Why does this 2025/26 team have so many walkons or former walk on contributing/playing in big moments and key positions?!? WRs - Grizzell & King, LBs - Hampton.
Just looking at WR room, it’s by far the worst position on the team. Then you notice and the 2 best players are former walkons..
JW and his staff are stuck in 2015 recruiting model, and the results show with horrendous player retention (few stars ever come to Berkeley, and everyone good transfers out).
Goods News. Its called a donor NIL strike. We had no money this offseason because of it. Its all being saved for this offseason when we have a coach who will be able to put it to use.
Ron needs to relieve Wilcox asap before the carousel gets too crazy and we end up with D-tier options. Auburn fired Freeze and SCar fired Shula earlier today. Fickell (Wiscy) is probably next with several others to follow before the end of the season.
Given the importance of having a staff in place by the portal window, unless there’s a financial reason for buyout purposes, absolutely nothing is gained by Cal and it’s slow-moving bureaucratic morass continuing to employ Justin Wilcox.
To everyone in here spamming about Jaron leaving you're absolutely wrong and doing nothing but spread negative energy to the program. I made this video as a message to you all.
I appreciate all that you said and I’ll elaborate in the next paragraph after I address the one suspicion I have about what you said that would be a problem in my eyes if my suspicion is correct. And that is, keeping Wilmoe and keeping JKS are not mutually inclusive concepts. I detected a small undertone of “to keep JKS we have to keep Wilmoe” which I hope you aren’t implying because you’re smarter than that. And it’s the same trap that has us where we’re currently at as a program.
Anyway, yes. As I’ve been saying since nil became a thing and to quote Dave Chappelle Rick James as he’s being kicked off Eddie Murphy’s couch “they shoulda never gave ya’ll n$&@as money” is how the rest of the cfb landscape sans furd thinks about us. We sit smack dab in the middle and epicenter of the industry responsible for probably 90 percent of the economic output related to 20 something’s. And more importantly that same region consistently produces the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Joe Mixon, Goff, Josh Allen, Najee Harris, Marshawn, mjd, Jared Allen, etc, etc, etc. and most importantly we have around 3,000 living high net worth alumni worth approximately one trillion dollars; 15 plus billionaire alumni. Numbers only surpassed by furd in the current cfb space. And on top of all that we’re now literally the only game in town in a top ten media market. Forget a sleeping giant we are a sleeping Godzilla waiting to wake up and destroy everything in sight. But we can’t wake up with Wilmoe at the healm.
Back to your topic of keeping JKS. The best route in my mind to keep JKS is to get rid of Wilmoe ASAP and bring in an alum to coach; as an alum I want an alum. That means Ron, or DJax, or Marshawn, or BT3, or CJA… I want someone who takes pride in being a Cal Bear. Who brings back the Roth game. Who defends this area and this university as second nature. My personal choice would be Marshawn!
You’re crazy about wanting to bring in an alum as a coach, even crazier to consider a former player who has never coached. We need to find someone like when UW found Kalen DeBoer (before Bama), or Indiana found Cignetti. I love Coach Prime but even he couldn’t translation his playing ability or FCS record into success at Colorado.
I appreciate the response. I am in no way a Wilcox apologist, his replacement will go hand in hand with everything I was saying in the video. I have an extremely hard time believing that Wilcox is gonna be Jaron's make or break factor, especially with the fat stack of cash we will provide and the relationship Rivera is building with him. I think Ron is already working as we speak to identify his guys and will bring in someone fantastic in the offseason. Words can't express how much happier we all should be that he is leading the interview process instead of Carol and Jim. Here's to hoping
Sadly, nobody cares about a P4 football program going nowhere for the last 15+ years. At least the SMU tickets will be cheap. Let's all say it together: major changes needed...
Rivera has to make some hard decisions in the next few weeks and it seems most of them are really timing related, i.e., when is the best time to fire Wilcox so that: 1) Cal sends a strong message to JKS and anyone else willing to consider sticking around that regime change is coming; and 2) maximizing the chance of landing an up and coming coach before the opportunity to get someone half decent passes.
Cal has no business losing either of the last two games -- they look sloppy and unfocused at critical moments in the game and it cost them both weeks. I'm no delusional -- they're not a good team, but they are better than most of the competition they face and still cannot seem to get the job done. Rivera, my trust is with you to pull the trigger at the right moment. Let's get this done and start anew.
