GMP said:

---

Strykur said:

---

BearoutEast67 said:

---

BearForce2 said:

---

Why did people here have problems with Sandy Barbour again?

---

Mostly because of her creation of $445 million in Cal AD debt with no viable plan to pay it off. Hiring Dykes after firing Tedford didn't help.

---

The Dykes teams were not good, but her master plan was to put butts in the seats with his Air Raid spectacles and it kinda worked, late-night kickoffs aside. We can have awesome defenses under Wilcox and most of us here will admire and watch that, but if we can't score points then we're not packing the stadium on Saturdays, and thus the finances will stagnate.

As for Knowlton, if we're not in the tournament (men's and women's) in the next couple of years, and/or football plateaus at 8-5, etc. then we're going to have to clean house on campus in a few places, unless our non-revenue sports are doing extremely well, but I am not optimistic.

---

I don't agree with the premise. People will show up when we win consistently.

---

Looking at the attendance figures, you don't have to disagree with the premise - it was just plain wrong! Attendance still has not exceeded the totals for Tedford's last (and worst) year. Let's hope Musgrave can put some points on the board this year.

GMP said:

---

Strykur said:

---

BearoutEast67 said:

---

BearForce2 said:

---

Why did people here have problems with Sandy Barbour again?

---

Mostly because of her creation of $445 million in Cal AD debt with no viable plan to pay it off. Hiring Dykes after firing Tedford didn't help.

---

The Dykes teams were not good, but her master plan was to put butts in the seats with his Air Raid spectacles and it kinda worked, late-night kickoffs aside. We can have awesome defenses under Wilcox and most of us here will admire and watch that, but if we can't score points then we're not packing the stadium on Saturdays, and thus the finances will stagnate.

As for Knowlton, if we're not in the tournament (men's and women's) in the next couple of years, and/or football plateaus at 8-5, etc. then we're going to have to clean house on campus in a few places, unless our non-revenue sports are doing extremely well, but I am not optimistic.

---

I don't agree with the premise. People will show up when we win consistently.

---

Winning, and star players (which usually means offense) draw in the fans.

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

SonomanA1 said:

---

From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

---

I don't care about the "what if," it got done under Knowlton.
A grad program designed to be able to keep athletes who graduate could have been done under any AD, but it was done under Knowlton.
The Cameron Institute could have been created by past AD's, but it was done under Knowlton.
The quick response of the "Golden" program as Cal deals with NIL was done by Knowlton.
The inherited Title IX issues, especially Field Hockey, has been handled by Knowlton.
He liked Fox...we don't know if he still does. Fox may fail, but there isn't an AD worth their salt who hasn't gone through hoop coaches, and survived unless there was a cover up of something awful.
I don't know why the extension was 8 years, vs. 5,6 or 7. Was there a reason to believe another offer on the table? Hey, maybe not. But there are things happening with Knowlton. I actually don't find him to be overly "schmoozy" if that is a word....I think he is trying to play chess in a position that has often had people struggling with checkers.

---

Nothing but Bells and Whistles.

My retort is simple. Cal just finished its worst year in athletics in the last twenty+ plus years. That is how the guy should be measured.

The turning point for me was how he handled the men's bb coach hire. By outsourcing it to a group that had no interest in the process, other than pocketing a wad of cash, he ended up with a retread who has performed exactly as expected - horribly. That was a significant indication that he is in way over his head. In essence, he is a Bowlsby in a world of Sankey's.

---

Last place finishes in all the major sports. Sure, COVID, but the prior year was not much better.

The grad school program was needed, it was a no brainer and was achieved mostly through the strong support of the Chancellor. It will help us retain and attract players who have graduated, have a year of eligibility remaining, but have little if any pro prospects. It is the last part that means the impact on the field and on the court will be marginal. It is not an achievement that you give someone an 8 year extension for.

Basically we have to hope that Knowlton gets lucky (luckier than getting $10 million from UC after a military career and a couple years in the MWC) and that the coach he inherited has made a good hire in Musgrave (ie nothing of his doing). Because if we are the worst offense in the PAC-12 (and one of the worst in the country) for a 5th year the wheels will come off. Fortunately, I don't think that will happen. Recruiting, especially on offense gives me hope.

However, that is not enough. The changing college sports landscape requires innovation, vision and strategy to navigate, not just an administrator who is obviously well liked by the chancellor.

