Seeing us interview Justin Wilcox is not very inspiring at the moment, so I am wondering what kind of circumstances provide the juice needed to capture some interest going into 2017?

Hires within the realm of probability:

1. Wilcox? Nope. He can coach a defense, but not the hire to get us amped for next season.
2. Spavital? Depends. Keeping him is a priority, but handing him the reins is a pretty big risk.
3. Tosh? Well, if he can keep Spav, then that might get us somewhere. Tosh back in any capacity without Spav is kind of a wash, it leads us to looking for coaches on the other side of the ball, when that is settled at the moment. In tandem, they could be monster recruiters.

Home-run, pie-in-the-sky:

1. Chip Kelly? Obviously.
2. Ron Rivera? Very much so.
3. Les Miles? Big name, so yes, despite the downsides.

What else gets us going? I don't see a whole lot of other good outcomes.

Ron.

HC Ron Rivera
OC Spav
DC Tosh

Keep Peeler

Bam! Now that would get me excited!!

Doesn't mean much, but RR hasn't been active on twitter for a couple of days.. and he usually posts everyday...

Rivera would remove the "Village Idiot" tag on Mike Williams' performance and excite the Fanbase

sayhey_kid;842789648 said:

---

Rivera would remove the "Village Idiot" tag on Mike Williams' performance and excite the Fanbase

---

It would be comical to see Mike Williams and Ron Rivera together since Ron is probably a foot taller than Mike.

Lots of talk about Ron Rivera. I don't think he has ever held a college coaching position. It sure seems like there would be some people who would do well as an NFL coach but not be a great fit for the college game. Does this make hiring Rivera a risky proposition, or is the lack of a college track record not a big deal?

Well obviously the on the radar screen pizzaz would be Ron or Chip. les Miles would be hopefully excitement.

But I want to ask....honestly - what about the Vest? Frankly I think Tressel is probably the best positioned to navigate the wacky UC world. He is, admittedly, probably too old but it would be out of left field.

socaltownie;842789664 said:

---

But I want to ask....honestly - what about the Vest? Frankly I think Tressel is probably the best positioned to navigate the wacky UC world. He is, admittedly, probably too old but it would be out of left field.

---

Tressel is done, and has insisted so. Yeah he is a Hall of Fame coach, but come on, with the exception of a short stint back in the 80s as a QB coach at Syracuse, he has coached in Ohio his entire life, why would he quit his job as Youngstown State president and come out here at the age of 64?

Strykur;842789668 said:

---

Tressel is done, and has insisted so. Yeah he is a Hall of Fame coach, but come on, with the exception of a short stint back in the 80s as a QB coach at Syracuse, he has coached in Ohio his entire life, why would he quit his job as Youngstown State president and come out here at the age of 64?

---

Because he loves football? But yes. I know. However, rewind to Sonny's hire (was the "show cause over by then) and I think Vest would have been dramatically better than SD.

Strykur;842789618 said:

---

Seeing us interview Justin Wilcox is not very inspiring at the moment, so I am wondering what kind of circumstances provide the juice needed to capture some interest going into 2017?

Hires within the realm of probability:

1. Wilcox? Nope. He can coach a defense, but not the hire to get us amped for next season.
2. Spavital? Depends. Keeping him is a priority, but handing him the reins is a pretty big risk.
3. Tosh? Well, if he can keep Spav, then that might get us somewhere. Tosh back in any capacity without Spav is kind of a wash, it leads us to looking for coaches on the other side of the ball, when that is settled at the moment. In tandem, they could be monster recruiters.

Home-run, pie-in-the-sky:

1. Chip Kelly? Obviously.
2. Ron Rivera? Very much so.
3. Les Miles? Big name, so yes, despite the downsides.

What else gets us going? I don't see a whole lot of other good outcomes.

---

I'm far more concerned with being psyched going into 2018 than I am going into 2017

wilcox as HC with tosh/lake as DC and Spav, Jones and Peeler retained would probably have most people pretty jazzed. not Rivera with a commensurate jazzed, but it would look WAY more optimistic than 2017 was looking

If Scooby Doo were coaching in 2017 rather than Sonny, I'd be jazzed.

NYCGOBEARS;842789687 said:

---

If Scooby Doo were coaching in 2017 rather than Sonny, I'd be jazzed.

---

as long as they pass out scooby snacks

MiZery;842789646 said:

---

Doesn't mean much, but RR hasn't been active on twitter for a couple of days.. and he usually posts everyday...

---

I actually wasted 5 seconds of my life checking this... He posted five times total in the month of December, so alas its probably not that he's too busy signing UC hiring contracts to tweet today.

