There was a window to fire Wilcox and Knowlton (and administration) didn't take it. So we probably have Wilcox at least for this year and the next. I actually don't think we had a better option than Wilcox at the time, though I wouldn't have opposed a firing either. And I wouldn't be opposed to firing Knowlton (though the Madsen and Spavital hires may save him yet).
Now, it is possible that Wilcox has been successfully grinding through the administrative bureaucracy behind the scenes (something Sonny referred to obliquely but we all understand) and will result in a stronger program. After all, the biggest impediment to success at Cal is, ultimately, Cal and it would be nice to have someone slash through the red tape.
Kinda hard to fire a coach who was offered the Oregon job. If he takes it and kicks our ass from here to eternity we end up looking really stupid. Instead give him what he wants. If he falls on his face then its over for him. If he succeeds then everyone is happy.
I think Wilcox played his cards VERY well. And I'm hoping some of his conditions were for long-needed administrative reforms and support. Agree, staying with Wilcox and investing in his success was our best option.
Sonny taking TCU to the national championship further emphasizes that it's Cal, hi, we're the problem it's Cal.
Sonny has definitely developed as a HC, but he certainly inherited a talent-laden team from Gary Patterson, who had admittedly stagnated in Ft. Worth. But 8 NFL draft picks off that roster, the vast majority of whom were the result of GP.
Gabe King. Really nice guy. Top half draft type of athleticism, but had other interests in life.
Other 4 star guys that never hit their potential at Cal that Dykes inherited: Brennan Scarlett, Stefan McClure, Cedric Dozier, Todd Barr, Moala, Crosthwaite, Myles Bunte, Aaron Cochran, Christian Okafaor, Freddie Tagaloa, Mustafa Jalil, Jason Gibson. Probably missing a few.
DeAndre Coleman might've been the only Tedford 4 star (besides the young wideouts) that actually produced. It's crazy how much we whiffed with these 4 star recruits that we beat out everyone on the west coast for.
Gabe King, thatтАЩs who I was thinking of. Those others you listed at least played and contributed, even if they never hit their recruiting potential. Those last Tedford classes looked great on paper but were terrible on the field. Dykes inherited a bunch of talent on paper.
Also Steve Williams was there too. He opted for draft instead of playing him senior season. Not drawing any meaningful conclusion. Just saying it because I liked those players.
Cal had a mid-season firing of its OC, which is as big a change as you can get without changing the head coach.
Offense will be better, but expect the defense to improve as well. Only loss, a big one, was Daniel Scott, while multiple players, particularly on the line are returning and there were some good pickups in the portal. Downside-schedule is more difficult. Bowl game is extremely attainable.
.500 is the realistic ceiling for this program for the foreseeable future. We only got to 8 wins because of an uncharacteristic low point by our Pac12 rivals that have since reloaded with new coaching and star players
Not wrathful disagreement, as while I personally have serious doubts that Wilcox is the answer, he nonetheless pulled the trigger on the late-season dismissal of Musgrave and AngusтАжthis absolutely needed to happen, and probably shouldтАЩve happened earlier in the year. Combined with the hiring of Spavital, it at least was a proactive showing and good to see.
IMO, the team will absolutely be better next year, though with the difficult schedule, it may not result in a bowl-eligible season. 2024, though, weтАЩll hopefully see a breakout Wilcox/Spav year!
Yes, should have a two year window to evaluate the Spavital era, particularly because it doesnтАЩt look Cal will have an experienced, highly skilled QB this year like they did with the Davis Webb scenario.
There was a window to fire Wilcox and Knowlton (and administration) didn't take it. So we probably have Wilcox at least for this year and the next. I actually don't think we had a better option than Wilcox at the time, though I wouldn't have opposed a firing either. And I wouldn't be opposed to firing Knowlton (though the Madsen and Spavital hires may save him yet).
Now, it is possible that Wilcox has been successfully grinding through the administrative bureaucracy behind the scenes (something Sonny referred to obliquely but we all understand) and will result in a stronger program. After all, the biggest impediment to success at Cal is, ultimately, Cal and it would be nice to have someone slash through the red tape.
