Cal8285 said:

---

I don't buy it, it makes no sense.

Did Rogers claim that he was promised the starting job? Maybe, or maybe Mendoza heard that from someone other than the OC. But if Rogers was promised the starting job, why didn't he start against Davis?

More likely, Rogers was promised that he would be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe even Mendoza was told that Rogers was going to be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe Mendoza wouldn't (or didn't) like that. Highly unlikely Mendoza was told that Rogers was promised the starting job, unless he was told by Rogers, which Mendoza shouldn't have believed.

If Rogers had started the Davis game, then maybe I'd believe the coaches were idiotic enough to promise him the starting job. But that didn't happen.

Alberto Mendoza certainly didn't get this first hand from the OC, even if he sincerely believes it, and maybe the message got modified in the retelling before it got to Alberto. The likelihood of it being true is pretty slim. Bloesch is gone, so it doesn't matter that much (although if it were true, the buck still stops with Wilcox), but it just doesn't ring true with Mendoza having gotten the first snaps against Davis.

---

Far more plausible scenario. Though it may be true that Bloesch wanted to start Rogers and was overruled by Wilcox? As the season progressed Bloesch was finally leaning into Mendoza as the focus of the offense until squandering all those games going conservative in the 4th quarter. Was that Bloesch trying to stubbornly win with his OL or Wilcox being Wilcox?

DaveT said:

---

Big C said:

---

Cal8285 said:

---

I don't buy it, it makes no sense.

Did Rogers claim that he was promised the starting job? Maybe, or maybe Mendoza heard that from someone other than the OC. But if Rogers was promised the starting job, why didn't he start against Davis?

More likely, Rogers was promised that he would be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe even Mendoza was told that Rogers was going to be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe Mendoza wouldn't (or didn't) like that. Highly unlikely Mendoza was told that Rogers was promised the starting job, unless he was told by Rogers, which Mendoza shouldn't have believed.

If Rogers had started the Davis game, then maybe I'd believe the coaches were idiotic enough to promise him the starting job. But that didn't happen.

Alberto Mendoza certainly didn't get this first hand from the OC, even if he sincerely believes it, and maybe the message got modified in the retelling before it got to Alberto. The likelihood of it being true is pretty slim. Bloesch is gone, so it doesn't matter that much (although if it were true, the buck still stops with Wilcox), but it just doesn't ring true with Mendoza having gotten the first snaps against Davis.

---

I'm 99% sure it was like this. (^)

""Chandler, we'll give you an equal chance to win the job in Spring Practice and Fall Camp and, either way, you will play in the earlier games."

Rogers had a good enough year in 2023 where he was only going to go somewhere where he had a promise to be able to compete for the starting position.

Nobody -- well, hardly anybody -- has the coaches guarantee them a starting spot. If Mendoza had a problem with that, he needed to get real. He won the job and he played the vast majority of downs. (Well, not against SMU, lol.) Treated fairly.

---

Based on what? Because it is being reported differently by multiple sources on X that appear to have some connection to the situation.

They are all saying Chandler was promised the starting job, not that he was offered a "equal chance to win the job in Spring Practice and Fall Camp." If that were the case, nobody would care.

Why is it so hard to believe Bloesch wanted Rogers to run his offense, told him he'd be the QB1 to get him to Cal, Rogers got pissed when it didn't happen and told someone, and it got back to Mendoza? That seems a lot more likely than this game of telephone people are hypothesizing.

---

"They" are all saying? The 'amorphous', 'invisible', and 'ubiquitous' "THEY"? But of course.

calumnus said:

---

Cal8285 said:

---

I don't buy it, it makes no sense.

Did Rogers claim that he was promised the starting job? Maybe, or maybe Mendoza heard that from someone other than the OC. But if Rogers was promised the starting job, why didn't he start against Davis?

More likely, Rogers was promised that he would be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe even Mendoza was told that Rogers was going to be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe Mendoza wouldn't (or didn't) like that. Highly unlikely Mendoza was told that Rogers was promised the starting job, unless he was told by Rogers, which Mendoza shouldn't have believed.

If Rogers had started the Davis game, then maybe I'd believe the coaches were idiotic enough to promise him the starting job. But that didn't happen.

Alberto Mendoza certainly didn't get this first hand from the OC, even if he sincerely believes it, and maybe the message got modified in the retelling before it got to Alberto. The likelihood of it being true is pretty slim. Bloesch is gone, so it doesn't matter that much (although if it were true, the buck still stops with Wilcox), but it just doesn't ring true with Mendoza having gotten the first snaps against Davis.

---

Far more plausible scenario. Thought it may be true that Bloesch wanted to start Rogers and was overruled by Wilcox? As the season progressed Bloesch was finally leaning into Mendoza as the focus of the offense until squandering all those games going conservative in the 4th quarter. Was that Bloesch trying to stubbornly win with his OL or Wilcox being Wilcox?

---

I still find the whole story line since fall camp odd and something is seriously off…
-Nando's brother is confirming that rogers was promised qb1 in fall camp
-someone repeatedly puts rogers in on pretty critical 3rd downs in Miami, Pitt, etc
-Nando gets hit a million times with his folks in attendance for furd and seems (even by his standards) abnormally emotional after the game.
-Nando is supposedly sick for smu yet is walking around on the sidelines unmasked high fiving and embracing teammates and coaches
-Nando xfers

Obviously a lot of other stuff thrown in the mix but man…
***?
The way i see it, it could be one of two scenarios

Scenario 1.) Nando's family saw how much of a **** show our oline was for the second time during furd and were probably given excuses along the lines of nando isn't mobile enough that's why he's getting hit when they visited earlier in the season. This time someone from his family probably said something to Bloesch and brought up the Rogers malarkey from earlier. Bloesch probably lost his cool and argued with the mendozas. Nando got pissed. Wilmoe demoted Bloesch as a result to try to appease the familia de Nando. Nando's family wasn't appeased and wanted Bloesch fired. Nando's family convinced him to look at his options and sit out SMU.
Or
Everything is as Wilmoe says <cough> <cough> I'm sorry I'm allergic to bull****

DaveT said:

---

Big C said:

---

Cal8285 said:

---

I don't buy it, it makes no sense.

