Griz Fan Radio - Dr Luke Wood, president of Sacramento State joins us

[BWahlberg]

Kind of figured we could make this it's own thread in case some found it interesting. Dr Wood joined us for the whole 48 minute show. He talked about their plans, how they're funding things, and he responds to some of his most controversial comments from before. Fair warning, he wins some of us over haha.

Links here or find Griz Fan Podcast on your preferred podcasting platform.


https://tinyurl.com/6pdz3u4y

https://tinyurl.com/9sppkutr

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/griz-fan-pod/id1534827916

 

[PDXGrizzly]

I’m halfway through this and I’m not sure… there are a LOT of assumptions being made by this guy. He seems genuine, but he also screams snake oil salesman too.

 

[BWahlberg]

I’m halfway through this and I’m not sure… there are a LOT of assumptions being made by this guy. He seems genuine, but he also screams snake oil salesman too.

The dude absolutely believes in himself and in his plan. He does cherry pick some examples in it for sure.

 

[Kadeezy]

So now you see why we cautiously favor this guy over the history of “same old sac state.” He legit cares, but we are getting antsy at the same time.

 

[grizpdx406]

Great interview. It’s going to take someone like Dr. Wood if we ever want to make that jump.

 

[mthoopsfan]

I think Woods is in over his head and is basically a clown. He says dumb stuff. HIs recent interview is probably the highlight of his football season.

SS is 2-3 this season. Attendance has been: 12,000, 13,000 and 15,000.

The new stadium plan 3 miles away from campus is at Cal Expo, and would cost $171 million and seat 22,000 initially. Huh?

A win over Mercyhurst and a loss to CP in the last game. A win over 1-4 Central Arkansas.

 

[MTFanatic]

The dude absolutely believes in himself and in his plan. He does cherry pick some examples in it for sure.

Sac State is being discussed a lot, largely because of Dr Wood's comments and tactics - I would assume that is the goal. Long road ahead, but one thing that would be required is to make Sac State 'popular' (topic of conversation, garner attention, etc.) regionally and nationally - it's happening. I would also assume that there is a contingency of GRIZ fans that have similar goals as Dr Wood - maybe with different tactics because the GRIZ are fortunate enough to already be 'popular' regionally and nationally.

Cherry-picked is correct - only halfway through the radio show and I have heard Boise discussed as a 'success story' comparison, but I haven't heard anything about Idaho.

I have some fond memories of those Sacramento King teams that included Mike Bibby, and the intense playoff series with the Lakers. Too bad that was during the era when the referees were throwing games for gambling purposes....

One thing is certain, not to look ahead, we must leave no doubt when we visit Sacremento in a few weeks.

 

[SACCAT66]

I think Woods is in over his head and is basically a clown. He says dumb stuff. HIs recent interview is probably the highlight of his football season.

SS is 2-3 this season. Attendance has been: 12,000, 13,000 and 15,000.

The new stadium plan 3 miles away from campus is at Cal Expo, and would cost $171 million and seat 22,000 initially. Huh?

A win over Mercyhurst and a loss to CP in the last game. A win over 1-4 Central Arkansas.

Gonzaga Basketball went 8-20 in 1990. By 2000 they were a top 25 team, and have been ever since. Sure Basketball is different, but if you told anyone in 1990 "Gonzaga will be a top 10 team every year some day" they would have called you a clown as well. He has a tough road ahead, but he has the right attitude, and loves his school.

 

[PDXGrizzly]

Sac State is being discussed a lot, largely because of Dr Wood's comments and tactics - I would assume that is the goal. Long road ahead, but one thing that would be required is to make Sac State 'popular' (topic of conversation, garner attention, etc.) regionally and nationally - it's happening. I would also assume that there is a contingency of GRIZ fans that have similar goals as Dr Wood - maybe with different tactics because the GRIZ are fortunate enough to already be 'popular' regionally and nationally.

Cherry-picked is correct - only halfway through the radio show and I have heard Boise discussed as a 'success story' comparison, but I haven't heard anything about Idaho.

I have some fond memories of those Sacramento King teams that included Mike Bibby, and the intense playoff series with the Lakers. Too bad that was during the era when the referees were throwing games for gambling purposes....

One thing is certain, not to look ahead, we must leave no doubt when we visit Sacremento in a few weeks.

I think Sac and Boise have some built in advantages that Idaho doesn’t have. They have a larger population, a larger student body, a media market, and vision (maybe a touch naive). He is correct that Boise State is a bench mark. With Sac’s potential if they ever get community buy-in on the scale of Boise, NDSU, SDSU, state, and us it could work. If they can forge Sac into a national brand, then all bets are off.

