The thing that gets me with Wilcox is that he's had 8 years. Is there any part of the team that is better coached in Year 8 than in Year 1? We need a coach who can win the close games, activate the fanbase beyond the diehards, and put our players in a position to thrive. If Wilcox is not going to be our next Tedford (and I feel pretty confident at this point he's not going to be), we need to figure out who will be. The future of the program depends on it.
Nice post. "It’s important to get behind the players. Fernando Mendoza, Jaivian Thomas, Nohl Williams, Jack Endries, Teddye Buchanan and so many more need to know that we have their back." <-- This is important and glad you wrote on this. These guys should know that old timer Cal alum like myself love these guys and we will continue to go to games and cheer them on so long as they are still fighting.
Great points and I can't tell you have much I admire/enjoy the defense. So happy for #20 on Saturday. And #0, #2 (he's a household fav), #3, #4, #5, and #10 are amongst my favorite defenders since #89 and #59 in the ILBs spots! Go Bears. Let's get to 9 - 3; just start with a dominant one on Saturday to get to 4-3!
Special shout out to #25! Have you noticed (I'm a sucker for torture so did a little DVR watching on a day off yesterday) his blocking against Pitt VERSUS his blocking against Auburn? Tremendous improvement...
I've been at this since 1981 with Ron Rivera to Fernando. Being a Cal fan is both enriching. No doubt caring about Cal FB and raising 3 sons will impact longevity but I would not change allegiance. A couple of field goals from Coe (or Luckhurst a few years back) and we may all be singing praise for Wilcox. He needs our support whilst we are focused on the next 6 games. Well said 3-3 to start is not bad....let's win a few more and build toward some OL recruiting.
Usual rule of thumb is a lot of on field non-soft tissue injuries like ankle sprains, broken bones, sprains, knee, so on is of the moment in the game. Not much you can do in that regard. It’s a violent and physical sport it happens. But soft tissue ones like hamstrings, muscle tears, things of that sort you can sort of point back to long term training. But in the end this is a physical activity with contact. It’s hard to gauge when any persons body won’t be able to snap back to the pressure that’s exerted on it. Staff could do everything right but they can’t foresee how a person’s body will be affected in that moment.
It does feel like our program is so close and what hurts is knowing that Wilcox will be back next season to once again hold us back from reaching our potential.
Unless we have a complete meltdown this season to at least force the Admin to consider a new hire. Maybe they’ll form a blue ribbon, fact finding committee to come up with a rec in a few years.
He’ll win just enough to avoid this and give the Admin cover to do nothing.
So save all you posts (if you already haven’t) to reuse next year+.
Man, don't you guy s realize he has a contract for three more years? You can't just fire him without paying off those years which would cost $14 million and then another $5 mil or more for a new hire. It's not like pro sports where an owner can do that because he or she has unlimited funds.
Wilcox did make an in season coordinator change during the Musgrave period. As I recall, and someone can correct me, the offensive staff jointly coordinated the game plan and calling plays was handled by a coach whose name escapes me. Why not assign passing game and quarterback coach Stirlin Gilbert the coordinating and play calling duties? Bloesh would then be related to work full time with the offensive line.
"It’s important to be hurt rather than apathetic." Well said, Avinash. I believe there are two ways to be disengaged right now. One is because you don't much care and are a fair weather fan. The other, is that you care so very much and deeply that it painfully hurts to see your team play poorly again and again. That's me. It's truly a matter of my emotional and psychological health to allow disengagement from Cal football at times like this.
But no one should mistake my choice to not build my life around a Saturday game with being apathetic. Given even the slightest reason to believe that real optimism is warranted, and I ride my skinny butt 750 miles down to see the damn game. I'm in rarified air in terms of Cal football support. There may be a few thousand of us, a few tens of thousands of us, who feel so strongly that it hurts so much to see us make stupid choices. I can't stomach seeing Cal make dumb coaching calls and show poor team management, as it goes against my deep belief in Cal being a place of high achievement. We can get our asses kicked, fine, but not for being unprepared or dumb or making consistently bad choices. Wilcox having consistently made bad choices with offense is just inexcusable.
And yet, I agree that I will put my heart and wallet into the effort to replace Wilcox or force him to hire strong offensive staff. I'll be bleeding Blue and Gold until the day I die.
