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Bear Me's avatar

Jaydn Ott have any family members looking for a job?

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FiatSlug's avatar

A repeat of the Ronnie Knox affair? Please, no.

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Nov 28, 2022
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Auricursine's avatar

IIRC, UCLA's role ultimately led to the break-up of the old Pacific Coast Conference. Hmmm...seems like the mythical baby bears do have a thing for breaking up that sort of arrangement.

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mrjpark's avatar

And cheating. They love the Wooden years and ignore that it was run by bagmen.

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Auricursine's avatar

Yeah, Wooden's Pyramid of Success left out the part about corrupt program donors.

When the show "Billions" did a whole show touting Wooden and how much of winner he was, I'm surprised the normally erudite writing staff didn't have one the savvier characters deservedly piss all over Wooden as a fraud for that reason.

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Nov 28, 2022
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Bowlesman 80's avatar

Perilously close to Reggie Bushery, though. :)

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Auricursine's avatar

That requires giving them a house though, no? I mean, do we have free houses to use for NCAA violation purposes?

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PawlOski's avatar

Not sure it's even a violation anymore. Maybe we can give him the chancellor's mansion on the north side and credit at Copy Central and La Val's.

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

I must do a deeper dig. Gadzooks, can you imagine the skewed value of a Berkeley house?

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Auricursine's avatar

I wonder if Sonny's old house in Piedmont is available... đŸ¤”

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

Piedmont's just as bad, if not worse.

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harmonpreservationsociety's avatar

If Wilcox asks to hire Chryst or Dooley, I think that should immediately trigger his dismissal.

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GoldenBear88's avatar

Good point. We need NEW, YOUNG BLOOD, not guys who remember "the good 'ol days" or can't recruit because they don't know what Twitter is.

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OldSoCalBear's avatar

Baldwin was new, young blood, and our offense was mediocre at best.

Franklin and Dykes were crusty old farts, and our offense broke records.

Young or old doesn’t matter. We need someone with proven competence in recruiting and running an FBS offense at an academically-focused institution.

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Justbear's avatar

Baldwin wasn't that young. He was 45 when he came to Cal.

Dykes came to Cal at age 44. Tony Franklin was 56.

While we are at it, Justin Wilcox 41, Jeff Tedford 41, Jake Spavital 31, and Bill Musgrave 53.

My extensive research based solely on wikipedia.

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OldSoCalBear's avatar

Thanks. Baldwin seemed younger but I guess it was my perception.

Both Baldwin and Musgrave were somewhat unusual hires; Baldwin as a successful FCS HC, and Musgrave as an NFL guy. I wonder if Wilcox outsmarted himself, and would have been better off with a more generic college OC. Boring and competent is ok with me.

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harmonpreservationsociety's avatar

Baldwin was hired in part due to budget constraints (and certainly because hung a lot of points on pac12 foes). Wilcox went all-in on his defensive staff.

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Auricursine's avatar

If a Musk keeps going his profligate way, no one will eventually know what Twitter is, though...

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

Musgraves: "he's just doing my playbook!"

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douslat's avatar

First off, I'd almost eliminate anyone who is riding on the coattails of one superb quarterback or running back. It doesn't tell me anything that a guy coached McCaffrey, or Nix, or Penix, other than that he can get out of the way. That's not to say they couldn't be good, but they sure require a lot more scrutiny. And for the guy that hasn't put together a complete gameplan, where is he going to find that on our staff? No one will complete you here, dude. The UTSA guy listed first sounds great, as does Troy Taylor. The Bay Area is technically the southwest, btw.

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PawlOski's avatar

But what if they recruited them?

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Finn's avatar

I agree UTSA guy or Taylor could be good. They produced with limited talent. We need a successful young talented college coach, who can also recruit not an old NFL coach.

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

We keep describing Lincoln RIley or his brother.

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

I, too, caught the southwest "exclusion" and wondered, "WTF?"

