Sorry, negabears, doesn't sound like a man making personnel changes anytime soon. He does drop a few expletives that KNBR had to drop, for whatever that's worth.

https://omny.fm/shows/murph-markus-podcast/9-23-murph-markus-hour-3-mike-silver-joins-the-show-cooler-of-content-ron-rivera-joins-the-show

You should be saying sorry to sunshine pumpers. Negabears are well aware that no changes are happening thanks to Wilcox's guaranteed contract

Ron (and the pressers of both Wilcox and Bollers) aren't gonna give the bile-thirsty what they want re: the content or temperature of the Monday AM meeting. It appears that the team would rather speak with actions by focusing on BC this week in practice and then presumably proving it on the field this Saturday night. And Ron's message (paraphrased): "Believe in us or bail. Give us some time." I'm going to believe that the team will find their big boy pants, keep true to their apparently renewed commitments, and impress me this weekend. We shall see.

ncbears said:

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https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-11-sp-2640-story.html

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If Wilcox had the balls to do that, I would be first in line cheering for his extension

ncbears said:

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https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-11-sp-2640-story.html

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hence the rallying cry "Win one for the zipper!"

Strykur said:

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Econ141 said:

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Thanks to Lyons and Ron we are not creating godumdme's for our program

the fire jarmond mobile billboard is going out on friday. But we are also trying to raise funds to fly a banner over the rose bowl for the penn state game. Please donate if you can! https://t.co/tsSokTEIwY

— Jack (@jackfernan_07) September 24, 2025

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They still have obstacles but are maybe a little ahead of the curve than us regarding the status of coaches

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And their risk of being relegated to G6 is lower than ours

From that same interview

#Calgorithm is getting excited about this snippet from the interview.

Been a Cal fan for nearly 30 years. This is the best speech I’ve ever heard about the program. It’s a must listen.

The future of Cal Football is in Ron’s hands. Support it now, or get out. pic.twitter.com/nrAz4mM4iM

— Ghost (@GhostofGarbers) September 24, 2025

First of all, when he talks about how the "Riverboat Ron" thing started, that has never been Wilcox. He's gone for it on 4th downs and gone for 2 point conversions (stupidly usually) more this year, but at heart he is a conservative coach and always will be. If you think you need the college version of Dan Campbell to change the mentality of the program, you need to go hire that guy. You won't ever turn Wilcox into that type of coach.

What I don't care for is the part starting at 1:35. The fan will never be what leads a program out of being a losing program. Fan support mostly follows the beginnings of success and when they abandon the program, it's not their fault for abandoning you. You gave them nothing to believe in. You get shut out by a team that not only has no business beating you, but has zero business shutting you out when you have access to money and talent that that other program doesn't? That's a program FAILURE plain and simple.

And here's another thing. When Tedford started turning things around in the early 2000's, what was the first thing the Cal administration did? They got rid of the affordable Family Zone in the endzones and starting jacking up prices to take advantage. Cal has historically had very little respect for its fanbase. They have had consistently terrible customer service for ticket buyers, they have continued to erode the fan experience during games, and then there's the product on the field. You can't continue to spit in your fanbase's eye and then say it's their fault for not supporting you better.

College sports is an entertainment choice. It's not an obligation.

"When Tedford started turning things around in the early 2000's, what was the first thing the Cal administration did? They got rid of the affordable Family Zone in the endzones and starting jacking up prices to take advantage. Cal has historically had very little respect for its fanbase. They have had consistently terrible customer service for ticket buyers, they have continued to erode the fan experience during games, and then there's the product on the field. You can't continue to spit in your fanbase's eye and then say it's their fault for not supporting you better."

SHOULD BE POSTED IN ALL CAPS!

Fred Bear said:

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You can't continue to spit in your fanbase's eye and then say it's their fault for not supporting you better.

College sports is an entertainment choice. It's not an obligation.

---

I mention this repeatedly on here that pouring money into an insane operation is madness and I am not going to commit to wild irrationality despite being an alum...

Another angle, if we were getting Big Ten dollars then the administration would be totally out to lunch because the bills would be paid for, but there is no money faucet to save this ship and results have to change to get money committed, instead we get one of the most hideous results in program history and it's business as usual

Strykur said:

---

Fred Bear said:

---

You can't continue to spit in your fanbase's eye and then say it's their fault for not supporting you better.

College sports is an entertainment choice. It's not an obligation.

---

I mention this repeatedly on here that pouring money into an insane operation is madness and I am not going to commit to wild irrationality despite being an alum...

