I know that's not what Kickstarter's for or what they do, but it's an interesting idea that a 'grassroots' movement among rank and file Cal fans (e.g. not big money doners/boosters) could result in some meaningful contribution to getting Tedford fired after this season.

$10M has been thrown around as a number that would be needed to give Tedford and his assistants the boot. Let's say that $5M, or half, would be a reasonable contribution for use 'small fry' fans for the cause, with the rest being made up by the big time boosters.

So with $5M as the goal, that would mean that 50,000 fans would need to donate $100 to reach the $5M goal. Of course, some could contribute more and some less, but on average, about $100 if we could get 50,000 fans. Realistically, though, 50,000 is probably too high a number. Maybe 25,000 fans could donate $200 then?

How realistic is this? Maybe it's just a fantasy but it's nice to dream of a Tedford-free Cal football program at least. :p

This would be an interesting experiment if nothing else. Lots of whining and complaining by Cal fans on this board, but how many are truly willing to put their money where their mouth is?

hanky1;841958295 said:

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This would be an interesting experiment if nothing else. Lots of whining and complaining by Cal fans on this board, but how many are truly willing to put their money where their mouth is?

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Exactly. Even if it's a lesser amount it would really make the admins take note. Say just $1M raised would be pretty phenomenal. That would come out to $100 for 10,000 fans. Or $200 for 5,000 fans.

You're a medical doctor? whoa...

:rollinglaugh:

*checks bonfire fundraiser, shakes head*

The big boys will have to take care if this, because no one else will.

http://www.savebonfire2012.com/donate.htm

Edit: Thanks again Sebastabear

I don't think there are 50,000 people who give a damn about Cal football.......

regretfully 71 I think you are correct, wait and see the empty seats this coming saturday.

jimsf;841958306 said:

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regretfully 71 I think you are correct, wait and see the empty seats this coming saturday.

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if cms doesnt sellout .... bills will not get paid ... quality control!!!!!!!!!

If I new for sure that it would get Tedford replaced, I'd gladly contribute $500 (maybe more). As it is, I won't renew my season tickets until Tedford is gone (its been three years now). I'm hoping the embarrassment of a half-empty stadium will force Sandy's hand.

Kickstarter always gives premiums to contributors.
There are lots of available chair backs.

71Bear;841958303 said:

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I don't think there are 50,000 people who give a damn about Cal football.......

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:rollinglaugh::rollinglaugh::rollinglaugh::rollinglaugh:

If you actually get this going, I'm in for $1000. What happens to the loot if he doesn't get fired?

I'm not going to donate.

I'll decide if I think Tedford should stay or go in December 2015.

jim does andy have any insight on the big donors perspective?

diva1;841958359 said:

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jim does andy have any insight on the big donors perspective?

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This is a good question. I have a few connections to some of the biggest donors. I'm gonna see if I can get some second hand opinons. Thanks for the reminder.

OskiMD;841958298 said:

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Exactly. Even if it's a lesser amount it would really make the admins take note. Say just $1M raised would be pretty phenomenal. That would come out to $100 for 10,000 fans. Or $200 for 5,000 fans.

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I am in some serious financial straights and I am still willing to give $200.00. But I am only willing to give it as a pledge. I won't give actual $$ until the AD and major donors make a commitment to us to replace JT. But the problems is that she can't do that publicly until she knows the $$s are there to follow through. It's a catch-22.

I would consider donating if I knew who the incoming coach is. Retaining Coach Gould would improve those chances too.

I would be happy to pledge $200 and follow through if the money is used to hire a new coach.

According to what comes up when you Google it, "Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects."

I'm not sure how one would spin....this as a "creative project".

Despite serious misgivings about the fact that most of that cash would go toward paying Teddy's buyout (just maddeningly frustrating), I pledge $200 upon hiring a new coach

...though I assume teddy wouldn't hold out for the whole thing...if he is an honorable man it's hard to imagine he holds the school and the program up like that...but who knows

please.

not going to happen.

there are less than 10k bear backers. all you need to be a bear backer is donate $100 per year. it sounds like a big group, but it's not going to change much.

There are a number of big donors who pay for a lot of things like football salaries. When they change their mind, that's when change happens.

All I know is the ben braun timing may have seemed late, but it was pretty good in timing for a lot of reasons. let's all chill. or if not chill, not get too irate? we are cal and we are not going to end up in a gutter whatever happens this year.

rafterfan180;841958628 said:

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as far as i know (and we'll leave it at that), the $$ to buy out JT was raised 2 yrs ago but Sandy decided to not fire him. $$ is not the issue...

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Ok then what's the issue?

tommie317;841958631 said:

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Ok then what's the issue?

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Pick none. Though ill start with 2 years ago we didn't have a stadium built yet.