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Bearly Hanging On's avatar

I like Brennan Marion--young, inventive mind who's turned around offenses at multiple stops. Has Bay Area ties as a Juco player at DeAnza and HS coach in Vallejo. Hiring him might keep Cal's top skill position players from jumping into the portal.

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Justbear's avatar

I have a feeling that Wilcox will surprise us in a good way with the OC hire.

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GoldenSD81's avatar

It is difficult to imagine or believe that anyone on this list could be worse than Musgrave so no matter who we hire should be an upgrade. Our play calling by committee was better than Musgrave.

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Justbear's avatar

But we shouldn't hire "anyone better than Musgrave". We need someone way better than Musgrave who can be a program changer.

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

Agreed. We need to up the ante, not call.

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GERALD COLVIN's avatar

GETTHE BEST RECRUTER! FIRST THINGS FIRST! GERBEAR

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Fire Starkey's avatar

That worked great with Angus on the OL

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Pete Maloney's avatar

Can’t agree with you more! We need somebody who’s gonna walk in to a potential recruit’s living room and knock their socks off! I posted above a crazy thought to try and lure Deion Sanders to be our OC, but apparently Colorado Buffaloes offered him HEAD Coach, so there goes my wild idea!

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Fire Starkey's avatar

Troy Taylor isnt coming, posters from multiple sites with ties to Sac St or the Sac area are independently confirming this.

Other posters think Huff from Washington is a candidate. Another interesting name was BJ Kinne

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atoms's avatar

I'd be pleased if we can poach Huff as an OL coach, or maybe OL/run game coordinator. I don't know if I like the idea of handing him the keys to the offense totally considering he's never been a full OC before.

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Rose Bowl Oski's avatar

That's too bad. I was thinking they could bring in Taylor as OC/associate HC, with the idea that he would replace Wilcox at some point.

BTW, now that Starkey has retired, don't you need to change your moniker?

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Fire Starkey's avatar

Keeping this name will be a fitting tribute to a Cal Legend. I'll always want to fire him, whether if he is there or not

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Steve W's avatar

Not that Wilcox could ever lure Taylor over to Cal because Wilcox is in a tailspin that won't be fixed until he is fired, and Taylor knows it. But just a little note on whether Taylor can recruit at the P5 level....The biggest reason that Sac State is ranked number 2 and undefeated heading into the playoffs is because Taylor was able to lure a run/pass stud QB from the FBS level at Middle Tennessee to his program with an assist from Tony Franklin. Sac State has been running a highly successful two quarterback platoon system that continually befuddles defenses. Taylor is going to make an FBS school very happy, but I am afraid it won't be Cal.

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Nov 28, 2022
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mrjpark's avatar

If he's nearly as good as Williams or DTR, he wouldn't have been at Middle Tennessee and then playing in the FCS.

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royrules22's avatar

In fact there seems to be some contingent of Stanfurd fans that are insisting that they will target him as a HC.

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Nov 28, 2022
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Fire Starkey's avatar

supposedly 1 or more has or knows his family- something like that. He is focused on the FCS playoffs and has no interest in P5 OC in general.

All rumor of course

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Nov 28, 2022
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Bowlesman 80's avatar

I like your thinking.

As we have turned on him in his tenured position, JW is most likely gonna' have a wandering eye and TT success would set JW for a great move- maybe even the Oregon job, after all. TT would be likely be the most obvious choice at that point. Also, TT turning around our offense and overall recruiting would throw some shade on JW, unless, of course, he leaned into it and took the next offer he got.

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Rick Hirsch's avatar

NO: Brady / Marion / Shephard / Chryst / Dooley / Moore / Frost ----- MAYBE: Kiesau / Adams / Sanford / L Taylor ----- YES: Mattox ----- HELL YES: T. Taylor

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Rose Bowl Oski's avatar

I think we've been ignoring the elephant in the room: former player who coached at an academic* minded school, has very strong west coast ties, has recruited plenty of 4 and 5 star players, coached a couple of Rose Bowl teams... David Shaw! (sarcasm font not available)

*Supposedly

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Go Eat A Taco's avatar

Interesting list, ty WFC staff for compiling this list.

