BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

BearGreg said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

First, the title of this was "get a sense" - Secondly, how you can not attribute a lot of this to the coach who calls the D plays? And who his HC credits with the success?

At some point, it's not about the data, it's rather about the narrative you want to have.

---

I'm saying Oregon's defensive success under Lanning is not fairly attributable to Tosh. That Lanning gave Tosh credit for the success is a sign of Lanning's humility and his willingness to share success. That's what a good coach/leader does. Good leaders share credit for success and take the blame for failure. Dwight Eisenhower prepared a letter of resignation in case D-Day failed. In it, he took all the blame for its failures. When D-Day succeeded, Eisenhower deflected all the credit to the men under his command. That Lanning did something similar is not necessarily an accurate reflection of Tosh's contribution to the program, it's a reflection of Lanning's leadership style.

There's a lot of insider lobbying for Tosh is what this post tells me. Is it not reasonable to consider Lanning is largely responsible for how well the D performed as a counterpoint?

upsetof86 said:

---

There's a lot of insider lobbying for Tosh is what this post tells me. Is it not reasonable to consider Lanning is largely responsible for how well the D performed as a counterpoint?

---

BearGreg seems to be one of the Tosh fans. Either that or Todh to Cal is a fait accompli and BearGreg is just providing cover for Ron Rivera's decision. I have yo say, I'm disappointed that BearGreg won't acknowledge that Oregon's defensive success may be attributable more to Lanning than to Tosh.

Great players make great defenses.

Tosh can get great players at the level of Ohio State and Alabama.

Cal's defense will actually be good now for once.


Go Bears!

m2bear said:

---

Great players make great defenses.

Tosh can get great players at the level of Ohio State and Alabama.

Cal's defense will actually be good now for once.


Go Bears!

---

Agree, players make good defenses.

The recruiting game is a bit different now. NIL is critical. I do believe Tosh will do a good job leveraging NIL with all the other things Cal has to offer, but we need to maximize the NIL fund for the new coach. Tosh has to come in at a salary that allows him/us to hire and retain a top OC and devote a ton of money to NIL for him to go get the players. Obviously, if Tosh and Ron can convince the donors to give big bucks, that is not an issue. Tosh will get good players, something I miss. I am just concerned that Tosh may be as controversial among the donor class as he is among the general fanbase.

01Bear said:

---

upsetof86 said:

---

There's a lot of insider lobbying for Tosh is what this post tells me. Is it not reasonable to consider Lanning is largely responsible for how well the D performed as a counterpoint?

---

BearGreg seems to be one of the Tosh fans. Either that or Todh to Cal is a fait accompli and BearGreg is just providing cover for Ron Rivera's decision. I have yo say, I'm disappointed that BearGreg won't acknowledge that Oregon's defensive success may be attributable more to Lanning than to Tosh.

---

Agree, if Tosh is the guy I'd like to know so we can be having a conversation of what it might take for him to be successful, who he might get as OC, etc instead of why other candidates would be better.

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

A defensive OC and specialist? What in the world does that even mean?

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

FEI


2021: 49th

2022: 41st
2023: 11th
2024: 15th
2025: 6th

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

A defensive OC and specialist? What in the world does that even mean?

---

Sorry meant a defensive coordinator and a defensive specialist. My mistake.

BearGreg said:

---

upsetof86 said:

---

There's a lot of insider lobbying for Tosh is what this post tells me. Is it not reasonable to consider Lanning is largely responsible for how well the D performed as a counterpoint?

---

Please post the data, either qualitative or quantitative that gives folks a sense of how much of Oregon's defensive performance is Lanning vs Lupoi.

---

Do you have a source showing that Tosh is calling the defensive plays? I'm not being argumentative, just seriously curious why you attribute Oregon's defensive play calling to Tosh.

01Bear said:

---

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

A defensive OC and specialist? What in the world does that even mean?

---

Sorry meant a defensive coordinator and a defensive specialist. My mistake.

---

I was just being a dick.

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

A defensive OC and specialist? What in the world does that even mean?

