[needle]

The Seattle Times gathered public records like texts and emails from public university leaders in Washington and Oregon that somewhat hazily document the dissolution of the Pac-12. 

It's clear the UW president, Cauce, and UW AD, Cohen, were never on board with the Apple proposal as presented this past summer:

 But the next morning, when Kliavkoff presents the offer, it seems no one is pleased.

Cauce and then-UW athletic director Jen Cohen begin texting before the virtual meeting even ends. 

Cohen: “this isn’t going to work”

Cauce: “It’s not what we wanted for sure.”

Cohen: “he went backwards on benefits of this since friday”

Cauce: “We need to weigh against other options. But yes not what we wanted”

Cohen: “its not close. this is bad !”

Two days after that presentation, this version of events has Cauce double-dealing.

 On Aug. 3, the activity starts early.

At 12:59 a.m., Pac-12 Vice President Erik Hardenbergh emails the presidents the terms of the Apple agreement, financial modeling of the deal and a comparison to the Big 12’s deal. All the documents are sent as links on private Pac-12 sites, not as attachments, shielding them from public disclosure.

At 5:37 a.m. Stanford’s Tessier-Lavigne asks Cauce to call him, saying he has a few thoughts.

But here is where Cauce’s dual imperatives — try to keep the Pac-12 together, but find the best deal for UW — become clear.

Cauce spends the day simultaneously reassuring her Pac-12 colleagues, fielding pitches from Apple, coordinating with Oregon and reaching out to the Big Ten.

At 7 a.m. she texts Oregon President John Karl Scholz to say they should talk.

At 7:12 a.m. she texts Santa Ono, president of the University of Michigan, perhaps the marquee school of the Big Ten. Ono responds “it is important” for them to talk and the chair of the Big Ten’s Council of Presidents will be reaching out.

Pretty interesting story.

Inside UW’s breakup with the Pac-12, and the conference’s frantic, final days | The Seattle Times

Below is the link to the texts between MTL and the UW prez. 

FWLIW, Stanford was on board with adding San Diego State to the Pac after Colorado left. Unclear if Kal agreed:

Cauce-Tessier-Lavigne (Stanford) text messages - DocumentCloud

[needle]

The Seattle Times gathered public records like texts and emails from public university leaders in Washington and Oregon that somewhat hazily document the dissolution of the Pac-12. 

It's clear the UW president, Cauce, and UW AD, Cohen, were never on board with the Apple proposal as presented this past summer:

 But the next morning, when Kliavkoff presents the offer, it seems no one is pleased.

Cauce and then-UW athletic director Jen Cohen begin texting before the virtual meeting even ends. 

Cohen: “this isn’t going to work”

Cauce: “It’s not what we wanted for sure.”

Cohen: “he went backwards on benefits of this since friday”

Cauce: “We need to weigh against other options. But yes not what we wanted”

Cohen: “its not close. this is bad !”

Two days after that presentation, this version of events has Cauce double-dealing.

 On Aug. 3, the activity starts early.

At 12:59 a.m., Pac-12 Vice President Erik Hardenbergh emails the presidents the terms of the Apple agreement, financial modeling of the deal and a comparison to the Big 12’s deal. All the documents are sent as links on private Pac-12 sites, not as attachments, shielding them from public disclosure.

At 5:37 a.m. Stanford’s Tessier-Lavigne asks Cauce to call him, saying he has a few thoughts.

But here is where Cauce’s dual imperatives — try to keep the Pac-12 together, but find the best deal for UW — become clear.

Cauce spends the day simultaneously reassuring her Pac-12 colleagues, fielding pitches from Apple, coordinating with Oregon and reaching out to the Big Ten.

At 7 a.m. she texts Oregon President John Karl Scholz to say they should talk.

At 7:12 a.m. she texts Santa Ono, president of the University of Michigan, perhaps the marquee school of the Big Ten. Ono responds “it is important” for them to talk and the chair of the Big Ten’s Council of Presidents will be reaching out.

Pretty interesting story.

Inside UW’s breakup with the Pac-12, and the conference’s frantic, final days | The Seattle Times

Below is the link to the texts between MTL and the UW prez. 

FWLIW, Stanford was on board with adding San Diego State to the Pac after Colorado left. Unclear if Kal agreed:

Cauce-Tessier-Lavigne (Stanford) text messages - DocumentCloud