Cal AD Addresses Realignment as Pac-4 Possibilities Swirl

Are Cal and Stanford still hoping for an ACC bid? Is the American conference about to merge with the Pac-12?

Cal athletic director Jim Knowlton addressed the pressing issue of Pac-12 realignment on Tuesday as reports and speculation provide hints as to where Cal, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State might end up next year.

The latest speculation is that the four remaining Pac-12 schools -- Cal, Stanford, Washington State and Oregon State -- might merge with the American Athletic Conference (AAC).  

Or maybe the Pac-12 will add just a few AAC schools? 

Or is it only Washington State and Oregon State that might join the AAC, with Cal and Stanford still holding out hope they can join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)? The Bay Area schools are only one vote short of gaining approval to join the ACC, and maybe they believe they can convince one of the four schools who voted no (Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina, North Carolina State) to change its stance. 

Or would Cal and/or Stanford decide to become independents for a year to see what else shakes out, while Oregon State and Washington State join the Mountain West?

Or would Stanford leave Cal behind in a move the Cardinal makes?

Or is Oliver Luck, hired by the Pac-12 as a consultant, working a completely different angle?

Adding to the confusion is the fact that the common abbreviations for the ACC and AAC are so similar.

Then there is the issue of how basketball and NCAA tournament revenue might figure into these decisions.  Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News provides a detailed report on how the NCAA basketball tournament money might benefit the remaining four Pac-12 schools if they stick together.

Here are Knowlton's first few paragraphs of his periodic statement on the state of Cal athletics.

I would like to begin this month's newsletter by addressing the uncertainty around conference realignment. As I am sure you are aware, eight member institutions of the Pac-12 have announced they will be leaving the conference next summer. This happened very quickly, and we have been working tirelessly to map out the next step for Cal Athletics. I am grateful for the leadership of Chancellor Christ and UC President Michael Drake as we thoroughly examine all of the options for our future.

President Drake asked that we share this note with you:

"I want to assure the Berkeley community that ever since the initial changes in the Pac-12's membership, I have been working in close partnership with Chancellor Christ and A.D. Knowlton to ensure that Cal Athletics will continue to be an integral contributor to the university's excellence. We know that time is of the essence, and while challenges remain, I am optimistic they will be surmounted."

This is an extremely complex process, and while we are striving to find a solution as soon as we can, we are also being as thoughtful and thorough as possible to set the most optimal course for our program, our student-athletes, and our future.

Not much new here, but at least it is good to hear from the AD.

Click here for Knowlton's entire report.

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