SDSU claim: letter to the Mountain West was only about "intent"
SDSU says their letter to Conference headquarters was only about "intent" to leave the Conference. But those in charge at the Conference said they talked to their lawyers and concluded otherwise:
....SDSU’s “intent” to leave the conference and inquiring about the flexibility in the exit terms.
The Mountain West consulted its legal counsel and wrote back, informing SDSU that it interpreted the letter as a notification of departure......would withhold its (SDSUs) 2022-23 distribution (estimated at $6 million) toward the exit fee, and de la Torre was removed from the conference’s board.
De la Torre quickly wrote back disputing the semantics, insisting SDSU had not formally withdrawn from the conference — it had merely expressed the possibility......
LINK to full article: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/story/2023-06-19/san-diego-state-sdsu-aztecs-conference-realignment-mountain-west-pac-12-june-30-deadline-letters-exit-fee
SDSU might find themselves in a financial bind for some years. I guess that makes them a perfect candidate for joining the Pac-12--welcome to their party. But if the wording of their first letter really was only about intent, it seems they have a good foot to stand on in court when, and if, it all goes to trial. This whole thing could be construed as a cash grab by the Mountain West Conference at the expense of SDSU.
This wouldn't have happened if Hoke wore his headset
End the thread right here.
Clap
Bravo!
A lot of people here would like to see both Stanford and Cal in the Big 10. Although they both fit perfectly from a cultural perspective, I think one will do fine to capture the Bay area market (my preference is Stanford). Cal would be a luxury, because I don't think you capture that much more with a second team in the same market. It's been argued that we took 2 LA teams, why not two Bay area teams? Because LA is the entertainment capital of the world. A locked down LA would bring so much to the Big 10, that it's not quantifiable. You would be STUPID not to.
Although San Diego is not as much a cultural fit, it is a big market with a big military following. Curious about the boards thoughts on picking up San Diego, to cover Southern California and Stanford or Cal to cover Northern California. Again, I would love to have both teams in the North but I think SD would generate more revenue than Cal if we already had Stanford. Plus you could probably get them cheap right now. Also, aren't there other schools in the west and east that could give you more bang than 2 Bay area schools? Arizona, Colorado, UNC, Syracuse, Miami? Thoughts on the whole expansion thing . . .
Can we trade Rutgers for Stanford? I still cant believe we added Rutgers.
NY Metro market was too large to skip.
I agree. N.Y. is too big of a piece to leave off the table. That's why I would give a hard look at Syracuse and U Conn. Unlike the Bay area, this market is big enough to have two teams in the conference. Both basketball schools but Syracuse is a brand that sells a lot of T-shirts and hats so I would go with the Orange.
Had the B1G only accepted one school from LA, then this argument would make sense: a second CA school in the north.
[one might argue that UCLA and CAL would make more sense in terms of "fit" overall although Stanford and certainly USC bring more in terms of football tradition]
But with UCLA and USC already joining the B1G, they and Stanford would definitely want CAL if Stanford were to join. It would make sense for them scheduling and otherwise. For all sports playing more than one game a week, it also makes sense re: travel expenses for visiting B1G teams.
CAL is a top-tier academic institution (and would presumably bring in the resources of the entire formidable U.C. system), so the other B1G administrations would want it on board and bring it into the consortium.
You talk about locking down LA, adding CAL + Stanford would more or less lock down California, and make the B1G a dominant player on the west coast, not just an anomaly.
They were aware they wanted to leave, just not fully aware.
No backsies, SDSU. We knew that on the playground.
What about a Mulligan? Do they get a Mulligan?
Is this about "Intent" or "Intent to Deceive"???
Is that a five, ten, or fifteen yarder?
"You're not leaving me, I'm leaving you!"
"It's not you, it's us, we don't deserve to be in the conference."
I DID NOT WITHDRAW FROM THAT CONFERENCE!
Did you tell anyone to lie? Are the allegations false?
Pretty sure this was posted already about what they said in the letter. The guy who posted it was reamed for posting it as others thought it was the same as the other post about SDSU. So this is about the 3rd post about SDSU on this blog in the last week or so.
People said the same thing when Cortes moved on the Yucatan. No one listened. Hoke's going to need a better defense.
