Sounds good

Jeff82 said:

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Honestly, if we have another season like last year, we're probably dead regardless. Changing coaches probably means a full rebuild, including losing JKS, and chances of doing that and making it to the next realignment aren't that great. Need to hope this year is a turning point.

---

Maybe we land a big coach (hopefully Riverboat Ron can use his NFL influence) and we can avoid the dreaded rebuild? But, this is Cal, so we'll probably rehire Holmoe or some bull*****

sycasey said:

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calumnus said:

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oskithepimp said:

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Ron Rivera says yes. I say no.

Wilcox's overall record at Cal is 42-50. He's never had a winning conference season. We've paid him over $25M. He's extremely unlikely to change and become a great coach in his 9th season. We've seen what he can do, and it ain't much. I say unless we win 10 games and go to a really good bowl game, make his ass walk the plank and let's get a good coach before Cal has to walk the plank into college football nothingness.

I'm tired of this ***** The fans are ready (see the GameDay turnout last year - can't blame them for not turning out for lots of other games when we consistently suck), the collective is doing its part, we're getting good players, so it's time for the coach to elevate his game, or hit the ****ing bricks.

Go Bears.

---

I agree with everything you wrote except that
Wilcox has been paid closer to $40 million and will have received at least $50 million from Cal no matter what happens after the season assuming he is not extended.

And rather than his overall record, what is critical is his conference record where he loses twice as many as he wins. Even with a much easier ACC schedule last year he went 2-6 and now it is not just the $5 million a year we pay him, we are hiring and surrounding him with other head coaches as advisors and GMs in an effort to prop him up.

It was insanely stupid to keep extending him but it was almost as bad to not cut him loose and bring in Rivera instead last year or this when we had the chance. It really would not have cost more money, Wilcox is getting his no matter what. Keeping him another year with 7 or 8, even 9 wins is not going to move the needle. We need a new story to sell.

---

Is Rivera even interested in college coaching? Was that even a possibility?

---

From his interviews he seems to be FAR more interested in actually coaching the players and coaches (ie being a head coach) than being a GM, a job he took only because he loves Cal that much and really wanted to be here to try to save the program. .

going4roses said:

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Hmm … I guess maybe I'm just seeing things differently or something lol won't be the first time

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I thought we were saying the same thing.

calumnus said:

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sycasey said:

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calumnus said:

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oskithepimp said:

---

Ron Rivera says yes. I say no.

Wilcox's overall record at Cal is 42-50. He's never had a winning conference season. We've paid him over $25M. He's extremely unlikely to change and become a great coach in his 9th season. We've seen what he can do, and it ain't much. I say unless we win 10 games and go to a really good bowl game, make his ass walk the plank and let's get a good coach before Cal has to walk the plank into college football nothingness.

I'm tired of this ***** The fans are ready (see the GameDay turnout last year - can't blame them for not turning out for lots of other games when we consistently suck), the collective is doing its part, we're getting good players, so it's time for the coach to elevate his game, or hit the ****ing bricks.

Go Bears.

---

I agree with everything you wrote except that
Wilcox has been paid closer to $40 million and will have received at least $50 million from Cal no matter what happens after the season assuming he is not extended.

And rather than his overall record, what is critical is his conference record where he loses twice as many as he wins. Even with a much easier ACC schedule last year he went 2-6 and now it is not just the $5 million a year we pay him, we are hiring and surrounding him with other head coaches as advisors and GMs in an effort to prop him up.

It was insanely stupid to keep extending him but it was almost as bad to not cut him loose and bring in Rivera instead last year or this when we had the chance. It really would not have cost more money, Wilcox is getting his no matter what. Keeping him another year with 7 or 8, even 9 wins is not going to move the needle. We need a new story to sell.

---

Is Rivera even interested in college coaching? Was that even a possibility?

---

From his interviews he seems to be FAR more interested in actually coaching the players and coaches (ie being a head coach) than being a GM, a job he took only because he loves Cal that much and really wanted to be here to try to save the program. .

---

Hmm, wonder if that's is where this is going.

sycasey said:

---

calumnus said:

---

sycasey said:

---

calumnus said:

---

oskithepimp said:

---

Ron Rivera says yes. I say no.

Wilcox's overall record at Cal is 42-50. He's never had a winning conference season. We've paid him over $25M. He's extremely unlikely to change and become a great coach in his 9th season. We've seen what he can do, and it ain't much. I say unless we win 10 games and go to a really good bowl game, make his ass walk the plank and let's get a good coach before Cal has to walk the plank into college football nothingness.