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

SonomanA1 said:

---

From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

---

I don't care about the "what if," it got done under Knowlton.
A grad program designed to be able to keep athletes who graduate could have been done under any AD, but it was done under Knowlton.
The Cameron Institute could have been created by past AD's, but it was done under Knowlton.
The quick response of the "Golden" program as Cal deals with NIL was done by Knowlton.
The inherited Title IX issues, especially Field Hockey, has been handled by Knowlton.
He liked Fox...we don't know if he still does. Fox may fail, but there isn't an AD worth their salt who hasn't gone through hoop coaches, and survived unless there was a cover up of something awful.
I don't know why the extension was 8 years, vs. 5,6 or 7. Was there a reason to believe another offer on the table? Hey, maybe not. But there are things happening with Knowlton. I actually don't find him to be overly "schmoozy" if that is a word....I think he is trying to play chess in a position that has often had people struggling with checkers.

---

Nothing but Bells and Whistles.

My retort is simple. Cal just finished its worst year in athletics in the last twenty+ plus years. That is how the guy should be measured.

The turning point for me was how he handled the men's bb coach hire. By outsourcing it to a group that had no interest in the process, other than pocketing a wad of cash, he ended up with a retread who has performed exactly as expected - horribly. That was a significant indication that he is in way over his head. In essence, he is a Bowlsby in a world of Sankey's.

---

Bells and whistles? Right, there were no threads, laments, or predictions of death for the football program if the grad program wasn't put in place. This is all moving goal posts.

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

SonomanA1 said:

---

From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

---

I don't care about the "what if," it got done under Knowlton.
A grad program designed to be able to keep athletes who graduate could have been done under any AD, but it was done under Knowlton.
The Cameron Institute could have been created by past AD's, but it was done under Knowlton.
The quick response of the "Golden" program as Cal deals with NIL was done by Knowlton.
The inherited Title IX issues, especially Field Hockey, has been handled by Knowlton.
He liked Fox...we don't know if he still does. Fox may fail, but there isn't an AD worth their salt who hasn't gone through hoop coaches, and survived unless there was a cover up of something awful.
I don't know why the extension was 8 years, vs. 5,6 or 7. Was there a reason to believe another offer on the table? Hey, maybe not. But there are things happening with Knowlton. I actually don't find him to be overly "schmoozy" if that is a word....I think he is trying to play chess in a position that has often had people struggling with checkers.

---

Nothing but Bells and Whistles.

My retort is simple. Cal just finished its worst year in athletics in the last twenty+ plus years. That is how the guy should be measured.

The turning point for me was how he handled the men's bb coach hire. By outsourcing it to a group that had no interest in the process, other than pocketing a wad of cash, he ended up with a retread who has performed exactly as expected - horribly. That was a significant indication that he is in way over his head. In essence, he is a Bowlsby in a world of Sankey's.

---

Bells and whistles? Right, there were no threads, laments, or predictions of death for the football program if the grad program wasn't put in place. This is all moving goal posts.

---

1. What? The grad program was an idea put forward on this board by some of us (for free by the way) as the minimum that a competent administration should be doing to address the problem/opportunity of grad transfers.

2. Grad transfers are very low in the list of things that will make or beak a program. Very low. You are the one moving the goal post in and lowering it.

3. Hiring coaches is the biggest single decision an AD usually makes. He failed that in our second most important program. We will see if men's basketball will ever recover under his watch or we will be as bad as Air Force was under his watch.

4. The college sports landscape is movibg quickly. We did put out an NIL program, which is good, at least it is on our radar and we are addressing it. I give Knowlton credit for that. It will remain to be seen if our program is effective. What is his background in business and sports marketing again? How many business or organizational transformations has he lead? What are his connections to Silicon Valley and the Bay Area's business community? From most of what we've seen he is just in over his depth. He would make a good Assoc. AD, a competent administrator the AD could assign to implement their vision and ideas but as the guy making $millions?

Mediocre football program and terrible basketball program. Why the extension?

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

SonomanA1 said:

---

From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

---

I don't care about the "what if," it got done under Knowlton.
A grad program designed to be able to keep athletes who graduate could have been done under any AD, but it was done under Knowlton.
The Cameron Institute could have been created by past AD's, but it was done under Knowlton.
The quick response of the "Golden" program as Cal deals with NIL was done by Knowlton.
The inherited Title IX issues, especially Field Hockey, has been handled by Knowlton.
He liked Fox...we don't know if he still does. Fox may fail, but there isn't an AD worth their salt who hasn't gone through hoop coaches, and survived unless there was a cover up of something awful.
I don't know why the extension was 8 years, vs. 5,6 or 7. Was there a reason to believe another offer on the table? Hey, maybe not. But there are things happening with Knowlton. I actually don't find him to be overly "schmoozy" if that is a word....I think he is trying to play chess in a position that has often had people struggling with checkers.

---

Nothing but Bells and Whistles.

My retort is simple. Cal just finished its worst year in athletics in the last twenty+ plus years. That is how the guy should be measured.

The turning point for me was how he handled the men's bb coach hire. By outsourcing it to a group that had no interest in the process, other than pocketing a wad of cash, he ended up with a retread who has performed exactly as expected - horribly. That was a significant indication that he is in way over his head. In essence, he is a Bowlsby in a world of Sankey's.

