BearSD said:

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calumnus said:

---

Right now there is a "P5" but really the B1G and SEC are the two powers. The viability of each of the ACC, PAC-10 and Big-12, is in question, especially after the departures of Texas, Oklahoma, UCLA and USC. The ACC could easily get carved up by the B1G and SEC when their schools' GORs expire. The B12 sees an opportunity to become the clear #3 conference, but it needs the PAC-10 to implode so the 4 southwest schools join.

---

There is now a Power 2 and a Mid 3. The Big 12 has more long-term stability than the Pac and ACC because the Big Ten and SEC have no interest in any Big 12 members, whereas several Pac and ACC members are on the fat cats' menu, or at least hope to be.

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calumnus said:

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BearSD said:

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calumnus said:

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Right now there is a "P5" but really the B1G and SEC are the two powers. The viability of each of the ACC, PAC-10 and Big-12, is in question, especially after the departures of Texas, Oklahoma, UCLA and USC. The ACC could easily get carved up by the B1G and SEC when their schools' GORs expire. The B12 sees an opportunity to become the clear #3 conference, but it needs the PAC-10 to implode so the 4 southwest schools join.

---

There is now a Power 2 and a Mid 3. The Big 12 has more long-term stability than the Pac and ACC because the Big Ten and SEC have no interest in any Big 12 members, whereas several Pac and ACC members are on the fat cats' menu, or at least hope to be.

---

Exactly, and the B12 would not mind facilitating a P2 with them gobbling up the southwest schools plus SDSU to be the clear #3.

That is why I think Kliavkoff's best strategy is a quasi merger with either the B1G or ACC. That would either add the PAC-12 to the Power 2, or would create a Power3, leaving the B-12 as the clear #4

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Econ141 said:

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If we have 100mm to build a practice facility, shouldn't we be able to buy our way into the B1G?

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wifeisafurd said:

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It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

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6956bear said:

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wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

philbert said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

I'm sure you don't want to give away confidential info but was he generally optimistic about the future of the Bay Area schools or something else?

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philbert said:

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Thanks WIAF. Sounds like the betting money is on the Pac-X surviving for one media contract cycle.

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wifeisafurd said:

---

philbert said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

I'm sure you don't want to give away confidential info but was he generally optimistic about the future of the Bay Area schools or something else?

---

He spoke to a large crowd (hundreds), so I don't think anything was confidential.

Suggested a TV deal could take several months to approve, will start somewhere in the 30's per team and may go up (maybe suggesting could be 40M or more?), there will be several types of TV formats (both linear and streaming I assume, but he didn't say), there will be more control over game times (drew applause), SDSU and SMU do not appear to be part of the original TV contract, there may be only a Pac 10, but other programs would be considered once a TV contact was in place, a Pac 8 probably won't make sense, the NCAA is banking on federal law to make NIL uniform on a state to state basis, and no, Stanford will not be coming down to face USC or UCLA, which he realized was problematic for SoCal fans. Muir mixed things up with humor, but I admire the clear, transparent, and forthright approach he took. Probably other stuff I missed. He did not expressly say so, but it was apparent he was saying he thought Furd will be playing in the Pac next year. He did not speak about the Bay Area schools - I suspect he would not see that as appropriate to speak for Cal in a public forum.

Sorry about all the edits, but I keep remembering things. Taylor asked out loud if there would be a Rose Bowl game and did not get a response.

---

OskiDeLaHoya said:

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wifeisafurd said:

---

philbert said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

I'm sure you don't want to give away confidential info but was he generally optimistic about the future of the Bay Area schools or something else?

---

He spoke to a large crowd (hundreds), so I don't think anything was confidential.

Suggested a TV deal could take several months to approve, will start somewhere in the 30's per team and may go up (maybe suggesting could be 40M or more?), there will be several types of TV formats (both linear and streaming I assume, but he didn't say), there will be more control over game times (drew applause), SDSU and SMU do not appear to be part of the original TV contract, there may be only a Pac 10, but other programs would be considered once a TV contact was in place, a Pac 8 probably won't make sense, the NCAA is banking on federal law to make NIL uniform on a state to state basis, and no, Stanford will not be coming down to face USC or UCLA, which he realized was problematic for SoCal fans. Muir mixed things up with humor, but I admire the clear, transparent, and forthright approach he took. Probably other stuff I missed. He did not expressly say so, but it was apparent he was saying he thought Furd will be playing in the Pac next year. He did not speak about the Bay Area schools - I suspect he would not see that as appropriate to speak for Cal in a public forum.