I'm tired of this ***** The fans are ready (see the GameDay turnout last year - can't blame them for not turning out for lots of other games when we consistently suck), the collective is doing its part, we're getting good players, so it's time for the coach to elevate his game, or hit the ****ing bricks.

Go Bears.

---

I agree with everything you wrote except that
Wilcox has been paid closer to $40 million and will have received at least $50 million from Cal no matter what happens after the season assuming he is not extended.

And rather than his overall record, what is critical is his conference record where he loses twice as many as he wins. Even with a much easier ACC schedule last year he went 2-6 and now it is not just the $5 million a year we pay him, we are hiring and surrounding him with other head coaches as advisors and GMs in an effort to prop him up.

It was insanely stupid to keep extending him but it was almost as bad to not cut him loose and bring in Rivera instead last year or this when we had the chance. It really would not have cost more money, Wilcox is getting his no matter what. Keeping him another year with 7 or 8, even 9 wins is not going to move the needle. We need a new story to sell.

---

Is Rivera even interested in college coaching? Was that even a possibility?

---

From his interviews he seems to be FAR more interested in actually coaching the players and coaches (ie being a head coach) than being a GM, a job he took only because he loves Cal that much and really wanted to be here to try to save the program. .

---

Hmm, wonder if that's is where this is going.

---

if that's where this is going then it should've arrived by now. They could've made the change when they brought Rivera in to begin with. Why wait a year? We don't have the luxury of time. Why sign Wilcox' latest set of buddies to what are probably multi-year contracts? We don't exactly have excess cash.

boredom said:

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sycasey said:

---

calumnus said:

---

sycasey said:

---

calumnus said:

---

oskithepimp said:

---

Ron Rivera says yes. I say no.

Wilcox's overall record at Cal is 42-50. He's never had a winning conference season. We've paid him over $25M. He's extremely unlikely to change and become a great coach in his 9th season. We've seen what he can do, and it ain't much. I say unless we win 10 games and go to a really good bowl game, make his ass walk the plank and let's get a good coach before Cal has to walk the plank into college football nothingness.

I'm tired of this ***** The fans are ready (see the GameDay turnout last year - can't blame them for not turning out for lots of other games when we consistently suck), the collective is doing its part, we're getting good players, so it's time for the coach to elevate his game, or hit the ****ing bricks.

Go Bears.

---

I agree with everything you wrote except that
Wilcox has been paid closer to $40 million and will have received at least $50 million from Cal no matter what happens after the season assuming he is not extended.

And rather than his overall record, what is critical is his conference record where he loses twice as many as he wins. Even with a much easier ACC schedule last year he went 2-6 and now it is not just the $5 million a year we pay him, we are hiring and surrounding him with other head coaches as advisors and GMs in an effort to prop him up.

It was insanely stupid to keep extending him but it was almost as bad to not cut him loose and bring in Rivera instead last year or this when we had the chance. It really would not have cost more money, Wilcox is getting his no matter what. Keeping him another year with 7 or 8, even 9 wins is not going to move the needle. We need a new story to sell.

---

Is Rivera even interested in college coaching? Was that even a possibility?

---

From his interviews he seems to be FAR more interested in actually coaching the players and coaches (ie being a head coach) than being a GM, a job he took only because he loves Cal that much and really wanted to be here to try to save the program. .

---

Hmm, wonder if that's is where this is going.

---

if that's where this is going then it should've arrived by now. They could've made the change when they brought Rivera in to begin with. Why wait a year? We don't have the luxury of time. Why sign Wilcox' latest set of buddies to what are probably multi-year contracts? We don't exactly have excess cash.

---

It's all speculation anyway, so I don't really know. None of us know what has been talked about behind the scenes or what Rivera wants to do.

sycasey said:

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boredom said:

---

sycasey said:

---

calumnus said:

---

sycasey said:

---

calumnus said:

---

oskithepimp said:

---

Ron Rivera says yes. I say no.

Wilcox's overall record at Cal is 42-50. He's never had a winning conference season. We've paid him over $25M. He's extremely unlikely to change and become a great coach in his 9th season. We've seen what he can do, and it ain't much. I say unless we win 10 games and go to a really good bowl game, make his ass walk the plank and let's get a good coach before Cal has to walk the plank into college football nothingness.

