04-20-2012, 08:28 AM
Wilner didn't go into specifics, like mentioning letting Lupoi go, but the conclusion is the same: California isn't going to raise the money it needs with a mediocre football program, and it takes great talent to win. Making the Spring Game a real game to increase program interest might have worked a little bit had Tedsel not raised his giant middle finger to Cal fans by closing all Spring practices, including to the media.
People like 71Bear can get all righteous over what a bad guy Lupoi is and how California is better off without him, but just like California doesn't have the luxury of having its own stadium if it can't pay for it, neither does California have the luxury of letting guys like Lupoi go, no matter what a douche he might be. When you are taking public funds to pay for a stadium that hosts a sport the university and its constituency hardly cares about, you have no right whatsoever to be picky. If someone can deliver results and produce value, you keep him. When your debt is paid off, then you can hirer the model citizen.
Like it or not, Lupoi was the key to pushing California's football program to a level it could generate the demand to pay off its debt so it doesn't come off the backs of tax payers. Might another guy be able to recruit like Lupoi? Maybe. But given how rare elite recruiters are, and given Lupoi was a California alum, it is highly doubtful. Might a new coach be able to create more demand for ESP commitments? Yes. But Cal doesn't have the base of support to push for and pay a proven, elite coach to excite anyone.Â
On the ESP issue itself, you would have thought California's leadership might have learned a thing or two from the Raiders' PSL fiasco. Thankfully for the Bares, the club seating is on the side opposite the TV cameras see. They won't be able to see all the empty seats at the 50 yd line as a result of the fact California can't sell enough ESP seats, so they remain empty because California can't sell them on a per game basis and still maintain pricing integrity for the poor saps who buy ESP seats.Â
They actually did this at AT&T park. They sold seats to donors for 2x that they later sold to non-donors for x. It's amazing how truly incompetent the people in California's AD are. They are so bad, one might conclude there is willful intent to have it this way.
People like 71Bear can get all righteous over what a bad guy Lupoi is and how California is better off without him, but just like California doesn't have the luxury of having its own stadium if it can't pay for it, neither does California have the luxury of letting guys like Lupoi go, no matter what a douche he might be. When you are taking public funds to pay for a stadium that hosts a sport the university and its constituency hardly cares about, you have no right whatsoever to be picky. If someone can deliver results and produce value, you keep him. When your debt is paid off, then you can hirer the model citizen.
Like it or not, Lupoi was the key to pushing California's football program to a level it could generate the demand to pay off its debt so it doesn't come off the backs of tax payers. Might another guy be able to recruit like Lupoi? Maybe. But given how rare elite recruiters are, and given Lupoi was a California alum, it is highly doubtful. Might a new coach be able to create more demand for ESP commitments? Yes. But Cal doesn't have the base of support to push for and pay a proven, elite coach to excite anyone.Â
On the ESP issue itself, you would have thought California's leadership might have learned a thing or two from the Raiders' PSL fiasco. Thankfully for the Bares, the club seating is on the side opposite the TV cameras see. They won't be able to see all the empty seats at the 50 yd line as a result of the fact California can't sell enough ESP seats, so they remain empty because California can't sell them on a per game basis and still maintain pricing integrity for the poor saps who buy ESP seats.Â
They actually did this at AT&T park. They sold seats to donors for 2x that they later sold to non-donors for x. It's amazing how truly incompetent the people in California's AD are. They are so bad, one might conclude there is willful intent to have it this way.