Big Ten Now Is Playing Nice

There have been rumors, statements, quasi-threats, etc., circulated regarding UCLA's planned move to the Big Ten.* As the Regents' meeting date approaches, the Big Ten has apparently decided to "play nice." No threats. Friendly words. From ESPN:

Big Ten hopeful University of California regents will OK UCLA move

Adam Rittenberg

Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren is hopeful any "remaining open issues" surrounding UCLA's transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten can be resolved when the University of California regents meet Dec. 14. Warren told ESPN on Thursday that the Big Ten is respectful of the UC regents' evaluation of UCLA's intent to join the Big Ten, which was announced June 30. The Big Ten has formed "integration committees" to assist in the transition for both UCLA and USC, a private school. 

The UC regents have discussed UCLA's proposed move in several meetings but will make a final decision Dec. 14. In September, UC regents general counsel Charles Robinson said the board had the authority to block a move. One concern is the financial impact UCLA's move would have on Cal, another school in the system, which will remain in the Pac-12.

"I've been working on integration of both USC and UCLA, but we have been respectful of the process that UCLA has gone through with the California board of regents," Warren told ESPN. "We're excited about welcoming USC and UCLA into the Big Ten Conference. Hopefully, whatever the remaining open issues are that exist, they can be resolved here so we can proceed forward in the manner that we had agreed upon. "It's a major focus of our conference, to integrate them properly." Warren said the Big Ten has addressed sensitive areas such as travel, student-athlete mental health and academics, which have been raised in regents meetings and by others critical of the move...

Full story at https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35158491/big-ten-hopeful-university-california-regents-ok-ucla-move.

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*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-big-ten-rumor-mill-continues-to.html; https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-big-ten-rumor-mill-continues-to-spin.html.

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https://ia601402.us.archive.org/25/items/big-ten/play%20nice.mp3