Did Rogers claim that he was promised the starting job? Maybe, or maybe Mendoza heard that from someone other than the OC. But if Rogers was promised the starting job, why didn't he start against Davis?

More likely, Rogers was promised that he would be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe even Mendoza was told that Rogers was going to be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe Mendoza wouldn't (or didn't) like that. Highly unlikely Mendoza was told that Rogers was promised the starting job, unless he was told by Rogers, which Mendoza shouldn't have believed.

If Rogers had started the Davis game, then maybe I'd believe the coaches were idiotic enough to promise him the starting job. But that didn't happen.

Alberto Mendoza certainly didn't get this first hand from the OC, even if he sincerely believes it, and maybe the message got modified in the retelling before it got to Alberto. The likelihood of it being true is pretty slim. Bloesch is gone, so it doesn't matter that much (although if it were true, the buck still stops with Wilcox), but it just doesn't ring true with Mendoza having gotten the first snaps against Davis.

---

I'm 99% sure it was like this. (^)

""Chandler, we'll give you an equal chance to win the job in Spring Practice and Fall Camp and, either way, you will play in the earlier games."

Rogers had a good enough year in 2023 where he was only going to go somewhere where he had a promise to be able to compete for the starting position.

Nobody -- well, hardly anybody -- has the coaches guarantee them a starting spot. If Mendoza had a problem with that, he needed to get real. He won the job and he played the vast majority of downs. (Well, not against SMU, lol.) Treated fairly.

---

Based on what? Because it is being reported differently by multiple sources on X that appear to have some connection to the situation.

They are all saying Chandler was promised the starting job, not that he was offered a "equal chance to win the job in Spring Practice and Fall Camp." If that were the case, nobody would care.

Why is it so hard to believe Bloesch wanted Rogers to run his offense, told him he'd be the QB1 to get him to Cal, Rogers got pissed when it didn't happen and told someone, and it got back to Mendoza? That seems a lot more likely than this game of telephone people are hypothesizing.

---

It is a dumb strategy for a coach to be promising a starting job as a recruiting lure. Okay, maybe Bloesch is dumb and this is why he's out, who knows?

One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another. That happens.

Correct me if i am wrong: At no time was Chandler Rogers ever the starter (except SMU), listed as the starter, or said to be the presumed starter. Through the spring, summer and early fall camp, it was said to be two guys vying to be #1. So what, was Rogers the "secret starter"?

philly1121 said:

---

Bearly Clad said:

---

Honestly of the many, many failings of this coaching staff I don't think this is one. First off, I think the promise was more that they'd give Rodgers first crack at the starting job and not an outright promise he would start. It makes sense considering that Fernando had a good, not great, first season with (if I remember right) 16 TDs and 9 INTs. They also gave them even reps in spring and summer practices until Fernando outperformed him and took the job for the entire season. Second, when you have a highly-touted incomer compared to an underwhelming known quantity of course you're going to give them the first look to see what you have. But the fact that Fernando started the back half of last year and all of this year despite having basically no offers out of high school and was set to pay to go to Yale speaks to the fact that he earned the job and that the coaching staff didn't put unnecessary obstacles in his way.

I'll denigrate this coaching staff for lots of reasons but this seems like a non-issue. In a season where he was the starter for the entire slate he wasn't guaranteed the job and it's somehow unfair to him? Let's be honest, he was the entrenched starter but not unusurpable; he was given an even shake and he won the job. If that's where we did him wrong coming off a good, not great, first season then I can live with that. It's the other issues with our program, staff, and on-field product that should have pushed him away

---

That's fair. I think it does ask the question tho as to why Rogers would come into games at different times and circumstances. Some, I would agree, would be to create a different look. But other times when he came into the game, they were head scratchers. There was no reason for it.

And the biggest question mark would be - why did Rogers start ahead of Mendoza against SMU? IF Mendoza was cleared to play, why didn't he start? Or did he already inform the coaches of his decision to leave?

---

Other than when Fernando was hurt, most of the time Rogers would come in it was in the Red Zone on third down to use him as a runner, even though he is not any better runner than Mendoza and was completely a passing QB previously.

I think it was mostly because, desperate to do better in the Red Zone, but not wanting to risk an interception or a sack, the coaches wanted to do a QB run but didn't want Fernando to risk injury. Of course bringing Rogers in just signaled a QB run and failed, whereas having Fernando run would have been far more effective but with the risk of injury. The whole thing was stupid. Reminded me of when Holmoe's OC would bring in Clemons for Vedder for short yardage and it would always be a QB sneak that would get stuffed.

Fernando didn't play at SMU because Fernando had the flu or said he had the flu, though reports are team doctors cleared him to play. There is no way that was the coach's decision. It is possible he sat out for the same reason he is not playing in the bowl game, he had already decided to transfer to Indiana and didn't want to risk injury or a bad outing, especially if he wasn't 100%

CNHTH said:

---

Pittstop said:

---

concernedparent said:

---

oski003 said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

Just another thing for the naive to validate in their mind that the sky is falling.

Wilcox and Bloesch helped turn a 2* into a 4*. They did him well.

---

Everyone should find someone who has as much faith in them as you do in this coaching staff.

They can't evaluate QB talent for ***** They only gave Mendoza a chance after all their coveted transfers flamed out. Then this year they continually tried to make Rogers work when it was obvious he couldn't hack it.

---

Come on, man. 'Both sides' are being extreme. Bone headed to "promise" 'anything' by Bloesch, if true. But Cal obviously did a good job "evaluating" 2-star QB Fernando, and were his only P4 offer - he was committed to Yale, for Chrissakes, with no other viable options at the time. Cal "evaluated" him after a recommendation from one of Musgrave's friends, and gave him a P4 scholly - took a flyer on him, so to speak - and ultimately 'developed him' into a starting P4 QB by his (RS) Sophomore season. And as a result Cal has helped him become a now-4-star, in-demand Portal QB. Competition - with Chandler Rogers, or anyone else - is not a bad thing. Forcing your QB to "win" the job...to "beat out" the competition, is the point, isn't it? Why tf should he be whining about having to f'n 'compete'?

