Cal appears much healthier than UCLA, but the bottom lines are deceiving​

In contrast to the philosophy in Berkeley, UCLA receives very little help from central campus. In fact, the cash flow system arguably works against the Bruins.

For example, they don’t own the facilities — those are controlled by central campus. Instead, the athletic department is required to pay usage fees, even for Pauley Pavilion. Yet when it came time to renovate the hallowed arena, athletics had to pay for the project.

Block’s approach is also evident in direct campus support for athletics, or lack thereof. The Bruins receive $2.5 million in student fees, but that’s it.

Recall that $31 million in direct institutional support that Cal sent to its athletic department: The equivalent assist in Westwood is zero.

On its face this seems like a good idea for kids. The devil to me is in the details we don’t know

1. Is it 50 percent of top line revenue
2. Is it 50 percent of profit
3. If it’s profit what caps do you have on expenses and salaries for coaches and admin
4. How does this affect scholarship dollars for sports that don’t give full scholarships. Will they be required to give full scholarships first
5. Who manages the trust fund
6 how are trust fund expenses monitored and capped and how are the funds managed and monitored
7. What’s the claw back for schools it there is a dip. Should there even be one (no in my opinion)
8. What are the academic requirements? Should you have to get a degree (it is college after all). If you don’t should the money for you now go to the schools general aid and scholarship fund for all
Students (to me yes)
9. What unfair advantage does this give California over other schools

I think it’s a noble idea with a lot of pitfalls and potential abuse would be easy. I also would only support this if it required a degree from the kids to get the money. After all if you leave early for a contract that’s a choice and presumably you’ll be ok. I’d also not support extra funds that are unused going to the AD. They have enough is the idea under this and the kids deserve the money. If so then give it to students in general if there is slush. Support education and care of kids if you really mean it.

I don’t think this passes on its first try but it’s clearly another step towards pay to play. I like this idea better but it needs work and oversight.

BZ: WBB - Women’s basketball: No. 24 CU Buffs, No. 4 Stanford battle for first place

BZ: MBB - Colorado men’s basketball looks to small goals in hopes of ending slide against WSU

CU AD: MBB - Buffaloes Host Washington State Sunday (Links To CU Notes, WSU Notes)

CU AD: T&F - McMullen Leads Women To Fifth Place Finish

CU AD: TEN - Buffs Head South To Air Force Sunday Evening

CUATG Blog: FB - Travis Hunter makes ESPN’s preseason All-American team

CUATG Blog: FB - Pac-12 Notes - Buffs may well end up having to play against $13M 5* quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada

CUATG Blog: WBB - No. 24 CU women take down Cal for seventh straight win; to face No. 4 Stanford in showdown for Pac-12 supremacy

Buffs Wire: FB - Tony's Take: Are the Colorado Buffaloes the new villains of college football?

Buffs Wire: FB - CU Buffs offer No. 1 overall 2025 prospect David Sanders Jr.

Ducks Wire: FB - Transfer portal grades are in for top-ranked Pac-12 schools (Colorado A+)

The Seattle Times: FB - Deion Sanders is making moves that could change the Pac-12’s power structure

Cheers!

81-58 with 2:40 left in the game.

Ed Reed, after being the antithesis of a leader of men and role model on social media, is out at Bethune- Cookman. Doesn’t have the money he wants right now day one so has to go. He is so crushed to let down the kids. The kids man. It’s all for the kids.

At least other coaches can join him on social media and let the kids know how hard it is to leave them over money. It hurts but sometimes you just have to, you know, walk away.

Social media gives and it takes away Ed. Might want to just go learn to be a coach, keep your head down, win some games and coach while focusing on the kids.

Saw this one a couple days ago and it got me thinking. Are they finally on a down turn under the mullet. Losing some really key players and last year was rough. They have been good for the majority of Gundys career. Hard to imagine they won’t rebound but they are taking some hits and the game might be changing in a way he isn’t as proficient at. Interesting to watch.

They lost their QB and some linemen and it appears some solid defensive players between graduation and portal.

BZ: WBB - Women’s basketball: No. 24 CU Buffs rally late for road victory at California

BZ: MBB - Lack of focus derailing Colorado men’s basketball during losing streak

BZ: FB - CU Buffs’ defensive ends coach Nick Williams grateful for opportunity

BZ: Chat replay: Pat Rooney discusses CU Buffs athletics (Jan. 20, 2023)

CU AD: WBB - No. 24 Colorado Battles Late, Defeats California, 73-66

CU AD: T&F - CU Women Take Two Wins In Second Day

CU AD: TEN - Tennis Wins First Dual Of The Spring Season

CUATG Blog: FB - Preseason Magazines - Wilner: CU has moved past three teams in Pac-12 Power Rankings

CUATG Blog: FB - CUATG Podcast: 5* CB Recruit Cormani McClain Commits to CU! / Constructing CU’s 2023 Starting Lineup / CU’s Pac-12 Schedule: Opportunities … Or a Bataan Death March?

