In the wake of UCLA's departure to the Big Ten Conference alongside USC, the governor of California demanded an explanation for how the move will benefit not just student athletes, but the history of their relationship with UC Berkeley.
The first duty of every public university is to the people, according to a statement from the mayor of San Francisco. UCLA must clearly explain to the public how this deal will improve the experience for all of its student-athletes, will honor its century-old partnership with UC Berkeley, and will preserve the histories, rivalries, and traditions that enrich our communities.
It was a shock to the college football world when USC and UCLA announced that they were moving to the Big Ten. The Pac-12 will begin negotiations for a new media rights agreement. UCLA's status as a public school raised eyebrows because USC is a private institution.
The president of the University of California was not involved in the discussions between UCLA and the Big Ten. The University of California Board of regents does not have to make a decision.
The financial benefits that come with a move to the Big Ten are obvious, among them is what is expected to be an expensive TV rights deal, which would help UCLA overcome a three-year debt. It would allow UCLA to compete in the Olympics.
Martin Jarmond said that he inherited a deficit with UCLA. It's difficult to just maintain when you have a large financial challenge. This move will allow us to invest in the programs that will lead to more competitive success.
More name, image and likeness opportunities for UCLA athletes are one of the reasons why the program moved to the Big Ten.
Despite UCLA's ability to make this move on their own, Newsom believes that the ripple effect could be as damaging for UC Berkeley as it will be for UCLA.
According to the Times, an idea that has been floated includes the regents imposing an exit fee that UCLA would have to pay to UC Berkeley or, alternatively, having UCLA share the Big Ten TV revenue windfall with Berkeley.