---

The way I understood Fernando's recruitment was that we didn't even recruit him we just sent him an offer on the advice of one of Musgrave and Wilmoe's pals after Jmart decom'd and we were sans a 22 or a 23 qb
To Musgrave's credit he did visit Miami once if I recall correctly but again that was Musgrave not Wilmoe and even then I'd call it blind luck as opposed to actually recruiting someone.

---

I understood they sent Musgrave his hs film, and film from a couple of low profile local camps he had participated in. And Musgrave offered him after looking at the film and, maybe, then flew down to Miami to have Fernando throw for him, and then make the offer. I could be misremembering. But in any case, Cal gets the credit for being only P4 program to even take a second look at him and give him a shot. On a full athletic scholarship. And, I would posit that they get the credit for developing an unwanted, unrecruited 2-star QB into a now-4-star Portal QB by the end of his (RS) Sophomore season.

oski003 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

oski003 said:

---

bencgilmore said:

---

DaveT said:

---

What a mess. Unfair to Fernando, unfair to Chandler, stupid of Bloesch, stupid of Wilcox . . . . This was pretty widely rumored for a while (and makes perfect sense looking back on summer ball), but just shows how bad Wilcox is at his job. Why is your OC promising a starting role to a transfer QB? Did you not realize this, or did you think it was ok? Either way it's nuts.

---

the whole Mendoza/Chandler/JKS situation has been managed... "poorly" doesn't do it justice. None of this needed to be complicated in any way or adversarial to these extents. Just unbelievably bad peple management

Wilcox better hope Harsin pulls 40 ppg out of his ass, because i've given wilcox more leeway than nearly anyone on this board.

---

The Rogers/Mendoza situation was managed well enough to turn a 2* unwanted QB into a 4* QB being offered millions of dollars to play college football.

---

Mendoza became a 4* in spite of Wilcox and Bloesch. If he were on a decent program, he may even be a Heisman dark horse

---

You are certainly funny.

---

Aaron Rodgers was a 2 star that literally nobody wanted and yet it was obvious the moment he entered the game he was special. Did Tedford help develop him - absolutely. Did he turn a 2 star into an NFL MVP, no.

You are acting like recruiting evaluations are perfect. If that is the case, I'm sure you will blame Wilcox for de-developing every higher rated recruit who busted. If he gets credit for turning 2 stars into 4 stars, than certainly he gets credit for turning 4 stars into 2 stars.

1. Mendoza is a portal 4 star. You guys will never learn that the portal grades are massively inflated.
2. I think it is obvious that Mendoza was a better prospect than he was given credit for.
3. Mendoza has certainly improved and both he and the coaches deserve credit for that.

Acting like Wilcox turned water into wine here is ludicrous.

If Mendoza believed (and I don't know what he believed) that after essentially saving Cal's season last year after being ignored by the coaches in camp and only starting out of utter desperation, that the coaching staff promised a transfer the starting job over him, that is poor management. If they promised open competition, that should have been effectively communicated. I am not willing to say based on social media gossip that it wasn't.

IMO, though, Mendoza did enough to be the presumed starter. That doesn't mean he couldn't get beaten out, but I think the other guy should have had to knock him out. From outside looking in, I can see why Mendoza might think the coaches weren't giving him his due.

Pittstop said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Pittstop said:

---

concernedparent said:

---

oski003 said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

Just another thing for the naive to validate in their mind that the sky is falling.

Wilcox and Bloesch helped turn a 2* into a 4*. They did him well.

---

Everyone should find someone who has as much faith in them as you do in this coaching staff.

They can't evaluate QB talent for ***** They only gave Mendoza a chance after all their coveted transfers flamed out. Then this year they continually tried to make Rogers work when it was obvious he couldn't hack it.

---

Come on, man. 'Both sides' are being extreme. Bone headed to "promise" 'anything' by Bloesch, if true. But Cal obviously did a good job "evaluating" 2-star QB Fernando, and were his only P4 offer - he was committed to Yale, for Chrissakes, with no other viable options at the time. Cal "evaluated" him after a recommendation from one of Musgrave's friends, and gave him a P4 scholly - took a flyer on him, so to speak - and ultimately 'developed him' into a starting P4 QB by his (RS) Sophomore season. And as a result Cal has helped him become a now-4-star, in-demand Portal QB. Competition - with Chandler Rogers, or anyone else - is not a bad thing. Forcing your QB to "win" the job...to "beat out" the competition, is the point, isn't it? Why tf should he be whining about having to f'n 'compete'?

---

The way I understood Fernando's recruitment was that we didn't even recruit him we just sent him an offer on the advice of one of Musgrave and Wilmoe's pals after Jmart decom'd and we were sans a 22 or a 23 qb
To Musgrave's credit he did visit Miami once if I recall correctly but again that was Musgrave not Wilmoe and even then I'd call it blind luck as opposed to actually recruiting someone.

---

I understood they sent Musgrave hs film, and film from a couple of low profile local camps he had participated in. And Musgrave offered him after looking at the film and, maybe, then flew down to Miami to have Fernando throw for him, and then make the offer. I could be misremembering. But in any case, Cal gets the credit for being only P4 program to even take a second look at him and give him a shot. On a full athletic scholarship. And, I would posit that they get the credit for developing an unwanted, unrecruited 2-star QB into a now-4-star Portal QB by the end of his (RS) Sophomore season.

---

When we signed him I said I had a good feeling about him. Said the same about The Jet.

calumnus said:

---

Pittstop said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Pittstop said:

---

concernedparent said:

---

oski003 said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

Just another thing for the naive to validate in their mind that the sky is falling.

Wilcox and Bloesch helped turn a 2* into a 4*. They did him well.

---

Everyone should find someone who has as much faith in them as you do in this coaching staff.

They can't evaluate QB talent for ***** They only gave Mendoza a chance after all their coveted transfers flamed out. Then this year they continually tried to make Rogers work when it was obvious he couldn't hack it.

---

Come on, man. 'Both sides' are being extreme. Bone headed to "promise" 'anything' by Bloesch, if true. But Cal obviously did a good job "evaluating" 2-star QB Fernando, and were his only P4 offer - he was committed to Yale, for Chrissakes, with no other viable options at the time. Cal "evaluated" him after a recommendation from one of Musgrave's friends, and gave him a P4 scholly - took a flyer on him, so to speak - and ultimately 'developed him' into a starting P4 QB by his (RS) Sophomore season. And as a result Cal has helped him become a now-4-star, in-demand Portal QB. Competition - with Chandler Rogers, or anyone else - is not a bad thing. Forcing your QB to "win" the job...to "beat out" the competition, is the point, isn't it? Why tf should he be whining about having to f'n 'compete'?