The only immediate certainty for Cal Football is that Justin Wilcox will be shown the door on November 30th after we either get blown out or lose in heartbreaking fashion in front of empty Memorial Stadium to SMU. There is nothing left to be hopeful about (other than retaining JKS). I hope that Riverboat Ron has potential replacements lined up so he can begin the rebuild IMMEDIATELY!!!!!! Not after finals, not after New Years but IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!
Losing Cade is the final nail in the proverbial coffin for this season. Pretty much all that’s left is a potentially great freshman QB who will likely follow Mendoza out the door and on to greatness someplace else. Too many passes dropped, way too few rushing yards, too many tackles missed, etc — I don’t think it matters much whether Rivera makes the obvious move before or after this dismal season ends. If this team loses to Stanford at least the die will be clearly cast for a 5-7 season with the inevitable coup de grâce provided by SMU in the last game of the season. It’s a ground up rebuild of the program that’s so obviously needed and I’m sure Ron and the chancellor know that. It’s time to load up the dollar war chest and get in the hunt for the best young coach, high school recruits, and portal transfers that money and a good coaching staff can buy. It’s all about the money and the coaching staff in this NFL farm team world of P4-5 teams. Indiana and SMU did it. Cal should follow their examples if we ever again are to see Memorial Stadium jam packed with screaming fans for every game.
So.well.said. Last week I had a daydreaming moment of Cal fandom bliss... Dumpster Muffin was in full "occupy oak grove" mode, DeSean was our kick returner, and we were wearing the money gold homes on ABC at night. And we smoked those creamsicle rocky tops right out of Berkeley with a racous, packed to the gills, old school Memorial crowd. Those are the indeliable moments of CFB fandom that stick with you and Wilcox has not been able to bring those moments home but for a fleeting few early season victories that breed false hope... and then bitter disappointment.
That said, I'm getting pretty pumped for the Cheez-it Bowl Redux where we can watch whatever skeleton crew that is left of our team eke out a 4 point defeat to to San Jose State or similar.
30,000 people when we are still two games over .500 and playing a ranked team that is playing for the ACC title? Speaks volumes that the fans know what we all know.
Putting aside we are several years too late firing Wilcox, the fact he wasn't fired after Duke actually makes it infinitely worse because, as we saw yesterday, nobody is now going. So why would any recruit want to join this team? Why would any talented player not start now with transfer plans? Schools that fire coaches mid-season at least show some desire to win. Auburn just fired its coach this morning. So Penn State (after make the CFP last year), UCLA (only year 2), Arkansas, and Florida. Notice all of these programs are making clear they want to win.
JKS is not going to stick around absent a truly massive coaching hire. Why would he? Mendoza proves it is a smart move. The only two who made a mistake are Ott and Javian but I'm guessing they are happy with the money and not having to deal with getting blown up in the back field.
Could not agree more. It's sad when the the ESPN crew has to avoid showing our stunning stadium because there are roughly 10 fans per section. Even the dark depths of Holmoe brought more gluttons to those old splinter seats.
I didn’t watch the game but I checked the box score and to be honest, I’m surprised we only lost by 10 and the game was as close and competitive as it was until the very end. I think it shows that Cal and Wilcox just need more time, at least 5 more years and maybe a few more
Matt Giordano, an overachieving Cal guy w/extensive coaching experience and, like Ron, had a significant NFL playing career. Knows how to get it done at a high level.
Outside of my typical “FIRE WILCOX” comment..
Why does this 2025/26 team have so many walkons or former walk on contributing/playing in big moments and key positions?!? WRs - Grizzell & King, LBs - Hampton.
Just looking at WR room, it’s by far the worst position on the team. Then you notice and the 2 best players are former walkons..
JW and his staff are stuck in 2015 recruiting model, and the results show with horrendous player retention (few stars ever come to Berkeley, and everyone good transfers out).
REAL CHANGE WAS NEEDED YESTERDAY!
Goods News. Its called a donor NIL strike. We had no money this offseason because of it. Its all being saved for this offseason when we have a coach who will be able to put it to use.
