Metro Phoenix is a huge market with many, many retirees from the Midwest. A chance to watch the old Alma Mater and see them in person, plus visitors from the Midwest is a hard thing to pass up. Stanford needs no explaining. Cal's big rival is Stanford and they are one of the "public Ivies" along with Michigan and Virginia. It would also help placate the U. Cal system's Board of Regents pique over losing UCLA. Oregon or UNC comes in N.D. wants to cut their nose off to spite their face.
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