---

Bells and whistles? Right, there were no threads, laments, or predictions of death for the football program if the grad program wasn't put in place. This is all moving goal posts.

---

The Grad Program registers 1.0 on the Football Richter Scale. Let me know when the first premium player tells us that is the reason he selected Cal to continue his education.

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

SonomanA1 said:

---

From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

---

I don't care about the "what if," it got done under Knowlton.
A grad program designed to be able to keep athletes who graduate could have been done under any AD, but it was done under Knowlton.
The Cameron Institute could have been created by past AD's, but it was done under Knowlton.
The quick response of the "Golden" program as Cal deals with NIL was done by Knowlton.
The inherited Title IX issues, especially Field Hockey, has been handled by Knowlton.
He liked Fox...we don't know if he still does. Fox may fail, but there isn't an AD worth their salt who hasn't gone through hoop coaches, and survived unless there was a cover up of something awful.
I don't know why the extension was 8 years, vs. 5,6 or 7. Was there a reason to believe another offer on the table? Hey, maybe not. But there are things happening with Knowlton. I actually don't find him to be overly "schmoozy" if that is a word....I think he is trying to play chess in a position that has often had people struggling with checkers.

---

Nothing but Bells and Whistles.

My retort is simple. Cal just finished its worst year in athletics in the last twenty+ plus years. That is how the guy should be measured.

The turning point for me was how he handled the men's bb coach hire. By outsourcing it to a group that had no interest in the process, other than pocketing a wad of cash, he ended up with a retread who has performed exactly as expected - horribly. That was a significant indication that he is in way over his head. In essence, he is a Bowlsby in a world of Sankey's.

---

Bells and whistles? Right, there were no threads, laments, or predictions of death for the football program if the grad program wasn't put in place. This is all moving goal posts.

---

The Grad Program registers 1.0 on the Football Richter Scale. Let me know when the first premium player tells us that is the reason he selected Cal to continue his education.

---

Many seniors continue on into the program who otherwise would have had to leave due to graduation. There are more than 10 kids right now on the team in the program. It is not about recruiting first year players - it is about stemming the tide of kids leaving the bears because they had to, or coming in for the last year as transfers. Transfer portal will become a larger part of the team as well - just because that is what the market is going toward. It is silly to continue to say that there is no benefit to it when so many kids are clearly using it and it was something that Sandy Barbour, Mike Williams and others tried to do and failed. So while over 10% of the team is in that program, continue to mock it.

Oski87 said:

---

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

SonomanA1 said:

---

From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

---

I don't care about the "what if," it got done under Knowlton.
A grad program designed to be able to keep athletes who graduate could have been done under any AD, but it was done under Knowlton.
The Cameron Institute could have been created by past AD's, but it was done under Knowlton.
The quick response of the "Golden" program as Cal deals with NIL was done by Knowlton.
The inherited Title IX issues, especially Field Hockey, has been handled by Knowlton.
He liked Fox...we don't know if he still does. Fox may fail, but there isn't an AD worth their salt who hasn't gone through hoop coaches, and survived unless there was a cover up of something awful.
I don't know why the extension was 8 years, vs. 5,6 or 7. Was there a reason to believe another offer on the table? Hey, maybe not. But there are things happening with Knowlton. I actually don't find him to be overly "schmoozy" if that is a word....I think he is trying to play chess in a position that has often had people struggling with checkers.

---

Nothing but Bells and Whistles.

My retort is simple. Cal just finished its worst year in athletics in the last twenty+ plus years. That is how the guy should be measured.

The turning point for me was how he handled the men's bb coach hire. By outsourcing it to a group that had no interest in the process, other than pocketing a wad of cash, he ended up with a retread who has performed exactly as expected - horribly. That was a significant indication that he is in way over his head. In essence, he is a Bowlsby in a world of Sankey's.

---

Bells and whistles? Right, there were no threads, laments, or predictions of death for the football program if the grad program wasn't put in place. This is all moving goal posts.

---

The Grad Program registers 1.0 on the Football Richter Scale. Let me know when the first premium player tells us that is the reason he selected Cal to continue his education.

---

Many seniors continue on into the program who otherwise would have had to leave due to graduation. There are more than 10 kids right now on the team in the program. It is not about recruiting first year players - it is about stemming the tide of kids leaving the bears because they had to, or coming in for the last year as transfers. Transfer portal will become a larger part of the team as well - just because that is what the market is going toward. It is silly to continue to say that there is no benefit to it when so many kids are clearly using it and it was something that Sandy Barbour, Mike Williams and others tried to do and failed. So while over 10% of the team is in that program, continue to mock it.