---

The way I understood Fernando's recruitment was that we didn't even recruit him we just sent him an offer on the advice of one of Musgrave and Wilmoe's pals after Jmart decom'd and we were sans a 22 or a 23 qb
To Musgrave's credit he did visit Miami once if I recall correctly but again that was Musgrave not Wilmoe and even then I'd call it blind luck as opposed to actually recruiting someone.

---

I understood they sent Musgrave hs film, and film from a couple of low profile local camps he had participated in. And Musgrave offered him after looking at the film and, maybe, then flew down to Miami to have Fernando throw for him, and then make the offer. I could be misremembering. But in any case, Cal gets the credit for being only P4 program to even take a second look at him and give him a shot. On a full athletic scholarship. And, I would posit that they get the credit for developing an unwanted, unrecruited 2-star QB into a now-4-star Portal QB by the end of his (RS) Sophomore season.

---

When we signed him I said I had a good feeling about him. Said the same about The Jet.

---

And if memory serves correct you probably got attacked for saying that…now it's "Wilmoe trained them to be good that's why they're good now"

Lmao!
I just can't anymore

BearlyCareAnymore said:

---

oski003 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

oski003 said:

---

bencgilmore said:

---

DaveT said:

---

What a mess. Unfair to Fernando, unfair to Chandler, stupid of Bloesch, stupid of Wilcox . . . . This was pretty widely rumored for a while (and makes perfect sense looking back on summer ball), but just shows how bad Wilcox is at his job. Why is your OC promising a starting role to a transfer QB? Did you not realize this, or did you think it was ok? Either way it's nuts.

---

the whole Mendoza/Chandler/JKS situation has been managed... "poorly" doesn't do it justice. None of this needed to be complicated in any way or adversarial to these extents. Just unbelievably bad peple management

Wilcox better hope Harsin pulls 40 ppg out of his ass, because i've given wilcox more leeway than nearly anyone on this board.

---

The Rogers/Mendoza situation was managed well enough to turn a 2* unwanted QB into a 4* QB being offered millions of dollars to play college football.

---

Mendoza became a 4* in spite of Wilcox and Bloesch. If he were on a decent program, he may even be a Heisman dark horse

---

You are certainly funny.

---

Aaron Rodgers was a 2 star that literally nobody wanted and yet it was obvious the moment he entered the game he was special. Did Tedford help develop him - absolutely. Did he turn a 2 star into an NFL MVP, no.

You are acting like recruiting evaluations are perfect. If that is the case, I'm sure you will blame Wilcox for de-developing every higher rated recruit who busted. If he gets credit for turning 2 stars into 4 stars, than certainly he gets credit for turning 4 stars into 2 stars.

1. Mendoza is a portal 4 star. You guys will never learn that the portal grades are massively inflated.
2. I think it is obvious that Mendoza was a better prospect than he was given credit for.
3. Mendoza has certainly improved and both he and the coaches deserve credit for that.

Acting like Wilcox turned water into wine here is ludicrous.

If Mendoza believed (and I don't know what he believed) that after essentially saving Cal's season last year after being ignored by the coaches in camp and only starting out of utter desperation, that the coaching staff promised a transfer the starting job over him, that is poor management. If they promised open competition, that should have been effectively communicated. I am not willing to say based on social media gossip that it wasn't.

IMO, though, Mendoza did enough to be the presumed starter. That doesn't mean he couldn't get beaten out, but I think the other guy should have had to knock him out. From outside looking in, I can see why Mendoza might think the coaches weren't giving him his due.

---

You rehashed what I said and just spun it your way. Nobody said Wilcox turned Water into Wine. He certainly helped turn Mendoza from a 2* into a 4*. Thanks.

Big C said:

---

DaveT said:

---

Big C said:

---

Cal8285 said:

---

I don't buy it, it makes no sense.

Did Rogers claim that he was promised the starting job? Maybe, or maybe Mendoza heard that from someone other than the OC. But if Rogers was promised the starting job, why didn't he start against Davis?

More likely, Rogers was promised that he would be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe even Mendoza was told that Rogers was going to be able to compete for the starting job. Maybe Mendoza wouldn't (or didn't) like that. Highly unlikely Mendoza was told that Rogers was promised the starting job, unless he was told by Rogers, which Mendoza shouldn't have believed.

If Rogers had started the Davis game, then maybe I'd believe the coaches were idiotic enough to promise him the starting job. But that didn't happen.

Alberto Mendoza certainly didn't get this first hand from the OC, even if he sincerely believes it, and maybe the message got modified in the retelling before it got to Alberto. The likelihood of it being true is pretty slim. Bloesch is gone, so it doesn't matter that much (although if it were true, the buck still stops with Wilcox), but it just doesn't ring true with Mendoza having gotten the first snaps against Davis.

---

I'm 99% sure it was like this. (^)

""Chandler, we'll give you an equal chance to win the job in Spring Practice and Fall Camp and, either way, you will play in the earlier games."

Rogers had a good enough year in 2023 where he was only going to go somewhere where he had a promise to be able to compete for the starting position.

Nobody -- well, hardly anybody -- has the coaches guarantee them a starting spot. If Mendoza had a problem with that, he needed to get real. He won the job and he played the vast majority of downs. (Well, not against SMU, lol.) Treated fairly.

---

Based on what? Because it is being reported differently by multiple sources on X that appear to have some connection to the situation.

They are all saying Chandler was promised the starting job, not that he was offered a "equal chance to win the job in Spring Practice and Fall Camp." If that were the case, nobody would care.

Why is it so hard to believe Bloesch wanted Rogers to run his offense, told him he'd be the QB1 to get him to Cal, Rogers got pissed when it didn't happen and told someone, and it got back to Mendoza? That seems a lot more likely than this game of telephone people are hypothesizing.

---

It is a dumb strategy for a coach to be promising a starting job as a recruiting lure. Okay, maybe Bloesch is dumb and this is why he's out, who knows?

One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another. That happens.

