Cal89;842260535 said:
Thank you Darby. Just torques me to hear these kids getting blamed, told they are quitters or soft. No, not the adults, the ones getting paid quite well to manage the AD and football team.
The talent we have or had on this team was not the worst in the conference, and by far. And it was certainly not the worst in our history. The results were though. Our recruiting the last few years, by most or all services, had us in the top 1/3 of the conference. We have or had sufficient talent to at least be competitive in our games. Coaching can and often does make a difference!
We know there was a cancerous dynamic of JT's last team to where the players just mailed it in the last few games. It was clear to many finally that JT's time was up. However, that team nearly beat tOSU in Columbus, and should have. They beat a ranked UCLA team, and did so handily. It was not a good year for sure, but you don't do those things with pathetic talent.
That said, with the talent we are losing and the prospects of this class, this excuse might be a valid one soon; and if so, it will be one created by SD, and his chosen staff.
As far as young men leaving the program, by any and all means, the pain of staying equated to giving-up. These 18-20 year olds didn't make these decisions alone, and I'd guess all were well-contemplated (I'm aware of a couple). They consulted former coaches and trainers, as well as family and friends. As someone said earlier, such sentiment (desire to leave) existed before the last game. At least one parent that I'm aware of spoke with SD before season's end, and it was not a fruitful discussion. It had seemed evident that other family members had done the same. Transferring next year was encouraged more so than this year, as it would look bad, particularly if more than a couple departed now So much for that.
JT and staff didn't get us to the promised land, but they were a proven commodity to the recruits. The pro set O and playbook groomed all offensive positions very well for the next level. The D was led by a guy with NFL experience, the SB even. Like him or not, Pendy gave us the #1 defense in the conference, I believe in 2010 (yards allowed). In 2011 also, a different metric as I recall, but 2nd in yards allowed.
Just like a Cal degree is golden for one's career, Cal football was arguably the best out there in developing and preparing those for that career path. That is suddenly gone and replaced with a HC and staff, to be polite, very polite, is not proven. Further, horrific results aside, the offensive system is not something that lends itself well to what's expected in the League. Speaking of which, I believe none of the coaches have NFL experience (as player or coach). Lose a few renowned professors that makes a major very desirable on campus, and students will choose to matriculate elsewhere. Totally understandable.
This doesn't even factor-in other matters on the team, how things have been managed, personnel decisions, disciplinary approaches, altercation/s, practice players not on the sidelines on game day and no end of season awards.
These are not opinions.
As much as I love Cal, I feel that Cal failed these young men. That pains me for the kids (the ones still here too), as it does me being an alum and hardcore fan.
Talent, talent, talent. What good is it compared to performance? WRs who don't block downfield? RBs who dance in the backfield? DBs who throw themselves at the thighs of ball carriers instead of driving at their hips and wrapping up? DLs who hesitate off the ball and just push against the opposing OL? OLs who just position themselves opposite a DL. RBs who don't block a blitzing LB or S?
Maybe it's coaching, but when a player does it in practice or shows the skill to do it and then does not do it on the field, repeatedly, even at the end of a season of experience, then talent isn't worth much.
And, maybe it's players who think that saving themselves for the League is more important than carrying out their assignments. Come draft day, they may learn that using college chiefly to prep for the League was a miscalculation to their, then, irredeemable dismay.