82gradDLSdad said:
mbBear said:
82gradDLSdad said:
mbBear said:
RichyBear said:
The worst loss in Cl football wasn't a game loss, but a coaching loss. When Bruce Snyder left after the 1991 season, Cal loss it's chance to become the team of the 1990's. Cal under Snyder finished 10-2 in 1991, ranked #8 in the nation, and had a chance to have it's bet recruiting class ever, including a future Heisman trophy winner. When Cal couldn't keep Snyder, every thing fell apart. I've seen post blaming the AD and/or the chanchanler. Whoever was at fault, Cal was a weak team for the next 10 years.
Absolutely true. Would have changed Cal football for a long time...
Not sure if it's possible or even good strategy in this NIL day and age but Snyder was building a great football program: solid coaches/recruiters, solid (not necessarily star) players and solid, fundamental football. We had the potential to be awesome. Speaking with a great, under the radar type player like Chris Richards last Saturday made me pretty sad and furious at Cal's administration. I can't imagine Snyder being the type of guy who asked for an exorbitant amount of compensation. The Cal 65 year saga. What a coincidence...I'm 65.
Not sure what you mean about "not star players".... Snyder has big time recruits...
Not during his first couple of years while he was building. He also turned Wilcox type players into stars.
Note: my memory. Didn't really investigate this. I don't really expect anyone to do the leg work for me but if you do and prove me wrong that's cool.
They had an oral commitment from a future Heisman Trophy for that upcoming class (Salaam), and then a future NFL QB (Plummer) was joining Snyder the year after that (he would follow him to ASU.) Off the top of my head, the incoming class also had a future NFL O-linemen (Pilgrim)...
During Snyder's tenure, you have some of the development you are talking about...certainly Pawlawski, Auzenne, and Ahanatou developed way above their recruiting ranking, and became NFL draft picks. But he was also recruiting the likes of S. Dawkins, Russell White, et. al. Look at the Cal players in the 2004 Draft, which I assume were all Snyder recruits:
Todd SteussieMinnesota Eric MahlumIndianapolis Doug BrienSan Francisco Eric ZomaltPhiladelphia Issac BoothCleveland Steussie started on defense if my memory is right...so yeah, you can have developmental points there. The rest, I believe were very solid recruits.