Correct me if i am wrong: At no time was Chandler Rogers ever the starter (except SMU), listed as the starter, or said to be the presumed starter. Through the spring, summer and early fall camp, it was said to be two guys vying to be #1. So what, was Rogers the "secret starter"?

---

That's how I remember it, too. That it was reported they were competing for the job, not that Rogers was the new starter or had "the upper hand."
But the JKS thing puzzled me. Were they bringing in this highly touted guy to just hold a clipboard for two years? Or was there going to be another competition? Or was HE the promised starter. In any event, we now have neither guy. Nicely done! And now I get an email about a new "Fight for California" fund they want me to contribute to. We didn't have the money to keep him? No clarity on why he left or who's next.

BearlyCareAnymore said:

---

oski003 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

oski003 said:

---

bencgilmore said:

---

DaveT said:

---

What a mess. Unfair to Fernando, unfair to Chandler, stupid of Bloesch, stupid of Wilcox . . . . This was pretty widely rumored for a while (and makes perfect sense looking back on summer ball), but just shows how bad Wilcox is at his job. Why is your OC promising a starting role to a transfer QB? Did you not realize this, or did you think it was ok? Either way it's nuts.

---

the whole Mendoza/Chandler/JKS situation has been managed... "poorly" doesn't do it justice. None of this needed to be complicated in any way or adversarial to these extents. Just unbelievably bad peple management

Wilcox better hope Harsin pulls 40 ppg out of his ass, because i've given wilcox more leeway than nearly anyone on this board.

---

The Rogers/Mendoza situation was managed well enough to turn a 2* unwanted QB into a 4* QB being offered millions of dollars to play college football.

---

Mendoza became a 4* in spite of Wilcox and Bloesch. If he were on a decent program, he may even be a Heisman dark horse

---

You are certainly funny.

---

Aaron Rodgers was a 2 star that literally nobody wanted and yet it was obvious the moment he entered the game he was special. Did Tedford help develop him - absolutely. Did he turn a 2 star into an NFL MVP, no.

You are acting like recruiting evaluations are perfect. If that is the case, I'm sure you will blame Wilcox for de-developing every higher rated recruit who busted. If he gets credit for turning 2 stars into 4 stars, than certainly he gets credit for turning 4 stars into 2 stars.

1. Mendoza is a portal 4 star. You guys will never learn that the portal grades are massively inflated.
2. I think it is obvious that Mendoza was a better prospect than he was given credit for.
3. Mendoza has certainly improved and both he and the coaches deserve credit for that.

Acting like Wilcox turned water into wine here is ludicrous.

If Mendoza believed (and I don't know what he believed) that after essentially saving Cal's season last year after being ignored by the coaches in camp and only starting out of utter desperation, that the coaching staff promised a transfer the starting job over him, that is poor management. If they promised open competition, that should have been effectively communicated. I am not willing to say based on social media gossip that it wasn't.

IMO, though, Mendoza did enough to be the presumed starter. That doesn't mean he couldn't get beaten out, but I think the other guy should have had to knock him out. From outside looking in, I can see why Mendoza might think the coaches weren't giving him his due.

---

There is also the factor that, whenever someone leaves an employer (or even a relationship) for a better fit or better opportunity there is a very human tendency to want to make it "their fault" to avoid feeling guilty. You build up all the negative about the old situation in your mind, true or untrue, to justify your moving on, when really you are just following your own self interest (but want to think of yourself as a great person and don't want to think you are "selfish"). Having very negative feelings about exes who you used to love is pretty much the norm. Fernando is a young guy who clearly wants to be seen and think of himself as a good person, so I'd take some of this with a grain of salt.

Bottom line is he sees Indiana as a better opportunity than Cal. Can't say he is wrong,

calumnus said:

---

BearlyCareAnymore said:

---

oski003 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

oski003 said:

---

bencgilmore said:

---

DaveT said:

---

What a mess. Unfair to Fernando, unfair to Chandler, stupid of Bloesch, stupid of Wilcox . . . . This was pretty widely rumored for a while (and makes perfect sense looking back on summer ball), but just shows how bad Wilcox is at his job. Why is your OC promising a starting role to a transfer QB? Did you not realize this, or did you think it was ok? Either way it's nuts.

---

the whole Mendoza/Chandler/JKS situation has been managed... "poorly" doesn't do it justice. None of this needed to be complicated in any way or adversarial to these extents. Just unbelievably bad peple management

Wilcox better hope Harsin pulls 40 ppg out of his ass, because i've given wilcox more leeway than nearly anyone on this board.

---

The Rogers/Mendoza situation was managed well enough to turn a 2* unwanted QB into a 4* QB being offered millions of dollars to play college football.

---

Mendoza became a 4* in spite of Wilcox and Bloesch. If he were on a decent program, he may even be a Heisman dark horse

---

You are certainly funny.

---

Aaron Rodgers was a 2 star that literally nobody wanted and yet it was obvious the moment he entered the game he was special. Did Tedford help develop him - absolutely. Did he turn a 2 star into an NFL MVP, no.

You are acting like recruiting evaluations are perfect. If that is the case, I'm sure you will blame Wilcox for de-developing every higher rated recruit who busted. If he gets credit for turning 2 stars into 4 stars, than certainly he gets credit for turning 4 stars into 2 stars.

1. Mendoza is a portal 4 star. You guys will never learn that the portal grades are massively inflated.
2. I think it is obvious that Mendoza was a better prospect than he was given credit for.
3. Mendoza has certainly improved and both he and the coaches deserve credit for that.

Acting like Wilcox turned water into wine here is ludicrous.

If Mendoza believed (and I don't know what he believed) that after essentially saving Cal's season last year after being ignored by the coaches in camp and only starting out of utter desperation, that the coaching staff promised a transfer the starting job over him, that is poor management. If they promised open competition, that should have been effectively communicated. I am not willing to say based on social media gossip that it wasn't.

IMO, though, Mendoza did enough to be the presumed starter. That doesn't mean he couldn't get beaten out, but I think the other guy should have had to knock him out. From outside looking in, I can see why Mendoza might think the coaches weren't giving him his due.

