In a move to further marginalize the "Cal brand" on campus, Chancellor Rich Lyons is trying to force the ASUC and Cal Student Store to include "Berkeley" in it's name while dropping Cal! Lyons is a one man brand destroyer.
I never see anyone wearing something that says just Berkeley on it. I have seen a few people wearing a shirt that may say UC Berkeley. Compare that to the tons of Cal or California stuff I see, and not just at games. Airports, visiting foreign cities, etc.. Lyons does have a problem because no one (other than maybe on the campus) wears Berkeley clothing. Hell, even Lyons wears Cal clothes instead:WhatABonanza said:
Umm. No. Lyons is not a brand destroyer. He knows what he is doing.
His goal is not simply about the football program. His goal is to increase the value of every Cal degree.
I say Cal on this site and when I'm talking to friends in The Bay. But anywhere else in the state, anywhere else in the country, or when I've traveled overseas, I use the word BERKELEY. That word means something around the world. People I've worked with in Europe or Asia know Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford. And they know Berkeley. They don't know UC, or Cal, or California. (When I say I went to Berkeley, they instantly think I'm smarter than I really am. It helps.)
We've had brand confusion for decades and it's a problem. But if we are going to strive for unity, it should not simply be to unify around the script logo on our uniforms and helmets. It should be around the word that is recognized, globally, for brilliance and independent thinking. Berkeley.
Lyons knows what he is doing.
You NYC guys must be ahead of the curve.socaliganbear said:
Tons of Berkeley gear in NYC. Cal I would say is mostly baseball caps.
The OC where we live is total sports crazy - so everything is team clothes. And we have a lot of pro head coaches in our area so it is sports on steroids. We also live part time in Rolling Hills - we avoid school stuff there, since it is USC central.socaliganbear said:
It's part of the preppy culture here. Lots of Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Berkeley, Princeton shirts etc running through CP, Equinox, NYAC, etc.
Like I said, I do see Cal hats tho. But you're right, NYC is different. And I personally don't see Lyons moving to one brand. If anything he seems to be leaving into both brands.
wifeisafurd said:You NYC guys must be ahead of the curve.socaliganbear said:
Tons of Berkeley gear in NYC. Cal I would say is mostly baseball caps.
Really never see it in Socal. Nor anywhere else. I have seen plenty of Cal gear traveling in Europe. Typical a Cal cap or a California jacket. Same in Australia.
Just go on line the student store, and it is primarily Cal or California gear. I fact I don't even see Berkeley stuff in the Oakland Airport or obviously at football games. I admittedly don't go on the greater campus much. The gear at the temporary student stores at the Stadium appeared to be all Cal logo clothes.
If Lyons is trying to move to a total Berkeley brand, one place to start is the student store.
WhatABonanza said:
Umm. No. Lyons is not a brand destroyer. He knows what he is doing.
His goal is not simply about the football program. His goal is to increase the value of every Cal degree.
I say Cal on this site and when I'm talking to friends in The Bay. But anywhere else in the state, anywhere else in the country, or when I've traveled overseas, I use the word BERKELEY. That word means something around the world. People I've worked with in Europe or Asia know Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford. And they know Berkeley. They don't know UC, or Cal, or California. (When I say I went to Berkeley, they instantly think I'm smarter than I really am. It helps.)
We've had brand confusion for decades and it's a problem. But if we are going to strive for unity, it should not simply be to unify around the script logo on our uniforms and helmets. It should be around the word that is recognized, globally, for brilliance and independent thinking. Berkeley.
Lyons knows what he is doing.
LunchTime said:WhatABonanza said:
Umm. No. Lyons is not a brand destroyer. He knows what he is doing.
His goal is not simply about the football program. His goal is to increase the value of every Cal degree.
I say Cal on this site and when I'm talking to friends in The Bay. But anywhere else in the state, anywhere else in the country, or when I've traveled overseas, I use the word BERKELEY. That word means something around the world. People I've worked with in Europe or Asia know Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford. And they know Berkeley. They don't know UC, or Cal, or California. (When I say I went to Berkeley, they instantly think I'm smarter than I really am. It helps.)
We've had brand confusion for decades and it's a problem. But if we are going to strive for unity, it should not simply be to unify around the script logo on our uniforms and helmets. It should be around the word that is recognized, globally, for brilliance and independent thinking. Berkeley.
Lyons knows what he is doing.
I have never in my life seen "Berkeley" branding anywhere.
I have seen a huge amount of branding around UC and Cal while traveling the world. Mostly script Cal and extremely limited "UC Berkeley." No one has managed to be confused in my experience.