Another angle, if we were getting Big Ten dollars then the administration would be totally out to lunch because the bills would be paid for, but there is no money faucet to save this ship and results have to change to get money committed, instead we get one of the most hideous results in program history and it's business as usual

---

Cal Football has made a number of inroads the past several years. Unfortunately, they are not yet reflected in our on-field performance. Well, they sort of have, actually, because without those inroads, we'd be absolute doormats right now. I think the bottom line here is that we feel like we're just not ready to give up yet. Moving down to a lower level, maybe it happens some day, I don't know, but not until we've exhausted all avenues to compete at the top level.

I think we can still do it!

Fred Bear said:

---

From that same interview

#Calgorithm is getting excited about this snippet from the interview.

Been a Cal fan for nearly 30 years. This is the best speech I’ve ever heard about the program. It’s a must listen.

The future of Cal Football is in Ron’s hands. Support it now, or get out. pic.twitter.com/nrAz4mM4iM

— Ghost (@GhostofGarbers) September 24, 2025

First of all, when he talks about how the "Riverboat Ron" thing started, that has never been Wilcox. He's gone for it on 4th downs and gone for 2 point conversions (stupidly usually) more this year, but at heart he is a conservative coach and always will be. If you think you need the college version of Dan Campbell to change the mentality of the program, you need to go hire that guy. You won't ever turn Wilcox into that type of coach.

What I don't care for is the part starting at 1:35. The fan will never be what leads a program out of being a losing program. Fan support mostly follows the beginnings of success and when they abandon the program, it's not their fault for abandoning you. You gave them nothing to believe in. You get shut out by a team that not only has no business beating you, but has zero business shutting you out when you have access to money and talent that that other program doesn't? That's a program FAILURE plain and simple.

And here's another thing. When Tedford started turning things around in the early 2000's, what was the first thing the Cal administration did? They got rid of the affordable Family Zone in the endzones and starting jacking up prices to take advantage. Cal has historically had very little respect for its fanbase. They have had consistently terrible customer service for ticket buyers, they have continued to erode the fan experience during games, and then there's the product on the field. You can't continue to spit in your fanbase's eye and then say it's their fault for not supporting you better.

College sports is an entertainment choice. It's not an obligation.

---

I listened to this before reading your post and I came away very discouraged. That was a missed opportunity and a poor answer. That answer speaks to people who are already with you (which at this point is a pretty small group). It doesn't reach the audience you need to reach. That answer sounded 100% like his old Cal coach Joe Kapp and I don't need another redux of that.

That was a real opportunity to say "I understand that Cal fans are frustrated that Cal has not always had the commitment it needs to have. But we are changing things. Here are 5 specific things we are doing to commit to success. We are more committed than we have been in my lifetime and we want the fans to join us in that commitment.

Instead we got basically get on board or get the eff out.

Okay. I'm out then. Because you want me to have blind faith. I don't. That was just Lucy screaming at Charlie Brown "Kick the effing football Charlie Brown!"

I'm discouraged because I worry that if he had any substantive changes that they are making he would have said them and the fact that he went with the "Support us! Just Do it!" makes me think there are no substantive changes. I hope I'm wrong. Bottom line, hiring Ron was not enough. I need to see actual actions. Cal's message for decades has been just shut up and write the check. It won't fly anymore.

Your paragraph about not respecting the fan is on point. I grew up in the family section, and I was still there as an adult because I liked it. It was my memorial stadium home. Now, I wasn't upset about them eliminating it. I was willing to pay. But it was massively stupid. I said at the time, we will lose again and not cultivating the families with kids who grow up to be fans think and thin will blow up in your face. But what I was upset about was when people who had been season ticket holders for 30, 40, 50 years were told their seniority points meant jack now. Pay up or move. And when they got upset, other fans piled on and said they should sacrifice to win. How did that work out? I guarantee you Cal didn't make a dime more in the short run and lost a lot in the long run.

This was a great speech if you are giving it to the players, the coaches, the chancellor or the administration. It was completely tone deaf responding to a question about fans. The fans cannot be more committed than the university. It doesn't work like that. In a reference to your playing days, Ron, I'm ready to remember the Alamo. (that's how long I've been here, Ron) I know YOU are all in. You played top speed. You bailed Kapp's ass out a number of times. But your colleagues? Not convinced.

Give me a reason. "I'm here" isn't a reason. That was Joe Kapp shyte right there. And as much of a legend as you are, Joe was more. Tell us what you guys are doing.

