There's an odd geographical pattern here. It seems that the UC schools in the north (Berkeley, Davis, SF, Santa Cruz and Merced) are focusing on academics and do not have athletics as a high priority. The southern campuses (LA, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Irvine and Riverside) for whatever reason are no less focused on academics give a lot of support to their sports programs. Could the fan bases have something to do with it?

Cal spent $500 M on the upgrade to Memorial Coliseum and Athletic Performance, $60 M on Haas, and $30 M on Wilcox.

How is that a de-emphasis?

Cal also had abysmal marketing before the first two football games this year while their marketing manager was sitting on other boards. (Alums and football coaches rang the bell to give away tickets and avoid an embarrassment.)

FTR, Cal has now brought in a football GM (like Stanford) and an OC to aid 6-win Wilcox.

I have some friends who think SoCal is more socially relaxed, maybe NorCal takes itself too seriously. I was with a small group in a Persian family's home in Orinda, and the wife said "White people don't socialize." I should have responded, delicately, but it probably wasn't the right time.

There’s an article in East Bay Time (SJ Mercury) by Pac12 expert Jon Wilner about the new chancellor at Cal and his emphasis on athletics. Says the right things; interesting to see if they can pull things off. I believe it’s subscriber only unfortunately. I believe you can see it on X if you subscribe ( I do not)


https://x.com/wilnerhotline/status/1887648468384292981

I didn’t realize the dropoff, but in 15-16 they were at 10k a game. By 19-20, down to 5k. They had that stretch where they were briefly good under Counzo Martin ( I think Hawaii beat them in NCAA tourney ?)), then he bailed and they went to the basement under an overmatched assistant. Never recovered. COVID didn’t help.