Honestly, the only people who have ever appeared confused are intentionally obtuse, looking to take offense at there being "more than one Cal"
I have said "Go Bears" to people wearing Cal branding in probably 30 countries, and at least as many states. I have seen maybe a half dozen people wearing anything that says "UC Berkeley" and zero wearing anything that says "Berkeley."
Berkeley, in common conversation, has a lot of weight. It has almost none in established branding. Probably due to the impossibility of branding anything as "Berkeley."
calumnus said:LunchTime said:WhatABonanza said:
Umm. No. Lyons is not a brand destroyer. He knows what he is doing.
His goal is not simply about the football program. His goal is to increase the value of every Cal degree.
I say Cal on this site and when I'm talking to friends in The Bay. But anywhere else in the state, anywhere else in the country, or when I've traveled overseas, I use the word BERKELEY. That word means something around the world. People I've worked with in Europe or Asia know Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford. And they know Berkeley. They don't know UC, or Cal, or California. (When I say I went to Berkeley, they instantly think I'm smarter than I really am. It helps.)
We've had brand confusion for decades and it's a problem. But if we are going to strive for unity, it should not simply be to unify around the script logo on our uniforms and helmets. It should be around the word that is recognized, globally, for brilliance and independent thinking. Berkeley.
Lyons knows what he is doing.
I have never in my life seen "Berkeley" branding anywhere.
I have seen a huge amount of branding around UC and Cal while traveling the world. Mostly script Cal and extremely limited "UC Berkeley." No one has managed to be confused in my experience.
Honestly, the only people who have ever appeared confused are intentionally obtuse, looking to take offense at there being "more than one Cal"
I have said "Go Bears" to people wearing Cal branding in probably 30 countries, and at least as many states. I have seen maybe a half dozen people wearing anything that says "UC Berkeley" and zero wearing anything that says "Berkeley."
Berkeley, in common conversation, has a lot of weight. It has almost none in established branding. Probably due to the impossibility of branding anything as "Berkeley."
https://shopcollegewear.com/products/u-c-berkeley-men-cal-embroidered-left-chest-champion-zip-up-hoodie-sweatshirt-navy-copy
01Bear said:calumnus said:LunchTime said:WhatABonanza said:
Umm. No. Lyons is not a brand destroyer. He knows what he is doing.
His goal is not simply about the football program. His goal is to increase the value of every Cal degree.
I say Cal on this site and when I'm talking to friends in The Bay. But anywhere else in the state, anywhere else in the country, or when I've traveled overseas, I use the word BERKELEY. That word means something around the world. People I've worked with in Europe or Asia know Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford. And they know Berkeley. They don't know UC, or Cal, or California. (When I say I went to Berkeley, they instantly think I'm smarter than I really am. It helps.)
We've had brand confusion for decades and it's a problem. But if we are going to strive for unity, it should not simply be to unify around the script logo on our uniforms and helmets. It should be around the word that is recognized, globally, for brilliance and independent thinking. Berkeley.
Lyons knows what he is doing.
I have never in my life seen "Berkeley" branding anywhere.
I have seen a huge amount of branding around UC and Cal while traveling the world. Mostly script Cal and extremely limited "UC Berkeley." No one has managed to be confused in my experience.
Honestly, the only people who have ever appeared confused are intentionally obtuse, looking to take offense at there being "more than one Cal"
I have said "Go Bears" to people wearing Cal branding in probably 30 countries, and at least as many states. I have seen maybe a half dozen people wearing anything that says "UC Berkeley" and zero wearing anything that says "Berkeley."
Berkeley, in common conversation, has a lot of weight. It has almost none in established branding. Probably due to the impossibility of branding anything as "Berkeley."
https://shopcollegewear.com/products/u-c-berkeley-men-cal-embroidered-left-chest-champion-zip-up-hoodie-sweatshirt-navy-copy
I wouldn't put too much stock in the sweatshirt being legitimate. The product description field reads as follows:
"Represent University of California Berkeley in this script Cal hoodie sweatshirt.
Officially licensed U.C. Berkeley Cal hoodie sweatshirt.
Cotton polyester blend for comfort and ease of care.
Screen printed graphic.
A portion of the proceeds supports U.C. Berkeley through royalties."
I'm pretty sure that's not a script Cal on the sweatshirt in the photo.
Berkeley (not UC Berkeley, just Berkeley) with the university seal is one of the most common non-hat apparel designs I've seen worn in public.LunchTime said:01Bear said:calumnus said:LunchTime said:WhatABonanza said:
Umm. No. Lyons is not a brand destroyer. He knows what he is doing.