Sorry about all the edits, but I keep remembering things. Taylor asked out loud if there would be a Rose Bowl game and did not get a response.

---

Thanks for the report, WIAF! Am I reading this correctly that Furd will not seek to schedule SC or UCLA if the SoCal schools should approach them? Or is he simply stating that not future matchups are currently scheduled?

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

OskiDeLaHoya said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

philbert said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

I'm sure you don't want to give away confidential info but was he generally optimistic about the future of the Bay Area schools or something else?

---

He spoke to a large crowd (hundreds), so I don't think anything was confidential.

Suggested a TV deal could take several months to approve, will start somewhere in the 30's per team and may go up (maybe suggesting could be 40M or more?), there will be several types of TV formats (both linear and streaming I assume, but he didn't say), there will be more control over game times (drew applause), SDSU and SMU do not appear to be part of the original TV contract, there may be only a Pac 10, but other programs would be considered once a TV contact was in place, a Pac 8 probably won't make sense, the NCAA is banking on federal law to make NIL uniform on a state to state basis, and no, Stanford will not be coming down to face USC or UCLA, which he realized was problematic for SoCal fans. Muir mixed things up with humor, but I admire the clear, transparent, and forthright approach he took. Probably other stuff I missed. He did not expressly say so, but it was apparent he was saying he thought Furd will be playing in the Pac next year. He did not speak about the Bay Area schools - I suspect he would not see that as appropriate to speak for Cal in a public forum.

Sorry about all the edits, but I keep remembering things. Taylor asked out loud if there would be a Rose Bowl game and did not get a response.

---

Thanks for the report, WIAF! Am I reading this correctly that Furd will not seek to schedule SC or UCLA if the SoCal schools should approach them? Or is he simply stating that not future matchups are currently scheduled?

---

Said in the context that alum interaction opportunities would be more difficult, since they would not be playing the LA schools.

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

philbert said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

I'm sure you don't want to give away confidential info but was he generally optimistic about the future of the Bay Area schools or something else?

---

He spoke to a large crowd (hundreds), so I don't think anything was confidential.

Suggested a TV deal could take several months to approve, will start somewhere in the 30's per team and may go up (maybe suggesting could be 40M or more?), there will be several types of TV formats (both linear and streaming I assume, but he didn't say), there will be more control over game times (drew applause), SDSU and SMU do not appear to be part of the original TV contract, there may be only a Pac 10, but other programs would be considered once a TV contact was in place, a Pac 8 probably won't make sense, the NCAA is banking on federal law to make NIL uniform on a state to state basis, and no, Stanford will not be coming down to face USC or UCLA, which he realized was problematic for SoCal fans. Muir mixed things up with humor, but I admire the clear, transparent, and forthright approach he took. Probably other stuff I missed. He did not expressly say so, but it was apparent he was saying he thought Furd will be playing in the Pac next year. He did not speak about the Bay Area schools - I suspect he would not see that as appropriate to speak for Cal in a public forum.

Sorry about all the edits, but I keep remembering things. Taylor asked out loud if there would be a Rose Bowl game and did not get a response.

---

BREAKING: Major League Soccer and Apple TV have launched a one-month free trial of #MLSSeasonPass beginning today through October 31. Here are all of the details and the free code to use:https://t.co/mvl0EfJIBO

— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) May 13, 2023

calumnus said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

OskiDeLaHoya said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

philbert said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

I'm sure you don't want to give away confidential info but was he generally optimistic about the future of the Bay Area schools or something else?

---

He spoke to a large crowd (hundreds), so I don't think anything was confidential.

Suggested a TV deal could take several months to approve, will start somewhere in the 30's per team and may go up (maybe suggesting could be 40M or more?), there will be several types of TV formats (both linear and streaming I assume, but he didn't say), there will be more control over game times (drew applause), SDSU and SMU do not appear to be part of the original TV contract, there may be only a Pac 10, but other programs would be considered once a TV contact was in place, a Pac 8 probably won't make sense, the NCAA is banking on federal law to make NIL uniform on a state to state basis, and no, Stanford will not be coming down to face USC or UCLA, which he realized was problematic for SoCal fans. Muir mixed things up with humor, but I admire the clear, transparent, and forthright approach he took. Probably other stuff I missed. He did not expressly say so, but it was apparent he was saying he thought Furd will be playing in the Pac next year. He did not speak about the Bay Area schools - I suspect he would not see that as appropriate to speak for Cal in a public forum.