I recommend the smallpox vaccine.
oh, but this is a *totally* different post from the initial post, and it’s not even close to the same as the second post, because that one had reposted info from pete thamel (or possibly brett mcmurphy). it’s admittedly similar to the third one, because i think that one referenced the phrase “cash grab” and also didn’t embed tweets and retweets something from the OP’s own twitter account. to quote monty python, the fourth one is right out. as is the fifth, because the fifth one tagged deion sanders and had three _completely different_ embedded tweets.
i can see why it’s hard to see the incredibly nuanced and subtle difference between all of these boring, repetitive freaking posts, is what i’m saying.
Your grumpiness indicates that your username is accurate... But get over it - SDSU is where disgraced ex-Michigan coaches go to rehab their name and retire in good standing.
The author of the letter is an idiot. If it's misunderstood then that is a shortcoming of the letter's message. They should have made it clear by simply stating that "This letter is NOT notice of separation from the conference, it is for information gathering purposes only".
perhaps it's a matter of the difference between the California State University system, and the University of California system?
Managing your finances when you're on the margins of CFB is no fun. In this whole sordid affair, I am struck by how quickly the Mountain West wanted to move on from SDSU, possibly their best overall university, e.g. pretty good football, final four basketball team. You would think that the MW would be interested in exploring what SDSU means by 'intent', instead of responding with a petulant sounding "If you don't like me, I hate you" response
SDSU's move was pretty brazen in its "I'll definitely leave, unless I can't find anything better" message. MW is trying to force their hand - you're either in or you're out.
Personally I think their attractiveness as a school is vastly overstated. It's a Cal State. Limited appeal beyond locals, and locals in that area don't really care about college sports too much.
The current metro area population of San Diego in 2023 is 3,319,000, a 0.73% increase from 2022. The metro area population of San Diego in 2022 was 3,295,000, a 0.7% increase from 2021. The metro area population of San Diego in 2021 was 3,272,000, a 0.65% increase from 2020.
Stanford, USC, UCLA, SDSU and all of California is locked, end of story. The entire west coast is California media driven. Only Seattle and Phoenix have larger metro areas than SD. Cal can come too but again I don't see the point$$$.
If SDSU did join the B1G would Brady Hoke walk to the game when they play at Michigan?
It's funny cuz it's true.
That "i hate you" just might be right. If the headquarters had to consult lawyers first, then that could be saying the wording did not obviously say SDSU was getting out right now. .Because if it was clear no lawyer would be needed to see it. This could be the MWC way of trying to hang on to money that rightfully they shouldn't
But then im not a lawyer. And who knows.
This could be the MWC way of trying to hang on to money that rightfully they shouldn't
From the article:
'One person on social media put it like this: “Why in the world would they renegotiate the pre-nup?”'
2+ months after reaching the NCAA hoops national championship game SDSU is on a road to nowhere. They overplayed their hand due to either negligence or incompetence or a smidge of both. They are apparently dying to run off with their shiny new Pac 12 girlfriend who simultaneously might be negotiating streaming rights via the Starbucks app. She may look like money but she ain't no real honey.
Meanwhile the Mountain West current wife is trying to look like they're gonna play hardball but in the end, if the girlfriend doesn't pass muster, will the MWC really refuse to let one of its signature schools back in the house?
Over here in the cheap seats I'm a proud (and somewhat smug) B1G fan!
The Starbucks streaming app is a novel approach for the Pac-12. Being asked to tip 18%, 20% or 25% every half-hour is going to frustrate viewers.
Too soon....
"Honey, I'm leaving you...as long that guy with the nice car who made eye contact at the bar lets me move in with him. But don't you dare touch my stuff. I'll let you know."
We are probably not being told the whole story (what [in]formal contact between the Pac/Big12s and SDSU has taken place already?), but it does look like SDSU overplayed its hand.
I understand the wishful thinking from their point of view (kinda wanting the divorce but to eat the anniversary cake and get off cheaply too), but pretty naiive to expect get the distribution for this past year (and cash in on the basketball tourney appearance) and a free (or discounted) pass to walk away.
The Pac-12 may stick together and decide against expansion. Or the Pac-12 may indeed invite SDSU but make a low-ball offer for an annual distribution share – reasoning the Aztecs, having nowhere else to go, have lost negotiating leverage.
I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that if you were merely exploring the options and possibilities of leaving you would say so, and do so more confidentially.