Wilcox should be on the hot seat because, under his watch, Cal has lost to previously winless teams (Colorado, Arizona, UCLA) that should have been beaten. You can't lose games like that and not expect to have a few eyebrows raised. I like Wilcox and think that he is a good coach but some of Cal's losses during his reign have been real head scratchers. Is he cursed? Is he a great defensive coordinator but a so-so coach? I'm not sure but for everyone's sake he had better figure some things out in a hurry.
Unfortunately, Kilbridge is most likely not very familiar with the Cal program and the rah-rah Army Colonel running it…if he were, he would know that said Colonel is probably not terminating a HC 9 months after signing him to a lucrative extension.
Still, without knowing the pertinents of Wilcox’s deal, and the buyout language specifically, it’s tough to say for sure. From everything I’ve heard and read, firing Wilcox anytime soon is a non-starter, tho.
Though it was a loss, Cal just played their best game of the season, considering the caliber of opponent, and that it was on the road. Winning would have really cooled the seat, but last night didn't add much heat.
Agree with O and Jimmy. Knowlton can't fire Wilcox as it would suggest that the contract extension was a blunder. I do think (hope?) that a homerun OC hire could fix things, but we need both scheme and recruiting. Also, let's not look at how the D is backsliding under Sirmon
He should have been on the hot seat two years ago. But with the moronic lengthy contract extension, no way he's on any hot seat; we can't afford the electricity to warm teh seat. Plus, all the announcers keep saying he's a good coach.
I was not a poster on W4C back then. (got lost and confused in the substack registration process; I only joined when my son bought me a subscription for b.d.)) But on other blogs, I was one of the few -- if only -- that was non-plussed about Oregon making a pitch to JW. Wouldn't have cared if he took the job. Up till then, he never passed the eye test, and still hasn't IMO. No question, he's a high character guy and the players love him, but recruiting/retention stinks, and without better players, that means never competing for the Rose Bowl. (And that may ok with the Chancellor, but if so, we could get a much cheaper coach to be a bottom dweller.)
The moral victory at USC may have temporarily silenced some of the critics, but we are still looking at a 5 game losing streak. Agree that changes have to me made on the offense in the offseason.
Doubtful…are there really moral victories in the 6th year of a Coach’s tenure, and in the “second” 3rd year of an embattled OC? Maybe in year 1 or 2, but the guy’s coached 60+ games.
Hearing Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek openly question Cal’s offensive play calling and decision making throughout the night takes a little of “the moral win” luster out of it.
no coach with a buyout as large as his is on the hot seat. not in the getting fired sense. is he maybe on the hot seat in the sense of losing control over his hiring/firing of say.....Musgrave and McClure? under almost any other AD, but not with Knowlton. if Wilcox cared about making a statement that this performance isnt good enough they would be long gone. but instead we get "OKG" and other stupid bland coaching remarks
Why do you doubt it? No chance he’s coming back for another year. Nothing for him to gain here. If you’re correct, then he only said he’s going to try. Doesn’t mean he’ll make it. But if I’m his parent or agent, I’m telling him to try his luck elsewhere or get on with his next career.
Plus, it almost ensures that Kai is not tempted to peak behind the Portal curtain. If Plummer comes back, Kai and Ott open Door #2 minutes after the UCLA game.
It makes sense in one respect. If he returns to stand behind the worst OL in the pac, he could get a serious injury and kill his dream of playing on Sundays. So if you are gonna declare for the draft, now might be the time.
It’s highly unlikely, Bob. OSU is gonna dominate both sides of the LOS against us in a must win for them after that tough Washington loss. UCLA absolutely steamrolls us - it probably won’t be close. Maybe we beat Stanford, but given the apathy around the program, who cares…it won’t matter to recruits, and students don’t give a schitt. It’ll matter to some alumni, but not enough to make a difference. Even worse, a large swath of alums will use a win as an excuse for an otherwise awful 6th year of Wilcox.
If covid was the real reason -- which is incredulous on its face* -- why not just extend the 2 years of covid? And toss in some sweeteners: automatic 1-year extension if the team if .500+; auto 2-year extension if the team is .500+ in the p12.
*If that was such a good business practice, how many other P5 programs gave all of their coaches "covid" extensions?
Jeff Scott got bounced after this past weekend @ 33% wonder where Wilcox is now after Saturday
Wilcox should be on the hot seat because, under his watch, Cal has lost to previously winless teams (Colorado, Arizona, UCLA) that should have been beaten. You can't lose games like that and not expect to have a few eyebrows raised. I like Wilcox and think that he is a good coach but some of Cal's losses during his reign have been real head scratchers. Is he cursed? Is he a great defensive coordinator but a so-so coach? I'm not sure but for everyone's sake he had better figure some things out in a hurry.