His goal is not simply about the football program. His goal is to increase the value of every Cal degree.
I say Cal on this site and when I'm talking to friends in The Bay. But anywhere else in the state, anywhere else in the country, or when I've traveled overseas, I use the word BERKELEY. That word means something around the world. People I've worked with in Europe or Asia know Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford. And they know Berkeley. They don't know UC, or Cal, or California. (When I say I went to Berkeley, they instantly think I'm smarter than I really am. It helps.)
We've had brand confusion for decades and it's a problem. But if we are going to strive for unity, it should not simply be to unify around the script logo on our uniforms and helmets. It should be around the word that is recognized, globally, for brilliance and independent thinking. Berkeley.
Lyons knows what he is doing.
I have never in my life seen "Berkeley" branding anywhere.
I have seen a huge amount of branding around UC and Cal while traveling the world. Mostly script Cal and extremely limited "UC Berkeley." No one has managed to be confused in my experience.
Honestly, the only people who have ever appeared confused are intentionally obtuse, looking to take offense at there being "more than one Cal"
I have said "Go Bears" to people wearing Cal branding in probably 30 countries, and at least as many states. I have seen maybe a half dozen people wearing anything that says "UC Berkeley" and zero wearing anything that says "Berkeley."
Berkeley, in common conversation, has a lot of weight. It has almost none in established branding. Probably due to the impossibility of branding anything as "Berkeley."
https://shopcollegewear.com/products/u-c-berkeley-men-cal-embroidered-left-chest-champion-zip-up-hoodie-sweatshirt-navy-copy
I wouldn't put too much stock in the sweatshirt being legitimate. The product description field reads as follows:
"Represent University of California Berkeley in this script Cal hoodie sweatshirt.
Officially licensed U.C. Berkeley Cal hoodie sweatshirt.
Cotton polyester blend for comfort and ease of care.
Screen printed graphic.
A portion of the proceeds supports U.C. Berkeley through royalties."
I'm pretty sure that's not a script Cal on the sweatshirt in the photo.
There is at least one other, though.
Still have never seen one in person, though.
WhatABonanza said:
Some of the professional schools have done rebranding over the last decade or so. They did serious research to see what might add the most value.
About 12 years ago, the business school changed its logo. The words "Haas School of Business" ran along the top. The words "University of California" ran across the bottom. Those 7 words combined took up about 45% of the real estate on the logo. One word, in the middle, took up 55% of the space: Berkeley. They understood that this one word added genuine value to the degrees conferred.
The B-school has since shortened the logo. It now consists of two words: Berkeley Haas.
When the law school ditched the Boalt name, it went with a name they knew would have value anywhere in the world: Berkeley Law.
I love wearing my Cal gear. I love Cal sports. Cal Bears rolls off the tongue -- because it's how I talked when I was an undergrad in the 1900s. But Lyons is not thinking only about Cal sports or obsessive Cal sports fans. He's thinking about the value of every degree conferred at Berkeley.
I taught courses in the B-school for 7 years and saw Rich Lyons up close. (I was not tenure track and did not know him well, but did have many interactions with him.). I saw his impact on the B-School. He is easily one of the best leaders I've ever been around. I would not be so quick to judge him on this.
And this is the Chancellor that is going to save football? oofSturdyGolden said:
In a move to further marginalize the "Cal brand" on campus, Chancellor Rich Lyons is trying to force the ASUC and Cal Student Store to include "Berkeley" in it's name while dropping Cal! Lyons is a one man brand destroyer.
"Emotion and ideology" -- sentimentality -- is the only reason I follow the football program. If they're going to destroy every element which holds sentimental value for me, all the way down to the very name of the program, then I'm not going to follow anymore. What's the practical perspective on driving away 35+ year fans?pingpong2 said:
I will just add that in any academic or professional setting (especially internationally), Berkeley is a lot more well known than Cal. Even in the Bay Area, I've had people (admittedly internationals) get confused about which Cal. Cal Tech? Cal State? But Berkeley has no ambiguity.
All the arguments I hear for the Cal branding are steeped in emotions and ideology. I'm sorry but from a practical perspective, Berkeley is just better branding. The primary purpose of a university is academics. Athletics is a side dish.
kal kommie said:"Emotion and ideology" -- sentimentality -- is the only reason I follow the football program. If they're going to destroy every element which holds sentimental value for me, all the way down to the very name of the program, then I'm not going to follow anymore. What's the practical perspective on driving away 35+ year fans?pingpong2 said:
I will just add that in any academic or professional setting (especially internationally), Berkeley is a lot more well known than Cal. Even in the Bay Area, I've had people (admittedly internationals) get confused about which Cal. Cal Tech? Cal State? But Berkeley has no ambiguity.
