...at the press conference.

I was not in favor of this idea this morning. But, Monty's opinion holds a lot of weight with me, and Travis should be given a hard look.

Never heard a coach so vehemently promote his successor.

At this point I think Sandy has to have a HUGE name or she should roll the dice and give TD 3 years. This is a multi-year process. TD will not implode the program. A horrible hire could (think multiple transfers and starting walkons - AKA U$C)

In response to another question, Monty pushed Travis hard. He said (paraphrased) that Travis has been key to improving the academics, that he has the relationships and connections to be a great recruiter, and that the current team is ready to follow him. Very strong endorsement.

Backs would be an understatement. He's chairman of the TD campaign.

Q: What was the most pleasurable difference between Stanford and Cal?
A: The people at Cal. [claps and cheers from audience] That didn't come out right.

Looking at the amount of success Monty assts have had as head coaches TD should definitely be a front runner

CalAlumnus13;842299112 said:

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Q: What was the most pleasurable difference between Stanford and Cal?
A: The people at Cal. [claps and cheers from audience] That didn't come out right.

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Did he say that Furds were douches or am I misinterpreting what he said?

NYCGOBEARS;842299114 said:

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Did he say that Furds were douches or am I misinterpreting what he said?

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Are you watching? If you aren't... he meant to say a pure positive about Cal, but the context of the question made it sound like he was saying Furds were douches. It was a funny moment.

NYCGOBEARS;842299114 said:

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Did he say that Furds were douches or am I misinterpreting what he said?

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I like your interpretation.

CalAlumnus13;842299117 said:

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Are you watching? If you aren't... he meant to say a pure positive about Cal, but the context of the question made it sound like he was saying Furds were douches. It was a funny moment.

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I am watching. I was kind of kidding. Not!

Sandy now basically saying that Travis is 100% on the short, short list. I'd bet big money that, unless a big name coach becomes possible, he's the guy.

Monty: If the current staff is brought back, I'll be there to guide them. I'll be there to support my son wherever he is.

Ugh: Sandy says she will be using the same search firm she used with the Sonny Dykes hire.

Of course, if they really did recommend someone else, that could be a good thing (if she takes their advice this time).

NYCGOBEARS;842299108 said:

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Never heard a coach so vehemently promote his successor.

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+1 :Monty

For the 700,000th time, the search firm didn't recommend; they do the background checks and preliminary interviews, then give a short list of who fits the criteria and is available.

That's also because John would be able to stay if Travis gets the job

At this point, unless there is an A+ big name coach that wants to come to Cal and is a good fit, I am all in support of giving Decuire a chance. He's earned it as far as I'm concerned.

Perhaps, although I'm not sure it would be in his interest. I think he'd be better served moving up to a top assistant job somewhere else, or even HC at a D-2 school--get out from under his father's shadow.

At least there will be continuity. See how it goes. Give him a 2 year contract.I doubt he keeps all the same people on the staff, although it would be hard to fire Montgomerys son and expect help from Monty.

Vandalus;842299138 said:

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At this point, unless there is an A+ big name coach that wants to come to Cal and is a good fit, I am all in support of giving Decuire a chance. He's earned it as far as I'm concerned.

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+1

oskidunker;842299140 said:

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At least there will be continuity. See how it goes. Give him a 2 year contract.I doubt he keeps all the same people on the staff, although it would be hard to fire Montgomerys son and expect help from Monty.

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You have to give him at least 4-5 years for recruiting purposes, but you could give a very low buyout to make it essentially a 2 year deal.

Travis has to get the job, Sandy wouldn't be able to weather the storm if he were to be passed over and then go on to have success elsewhere. Not after these comments from Monty.

Monty capped the endorsement in the 1on1 interview on P12 net by saying Travis holds the key to the recruits that "we have on the line, ready to come." When you add in Monty being willing to still provide insight and advice from a more behind the scenes role this could be a win-win. Better recruiting and a younger guy who can continue to learn his craft with input from a mentor when he seeks it.

OldBlue1999;842299146 said:

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Monty capped the endorsement in the 1on1 interview on P12 net by saying Travis holds the key to the recruits that "we have on the line, ready to come."

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Interesting...

#TEAMTRAVIS

OldBlue1999;842299146 said:

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Travis has to get the job, Sandy wouldn't be able to weather the storm if he were to be passed over and then go on to have success elsewhere. Not after these comments from Monty.