---

Sorry meant a defensive coordinator and a defensive specialist. My mistake.

---

I was just being a dick.

---

Lol. No worries. It was my mistake, originally.

There's a joke to be had somewhere in there.

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

First, the title of this was "get a sense" - Secondly, how you can not attribute a lot of this to the coach who calls the D plays? And who his HC credits with the success?

At some point, it's not about the data, it's rather about the narrative you want to have.

---

I'm saying Oregon's defensive success under Lanning is not fairly attributable to Tosh. That Lanning gave Tosh credit for the success is a sign of Lanning's humility and his willingness to share success. That's what a good coach/leader does. Good leaders share credit for success and take the blame for failure. Dwight Eisenhower prepared a letter of resignation in case D-Day failed. In it, he took all the blame for its failures. When D-Day succeeded, Eisenhower deflected all the credit to the men under his command. That Lanning did something similar is not necessarily an accurate reflection of Tosh's contribution to the program, it's a reflection of Lanning's leadership style.

---

What a heroic piece of speculation.

calumnus said:

---

01Bear said:

---

upsetof86 said:

---

There's a lot of insider lobbying for Tosh is what this post tells me. Is it not reasonable to consider Lanning is largely responsible for how well the D performed as a counterpoint?

---

BearGreg seems to be one of the Tosh fans. Either that or Todh to Cal is a fait accompli and BearGreg is just providing cover for Ron Rivera's decision. I have yo say, I'm disappointed that BearGreg won't acknowledge that Oregon's defensive success may be attributable more to Lanning than to Tosh.

---

Agree, if Tosh is the guy I'd like to know so we can be having a conversation of what it might take for him to be successful, who he might get as OC, etc instead of why other candidates would be better.

---

Hey Ron, calumnus is kinda getting impatient for an update….so if you wouldn't mind speeding up your process that would be great. It's important that they have ample time to move on to the important work of getting you some feedback on how to make the new coach, whomever that is, successful.

Thanks for your consideration.

aws56 said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

First, the title of this was "get a sense" - Secondly, how you can not attribute a lot of this to the coach who calls the D plays? And who his HC credits with the success?

At some point, it's not about the data, it's rather about the narrative you want to have.

---

I'm saying Oregon's defensive success under Lanning is not fairly attributable to Tosh. That Lanning gave Tosh credit for the success is a sign of Lanning's humility and his willingness to share success. That's what a good coach/leader does. Good leaders share credit for success and take the blame for failure. Dwight Eisenhower prepared a letter of resignation in case D-Day failed. In it, he took all the blame for its failures. When D-Day succeeded, Eisenhower deflected all the credit to the men under his command. That Lanning did something similar is not necessarily an accurate reflection of Tosh's contribution to the program, it's a reflection of Lanning's leadership style.

---

What a heroic piece of speculation.

---

right? I'm trying to figure out Tosh's role in the D-Day Bombing. The pilot? Assistant to Ike? Analogy had me drawn in…….

aws56 said:

---

calumnus said:

---

01Bear said:

---

upsetof86 said:

---

There's a lot of insider lobbying for Tosh is what this post tells me. Is it not reasonable to consider Lanning is largely responsible for how well the D performed as a counterpoint?

---

BearGreg seems to be one of the Tosh fans. Either that or Todh to Cal is a fait accompli and BearGreg is just providing cover for Ron Rivera's decision. I have yo say, I'm disappointed that BearGreg won't acknowledge that Oregon's defensive success may be attributable more to Lanning than to Tosh.

---

Agree, if Tosh is the guy I'd like to know so we can be having a conversation of what it might take for him to be successful, who he might get as OC, etc instead of why other candidates would be better.

---

Hey Ron, calumnus is kinda getting impatient for an update….so if you wouldn't mind speeding up your process that would be great. It's important that they have ample time to move on to the important work of getting you some feedback on how to make the new coach, whomever that is, successful.

Thanks for your consideration.