---

There is also the factor that, whenever someone leaves an employer (or even a relationship) for a better fit or better opportunity there is a very human tendency to want to make it "their fault" to avoid feeling guilty. You build up all the negative about the old situation in your mind, true or untrue, to justify your moving on, when really you are just following your own self interest (but want to think of yourself as a great person and don't want to think you are "selfish"). Having very negative feelings about exes who you used to love is pretty much the norm.

---

There is also the factor that, whenever someone you like leaves an employer (or even a relationship) you don't like for a better fit or better opportunity there is a very human tendency to make up conjecture and to blame the person they left.

oski003 said:

---

calumnus said:

---

BearlyCareAnymore said:

---

oski003 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

oski003 said:

---

bencgilmore said:

---

DaveT said:

---

What a mess. Unfair to Fernando, unfair to Chandler, stupid of Bloesch, stupid of Wilcox . . . . This was pretty widely rumored for a while (and makes perfect sense looking back on summer ball), but just shows how bad Wilcox is at his job. Why is your OC promising a starting role to a transfer QB? Did you not realize this, or did you think it was ok? Either way it's nuts.

---

the whole Mendoza/Chandler/JKS situation has been managed... "poorly" doesn't do it justice. None of this needed to be complicated in any way or adversarial to these extents. Just unbelievably bad peple management

Wilcox better hope Harsin pulls 40 ppg out of his ass, because i've given wilcox more leeway than nearly anyone on this board.

---

The Rogers/Mendoza situation was managed well enough to turn a 2* unwanted QB into a 4* QB being offered millions of dollars to play college football.

---

Mendoza became a 4* in spite of Wilcox and Bloesch. If he were on a decent program, he may even be a Heisman dark horse

---

You are certainly funny.

---

Aaron Rodgers was a 2 star that literally nobody wanted and yet it was obvious the moment he entered the game he was special. Did Tedford help develop him - absolutely. Did he turn a 2 star into an NFL MVP, no.

You are acting like recruiting evaluations are perfect. If that is the case, I'm sure you will blame Wilcox for de-developing every higher rated recruit who busted. If he gets credit for turning 2 stars into 4 stars, than certainly he gets credit for turning 4 stars into 2 stars.

1. Mendoza is a portal 4 star. You guys will never learn that the portal grades are massively inflated.
2. I think it is obvious that Mendoza was a better prospect than he was given credit for.
3. Mendoza has certainly improved and both he and the coaches deserve credit for that.

Acting like Wilcox turned water into wine here is ludicrous.

If Mendoza believed (and I don't know what he believed) that after essentially saving Cal's season last year after being ignored by the coaches in camp and only starting out of utter desperation, that the coaching staff promised a transfer the starting job over him, that is poor management. If they promised open competition, that should have been effectively communicated. I am not willing to say based on social media gossip that it wasn't.

IMO, though, Mendoza did enough to be the presumed starter. That doesn't mean he couldn't get beaten out, but I think the other guy should have had to knock him out. From outside looking in, I can see why Mendoza might think the coaches weren't giving him his due.

---

There is also the factor that, whenever someone leaves an employer (or even a relationship) for a better fit or better opportunity there is a very human tendency to want to make it "their fault" to avoid feeling guilty. You build up all the negative about the old situation in your mind, true or untrue, to justify your moving on, when really you are just following your own self interest (but want to think of yourself as a great person and don't want to think you are "selfish"). Having very negative feelings about exes who you used to love is pretty much the norm.

---

There is also the factor that, whenever someone you like leaves an employer (or even a relationship) you don't like for a better fit or better opportunity there is a very human tendency to make up conjecture and to blame the person they left.

---

Yes, that is the extension. Sometimes relationships break up even though no one was "wrong." Happens all the time with couple friends. They want you to "take sides" but if you like them both you can see both sides. However, if you really like one (your brother say) you 100% take their side and believe their stories (.or make up your own) that probably aren't 100% true that make your brothers' ex out to be a real piece of work, when your brother could have been equally or more at fault. As i said, I would take something coming from his brother with a grain of salt. He wasn't there and he is clearly biased,

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

This is a whole bunch of bullcrap and it also omits the sabotage by Fernando all the while he was parading the Axe around. Who is the real Mendoza?

Reading all of these posts speculating about who said what to whom is hilarious. My God! None of you have any idea as to what actually happened and probably never will. What we do know, is that Mendoza is gone and, so far, Knowlton and Wilcox are still here. Reading these posts is like watching some competition as to who is the better speculator. I am sorry to see Mendoza leave but let's wait to see who we get.

Mendoza can seem like "21 going on 31", but at the end of the day, he's still only 21 (or however old he is).

It hurts the way he went from "Go Bears forever!" to "see ya". I will be trying to retain all of my fond memories of his time here, but if more "stuff" comes out, it might be difficult.

pleasant valley bear said:

---

Reading all of these posts speculating about who said what to whom is hilarious. My God! None of you have any idea as to what actually happened and probably never will. What we do know, is that Mendoza is gone and, so far, Knowlton and Wilcox are still here. Reading these posts is like watching some competition as to who is the better speculator. I am sorry to see Mendoza leave but let's wait to see who we get.

---

'Some' "have an idea of what really happened" if they're on the Premium board.

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

Surprised no one is talking about this quote from Addison Ooms. Addison Ooms on X

HKBear97! said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

Surprised no one is talking about this quote from Addison Ooms. Addison Ooms on X

---

Who is Addison Ooms and what would he know about the situation?

Former Cal bear (OL) on staff I believe

https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/staff/addison-ooms/228

I wish there was more quality for him to control on offense. Maybe next year.

Ooms was a beast when he played

HKBear97! said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

Surprised no one is talking about this quote from Addison Ooms. Addison Ooms on X

---

A lot of naivety on this board about everything we talk about. This board used to be so much better back in the day and we still sucked back then too.

sycasey said:

---

HKBear97! said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

Surprised no one is talking about this quote from Addison Ooms. Addison Ooms on X

---

Who is Addison Ooms and what would he know about the situation?

---

Last with the team in 2021 it looks like. I dunno.

Big C said:

---

DaveT said:

---

---

It is a dumb strategy for a coach to be promising a starting job as a recruiting lure. Okay, maybe Bloesch is dumb and this is why he's out, who knows?

One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another. That happens.

