Drama rises for UC Board of Regents and their stance toward UCLA leaving Pac-12
Jon Wilner might be right, but most people think he’s wrong. That point aside, Wilner is a well-sourced, well-connected reporter and columnist. He’s not infallible or above questioning, but he always says something based on what he thinks is the most accurate reading or assessment of a situation.
He could be wrong about UCLA’s move to the Big Ten, and how difficult it will actually become, but he regularly comes up with a line of thought and argumentation which is bolstered by specific details. He could be interpreting those details incorrectly, but he thinks he has an understanding of what is going on behind the scenes.
On Wednesday, the UC Board of Regents held another meeting on UCLA and the Big Ten. A lot of people felt that the day’s proceedings did nothing to slow down the Bruins’ move to the Big Ten, or at least that it posed no fresh institutional or structural roadblocks. Wilner disagreed, and set off a wild reaction on Pac-12 Twitter (California college sports Twitter?).
We’re going to walk through the various tweets and details of this spicy and intriguing story:
THE STORY
Do the UC Regents have the authority to overturn UCLA's decision to join the Big Ten? It sure seems that way, based on the general counsel's comments:https://t.co/BTrKYtfWEV
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 18, 2022
THE TWEET THAT STARTED IT ALL
If you had gamed out a scenario in which UCLA was forced to remain in the Pac-12, the first step would have been exactly what unfolded today at the UC regents meeting
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 17, 2022
THE EXPLANATION
To be clear: I'm not suggesting the regents necessarily *will* attempt to reverse the decision. But the relevant exchange was about whether they had the authority from a procedural standpoint. And it's pretty apparent they do. https://t.co/yp00nhiZCC
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 18, 2022
DETAILS
Charlie Robinson, UCOP general counsel: "For this particular matter, the regents could say, 'We want to act and therefore we do not want the president or chancellors to act in this area,' and you could simply assert that."
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 17, 2022
MORE DETAILS
Thurmond: "I'm very concerned about the financial impact to Cal-Berkeley and to make sure whatever new revenue might be achieved envisions a scenario to help offset (Cal's) need"
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 17, 2022
INTERESTING NOTE
Regent to watch: John Perez, former chair, former speaker of CA assembly and Cal grad
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 17, 2022
COUNTERPOINTS FROM OTHER ANALYSTS
The regent's five star recruit???? An up and comer??? If anything were going to happen beyond some vocalized complaining the prez of the board would be there. See Newsom anywhere? Nope.
— Tony Siracusa (@TonyBruin) August 17, 2022
MORE COUNTERPOINTS
Jon has been the single best writer for the Pac 10/12 for over a decade now. Promoting what amounts to a conspiracy theory is truly shocking; if you're going to float that the regents will kill this, also lay out that this violates their charter. Its Armageddon if they try.
— Pac 0 (@wstrojan) August 18, 2022
LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTING
UPDATED STORY: UC leaders say 'all options are on the table' as they weigh fighting UCLA's Big Ten move https://t.co/6DCZ9MNZUP
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) August 18, 2022
CIRCLING BACK
It is abundantly clear to me that neither Drake, Block or even the Regents truly understood the chain of command. Assumption was made about the ‘91 decision, and it wasn’t entirely accurate
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 18, 2022
THE ODDS OF UCLA STAYING IN THE PAC-12
Given the developments at the UC Regents meeting and clarity over the board's authority, UCLA's move to the Big Ten cannot be view as a certainty. I believe the likelihood of a reversal is very low – probably 10-15%. But that's not 0%
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 18, 2022
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF UCLA DOES STAY IN THE PAC-12
And what happens *if* the Bruins don't make the move? The Big Ten could simply grab Stanford and make it a private school pairing: The B1G gets a foothold in the Bay Area, and the Pac-12 gets to retain a connection to L.A.
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 18, 2022
TEXAS?!
My outside-the-box thought is the B1G regroups and then makes the boldest play imaginable: It goes after Texas. (Assuming Notre Dame holds firm as an Independent, which I believe will be the case as long as Jack Swarbrick remains the AD.)
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 18, 2022
