How has there been no comment yet on this situation. Something is going on. Someone needs to be accountable for this and at least provide some background.
I keep hoping for someone to pull out of the portal, presumably with a big bag after exerting leverage on Cal, but if it's really a total exodus after the RB coaching change then something went horribly wrong and an explanation should come out one way or another. This is way worse than what happened after Toler moved on last year. Jaivian has a ton of leverage right now, so maybe he'll be the one that comes back after playing hard ball. But maybe Riverboat Ron is taking a page from the NFL and devaluing the RB position. Most of the other guys I believe have graduated with a Cal degree, but I don't think Jaivian has. It would make sense that Ott had one of the highest NIL deals on the team so that should open up cash for others. I hope they can keep Endries, but not holding my breath, there's PR to be had if he ends up as one of the best TE in college this year, and maybe becomes a high draft pick (no idea how he projects).
And I thought that Toshgate was the absolute rock bottom, worst bad news scenario in the history of Cal Football. I now stand corrected. What the hell kind of staff is Wilcox hiring? Isn't Rivera supposed to be our new NIL dealmaker? Something really bad is going on to see that many players at one position transfer out. The next few years are supposed to be an "audition" for Cal and other programs (like the 'Furd) and prove to the Big-10 that we are committed to football success so we get invited in. Right now, all I can think is, "Hello Big Sky Conference!"
Might as well call it grifting at this point; at least with Knowlton it very likely may be the case. $1.8(???)mm per year to shamelessly phone it in from his living room in Colorado Springs while the football program and athletic department gradually and painfully self-destruct on his watch. Absolutely disgusting and galling.
Even if it's been debunked, perception is reality as the saying goes. And Knowlton has done very little if anything to prove his worth, much less his overinflated salary.
I'm maybe still too numb at all the news to register my thoughts, but here goes. If I consolidate all my thoughts on the current state of college football and Cal football into one big muffin, I am left with little choice to stand back and watch from a distance what happens. It is entirely possible that Ron Rivera is perfectly aware of what is happening and that since we are all tired of the dumpster fire of mediocrity we've had under Wilcox, that Ron is demanding we go a different direction with the culture of the team and expectations on the players. We all know Ron is a serious hard ass, a competitor in the old school ways, bleeding winning. It's entirely possible that he supports Harsin and this new staff building an entirely different kind of mentality on the team.
Let's just say this is true for a moment. I've been a change leader in various organizations. You sometimes clean house. Losing talented guys is a big concern, but until the damn season starts, I'm going to withhold judgement. It's not like Ott or any of these guys were winning us 11 games and making the playoffs.
If this is an absolute fiasco and the house is burning down, we will know that soon enough by other more certain metrics. Wins and losses. But, if the moment we are in with Lyons and Rivera and Wilcox and an entirely new offensive staff is meant as a serious reset, then that reset could absolutely involve current players who don't like that new system. I can't be a Cal fan who demands a better product on the field, supports getting new coaches with proven track records, and then moan about player changes I don't like.
I'm going to see what the product on the field is like this Fall. Do we play smart, tough, football? Do we win when we should win? Do we win some 50/50 games? Do we steal a big one? If there is no change and we are stuck at 6-7 wins, then I will know the change was ineffectual. If, however, we win 9-10 games and look good doing it, then I don't give one shit who is wearing the Cal uniform. I learned long ago to not get too invested in who plays for us, but to care about the team as a whole and the performance on the field. Breathing deeply right now, time will tell.
I get the existential despair, but this is an incorrect assessment of Ron. He has been very involved in NIL management since getting here and did do his best to make our offer to Ott behyond competitive. I think if he was really given full control he'd have even more of a say.
We are both having to speculate about what is happening behind the scenes, as far as I know. I don't see any real contradiction between what you are saying and what I'm saying. Ron through Wilcox may be trying to steer the Cal ship in a different enough direction that no amount of money is going to keep certain players here. Sometimes a lot of things get broken to make needed changes. I'm left with no choice, given my lack of true inside knowledge, to stand aside and watch for the results on the field. Odds are they will be the same, and that's a shame. But I'm impressed with all the offensive coaching changes and bringing in Ron, so I have more hope than some.
Wilcox has driven Cal football off a cliff. This is the culmination of terrible hires on offense over the last 8 seasons. Harsin was toxic at Auburn and was a mistake to hire as OC.
Wilcox is leading Cal right to PacState12, should have fired him after last season. Now we will probably win 2 games.
Pretty much agree with everything you said. A serious program would've moved on from Wilcox 2 years ago, rather than letting him hire his 4th and 5th OCs with full buyouts for them and new assistants. And in particular re: Harsin, the guy is reportedly radioactive as a personality - regardless of his questionable (to put it charitably) politics. Not just during his highly publicized toxic tenure at Auburn, but also at his past stops at Arkansas St and especially Boise.
There are multiple posters on r/cfb in both the Thomas & Ott portal threads alluding to Harsin being [the] primary factor in the exodus. Reading between the lines, it doesn't just seem to be an RB coach [Griffin - Harsin's guy, whom AT was pushed out for] issue. Like Ott, Endries is also on track to graduate after this spring (AFAIK) and I don't blame him at all for wanting to leave Wilcox's stagnant sinking ship of a program. Add Mendoza's and Hunter's departures earlier this winter, and we've basically lost our entire offensive production from last year.