It's because we care so deeply that he must go. It's antithetical to our belief in Cals greatness and potential to continue to ascend. The schools football team is an anchor.around it's neck imo
IMHO, we have a good team to root for. Look at Miami's record last year as they rebuilt. A good team, a rebuilding program will have setbacks. And the hurt is deep, because it's like we were just about to be paroled out of prison, then the parole board said, "No."
In the eyes of our new conference, I must wonder if we're seen as cupcakes that should just be there for the rest of the league to feast upon. People calling for Wilcox to be fired must have some plan in place that I do not see. Who would we get to replace him? Saban? Ron Rivera? I guess we could say that Wilcox might be a victim of his own success, because in our long recovery from the COVID sanctions, he is clearly getting the overall team to a point of being competitive, pass protection, run blocking, and field goal kicking not withstanding.
The only plan that seems at all realistic is Rivera working at a discount, to help bridge the program out of the Wilcox era and to the next hire. Even that feels like a long shot, though.
In fairness against Miami, Cal ran about half the number of plays of Miami. Which meant the defense was on the field a long time. By the end of the game they were exhausted. Success on the offensive side doomed the defensive side. No excuses - Cal still should have won the game. The offense shut down in the fourth quarter, when it meant so much.
Against Pitt, how do you coach a missed field goal. Cal has always had solid kickers, but this guy is now 50%. Oy, the trials and tribulations of being a Cal fan!
And we needed to recognize that the defense had been out there for a long time and get first downs and scores at all costs, not turtle up and/or fiddle around with the backup QB.
The thing that gets me with Wilcox is that he's had 8 years. Is there any part of the team that is better coached in Year 8 than in Year 1? We need a coach who can win the close games, activate the fanbase beyond the diehards, and put our players in a position to thrive. If Wilcox is not going to be our next Tedford (and I feel pretty confident at this point he's not going to be), we need to figure out who will be. The future of the program depends on it.
Nice post. "It’s important to get behind the players. Fernando Mendoza, Jaivian Thomas, Nohl Williams, Jack Endries, Teddye Buchanan and so many more need to know that we have their back." <-- This is important and glad you wrote on this. These guys should know that old timer Cal alum like myself love these guys and we will continue to go to games and cheer them on so long as they are still fighting.
Great points and I can't tell you have much I admire/enjoy the defense. So happy for #20 on Saturday. And #0, #2 (he's a household fav), #3, #4, #5, and #10 are amongst my favorite defenders since #89 and #59 in the ILBs spots! Go Bears. Let's get to 9 - 3; just start with a dominant one on Saturday to get to 4-3!
Special shout out to #25! Have you noticed (I'm a sucker for torture so did a little DVR watching on a day off yesterday) his blocking against Pitt VERSUS his blocking against Auburn? Tremendous improvement...
A fine piece writing and a terrific perspective on this season of Cal football.
Watching Wilcox. Not a guy I want to go play for. Or go with into battle.
We have some very good players.
Shame on the coaching staff.
I've been at this since 1981 with Ron Rivera to Fernando. Being a Cal fan is both enriching. No doubt caring about Cal FB and raising 3 sons will impact longevity but I would not change allegiance. A couple of field goals from Coe (or Luckhurst a few years back) and we may all be singing praise for Wilcox. He needs our support whilst we are focused on the next 6 games. Well said 3-3 to start is not bad....let's win a few more and build toward some OL recruiting.
I liked the Mets’ Lindor’s interview… “at this point it’s just a question of which team executes.”
Very nice column.
For your consideration.
Barstool Power Rankings have Cal in the upper third of the ACC and rated as Very Good.
https://x.com/accbarstool/status/1845582965285278153?s=46
We actually moved up four spots in the ESPN power rankings after our loss to Pitt
After reading this article, I'm now forced to ask: "Why have there been so many injuries?"
Usual rule of thumb is a lot of on field non-soft tissue injuries like ankle sprains, broken bones, sprains, knee, so on is of the moment in the game. Not much you can do in that regard. It’s a violent and physical sport it happens. But soft tissue ones like hamstrings, muscle tears, things of that sort you can sort of point back to long term training. But in the end this is a physical activity with contact. It’s hard to gauge when any persons body won’t be able to snap back to the pressure that’s exerted on it. Staff could do everything right but they can’t foresee how a person’s body will be affected in that moment.
