UCLA plans to move from the Pac-12 where it has been a sports institution, to the Big 10 conference. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has this to say: “Not so fast.”
Newsom and other state agencies are fighting reports that UCLA could join the Big 10 in 2024. Fox News reported that Newsom has already begun an investigation to determine what could be done to stop UCLA’s flight.
The Pac-12’s future has been thrown in disarray by the planned departures of UCLA and rival USC to the BIg 10, which is largely midwestern based, with outposts on the east coast with Rutgers and Maryland. The University of California in Berkeley is now out of commission, along with major sports teams Oregon and Washington.
UCLA would see a rise in national exposure and revenue. According to reports, the school is in deep debt. However, many are questioning the growing realignment in college athletics. Many feel they are becoming more similar to minor leagues to professional sporting events.
Newsom’s beef is that UCLA failed to notify the University of California System Board of Regents in advance of its move. It was a move that took place without their knowledge. “oversight or support.”
“I read about it (that’s how I found out),” Newsom said. “No big deal. I’m the governor of the state of California. But maybe a bigger thing is that I’m the Chair of the UC Board of Regents. It’s something I learned about. Is this a good idea? Discussion on the merits of the decision. I don’t know of anyone who has done it. It was done in isolation. It was made without supervision or support from the regents. It was done without my knowledge. “
He stated that the impact would be felt at all universities in the state and not just at UC schools.
“And (there’s) the impact more broadly, not just on the UC system, but on other universities, including Stanford and basically the Cal State system… I don’t have strong opinions on this for any reason other than as a member. The regents, we were never consulted, never asked for an opinion, and they didn’t even have the decency to give advance warning.”
Newsom also rattled off a saber regarding possible actions.
“Trust me when I say this: we’re not going to investigate. We are investigating within (and were) minutes of reading about it in the newspaper.”