I have to admit it's fairly depressing to read all the simple, common sense ideas to help attendance, along with the more creative ones, that routinely show up on Bear Insider. It's just not rocket science.

And yet, JK really just doesn't care, and that's sadly the bottom line. Anyone looking at this program can quickly discern that a nationally televised game, early in the season, against an SEC opponent, is a crucial opportunity not only for the team on the field, but for showing off the program as a whole (to, for example, the B10).

Making sure that stadium is absolutely rocking - however you accomplish it - should be a huge priority, and yet it won't be. Of course, no efforts are likely to succeed in that respect if the team doesn't win the week prior at UNT, which is a game that, quite frankly, scares the crap out of me.

Regardless, I'm flying up from So Cal, so I'll be doing my part.

Agree with all of the above - Jim Knowlton is a moron and lazy...he doesn't love Cal like most of us who would turnover every stone in marketing dept to reach out to the broader Bay area to build a fan base, to our existing students to get them to games (has he taken an econ course on supply and demand? Ask a professor what lowering prices does. Almost impossible to get less students of you make tickets free - I call BS), and even to Stanford to jointly reinvigorate the Big Game as a must see Battle of the Bay. As many said - this is obvious. Yet no action. Fire him now for cause - putting aside the scandal, the guy is flat out ignoring his responsibilities.

zorbarick said:

---

I have to admit it's fairly depressing to read all the simple, common sense ideas to help attendance, along with the more creative ones, that routinely show up on Bear Insider. It's just not rocket science.

And yet, JK really just doesn't care, and that's sadly the bottom line. Anyone looking at this program can quickly discern that a nationally televised game, early in the season, against an SEC opponent, is a crucial opportunity not only for the team on the field, but for showing off the program as a whole (to, for example, the B10).

Making sure that stadium is absolutely rocking - however you accomplish it - should be a huge priority, and yet it won't be. Of course, no efforts are likely to succeed in that respect if the team doesn't win the week prior at UNT, which is a game that, quite frankly, scares the crap out of me.

Regardless, I'm flying up from So Cal, so I'll be doing my part.

---

Yes, it reminds me of UCLA LSU in 2021. UCLA did a lot of ticket giveaways for that one.

Goal number #1, take care of the Mean Green in Denton, Texas. Afternoon kickoff in Texas.

Econ141 said:

---

Agree with all of the above - Jim Knowlton is a moron and lazy...he doesn't love Cal like most of us who would turnover every stone in marketing dept to reach out to the broader Bay area to build a fan base, to our existing students to get them to games (has he taken an econ course on supply and demand? Ask a professor what lowering prices does. Almost impossible to get less students of you make tickets free - I call BS), and even to Stanford to jointly reinvigorate the Big Game as a must see Battle of the Bay. As many said - this is obvious. Yet no action. Fire him now for cause - putting aside the scandal, the guy is flat out ignoring his responsibilities.

---

beating a dead horse here, its what happens when you give someone a 10 year contract that sets them up for life. There is zero incentive. Its just pushing papers on a desk and hoping something change.

I bet u know that Knowlton had no idea that the previous regime used to give away free tickets, to great success. Peak tedford years freshmen got in for free, all 7 games, for a full season. You build that experience, tradition and that excitement with the students. By 2006 to 2008, home games rountinely sell out. Young Alumni section was packed to the brim. These students graduated and yearned for more

Then you decide to nickel and dime the students, and the product went to the toilet. This is what you get. Ineptitude on all sides

Sagarin Predictor Rankings Last Year:

Utah #9
Oregon #13
USC #14
Oregon State #15
Washington #16
UCLA #32
Washington State #42

Auburn #44

Cal #65
Arizona #71
ASU #73
Furd #78
Colorado #140

There were 7 PAC-12 teams Sagarin ranked higher than Auburn last year.

Cal was horrible last year, beating only Arizona. Stanford, UNLV and UC Davis. However, if last year's teams played, Auburn would be favored by only 3 at Memorial.

Both teams hope to be greatly improved. Auburn has a new coaching staff and had the #3 transfer class including the expected starter at QB while Cal has a new OC and had the #17 transfer class including the expected starter at QB.

