I also forget to emphasize the great improvement Nando and the D, overall, have shown since last year.
Nando:
The Locked On Pundit for FSU said he believes Mendoza is "elite" and "may be the most accurate QB in all of college football." You might say he needs to play less "hero ball", but, as Pawlawski says, "Fernando finds a way. And that's his job as QB." I'm just hoping we can hang on to him for the next two years. Nando is truly good and if Rogers was close in Fall Camp, then we have an embarrassment of riches.
So far, the D is twice as good, (allowed points wise) as last year, albeit, next week's game seems like it will be a more grave test.
In my eyes, there's two things we can do to help bring in and hang on to talent:
1. Cal Legends NIL.
2. Speak and write in constructive terms about our present talent. Did we run off Sam Jackson V with nega-Bear comments our social media? Same with Luckhurst, who was a Cal legacy?
Agreed. Sometimes the criticism is too harsh. I think everybody before the season was expecting 2-2 or 3-1 at this point. Well here we are at 3-1 an outcome most fans would be happy with. It is frustrating to lose such a close game when our hopes had become elevated after the last two wins. Supporting the team is something we should be doing as they get ready for another big opportunity to make a national statement. As far as the coaching goes some of the sentiments expressed come with the territory of just being a coach, so there is that. But maintaining perspective on these things might be more helpful in the long run. In the long run with NIL and other new things in college football id say we are doing ok
Thank you both so much for bringing reason to the Wilcox discussion.
If I may add the following points:
1. Look at our long history of burning out coaches as we give them water and expect wine in return. Instead, we should be looking at ourselves and asking, "What can we do to help, coach <insert current victim of Cal admin and fans unreasonable expectations>?"
2. The long years of frustration have made the fan base cynical, so each coach we have is doomed to be an effigy for our frustrations. I was excited when we made a long term commitment to Wilcox, because the constant change of coaches was part of our problem. But have we had a constant change of coaches because we’re hysterical with rage and unreasonable in our expectations? Have we have projected our feelings of football inadequacy onto each coach we have had? People put down Sonny for "chicken spaghetti" for Criminey's sake. How do we expect any coach to fully commit themself to our program when we ridicule our coaches for just about anything, if we're not happy with the results? "Hey, Coach, come to Cal, even though it's a hostile work environment."
3. We're snatching defeat from the jaws of progress. People are lying to themselves about FSU. Most reasonable results forecasts for this season did not have us expecting a win over the 2023 ACC Champions. We played them tough in a tough environment, had some meaningful chances to even win, but chance did not favor us this time. What I saw was a team that, we honestly expected to sweep us into a dumpster of a blowout, end up surprised that they won...barely. Last year, this game would not have been as close. Why aren't we celebrating this progress? "Good job, Coach, thank you for believing in us, as we believe in you and our team." Often enough, fans get what they deserve. If you project nothing but unreasonable expectations at a coach, how do you think he feels about putting his best into a team? Does ingratitude and blind demand eventually wear down a coach to point where he's just fulfilling his contractual obligation? Positive, constructive support goes a long way and often is rewarded. "Coach, what can we do to help support and improve the team?"
4. Does cynicism and harsh criticism of the Coach trickle down to the players? How does that affect recruits? When we casually make snide, harsh comments, players hear this. Paid or not, does that encourage players to improve? Does it reflect a culture or environment players would encourage potential recruits to join? How has our campus culture provided an inviting environment for players to become a student, here? “Hey, Coach, despite the lousy way we talk about you and, by implication, the players, get out there and recruit players to come here.”
If we were to ask Wilcox what changes would help Cal raise its football program to parity with our academic reputation, what might those be? That is a constructive way to support a coach and program. And Wilcox is intelligent enough to give some worthwhile answers that we and campus administration should listen to.
If we want to know what’s wrong with Cal football for the past 100 years, maybe we need to hold up a light to what’s different about our culture, here, that has slowly strangled money sports. An enlightened campus administration might orchestrate changes in campus culture that might enable our football and basketball programs both. And, by creating a high-spirited, exciting, and excellent sports program, we create general goodwill for the campus athletics and academics both. Works for Michigan, Texas, UNC, Wisconsin, and more.
Agreed. The constant in-season hackneyed criticisms of Wilcox in the midst of a so far-successful season is tiresome and deflating. It makes the recent loss seem worse than it actually was.
I am of the belief that with the talent Cal put together in the off-season we really must wait until the full body of work for this season is in before making the determination that A) there was a problem in need of solving with major actions and B) the problem is the fault of the coaches. Cal is not removing its head coach during the season...ever. It's not that kind of program. So, what is the point of calling for that kind of action 4 games into the season?
Let us just watch how the season plays out. Last week was a disappointing outcome, but the team has 8 more chances to get 5 or more wins to show that the program is moving in a positive trajectory. I'm here to watch and support how that plays out.
I agree with you so much. Most people who criticize Wilcox know very little about reasons for losing games. First of all if the opposing team has better talent, especially in the O line, then you'll probably lose. Cal has definite disadvantage in recruiting due to its high academic standards. Secondly, finding good assistant coaches at the pay Cal can afford then you will be at a disadvantage in position coaching and O and D coordinators. Considering all this you'll have to believe Cal is doing pretty well. In other words, they are competitive. I'm an optimist and still go to games root hard and avoid cynical people during and after the game.
YASSS to end zone fades! Ye olde garbage can drill ala Goff. Would love to see more of those.
I also forget to emphasize the great improvement Nando and the D, overall, have shown since last year.