Monty capped the endorsement in the 1on1 interview on P12 net by saying Travis holds the key to the recruits that "we have on the line, ready to come." When you add in Monty being willing to still provide insight and advice from a more behind the scenes role this could be a win-win. Better recruiting and a younger guy who can continue to learn his craft with input from a mentor when he seeks it.

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That's one view. The second might be that she can't afford another disastrous hire. Look, he might be good but she'd be crazy not to see what other options she has. And as far as weathering the storm if he 's passed over, who else is about to hire him? And who else besides this board has even heard of him? It's not a hire that will get everyone excited about Cal basketball

NYCGOBEARS;842299108 said:

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Never heard a coach so vehemently promote his successor.

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He really pushed for his former assistant Trent Johnson at Stanford when he left for the Warriors.

Vandalus;842299138 said:

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At this point, unless there is an A+ big name coach that wants to come to Cal and is a good fit, I am all in support of giving Decuire a chance. He's earned it as far as I'm concerned.

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+1

I would like to hear how he would use this team next year and how his overall approach will differ from Monty's.

Let's be clear:

SB is in a no-win situation. No matter who she hires--Travis, Dennis Gates, Rick Pitino--she's going to be criticized. And, if the coach succeeds, the hire will be dismissed as "falling into her lap," and if we aren't fabulously successful, it will be, "See???"

UrsaMajor;842299163 said:

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Let's be clear:

SB is in a no-win situation. No matter who she hires--Travis, Dennis Gates, Rick Pitino--she's going to be criticized. And, if the coach succeeds, the hire will be dismissed as "falling into her lap," and if we aren't fabulously successful, it will be, "See???"

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Pretty much. The football team needs to show major improvement this year.

OldBlue1999;842299146 said:

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Travis has to get the job, Sandy wouldn't be able to weather the storm if he were to be passed over and then go on to have success elsewhere. Not after these comments from Monty.

Monty capped the endorsement in the 1on1 interview on P12 net by saying Travis holds the key to the recruits that "we have on the line, ready to come." When you add in Monty being willing to still provide insight and advice from a more behind the scenes role this could be a win-win. Better recruiting and a younger guy who can continue to learn his craft with input from a mentor when he seeks it.

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Cal has one pac12 level big man on the roster, and he will be a senior next year. Diallo is a project. Next year they will be be in the bottom third in the conference in talent. We have seen how he recruits.

Big man development, in particular, has been terrible since Jay John left. Richard Solomon finished with zero post moves. David Kravish came in with one, a right-handed hook from the left block, and entering his fourth year, he still has one. Behrens is at zero. Rooks zero. Why would we want more of the same?

Cal can do better.

Sluggo

If the one of the purposes of hiring TD is to maintain our recruiting trajectory - isn't that a reason not to hire him?

If football wins, people will stop b*tching about Sandy. If it doesn't, we have bigger problems on our hands. Ultimately, it's what matters and what dictates the tone of the masses.

UrsaMajor;842299163 said:

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Let's be clear:

SB is in a no-win situation. No matter who she hires--Travis, Dennis Gates, Rick Pitino--she's going to be criticized. And, if the coach succeeds, the hire will be dismissed as "falling into her lap," and if we aren't fabulously successful, it will be, "See???"

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I disagree. I think she's deservedly been praised for hiring Montgomery. Hell, in some quarters it is the only things she's really done right.

FWIW, Travis may well end up being a great HC, but two years HC experience at a CC is very light. It isn't like Cal is some basketball wasteland. I would be pretty disappointed if we can't lure someone with better credentials.

OldBlue1999;842299146 said:

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Travis has to get the job, Sandy wouldn't be able to weather the storm if he were to be passed over and then go on to have success elsewhere. Not after these comments from Monty.

Monty capped the endorsement in the 1on1 interview on P12 net by saying Travis holds the key to the recruits that "we have on the line, ready to come." When you add in Monty being willing to still provide insight and advice from a more behind the scenes role this could be a win-win. Better recruiting and a younger guy who can continue to learn his craft with input from a mentor when he seeks it.

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This is the key to me. Travis has been the lead guy on recruiting a lot of guys we want and there isn't time to build relationships with the 2014 class or possibly even the 2015 class if a new guy comes in. I also worry about current players who came in last year and continuity. Those relationships have been the strongest consideration in favor of Travis in my mind.

And if Monty is actually still around that would help, as would bringing in a more experienced bench coach to help out.

SmellinRoses;842299183 said:

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If the one of the purposes of hiring TD is to maintain our recruiting trajectory - isn't that a reason not to hire him?

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No.