Either way, it’s a hell of a gamble.

 

[PDXGrizzly]

The dude absolutely believes in himself and in his plan. He does cherry pick some examples in it for sure.

Also, Brint, you guys should be commended for landing that interview and asking really great questions. That was outstanding work. I could tell Kyle was journalist-ing really hard on that and you all were very prepared.

 

[GrizTexas]

I think Sac and Boise have some built in advantages that Idaho doesn’t have. They have a larger population, a larger student body, a media market, and vision (maybe a touch naive). He is correct that Boise State is a bench mark. With Sac’s potential if they ever get community buy-in on the scale of Boise, NDSU, SDSU, state, and us it could work. If they can forge Sac into a national brand, then all bets are off.

Either way, it’s a hell of a gamble.

Going to be a lot harder to get community buy-in at Sac than it was at Boise!

 

[PDXGrizzly]

Going to be a lot harder to get community buy-in at Sac than it was at Boise!

100% agree. That really is the lynchpin of the whole thing. If they can’t get it, then this whole thing flops hard. Akron on the west coast.

 

[Mavman]

I have said for years that Sac has Potential. If they could get the majority of the local area players to stay and play at Sac instead of going to MWC teams and former Pac 12 teams. (similar to UNLV)
My biggest complaint for 30 years about Nevada is they pass on local small school talent for kids from the Sac area.
This president could either hit a home run or end up with egg on his face, but he is trying something.

 

[BWahlberg]

Also, Brint, you guys should be commended for landing that interview and asking really great questions. That was outstanding work. I could tell Kyle was journalist-ing really hard on that and you all were very prepared.

Helps when you've got a washed up journalist like Kyle on your team haha.

 

[Brother Bear]

Also, Brint, you guys should be commended for landing that interview and asking really great questions. That was outstanding work. I could tell Kyle was journalist-ing really hard on that and you all were very prepared.

Props to the Dude for even coming on and participating... how many College President's would even do that? Great job Brint and team for the creativity to get him, and for him to even do it!

 

[Kadeezy]

I have said for years that Sac has Potential. If they could get the majority of the local area players to stay and play at Sac instead of going to MWC teams and former Pac 12 teams. (similar to UNLV)
My biggest complaint for 30 years about Nevada is they pass on local small school talent for kids from the Sac area.
This president could either hit a home run or end up with egg on his face, but he is trying something.

Yup, people need to understand SAC had nearly 30 years of athletics apathy. Even though Dr. Wood is all over the place with plans and promises, he's TRYING to do something.

For football, it's been a rough year of more losses than wins, but our home attendance is triple what it was from 1996-2019. That's with a rusty erector set of a stadium with no bathrooms or concessions.

Wood also got us out of the worst basketball facility in D1 in less than two years on the job by pulling financial strings all over the place. It's still in the bottom half of the BSC probably, but it's an example of him doing whatever it takes, even if very incremental in nature.

 

[GallatinGriz03]

Helps when you've got a washed up journalist like Kyle on your team hah

Also, Brint, you guys should be commended for landing that interview and asking really great questions. That was outstanding work. I could tell Kyle was journalist-ing really hard on that and you all were very prepared.

Agree with PDXGrizzly, this was a great interview. Perfect amount of GFP banter/fan smack, but you guys asked great questions and followed up on some of Dr. Woods comments to get him on the record and even tried to break some real news. I was very skeptical of Sac's plan for moving up. I still am not sure if it will work. But there is no doubt that there is belief and excitement about the program that there really hasn't been before. Count me as someone won over by Dr. Woods and his belief in his program. To me, they have very little to lose. Sac. St. has never really been or done much in the conference. At least they have energized their students and fans, generated some great press, and interest in the football team. And if they are successful, we will be asking the same thing he repeatedly said, "why not us?"

 

[FTH]

Good interview, thank you.

For Sac State students and faculty, the most frustrating aspects are the increased use of student fees for athletics and the characterization of wide-spread support for 1. these fee increases in particular and 2. an athletics upgrade gamble in general.

A high percentage of students are hurting financially and have faced recent tuition increases. There have been massive cuts in course offerings this fall semester along with professor layoffs. It's easy to confirm on-line that a lot of students wish this fall's student fee increases went instead to maintaining academic programs. The University President is granted the power to initiate fee increase and/or decrease processes. So far there has been no Administrative move to initiate such a decrease process despite widespread desire for reduction.

