Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

CNC could have ended it with an emphatic statement that no matter what he was offered, he would honor his contract.

Right now, the only statement we have from his camp is that sc has yet to contact CNC. And, that the rep would feel duty bound to present all offers to CNC should they develop.

Again, CNC could have instructed his rep to not accept or proffer any offers — a way of saying that he would not leave under any circumstances.

He didn’t.

My take is that CNC is probably enjoying the attention — nothing wrong with that. And, waiting to see what both schools will do.

Unfortunately, in academic circles, getting an offer from another school is often the only path to a big raise. It sucks because one who really does not want to leave or play games is at a disadvantage in the negotiation.

CNC could have taken himself out of all speculation — which would have taken himself out of a chance for a raise at UCLA.

So, one strategy could be that he is going to listen to sc and see what UCLA will do to keep him. I will go over the scenarios after the jump.

Best case, we do enough — whatever that is, and he stays.

Second best, he stays as a matter of principle — he honors his contract. I put this in second place because in my experience as an academic, salary negotiations are often what one looks at to see just how much he is loved. Staying on principle, after having not been offered a significant boost — equal to what was offered by another school, often ends up with an employee who is less than happy and somewhat resents the employer. He stays because he has a contract, but he’s not a happy camper.

Third, he leaves. In one way, that is the worst case. But, I have confidence that we will keep a big chunk of our recruits and that we will have a great, new OC. There may be a collateral benefit, too. CRN may take more responsibility for the QB’s and O; he may not be Chow, now — but he will grow. CNC may not be here much longer, no matter what. CRN will be.

Bottom line to me: We sit back and wait. We don’t call CNC names. We don’t freak out. Whatever happens, we will deal with it.