---

Here you go (just for fun)

Cal Bears Announce Tosh Lupoi as New Head Football Coach

Berkeley, CA November 29, 2025 Following a diligent and exhaustive national search, the University of California, Berkeley has named Tosh Lupoi as its new head football coach. Lupoi returns to Berkeley to lead the Golden Bears program, bringing a decade of diverse coaching experience to a university where he previously served as a graduate assistant and defensive line coach.

A Pragmatic Approach to Modern College Football

The decision to hire Lupoi reflects a pragmatic acknowledgment of the current landscape of collegiate athletics. After a thorough vetting process, the university determined that market realities dictated a focused, results-oriented selection.

Market Realities: The current head coaching vacancy at Cal was not considered highly attractive, resulting
in a limited pool of high-profile candidates expressing serious interest.

Decade of Distance: A key factor in Lupoi's selection was the recognition that it has been over a decade since his prior association, ensuring that he hasn't "stuck a knife in the heart of Cal fans" in the recent past.

The Bottom Line: In today's environment, it's all about money. The primary factor driving recruitment and program success is financial resources.

Recruiting Strategy Shift: The administration recognizes that modern student-athletes are primarily motivated by the financial opportunities available to them. Consequently, relying on the value proposition of a Cal education alone does not work effectively when recruiting top-tier talent, as players primarily "only care about money these days."

Lupoi's Experience and Vision

Tosh Lupoi is expected to immediately focus on modernizing the program's approach to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal to align with the competitive financial pressures of the sport. His previous coaching roles, spanning multiple power-conference teams and the NFL, have prepared him to lead a program where success is directly tied to securing and retaining top talent in a highly transactional environment.

"Tosh understands the current demands of college football better than anyone," said Cal Football General Manager Ron Rivera. "We are confident he can implement the necessary strategies to compete at the highest level, starting with a direct, financially-backed approach to talent acquisition and retention. We welcome him back to Berkeley."

Lupoi will be formally introduced at a press conference next week.

Did Tosh bang your GF when you were an undergrad or what? You pop up in every thread to try and discount him or hate on him. Weird behavior.

BeggarEd said:

---

Did Tosh bang your GF when you were an undergrad or what? You pop up in every thread to try and discount him or hate on him. Weird behavior.

---

I don't discount him, I'm just looking at him critically, as I would with any other potential candidate. Unfortunately, too many other posters in this forum have Blue colored lenses and just see Tosh the Cal alumnus and recruiter then project that into how he's some sort of coaching savant. There's zero evidence for that supposition, but they adopt it as an article of faith. I'm just challenging that position by pointing out that he really has not proven to be someone who (1) can develop players and prepare them for the next level, (2) has an understanding of schemes necessary for a HC, or even (3) has the requisite ability to be a HC (let alone one who can turn around a floundering mediocre program).

It's just so ofd that there are so many posters worshipping at the altar of Tosh. I really don't understand that. While it's true that he was an excellent recruiter about a decade ago, the recruiting game is now changed considerably. Now, paying kids to play is completely legal, so he's lost that competitive advantage. Along those lines, kids are looking at each school's NIL packages before they sign; if a school's NIL doesn't match a kid's expectations or offers from other programs, he'll likely nix that school from his list.

(However, it should also be remembered that NIL isn't the end all be all of recruiting. Cal lost Nando because the staff couldn't develop him for the next level. This brings back the problem that Tosh has not proven that he managed to develop players. Sure he's worked under Saban and Lanning, but that's even more of a strike against him as a developer of talent, as those guys were/are defensive specialists, making it hard to credit Tosh with their development instead if those coaches. Had he coached under an offensive specialists, then the development of the defensive players under his care could be more attributable to him.)

Moreover, in today's college football world, the portal has changed the game greatly. Ten years ago, after a school signed a player, the player was more or less stuck at that program. Sure, he could transfer out, but he'd have to sit out a year of eligibility. Now, however, players can transfer out at the end of every year. So if a player gets buyer's remorse (after receiving his year of NIL payment) and realizes he's not being developed appropriately (again, see Nando), he can portal out.

