival. Anything less than an invite to B1G or an or unlikely Big 12 merger and we are cutting programs--many of them. The best scenario--and i think (and hope) the most likely one--is that Cal, Furd, UW and UO join the B1G and make our own pod.
It definitely wouldn't be our first choice, but I could see it happening if the P12 falls apart and we don't get a B10 invite.
Why is that a surprise? This is all about eyeballs on TV/cable. The Bay Area does not support college sports very well, at least in comparison to the football=king culture in the midwest and southeast. Moreover, the Admin has demonstrated year after year that football success is not all that important, as long as its a cash cow. Academics and research are required (really AAU membership), but not sufficient for an invite.
Branding problems has neutralized the first part of your argument, maybe...just maybe that all the talks about Cal to the B1G will finally teach people that Cal = UC Berkeley.
It’s so funny how SoCal students get used to calling it “Cal” when they’re there, then when they go back to LA and say “Cal” the response is always: “Oh, which one? Cal State Long Beach? Cal State Fullerton?”
No one outside of the Bay Area who doesn’t have a personal connection to the university knows what “Cal” is.
That’s been my experience anyway.
Maybe Big 10 doesn't know we are Berkeley.
As an okie let's merge both Big 12 and PAC 12 for a super conference. Everybody is in and add UNLV for Vegas then go after ACC to complete a 32 mega conference.
We will not go quietly into the night, we will not vanish without a fight! Today we celebrate our independence from the tyranny of the Pac12!!!!!
a little haiku:
Rise up cal football
Do not give up the ghost yet
Knowlton needs to shine
I would feel so much more confident if Bill Pullman was our AD.
I just want Warren to drop the cardinal tree on Knowltons windshield while yelling, “welcome to the party, pal”.
He wasn’t lying about Marco. He’s down on the street. And the other man was Heinrich.
And Heinrich had the detonators!
It does appear that for Arizona, ASU, Colorado, and Utah to go with the BIG12 is the best survival decision at the moment. In fact, it may be the only option they have.
Money rules and at the moment the PAC12 commissioner has nothing with which to negotiate. Nada.
Cal's best case scenario is to run the table this fall in PAC12 play, demolish Notre Dame (this game has a lot riding on it) and play in the conference championship. Perhaps then the B1G may give Cal a momentary consideration but that is doubtful. The odds of Cal running the table are as good as the B1G offering Cal (the beggar) a seat at the table.
Even if Cal accomplished the impossible, I would not support a move to the B1G unless there was a Pacific pod of at least 6 original PAC12 teams. Again, currently this does not look like a possibility at the moment.
Should Cal even want to keep football ~ I doubt the powers that be do ~ then I'm all for joining some hybrid of remaining PAC12 and Mountain West combination.
the problem with a hybrid Mountain West-Pac leftovers is one of $$. U-Nevada-level TV rights (a few $m, not $30m) would barely pay for Cal football, much less the other 29 sports. It just not a viable option w/o wiping out a huge portion of men's and women's athletics. If that is the case -- and it is most likely at this point -- time to look seriously as football's continuance.
https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/where-does-the-nevada-athletic-department-make-its-money
I agree that this entire discussion is one of money, simple. The $$$ isn't there for Cal and will likely, as you stated, discontinue football in the near future.
On the plus side, we already have a mid-major Athletic Director, so we won't have to recruit that position. (Too bad he has a Power 5 contract....)
My dream was that Cal play in the Rose Bowl on January 1 (before I'm gone).