From what I've heard, that was just the 'official' cover story. AT wasn't exactly 'let go' either; rather 'encouraged' to look elsewhere, which ostensibly allowed Harsin to bring in Griffin.
You're right about Harsin and Griffin. That was a big mistake especially when I read that Harsin called the great play in that Boise state bowl win. It was Chris Peterson who designed it and called it. Why did Hardin say he did.
Hard to tell how much is what they can make elsewhere in NIL and how much is the coaching staff, but I know the top 25 football programs have a lot more NIL to give to players and it’s hard to compete with that.
Exactly! People blaming NIL are looking at individual trees and not the forest. Yes, NIL and the portal plays a role in this but it seems like this is a coaching issue and players are expressing their lack of confidence in the coaching staff by leaving.
Rivera should interview each of the players that has entered the Portal and find out if it is just the money or is it a high level of dissatisfaction with the program/coaches. I can't think of another major school that has lost its entire starting backfield to the Portal. Something is really wrong here.
How has there been no comment yet on this situation. Something is going on. Someone needs to be accountable for this and at least provide some background.
I keep hoping for someone to pull out of the portal, presumably with a big bag after exerting leverage on Cal, but if it's really a total exodus after the RB coaching change then something went horribly wrong and an explanation should come out one way or another. This is way worse than what happened after Toler moved on last year. Jaivian has a ton of leverage right now, so maybe he'll be the one that comes back after playing hard ball. But maybe Riverboat Ron is taking a page from the NFL and devaluing the RB position. Most of the other guys I believe have graduated with a Cal degree, but I don't think Jaivian has. It would make sense that Ott had one of the highest NIL deals on the team so that should open up cash for others. I hope they can keep Endries, but not holding my breath, there's PR to be had if he ends up as one of the best TE in college this year, and maybe becomes a high draft pick (no idea how he projects).
Endries is already signed with Texas. 🤬
> But maybe Riverboat Ron is taking a page from the NFL and devaluing the RB position.
Honestly, would be pretty smart. How much were we spending on our 8 RBs compared to our OL?
^^^This. Lyons, Rivera, someone....we deserve an explanation when your three best guys on offense transfer out after spring!
Oski just entered portal. Canon is being repossessed.
Cal band dis-banding, Tightwad Hill being bulldozed...
Block C has been blocked, Campanile mothballed
At this point just fire Wilcox and have Ron Rivera be the interim HC.
We need Wilcox to stay and be CO-DC
And I thought that Toshgate was the absolute rock bottom, worst bad news scenario in the history of Cal Football. I now stand corrected. What the hell kind of staff is Wilcox hiring? Isn't Rivera supposed to be our new NIL dealmaker? Something really bad is going on to see that many players at one position transfer out. The next few years are supposed to be an "audition" for Cal and other programs (like the 'Furd) and prove to the Big-10 that we are committed to football success so we get invited in. Right now, all I can think is, "Hello Big Sky Conference!"
Yes this sucks. To the PORTAL and BEYOND ;-)
So were gonna let the football program implode on Wilcox to save what, 5 million dollars?
Exactly.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
Might as well call it grifting at this point; at least with Knowlton it very likely may be the case. $1.8(???)mm per year to shamelessly phone it in from his living room in Colorado Springs while the football program and athletic department gradually and painfully self-destruct on his watch. Absolutely disgusting and galling.
Knowlton deserves his criticism, but he Colorado meme has long been debunked. He is always at Cal events and a fixture on campus.
Even if it's been debunked, perception is reality as the saying goes. And Knowlton has done very little if anything to prove his worth, much less his overinflated salary.
It’s institutional malpractice at this point.
Knowlton blocked me on Twitter for saying that during the Fox era!
This is natural equilibrium at work. The highs of Calgorithm, Gameday, 98 yards with my boys is being met with a violent counterforce.
Serious (actual) question: What is happening?
I feel for Avinash having to become the “Terrible news, folks!” version of the Mayor from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Bryan Harsin has broken the RB room. Amazing...
Unlocking the potential of these kids shouldn't have involved actually sending these guys away.
Terrible hire.
I'm maybe still too numb at all the news to register my thoughts, but here goes. If I consolidate all my thoughts on the current state of college football and Cal football into one big muffin, I am left with little choice to stand back and watch from a distance what happens. It is entirely possible that Ron Rivera is perfectly aware of what is happening and that since we are all tired of the dumpster fire of mediocrity we've had under Wilcox, that Ron is demanding we go a different direction with the culture of the team and expectations on the players. We all know Ron is a serious hard ass, a competitor in the old school ways, bleeding winning. It's entirely possible that he supports Harsin and this new staff building an entirely different kind of mentality on the team.
Let's just say this is true for a moment. I've been a change leader in various organizations. You sometimes clean house. Losing talented guys is a big concern, but until the damn season starts, I'm going to withhold judgement. It's not like Ott or any of these guys were winning us 11 games and making the playoffs.