Why aren’t there performance based buyouts like Arkansas did?
He absolutely should be on the hot seat.
Unfortunately, Kilbridge is most likely not very familiar with the Cal program and the rah-rah Army Colonel running it…if he were, he would know that said Colonel is probably not terminating a HC 9 months after signing him to a lucrative extension.
Still, without knowing the pertinents of Wilcox’s deal, and the buyout language specifically, it’s tough to say for sure. From everything I’ve heard and read, firing Wilcox anytime soon is a non-starter, tho.
Though it was a loss, Cal just played their best game of the season, considering the caliber of opponent, and that it was on the road. Winning would have really cooled the seat, but last night didn't add much heat.
Being realistic, because Knowlton is Knowlton, and given JW’s contract, JW is not getting fired. Probably need Knowlton to be fired first.
Wilcox gets 3 more seasons. He’ll get another OC, and they’ll get 3 years to show it.
Which is insane.
Agree with O and Jimmy. Knowlton can't fire Wilcox as it would suggest that the contract extension was a blunder. I do think (hope?) that a homerun OC hire could fix things, but we need both scheme and recruiting. Also, let's not look at how the D is backsliding under Sirmon
He should have been on the hot seat two years ago. But with the moronic lengthy contract extension, no way he's on any hot seat; we can't afford the electricity to warm teh seat. Plus, all the announcers keep saying he's a good coach.
I was not a poster on W4C back then. (got lost and confused in the substack registration process; I only joined when my son bought me a subscription for b.d.)) But on other blogs, I was one of the few -- if only -- that was non-plussed about Oregon making a pitch to JW. Wouldn't have cared if he took the job. Up till then, he never passed the eye test, and still hasn't IMO. No question, he's a high character guy and the players love him, but recruiting/retention stinks, and without better players, that means never competing for the Rose Bowl. (And that may ok with the Chancellor, but if so, we could get a much cheaper coach to be a bottom dweller.)
The moral victory at USC may have temporarily silenced some of the critics, but we are still looking at a 5 game losing streak. Agree that changes have to me made on the offense in the offseason.
Claiming moral victories shows how much the program has sunk. Moral victories are losses, G1.
Doubtful…are there really moral victories in the 6th year of a Coach’s tenure, and in the “second” 3rd year of an embattled OC? Maybe in year 1 or 2, but the guy’s coached 60+ games.
Hearing Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek openly question Cal’s offensive play calling and decision making throughout the night takes a little of “the moral win” luster out of it.
To be fair, Dave Pasch questions a lot of things he doesn't understand (e.g. evolution), so I'm not sure his opinion should hold a lot of water.
But ultimately I agree, fans and recruits care a lot more about actual victories than the moral variety.
no coach with a buyout as large as his is on the hot seat. not in the getting fired sense. is he maybe on the hot seat in the sense of losing control over his hiring/firing of say.....Musgrave and McClure? under almost any other AD, but not with Knowlton. if Wilcox cared about making a statement that this performance isnt good enough they would be long gone. but instead we get "OKG" and other stupid bland coaching remarks
except maybe that Jimbo Fisher guy...
My first in-person Big Game as a 12 year old kid with my father. Good times.
Why do you doubt it? No chance he’s coming back for another year. Nothing for him to gain here. If you’re correct, then he only said he’s going to try. Doesn’t mean he’ll make it. But if I’m his parent or agent, I’m telling him to try his luck elsewhere or get on with his next career.
Plus, it almost ensures that Kai is not tempted to peak behind the Portal curtain. If Plummer comes back, Kai and Ott open Door #2 minutes after the UCLA game.
That would be great!
It makes sense in one respect. If he returns to stand behind the worst OL in the pac, he could get a serious injury and kill his dream of playing on Sundays. So if you are gonna declare for the draft, now might be the time.
it is equal to the likelihood that UCLA's entire team goes out Marshall-style
That's going to be a one sentence article.
"Cal very unlikely to sweep remaining 3 games"
It’s highly unlikely, Bob. OSU is gonna dominate both sides of the LOS against us in a must win for them after that tough Washington loss. UCLA absolutely steamrolls us - it probably won’t be close. Maybe we beat Stanford, but given the apathy around the program, who cares…it won’t matter to recruits, and students don’t give a schitt. It’ll matter to some alumni, but not enough to make a difference. Even worse, a large swath of alums will use a win as an excuse for an otherwise awful 6th year of Wilcox.
There’s your article!
;-)
yeah, sure, Knowlton "negotiated". More likely, he bent over....
If covid was the real reason -- which is incredulous on its face* -- why not just extend the 2 years of covid? And toss in some sweeteners: automatic 1-year extension if the team if .500+; auto 2-year extension if the team is .500+ in the p12.
*If that was such a good business practice, how many other P5 programs gave all of their coaches "covid" extensions?