It is not that we see adversity and run. It is we see lack of commitment. I'm ready to believe. Give me a reason. Yelling at me to believe or leave gives me a false choice between something I can't do because I have no reason to do, and something I don't want to do. Is that really the choice you want to give me?

Listening to that, I felt like Justice Sueing listening to Mark Fox give a speech that was ostensibly to me but was really aimed at impressing someone else.

philly1121 said:

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Can we stop with the #calgorithm bs? That died the night we lost to Miami. Stop trotting it out like it's a thing. #calgorithm will never be a thing again.

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it is still a thing.

BearlyCareAnymore said:

---

Fred Bear said:

---

From that same interview

#Calgorithm is getting excited about this snippet from the interview.

Been a Cal fan for nearly 30 years. This is the best speech I’ve ever heard about the program. It’s a must listen.

The future of Cal Football is in Ron’s hands. Support it now, or get out. pic.twitter.com/nrAz4mM4iM

— Ghost (@GhostofGarbers) September 24, 2025

First of all, when he talks about how the "Riverboat Ron" thing started, that has never been Wilcox. He's gone for it on 4th downs and gone for 2 point conversions (stupidly usually) more this year, but at heart he is a conservative coach and always will be. If you think you need the college version of Dan Campbell to change the mentality of the program, you need to go hire that guy. You won't ever turn Wilcox into that type of coach.

What I don't care for is the part starting at 1:35. The fan will never be what leads a program out of being a losing program. Fan support mostly follows the beginnings of success and when they abandon the program, it's not their fault for abandoning you. You gave them nothing to believe in. You get shut out by a team that not only has no business beating you, but has zero business shutting you out when you have access to money and talent that that other program doesn't? That's a program FAILURE plain and simple.

And here's another thing. When Tedford started turning things around in the early 2000's, what was the first thing the Cal administration did? They got rid of the affordable Family Zone in the endzones and starting jacking up prices to take advantage. Cal has historically had very little respect for its fanbase. They have had consistently terrible customer service for ticket buyers, they have continued to erode the fan experience during games, and then there's the product on the field. You can't continue to spit in your fanbase's eye and then say it's their fault for not supporting you better.

College sports is an entertainment choice. It's not an obligation.

---

I listened to this before reading your post and I came away very discouraged. That was a missed opportunity and a poor answer. That answer speaks to people who are already with you (which at this point is a pretty small group). It doesn't reach the audience you need to reach. That answer sounded 100% like his old Cal coach Joe Kapp and I don't need another redux of that.

That was a real opportunity to say "I understand that Cal fans are frustrated that Cal has not always had the commitment it needs to have. But we are changing things. Here are 5 specific things we are doing to commit to success. We are more committed than we have been in my lifetime and we want the fans to join us in that commitment.

Instead we got basically get on board or get the eff out.

Okay. I'm out then. Because you want me to have blind faith. I don't. That was just Lucy screaming at Charlie Brown "Kick the effing football Charlie Brown!"

I'm discouraged because I worry that if he had any substantive changes that they are making he would have said them and the fact that he went with the "Support us! Just Do it!" makes me think there are no substantive changes. I hope I'm wrong. Bottom line, hiring Ron was not enough. I need to see actual actions. Cal's message for decades has been just shut up and write the check. It won't fly anymore.

Your paragraph about not respecting the fan is on point. I grew up in the family section, and I was still there as an adult because I liked it. It was my memorial stadium home. Now, I wasn't upset about them eliminating it. I was willing to pay. But it was massively stupid. I said at the time, we will lose again and not cultivating the families with kids who grow up to be fans think and thin will blow up in your face. But what I was upset about was when people who had been season ticket holders for 30, 40, 50 years were told their seniority points meant jack now. Pay up or move. And when they got upset, other fans piled on and said they should sacrifice to win. How did that work out? I guarantee you Cal didn't make a dime more in the short run and lost a lot in the long run.

This was a great speech if you are giving it to the players, the coaches, the chancellor or the administration. It was completely tone deaf responding to a question about fans. The fans cannot be more committed than the university. It doesn't work like that. In a reference to your playing days, Ron, I'm ready to remember the Alamo. (that's how long I've been here, Ron) I know YOU are all in. You played top speed. You bailed Kapp's ass out a number of times. But your colleagues? Not convinced.

Give me a reason. "I'm here" isn't a reason. That was Joe Kapp shyte right there. And as much of a legend as you are, Joe was more. Tell us what you guys are doing.

It is not that we see adversity and run. It is we see lack of commitment. I'm ready to believe. Give me a reason. Yelling at me to believe or leave gives me a false choice between something I can't do because I have no reason to do, and something I don't want to do. Is that really the choice you want to give me?

