On3 had us at 95% this morning, I just didn't believe it lol. He probably really wanted us, but there is no logical reason why he should have chosen us over Oregon if he wants the NFL in his future. Hell, he even got an offer from Georgia if not Oregon.
Maybe he'll transfer here in a couple years just like Byron Cardwell did. Major bummer though. Mendoza + Sagapolutele provided a QB foundation that you could be optimistic about. The sad part is how obvious the rationale is for a recruit to make this decision.
If we couldn’t get him, there’s now no need to keep any staff on the offensive side of the ball to keep his commitment. There should be zero hesitancy to clean house.
So true. I think the only reason now to want big time high school recruits now is that they will attract other big high school recruits, and maybe *one or some* of them will end up staying long enough to make a difference.
Look, it’s a bummer. But this does mean we should be able to redirect those resources to talent that will help us immediately. And we need to put all of our chips into next year.
To be fair, late-game football implosions and wild-eye soapbox-on-Sproul-Plaza political ranting are all very Cal as well, endearingly so, so he represents well.
At this point, Wilcox has made Cal toxic. Fans and alumni have checked out, he can’t recruit HS kids, he can’t raise NIL money, he can’t hire competent OCs, his offensive lines are mediocre to terrible, he can’t produce a winning conference record.
Just take the financial hit and get rid of him at this point.
Our issues first start with the AD and the university. They have accepted and even encouraged mediocrity. The Wilcox tenure is merely a reflection of that overall disinterest in investment.
It feels like we are in a death spiral at this point. It will only be made worse once players start to transfer out. A 2 or 3 win season is looking likely next season with Wilcox.
And these kids now all talk and they are clued into the culture and into the reputation of the coach. Some of these coaches are falling short on reputation and creating a culture that kids want to be part of.
Cal fans: Let's be honest; this is hardly surprising. Given the beatdown by SMU, our well-publicized o-line problems, close losses and the recent firing/demotion of our offensive coordinator, would you come to Cal if you had NFL potential? I suppose that the only silver lining in this piece of bad news is that he may eventually come to Cal via the transfer portal if things don't work out in Eugene.
Is no one going to address Justin Wilcox’s inability to bring in high level talent..? Wilcox has never brought in a single 5 star signee throughout his tenure as HC.
Wilcox’s highest recruit was 4 star WR J Michael Sturdivant, and he transferred to UCLA after 5 months on campus.
Real fans for programs across the nation say much worse.
Maybe I’m the only one tired of mediocre results. Leave the liberal Berkeley agenda at home and look at the facts. Never having a winning conference record for his entire tenure as HC.
What do you mean he "actually played?" He was our best offensive player just two years ago. Did you even watch any games? How can you forget him? He had a lot of amazing plays.
I think he played a little as true freshman before redshirting. I remember seeing him play. Not sure how much. That part I forgot too so we are on the same page there.
Not defending Wilcox, but J Mike is maybe the wrong example. His best year was at Cal. He’s regressed at UCLA, and by a lot. His leaving had less to do with Wilcox than $.
There is not a single football reason to retain Justin Wilcox for another season. Not a one, yet some Cal fans out there continue to excuse away his multitude of failures and believe he may suddenly figure things out in his 9th f-ing season with his 5th different OC hire…which would be adorable if it were not embarrassing.
But in the kid's mind, the job is already his; it doesn't matter who the other QBs are...
I figured a long time ago, that these kids actually do think that they're good enough to beat out all of the other 4-5 star QBs on a roster and start. When the high level recruit ego gets fed as they're being recruited, they start to believe anything. And now, in this new era, getting that sweet NIL payday is just the cherry on top. Sagapolutele is likely not any different in terms of where his head is at in terms of believing in his own ability. Ok, great, good for him.
So, he got his day in the spotlight today. Given who he may have to compete against, it may well be his last one. But I hope it works out for him. I'm sure he could have a chat about it with Justyn Martin.
I'm sure it didn't help his recruitment when he saw Fernando pressured or sacked on every dropback against Furd. BTW, I have not seen any posts on X today for O line commits (I could be wrong on that). More turmoil for the Cal fball program (4 OC's in 4 years), but this is nothing new. I fear the same ~.500 results in 2025, but no bowl, and another losing conference record. No change in results until we change AD and HC. Go bears forever.
Sounds like he surprised both us AND oregon with this choice.
On3 had us at 95% this morning, I just didn't believe it lol. He probably really wanted us, but there is no logical reason why he should have chosen us over Oregon if he wants the NFL in his future. Hell, he even got an offer from Georgia if not Oregon.
Maybe he'll transfer here in a couple years just like Byron Cardwell did. Major bummer though. Mendoza + Sagapolutele provided a QB foundation that you could be optimistic about. The sad part is how obvious the rationale is for a recruit to make this decision.
Yes but only if we host more than the other college
If we couldn’t get him, there’s now no need to keep any staff on the offensive side of the ball to keep his commitment. There should be zero hesitancy to clean house.
Go one step further and clean out the entire staff.
This is great news. He gets two years on the bench at UO to develop and get paid, and then he can transfer to Cal and lead us to a few 10-win seasons
One 10 win season at Cal before he transfers to Miami.
That’s the spirit!
Very apt user name
So true. I think the only reason now to want big time high school recruits now is that they will attract other big high school recruits, and maybe *one or some* of them will end up staying long enough to make a difference.
Yeah, like when so many of the US Army All American players all chose Cal together... before NSD 2012.
If you’re not playing said high recruits early they’re gonna bolt.
Wilcox does not historically play true FR big snaps unless of injury.
Look, it’s a bummer. But this does mean we should be able to redirect those resources to talent that will help us immediately. And we need to put all of our chips into next year.
100%.