This fall's fee increase that students object to came about through the alternative consultation process (instead of the referendum process) which means there was no vote by the student body.

Last spring, the Administration proposed a supplemental fee for Fall '25 to save classes. It would have helped. But the students, stretched financially and angry about the upcoming fee increase (a portion of which was going to athletics), voted it down. Many considered the vote it a real referendum on the previous "alternative consultation fee increase" and celebrated the down vote as a victory for student voices. You can confirm that on-line. Had the administration empathized with the students and initiated the process to reduce the upcoming fall "alternative consultation" fee, the emotions, and perhaps the result would have been very different. Dr. Wood likely would have been cheered.

Wood's gamble, moving to FBS, may work out. As has been oft noted/hyped, this year's football squad has the #1 transfer portal class in FCS. And there is no doubt Wood cares about Sac State. But to gamble using fees from students who are hurting financially and just trying to get their classes, learn, and graduate is really tough. A related note: Wood and his brother have been very public about the millions of Sacramento community dollars rich donors have pledged to spend on this FBS gamble.

The students and faculty for the most part have nothing against football or other big-time sports. Its just that they are pained seeing student funds going to athletics instead of easing cuts in academic programs which are suffering badly.

Additional frustration comes as students and faculty are characterized as being enthusiastic about this athletic push. That's not us is the common response. Again, its nothing against athletics, its just that their academic programs are suffering. And the student body did not vote to have their monies go towards an FBS application fee!

Hornets try to remain hopeful that a reasonable recognition of all needs will be forthcoming.

 

[Kadeezy]

Good interview, thank you.

For Sac State students and faculty, the most frustrating aspects are the increased use of student fees for athletics and the characterization of wide-spread support for 1. these fee increases in particular and 2. an athletics upgrade gamble in general.

A high percentage of students are hurting financially and have faced recent tuition increases. There have been massive cuts in course offerings this fall semester along with professor layoffs. It's easy to confirm on-line that a lot of students wish this fall's student fee increases went instead to maintaining academic programs. The University President is granted the power to initiate fee increase and/or decrease processes. So far there has been no Administrative move to initiate such a decrease process despite widespread desire for reduction.

This fall's fee increase that students object to came about through the alternative consultation process (instead of the referendum process) which means there was no vote by the student body.

Last spring, the Administration proposed a supplemental fee for Fall '25 to save classes. It would have helped. But the students, stretched financially and angry about the upcoming fee increase (a portion of which was going to athletics), voted it down. Many considered the vote it a real referendum on the previous "alternative consultation fee increase" and celebrated the down vote as a victory for student voices. You can confirm that on-line. Had the administration empathized with the students and initiated the process to reduce the upcoming fall "alternative consultation" fee, the emotions, and perhaps the result would have been very different. Dr. Wood likely would have been cheered.

Wood's gamble, moving to FBS, may work out. As has been oft noted/hyped, this year's football squad has the #1 transfer portal class in FCS. And there is no doubt Wood cares about Sac State. But to gamble using fees from students who are hurting financially and just trying to get their classes, learn, and graduate is really tough. A related note: Wood and his brother have been very public about the millions of Sacramento community dollars rich donors have pledged to spend on this FBS gamble.

The students and faculty for the most part have nothing against football or other big-time sports. Its just that they are pained seeing student funds going to athletics instead of easing cuts in academic programs which are suffering badly.

Additional frustration comes as students and faculty are characterized as being enthusiastic about this athletic push. That's not us is the common response. Again, its nothing against athletics, its just that their academic programs are suffering. And the student body did not vote to have their monies go towards an FBS application fee!

Hornets try to remain hopeful that a reasonable recognition of all needs will be forthcoming.

Got the wahhhhhmbulance for you...

Sac State students have been voting to approve new fees to improve athletics since 2004, the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC) unanimously approved a freaking $75 fee in 2024. Thank god they're finally doing something. This is just a bad take for Sac State deciding to stop holding themselves back, as Dr. Wood said. $6,450 annual tuition remains the best deal in the county for higher education!

 

[ElrodGrizzly]

Got the wahhhhhmbulance for you...

Sac State students have been voting to approve new fees to improve athletics since 2004, the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC) unanimously approved a freaking $75 fee in 2024. Thank god they're finally doing something. This is just a bad take for Sac State deciding to stop holding themselves back, as Dr. Wood said. $6,450 annual tuition remains the best deal in the county for higher education!

Wait until he hears what JMU students pay in athletic fees.