Sorry about all the edits, but I keep remembering things. Taylor asked out loud if there would be a Rose Bowl game and did not get a response.

---

Thanks for the report, WIAF! Am I reading this correctly that Furd will not seek to schedule SC or UCLA if the SoCal schools should approach them? Or is he simply stating that not future matchups are currently scheduled?

---

Said in the context that alum interaction opportunities would be more difficult, since they would not be playing the LA schools.

---

Sounds like there was no hint he thinks they (we) are going to the B1G anytime soon, if ever.

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

philbert said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

I'm sure you don't want to give away confidential info but was he generally optimistic about the future of the Bay Area schools or something else?

---

He spoke to a large crowd (hundreds), so I don't think anything was confidential.

Suggested a TV deal could take several months to approve, will start somewhere in the 30's per team and may go up (maybe suggesting could be 40M or more?), there will be several types of TV formats (both linear and streaming I assume, but he didn't say), there will be more control over game times (drew applause), SDSU and SMU do not appear to be part of the original TV contract, there may be only a Pac 10, but other programs would be considered once a TV contact was in place, a Pac 8 probably won't make sense, the NCAA is banking on federal law to make NIL uniform on a state to state basis, and no, Stanford will not be coming down to face USC or UCLA, which he realized was problematic for SoCal fans. Muir mixed things up with humor, but I admire the clear, transparent, and forthright approach he took. Probably other stuff I missed. He did not expressly say so, but it was apparent he was saying he thought Furd will be playing in the Pac next year. He did not speak about the Bay Area schools - I suspect he would not see that as appropriate to speak for Cal in a public forum.

Sorry about all the edits, but I keep remembering things. Taylor asked out loud if there would be a Rose Bowl game and did not get a response.

---

A TV deal has already taken several months. I have serious doubts the current membership would want to wait several additional months. Stanford may be willing. Cal as well. But if the deal is in the 30's then of course I think the P12 (now P10) would stick together.

A P8 would not make sense. So you could add SMU and SDSU after the fact to get to 10 again if a couple of teams do decide to leave. If those 2 are Colorado and Arizona the TV deal likely still works. But if the 2 are UW and UO the deal likely falls apart. At least at the $30M+ level that Muir suggests. Unless SMU and SDSU come as less than full share members. Maybe much less.

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

philbert said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

6956bear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

It should be interesting as coach and AD swings are starting the next couple of week. Fans will be asking hard questions. Furd is down in the OC tonight with Muir and Coach Taylor.

---

Truth.

---

Muir is smooth, but also he was candid. Media is far off on most stuff going on with the Pac conference.

Troy Taylor could not be more different than Wilcox or Shaw. Looking to get a play off on average every 13 seconds. Will generally go for it on forth down, etc. Expect a very aggressive offensive, almost always playing with tempo. Troy is a very high energy speaker, with a joke every 13 seconds or so. My sense was their crowd viewed in quite positively.

---

I'm sure you don't want to give away confidential info but was he generally optimistic about the future of the Bay Area schools or something else?

---

He spoke to a large crowd (hundreds), so I don't think anything was confidential.

Suggested a TV deal could take several months to approve, will start somewhere in the 30's per team and may go up (maybe suggesting could be 40M or more?), there will be several types of TV formats (both linear and streaming I assume, but he didn't say), there will be more control over game times (drew applause), SDSU and SMU do not appear to be part of the original TV contract, there may be only a Pac 10, but other programs would be considered once a TV contact was in place, a Pac 8 probably won't make sense, the NCAA is banking on federal law to make NIL uniform on a state to state basis, and no, Stanford will not be coming down to face USC or UCLA, which he realized was problematic for SoCal fans. Muir mixed things up with humor, but I admire the clear, transparent, and forthright approach he took. Probably other stuff I missed. He did not expressly say so, but it was apparent he was saying he thought Furd will be playing in the Pac next year. He did not speak about the Bay Area schools - I suspect he would not see that as appropriate to speak for Cal in a public forum.

Sorry about all the edits, but I keep remembering things. Taylor asked out loud if there would be a Rose Bowl game and did not get a response.

---

A TV deal has already taken several months. I have serious doubts the current membership would want to wait several additional months. Stanford may be willing. Cal as well. But if the deal is in the 30's then of course I think the P12 (now P10) would stick together.