Arcadiabear said:

---

Econ141 said:

---

Agree with all of the above - Jim Knowlton is a moron and lazy...he doesn't love Cal like most of us who would turnover every stone in marketing dept to reach out to the broader Bay area to build a fan base, to our existing students to get them to games (has he taken an econ course on supply and demand? Ask a professor what lowering prices does. Almost impossible to get less students of you make tickets free - I call BS), and even to Stanford to jointly reinvigorate the Big Game as a must see Battle of the Bay. As many said - this is obvious. Yet no action. Fire him now for cause - putting aside the scandal, the guy is flat out ignoring his responsibilities.

---

beating a dead horse here, its what happens when you give someone a 10 year contract that sets them up for life. There is zero incentive. Its just pushing papers on a desk and hoping something change.

I bet u know that Knowlton had no idea that the previous regime used to give away free tickets, to great success. Peak tedford years freshmen got in for free, all 7 games, for a full season. You build that experience, tradition and that excitement with the students. By 2016 to 2018, home games rountinely sell out. Young Alumni section was packed to the brim. These students graduated and yearned for more

Then you decide to nickel and dime the students, and the product went to the toilet. This is what you get. Ineptitude on all sides

---

Knowlton is a retired Army civil engineer with zero skills in business, sales or marketing and did not develop them in three years at Air Force, a massively Federally funded military academy located half an hour north of Colorado Springs. It is tough to think of a school that: 1) has fewer alumni in the immediate area and 2) has less need to raise donations from those alumni or 3) attract them to games.

Econ141 said:

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We really need this game to improve our national perception. Of course, beating UNC twice, Ole Miss twice, Texas twice, hasn't seemed to do anything.

---

The Notre Dame loss hurt but other than that, Cal has played well against out of conference power 5 schools in recent memory.

TouchedTheAxeIn82 said:

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"We better not lose to those commies!"

A typical Southern message board post about playing Cal.

---

We might be commies but Cal is 11-11-1 lifetime vs the current teams in the SEC, which shouldn't be surprising.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/california/head-to-head.html

Arcadiabear said:

---

Econ141 said:

---

Agree with all of the above - Jim Knowlton is a moron and lazy...he doesn't love Cal like most of us who would turnover every stone in marketing dept to reach out to the broader Bay area to build a fan base, to our existing students to get them to games (has he taken an econ course on supply and demand? Ask a professor what lowering prices does. Almost impossible to get less students of you make tickets free - I call BS), and even to Stanford to jointly reinvigorate the Big Game as a must see Battle of the Bay. As many said - this is obvious. Yet no action. Fire him now for cause - putting aside the scandal, the guy is flat out ignoring his responsibilities.

---

beating a dead horse here, its what happens when you give someone a 10 year contract that sets them up for life. There is zero incentive. Its just pushing papers on a desk and hoping something change.

I bet u know that Knowlton had no idea that the previous regime used to give away free tickets, to great success. Peak tedford years freshmen got in for free, all 7 games, for a full season. You build that experience, tradition and that excitement with the students. By 2016 to 2018, home games rountinely sell out. Young Alumni section was packed to the brim. These students graduated and yearned for more

Then you decide to nickel and dime the students, and the product went to the toilet. This is what you get. Ineptitude on all sides

---

Remind me again, please, why we don't charge students a modest attendance fee for all events, athletic and otherwise, and let them in at will?

BearHunter said:

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Econ141 said:

---

We really need this game to improve our national perception. Of course, beating UNC twice, Ole Miss twice, Texas twice, hasn't seemed to do anything.

---

The Notre Dame loss hurt but other than that, Cal has played well against the power 5 conference schools in recent memory.

---

Ehh, 6-14 over the last two years versus Power 5 schools. Not great.

HKBear97! said:

---

BearHunter said:

---

Econ141 said:

---

We really need this game to improve our national perception. Of course, beating UNC twice, Ole Miss twice, Texas twice, hasn't seemed to do anything.

---

The Notre Dame loss hurt but other than that, Cal has played well against the power 5 conference schools in recent memory.

---

Ehh, 6-14 over the last two years versus Power 5 schools. Not great.

---

"You'll have to excuse BearHunter
as we forgot to tell him that he'll have some
memory problems if he wears his
membership tin hat for too long a period!"

HKBear97! said:

---

BearHunter said:

---

Econ141 said:

---

We really need this game to improve our national perception. Of course, beating UNC twice, Ole Miss twice, Texas twice, hasn't seemed to do anything.

---

The Notre Dame loss hurt but other than that, Cal has played well against the power 5 conference schools in recent memory.

---

Ehh, 6-14 over the last two years versus Power 5 schools. Not great.

---

I meant out of conference, power 5. What is Cal's record the last 10 years minus the Pac?

