Me too. Looking forward to your excellent X's and O's previews! And ya know what else, I think Cal is going to field a much better football team and win more games than it has in a very long time. We shall see starting September 5 if this is so. Go Bears!
Great to have you back Nick, and like you I hope RR and Tosh's great recruiting will turn into winning X's and O's at CMS. The ACC needs more than just Miami to compete with the SEC and Big10. Why not Cal? Go Bears!
"Some of those questions thrill me. Others terrify me. All of them energize me." Bingo...this is where I am as well. Also, trying hard to manage my excitement and optimism. Your reminder that it took Oregon a decade of sustained effort was needed. Also, while the data point of Indiana is inspiring, it inspires 137 other teams as well...and it is a data set of one. So count me thrilled, terrified and energized. How will I live until September 5???
I'm having no problem managing my excitement and optimism - a slew of coaches who came to Cal, promoted into positions they had never held before, a charismatic head coach in the same category, a bunch of high quality transfers, but remaining critically thin in the trenches. If we had gotten only elite level O & D-line transfers, I'd feel more optimistic than with our bevy of new skill position guys. It feels like the same old Cal wish-casting, just with a new ensemble and a few more $M spent. As always, I hope I'm wrong. Will be there 9/5.
Great review and good to see you back, Nick, after taking time off to recharge and put some distance between the old and what we all hope is the new Cal football.
I have no illusions about the task Tosh, RR and the Chancellor have set for themselves but am happy the university finally decided to engage in a meaningful way with the new challenges represented by big time college football. The alternative being falling deeper into irrelevance. We are all hopeful that September 5 will mark the dawn of a new age in Cal football but with the knowledge that it is a truly monumental task that the coaches and players are facing in putting together what amounts to a new team under a new system with almost entirely new coaches. While my dream is a complete blowout of UCLA on both sides of the line on a level that sees everyone getting snaps in the 4th quarter, I’ll be satisfied to see a well coached machine warming up for what I’m hoping will be a strong building season that will keep the critical money train running and keep most of the team out of the transfer portal at season’s end. That said, an “Indiana Miracle” would be entirely acceptable! Roll on!
I'm very positive about the offense this coming season, but the defense worries me with the loss of your two GREAT inside LB's from last year. I don't see any proven ones on the new roster. I hope Tosh can coach up the ones we have now.
It's now clear that Tosh can recruit and raise $$, but now we're about to find out if he can actually win games as a head coach, specifically can he motivate his players and not be out-schemed pre or in-game (either him or his assistants). We'll learn a lot in this first game against Chesney. On paper, Chesney and his coaching staff will easily outcoach ours. But you never know, it's also possible the inexperienced Cal coaching staff will have their coming out party. Think of all the tape Cal has on Chesney and he's got very little on us. Let's hope the Bears can sell out and rock the house the team's going to need it
I hate to say my first Cal football experience was when my Old Blue dad took me to see Craig Morton and the Bears 60 years ago. And I've been a fan since. Tosh's hire and JKS have buoyed my hopes for the first time since Jeff Tedford's golden years. Fingers crossed. Go Bears.
I think the major theme is alignment - everything is coming together; let's hope it all meshes. I love the team-first approach and the passion Tosh brings. Why not Cal? Why not now? ROLL ON!
Agree, this feels different. It's Hopium, not Copium. Both the university and the fanbase recognize the stakes and have gone all-in. Even the marketing has stepped up and is trying to engage alumni.
Well done, Nick! I don’t doubt that Tosh will burn the midnight oil looking for tells and game-planning like Ted Lasso’s Nate Shelley. My worry is whether he’ll balance and delegate effectively or get caught in the details at either end. The first time coordinators have their work cut out for them.
The new personnel are exciting however, and our first opponents will also be starting their growing pains! It’ll be exciting and packed, just like a season opener should be. GO BEARS
Great to have you back. NOW the season can begin!
I second that!
Me too. Looking forward to your excellent X's and O's previews! And ya know what else, I think Cal is going to field a much better football team and win more games than it has in a very long time. We shall see starting September 5 if this is so. Go Bears!