Correct me if i am wrong: At no time was Chandler Rogers ever the starter (except SMU), listed as the starter, or said to be the presumed starter. Through the spring, summer and early fall camp, it was said to be two guys vying to be #1. So what, was Rogers the "secret starter"?

---

I'm not claiming to know what happened. I'm claiming that several people who have historically had solid information about the team and hold themselves out as having connections said Rogers was promised the QB1 spot by Bloesch. It also appears Fernando's brother chimed in on it - and he's probably closer than any of us are to the situation.

None of us knows what happened, although lots of people on this thread seem to believe they do because they attended a communications workshop or something. "One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another." Another possibility is Bloesch told Rogers he would be the starting QB - just like several people have reported. And if that is true, it's a pretty **** thing to do to Mendoza and Rogers.

DaveT said:

---

Big C said:

---

It is a dumb strategy for a coach to be promising a starting job as a recruiting lure. Okay, maybe Bloesch is dumb and this is why he's out, who knows?

One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another. That happens.

Correct me if i am wrong: At no time was Chandler Rogers ever the starter (except SMU), listed as the starter, or said to be the presumed starter. Through the spring, summer and early fall camp, it was said to be two guys vying to be #1. So what, was Rogers the "secret starter"?

---

I'm not claiming to know what happened. I'm claiming that several people who have historically had solid information about the team and hold themselves out as having connections said Rogers was promised the QB1 spot by Bloesch. It also appears Fernando's brother chimed in on it - and he's probably closer than any of us are to the situation.

None of us knows what happened, although lots of people on this thread seem to believe they do because they attended a communications workshop or something. "One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another." Another possibility is Bloesch told Rogers he would be the starting QB - just like several people have reported. And if that is true, it's a pretty **** thing to do to Mendoza and Rogers.

---

Who are these people? Because I've never heard or seen this reported (though I could have missed the reports) and it seems completely at odds with how recruiting works and how things actually played out. I'm sure Rogers was told he'd be able to compete for the job - just like Harris was.

And the people on this website who do in fact have insider status are reporting that they have no reason to think such a promise was made.

BearGoggles said:

---

DaveT said:

---

Big C said:

---

It is a dumb strategy for a coach to be promising a starting job as a recruiting lure. Okay, maybe Bloesch is dumb and this is why he's out, who knows?

One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another. That happens.

Correct me if i am wrong: At no time was Chandler Rogers ever the starter (except SMU), listed as the starter, or said to be the presumed starter. Through the spring, summer and early fall camp, it was said to be two guys vying to be #1. So what, was Rogers the "secret starter"?

---

I'm not claiming to know what happened. I'm claiming that several people who have historically had solid information about the team and hold themselves out as having connections said Rogers was promised the QB1 spot by Bloesch. It also appears Fernando's brother chimed in on it - and he's probably closer than any of us are to the situation.

None of us knows what happened, although lots of people on this thread seem to believe they do because they attended a communications workshop or something. "One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another." Another possibility is Bloesch told Rogers he would be the starting QB - just like several people have reported. And if that is true, it's a pretty **** thing to do to Mendoza and Rogers.

---

Who are these people? Because I've never heard or seen this reported (though I could have missed the reports) and it seems completely at odds with how recruiting works and how things actually played out. I'm sure Rogers was told he'd be able to compete for the job - just like Harris was.

And the people on this website who do in fact have insider status are reporting that they have no reason to think such a promise was made.

---

All any player at any position should ever expect is the chance to compete for playing time or the starter's role. And even as the returning starter, at any position, you should expect that you will have to prove you deserve to continue to start in camp, in practice or in games. Sure, if you are the incumbent, you should get the benefit of a draw.

I am not a big fan of Bloesch but I doubt he said anything much different. And that is what we saw. They were even in Fall camp, so Mendoza got the start, played well and kept playing well. If anything, they went out of their way to protect Mendoza by mostly using Rogers as a designated runner the few times he came in. The coaches were pretty clearly all in with Mendoza once the season started, but it is very possible it was not communicated well by Bloesch and Wilcox.

calumnus said:

---

BearGoggles said:

---

DaveT said:

---

Big C said:

---

It is a dumb strategy for a coach to be promising a starting job as a recruiting lure. Okay, maybe Bloesch is dumb and this is why he's out, who knows?

One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another. That happens.

Correct me if i am wrong: At no time was Chandler Rogers ever the starter (except SMU), listed as the starter, or said to be the presumed starter. Through the spring, summer and early fall camp, it was said to be two guys vying to be #1. So what, was Rogers the "secret starter"?

---

I'm not claiming to know what happened. I'm claiming that several people who have historically had solid information about the team and hold themselves out as having connections said Rogers was promised the QB1 spot by Bloesch. It also appears Fernando's brother chimed in on it - and he's probably closer than any of us are to the situation.

None of us knows what happened, although lots of people on this thread seem to believe they do because they attended a communications workshop or something. "One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another." Another possibility is Bloesch told Rogers he would be the starting QB - just like several people have reported. And if that is true, it's a pretty **** thing to do to Mendoza and Rogers.

---

Who are these people? Because I've never heard or seen this reported (though I could have missed the reports) and it seems completely at odds with how recruiting works and how things actually played out. I'm sure Rogers was told he'd be able to compete for the job - just like Harris was.

And the people on this website who do in fact have insider status are reporting that they have no reason to think such a promise was made.

---

All any player at any position should ever expect is the chance to compete for playing time or the starter's role. And even as the returning starter, at any position, you should expect that you will have to prove you deserve to continue to start in camp, in practice or in games. Sure, if you are the incumbent, you should get the benefit of a draw.

I am not a big fan of Bloesch but I doubt he said anything much different. And that is what we saw. They were even in Fall camp, so Mendoza got the start, played well and kept playing well. If anything, they went out of their way to protect Mendoza by mostly using Rogers as a designated runner the few times he came in. The coaches were pretty clearly all in with Mendoza once the season started, but it is very possible it was not communicated well by Bloesch and Wilcox.

---

Agreed. And Mendoza's prior season - which was impressive given his pedigree and inexperience - didn't exactly cement him as a sure fire starter. He took a huge leap this last year - credit to him. But he still has to earn his position every day.