Kinda hard to fire a coach who was offered the Oregon job. If he takes it and kicks our ass from here to eternity we end up looking really stupid. Instead give him what he wants. If he falls on his face then its over for him. If he succeeds then everyone is happy.
I think Wilcox played his cards VERY well. And I'm hoping some of his conditions were for long-needed administrative reforms and support. Agree, staying with Wilcox and investing in his success was our best option.
Sonny taking TCU to the national championship further emphasizes that it's Cal, hi, we're the problem it's Cal.
Sonny has definitely developed as a HC, but he certainly inherited a talent-laden team from Gary Patterson, who had admittedly stagnated in Ft. Worth. But 8 NFL draft picks off that roster, the vast majority of whom were the result of GP.
Has Wilcox had 8 guys drafted in total, period?
Since the end of the 2017 season (including this year), Cal had 9 players drafted, all defensive. The highest was Ashtyn Davis in the 3rd.
The dearth of draftees from the offensive side of the ball is unfortunateтАжhopefully that changes in the upcoming years.
Dykes inherited a loaded roster at Cal too. We had those highly recruited guys from 2010~2012
Those guys mostly all flamed out due to injury, grades, not meeting expectations or bad locker room presence.
Yeah. But they were still there when Dykes came in.
Inheriting them when hired and actually playing are two different things.
Avery Sebastian broke his leg against Northwestern.
McCain was kicked off the team within the first 3 games of the seasons.
Forbes medically retired before the season started.
The highly rated DL recruit (I canтАЩt remember his name now) from NC never reached his potential.
Gabe King. Really nice guy. Top half draft type of athleticism, but had other interests in life.
Other 4 star guys that never hit their potential at Cal that Dykes inherited: Brennan Scarlett, Stefan McClure, Cedric Dozier, Todd Barr, Moala, Crosthwaite, Myles Bunte, Aaron Cochran, Christian Okafaor, Freddie Tagaloa, Mustafa Jalil, Jason Gibson. Probably missing a few.
DeAndre Coleman might've been the only Tedford 4 star (besides the young wideouts) that actually produced. It's crazy how much we whiffed with these 4 star recruits that we beat out everyone on the west coast for.
Chris McCain, Cecil Whiteside, David Wilkerson, Khairi Fort, Nick Forbes, Kam Jackson, Steve Williams, Michael Lowe/Coley, Avery Sebastian/Walls
Gabe King, thatтАЩs who I was thinking of. Those others you listed at least played and contributed, even if they never hit their recruiting potential. Those last Tedford classes looked great on paper but were terrible on the field. Dykes inherited a bunch of talent on paper.
Moala?
Also Steve Williams was there too. He opted for draft instead of playing him senior season. Not drawing any meaningful conclusion. Just saying it because I liked those players.
Cal had a mid-season firing of its OC, which is as big a change as you can get without changing the head coach.
Offense will be better, but expect the defense to improve as well. Only loss, a big one, was Daniel Scott, while multiple players, particularly on the line are returning and there were some good pickups in the portal. Downside-schedule is more difficult. Bowl game is extremely attainable.
If we're .500 and make a bowl game I'd consider this a very successful season. I'd move the bar would to 8-9 wins for the next season, though.
.500 is the realistic ceiling for this program for the foreseeable future. We only got to 8 wins because of an uncharacteristic low point by our Pac12 rivals that have since reloaded with new coaching and star players
More sunshine pumping. LOL
IMHO, let's give Wilcox a chance to prove himself differently. ANd write off the Musgraves sub-period.
Wrathful disagreement in 3....2...1....
Not wrathful disagreement, as while I personally have serious doubts that Wilcox is the answer, he nonetheless pulled the trigger on the late-season dismissal of Musgrave and AngusтАжthis absolutely needed to happen, and probably shouldтАЩve happened earlier in the year. Combined with the hiring of Spavital, it at least was a proactive showing and good to see.
IMO, the team will absolutely be better next year, though with the difficult schedule, it may not result in a bowl-eligible season. 2024, though, weтАЩll hopefully see a breakout Wilcox/Spav year!
Yes, should have a two year window to evaluate the Spavital era, particularly because it doesnтАЩt look Cal will have an experienced, highly skilled QB this year like they did with the Davis Webb scenario.