Southern Methodist University (8-4, 6-2 ACC) and the Cal Bears (7-5, 4-4 ACC) began the game by giving away possession in brief, unfruitful outings by their offensive units.
My cup runneth over with good vibes. If at the beginning of the year you told me we’d win 7 games, beat two ranked teams, pull a .500 conference record, and finally get a leadership change for the program, I’d have been ecstatic. Wilcox was a good dude, but the fanbase and program needs someone exciting to rally behind. Hopefully tonight serves as a catapult into the future. Someone back up a Brinks truck for JKS! And cmon Cade, you know you play out your senior year in Berkeley!
To be honest, winning tonight might have done more for national exposure than winning a Big Game against a not so good Stanfurd team. I would have liked to keep the axe though... I suppose sacrifices needed to be made
Going on national television on a major channel (ESPN 2 is large enough) to take down a ranked team that was assumed to be headed for the playoffs? On a game that started at 5PM PST, meaning it was still early enough for the east coast to watch? With a vested interest from all the teams in the Atlantic corridor?
If we had to pick this win vs. Stanford...while I understand a lot of us would prefer to keep the axe, this was a good one. Especially if it's followed up with a strong coaching hire. No one's going to watch our bowl game, so that basically doesn't matter.
If you’d have told me preseason this team would win its two toughest games, I’d have said this would be a totally historic year for the program…like, 10 wins special
I agree that we would have wanted this in isolation. The standings say we are 2-1 against ranked teams, so we have 9-10 wins and in line for a possible ACC championship spot, right?
It's just so Wilcoxian to play down to teams we shouldn't have lost to. Progress made though- we didn't give anyone their first or only FBS or ACC win. Also, who called the offense today? Was it Rolo or Harsin?
which is just the latest example of the program having a competent hand on the wheel now, which hasn't been the case for ages. it's amazing what can be accomplished with common sense.
Not to split hairs here but isn’t the baseline 8 regular season wins? When we lost the Big Game it was assured we wouldn’t meet that and hence the firing.
Ron did say 8 wins was a baseline, right? Just not the way I would have drawn it up.
We still have to win the bowl game and we know how are team tends to be after a bye week. Although maybe there's a chance we don't do that typiCAL flatness without Wilcox? *crosses fingers*
This outcome absolutely proves Rivera’s strategy of firing last week instead of this one. Can you imagine the optics of axing (no pun intended) Wilcox after a surprise victory of a ranked team?
I checked the Furd game and the Lobsterbacks were down 42-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter against ND last night. How could the GBs look so bad last week, and then come out and hang 38 on SMU? Amazing end to another crazy Cal regular season...
It's called managing a game while coaching up your players and asst coaches. Did you see how Ron was listening on headset while Rolovich was coaching. There were times Ron was condoning the call and applauding Rolo. Something was not right with Wilcox.
My cup runneth over with good vibes. If at the beginning of the year you told me we’d win 7 games, beat two ranked teams, pull a .500 conference record, and finally get a leadership change for the program, I’d have been ecstatic. Wilcox was a good dude, but the fanbase and program needs someone exciting to rally behind. Hopefully tonight serves as a catapult into the future. Someone back up a Brinks truck for JKS! And cmon Cade, you know you play out your senior year in Berkeley!
After last night keep Boscia too. Otherwise, time to overhaul most of the program. Which is finally get serious about the two lines.
💯
Winning overall record, 4-4 conference record, and getting a new head coach. I say it's a good bad season.
Beating Stanford would have been the icing on the cake but probably also would have meant Wilcox comes back in 26
To be honest, winning tonight might have done more for national exposure than winning a Big Game against a not so good Stanfurd team. I would have liked to keep the axe though... I suppose sacrifices needed to be made
Honestly the best possible outcome for the program, longterm.
And keeping JKS short term seems to be the priority now.
Has to be, for reasons that go beyond just football wins and losses…
Well, in Ron we trust. More than Knowlton, anyway.