---

This is an unusual year because all our players got an extra year of eligibility due to COVID. Prior to the grad program, players could stay a 5th or 6th year by declaring a second undergraduate major. The principle benefit of the grad program is to attract grad transfers to Cal, since a second undergraduate major is not an option for them.

No one is "mocking" the grad program, I have been advocating a Sports Management grad program for years, but this is good, it needed to be done and I'm glad it has been. However, you have to admit that Christ's support undoubtedly played a huge role. It is an academic program, the AD has no power to get it done. The chancellor does.

It is not going to have a huge impact on the field in normal years. You are conflating the transfer portal with grad transfers. Good football players, players who have a shot as free agents or better in the NFL generally leave EARLY or complete their eligibility in four year prior to graduation. Grad transfers are largely players that red-shirted, often due to injury or not being that good, graduated in four years and have no interest from the NFL. Rarely are they difference makers, but the chances are better in basketball than football. It is good for the players, definitely. Of course players are going to be paid soon so that is going to have a much bigger impact.

It is certainly not something justifying an 8 year extension and millions of dollars in compensation when his decisions put the basketball program on life support and will cost Cal millions of dollars and years of misery.

Unfortunately for Cal, there's no NCAA championship in shifting debt from one campus unit to another by a university president or starting a grad program. Cal Athletics, as in the sports teams, are not doing well and the AD in charge miserably failed his first big hire (and cost the schools millions in doing so).

calumnus said:

---

Oski87 said:

---

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

mbBear said:

---

71Bear said:

---

SonomanA1 said:

---

From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

---

I don't care about the "what if," it got done under Knowlton.
A grad program designed to be able to keep athletes who graduate could have been done under any AD, but it was done under Knowlton.
The Cameron Institute could have been created by past AD's, but it was done under Knowlton.
The quick response of the "Golden" program as Cal deals with NIL was done by Knowlton.
The inherited Title IX issues, especially Field Hockey, has been handled by Knowlton.
He liked Fox...we don't know if he still does. Fox may fail, but there isn't an AD worth their salt who hasn't gone through hoop coaches, and survived unless there was a cover up of something awful.
I don't know why the extension was 8 years, vs. 5,6 or 7. Was there a reason to believe another offer on the table? Hey, maybe not. But there are things happening with Knowlton. I actually don't find him to be overly "schmoozy" if that is a word....I think he is trying to play chess in a position that has often had people struggling with checkers.

---

Nothing but Bells and Whistles.

My retort is simple. Cal just finished its worst year in athletics in the last twenty+ plus years. That is how the guy should be measured.

The turning point for me was how he handled the men's bb coach hire. By outsourcing it to a group that had no interest in the process, other than pocketing a wad of cash, he ended up with a retread who has performed exactly as expected - horribly. That was a significant indication that he is in way over his head. In essence, he is a Bowlsby in a world of Sankey's.

---

Bells and whistles? Right, there were no threads, laments, or predictions of death for the football program if the grad program wasn't put in place. This is all moving goal posts.

---

The Grad Program registers 1.0 on the Football Richter Scale. Let me know when the first premium player tells us that is the reason he selected Cal to continue his education.

---

Many seniors continue on into the program who otherwise would have had to leave due to graduation. There are more than 10 kids right now on the team in the program. It is not about recruiting first year players - it is about stemming the tide of kids leaving the bears because they had to, or coming in for the last year as transfers. Transfer portal will become a larger part of the team as well - just because that is what the market is going toward. It is silly to continue to say that there is no benefit to it when so many kids are clearly using it and it was something that Sandy Barbour, Mike Williams and others tried to do and failed. So while over 10% of the team is in that program, continue to mock it.

---

This is an unusual year because all our players got an extra year of eligibility due to COVID. Prior to the grad program, players could stay a 5th or 6th year by declaring a second undergraduate major. The principle benefit of the grad program is to attract grad transfers to Cal, since a second undergraduate major is not an option for them.

No one is "mocking" the grad program, I have been advocating a Sports Management grad program for years, but this is good, it needed to be done and I'm glad it has been. However, you have to admit that Christ's support undoubtedly played a huge role. It is an academic program, the AD has no power to get it done. The chancellor does.

It is not going to have a huge impact on the field in normal years. You are conflating the transfer portal with grad transfers. Good football players, players who have a shot as free agents or better in the NFL generally leave EARLY or complete their eligibility in four year prior to graduation. Grad transfers are largely players that red-shirted, often due to injury or not being that good, graduated in four years and have no interest from the NFL. Rarely are they difference makers, but the chances are better in basketball than football. It is good for the players, definitely. Of course players are going to be paid soon so that is going to have a much bigger impact.

It is certainly not something justifying an 8 year extension and millions of dollars in compensation when his decisions put the basketball program on life support and will cost Cal millions of dollars and years of misery.

---

Well said, calumnus.