I'm tired of this ***** The fans are ready (see the GameDay turnout last year - can't blame them for not turning out for lots of other games when we consistently suck), the collective is doing its part, we're getting good players, so it's time for the coach to elevate his game, or hit the ****ing bricks.

Go Bears.

---

I agree with everything you wrote except that
Wilcox has been paid closer to $40 million and will have received at least $50 million from Cal no matter what happens after the season assuming he is not extended.

And rather than his overall record, what is critical is his conference record where he loses twice as many as he wins. Even with a much easier ACC schedule last year he went 2-6 and now it is not just the $5 million a year we pay him, we are hiring and surrounding him with other head coaches as advisors and GMs in an effort to prop him up.

It was insanely stupid to keep extending him but it was almost as bad to not cut him loose and bring in Rivera instead last year or this when we had the chance. It really would not have cost more money, Wilcox is getting his no matter what. Keeping him another year with 7 or 8, even 9 wins is not going to move the needle. We need a new story to sell.

---

Is Rivera even interested in college coaching? Was that even a possibility?

---

From his interviews he seems to be FAR more interested in actually coaching the players and coaches (ie being a head coach) than being a GM, a job he took only because he loves Cal that much and really wanted to be here to try to save the program. .

---

Hmm, wonder if that's is where this is going.

---

if that's where this is going then it should've arrived by now. They could've made the change when they brought Rivera in to begin with. Why wait a year? We don't have the luxury of time. Why sign Wilcox' latest set of buddies to what are probably multi-year contracts? We don't exactly have excess cash.

---

It's all speculation anyway, so I don't really know. None of us know what has been talked about behind the scenes or what Rivera wants to do.

---

One of the concerns about Rivera as a college coach was that he's never so much as been on a college staff. This would give him a year to get things figured out, from the inside, making contacts, etc.

Not saying that that is where this is going, but I have posted many times that I think he'd be fabulous. Others have reservations. Fair enough.

boredom said:

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sycasey said:

---

calumnus said:

---

sycasey said:

---

calumnus said:

---

oskithepimp said:

---

Ron Rivera says yes. I say no.

Wilcox's overall record at Cal is 42-50. He's never had a winning conference season. We've paid him over $25M. He's extremely unlikely to change and become a great coach in his 9th season. We've seen what he can do, and it ain't much. I say unless we win 10 games and go to a really good bowl game, make his ass walk the plank and let's get a good coach before Cal has to walk the plank into college football nothingness.

I'm tired of this ***** The fans are ready (see the GameDay turnout last year - can't blame them for not turning out for lots of other games when we consistently suck), the collective is doing its part, we're getting good players, so it's time for the coach to elevate his game, or hit the ****ing bricks.

Go Bears.

---

I agree with everything you wrote except that
Wilcox has been paid closer to $40 million and will have received at least $50 million from Cal no matter what happens after the season assuming he is not extended.

And rather than his overall record, what is critical is his conference record where he loses twice as many as he wins. Even with a much easier ACC schedule last year he went 2-6 and now it is not just the $5 million a year we pay him, we are hiring and surrounding him with other head coaches as advisors and GMs in an effort to prop him up.

It was insanely stupid to keep extending him but it was almost as bad to not cut him loose and bring in Rivera instead last year or this when we had the chance. It really would not have cost more money, Wilcox is getting his no matter what. Keeping him another year with 7 or 8, even 9 wins is not going to move the needle. We need a new story to sell.

---

Is Rivera even interested in college coaching? Was that even a possibility?

---

From his interviews he seems to be FAR more interested in actually coaching the players and coaches (ie being a head coach) than being a GM, a job he took only because he loves Cal that much and really wanted to be here to try to save the program. .

---

Hmm, wonder if that's is where this is going.

---

if that's where this is going then it should've arrived by now. They could've made the change when they brought Rivera in to begin with. Why wait a year? We don't have the luxury of time. Why sign Wilcox' latest set of buddies to what are probably multi-year contracts? We don't exactly have excess cash.

---

All that extra spending on Wilcox's friends and their new hires was done under Knowlton last December, with Rivera coming in March, "being given the keys" in June and Knowlton's departure soon thereafter. Knowlton could have been let go last year when Lyons came in and we would have saved all that expense plus another $200,000 in payments to Knowlton given the reduction in his payments from $1.3 million per year to $1.1 million per year in "retirement."