A P8 would not make sense. So you could add SMU and SDSU after the fact to get to 10 again if a couple of teams do decide to leave. If those 2 are Colorado and Arizona the TV deal likely still works. But if the 2 are UW and UO the deal likely falls apart. At least at the $30M+ level that Muir suggests. Unless SMU and SDSU come as less than full share members. Maybe much less.

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CAL4LIFE said:

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Cal's viability to maintain P5 consideration w/ the B1G rests squarely on their ability to show signs of life in both major revenue sports for '23-24. Thus, the reason we see so many changes in approach by Cal w/ Wilcox changing his philosophical course offensively, the ground swell NIL push + portal emphasis, and the new high energy Madsen era in hoops.

Cal has been on life supports for far too long yet still has a pulse.

Now it comes down to game day execution and becoming unavoidable (relevant again) in the national conversation.

As I have said on these forums from the beginning of their inception: the only thing that prevents Cal from being successful in revenue athletics is Cal.

It's literally their last chance to get it right.

---

6956bear said:

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CAL4LIFE said:

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Cal's viability to maintain P5 consideration w/ the B1G rests squarely on their ability to show signs of life in both major revenue sports for '23-24. Thus, the reason we see so many changes in approach by Cal w/ Wilcox changing his philosophical course offensively, the ground swell NIL push + portal emphasis, and the new high energy Madsen era in hoops.

Cal has been on life supports for far too long yet still has a pulse.

Now it comes down to game day execution and becoming unavoidable (relevant again) in the national conversation.

As I have said on these forums from the beginning of their inception: the only thing that prevents Cal from being successful in revenue athletics is Cal.

It's literally their last chance to get it right.

---

There is a lot of truth in this. If UW and UO do leave for 2024 that could be the catalyst for Cal to get an invite. For all the negativity around Cal athletics they do sit in a lucrative market and the number of B1G alums here is quite large. But Cal needs to give the B1G (and TV) a reason to believe.

IMO there is no logical reason for the B1G if they are considering more western expansion to exclude the Bay Area. But Cal needs to win, attract fans to the stadium and show some eyeballs when they play on TV. The TV problem is many games will be on P12 network due to years and years of ineptitude on the field.

The revenue teams are showing some life. Mens hoops in particular. But they have a long history of poor play and unless the B1G delays expansion and the P12 gets a deal it may not matter what they do in 2023. At least for getting an invite to the B1G.

But the bolded sentence above is a big concern. I see a few recent things that give me some hope, but the history is long and not great. My big hope is they have been advised they would be invited but need to see an investment that shows some level of seriousness.

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mbBear said:

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6956bear said:

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"Cal didn't do this, Cal didn't do that, it's Cal's own fault"....come on, the Pac-12, thanks to Larry Scott first and foremost(and Kliavkoff a little), didn't see this coming and got crushed..

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Bobodeluxe said:

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These are professional athletes. The travel inconveniences are trivial, as long as the schools realize that education matters little to many getting paid to play. Think of USC as it has been for decades.

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BearSD said:

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mbBear said:

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"Cal didn't do this, Cal didn't do that, it's Cal's own fault"....come on, the Pac-12, thanks to Larry Scott first and foremost(and Kliavkoff a little), didn't see this coming and got crushed..

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The Pac presidents and ADs should have seen it coming, though even with USC/UCLA in the Pac there was nothing they could do to reach revenue parity with the Big Ten/SEC.

It's been almost three years since USC's AD first said publicly that the revenue gap was unacceptable to USC and that USC wanted to talk to the Big Ten. No one took it seriously because "C'mon, it's 2,000 miles from LA to Chicago!"

---

Clemson, FSU, Miami, UNC, NC State, Virginia & Virginia Tech are “The Magnificent 7” ACC schools, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. These schools, @RossDellenger reported, have met in past several months, w/lawyers examining grant-of-rights to determine just how unbreakable it is.…

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 15, 2023

6956bear said:

---

mbBear said:

---

6956bear said:

---

CAL4LIFE said:

---

Cal's viability to maintain P5 consideration w/ the B1G rests squarely on their ability to show signs of life in both major revenue sports for '23-24. Thus, the reason we see so many changes in approach by Cal w/ Wilcox changing his philosophical course offensively, the ground swell NIL push + portal emphasis, and the new high energy Madsen era in hoops.

Cal has been on life supports for far too long yet still has a pulse.

Now it comes down to game day execution and becoming unavoidable (relevant again) in the national conversation.

As I have said on these forums from the beginning of their inception: the only thing that prevents Cal from being successful in revenue athletics is Cal.

