[quote='RUScarlets' pid='18438184' dateline='1662987341']
It made a lot more sense to add USC and Stanford had the B1G initiated. Would have been a cleaner split and would have still respected the public institutions and markets existing in the PAC10. But when the travel is so burdensome and you have a chance to knock out two birds with one stone, they went with UCLA. More than likely the two LA institutions moved in lockstep for this very reason, and blindsided the rest of their conference mates as it so happened.
It's all moot, because I think Stanford and Cal are going eventually. Whatever the holdup is, the travel is significantly alleviated for incumbent B1G schools, leaving the athletes with one west coast trip in conference play per year if that.
Stanford I understand, but Cal? They may make the academic grade but their football and BB programs have not been good, and they have enormous athletic department debt that they are paying interest only until 2032.
[quote]"Stadium debt already absorbs 20 percent of intercollegiate athletics' annual income, or roughly $18 million of its $89 million budget. And that pays only the interest.
Cal won't start paying down the principal until 2032, when its yearly payments rise to $26 million, then $37 million, before tapering off in 2051. After a brief respite, Cal will owe a lump sum of $82 million in 2053 alone. Then it will have six decades to pay off the final 17 percent, or $75 million."[/quote]
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1680...erspective