[Mick]

I was at a session with Howard Wolf recently where he shared (in response to a question I asked) that the Board of Trustees is spending $300M over the next 7-9 years to subsidize the Athletic Department. Condoleeza Rice told them that is what it will cost to balance the budget for AD activities in the ACC environment with Stanford refunding 70% of the Tier 1 media rights and they agreed. That says a lot to me about the commitment of the BoT to big time athletics.

Has anybody else hear that we got an invite to join the B1G before UW and Oregon?  It appears in the vacumn of leadership in the form of Arillaga and the University President, Muir and Tara's opposition to joining the B1G prevailed.  If true, what a gigantic mistake.

Not sure where you heard that; however, I do not believe it is true. 

First, Fox was the key player in the discussions.  They aren’t interested in enhancing the academic reputation of their partner conference.  They are only interested in selling commercial time on their telecasts.  At this time, Stanford would not have moved the needle enough to pique Fox’s interest.  

Secondly, Stanford would have needed a partner to join with them.  Had Notre Dame been a realistic possibility, that would have changed the dynamic, Fox would have immediately made a play for the two schools.  Of course, the Irish do not need the Big Ten.  They are doing fine as an independent.  The only other potential partner was Cal and that was a big non-starter.  

Third, Oregon and Washington were always the target but they had to wait until things fell apart before joining the Big Ten.  With Phil Knight in Eugene, a traditionally strong program in a good-sized TV market in Seattle and two very attractive football programs, why not? 

No, Stanford was not a player.  The proof is in the pudding - Stanford has been relegated to a second tier conference with only a 30% share of TV revenue. That tells us about the level of interest in the program from those who control the future of college football (Fox and Disney).

Fourth, ESPN reported that USC and UCLA approached the B1G, not the other way around. I don't see Stanford making the first move under any circumstances.

[Mick]

I was at a session with Howard Wolf recently where he shared (in response to a question I asked) that the Board of Trustees is spending $300M over the next 7-9 years to subsidize the Athletic Department. Condoleeza Rice told them that is what it will cost to balance the budget for AD activities in the ACC environment with Stanford refunding 70% of the Tier 1 media rights and they agreed. That says a lot to me about the commitment of the BoT to big time athletics.

Has anybody else hear that we got an invite to join the B1G before UW and Oregon?  It appears in the vacumn of leadership in the form of Arillaga and the University President, Muir and Tara's opposition to joining the B1G prevailed.  If true, what a gigantic mistake.

Not sure where you heard that; however, I do not believe it is true. 

First, Fox was the key player in the discussions.  They aren’t interested in enhancing the academic reputation of their partner conference.  They are only interested in selling commercial time on their telecasts.  At this time, Stanford would not have moved the needle enough to pique Fox’s interest.  

Secondly, Stanford would have needed a partner to join with them.  Had Notre Dame been a realistic possibility, that would have changed the dynamic, Fox would have immediately made a play for the two schools.  Of course, the Irish do not need the Big Ten.  They are doing fine as an independent.  The only other potential partner was Cal and that was a big non-starter.  

Third, Oregon and Washington were always the target but they had to wait until things fell apart before joining the Big Ten.  With Phil Knight in Eugene, a traditionally strong program in a good-sized TV market in Seattle and two very attractive football programs, why not? 

No, Stanford was not a player.  The proof is in the pudding - Stanford has been relegated to a second tier conference with only a 30% share of TV revenue. That tells us about the level of interest in the program from those who control the future of college football (Fox and Disney).

Fourth, ESPN reported that USC and UCLA approached the B1G, not the other way around. I don't see Stanford making the first move under any circumstances.