You have to admit that Larry's line of BS was amazing! Good liars are hard to see through. You don't really know the level of their deceit until after the damage is done. As a manager, it has happened to me, too.
Bingo... This sounds like a sensible woman who knows it is good for her and her community to support sports. WSU has basically a monopoly on national level sports in Eastern WA and northern ID. Might as well exploit the resources you have available as the President. Education is important, but so is regional entertainment
She's an interesting case. 70 years old is pretty late for accepting the presidency. She lasted only a year and a half in her previous job as president of Utah State. Left in a cloud of lawsuits filed by athletic dept. staff claiming wrongful termination (relative to sweeping allegations of sexual assault by athletes under the rug), transgender housing controversies, and audits of her own excessive spending on presidential perks. Not a glowing report card. Let's hope she does better at WSU.
Cantwell hit on an important ideological point here: Sports, especially high testosterone "alpha male" sports like football, are most supported by Red states in the south and midwest, not really the Blue northeast states of NJ, NY, RI, CT and MA which have always been notable for a lack of college football success in spite of the population size and wealth. Blue states (generalizing to the majority) are more concerned with other ideological topics such as DEI and Marxism, than something fun like sports. It is an observation. I do not understand the psyche of the Far Left so have no opinions on why this is.
Football is a meritocracy. It's 100% male dominated. It's violent and without compassion. It's a gladiator sport and immune to DEI and Karl Marx. That's why there's a silent war against in on the west coast and why I find Cantwell so intriguing.
You have bought into the kool aid. Universities teach rejection of POV you disagree with; with the mega billions some of these schools have, why aren't they free?
The issue isn't money, it is what is done with it.
If higher ed is indeed the common good they talk about, certainly state universities and community colleges should be free to state residents. The land they have is state land, they're not paying rent on it. The big topic which is not addressed in higher ed and no president wants to touch it, is the cost. That's what's keeping more and more kids away from college. Yes, there are other reasons, but the big one is cost. I know a lot of high school kids, trust me it's cost.
She, ".....spends 50% of her time on athletics." Ninety-nine percent of the students at WSU are students, not athletes but she is spending fifty percent of her time on the affairs of the one percent.
The affairs of the community at large. There are tens, if not hundreds of thousands of fans in the WSU region that depend on that school for sports entertainment throughout the year. Students and faculty do as well. The players are the product, the customers are the fans. Seems obvious
Yes she did and that is my error of omission. Regarding the impact of a university, it should clearly be borne in mind that the primary reason for its existence is to educate. Any ancillary effects are frosting on the cake.
I like President Cantwell - a lot. Seems the right person at the right time for Wazzu. Her comments about the grief following the Pac12 implosion are revealing of true pain - and I know our Oregon State brethren have felt same. I feel for them and will cheer for them at the new conference rises from the ashes.
"...we’re under no illusion that we should be back in the old days of the Pac-12."
This is a good self-reflective comment on her part. I think the New Pac needs to put focus on finding their own niche. There are a bunch of retailers who have operated the same way. WinCo Foods is regional in the West. In-N-Out has historically been regional West. And, so on.
Who is the core customer for New Pac? What is the most effective marketing to them? How can we demonstrate purchase/viewership value? Don't overstretch your resources chasing slim possibilities.
We see OSU, WSU, Cal, Stanford and UCLA longing for the old days. That's 5 quality programs from one conference who now need to find their own niche because their programs have been severely damaged, and your only response is: "tv viewership is up."
For OSU/WSU they should lean into being a regional brand. Cal, Stanford, UCLA have national brands academically, so they probably view their athletics differently as well. TV viewership is up according to Nielsen ratings, and not just because they are including more viewing sources than 2-3 years ago. The old source, like-vs-like, is also up.
OSU/WSU will always be a cipher east of the Rockies. Part of that is time zone. Part of it is history. Part of it is branding. So, like many regional retailers, build on strengths and don't waste resources chasing slim possibilities. Reinforce your loyal customers.
Cal, Stanford and UCLA view their athletics differently? WTH are you talking about? Either you're completely tone deaf to CFB in 2026, or can't admit the massive damage being done to CFB programs around the country, esp on the west coast. Stanford, Cal and UCLA have been wrecked in every metric (results on the field, attendance, recruiting, revenue streams, branding, etc. Yes, UCLA is getting more money but so what? it's a disaster everywhere else. You just keep your eyes closed and ears plugged and I'll stick with Prez Cantwell to help figure this out.
If they didn't view themselves differently, they would have hung around to be part of the New Pac.
