Golden Days for Golden Bears

Long-time fans of Cal football and men’s basketball truly have suffered from a perverse form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

t’s been six decades since we’ve been conference champions in football; and, we’ve had precisely one men’s hoops championship in the same time frame.

We know that the disappointments have been epic but there’s no reason to dwell on these today, especially since we have tangible reasons to be genuinely optimistic.

And here’s the reason why: these really are Golden Days for Golden Bears, finally.

Yup.

It’s true. 

Even though it may not seem like it. 

With the global pandemic. 

And the racial strife. 

And (with apologies to Joni Mitchell) all the recent smoke and ash.

But, as we get set to see both our football and men’s basketball teams compete, let’s acknowledge that there has been a real and positive change in the direction of our athletic department and its two most important sports.

At any Power 5 conference school, the most crucial aspect to success in athletics is the leadership ability of four individuals: the head of the university, the athletic director, the football coach and the men’s basketball coach.

I know that Cal has lots of great coaches in lots of other sports. 

But there really are only two programs that can both generate substantial (and much needed) revenues and broadly optimize the Cal brand (or Berkeley brand or UCB brand or whatever).

Let’s take a quick look at who we’ve got in these slots right now:

Chancellor Carol Christ. 

She first came here in 1970. 

She’s proven to be a seasoned, thoughtful, fearless, progressive leader.

She is also a traditionalist who reveres Victorian literature. 

But notably, she is a huge and unequivocal supporter of Cal sports. 

She has helped out the department in material ways, both by shifting CMS debt and adding the AD to her inner cabinet.

That’s unprecedented and given IA at seat at the table that they have never had before.

Then there is Jim Knowlton.

This was a grand slam home run hire by Christ.

Knowlton has unreal energy and has demonstrated in a short time that he is an organized, modest, poised and very effective communicator. 

He came here incredibly well-qualified by pedigree and training. And he is a both a teacher and a mentor for staffers who love working for him.

The difference between Jim and his predecessor in skills, work ethic and experience is staggering.

Then there’s our football coach. 

Justin Wilcox. 

Man oh man, did Cal hit a HR getting this guy. 

Cerebral, dedicated, ambitious but also respectful and curious about lots of things. 

Doesn’t wanna be or need to be The Man at some college. 

Loves being anonymous here. 

That’s rare for most successful football coaches. 

And yes, in case you haven’t realized it, we have a successful and on the rise football program with quality kids and stellar coaches. 

Every year has been better than year before under Justin Wilcox and I don’t see that changing until we are competing for conference titles year in and year out. 

His staff loves him and so do the kids. 

And finally there’s the men’s hoops coach. 

Mark Fox is gonna kill it at Cal. 

He has perfect background to succeed here. 

He’s always been focused on ethics and academics and notably, has been the all-time best coach all time at both of his previous spots: Nevada and Georgia. 

He took over team that had been dead last two years in a row and Cal was not just respectable, we were playing our best at season end. 

All the kids who are here buy into what Fox and his accomplished staff (didn’t say Friends) are trying to achieve. 

This seems to be the right time at the right place and the right opportunity for him. 

And not surprisingly given their philosophies, he and Wilcox have become good friends. 

They both trust and respect Knowlton. 

And they all believe and think Christ has been a Godsend. 

Do hope that the Christ as Godsend line doesn’t offend any monotheists…

I’ve been following Cal sports since I came here (as a student) in 1970. 

And I don’t believe that there has ever been a time when we have had such a great foursome at the same time running things in these key positions before.

That’s a reason to smile.

It’s Golden Days for Golden Bears.