OskiDeLaHoya said:

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I'm also curious about what Cal marketing is doing to attract the casual football fan - or the Raider fans - to games. Personally, I would love to see more attractive (read affordable) family four pack packages. And not just blue/gold endzone tix. I would love to see a family section in the corners on the west side (near restrooms and the concessions on the concourse - crucial for those of us with kids). My new favorite sections are II, J, and D.

---

While I'm all for attracting the casual fan, we're not even doing much to attract our "base", which is Cal people. No spirit groups to start the football season? Oops! Hey, we let that minor detail slip through the cracks. Nobody's perfect!

I'd like Knowlton to forget the field surface this year. Everyone shows up and there's just a bunch of dirt and broken pieces of T Shirt Cannon and Jimbo sitting on the 50 with his finger in his nose.

Anarchistbear said:

---

Last five seasons of Auburn football
8-5
9-4
6-5
6-7
5-7

Half a$$ed program, should be an even match

---

Let us not ridicule Auburn's recent five year record. Yes, their recent five year record is pretty mediocre (ok, bad by Auburn standards). Unfortunately, it is better then our five year record. And, they are in a tougher conference than we are. Most of us would love to have a couple of eight win seasons every five years.

Go Bears!

I remember ole miss fans saying the same things…

Rushinbear said:

---

Arcadiabear said:

---

Econ141 said:

---

Agree with all of the above - Jim Knowlton is a moron and lazy...he doesn't love Cal like most of us who would turnover every stone in marketing dept to reach out to the broader Bay area to build a fan base, to our existing students to get them to games (has he taken an econ course on supply and demand? Ask a professor what lowering prices does. Almost impossible to get less students of you make tickets free - I call BS), and even to Stanford to jointly reinvigorate the Big Game as a must see Battle of the Bay. As many said - this is obvious. Yet no action. Fire him now for cause - putting aside the scandal, the guy is flat out ignoring his responsibilities.

---

beating a dead horse here, its what happens when you give someone a 10 year contract that sets them up for life. There is zero incentive. Its just pushing papers on a desk and hoping something change.

I bet u know that Knowlton had no idea that the previous regime used to give away free tickets, to great success. Peak tedford years freshmen got in for free, all 7 games, for a full season. You build that experience, tradition and that excitement with the students. By 2016 to 2018, home games rountinely sell out. Young Alumni section was packed to the brim. These students graduated and yearned for more

Then you decide to nickel and dime the students, and the product went to the toilet. This is what you get. Ineptitude on all sides

---

Remind me again, please, why we don't charge students a modest attendance fee for all events, athletic and otherwise, and let them in at will?

---

I am for any ideas to get the student's attention, get Oakland's attention, get the entire east bay's attention.

Hell i hv always been an advocate for giving tickets away to nurses, doctors, local elementary school students, people who help move society forward. Only condition is that they wear blue.

Pack the house. Make going to cal game cool again

calbear80 said:

---

Anarchistbear said:

---

Last five seasons of Auburn football
8-5
9-4
6-5
6-7
5-7

Half a$$ed program, should be an even match

---

Let us not ridicule Auburn's recent five year record. Yes, their recent five year record is pretty mediocre (ok, bad by Auburn standards). Unfortunately, it is better then our five year record. And, they are in a tougher conference than we are. Most of us would love to have a couple of eight win seasons every five years.

Go Bears!

---

Why not? They are a middling program and as far as " most of us loving to have a couple of 8 win seasons every five years". - that is a Cal high water mark not an Auburn one. Their expectations are much higher which explains why they've had three coaches in the last five years.

Arcadiabear said:

---

Rushinbear said:

---

Arcadiabear said:

---

Econ141 said:

---

Agree with all of the above - Jim Knowlton is a moron and lazy...he doesn't love Cal like most of us who would turnover every stone in marketing dept to reach out to the broader Bay area to build a fan base, to our existing students to get them to games (has he taken an econ course on supply and demand? Ask a professor what lowering prices does. Almost impossible to get less students of you make tickets free - I call BS), and even to Stanford to jointly reinvigorate the Big Game as a must see Battle of the Bay. As many said - this is obvious. Yet no action. Fire him now for cause - putting aside the scandal, the guy is flat out ignoring his responsibilities.

---

beating a dead horse here, its what happens when you give someone a 10 year contract that sets them up for life. There is zero incentive. Its just pushing papers on a desk and hoping something change.