It's literally their last chance to get it right.

---

There is a lot of truth in this. If UW and UO do leave for 2024 that could be the catalyst for Cal to get an invite. For all the negativity around Cal athletics they do sit in a lucrative market and the number of B1G alums here is quite large. But Cal needs to give the B1G (and TV) a reason to believe.

IMO there is no logical reason for the B1G if they are considering more western expansion to exclude the Bay Area. But Cal needs to win, attract fans to the stadium and show some eyeballs when they play on TV. The TV problem is many games will be on P12 network due to years and years of ineptitude on the field.

The revenue teams are showing some life. Mens hoops in particular. But they have a long history of poor play and unless the B1G delays expansion and the P12 gets a deal it may not matter what they do in 2023. At least for getting an invite to the B1G.

But the bolded sentence above is a big concern. I see a few recent things that give me some hope, but the history is long and not great. My big hope is they have been advised they would be invited but need to see an investment that shows some level of seriousness.

---

All sounds like wishful thinking to me. The Big "needing" a West coast division, pod, whatever term you want to use-show them where it makes them more money, and then they will figure out the "need."
That Cal can somehow act in such a way in the short term that shows potential to make the Big money in the medium or long terms is beyond my pay grade for sure. That further expansion is needed for the Big, adding more slices to the pie (meaning splitting the money) is incredibly hopeful. They didn't do only SC and UCLA just to be polite...there wasn't an immediate need seen by them....and okay, if that's not right, then what's the hold up? Because behind the scenes schools have been turning them down? Right, I don't believe that either.
"Cal didn't do this, Cal didn't do that, it's Cal's own fault"....come on, the Pac-12, thanks to Larry Scott first and foremost(and Kliavkoff a little), didn't see this coming and got crushed...I don't think for a second that, even if Cal has a miracle football season, the Big is going to be begging them to join...okay, I will leave the door open slightly hoping that Cal can show the conference that, in the long term, things are now set up differently, so the future is brighter (and "brighter" means more lucrative for all)....but I had to slide Blue and Gold classes on for that sentence...

---

The B1G does not "need" a west coast pod. But they do want one. But yes there is a price. The recent news regarding UO and UW heading to B1G for 2024 is due to the networks agreeing to pay a bit more to add these teams. Fox, NBC and CBS it is being "reported" have agreed to chip in a bit more each to pay for the move.

The B1G wants to be a true coast to coast conference. Most believe that if the B1G adds those 2 it will be at reduced shares for now. So no current B1G school needs to take a pay cut to add these teams. The B1G network also wants to sell subscritions. They feel that Seattle is a good market for that as Portland may be as well. The networks likely feel strong advertising revenues may be available by being a true every time zone conference.

The Bay Area makes sense for this as well. But the local programs have not shown a great apetite to watch the locals on TV. So there likely would need to be an additional provider to add Cal and Stanford.

The strategy also is to be positioned for what seems to be the inevitable creation of a Super Division of college football. Adding UW and UO helps in that area. The Bay Area may be as well.

The western pod is not just a football thing. Teams will need to travel for the other sports. Like hoops, baseball and volleyball (which is a big sport in the B1G). So it looks to me like the B1G is adding where they can now. Western teams are available now. The P12 media contract ends at the end of the 2023-2024 schedule. There are other benefits as well. B1G alums in the P12 markets are many. They may very well contribute more via donations as their teams now play in their current living market. Recruiting improves. And while these schools can and do work together now on research and other things, conference affiliaiton strengthens those alliances and more monies are generated for research etc. Ask Utah President about that. They have seen applications, research money and donations increase by being affiliated with the P12 conference.

It is not just about sports. But sure sports performance does matter. The Networks will be paying for any expansion so you have to have a pulse and make an effort to put forth a product people will watch. But sure the money matters. But the money need not come just from the games themselves. But you will almost certainly see attendance improve. A Cal game vs OSU or UA will draw maybe 40,000 if Cal is any good. What do you think a Cal vs Ohio St or Penn St or Michigan or even Nebraska would draw?

Lots of reasons to be a coast to coast conference. If the only consideration was on field results Cal would have no chance at the B1G. But the B1G having every P5 program in California is a big deal IMO. As would having a piece of every time slot available on a typical college football Saturday. My guess is a 7:30PST game between say UW and Stanford or Cal would draw better than any Big 12 matchup. Why? Because now these west coast games matter to B1G fans where before they could care less.

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