The kicker is that we had an incredibly easy schedule last year and this year that would have been the perfect time to have a new coach make a splash and get some upward momentum (see SMU). Game Day vs Miami with a 25 point lead? All squandered, finishing 2-6 and tied for second to last in a 17 team second tier conference despite the easy schedule. Next year gets much tougher. Which is the problem with thinking 8 wins will be enough. Next year it could very easily revert to 6.

Lyons should have all this ready to go on Day 1. Rivera was available in December 2023.

bearsandgiants said:

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going4roses said:

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We gonna just jump to 10 wins ? Yes want but has the work been done for that result not so much

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this is the easiest schedule we have ever faced. We damn well better just jump to 10 wins.

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Right, aside from Louisville (and/or Duke) and SMU, I think it ranges from possible to highly likely that we win against our other opponents. And even those two or three cases where I'd say I'd say it's unlikely that we win it's not impossible. Louisville lost to last year's Furd after all and we get Duke & SMU at home.

Wilcox's biggest problem has been consistency and winning close games. Last year those issues let to us going 6-7 when we could've gone 10-3 (Miami, FSU, Pitt, NC State 100% should've been wins for us) or 11-2 (depending on what you think of our chances in the Syracuse game). Proving he's actually changed and fixed his issues can realistically mean Cal becomes a 10 win team in one season.

lol all good no worries

StillNoStanfurdium said:

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bearsandgiants said:

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going4roses said:

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We gonna just jump to 10 wins ? Yes want but has the work been done for that result not so much

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this is the easiest schedule we have ever faced. We damn well better just jump to 10 wins.

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Right, aside from Louisville (and/or Duke) and SMU, I think it ranges from possible to highly likely that we win against our other opponents. And even those two or three cases where I'd say I'd say it's unlikely that we win it's not impossible. Louisville lost to last year's Furd after all and we get Duke & SMU at home.

Wilcox's biggest problem has been consistency and winning close games. Last year those issues let to us going 6-7 when we could've gone 10-3 (Miami, FSU, Pitt, NC State 100% should've been wins for us) or 11-2 (depending on what you think of our chances in the Syracuse game). Proving he's actually changed and fixed his issues can realistically mean Cal becomes a 10 win team in one season.

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If we win those other very winnable games we play Syracuse as a ranked, confident and motivated team in front of a huge, noisy home crowd at Memorial (and a national audience) instead of being a dejected team putting in a lackluster performance in front of a mostly empty stadium.

Then the game against SMU is for first place and the CFPs. You can bet Mendoza doesn't sit that one out.

I don't think Cal is a top 5 spender of Football (Miami/Duke/Clemson/UNC/SMU/Louisville/Florida State all likely spend more than Cal does)

So 8 wins in a P4 conference when you aren't a top spender is not a laughable low goal.

Joegeo said:

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I don't think Cal is a top 5 spender of Football (Miami/Duke/Clemson/UNC/SMU/Louisville/Florida State all likely spend more than Cal does)

So 8 wins in a P4 conference when you aren't a top spender is not a laughable low goal.

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it is against this schedule. That's the point, if we were playing all of those teams, 8 would be good to great.

It's not the schedule it's the correction within that is the issue Stop beating ourselves front office , coaching or etc

The problem with getting to 8 wins this year and keeping Wilcox, or a new coach taking over next year, is next year's schedule is not as easy as this year (or last year):

https://fbschedules.com/2026-california-football-schedule/

sluggo said:

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calumnus said:

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sluggo said:

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Is 8 wins a possibility? Cal fans say yes. I say no.

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it is possible, but not probable.

I am hoping Sagapolutele tears it up which would help.

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Even if he is Peyton Manning 8 wins is very, very unlikely, though you are correct not impossible.

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When was the last time a true freshman QB won 8 or more games as a starter for any "power conference" team?

Idk who was the last one but I know Lamar Jackson, Jameis Winston, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts, Jake Fromm, Trevor Lawrence, and Bo Nix all have within the last decade. I thought Dylan Raiola might have last year but Nebraska was 7-6 because they lost their bowl game.

From what I can tell the day 1 last true freshman with 8+ wins would be Caleb Williams in '21. I'm not counting DJ Lagway who did it last year even though he played in 12 games because he wasn't a day 1 starter and only started in 7 games although you could argue that he technically should count. Dante Moore did it as QB1 with UC Los Angeles in '23 but he also split some time with Ethan Garbers. Grayson Loftis won 8 games with Duke that same year but he wasn't the starter to begin the season, that was Riley Leonard and Loftis only started the last 8 games of the season, again that could technically count though

BearSD said:

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sluggo said:

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calumnus said:

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sluggo said:

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Is 8 wins a possibility? Cal fans say yes. I say no.