I bet u know that Knowlton had no idea that the previous regime used to give away free tickets, to great success. Peak tedford years freshmen got in for free, all 7 games, for a full season. You build that experience, tradition and that excitement with the students. By 2016 to 2018, home games rountinely sell out. Young Alumni section was packed to the brim. These students graduated and yearned for more

Then you decide to nickel and dime the students, and the product went to the toilet. This is what you get. Ineptitude on all sides

---

Remind me again, please, why we don't charge students a modest attendance fee for all events, athletic and otherwise, and let them in at will?

---

I am for any ideas to get the student's attention, get Oakland's attention, get the entire east bay's attention.

Hell i hv always been an advocate for giving tickets away to nurses, doctors, local elementary school students, people who help move society forward. Only condition is that they wear blue.

Pack the house. Make going to cal game cool again

---

You want to give doctors free tickets?

*Starts Protest*

LET US STAR ADMIN POSTS!!!!

LETS US CYBERBEARS.COM DOWN ARROW POSTS!!!! Maybe sell commercial space for Stars and Downvotes. Like... BINANCE UPVOTE
CYBERBEARS.COM DOWNVOTE

AXLBear said:

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They're not wrong

---

especially about having more fans there than us.
Sad but probably true.

One thing that is interesting about their comments on the game, though, is that, if Cal is such an easy win in Berkeley, how come virtually every SEC team is terrified to schedule games in California? SEC simply won't take the risk. But they make it sound like there is no risk so somebody is not telling the truth here.

9:30 pm. start for them will definitely be a factor. There is a reason why so many good east coast MLB teams lose to horrible west coast teams (ie Oakland A's) while playing in California. Humans are humans no matter what.

Look at the size of the Auburn Stadium video screen!

https://auburntigers.com/facilities/jordan-hare-stadium/11

And the stadium holds 87,451.

Golden One said:

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Look at the size of the Auburn Stadium video screen!

https://auburntigers.com/facilities/jordan-hare-stadium/11

And the stadium holds 87,451.

---

2024: I hope they show all our touchdowns on that big azz screen...

80,000 disappointed Auburn fans; 7,451 happy visiting Cal fans!

BearGreg said:

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I expect Auburn to be a very tough game, they have a highly talented roster and a HC with a track record of winning.

It has been eons, however, since the Tigers have beaten a P5 team on the road.

---

Eons? P5?

Auburn won two roadies in the SEC in 2021.

Road Wins

As for non-con roadies Auburn has two neutral site W's in 2018 & 2019 respectively over P12 teams in UO and UDub

If you meant to say a true road game win against another P5 conference team then you have to go back to 2014 when they beat Kansas State in Manhattan.

https://auburntigers.com/sports/football/schedule/2014

Auburn was supposed to play UO in Autzen in 2020 but the game was cancelled.

heartofthebear said:

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AXLBear said:

---

They're not wrong

---

especially about having more fans there than us.
Sad but probably true.

One thing that is interesting about their comments on the game, though, is that, if Cal is such an easy win in Berkeley, how come virtually every SEC team is terrified to schedule games in California? SEC simply won't take the risk. But they make it sound like there is no risk so somebody is not telling the truth here.

9:30 pm. start for them will definitely be a factor. There is a reason why so many good east coast MLB teams lose to horrible west coast teams (ie Oakland A's) while playing in California. Humans are humans no matter what.

---

I'm not going to speak this as an absolute about every SEC team, but many aren't worried about "risk," but they avoid having another fairly physical game against OOC P5 school because the in conference games are tough enough.
My friend/associate, an Auburn fan who watches games from the sidelines when he gets there, does not believe the "Cal is a certain win" narrative, and says people with real knowledge and involvement aren't assuming anything.

If we weren't Cal fans who would we expect to win this game? Everything Auburn fans is saying is justified. To paraphrase a line by Bruce Snyder, we need more steak and less sizzle. Until then comments / expectations from opposing fans such as this are just par for the course.

Agree with T4K here. These Auburn fan comments are no more delusional than the perennially optimistic Cal fans here.

Could the Bears win? Sure. Auburn is traveling a long way and the start time is tough for them. But the Tigers have better talent* and better coaching** according to pretty much everyone who isn't a Cal fan.

End of Season Sagarin Ratings during Wilcox's tenure:
2022: Auburn-45, Cal-69
2021: Auburn-13, Cal-41
2020: Auburn-26, Cal-94
2019: Auburn-13, Cal-41
2018: Auburn-15, Cal-59
2017: Auburn-8, Cal-54

* Cal has upgraded talent this year through transfer and NIL? Yep, excited about that. But so has Auburn.

