Unless the coaching staff can produce results in 2025, I'm sorry but the 2026 Cal commits will reevaluate their choices next year. Based on JWs proclivity to consistently land between 5 and 7 wins, and the promise of nothing-burger bowl bids, the completely open current recruiting situation remains cloudy, and some would say bleak for Cal. While it is a complete catch-22 for the coaching staff, this is where Call recruiting stands today. The results of the 2025 spring practice can only be described as an offensive disaster (save for the O line improvement), so I honestly don't know where Cal football will be in 2025 and beyond. My feelings remain very apprehensive about the whole program, much less positive than this time last year. We know the D will show up, but literally have no idea about the O. Too many question marks going into the season. And the number of already announced late games means the networks have no confidence in Cal football either. Another year of coulda, woulda, shoulda I'm afraid. Sorry to be so negative. GO BEARS...
Just no point in worrying about any of that until next year! For now, just hope that his commitment convinces other blue chips to join! Thankfully, this year's schedule is kind of a joke so we just have to not play down to our opponents for the first time since Wilcox took over :)
We said last year's schedule was also a joke, and we lost to NC State and Pitt - and barely beat very bad Wake Forest and Furd teams. And the Bears were totally outclassed by Syracuse, SMU and UNLV at the end of the season. So I don't underestimate JW's ability to coach down to the competition.
Daniel: You will be forgiven if you have a tendency towards pessimism because that is what it means to be a Cal football fan. The glimmers of hope and good news are too often punctuated by all too regular kicks to the crotch. However, one thing that does give me hope is that Cal beat out some heavy hitters (Oregon, U$C, etc.) for the services of this young man. Like the 'Furd, Notre Dame, Duke, etc., we have to recruit players that want to succeed on and off the field instead of just playing two years and then bolting for the pros. If we can keep becoming more competitive with our NIL resources, players like Mr. Santino can help us turn the corner and become a competitive program worth watching. Hell, we almost had that until somebody blew up our offense. Am I sunshine pumping? Hell yes! But I don't see any reason why Cal cannot be competitive in football, basketball AND academics. These are not mutually exclusive entities.
Thanks for the POSITIVE comment. So tired of reading cynical negative comments who like to predict a losing season and have no solution to losses but yelling to fire the head coach when the real reason is the lack of really good O linemen and other positions which these commenters never look at during a game.
Don't get me wrong, I love and am proud of Cal and my experience going to Berkeley. Heck, I'm almost 70 and STILL cannot bring myself to purchase ANY red clothing! It just was a complete gut punch to see Ott, Jet and Nando ALL leave the program. I have not recovered from those losses yet...
Daniel: I know. I feel exactly the same way. But this is the new reality and we just have to step up and compete. By the way, I won't wear red either. In fact, I just gave away a reusable grocery bag because it had a U$C medical center logo on it. No way that thing touches my body!
Not wrong. Probably not a good idea to buy a Santino jersey just yet. But even if these guys end up decommitting, or transferring after a year, for a non-blue blood program like ours, it's good for us to stay in touch so they can fill our barren cupboards as transfers later.
Fair perspective. I do wonder however if 90% all College football programs don't find themselves in similar straights, with the lack of true commitment of recruits, the death by transfer portal phenomenon, etc. Experts out there, am I just looking for a ray of, dare I say it, sunshine??
Yes, I've posted numerous times in WFC that the transfer portal already has and will accelerate the move to the haves and have not schools. Cal and Furd are both in the latter category for 2025...
Unless the coaching staff can produce results in 2025, I'm sorry but the 2026 Cal commits will reevaluate their choices next year. Based on JWs proclivity to consistently land between 5 and 7 wins, and the promise of nothing-burger bowl bids, the completely open current recruiting situation remains cloudy, and some would say bleak for Cal. While it is a complete catch-22 for the coaching staff, this is where Call recruiting stands today. The results of the 2025 spring practice can only be described as an offensive disaster (save for the O line improvement), so I honestly don't know where Cal football will be in 2025 and beyond. My feelings remain very apprehensive about the whole program, much less positive than this time last year. We know the D will show up, but literally have no idea about the O. Too many question marks going into the season. And the number of already announced late games means the networks have no confidence in Cal football either. Another year of coulda, woulda, shoulda I'm afraid. Sorry to be so negative. GO BEARS...
Just no point in worrying about any of that until next year! For now, just hope that his commitment convinces other blue chips to join! Thankfully, this year's schedule is kind of a joke so we just have to not play down to our opponents for the first time since Wilcox took over :)
We said last year's schedule was also a joke, and we lost to NC State and Pitt - and barely beat very bad Wake Forest and Furd teams. And the Bears were totally outclassed by Syracuse, SMU and UNLV at the end of the season. So I don't underestimate JW's ability to coach down to the competition.
Daniel: You will be forgiven if you have a tendency towards pessimism because that is what it means to be a Cal football fan. The glimmers of hope and good news are too often punctuated by all too regular kicks to the crotch. However, one thing that does give me hope is that Cal beat out some heavy hitters (Oregon, U$C, etc.) for the services of this young man. Like the 'Furd, Notre Dame, Duke, etc., we have to recruit players that want to succeed on and off the field instead of just playing two years and then bolting for the pros. If we can keep becoming more competitive with our NIL resources, players like Mr. Santino can help us turn the corner and become a competitive program worth watching. Hell, we almost had that until somebody blew up our offense. Am I sunshine pumping? Hell yes! But I don't see any reason why Cal cannot be competitive in football, basketball AND academics. These are not mutually exclusive entities.
Thanks for the POSITIVE comment. So tired of reading cynical negative comments who like to predict a losing season and have no solution to losses but yelling to fire the head coach when the real reason is the lack of really good O linemen and other positions which these commenters never look at during a game.
Don't get me wrong, I love and am proud of Cal and my experience going to Berkeley. Heck, I'm almost 70 and STILL cannot bring myself to purchase ANY red clothing! It just was a complete gut punch to see Ott, Jet and Nando ALL leave the program. I have not recovered from those losses yet...
Daniel: I know. I feel exactly the same way. But this is the new reality and we just have to step up and compete. By the way, I won't wear red either. In fact, I just gave away a reusable grocery bag because it had a U$C medical center logo on it. No way that thing touches my body!
They left because of $$$ thanks to NIL
Not wrong. Probably not a good idea to buy a Santino jersey just yet. But even if these guys end up decommitting, or transferring after a year, for a non-blue blood program like ours, it's good for us to stay in touch so they can fill our barren cupboards as transfers later.
True, true...
Fair perspective. I do wonder however if 90% all College football programs don't find themselves in similar straights, with the lack of true commitment of recruits, the death by transfer portal phenomenon, etc. Experts out there, am I just looking for a ray of, dare I say it, sunshine??
Agree!
Yes, I've posted numerous times in WFC that the transfer portal already has and will accelerate the move to the haves and have not schools. Cal and Furd are both in the latter category for 2025...
Negabear.
Kids will always reevaluate their commitment and choices regardless of if we produce good results on the field or not.
This is great! But I'll withhold any celebration until he signs.
Hopefully, the GREAT Santino will flourish as a Cal Bear!
Why are these 4-stars teasing us?
Nice to see we got a concept of a commitment.
"Santino also held offers from Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Miami, Michigan State, Oregon, TCU, Miami, Washington and Washington State."
So good Miami offered him twice! (I guess one of them could be Miami OH)