Nando:
The Locked On Pundit for FSU said he believes Mendoza is "elite" and "may be the most accurate QB in all of college football." You might say he needs to play less "hero ball", but, as Pawlawski says, "Fernando finds a way. And that's his job as QB." I'm just hoping we can hang on to him for the next two years. Nando is truly good and if Rogers was close in Fall Camp, then we have an embarrassment of riches.
So far, the D is twice as good, (allowed points wise) as last year, albeit, next week's game seems like it will be a more grave test.
In my eyes, there's two things we can do to help bring in and hang on to talent:
1. Cal Legends NIL.
2. Speak and write in constructive terms about our present talent. Did we run off Sam Jackson V with nega-Bear comments our social media? Same with Luckhurst, who was a Cal legacy?
Four games in. 1/3 of the season 3-1. What if the last 2/3 pan out the same?
I can't hear you...
Oh 9-3 you say? Hmmm. Not too bad.
GO BEARS!
Agreed. Sometimes the criticism is too harsh. I think everybody before the season was expecting 2-2 or 3-1 at this point. Well here we are at 3-1 an outcome most fans would be happy with. It is frustrating to lose such a close game when our hopes had become elevated after the last two wins. Supporting the team is something we should be doing as they get ready for another big opportunity to make a national statement. As far as the coaching goes some of the sentiments expressed come with the territory of just being a coach, so there is that. But maintaining perspective on these things might be more helpful in the long run. In the long run with NIL and other new things in college football id say we are doing ok
Thank you both so much for bringing reason to the Wilcox discussion.
If I may add the following points:
1. Look at our long history of burning out coaches as we give them water and expect wine in return. Instead, we should be looking at ourselves and asking, "What can we do to help, coach <insert current victim of Cal admin and fans unreasonable expectations>?"
2. The long years of frustration have made the fan base cynical, so each coach we have is doomed to be an effigy for our frustrations. I was excited when we made a long term commitment to Wilcox, because the constant change of coaches was part of our problem. But have we had a constant change of coaches because we’re hysterical with rage and unreasonable in our expectations? Have we have projected our feelings of football inadequacy onto each coach we have had? People put down Sonny for "chicken spaghetti" for Criminey's sake. How do we expect any coach to fully commit themself to our program when we ridicule our coaches for just about anything, if we're not happy with the results? "Hey, Coach, come to Cal, even though it's a hostile work environment."
3. We're snatching defeat from the jaws of progress. People are lying to themselves about FSU. Most reasonable results forecasts for this season did not have us expecting a win over the 2023 ACC Champions. We played them tough in a tough environment, had some meaningful chances to even win, but chance did not favor us this time. What I saw was a team that, we honestly expected to sweep us into a dumpster of a blowout, end up surprised that they won...barely. Last year, this game would not have been as close. Why aren't we celebrating this progress? "Good job, Coach, thank you for believing in us, as we believe in you and our team." Often enough, fans get what they deserve. If you project nothing but unreasonable expectations at a coach, how do you think he feels about putting his best into a team? Does ingratitude and blind demand eventually wear down a coach to point where he's just fulfilling his contractual obligation? Positive, constructive support goes a long way and often is rewarded. "Coach, what can we do to help support and improve the team?"
4. Does cynicism and harsh criticism of the Coach trickle down to the players? How does that affect recruits? When we casually make snide, harsh comments, players hear this. Paid or not, does that encourage players to improve? Does it reflect a culture or environment players would encourage potential recruits to join? How has our campus culture provided an inviting environment for players to become a student, here? “Hey, Coach, despite the lousy way we talk about you and, by implication, the players, get out there and recruit players to come here.”
If we were to ask Wilcox what changes would help Cal raise its football program to parity with our academic reputation, what might those be? That is a constructive way to support a coach and program. And Wilcox is intelligent enough to give some worthwhile answers that we and campus administration should listen to.
If we want to know what’s wrong with Cal football for the past 100 years, maybe we need to hold up a light to what’s different about our culture, here, that has slowly strangled money sports. An enlightened campus administration might orchestrate changes in campus culture that might enable our football and basketball programs both. And, by creating a high-spirited, exciting, and excellent sports program, we create general goodwill for the campus athletics and academics both. Works for Michigan, Texas, UNC, Wisconsin, and more.
Fiat Lux, indeed.
Agreed. The constant in-season hackneyed criticisms of Wilcox in the midst of a so far-successful season is tiresome and deflating. It makes the recent loss seem worse than it actually was.
I am of the belief that with the talent Cal put together in the off-season we really must wait until the full body of work for this season is in before making the determination that A) there was a problem in need of solving with major actions and B) the problem is the fault of the coaches. Cal is not removing its head coach during the season...ever. It's not that kind of program. So, what is the point of calling for that kind of action 4 games into the season?
Let us just watch how the season plays out. Last week was a disappointing outcome, but the team has 8 more chances to get 5 or more wins to show that the program is moving in a positive trajectory. I'm here to watch and support how that plays out.
^^^This!
I agree with you so much. Most people who criticize Wilcox know very little about reasons for losing games. First of all if the opposing team has better talent, especially in the O line, then you'll probably lose. Cal has definite disadvantage in recruiting due to its high academic standards. Secondly, finding good assistant coaches at the pay Cal can afford then you will be at a disadvantage in position coaching and O and D coordinators. Considering all this you'll have to believe Cal is doing pretty well. In other words, they are competitive. I'm an optimist and still go to games root hard and avoid cynical people during and after the game.
Exactly right and agreed.
Most of the harsher critics have never suited up for football, let alone D1 P4(5) football.