Low bar, I know
Biggest win of the season was getting rid of Knowlton, more than hiring of Ron or firing of Wilcox.
Going on national television on a major channel (ESPN 2 is large enough) to take down a ranked team that was assumed to be headed for the playoffs? On a game that started at 5PM PST, meaning it was still early enough for the east coast to watch? With a vested interest from all the teams in the Atlantic corridor?
If we had to pick this win vs. Stanford...while I understand a lot of us would prefer to keep the axe, this was a good one. Especially if it's followed up with a strong coaching hire. No one's going to watch our bowl game, so that basically doesn't matter.
There's a report saying Tosh to Cal was finalized before the Big Game, so we might still have fired Wilcox after winning out the season.
If Tosh was fired before the Big Game, it might have leaked out, leading to the result we saw.
Whats wrong with Rolovich?
He's a WHORE.
Thank you Seniors!!!
Tonight proved that if we just keep our starting QB away from the “flu” when we play SMU, we can beat them!
If you’d have told me preseason this team would win its two toughest games, I’d have said this would be a totally historic year for the program…like, 10 wins special
On the other hand, if you told me we would lose to San Diego by 34, Duke by 24, and Furd by 21 I would have expected a record of about 3-9.
Lol also true. So basically, this season perfectly encapsulates Cal fandom.
It’s the entire Justin Wilcox experience, right down to the win in his honor after the worst game of his tenure.
That’s deep Jimmy…
“What’s really gonna bake your noodle later on is would you still have broken it if I hadn’t said anything….” - The Oracle
In the alternate universe where Cal has a 9 or 10 win season, Wilcox wouldn’t get fired, but it would be fine, because that’s a different Wilcox.
I agree that we would have wanted this in isolation. The standings say we are 2-1 against ranked teams, so we have 9-10 wins and in line for a possible ACC championship spot, right?
It's just so Wilcoxian to play down to teams we shouldn't have lost to. Progress made though- we didn't give anyone their first or only FBS or ACC win. Also, who called the offense today? Was it Rolo or Harsin?
Harsin.
Rivera named Rolo the interim HC so that the coordinators can focus on game planning and play calling.
which is just the latest example of the program having a competent hand on the wheel now, which hasn't been the case for ages. it's amazing what can be accomplished with common sense.
A truly great win. I'm sad that they didn't play with the same vigor against Stanford.
The irony if we end the season with 8 wins...
Not to split hairs here but isn’t the baseline 8 regular season wins? When we lost the Big Game it was assured we wouldn’t meet that and hence the firing.
Rivera's alleged baseline is 9 wins. Losing to Stanford meant that 8 wins would be the maximum in 2025, even with a bowl win.
Ron did say 8 wins was a baseline, right? Just not the way I would have drawn it up.
We still have to win the bowl game and we know how are team tends to be after a bye week. Although maybe there's a chance we don't do that typiCAL flatness without Wilcox? *crosses fingers*
It was.
And his only bowl win.
This outcome absolutely proves Rivera’s strategy of firing last week instead of this one. Can you imagine the optics of axing (no pun intended) Wilcox after a surprise victory of a ranked team?
NEXT YEAR, WERE COMING FOR IT ALL.
I checked the Furd game and the Lobsterbacks were down 42-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter against ND last night. How could the GBs look so bad last week, and then come out and hang 38 on SMU? Amazing end to another crazy Cal regular season...
It's called managing a game while coaching up your players and asst coaches. Did you see how Ron was listening on headset while Rolovich was coaching. There were times Ron was condoning the call and applauding Rolo. Something was not right with Wilcox.
Or maybe most part-time 20-year-old athletes are inherently inconsistent , especially as a group
Golden week for Oski upsets against ranked teams in both ball categories !!
I hope the OL coach stays he knows what he's doing. We need a rb like SMU. See daylight gone!
We were the worst running team in college football
No he doesn't.
so much for another stellar ACC defense