This one failed in all 3 of RR's KPI metrics:
Butts in seats: ⬇️
Eyeballs: 12:45 Saturday is just another of many Saturday games on TV ⬇️
W/L: Welp. ⬇️ and probably headed to .500
Ron needs to relieve Wilcox asap before the carousel gets too crazy and we end up with D-tier options. Auburn fired Freeze and SCar fired Shula earlier today. Fickell (Wiscy) is probably next with several others to follow before the end of the season.
Agreed.
Given the importance of having a staff in place by the portal window, unless there’s a financial reason for buyout purposes, absolutely nothing is gained by Cal and it’s slow-moving bureaucratic morass continuing to employ Justin Wilcox.
Great article. I do think we’re way beyond RR having conversations about Wilcox. It’s time to actually do something.
To everyone in here spamming about Jaron leaving you're absolutely wrong and doing nothing but spread negative energy to the program. I made this video as a message to you all.
https://youtu.be/4pLC4wWgYRY?si=snx4_PYtBn0g4ctX
I appreciate all that you said and I’ll elaborate in the next paragraph after I address the one suspicion I have about what you said that would be a problem in my eyes if my suspicion is correct. And that is, keeping Wilmoe and keeping JKS are not mutually inclusive concepts. I detected a small undertone of “to keep JKS we have to keep Wilmoe” which I hope you aren’t implying because you’re smarter than that. And it’s the same trap that has us where we’re currently at as a program.
Anyway, yes. As I’ve been saying since nil became a thing and to quote Dave Chappelle Rick James as he’s being kicked off Eddie Murphy’s couch “they shoulda never gave ya’ll n$&@as money” is how the rest of the cfb landscape sans furd thinks about us. We sit smack dab in the middle and epicenter of the industry responsible for probably 90 percent of the economic output related to 20 something’s. And more importantly that same region consistently produces the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Joe Mixon, Goff, Josh Allen, Najee Harris, Marshawn, mjd, Jared Allen, etc, etc, etc. and most importantly we have around 3,000 living high net worth alumni worth approximately one trillion dollars; 15 plus billionaire alumni. Numbers only surpassed by furd in the current cfb space. And on top of all that we’re now literally the only game in town in a top ten media market. Forget a sleeping giant we are a sleeping Godzilla waiting to wake up and destroy everything in sight. But we can’t wake up with Wilmoe at the healm.
Back to your topic of keeping JKS. The best route in my mind to keep JKS is to get rid of Wilmoe ASAP and bring in an alum to coach; as an alum I want an alum. That means Ron, or DJax, or Marshawn, or BT3, or CJA… I want someone who takes pride in being a Cal Bear. Who brings back the Roth game. Who defends this area and this university as second nature. My personal choice would be Marshawn!
You’re crazy about wanting to bring in an alum as a coach, even crazier to consider a former player who has never coached. We need to find someone like when UW found Kalen DeBoer (before Bama), or Indiana found Cignetti. I love Coach Prime but even he couldn’t translation his playing ability or FCS record into success at Colorado.
"We want an alum to coach" was the idea behind hiring Joe Kapp. It didn't work out well.
Is it true that Wilcox ended the Joe Roth annual tribute game? If so, that’s a travesty
I appreciate the response. I am in no way a Wilcox apologist, his replacement will go hand in hand with everything I was saying in the video. I have an extremely hard time believing that Wilcox is gonna be Jaron's make or break factor, especially with the fat stack of cash we will provide and the relationship Rivera is building with him. I think Ron is already working as we speak to identify his guys and will bring in someone fantastic in the offseason. Words can't express how much happier we all should be that he is leading the interview process instead of Carol and Jim. Here's to hoping
Hooray, another lockedon(nameyourteam) YouTube channel! Just what we all wanted!
Sadly, nobody cares about a P4 football program going nowhere for the last 15+ years. At least the SMU tickets will be cheap. Let's all say it together: major changes needed...
I didn’t watch the game and honestly I’m glad I didn’t.
Seen enough Wilcox slides so it’s not like I’m missing anything.
Rivera has to make some hard decisions in the next few weeks and it seems most of them are really timing related, i.e., when is the best time to fire Wilcox so that: 1) Cal sends a strong message to JKS and anyone else willing to consider sticking around that regime change is coming; and 2) maximizing the chance of landing an up and coming coach before the opportunity to get someone half decent passes.