CUATG Blog: FB - Reactions to Cormani McClain commitment (Enjoy the comments from the Miami Board!)

CUATG Blog: FB - Pac-12 Notes - The Athletic: Pac-12 Transfer Portal winners and losers (CU a “Winner”)

The Spun: FB - Shedeur Sanders Reacts To Colorado's Major Recruiting Flip

Outkick: FB - JADEN RASHADA VISITING PAC-12 SCHOOL(S?) AFTER FLORIDA DEAL FALLS THROUGH RAISES NIL QUESTIONS BASED ON FINANCIAL HISTORY

Buffs Wire: FB - 247Sports projects each Pac-12 team's starting QB for 2023

Buffs Wire: FB - Colorado football's 10 highest-rated commits since 2000: Where Cormani McClain and Winston Watkins Jr. rank

Buffs Wire: FB - REPORT: Ex-Florida QB signee Jaden Rashada rumored to be visiting Colorado

Buffs Wire: FB - Travis Hunter lands on ESPN's early 2023 All-America team predictions

Cheers!

A defense in shambles, not converting on offensive rebounds, the final turnover, head coach Tad Boyle pointed to many facets of the Buffs performance that produced tonight’s outcome.

More on tonight’s game:

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Boyle discusses his frustrations on tonight's game, the struggles of Simpson and the strides of Hammond III.

The Pac-12 on Friday terminated the employment of two senior executives, including the president of the Pac-12 Networks, for failing to disclose overpayments by a media distribution partner to the networks that made the annual revenue appear more robust than it was.

Commissioner George Kliavkoff carried out the dismissals with approval of the Pac-12 Board of Directors (the university presidents) and following an investigation by an independent, outside legal firm.

The conference did not identify the executives.

However, soon after the Pac-12 staff was informed of the situation, two names were removed from the staff directory: Pac-12 Networks president Mark Shuken and CFO Brent Willman, who oversees finances for both networks and conference operations.


A source confirmed they were the executives terminated.

The distribution partner, also unidentified, claims the overpayments totaled $50 million over the course of years, potentially impacting Pac-12 athletic department budgets in the future. (ESPN and Fox are not Pac-12 Networks distribution partners.)

Next up #4 Stanford..3 PM MT. Sunday.

Javon Ruffin (and Greg Gerhardt) not dressed for tonight's game against the Huskies. According to Pat Rooney, Ruffin is dealing with a minor knee injury. Jalen Gabbidon is dressed and was warming up, but is wearing a pretty hefty knee brace.

More Washington, 11-8, 3-5 in the Pac-12, sturdy defense as we saw a lot of that against the Buffs back in December. Not the best shooters on the road, it'll be key for Colorado to maintain pressure throughout.

Shooters to watch on the Huskies --> Senior forward Keion Brooks, Jr., leads Washington at 16.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, ranking in the top five in the Pac-12 in both categories. Cole Bajema averages 10.0 points per game and Braxton Meah is averaging 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds.

Tonight's starters:
KJ Simpson
J'Vonne Hadley
Nique Clifford
Tristan da Silva
Lawson Lovering

UW
Cole Bajema
Keyon Manifield
Noah Williams
Keion Brooks Jr.
Braxton Meah

Late last month, Amazon debuted "Coach Prime", a four-part documentary series on the 2022 Jackson State season and, as the title implies, Deion Sanders

I watched all four episodes of the show and wrote about some of my biggest thoughts and takeaways -- especially with how what was shown on the series applies to Deion as a coach and what he might be able to do at Colorado

AP Poll has our women's basketball team in the top 25. I can't remember the last time they were in the top 25, but it's been a while. 15 -3 right now and honestly should be 16-2 and ranked much higher. They are also #21 in RPI. Likely looking at a #5 or #6 seed in the NCAA if they can keep this pace. Outside of the epic women's soccer team collapse, this has been a strong year for women's sports. I did not see this team returning to the NCAA with the lack of depth in the front court, but they have overcome it by doubling down with the guards and keeping them out of foul trouble for the most part (game @Utah aside). Foreman has transitioned from a hot/cold volume shooter, to a reliable shooter who now plays defense. Didn't see that coming. Back court is now legit because of it. Still not very good on the wing and that will probably keep them from making a deep run.