Yet, none of the Tosh worshippers have addressed any of this in their evaluations of him as a potential HC, even though his forte is supposed to be recruiting. It seems blindingly obvious that if a guy's forte is recruiting, there should be something about how he has thrived in today's recruiting world. Unfortunately, by recruiting at Bama and Oregon, two blueblood football schools, it's hard to say for sure how much Tosh played a role was in bringing in the recruits. Those kids knew they were going to be developed for the next level by the coaching staff (and in Oregon's case, that they were sure to be paid to play.)

All of this elides Tosh's personal history with Cal. It's well-known Tosh betrayed Cal on his way to UW. That's not being relitigated here. Rather, my posts are taking a critical look at the candidate so many supporters seem to want. Tosh's resume isn't terribly different from Wilcox's before he was appointed Cal's HC (the main difference is that Tosh is supposed to be a superior recruiter). Cal just suffered 9 years of mediocrity under Wilcox. Cal can't afford to waste any more time under a Wilcox redux.

tl; still skimmed

Bro - who else do you suggest? He's the best fit there is currently. He knows and understands Cal. Recruits well, etc.

remb8888 said:

---

tl; still skimmed

Bro - who else do you suggest? He's the best fit there is currently. He knows and understands Cal. Recruits well, etc.

---

I'd want Cal to pursue someone with a history of success at lower levels, someone like Jason Eck. Eck has New Mexico to the top of the MWC. Prior to that, he turned Idaho around, going from 4-7 in 2021 (before he got there) to 10-4 in his final season. He has exhibited a history of building programs and making them competitive with the best in his conference. At the very least, that's what Cal needs in its next HC.

01Bear said:

---

remb8888 said:

---

tl; still skimmed

Bro - who else do you suggest? He's the best fit there is currently. He knows and understands Cal. Recruits well, etc.

---

I'd want Cal to pursue someone with a history of success at lower levels, someone like Jason Eck. Eck has New Mexico to the top of the MWC. Prior to that, he turned Idaho around, going from 4-7 in 2021 (before he got there) to 10-4 in his final season. He has exhibited a history of building programs and making them competitive with the best in his conference. At the very least, that's what Cal needs in its next HC.

---

Thank God you're not making decisions.

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

A defensive OC and specialist? What in the world does that even mean?

---

Sorry meant a defensive coordinator and a defensive specialist. My mistake.

---

I was just being a dick.

---

Duck?

Bobodeluxe said:

---

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

A defensive OC and specialist? What in the world does that even mean?

---

Sorry meant a defensive coordinator and a defensive specialist. My mistake.

---

I was just being a dick.

---

Duck?

---

Is there a difference?

ducky23 said:

---

Bobodeluxe said:

---

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

ducktilldeath said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BearGreg said:

---

These are the advanced metric efficiency stats:

2021: ESPN 40th / PFF 87th. (Prior to Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi arriving in Eugene)

then

2022: ESPN 37th / PFF 58th
2023: ESPN 15th / PFF 19th
2024: ESPN 21st / PFF 7th
2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11th

---

It's hard to attribute that to Tosh and not to Lanning. Lanning was a defensive OC and specialist before he was ever made a HC. Might as well claim that the current Warriors dynasty is due to Draymond Green. Sure, he played a role, but without Kerr and (more importantly) Curry, Draymond would not be a NBA champion.

---

A defensive OC and specialist? What in the world does that even mean?

---

Sorry meant a defensive coordinator and a defensive specialist. My mistake.

---

I was just being a dick.

---

Duck?

---

Is there a difference?

---

23

01Bear said:

---

remb8888 said:

---

tl; still skimmed

Bro - who else do you suggest? He's the best fit there is currently. He knows and understands Cal. Recruits well, etc.

---

I'd want Cal to pursue someone with a history of success at lower levels, someone like Jason Eck. Eck has New Mexico to the top of the MWC. Prior to that, he turned Idaho around, going from 4-7 in 2021 (before he got there) to 10-4 in his final season. He has exhibited a history of building programs and making them competitive with the best in his conference. At the very least, that's what Cal needs in its next HC.

---

Yeah like Dan Lanning who totally turned around.....

