Thanks to all for the support. To answer a few of these questions, the amount being targeted for this fund raising drive is most definitely not the total amount being raised for any of these programs. It’s not close to it. This is supplemental to what we already have. We are trying to turbo charge our efforts to make sure these programs do as well as possible during this upcoming crucial first season in the ACC. You only get a single chance to make a first impression and we badly need to immediately shift the narrative on Cal sports if we want Cal to make it into the next round of conference realignment. Next year is likely too late.
To the objection that this is being done too close to tax time, this timing is to celebrate Rich Lyons being appointed Chancellor (why we named it “Lyons and Transfers and Bears, Oh My!”). It’s also coinciding with the transfer portal window opening and running. We don’t control either one. But waiting a week after the Rich Lyons news so tax day would have passed was likely not going to increase our haul. Our drive is going to run until May 1st so if people feel richer a day or a week after tax day God bless. I know I don’t.
As to the idea it is “tone deaf” to put the WBB goal at less than the men’s goals, these goals are not some kind of value judgement on the worth of the programs or the coaches. They are a reflection of the amounts that would be meaningful to each program. $250k (on top of what we already have) would be game changing for WBB. It would have far less impact on football. That’s not a Cal thing. That is true at every school across the land.
California Legends is one of the few college collectives that cover ALL of the school’s sports. Most collectives are only for football and MBB. Gender equity is very important for us. But we live in the real world. It simply costs more to provide meaningful NIL opportunities for male players for a lot of the same reasons WNBA salaries are a small fraction of those for the NBA. But If we thought we could raise $1m for WBB by saying that’s the goal then we would do it in a heartbeat. But coming up with a goal that can’t and won’t be met is just going to embarrass the program and harm the overall objective.
Those disliking this strategy are more than welcome to prove us wrong. The goal is not is not a cap. But we haven’t flipped live on the WBB drive because we haven’t received anywhere close even to our $250k goal, much less what we want for football or MBB.
Please provide Coach Smith (and all our coaches) with all the help you can. Thank you.
NIL basically is donate whenever, whereever. This particular donation drive runs through May 1 to try and help all three major sports take advantage of the spring transfer portal as best they can.
I’ve donated too, but nothing even near four figures. Or even three. But we each do what we can. On a separate note, the most socially tone-deaf part of the Collective’s goal-setting is setting the women’s basketball goal at half the amount of the men’s goal. Didn’t the women’s tourney just kick the ratings ass of the men’s? What would be the harm in setting both goals at half a mil? Could we BE any less in step with the zeitgeist?
I think it’s more about what programs actually cost right now. Sure, if we were able to bring in someone like Caitlin Clark, we would change the game for ourselves, but WBB still just doesn’t cost as much as men’s. The state of the sport is absolutely on the upswing, but it hasn’t yet crossed that threshold. I think it being a major part of the discussion, and seeking half, is a sign of the improvement in its status. Whether the very deserved excitement gets sustained in future years will determine whether it grows to the level of MBB in investment.
I am definitely rooting for growth. This years was wonderful for that and for sports in general.
It's OK. For now. They'll learn. I guess it's easier to complain about Coach Smith's shortcomings. Sigh. I too give what I can. I'm hoping that some generous alums step up and match the dollars donated. Meanwhile, I'll be attending the team's year-end banquet next week to celebrate their season's accomplishments and to hear their thoughts about entering the ACC. Go Bear$$!!!
Thanks to all for the support. To answer a few of these questions, the amount being targeted for this fund raising drive is most definitely not the total amount being raised for any of these programs. It’s not close to it. This is supplemental to what we already have. We are trying to turbo charge our efforts to make sure these programs do as well as possible during this upcoming crucial first season in the ACC. You only get a single chance to make a first impression and we badly need to immediately shift the narrative on Cal sports if we want Cal to make it into the next round of conference realignment. Next year is likely too late.
To the objection that this is being done too close to tax time, this timing is to celebrate Rich Lyons being appointed Chancellor (why we named it “Lyons and Transfers and Bears, Oh My!”). It’s also coinciding with the transfer portal window opening and running. We don’t control either one. But waiting a week after the Rich Lyons news so tax day would have passed was likely not going to increase our haul. Our drive is going to run until May 1st so if people feel richer a day or a week after tax day God bless. I know I don’t.
As to the idea it is “tone deaf” to put the WBB goal at less than the men’s goals, these goals are not some kind of value judgement on the worth of the programs or the coaches. They are a reflection of the amounts that would be meaningful to each program. $250k (on top of what we already have) would be game changing for WBB. It would have far less impact on football. That’s not a Cal thing. That is true at every school across the land.
California Legends is one of the few college collectives that cover ALL of the school’s sports. Most collectives are only for football and MBB. Gender equity is very important for us. But we live in the real world. It simply costs more to provide meaningful NIL opportunities for male players for a lot of the same reasons WNBA salaries are a small fraction of those for the NBA. But If we thought we could raise $1m for WBB by saying that’s the goal then we would do it in a heartbeat. But coming up with a goal that can’t and won’t be met is just going to embarrass the program and harm the overall objective.
Those disliking this strategy are more than welcome to prove us wrong. The goal is not is not a cap. But we haven’t flipped live on the WBB drive because we haven’t received anywhere close even to our $250k goal, much less what we want for football or MBB.
Please provide Coach Smith (and all our coaches) with all the help you can. Thank you.
All 3 programs need NIL to compete.
If you can, please donate to MBB, WBB and FB. All donations are helpful and shows support for our teams
calegends.com
MBB:
http://spot.fund/bnjhdsc
WBB:
http://spot.fund/7zdzssc
Football
http://spot.fund/dt3zfsc
What is the budget for each of these teams? Is $1mil chicken feed in the ACC and will we be raising it every portal season?
$1 million for just the spring would put us in the upper tier of the ACC (not Clemson/FSU but certainly the second tier of the conference).
And it'll have to be the way to keep a competitive team together in every major sport.
How exactly does NIL work? Is that $1mil every year?
NIL basically is donate whenever, whereever. This particular donation drive runs through May 1 to try and help all three major sports take advantage of the spring transfer portal as best they can.
I know that....but it's tax time. Bad timing.
Pick an odd time to ask for money, pre tax season. Most are not in the feel good giving mode. Should send after tax season.
Giving to these programs is year-round!
I’ve donated too, but nothing even near four figures. Or even three. But we each do what we can. On a separate note, the most socially tone-deaf part of the Collective’s goal-setting is setting the women’s basketball goal at half the amount of the men’s goal. Didn’t the women’s tourney just kick the ratings ass of the men’s? What would be the harm in setting both goals at half a mil? Could we BE any less in step with the zeitgeist?
I think it’s more about what programs actually cost right now. Sure, if we were able to bring in someone like Caitlin Clark, we would change the game for ourselves, but WBB still just doesn’t cost as much as men’s. The state of the sport is absolutely on the upswing, but it hasn’t yet crossed that threshold. I think it being a major part of the discussion, and seeking half, is a sign of the improvement in its status. Whether the very deserved excitement gets sustained in future years will determine whether it grows to the level of MBB in investment.
I am definitely rooting for growth. This years was wonderful for that and for sports in general.
$250-$300K is Cal WBB's own NIL goal for this year (they've already received some donations toward that goal)
It's OK. For now. They'll learn. I guess it's easier to complain about Coach Smith's shortcomings. Sigh. I too give what I can. I'm hoping that some generous alums step up and match the dollars donated. Meanwhile, I'll be attending the team's year-end banquet next week to celebrate their season's accomplishments and to hear their thoughts about entering the ACC. Go Bear$$!!!
Go Bear$$!!!