Maybe the S+C staff should make some changes.
I also wonder about this…This is a great question and I would like to know.
I am a diehard Cal football fan.
It does feel like our program is so close and what hurts is knowing that Wilcox will be back next season to once again hold us back from reaching our potential.
Unless we have a complete meltdown this season to at least force the Admin to consider a new hire. Maybe they’ll form a blue ribbon, fact finding committee to come up with a rec in a few years.
He’ll win just enough to avoid this and give the Admin cover to do nothing.
So save all you posts (if you already haven’t) to reuse next year+.
This is a meltdown. Not completely yet, but it sure feels like it
Man, don't you guy s realize he has a contract for three more years? You can't just fire him without paying off those years which would cost $14 million and then another $5 mil or more for a new hire. It's not like pro sports where an owner can do that because he or she has unlimited funds.
Unfortunately unless Lyons doesn't allow Knowlton to participate, I don't have faith in a blue ribbon committee.
Wilcox did make an in season coordinator change during the Musgrave period. As I recall, and someone can correct me, the offensive staff jointly coordinated the game plan and calling plays was handled by a coach whose name escapes me. Why not assign passing game and quarterback coach Stirlin Gilbert the coordinating and play calling duties? Bloesh would then be related to work full time with the offensive line.
"It’s important to be hurt rather than apathetic." Well said, Avinash. I believe there are two ways to be disengaged right now. One is because you don't much care and are a fair weather fan. The other, is that you care so very much and deeply that it painfully hurts to see your team play poorly again and again. That's me. It's truly a matter of my emotional and psychological health to allow disengagement from Cal football at times like this.
But no one should mistake my choice to not build my life around a Saturday game with being apathetic. Given even the slightest reason to believe that real optimism is warranted, and I ride my skinny butt 750 miles down to see the damn game. I'm in rarified air in terms of Cal football support. There may be a few thousand of us, a few tens of thousands of us, who feel so strongly that it hurts so much to see us make stupid choices. I can't stomach seeing Cal make dumb coaching calls and show poor team management, as it goes against my deep belief in Cal being a place of high achievement. We can get our asses kicked, fine, but not for being unprepared or dumb or making consistently bad choices. Wilcox having consistently made bad choices with offense is just inexcusable.
And yet, I agree that I will put my heart and wallet into the effort to replace Wilcox or force him to hire strong offensive staff. I'll be bleeding Blue and Gold until the day I die.
It's because we care so deeply that he must go. It's antithetical to our belief in Cals greatness and potential to continue to ascend. The schools football team is an anchor.around it's neck imo
Well said, Avi.
IMHO, we have a good team to root for. Look at Miami's record last year as they rebuilt. A good team, a rebuilding program will have setbacks. And the hurt is deep, because it's like we were just about to be paroled out of prison, then the parole board said, "No."
In the eyes of our new conference, I must wonder if we're seen as cupcakes that should just be there for the rest of the league to feast upon. People calling for Wilcox to be fired must have some plan in place that I do not see. Who would we get to replace him? Saban? Ron Rivera? I guess we could say that Wilcox might be a victim of his own success, because in our long recovery from the COVID sanctions, he is clearly getting the overall team to a point of being competitive, pass protection, run blocking, and field goal kicking not withstanding.
Go Bears and let's see how the season finishes.
8 wins absolves the hurts?
6-7 wins means no progress?
<6 means hotseat?
The only plan that seems at all realistic is Rivera working at a discount, to help bridge the program out of the Wilcox era and to the next hire. Even that feels like a long shot, though.
Well said!
In fairness against Miami, Cal ran about half the number of plays of Miami. Which meant the defense was on the field a long time. By the end of the game they were exhausted. Success on the offensive side doomed the defensive side. No excuses - Cal still should have won the game. The offense shut down in the fourth quarter, when it meant so much.
Against Pitt, how do you coach a missed field goal. Cal has always had solid kickers, but this guy is now 50%. Oy, the trials and tribulations of being a Cal fan!
And we needed to recognize that the defense had been out there for a long time and get first downs and scores at all costs, not turtle up and/or fiddle around with the backup QB.