Folks in Corvallis and Pullman view the college football world thru an old lens. Unless they adapt to new circumstances it will continue to bite them in the arse. Appears the eyes need a new lens for those fan bases.
If the metrics are down for Stanford, Cal, UCLA, they would have been more a disaster if they had stayed.
I'm happy for anyone whose conference affiliation isn't SEC. Not a redhot (greenhot?) Oregon fan, but I do get tired of the absence of self-reflection and accountability that seems to be part of OSU followers. It's "never our fault" seems to be the mantra. I enjoy strong fandom from any fanbase, but it just gets old.
Cig has done a wonderful job with mature players from the transfer portal. BYU could learn some things from him.
West Coast Economy is about computers, you know that machine on everybody's desk across the nation and world. The hardware, software everything developed in the bay area. The east coast is about Legacy money and hedge funds and yeah College sports. The economy that's driving our country right now was developed in the West, not the Deep South, not the East Coast, not the Midwest.
Look like a smart hire for WSU. Interesting comments about the West Coast should be up in arms. I wonder if Ferguson, Kotek, and Newsome would push these issues.
I see “student athlete” used a lot in this conversation. Why not a stronger question about that? In BBall and now Football, especially for the upper schools, where is the “student” part. The NIL money being paid, and kids like Chet Holmgren or say Dante Moore, only one, two years in school, pushes the “student” part.
Too bad her and more common-sense Pac 12 college Presidents weren't around 5 years ago.
It's rather amazing the pac12 presidents hired Larry and George, two amazingly incompetent people.
You have to admit that Larry's line of BS was amazing! Good liars are hard to see through. You don't really know the level of their deceit until after the damage is done. As a manager, it has happened to me, too.
Bingo... This sounds like a sensible woman who knows it is good for her and her community to support sports. WSU has basically a monopoly on national level sports in Eastern WA and northern ID. Might as well exploit the resources you have available as the President. Education is important, but so is regional entertainment
Wazzu is in good hands. Go Cougs!
Too funny. Hands that don’t want to compete.
Do you call the product your team put out on the field last Friday evening competing?
Well, we know what you do with your hands in the shower when no one's looking.
John: yesterday you wrote an article about my bosses, bosses, boss. And today you wrote an article about my other bosses bosses boss.
We are practically related at this point.
Great interview.
Let me know where the family reunion is.
LOL!
It sounds as if two very smart women are in charge at WSU and OSU, the flagship members of the new Pac-12.
Bright people are always a plus. Excellent example of that here John. Nicely done.
She's an interesting case. 70 years old is pretty late for accepting the presidency. She lasted only a year and a half in her previous job as president of Utah State. Left in a cloud of lawsuits filed by athletic dept. staff claiming wrongful termination (relative to sweeping allegations of sexual assault by athletes under the rug), transgender housing controversies, and audits of her own excessive spending on presidential perks. Not a glowing report card. Let's hope she does better at WSU.
Cantwell hit on an important ideological point here: Sports, especially high testosterone "alpha male" sports like football, are most supported by Red states in the south and midwest, not really the Blue northeast states of NJ, NY, RI, CT and MA which have always been notable for a lack of college football success in spite of the population size and wealth. Blue states (generalizing to the majority) are more concerned with other ideological topics such as DEI and Marxism, than something fun like sports. It is an observation. I do not understand the psyche of the Far Left so have no opinions on why this is.
Let me highlight one: compassion over greed.
Football is a meritocracy. It's 100% male dominated. It's violent and without compassion. It's a gladiator sport and immune to DEI and Karl Marx. That's why there's a silent war against in on the west coast and why I find Cantwell so intriguing.
You have bought into the kool aid. Universities teach rejection of POV you disagree with; with the mega billions some of these schools have, why aren't they free?
The issue isn't money, it is what is done with it.
If higher ed is indeed the common good they talk about, certainly state universities and community colleges should be free to state residents. The land they have is state land, they're not paying rent on it. The big topic which is not addressed in higher ed and no president wants to touch it, is the cost. That's what's keeping more and more kids away from college. Yes, there are other reasons, but the big one is cost. I know a lot of high school kids, trust me it's cost.
She, ".....spends 50% of her time on athletics." Ninety-nine percent of the students at WSU are students, not athletes but she is spending fifty percent of her time on the affairs of the one percent.
We are unthinkably off the tracks!!!
The affairs of the community at large. There are tens, if not hundreds of thousands of fans in the WSU region that depend on that school for sports entertainment throughout the year. Students and faculty do as well. The players are the product, the customers are the fans. Seems obvious
And, the regional economic impact around Pullman.