Meanwhile, schools are hiring HCs and we have yet to hear from Wilcox. The transfer portal opens up in early December (the 5th IIRC). Wilcox has to have an OC at minimum hired to keep some of the lads from transferring ~ if the hire is a good one.

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GoldenSD81's avatar

Wilcox needs to have someone hired by Monday, December 5th at the very latest. Ideally, he would have someone announced by this Thursday or Friday.

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

As with literally every other thing in his coaching career, Wilcox is a step behind.

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Rob Hwang's avatar

Eh…. I wouldn’t say that. HC hirings are happening sure but you’re also seeing who gets let go and any potential wildcards of candidates that might open up. All that being said. Wilcox already mentioned the interview process starting the week of the week of the stanford game and I expect the new hiring to be made fairly shortly since the season just ended for most teams 2 days ago.

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

We shall see. Wilcox has historically been slow to act.

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Rob Hwang's avatar

In season sure. But I don’t mind a bit slow when hiring to get your interviews and checks in. Much rather that than Knowlton’s 4 day turnaround to hire fox.

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harmonpreservationsociety's avatar

In order to succeed in the near term, I think we need a system with quick qb reads in order to work around our porous OL. Also, I wouldn't mind something exciting and fun to watch. I'll take Troy Taylor (unlikely as that may be) or Brennan Marion.

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Swamphunter's avatar

Unless there's some drama that comes out of it, you guys should add Marcus Arroyo to the list. He was just unexpectedly fired from UNLV.

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GoldenSD81's avatar

I was always underwhelmed with Arroyo while he was at Cal and especially when he was at Oregon with Herbert.

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Swamphunter's avatar

Going 9-4 and 12-2 at Oregon with Cristobal at the helm is underwhelming?

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GoldenSD81's avatar

9-4 is underwhelming. 12-2 is very good but with Herbert’s talent how much credit does he get for being a good OC versus having a great QB?

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mrjpark's avatar

To go even further, Herbert's talent was absolutely wasted at Oregon. He's an NFL star that looked mediocre at times in college.

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GoldenSD81's avatar

Absolutely and Oregon had good talent at OL, RB and decent WRs.

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mrjpark's avatar

I'd argue that during the Herbert Oregon years, they did have a WR problem. They were all butterfingers.

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

It’s fair to say Arroyo underachieved with Herbert.

Of these guys, I’m loving the Marion look. A dynamic, innovative mind would be awesome…seems a little too flashy for Wilcox though. Pair him with Vincent Johnson III!!

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GoldenSD81's avatar

These are the two I want.

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

Right?!??

I mean, if Wilcox has any hope of keeping his job, he’s going to have to think outside the box. Traditional blockin’ and tacklin’ football is not how you run a college offense anymore.

Spread, speed, athleticism at the quarterback position…this Cal team really did none of these things!

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goldenone's avatar

Why would we take a guy who just got fired. Wasn't he Maynard's QB coach?

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Swamphunter's avatar

He went 9-4 and 12-2 as OC at Oregon with Cristobal at the helm.

And he is much more attractive than Kiesau or Sanford.

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

Plus he’s coached at Cal and is familiar with the bureaucratic cluster-fock that is Cal football. He actually had UNLV on the upswing…looking for either allegations of impropriety there, or a shocker of a hire for the Rebs. Only things that make sense.

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JRein's avatar

Meanwhile, Oregon just brought in the other CO-OC from UTSA to replace Dillingham and the transfer portal players are already starting to come off the market. Waiting until it’s too late to attract talent would be on par for this Cal staff.

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ShoGunn's avatar

Seems awfully quiet here. Saw from Avinash we had someone lined up and it fell through.

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the monster's avatar

u guys are totally clueless with zero access/sources to the program

can the monster sue for the 30 seconds u wasted of my life?

https://bearinsider.com/forums/2/topics/110786/0

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