Cal has no business losing either of the last two games -- they look sloppy and unfocused at critical moments in the game and it cost them both weeks. I'm no delusional -- they're not a good team, but they are better than most of the competition they face and still cannot seem to get the job done. Rivera, my trust is with you to pull the trigger at the right moment. Let's get this done and start anew.
The only immediate certainty for Cal Football is that Justin Wilcox will be shown the door on November 30th after we either get blown out or lose in heartbreaking fashion in front of empty Memorial Stadium to SMU. There is nothing left to be hopeful about (other than retaining JKS). I hope that Riverboat Ron has potential replacements lined up so he can begin the rebuild IMMEDIATELY!!!!!! Not after finals, not after New Years but IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!
Losing Cade is the final nail in the proverbial coffin for this season. Pretty much all that’s left is a potentially great freshman QB who will likely follow Mendoza out the door and on to greatness someplace else. Too many passes dropped, way too few rushing yards, too many tackles missed, etc — I don’t think it matters much whether Rivera makes the obvious move before or after this dismal season ends. If this team loses to Stanford at least the die will be clearly cast for a 5-7 season with the inevitable coup de grâce provided by SMU in the last game of the season. It’s a ground up rebuild of the program that’s so obviously needed and I’m sure Ron and the chancellor know that. It’s time to load up the dollar war chest and get in the hunt for the best young coach, high school recruits, and portal transfers that money and a good coaching staff can buy. It’s all about the money and the coaching staff in this NFL farm team world of P4-5 teams. Indiana and SMU did it. Cal should follow their examples if we ever again are to see Memorial Stadium jam packed with screaming fans for every game.
So.well.said. Last week I had a daydreaming moment of Cal fandom bliss... Dumpster Muffin was in full "occupy oak grove" mode, DeSean was our kick returner, and we were wearing the money gold homes on ABC at night. And we smoked those creamsicle rocky tops right out of Berkeley with a racous, packed to the gills, old school Memorial crowd. Those are the indeliable moments of CFB fandom that stick with you and Wilcox has not been able to bring those moments home but for a fleeting few early season victories that breed false hope... and then bitter disappointment.
That said, I'm getting pretty pumped for the Cheez-it Bowl Redux where we can watch whatever skeleton crew that is left of our team eke out a 4 point defeat to to San Jose State or similar.
Now let's see if we have real leadership
Urgency.
Have to see it.
30,000 people when we are still two games over .500 and playing a ranked team that is playing for the ACC title? Speaks volumes that the fans know what we all know.
Putting aside we are several years too late firing Wilcox, the fact he wasn't fired after Duke actually makes it infinitely worse because, as we saw yesterday, nobody is now going. So why would any recruit want to join this team? Why would any talented player not start now with transfer plans? Schools that fire coaches mid-season at least show some desire to win. Auburn just fired its coach this morning. So Penn State (after make the CFP last year), UCLA (only year 2), Arkansas, and Florida. Notice all of these programs are making clear they want to win.
JKS is not going to stick around absent a truly massive coaching hire. Why would he? Mendoza proves it is a smart move. The only two who made a mistake are Ott and Javian but I'm guessing they are happy with the money and not having to deal with getting blown up in the back field.
Could not agree more. It's sad when the the ESPN crew has to avoid showing our stunning stadium because there are roughly 10 fans per section. Even the dark depths of Holmoe brought more gluttons to those old splinter seats.
The students have given up on the team. That section was only a quarter full.
Time for a program reboot.
I didn’t watch the game but I checked the box score and to be honest, I’m surprised we only lost by 10 and the game was as close and competitive as it was until the very end. I think it shows that Cal and Wilcox just need more time, at least 5 more years and maybe a few more
Yeah, we're going to be so good next year if only we give Wilcox more time...
Thanks TD. Well put.
It is time to start searching for a new coach for 2026. Who would you want on your short list?
If we can’t keep Wilcox for another 5 seasons, then I would want to hire SDSUs HC Sean Lewis
Not advocating for or against, but Jim Mora Jr is an interesting name to watch.
I wouldn’t be mad at this hire
Dabo Sweeney
Clear culture fit ; ) This is the gallows humor that will get us through.
Matt Giordano, an overachieving Cal guy w/extensive coaching experience and, like Ron, had a significant NFL playing career. Knows how to get it done at a high level.