One small point... she did say "mental time." Not sure if that makes a difference, but it may.
Yes she did and that is my error of omission. Regarding the impact of a university, it should clearly be borne in mind that the primary reason for its existence is to educate. Any ancillary effects are frosting on the cake.
You are correct and I do not believe it makes a significant difference.
I like President Cantwell - a lot. Seems the right person at the right time for Wazzu. Her comments about the grief following the Pac12 implosion are revealing of true pain - and I know our Oregon State brethren have felt same. I feel for them and will cheer for them at the new conference rises from the ashes.
I'm so looking forward to the new-look PAC being my major sporting focus once again.
"...we’re under no illusion that we should be back in the old days of the Pac-12."
This is a good self-reflective comment on her part. I think the New Pac needs to put focus on finding their own niche. There are a bunch of retailers who have operated the same way. WinCo Foods is regional in the West. In-N-Out has historically been regional West. And, so on.
Who is the core customer for New Pac? What is the most effective marketing to them? How can we demonstrate purchase/viewership value? Don't overstretch your resources chasing slim possibilities.
We see OSU, WSU, Cal, Stanford and UCLA longing for the old days. That's 5 quality programs from one conference who now need to find their own niche because their programs have been severely damaged, and your only response is: "tv viewership is up."
For OSU/WSU they should lean into being a regional brand. Cal, Stanford, UCLA have national brands academically, so they probably view their athletics differently as well. TV viewership is up according to Nielsen ratings, and not just because they are including more viewing sources than 2-3 years ago. The old source, like-vs-like, is also up.
OSU/WSU will always be a cipher east of the Rockies. Part of that is time zone. Part of it is history. Part of it is branding. So, like many regional retailers, build on strengths and don't waste resources chasing slim possibilities. Reinforce your loyal customers.
Cal, Stanford and UCLA view their athletics differently? WTH are you talking about? Either you're completely tone deaf to CFB in 2026, or can't admit the massive damage being done to CFB programs around the country, esp on the west coast. Stanford, Cal and UCLA have been wrecked in every metric (results on the field, attendance, recruiting, revenue streams, branding, etc. Yes, UCLA is getting more money but so what? it's a disaster everywhere else. You just keep your eyes closed and ears plugged and I'll stick with Prez Cantwell to help figure this out.
If they didn't view themselves differently, they would have hung around to be part of the New Pac.
Folks in Corvallis and Pullman view the college football world thru an old lens. Unless they adapt to new circumstances it will continue to bite them in the arse. Appears the eyes need a new lens for those fan bases.
If the metrics are down for Stanford, Cal, UCLA, they would have been more a disaster if they had stayed.
You're just bitter because Mark Cuban and Curt Cignetti are gonna do in 2 years (and much less money) what Uncle NiL and Oregon couldn't do in 25.
Karma (somebody's gotta pay).
I'm happy for anyone whose conference affiliation isn't SEC. Not a redhot (greenhot?) Oregon fan, but I do get tired of the absence of self-reflection and accountability that seems to be part of OSU followers. It's "never our fault" seems to be the mantra. I enjoy strong fandom from any fanbase, but it just gets old.
Cig has done a wonderful job with mature players from the transfer portal. BYU could learn some things from him.
West Coast Economy is about computers, you know that machine on everybody's desk across the nation and world. The hardware, software everything developed in the bay area. The east coast is about Legacy money and hedge funds and yeah College sports. The economy that's driving our country right now was developed in the West, not the Deep South, not the East Coast, not the Midwest.
Look like a smart hire for WSU. Interesting comments about the West Coast should be up in arms. I wonder if Ferguson, Kotek, and Newsome would push these issues.
Please, Keep these 3 out of it. Especially Kotek.
Good idea, great one. I would add in Idaho, Nevada, and Hawaii.
Wow! That video interview w Pres Cantwell was awesome. Loved the answer to the question at the very end. What a gem. Go Cougs! Well done John.
I see “student athlete” used a lot in this conversation. Why not a stronger question about that? In BBall and now Football, especially for the upper schools, where is the “student” part. The NIL money being paid, and kids like Chet Holmgren or say Dante Moore, only one, two years in school, pushes the “student” part.
I also highly recommend Pluribus on Apple TV. Worth finding a free month trial if you don't have it.
Go Cougs!
Chicago, Berkeley, and Wharton - this is what intellectual supremacy sounds like - well done WSU.