50+BigGames;842789659 said:

---

Lots of talk about Ron Rivera. I don't think he has ever held a college coaching position. It sure seems like there would be some people who would do well as an NFL coach but not be a great fit for the college game. Does this make hiring Rivera a risky proposition, or is the lack of a college track record not a big deal?

---

He is known. He is a respected leader. He can coach at the highest levels. He understands and loves Cal. The rest, he would figure out. He is wise enough to get the right college people to help him.

Peeler to Ole Miss per twitter

RR or Wilcox as HC along with Tosh or Lake as DC and Spav as the OC would be fireworks/pizazz/jazzy.

BearChemist;842789750 said:

---

Peeler to Ole Miss per twitter

---

damn....

Strykur;842789668 said:

---

Tressel is done, and has insisted so. Yeah he is a Hall of Fame coach, but come on, with the exception of a short stint back in the 80s as a QB coach at Syracuse, he has coached in Ohio his entire life, why would he quit his job as Youngstown State president and come out here at the age of 64?

---

To get back at the NCAA and show he can still win. He probably won't - but he's won everywhere. The guy must have some good administrative and management skills as President of Youngstown State. I've always liked him for Cal.

moonpod;842789685 said:

---

wilcox as HC with tosh/lake as DC and Spav, Jones and Peeler retained would probably have most people pretty jazzed. not Rivera with a commensurate jazzed, but it would look WAY more optimistic than 2017 was looking

---

Take Peeler of that list

Big C_Cal;842789749 said:

---

He is known. He is a respected leader. He can coach at the highest levels. He understands and loves Cal. The rest, he would figure out. He is wise enough to get the right college people to help him.

---

Rivera would be a slam dunk. Highly respected defensive mind, a Super Bowl coach, knows Cal and CA, and coached a former Heisman Trophy winner into an NFL MVP. Would need some energetic young recruiters and $s to attract and retain staff, but a huge get.

NYCGOBEARS;842789687 said:

---

If Scooby Doo were coaching in 2017 rather than Sonny, I'd be jazzed.

---

Would you be jazzed by Ty Willingness? I could go on.

Ha, auto correct. I'll leave it

jamonit;842789822 said:

---

Take Peeler of that list

---

yup. too bad

NYCGOBEARS;842789687 said:

---

If Scooby Doo were coaching in 2017 rather than Sonny, I'd be jazzed.

---

Well, you must be jazzed because surely Cal will get somebody better than Scooby Doo to be head coach...maybe...I hope...:facepalm

NVGolfingBear;842789847 said:

---

Well, you must be jazzed because surely Cal will get somebody better than Scooby Doo to be head coach...maybe...I hope...:facepalm

---

Shaggy?

If I'm thinking of this entire fan base(not just the hard core fans), I don't think Wilcox is a name that would re-energize the base.

LACalFan;842789753 said:

---

RR or Wilcox as HC along with Tosh or Lake as DC and Spav as the OC would be fireworks/pizazz/jazzy.

---

Why would Lake leave a co-DC position in Washington working under Peterson to accept a DC position at Cal? Seems like a lateral move at best.

Because at Cal, he would actually be in charge of the defense. He was probably given co-dc in part to justify raising his salary.

southseasbear;842790418 said:

---

Why would Lake leave a co-DC position in Washington working under Peterson to accept a DC position at Cal? Seems like a lateral move at best.

---

I don't know that he would, but it wouldn't be lateral if he got full DC responsibilities as opposed to sharing with Kwiatkowski

southseasbear;842790418 said:

---

Why would Lake leave a co-DC position in Washington working under Peterson to accept a DC position at Cal? Seems like a lateral move at best.

---

Because he will need to show potential future employers that he is HC material. Co DC is code for justification for higher salary. I think he needs to move from UW to become that DC and show he is HC material. At Cal he would really be able to make a strong case as the defense simply cannot get any worse. It could be perfect. Turn the defense around and get that opportunity to be a HC. I see him as a very strong candidate to move. Joining a new staff not one in limbo gives him a real shot at making his case a future HC. IMO would be a great addition as a DC. Many would want Tosh (I am not against it) but Lake is a very strong DC candidate IMO.

Other than the well known names who are not coming here, there are no pizazz names. Anyone who wins will create the pizazz that Sonny never could.

Won't happen, but.... Gruden

goldenokiebear;842790700 said:

---

Won't happen, but.... Gruden

---

Might not happen, but... John Madden

Big C_Cal;842790750 said:

---

Might not happen, but... John Madden

---

I love John Madden, but I think quitting because you are burned out, then taking a forty year break is not the best formula for success. He'd be rested though!