[Farm93]

I love the UCB task force style reports because inevitably they try to benchmark Stanford.  Each report contains a pained explanation for why Stanford was included which always dances carefully around the idea that Stanford just does all things related to athletics better than UCB.

Then the reports will circle back and conclude that UCB can't possibly compete directly with Stanford because of something or other.

In this year's "Stanford, Stanford, Stanford" moment the task force noted that Stanford has 94 acres dedicated to athletics facilities.  UCB AD has limited facilities and therefore lacks the flexibility to schedule practices to avoid class conflicts.

Unlike Stanford, we do not have 94 acres of available playing fields such that their practices can be wrapped around, not in conflict with, class schedules.

So I think the 5-year excuse is built into the task force report.
Without an extensive set of facilities it will not be possible to achieve that high level of academic excellence in athletics that one might find at other institutions.

Sacramento! SOS. We need more funds to build better facilities and THAT is the key to better academic results.  Honest. 
  ::)

[Farm93]

I love the UCB task force style reports because inevitably they try to benchmark Stanford.  Each report contains a pained explanation for why Stanford was included which always dances carefully around the idea that Stanford just does all things related to athletics better than UCB.

Then the reports will circle back and conclude that UCB can't possibly compete directly with Stanford because of something or other.

In this year's "Stanford, Stanford, Stanford" moment the task force noted that Stanford has 94 acres dedicated to athletics facilities.  UCB AD has limited facilities and therefore lacks the flexibility to schedule practices to avoid class conflicts.

Unlike Stanford, we do not have 94 acres of available playing fields such that their practices can be wrapped around, not in conflict with, class schedules.

So I think the 5-year excuse is built into the task force report.
Without an extensive set of facilities it will not be possible to achieve that high level of academic excellence in athletics that one might find at other institutions.

Sacramento! SOS. We need more funds to build better facilities and THAT is the key to better academic results.  Honest. 
  ::)