Oh wait you mean the young energetic dude who was an all-star recruiter and splashy coordinator out of Georgia who's killing it right now?

BearGreg said:

---

01Bear said:

---

BeggarEd said:

---

Did Tosh bang your GF when you were an undergrad or what? You pop up in every thread to try and discount him or hate on him. Weird behavior.

---

I don't discount him, I'm just looking at him critically, as I would with any other potential candidate. Unfortunately, too many other posters in this forum have Blue colored lenses and just see Tosh the Cal alumnus and recruiter then project that into how he's some sort of coaching savant. There's zero evidence for that supposition, but they adopt it as an article of faith. I'm just challenging that position by pointing out that he really has not proven to be someone who (1) can develop players and prepare them for the next level, (2) has an understanding of schemes necessary for a HC, or even (3) has the requisite ability to be a HC (let alone one who can turn around a floundering mediocre program).

It's just so ofd that there are so many posters worshipping at the altar of Tosh. I really don't understand that. While it's true that he was an excellent recruiter about a decade ago, the recruiting game is now changed considerably. Now, paying kids to play is completely legal, so he's lost that competitive advantage. Along those lines, kids are looking at each school's NIL packages before they sign; if a school's NIL doesn't match a kid's expectations or offers from other programs, he'll likely nix that school from his list.

(However, it should also be remembered that NIL isn't the end all be all of recruiting. Cal lost Nando because the staff couldn't develop him for the next level. This brings back the problem that Tosh has not proven that he managed to develop players. Sure he's worked under Saban and Lanning, but that's even more of a strike against him as a developer of talent, as those guys were/are defensive specialists, making it hard to credit Tosh with their development instead if those coaches. Had he coached under an offensive specialists, then the development of the defensive players under his care could be more attributable to him.)

Moreover, in today's college football world, the portal has changed the game greatly. Ten years ago, after a school signed a player, the player was more or less stuck at that program. Sure, he could transfer out, but he'd have to sit out a year of eligibility. Now, however, players can transfer out at the end of every year. So if a player gets buyer's remorse (after receiving his year of NIL payment) and realizes he's not being developed appropriately (again, see Nando), he can portal out.

Yet, none of the Tosh worshippers have addressed any of this in their evaluations of him as a potential HC, even though his forte is supposed to be recruiting. It seems blindingly obvious that if a guy's forte is recruiting, there should be something about how he has thrived in today's recruiting world. Unfortunately, by recruiting at Bama and Oregon, two blueblood football schools, it's hard to say for sure how much Tosh played a role was in bringing in the recruits. Those kids knew they were going to be developed for the next level by the coaching staff (and in Oregon's case, that they were sure to be paid to play.)

All of this elides Tosh's personal history with Cal. It's well-known Tosh betrayed Cal on his way to UW. That's not being relitigated here. Rather, my posts are taking a critical look at the candidate so many supporters seem to want. Tosh's resume isn't terribly different from Wilcox's before he was appointed Cal's HC (the main difference is that Tosh is supposed to be a superior recruiter). Cal just suffered 9 years of mediocrity under Wilcox. Cal can't afford to waste any more time under a Wilcox redux.

---

The number of NFL defensive players Tosh coach at Cal, Washington, Alabama and Oregon is a who's who of 1st round picks and NFL All Pros. Of course, if you think he did nothing and that the HCs he worked for did everything, I guess you're right?!

---

Again, how much of their development is attributable to Tosh and how much to the other coaches? IIRC, Tedford had some great DCs who kept getting hired away. So again, how much of their development players' development was due to Tosh and how much to the coaches under which he worked?

The way I look at it - there are risks and downsides to every hire. Cal needs short term upside given realignment on the front burner. So let's pick someone with a high ceiling in the short term - enter Tosh Lupoi. If he fails (and of course he might), we'll move on and find someone else and we can reopen the conversation again and find a new Eck type of coach. In my mind, Lupoi gives us the greatest upside in the next year, and this tips the scale for me.

Whoever is chosen, we need to rally around them and give them the best chance to succeed. At least all of us can agree on this.