rkt88edmo said:

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I think some people might worry about an LDS member's ability to connect with young black athletes and their parents culturally.

We're already coming off a coach who could not connect, so the fear is real, but I think maddog's personality clearly tracks well with the yutes.

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Okay, maybe in a very global view, I guess it might be a talking point (though BYU has had players of color for how many years).
But Madsen played professionally at the highest level where he almost constantly was in the minority, let alone players of color speaking out in every social media outlet in support of him...so yeah, I won't shoot the messenger here, but that concern is beyond ridiculous.

mbBear said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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calbear80 said:

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So far, we have gotten a couple of one year impact transfers. Looking forward to getting some multi-year impact transfers players or new recruits to create some stability and continuity.

Go Bears!

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'80 makes a valid point. That said, there were concerns about Madsen working at a school like Cal, and his LDS beliefs, people thought would negatively impact recruiting, and those concenrs have not seemed valid so far. He has a stronger staff than Fox from a recruiting standpoint, he presents better to recruits than Fox, and he wants to use the kind of schemes that players like. There are not that many really good multi-year players in the Portal, but Cal may be getting one in the next few days, who is clearly a starter. But multi-year players typically means high school recruits and Madsen and staff have been attending AAU games and intend to compete aggressively. Madsen truly is high energy can do kind guy, and things look good so far.

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I don't really get the LDS concerns....is he insisting Cal doesn't play on Sunday or something? I mean, do we worry if there is a devout Catholic in the Head Coaching chair?
Bruce Pearl's Jewish background hasn't hurt him that much at Auburn, just fyi....

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The "LDS concern" was just an issue of "best fit" (in addition to being a Stanford Hall of Famer) not that he <cannot> connect with African American athletes, it was that he was a unicorn at Utah Valley where his strong LDS faith is a tremendous <benefit> and would be a benefit at some other schools, but clearly is not in Berkeley. The LDS church's historical racist theology regarding Blacks was not a worry (Madsen has been a strong public supporter of Black Lives Matter) as much the Church's continuing opposition to LGTBQ civil rights and the fact the Church requires members to tithe 10% of their income (ie his Cal salary) which in the not too-distant past they have used to promote ballot propositions making marriage-equality illegal in the state of California, as just one example. I think Madsen is very smart and is clearly able to separate the two, but the cultural fit in Berkeley was a concern. There are potential minefields.

He is a really good coach and a really good guy who will be successful at Cal, and I am more than happy with, but I thought he would be a better fit elsewhere and other candidates would be a better fit here. It is a bit like Troy Taylor at Stanford, a good guy and good coach who I thought would be more successful at his alma mater than at his rival, though I am very confident Madsen will be the more successful of the two. We have former Stanford stars leading our men's and women's teams, and Stanford has former Bears coaching football and men's basketball, which is not my ideal in firing up the fan bases and stoking the rivalry. Again, just an issue of BEST fit.

Madsen is off to a fantastic start, he is selling Cal well, he has embraced the Blue and Gold, he has alleviated any concerns. We will never know if someone else would be doing even better, but that is a moot issue now. We are all happy with Madsen as our coach and coach and are excited for the future. Given Knowlton was doing the hiring, Madsen was likely the best possible coach we could hope for. A million times better than Fox. He is our coach, we are all happy. I think we should move forward.

mbBear said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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calbear80 said:

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So far, we have gotten a couple of one year impact transfers. Looking forward to getting some multi-year impact transfers players or new recruits to create some stability and continuity.

Go Bears!

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'80 makes a valid point. That said, there were concerns about Madsen working at a school like Cal, and his LDS beliefs, people thought would negatively impact recruiting, and those concenrs have not seemed valid so far. He has a stronger staff than Fox from a recruiting standpoint, he presents better to recruits than Fox, and he wants to use the kind of schemes that players like. There are not that many really good multi-year players in the Portal, but Cal may be getting one in the next few days, who is clearly a starter. But multi-year players typically means high school recruits and Madsen and staff have been attending AAU games and intend to compete aggressively. Madsen truly is high energy can do kind guy, and things look good so far.

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I don't really get the LDS concerns....is he insisting Cal doesn't play on Sunday or something? I mean, do we worry if there is a devout Catholic in the Head Coaching chair?
Bruce Pearl's Jewish background hasn't hurt him that much at Auburn, just fyi....

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I didn't raise the concern, just responded to it.

calbear80 said:

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So far, we have gotten a couple of one year impact transfers. Looking forward to getting some multi-year impact transfers players or new recruits to create some stability and continuity.

Go Bears!

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Me, too, but I think that will have to happen next year. For now we just need the field the best and most exciting team we can. If we win games and our players draw interest from the NBA then the high school recruiting will pick up. Besides, this may be the new normal with players only sticking around a couple years before declaring for the draft or entering the portal.

wifeisafurd said:

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mbBear said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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calbear80 said:

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So far, we have gotten a couple of one year impact transfers. Looking forward to getting some multi-year impact transfers players or new recruits to create some stability and continuity.

Go Bears!

---

'80 makes a valid point. That said, there were concerns about Madsen working at a school like Cal, and his LDS beliefs, people thought would negatively impact recruiting, and those concenrs have not seemed valid so far. He has a stronger staff than Fox from a recruiting standpoint, he presents better to recruits than Fox, and he wants to use the kind of schemes that players like. There are not that many really good multi-year players in the Portal, but Cal may be getting one in the next few days, who is clearly a starter. But multi-year players typically means high school recruits and Madsen and staff have been attending AAU games and intend to compete aggressively. Madsen truly is high energy can do kind guy, and things look good so far.

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I don't really get the LDS concerns....is he insisting Cal doesn't play on Sunday or something? I mean, do we worry if there is a devout Catholic in the Head Coaching chair?
Bruce Pearl's Jewish background hasn't hurt him that much at Auburn, just fyi....

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I didn't raise the concern, just responded to it.

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As was I...certainly wasn't accusing you personally of anything...but this was the first I was hearing of it. If you heard it from people "close to the program," that's fair, and not any reflection of you...but, again, I think it's really out of context regarding him personally, no matter who had the initial concern, and/or whomever raised it initially.