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it is possible, but not probable.

I am hoping Sagapolutele tears it up which would help.

---

Even if he is Peyton Manning 8 wins is very, very unlikely, though you are correct not impossible.

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When was the last time a true freshman QB won 8 or more games as a starter for any "power conference" team?

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Some Nebraska fan did a bit of a deep dive into this topic when Raiola was chosen to start:

https://black41flashreverse.substack.com/p/does-this-ever-work-part-1
https://black41flashreverse.substack.com/p/does-this-ever-work-part-2
https://black41flashreverse.substack.com/p/does-this-ever-work-part-3-and-conclusions

Now I'll grant that it's mostly 5-star QBs though the author did also look at high 4-stars and JKS was indeed ranked a 5-star by On3. It's also a bit more in-depth than just looking at W-L to evaluate the QB.

BearSD said:

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sluggo said:

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calumnus said:

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sluggo said:

---

Is 8 wins a possibility? Cal fans say yes. I say no.

---

it is possible, but not probable.

I am hoping Sagapolutele tears it up which would help.

---

Even if he is Peyton Manning 8 wins is very, very unlikely, though you are correct not impossible.

---

When was the last time a true freshman QB won 8 or more games as a starter for any "power conference" team?

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Matt Barkley went 9-4 in 2009 at SC which was a disappointment by their standards but also that team would cakewalk against our schedule this year.

8-4 with a new coordinator, offensive scheme, new RB, and freshman QB is a dream season you old morons

bear2034 said:

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8-4 with a new coordinator, offensive scheme, new RB, and freshman QB is a dream season you old morons

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You are an idiot to think all the morons here are old.

Hey! Some of us morons **are** old thank you very much

StillNoStanfurdium said:

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BearSD said:

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sluggo said:

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calumnus said:

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sluggo said:

---

Is 8 wins a possibility? Cal fans say yes. I say no.

---

it is possible, but not probable.

I am hoping Sagapolutele tears it up which would help.

---

Even if he is Peyton Manning 8 wins is very, very unlikely, though you are correct not impossible.

---

When was the last time a true freshman QB won 8 or more games as a starter for any "power conference" team?

---

Some Nebraska fan did a bit of a deep dive into this topic when Raiola was chosen to start:

https://black41flashreverse.substack.com/p/does-this-ever-work-part-1
https://black41flashreverse.substack.com/p/does-this-ever-work-part-2
https://black41flashreverse.substack.com/p/does-this-ever-work-part-3-and-conclusions

Now I'll grant that it's mostly 5-star QBs though the author did also look at high 4-stars and JKS was indeed ranked a 5-star by On3. It's also a bit more in-depth than just looking at W-L to evaluate the QB.

---

Thanks for the links, that's interesting stuff. Bridgewater at Louisville might be the best comp for JKS at Cal given both the talent around the QB and the strength of schedule.

All the top end talent is gone and we have the worst FBS coaching staff. 8 wins is not happening.

Oregon State is favored for a reason. I really hate the preseason blind optimism, every team is magically poised to win it all every year. Reality will hit us very quickly this season.

8 years to 8 wins...LETS GO!

Y'all are crazy, 8 wins is a success by any measure, especially if we get 8 in regular season.

If you think we should be at that level as a bare minimum you need to come up with another 20 million a year.

Money, talent and coaching are overrated.

BearlyCareAnymore said:

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bear2034 said:

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8-4 with a new coordinator, offensive scheme, new RB, and freshman QB is a dream season you old morons

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Whose fault are all of those things. You don't get to change expectations by sucking for 8 years and then claim you've exceeded that low bar.

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Freshman QB aside, what happened last year in Bloomington is proof that in today's game you can do a rip and replace and have immediate success

Strykur said:

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BearlyCareAnymore said:

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bear2034 said:

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8-4 with a new coordinator, offensive scheme, new RB, and freshman QB is a dream season you old morons

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Whose fault are all of those things. You don't get to change expectations by sucking for 8 years and then claim you've exceeded that low bar.

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Freshman QB aside, what happened last year in Bloomington is proof that in today's game you can do a rip and replace and have immediate success

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Hell, Cal even accomplished it in the old days with Tedford.