I was very much on the fence about Wilcox just a couple of days ago, and today I feel the same as if we just landed some hotshot new hire. I do think the optics of him turning down OU and now some recommitment to him in the form of additional resources for his staff and more years on his deal has us poised to climb another rung in the next few years. Stoked.
"Figure-it-out factor" - love this. The ability to take concepts, ideas, and new information and apply it in the real world under pressure. Any Cal graduate who successfully navigated the bureaucracy at Sproul Hall definitely has this.
I read a good comment on TOS that, if Wilcox had left, the demands he's putting in this contract would still have been required by whatever new coach came in - more administrative support, lowered GPA requirements, and a larger assistant pool.
In effect, we're hiring a new coach - Wilcox 2.0. Unless he drastically falls on his face (a la Jimmy Lake), first-year coaches don't get fired. This is a commitment to Wilcox in the same manner that he committed to us.
Most importantly, we picked a direction instead of dithering pathetically. He now comes with the Oregon seal of approval. So now we have to give him the tools he needs to succeed.
Assistant coaches generally leave for a better title, not a pay raise. The "top" programs lose them left and right (see Alabama, Georgia, etc.).
And what is left to fix in terms of facilities? I thought Teddy and Aaron took care of that. Do we need fancier backlighting, waterfalls, and new PS5s in the game room?
Hopefully, the needed resources revolve around our recruiting operation. Maybe a Learjet wrapped in a grizzly bear suit? A call center so that we can win the hearts of momma, daddy, and nana?
The biggest Catch-22 right now is getting butts in the seats of Memorial Stadium. Gotta win to get butts, but need butts to help win and secure recruits. They should be giving tickets to every kid in the Bay Area to stoke attendance. They should also sell student tickets at a super discounted rate and maybe have free bear beer before and after. Whatever it takes.
As we all know, I'm a staunch Wilcox supporter. I don't feel he has earned a pay raise other than an annual "cost of living" increase. Add a few years to the contract, sure I'm all for that. Make some internal changes to benefit the program, great!! Provide a better pay rate for staff and coaches, great!! I am very curious to see what Knowlton brings to the table and what he, Knowlton, can accomplish. At present, I have no faith in Knowlton making any measurable/material changes that benefit the program. I would rather set myself up for disappointment and then be utterly surprised. Till then I won't be holding my breath.
The easy parts are more $$$ for staffing & whatever building a modern football infrastructure (continually improving facilities maybe?) is, but what magic wand can they wave to get "increasing administrative support"?
I think for assistants the housing costs are a detractor, so I think we do something like Harbaugh made Stanford do and buy some random houses in the area, fix them up, and make them available to assistants at low/no cost.
Still don't know if Wilcox is a great coach, but as far as I can tell his reasons for staying look like the right ones: trying to improve institutional support, more money for assistants, etc. That all makes sense and is what the program really needs for the long term, beyond just a sudden influx of talent.
I was very much on the fence about Wilcox just a couple of days ago, and today I feel the same as if we just landed some hotshot new hire. I do think the optics of him turning down OU and now some recommitment to him in the form of additional resources for his staff and more years on his deal has us poised to climb another rung in the next few years. Stoked.
"Figure-it-out factor" - love this. The ability to take concepts, ideas, and new information and apply it in the real world under pressure. Any Cal graduate who successfully navigated the bureaucracy at Sproul Hall definitely has this.
I read a good comment on TOS that, if Wilcox had left, the demands he's putting in this contract would still have been required by whatever new coach came in - more administrative support, lowered GPA requirements, and a larger assistant pool.
In effect, we're hiring a new coach - Wilcox 2.0. Unless he drastically falls on his face (a la Jimmy Lake), first-year coaches don't get fired. This is a commitment to Wilcox in the same manner that he committed to us.
Most importantly, we picked a direction instead of dithering pathetically. He now comes with the Oregon seal of approval. So now we have to give him the tools he needs to succeed.
Shiny new Wilcox > Old Wilcox
Give Wilcox more resources to succeed, and he will do well.
Assistant coaches generally leave for a better title, not a pay raise. The "top" programs lose them left and right (see Alabama, Georgia, etc.).
And what is left to fix in terms of facilities? I thought Teddy and Aaron took care of that. Do we need fancier backlighting, waterfalls, and new PS5s in the game room?
Hopefully, the needed resources revolve around our recruiting operation. Maybe a Learjet wrapped in a grizzly bear suit? A call center so that we can win the hearts of momma, daddy, and nana?
The biggest Catch-22 right now is getting butts in the seats of Memorial Stadium. Gotta win to get butts, but need butts to help win and secure recruits. They should be giving tickets to every kid in the Bay Area to stoke attendance. They should also sell student tickets at a super discounted rate and maybe have free bear beer before and after. Whatever it takes.
As we all know, I'm a staunch Wilcox supporter. I don't feel he has earned a pay raise other than an annual "cost of living" increase. Add a few years to the contract, sure I'm all for that. Make some internal changes to benefit the program, great!! Provide a better pay rate for staff and coaches, great!! I am very curious to see what Knowlton brings to the table and what he, Knowlton, can accomplish. At present, I have no faith in Knowlton making any measurable/material changes that benefit the program. I would rather set myself up for disappointment and then be utterly surprised. Till then I won't be holding my breath.
Bob R. in an other post you asked for Knowlton's email addy, here it is: jim.knowlton@berkeley.edu
Go Cal Bears and Go Coach Wilcox! Also, while we are doing all the Go stuff, Go get us some OL guys so we can make the offense Go consistently.
The easy parts are more $$$ for staffing & whatever building a modern football infrastructure (continually improving facilities maybe?) is, but what magic wand can they wave to get "increasing administrative support"?
He must be licking his chops now
Well played Mr Wilcox, well played. Now let’s see some of that master class strategery on the field.
I think for assistants the housing costs are a detractor, so I think we do something like Harbaugh made Stanford do and buy some random houses in the area, fix them up, and make them available to assistants at low/no cost.
Big fan of Justin Wilcox. Steady, talented and ambitious. Can’t wait until next year!
Still don't know if Wilcox is a great coach, but as far as I can tell his reasons for staying look like the right ones: trying to improve institutional support, more money for assistants, etc. That all makes sense and is what the program really needs for the long term, beyond just a sudden influx of talent.
So call me cautiously optimistic.
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