Great to have you back Nick, and like you I hope RR and Tosh's great recruiting will turn into winning X's and O's at CMS. The ACC needs more than just Miami to compete with the SEC and Big10. Why not Cal? Go Bears!
"Some of those questions thrill me. Others terrify me. All of them energize me." Bingo...this is where I am as well. Also, trying hard to manage my excitement and optimism. Your reminder that it took Oregon a decade of sustained effort was needed. Also, while the data point of Indiana is inspiring, it inspires 137 other teams as well...and it is a data set of one. So count me thrilled, terrified and energized. How will I live until September 5???
I'm having no problem managing my excitement and optimism - a slew of coaches who came to Cal, promoted into positions they had never held before, a charismatic head coach in the same category, a bunch of high quality transfers, but remaining critically thin in the trenches. If we had gotten only elite level O & D-line transfers, I'd feel more optimistic than with our bevy of new skill position guys. It feels like the same old Cal wish-casting, just with a new ensemble and a few more $M spent. As always, I hope I'm wrong. Will be there 9/5.
Cool...I'm a genetically inclined sunshine pumper, and we all want the same thing...takes a village
Great review and good to see you back, Nick, after taking time off to recharge and put some distance between the old and what we all hope is the new Cal football.
I have no illusions about the task Tosh, RR and the Chancellor have set for themselves but am happy the university finally decided to engage in a meaningful way with the new challenges represented by big time college football. The alternative being falling deeper into irrelevance. We are all hopeful that September 5 will mark the dawn of a new age in Cal football but with the knowledge that it is a truly monumental task that the coaches and players are facing in putting together what amounts to a new team under a new system with almost entirely new coaches. While my dream is a complete blowout of UCLA on both sides of the line on a level that sees everyone getting snaps in the 4th quarter, I’ll be satisfied to see a well coached machine warming up for what I’m hoping will be a strong building season that will keep the critical money train running and keep most of the team out of the transfer portal at season’s end. That said, an “Indiana Miracle” would be entirely acceptable! Roll on!
"Roll on, California, bearing 'Cal' to victory!"
A key difference is the "Indiana Miracle" was achieved using experienced coaching which had achieved success multiple times at multiple levels.
Great points
I'm very positive about the offense this coming season, but the defense worries me with the loss of your two GREAT inside LB's from last year. I don't see any proven ones on the new roster. I hope Tosh can coach up the ones we have now.
b
It's now clear that Tosh can recruit and raise $$, but now we're about to find out if he can actually win games as a head coach, specifically can he motivate his players and not be out-schemed pre or in-game (either him or his assistants). We'll learn a lot in this first game against Chesney. On paper, Chesney and his coaching staff will easily outcoach ours. But you never know, it's also possible the inexperienced Cal coaching staff will have their coming out party. Think of all the tape Cal has on Chesney and he's got very little on us. Let's hope the Bears can sell out and rock the house the team's going to need it
So many years, underperforming on so many levels. It's like NOW Cal is going to start actually performing.
I hate to say my first Cal football experience was when my Old Blue dad took me to see Craig Morton and the Bears 60 years ago. And I've been a fan since. Tosh's hire and JKS have buoyed my hopes for the first time since Jeff Tedford's golden years. Fingers crossed. Go Bears.
I think the major theme is alignment - everything is coming together; let's hope it all meshes. I love the team-first approach and the passion Tosh brings. Why not Cal? Why not now? ROLL ON!
Welcome back, Nick!
Agree, this feels different. It's Hopium, not Copium. Both the university and the fanbase recognize the stakes and have gone all-in. Even the marketing has stepped up and is trying to engage alumni.
Only thing left to do is win a lot.
Hope springs anew in the hearts of long-suffering Bears fans. This time does feel different.
Well done, Nick! I don’t doubt that Tosh will burn the midnight oil looking for tells and game-planning like Ted Lasso’s Nate Shelley. My worry is whether he’ll balance and delegate effectively or get caught in the details at either end. The first time coordinators have their work cut out for them.
The new personnel are exciting however, and our first opponents will also be starting their growing pains! It’ll be exciting and packed, just like a season opener should be. GO BEARS
Thanks Nick! Great stuff.
So pumped for this season!
Outstanding!