ColoradoBear1;841958563 said:

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there are less than 10k bear backers. all you need to be a bear backer is donate $100 per year.

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The difference is that donating $100, and typically on a yearly basis, to Cal athletics does nothing to help bring about change in the head coaching position at Cal. People who would not normally donate to the athletic department (like me), might be interested in donating money for a specific 'cause', such as removal of an unpopular coach.

I brought up "Kickstarter" as an example of how individuals can pool resources to make some kind of a change, although in this case it would be a coaching change and not the development of some sort of product.

If there were something similar to Kickstarter that would let fans meaningfully contribute to a change that they would like to see happen (as in firing Tedford) in a safe way (e.g. not a scam and money returned if weren't fired, etc.), it has the potential to become pretty popular since it gives the average fan a chance to directly participate in that change becoming reality.

In the end, though, it's probably just a pipe dream because I doubt that the athletic department would even accept a donation with the condition that it be used to help facilitate a coach's firing.

I'd be happy to donate toward a change. I'm sure there are many more that would do as well. Time to move in a new direction.

OskiMD;841958660 said:

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The difference is that donating $100, and typically on a yearly basis, to Cal athletics does nothing to help bring about change in the head coaching position at Cal. People who would not normally donate to the athletic department (like me), might be interested in donating money for a specific 'cause', such as removal of an unpopular coach.

I brought up "Kickstarter" as an example of how individuals can pool resources to make some kind of a change, although in this case it would be a coaching change and not the development of some sort of product.

If there were something similar to Kickstarter that would let fans meaningfully contribute to a change that they would like to see happen (as in firing Tedford) in a safe way (e.g. not a scam and money returned if weren't fired, etc.), it has the potential to become pretty popular since it gives the average fan a chance to directly participate in that change becoming reality.

In the end, though, it's probably just a pipe dream because I doubt that the athletic department would even accept a donation with the condition that it be used to help facilitate a coach's firing.

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It's not just a pipe dream, it's also a very dumb idea.

Look guys, JT is going to be back for at least one more season after this one, and no amount of fan whining is going to change that. Just suck it up and ride this season out. Why not be an adult and let JT coach this season and the next, because no one is going to foot $5M to get him fired this winter. Short of one of our big donors coming up with a mid-seven figure check to Sandy for an immediate coaching change, there will be no personnel turnover at the helm of Cal football. And frankly, I would rather have that big donor put those resources to better use, like increasing the assistant coaches housing fund, instead of wasting money on a short term contract buyout.

If you start a petition to fire him you might come up with a few hundred signatures, you'll look ridiculous in the process and undermine the recruiting effort for the upcoming class. There was a much stronger and longer campaign a few years ago, supported by the Alumni Association, in support of the HPSAC and against the Treetard coalition, and that only got 7k-8k signatures.

If JT fails on the field this year and the next (no postseason and Cal becoming a bottom-tier P12 program), then he will probably get fired after the 2013 season. Until then, let's stay behind the program and team, and make sure he gets the best class this year so that if this happens, his successor will have a good program to turn around (just like JT did ten years ago).

Go Bears.

Cal88;841958699 said:

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It's not just a pipe dream, it's also a very dumb idea.

Look guys, JT is going to be back for at least one more season after this one, and no amount of fan whining is going to change that. Just suck it up and ride this season out. Why not be an adult and let JT coach this season and the next, because no one is going to foot $5M to get him fired this winter. Short of one of our big donors coming up with a mid-seven figure check to Sandy for an immediate coaching change, there will be no personnel turnover at the helm of Cal football. And frankly, I would rather have that big donor put those resources to better use, like increasing the assistant coaches housing fund, instead of wasting money on a short term contract buyout.

If you start a petition to fire him you might come up with a few hundred signatures, you'll look ridiculous in the process and undermine the recruiting effort for the upcoming class. There was a much stronger and longer campaign a few years ago, supported by the Alumni Association, in support of the HPSAC and against the Treetard coalition, and that only got 7k-8k signatures.

If JT fails on the field this year and the next (no postseason and Cal becoming a bottom-tier P12 program), then he will probably get fired after the 2013 season. Until then, let's stay behind the program and team, and make sure he gets the best class this year so that if this happens, his successor will have a good program to turn around (just like JT did ten years ago).

Go Bears.

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Agree with most of this, but if Cal only wins a couple games this year, JT needs to go. Waiting for another awful season in the 1-4 win range to transpire in 2013 will only set this program back even more. I'm not sure if that's a risk Cal should be willing to take, given its financials regarding the new stadium.

I don't know about you (or others) but I've any number of more attractive options on which to spend $200. or $100. or even $10. It just boggles the mind that so many people cannot discern how counterproductive it is to foster this type of speculation at this point in the season.