** Better coaching to win football games, that is. I like Wilcox as a person better than Freeze of course.

OneKeg said:

---

Agree with T4K here. These Auburn fan comments are no more delusional than the perennially optimistic Cal fans here.

Could the Bears win? Sure. Auburn is traveling a long way and the start time is tough for them. But the Tigers have better talent* and better coaching** according to pretty much everyone who isn't a Cal fan.

End of Season Sagarin Ratings during Wilcox's tenure:
2022: Auburn-45, Cal-69
2021: Auburn-13, Cal-41
2020: Auburn-26, Cal-94
2019: Auburn-13, Cal-41
2018: Auburn-15, Cal-59
2017: Auburn-8, Cal-54

* Cal has upgraded talent this year through transfer and NIL? Yep, excited about that. But so has Auburn.

** Better coaching to win football games, that is. I like Wilcox as a person better than Freeze of course.

---

Just like every other June for the past 40+ years, I'm really optimistic about this coming season!

concernedparent said:

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Rushinbear said:

---

6956bear said:

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HoopDreams said:

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sounds like Texas fans

in our second game vs texas in memorial I was sitting next to and near a lot of texas fans

in the fourth quarter one guy yelled out in exasperation…. I can't believe we're going to lose to ****g Cal two ****g years in a row!

---

Auburn fans are delusional. They run every HC they have out of town because of inflated expectations. They will have a nice roster, but IMO not an elite one. I will be beyond disappointed if the Bears do not play competitively against Auburn.

Auburn had a very nice portal class, but it will be interesting to see who plays QB for them. The favorite is Peyton Thorne the Michigan St transfer. He played at the same HS as Sam Jackson. Thorne is ok but far from elite. Cal should be good on defense and I expect a good game.

Not predicting a certain Cal win but I do think they should be very competitive at CMS against Auburn. It is not Alabama, Georgia or LSU coming to town.

---

Auburn over optimism is worth 3 pts to us. Their strength has always been physical strength and toughness. But, speed kills in interconf play.

---

Ole Miss was bigger, faster, and stronger than us at just about every position and we schooled them twice.

---

Schooled is a little strong. In both games, they had the ball with a chance to tie/win late.

calumnus said:

---

Sagarin Predictor Rankings Last Year:

Utah #9
Oregon #13
USC #14
Oregon State #15
Washington #16
UCLA #32
Washington State #42

Auburn #44

Cal #65
Arizona #71
ASU #73
Furd #78
Colorado #140

There were 7 PAC-12 teams Sagarin ranked higher than Auburn last year.

Cal was horrible last year, beating only Arizona. Stanford, UNLV and UC Davis. However, if last year's teams played, Auburn would be favored by only 3 at Memorial.

Both teams hope to be greatly improved. Auburn has a new coaching staff and had the #3 transfer class including the expected starter at QB while Cal has a new OC and had the #17 transfer class including the expected starter at QB.

---

The more I think about it, I'm coming to realize that the comments from Auburn fans have everything to do with the attitude of SEC fans and very little to do with the reality of the teams they root for. It's sort of like being a Yankee fan or a Lakers fan; while many seasons result in playoff runs, there are just as many bound for disappointment. The attitude of these fan bases is to expect every season to be a playoff caliber season, despite the very real odds against that.

mbBear said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

AXLBear said:

---

They're not wrong

---

especially about having more fans there than us.
Sad but probably true.

One thing that is interesting about their comments on the game, though, is that, if Cal is such an easy win in Berkeley, how come virtually every SEC team is terrified to schedule games in California? SEC simply won't take the risk. But they make it sound like there is no risk so somebody is not telling the truth here.

9:30 pm. start for them will definitely be a factor. There is a reason why so many good east coast MLB teams lose to horrible west coast teams (ie Oakland A's) while playing in California. Humans are humans no matter what.

---

I'm not going to speak this as an absolute about every SEC team, but many aren't worried about "risk," but they avoid having another fairly physical game against OOC P5 school because the in conference games are tough enough.
My friend/associate, an Auburn fan who watches games from the sidelines when he gets there, does not believe the "Cal is a certain win" narrative, and says people with real knowledge and involvement aren't assuming anything.

---

The highlighted portion is the key to my point. The Auburn fans say the game won't be physical but the SEC in general avoids these games because they are physical.