All the arguments I hear for the Cal branding are steeped in emotions and ideology. I'm sorry but from a practical perspective, Berkeley is just better branding. The primary purpose of a university is academics. Athletics is a side dish.
"Berkeley" won't help the football program, and the university does not need its sports teams to carry "Berkeley" for its benefit, as proven by all of the people here who attest to how well known Berkeley already is. This is a bullsh*t solution for a bullsh*t problem which won't do anything except piss off people who have cared about Cal football for decades.
I'm not sure where you are going on this Shocky, because is really difficult to find anyone wearing Berkeley among the sea of Cal at a football game.Shocky1 said:
lunch box, u should probably leave ur moms basement more often, maybe actually go to an actual cal football game??
https://instagr.am/p/BZRTvlagD9_
branding matters in 2024 (cal's monster class)#
Oh no! He called me Lunch Box and said I live in my moms basement!Shocky1 said:
lunch box, u should probably leave ur moms basement more often, maybe actually go to an actual cal football game??
branding matters in 2024 (cal's monster class)#
As the world’s #1 producer of VC-funded startups founded by undergraduate alums (Pitchbook), Berkeley is perfectly positioned to serve as the lead institution for the NSF Northwest Region I-Corps Hub. We are excited to push innovation forward throughout the West Coast. https://t.co/sIozW8EPmt
— Rich Lyons (@richlyons) October 30, 2024
The chancellor no doubt knows that Cal helped build the UC system into an incredible institution, or set of institutions. But it's 2024. A lot has changed in the state since Cal sat nearly alone atop the list of great public universities. The chancellor also no doubt knows that there are many great schools in the UC system, as there should be, and that each of those universities (including Berkeley) have an obligation to take steps not only to support their own campus, but the other UC campuses as well. We can compete for students and funding, but we must also work together to ensure that all of the campuses thrive. We owe that to the citizens of California. UCLA is a great university. UC Santa Barbara is a great university. UC San Diego... same. There are many great campuses in the system. Berkeley is still at the top. And I have no problem sharing the term "UC" with all of those other campuses. Holding on, saying it's important that we alone be seen as the flagship university and insisting that we alone be called "University of California" just doesn't seem important. It in fact seems counterproductive.01Bear said:
There's a reason the UC system wants to claim the "University of California" title; it's because Cal built it up into one of the premier brands in the state, if not the world. That the chancellor fails to recognize this or is willing to surrender our alma mater's brand is alarming. Our school isn't one among the many schools in the multiversity system. Our alma mater is the flagship university for the state and a world-renowned leader in just about every major field of study in academia. It stands alone as the preeminent public university in the world.**
Like UCLA did when they stabbed us in the back as they abruptly jumped to the Big Ten? Screw UCLA!WhatABonanza said:
The chancellor also no doubt knows that there are many great schools in the UC system, as there should be, and that each of those universities (including Berkeley) have an obligation to take steps not only to support their own campus, but the other UC campuses as well.
WhatABonanza said:The chancellor no doubt knows that Cal helped build the UC system into an incredible institution, or set of institutions. But it's 2024. A lot has changed in the state since Cal sat nearly alone atop the list of great public universities. The chancellor also no doubt knows that there are many great schools in the UC system, as there should be, and that each of those universities (including Berkeley) have an obligation to take steps not only to support their own campus, but the other UC campuses as well. We can compete for students and funding, but we must also work together to ensure that all of the campuses thrive. We owe that to the citizens of California. UCLA is a great university. UC Santa Barbara is a great university. UC San Diego... same. There are many great campuses in the system. Berkeley is still at the top. And I have no problem sharing the term "UC" with all of those other campuses. Holding on, saying it's important that we alone be seen as the flagship university and insisting that we alone be called "University of California" just doesn't seem important. It in fact seems counterproductive.01Bear said:
There's a reason the UC system wants to claim the "University of California" title; it's because Cal built it up into one of the premier brands in the state, if not the world. That the chancellor fails to recognize this or is willing to surrender our alma mater's brand is alarming. Our school isn't one among the many schools in the multiversity system. Our alma mater is the flagship university for the state and a world-renowned leader in just about every major field of study in academia. It stands alone as the preeminent public university in the world.**
UC Berkeley. Cal Berkeley. Both of those seem fine to me.