Listening to that, I felt like Justice Sueing listening to Mark Fox give a speech that was ostensibly to me but was really aimed at impressing someone else.

---

Agreed. Nothing wrong with Ron Rivera trying to get the base fired up, but here's the thing: I've been to 200+ Cal Football games and 500+ Cal Basketball games. Why? Because I happen to love football, basketball and Cal. But there aren't too many folks like me (and most who are probably visit this site). If you only love football and/or basketball, but you don't love Cal, or vice versa, you're probably gonna need stuff like a "winning team" and a "good game day experience" to get you out to Berkeley.

Especially in these days of NIL and unlimited transfers, asking for fan support based on loyalty is likely to be ineffective.

Ridiculous speech. Unconditional devotion is for puppies and cultists. It's on THEM to convince us it's worth our time and money. I'm willing to give a new regime time and patience but it is not and should not be infinite.

A representative of the best public institution of higher education in America ought to be able to express himself without profanity. Yes, I know I sound like a fuddy-duddy, and yes, I know it's Cal, but he ought not to be adding to the negative part of our reputation.

Leaving that aside, I agree that his remarks are terrible. He has the fan base and the team confused. Yes, the team has to believe; the fan base, though, is entitled to say, "Show us that things are going to change after 70 years of almost consistent mediocrity or worse."

Big C said:

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BearlyCareAnymore said:

---

Big C said:

---

Strykur said:

---

Fred Bear said:

---

You can't continue to spit in your fanbase's eye and then say it's their fault for not supporting you better.

College sports is an entertainment choice. It's not an obligation.

---

I mention this repeatedly on here that pouring money into an insane operation is madness and I am not going to commit to wild irrationality despite being an alum...

Another angle, if we were getting Big Ten dollars then the administration would be totally out to lunch because the bills would be paid for, but there is no money faucet to save this ship and results have to change to get money committed, instead we get one of the most hideous results in program history and it's business as usual

---

Cal Football has made a number of inroads the past several years. Unfortunately, they are not yet reflected in our on-field performance. Well, they sort of have, actually, because without those inroads, we'd be absolute doormats right now. I think the bottom line here is that we feel like we're just not ready to give up yet. Moving down to a lower level, maybe it happens some day, I don't know, but not until we've exhausted all avenues to compete at the top level.

I think we can still do it!

---

That is the problem, though, BigC. Cal is always playing catch up just to at best tread water in a permanent state of behind. Years ago I posted about Cal's coaching salary history which is just refusing to pay competitive rate, followed by relenting just in time for that not to be competitive. ($100K - no! professors don't make that! no. no. Okay! wait its $500K now? NO! Okay, geez. Its a million now!!!! Never!. ad nauseum).

Cal needs an organized approach that determines what we want and what resources we are willing to use to get it. It needs to be forward looking. To take coaching salary as an example we need to figure out what that is going to be in 5 years, not today so that what we pay is not obsolete the second we throw it out there.

Personally, I can accept if they just say - no, it is too expensive. Others are crazy. We can't play in this space anymore. Or, decide to do what it takes. What is frustrating is spending way too much to continually be behind the curve. I completely get that if Cal had not made inroads internally we would be absolute doormats. But I kind of don't get the point in making inroads to be mostly doormats instead of absolute doormats (Princess Bride reference intended).

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I remember that post; it was a HOFer.

Totally agree that we can't be behind the curve all the time. And I'm sure that Ron Rivera and Sebastabear (and Rich Lyons) know this as well and are doing their damnedest to get us there. Some roadblocks have been removed; more are still in the way. I'm still down for us to keep giving it our best shot. Having the most revenue-sport-friendly Chancellor in modern times should help a lot.

---

To be clear here, Rivera just got here and deserves a chance to turn things around (whether one thinks that comes along with deserves one's financial support now or chooses to wait and see). My comments here are reserved for this response and this response only. It makes me wonder if Rivera's unconditional support for Cal football makes it hard for him to empathize with Cal fans who are worn down. If five years from now Cal football, coaches, players, administration etc. are working on all cylinders and THEN he wants to deliver that message to fans, well, honestly, still don't think it is great, but it is understandable.

Doesn't mean I won't anxiously await the outward appearance of substantive changes he can pull off, but I think a lot of us kind of resent the implication that we are the problem and we owe undying support to an organization that has not supported itself in the past. Delivering that message after SDSU without even acknowledging that was disheartening is really puzzling.