BearGoggles said:

---

calumnus said:

---

BearGoggles said:

---

DaveT said:

---

Big C said:

---

It is a dumb strategy for a coach to be promising a starting job as a recruiting lure. Okay, maybe Bloesch is dumb and this is why he's out, who knows?

One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another. That happens.

Correct me if i am wrong: At no time was Chandler Rogers ever the starter (except SMU), listed as the starter, or said to be the presumed starter. Through the spring, summer and early fall camp, it was said to be two guys vying to be #1. So what, was Rogers the "secret starter"?

---

I'm not claiming to know what happened. I'm claiming that several people who have historically had solid information about the team and hold themselves out as having connections said Rogers was promised the QB1 spot by Bloesch. It also appears Fernando's brother chimed in on it - and he's probably closer than any of us are to the situation.

None of us knows what happened, although lots of people on this thread seem to believe they do because they attended a communications workshop or something. "One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another." Another possibility is Bloesch told Rogers he would be the starting QB - just like several people have reported. And if that is true, it's a pretty **** thing to do to Mendoza and Rogers.

---

Who are these people? Because I've never heard or seen this reported (though I could have missed the reports) and it seems completely at odds with how recruiting works and how things actually played out. I'm sure Rogers was told he'd be able to compete for the job - just like Harris was.

And the people on this website who do in fact have insider status are reporting that they have no reason to think such a promise was made.

---

All any player at any position should ever expect is the chance to compete for playing time or the starter's role. And even as the returning starter, at any position, you should expect that you will have to prove you deserve to continue to start in camp, in practice or in games. Sure, if you are the incumbent, you should get the benefit of a draw.

I am not a big fan of Bloesch but I doubt he said anything much different. And that is what we saw. They were even in Fall camp, so Mendoza got the start, played well and kept playing well. If anything, they went out of their way to protect Mendoza by mostly using Rogers as a designated runner the few times he came in. The coaches were pretty clearly all in with Mendoza once the season started, but it is very possible it was not communicated well by Bloesch and Wilcox.

---

Agreed. And Mendoza's prior season - which was impressive given his pedigree and inexperience - didn't exactly cement him as a sure fire starter. He took a huge leap this last year - credit to him. But he still has to earn his position every day.

---

Why doesn't Wilcox?

HKBear97! said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

Surprised no one is talking about this quote from Addison Ooms. Addison Ooms on X

---

Wow. For anyone who hasn't yet seen this:

If people only knew the truth about what went on with the QB situation. This is NOT a JW problem and is not a program problem…far from it. Let’s just say a lot of things were at play, sabotaging recruits for self gain, selfishness, and a lack of PRIDE in being a Cal Bear.…

— Addison Ooms (@AddisonOoms) December 11, 2024

bearsandgiants said:

---

BearGoggles said:

---

calumnus said:

---

BearGoggles said:

---

DaveT said:

---

Big C said:

---

It is a dumb strategy for a coach to be promising a starting job as a recruiting lure. Okay, maybe Bloesch is dumb and this is why he's out, who knows?

One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another. That happens.

Correct me if i am wrong: At no time was Chandler Rogers ever the starter (except SMU), listed as the starter, or said to be the presumed starter. Through the spring, summer and early fall camp, it was said to be two guys vying to be #1. So what, was Rogers the "secret starter"?

---

I'm not claiming to know what happened. I'm claiming that several people who have historically had solid information about the team and hold themselves out as having connections said Rogers was promised the QB1 spot by Bloesch. It also appears Fernando's brother chimed in on it - and he's probably closer than any of us are to the situation.

None of us knows what happened, although lots of people on this thread seem to believe they do because they attended a communications workshop or something. "One possibility is that a coach says one thing and a recruit hears another." Another possibility is Bloesch told Rogers he would be the starting QB - just like several people have reported. And if that is true, it's a pretty **** thing to do to Mendoza and Rogers.

---

Who are these people? Because I've never heard or seen this reported (though I could have missed the reports) and it seems completely at odds with how recruiting works and how things actually played out. I'm sure Rogers was told he'd be able to compete for the job - just like Harris was.

And the people on this website who do in fact have insider status are reporting that they have no reason to think such a promise was made.

---

All any player at any position should ever expect is the chance to compete for playing time or the starter's role. And even as the returning starter, at any position, you should expect that you will have to prove you deserve to continue to start in camp, in practice or in games. Sure, if you are the incumbent, you should get the benefit of a draw.

I am not a big fan of Bloesch but I doubt he said anything much different. And that is what we saw. They were even in Fall camp, so Mendoza got the start, played well and kept playing well. If anything, they went out of their way to protect Mendoza by mostly using Rogers as a designated runner the few times he came in. The coaches were pretty clearly all in with Mendoza once the season started, but it is very possible it was not communicated well by Bloesch and Wilcox.

---

Agreed. And Mendoza's prior season - which was impressive given his pedigree and inexperience - didn't exactly cement him as a sure fire starter. He took a huge leap this last year - credit to him. But he still has to earn his position every day.

---

Why doesn't Wilcox?

---

Damn that's a good one.

BearSD said:

---

HKBear97! said:

---

CNHTH said:

---

Yikes. Toxxxxxxxxxic environment much?

Fernando’s brother confirms this long running rumor. Great start to the relationship by Bloesch. What an idiot! pic.twitter.com/iLZD5tMtnQ

— Not Ryan Cobb #FireKnowlton (@hairtest420) December 11, 2024

---

Surprised no one is talking about this quote from Addison Ooms. Addison Ooms on X

---

Wow. For anyone who hasn't yet seen this:

If people only knew the truth about what went on with the QB situation. This is NOT a JW problem and is not a program problem…far from it. Let’s just say a lot of things were at play, sabotaging recruits for self gain, selfishness, and a lack of PRIDE in being a Cal Bear.…

— Addison Ooms (@AddisonOoms) December 11, 2024

---

That tweet posted the day of Nando's announcement set off a debate whether to support/believe the staff's narrative (through Addison who apparently is still close to the coaches).

BearoutEast67 said:

---

annarborbear said:

---

Fernando may still get another better offer. In which case, he will then give the same inspiring good-bye speech at Indiana.

---

Maybe I'll frame my "98 yards with my boys" t-shirt (still in the mail) for my office both as a memento for a great moment in Cal history and as a warning toward keeping sober expectations.

---

One arrived today and I threw it away