Can’t blame him. Which qb wants to commit to a program with a consistently terrible OL that doesn’t even have an OC
I’m actually happy to see Rodgers so involved with Cal recruiting and wearing that “C” cap in public interviews.
Although I might prefer he took it off when he went batshit in peripheral non-football topics or explaining away another Jets implosion.
That block C hat looks so good. I can't find it at stores. It might become available when Wilcox gets fired and he throws them away at thrift shops.
To be fair, late-game football implosions and wild-eye soapbox-on-Sproul-Plaza political ranting are all very Cal as well, endearingly so, so he represents well.
At this point, Wilcox has made Cal toxic. Fans and alumni have checked out, he can’t recruit HS kids, he can’t raise NIL money, he can’t hire competent OCs, his offensive lines are mediocre to terrible, he can’t produce a winning conference record.
Just take the financial hit and get rid of him at this point.
Our issues first start with the AD and the university. They have accepted and even encouraged mediocrity. The Wilcox tenure is merely a reflection of that overall disinterest in investment.
The program is a punchline.
It feels like we are in a death spiral at this point. It will only be made worse once players start to transfer out. A 2 or 3 win season is looking likely next season with Wilcox.
And these kids now all talk and they are clued into the culture and into the reputation of the coach. Some of these coaches are falling short on reputation and creating a culture that kids want to be part of.
Helen Keller saw this coming from a mile away...
Even with her shades on...
Cal fans: Let's be honest; this is hardly surprising. Given the beatdown by SMU, our well-publicized o-line problems, close losses and the recent firing/demotion of our offensive coordinator, would you come to Cal if you had NFL potential? I suppose that the only silver lining in this piece of bad news is that he may eventually come to Cal via the transfer portal if things don't work out in Eugene.
Is no one going to address Justin Wilcox’s inability to bring in high level talent..? Wilcox has never brought in a single 5 star signee throughout his tenure as HC.
Wilcox’s highest recruit was 4 star WR J Michael Sturdivant, and he transferred to UCLA after 5 months on campus.
Fire this clown.
He played two years for us and had a lot of production.
Pretty sure he played longer than that.
Looked it up. He redshirted in 2021, actually played in 2022, then left.
Premise still holds. Wilcox is unable to bring in or retain coveted talent.
Dude, no matter what his limitations Wilcox is no clown. Yea, we need a new coach but let’s avoid the childish name calling.
Real fans for programs across the nation say much worse.
Maybe I’m the only one tired of mediocre results. Leave the liberal Berkeley agenda at home and look at the facts. Never having a winning conference record for his entire tenure as HC.
Wilcox is a fucking idiot and a clown.
What do you mean he "actually played?" He was our best offensive player just two years ago. Did you even watch any games? How can you forget him? He had a lot of amazing plays.
He redshirted his 1st year at Cal in 2021, I forgot that part. Then “actually played” in 2022. Nothing controversial bout that buddy.
Sadly I watch a lot of cal football. The premise is Wilcox can’t retain or recruit high level talent.
I think he played a little as true freshman before redshirting. I remember seeing him play. Not sure how much. That part I forgot too so we are on the same page there.
Not defending Wilcox, but J Mike is maybe the wrong example. His best year was at Cal. He’s regressed at UCLA, and by a lot. His leaving had less to do with Wilcox than $.
And it’s a salient premise.
There is not a single football reason to retain Justin Wilcox for another season. Not a one, yet some Cal fans out there continue to excuse away his multitude of failures and believe he may suddenly figure things out in his 9th f-ing season with his 5th different OC hire…which would be adorable if it were not embarrassing.
Afraid to compete
He’ll be in the portal next year when Oregon recruits a proven P4 arm.
The opposite is true. I understood they had a couple of other qbs in this class, including Akili Jr. and another 4-star.
But in the kid's mind, the job is already his; it doesn't matter who the other QBs are...
I figured a long time ago, that these kids actually do think that they're good enough to beat out all of the other 4-5 star QBs on a roster and start. When the high level recruit ego gets fed as they're being recruited, they start to believe anything. And now, in this new era, getting that sweet NIL payday is just the cherry on top. Sagapolutele is likely not any different in terms of where his head is at in terms of believing in his own ability. Ok, great, good for him.
So, he got his day in the spotlight today. Given who he may have to compete against, it may well be his last one. But I hope it works out for him. I'm sure he could have a chat about it with Justyn Martin.
https://media2.giphy.com/media/mEahVAkKjt0VL2o5Jk/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952mowxk6tvped6kjogeufyv03rlfivu5v8zf8b938i&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g
one of those two should come to Cal.
A) F@ck Tosh.
B) I get it….
C) So glad we don’t have to play the Dux and watch him torch us….
Moving on….
Whether he ever takes a meaningful snap for the Ducks is probably a fair question.
Next year, he was gonna sit here or there…might as well have a million bucks in your bank account to do so…
I'm sure it didn't help his recruitment when he saw Fernando pressured or sacked on every dropback against Furd. BTW, I have not seen any posts on X today for O line commits (I could be wrong on that). More turmoil for the Cal fball program (4 OC's in 4 years), but this is nothing new. I fear the same ~.500 results in 2025, but no bowl, and another losing conference record. No change in results until we change AD and HC. Go bears forever.
Cal had two OL commits and both have signed.
Thx Avi, I was glad to see the OL commits, but my fears of more coaching changes leading to another tumultuous season in 2025 remain.
Kids these days.
those funny little buggers
Calming myself by harkening back to my previous infatuation with Justyn Martin. Greatness is never guaranteed.
No, but that's why you stockpile talent instead of hoping the one 4* or 5* QB you recruit in a decade pans out.
Quelle surprise.
...or should I say "Cal surprise"? Entirely predictable. At least it's not in conference anymore.