[pefloresjr]

I prefer Cal and Stanford remain a pair in the same conference.  The rivalry is one of the only consistent forces energizing sports on both campuses.  However, given the changing landscape, I'm not sure it's going to matter.  I have some ambivalent feelings about whether I even want Stanford to continue in the pay to play world.   If the Pac is disappearing, my preference would be for much of the Pac to form the Western division of the Big10 and we would have a de facto Pac with the lesser part of most sports' seasons made up of rotating teams from the rest of the Big10.  But that is all based on the assumption that it is possible to remain in major college sports.  Both Cal and Stanford have large segments of their campuses and alumni who are ambivalent or hostile to the role sports play at such high level institutions.  I'm not sure we can really stay in the game without broad based support from each campus.

I thought it was interesting that there seemed to be some in the Big10 who wanted Stanford and ND as a new pair but that change would be subject to the issues raised above.  I'm sure that the Stanford fan base will never be as all in on the importance of sports/football the way that ND is.  Bottom line for me is I would be ok with separating from Cal if Stanford had a good place to go and if there are limits on the professionalization of college sports.  My hopes are not high and I expect that Stanford and Cal will probably end up in a similar place as everything shakes out over the next few years.  

Cheers,
Pete F.

[pefloresjr]

I prefer Cal and Stanford remain a pair in the same conference.  The rivalry is one of the only consistent forces energizing sports on both campuses.  However, given the changing landscape, I'm not sure it's going to matter.  I have some ambivalent feelings about whether I even want Stanford to continue in the pay to play world.   If the Pac is disappearing, my preference would be for much of the Pac to form the Western division of the Big10 and we would have a de facto Pac with the lesser part of most sports' seasons made up of rotating teams from the rest of the Big10.  But that is all based on the assumption that it is possible to remain in major college sports.  Both Cal and Stanford have large segments of their campuses and alumni who are ambivalent or hostile to the role sports play at such high level institutions.  I'm not sure we can really stay in the game without broad based support from each campus.

I thought it was interesting that there seemed to be some in the Big10 who wanted Stanford and ND as a new pair but that change would be subject to the issues raised above.  I'm sure that the Stanford fan base will never be as all in on the importance of sports/football the way that ND is.  Bottom line for me is I would be ok with separating from Cal if Stanford had a good place to go and if there are limits on the professionalization of college sports.  My hopes are not high and I expect that Stanford and Cal will probably end up in a similar place as everything shakes out over the next few years.  

Cheers,
Pete F.