If this is an absolute fiasco and the house is burning down, we will know that soon enough by other more certain metrics. Wins and losses. But, if the moment we are in with Lyons and Rivera and Wilcox and an entirely new offensive staff is meant as a serious reset, then that reset could absolutely involve current players who don't like that new system. I can't be a Cal fan who demands a better product on the field, supports getting new coaches with proven track records, and then moan about player changes I don't like.
I'm going to see what the product on the field is like this Fall. Do we play smart, tough, football? Do we win when we should win? Do we win some 50/50 games? Do we steal a big one? If there is no change and we are stuck at 6-7 wins, then I will know the change was ineffectual. If, however, we win 9-10 games and look good doing it, then I don't give one shit who is wearing the Cal uniform. I learned long ago to not get too invested in who plays for us, but to care about the team as a whole and the performance on the field. Breathing deeply right now, time will tell.
I get the existential despair, but this is an incorrect assessment of Ron. He has been very involved in NIL management since getting here and did do his best to make our offer to Ott behyond competitive. I think if he was really given full control he'd have even more of a say.
We are both having to speculate about what is happening behind the scenes, as far as I know. I don't see any real contradiction between what you are saying and what I'm saying. Ron through Wilcox may be trying to steer the Cal ship in a different enough direction that no amount of money is going to keep certain players here. Sometimes a lot of things get broken to make needed changes. I'm left with no choice, given my lack of true inside knowledge, to stand aside and watch for the results on the field. Odds are they will be the same, and that's a shame. But I'm impressed with all the offensive coaching changes and bringing in Ron, so I have more hope than some.
Wilcox has driven Cal football off a cliff. This is the culmination of terrible hires on offense over the last 8 seasons. Harsin was toxic at Auburn and was a mistake to hire as OC.
Wilcox is leading Cal right to PacState12, should have fired him after last season. Now we will probably win 2 games.
Pretty much agree with everything you said. A serious program would've moved on from Wilcox 2 years ago, rather than letting him hire his 4th and 5th OCs with full buyouts for them and new assistants. And in particular re: Harsin, the guy is reportedly radioactive as a personality - regardless of his questionable (to put it charitably) politics. Not just during his highly publicized toxic tenure at Auburn, but also at his past stops at Arkansas St and especially Boise.
There are multiple posters on r/cfb in both the Thomas & Ott portal threads alluding to Harsin being [the] primary factor in the exodus. Reading between the lines, it doesn't just seem to be an RB coach [Griffin - Harsin's guy, whom AT was pushed out for] issue. Like Ott, Endries is also on track to graduate after this spring (AFAIK) and I don't blame him at all for wanting to leave Wilcox's stagnant sinking ship of a program. Add Mendoza's and Hunter's departures earlier this winter, and we've basically lost our entire offensive production from last year.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/1k0soea/comment/mngj7rp/
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/1jzeulk/comment/mn5ovqd/
Wait wait didn’t Aristotle drive the Northwestern move to get his son treatments?
From what I've heard, that was just the 'official' cover story. AT wasn't exactly 'let go' either; rather 'encouraged' to look elsewhere, which ostensibly allowed Harsin to bring in Griffin.
They cut his salary, word is.
AMEN!!!!!
I may come down for SDSU…wanna go?
I was already planning on going to it. Let’s go.
Not sure it’ll top my last visit to Snapdragon for Guns ‘n Roses!
You're right about Harsin and Griffin. That was a big mistake especially when I read that Harsin called the great play in that Boise state bowl win. It was Chris Peterson who designed it and called it. Why did Hardin say he did.
I'm going to repeat myself. If Wilcox is going to be a lame duck coach, we should just fire him instead of wasting a year.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
That’s penny wise, pound foolish.
You’re going to lose the entire departure otherwise.
Hard to tell how much is what they can make elsewhere in NIL and how much is the coaching staff, but I know the top 25 football programs have a lot more NIL to give to players and it’s hard to compete with that.
Guys are leaving for reasons other than NIL…Ott, Mendoza, Jet.
This is a leadership issue and is not a healthy program.
Exactly! People blaming NIL are looking at individual trees and not the forest. Yes, NIL and the portal plays a role in this but it seems like this is a coaching issue and players are expressing their lack of confidence in the coaching staff by leaving.
Fire Knowlton
Yes, this.
I was not and am not a Harsen fan and this makes me trust my gut/red flags even more. What the heck happened at the Spring Showcase?????????
Hardest day to be a Cal football fan and that is saying something. Pile on after pile on of negative news big time….
Yep, I was not a fan of the Harsin hire and this is just proving that Harsin and other offensive hiring (RB coach and Rolo) were a major miss.
Oh yes and Rolo. Definitely not a fan of him. Didn’t like his stunts up at Wazzu.
To add insult to injury, I heard a rumor Sons of California is being renamed to Sons of Bitches
Levity is the way to handle a crisis!
Rivera should interview each of the players that has entered the Portal and find out if it is just the money or is it a high level of dissatisfaction with the program/coaches. I can't think of another major school that has lost its entire starting backfield to the Portal. Something is really wrong here.