BZ: FB - Football recruiting: 5-star cornerback Cormani McClain commits to CU Buffs

BZ: FB - Assistant coach Gary Harrell filling key roles on new CU Buffs football staff

BZ: MBB - Losing streak reaches three as Colorado men’s basketball falls to Washington

BZ: MBB - CU Buffs men’s basketball notes: Javon Ruffin sidelined in loss against UW

BZ: WBB - Women’s basketball: CU Buffs to face former teammate Peanut Tuitele

BZ: MBB - Game day notes: Tad Boyle headed to Greeley Central HS athletics Hall of Fame

CU AD: MBB - Buffs Rally Comes Up Short As CU Falls To Washington

CU AD: WBB - No. 24 Buffs Head to the Bay

CU AD: TEN - Women's Tennis Opens Spring Season Friday At Home

CUATG Blog: FB - **BOOM** CU lands a commitment from Cormani McClain, the No. 1 cornerback in the nation, and one of the top ten overall prospects out of the Recruiting Class of 2023 - Cormani McClain – DB + Carter Stoutmire – DB + Anthony “Deuce” Roberson – WR (Junior College) (PWO) + Jacob Page – WR

Ralphie Report: FB - Colorado lands top 2023 defensive recruit Cormani McClain after flipping from Miami

Ralphie Report: FB - Podcast: Deion Sanders adds more starters from the transfer portal (Plus, Tad Boyle could really use a 5-star wing on this team)

DP: FB - Breaking down CU Buffs’ nationally ranked transfer class: Coach Prime’s bringing blue chips to Boulder

Yahoo Sports: FB - Coach Prime faces the pain: Deion Sanders’ 2023 Colorado football schedule is absolutely brutal

Buffs Wire: FB - WATCH: Shedeur Sanders gets work in with new Buffs receivers

Buffs Wire: FB - Social media reacts to Cormani McClain becoming a Buffalo

Ducks Wire: Who has the toughest 2023 schedule in the Pac-12 conference?

Cheers!

Reminder it will be released on the PAC 12 network at 11:00 MT today. I am sure like most everything 411 will leak before.

Las Vegas would have been better.
Pac-12 Networks on the move

The conference announced last spring that it would seek an alternative location for its production studios once the pricey lease in San Francisco expired in the summer of 2023.

On Wednesday, the location of the new facility became public: The East Bay city of San Ramon, which isn’t far from the Pac-12’s former, longtime home in Walnut Creek.

The 42,000-square foot office space will house the production studios needed for the networks, in whatever form they take — a streaming-only platform seems likely — during the next media rights cycle.

This guy just never lived up to what so many thought he might. We went after him and I remember guys being upset that he chose Boise over us. Very spotty career so far.

BZ: MBB - UW rematch offers Colorado men’s basketball another chance to get right at home

BZ: FB - Football: CU Buffs’ full 2023 schedule announced

BZ: WBB - Women’s basketball: Tayanna Jones embracing intangibles for No. 24 CU Buffs

CU AD: FB - Pac-12 Announces 2023 League Football Schedules

CU AD: SKI - Hammergaard, Boee Medal At World University Games

CU AD: T&F - Buffaloes Head To Air Force

CU AD: VB - Perry Earns Student Leader of the Year Award

CUATG Blog: FB - The Athletic: “Colorado’s quest for Deion Sanders: A network with clout, a ‘secret weapon’ and two anxious months” + CU 2023 football schedule released: “Deion Sanders certainly won’t be easing into his tenure” + CU Press Release …

CUATG Blog: FB - Pac-12 Notes – Post-season - Wilner: Pac-12 schedules have “competitive balance” + ESPN: Teams which benefitted most from Transfer Portal (no surprise that CU made the list)

Yahoo Sports: FB - Coach Prime’s first Pac-12 home game with Colorado will be against USC

9 News: FB - Here's the 2023 schedule for Coach Prime's CU Buffaloes (The last time both Nebraska and CSU were on the Buffs’ home schedule was in 2005)

Buffs Wire: FB - An early look at Colorado football's 2023 schedule

Buffs Wire: FB - 5 things to know about Colorado's 2023 schedule

Buffs Wire: FB - Too-early Colorado football game-by-game predictions for 2023

Cheers!

Looks like they are adapting to the snow just fine.

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Craig and I touch on Colorado's developing roster, some notable 2024s stopping by CU this and next weekend and Buffs men's basketball:


Craig and I will be coming out with a video and roundtable covering the 2023 schedule. Games of interest, toughest matchups, our win/loss prediction and more!

Is tonight’s game being played? If so, is it televised?

A look here: