Took WAY too long to get rid of Musgrave. It's a huge difference just to have average, competent play design and sequencing.
This kind of offensive effort probably beats Notre Dame and Colorado, then maybe one or more of Washington, WSU, or USC (in descending order of likelihood). We could have been in a bowl game.
Nick, thank you for your articles throughout this dumpster fire of a season. I have to admit I didn't read anything after we lost to Colorado for a couple weeks. I have that luxury, but you (and the other fine writers here) do not; I really appreciate your dedication to a sub-par program that I hate to love.
I'm terrified of the exodus I expect to see through the portal; I'd get a new OC on staff ASAP to keep our skill players in blue and gold uniforms.
"Can Knowlton get Cal the Big-10 invite it needs..." I continue to be fascinated with many in the Cal community's fascination with this fantasy that the Big-10 has any interest in them. Cal stands a better chance of getting both an NFL and an NBA invite in order to reestablish an east bay presence. I fear this delusional dream will distract from taking other measures that might actually make Cal more attractive as a property than New Mexico St.
Solid analysis, Nick. The turnovers were damaging and the Ott fumble was a real killer (just after my hopes got up). A long off-season and, by next August, I will be hopeful again.
The close of a very disappointing two year stretch in which Cal and Wilcox were supposed to have winning season, winning Pac12 seasons and challenge for the Pac12 north.
What I find most disappointing is this is a very experienced team with a lot of upperclassmen on the OL and just about every position group with the exception of RB and WR.
To compound things further, it isn’t like we have a great incoming recruiting class to fix some of the problems at OL, DL, OLB and QB. Thankfully the portal now exist, so Wilcox has a chance to remedy some of these issues but he hasn’t shown he can use the portal as well as other programs and coaches.
A disaster of a season comes to an end. Please don’t sugar coat it. Now it’s basketball season and last time I looked the team is 0-7. You are doing a fine job AD, keep uou the great work.
I hope we can recover but we need to admit at the top that the college football world has changed. NIL and the portal have scuttled the old model of 4-5 year lifecycle for recruits. Recruit them, redshirt them, coach them up, and let them play. So if we are going to succeed in this new environment then we need speed and a judo strategy to quickly pivot to match what our competitors are doing. Whether the braintrust has the will to do this or the ability is an open question. Business as usual will not cut it.
"Judo strategy is based on three elements—rapid movement, flexibility, and leverage—each of which translates into a competitive principle." David Yoffie, Harvard Biz Review classic article
Took WAY too long to get rid of Musgrave. It's a huge difference just to have average, competent play design and sequencing.
This kind of offensive effort probably beats Notre Dame and Colorado, then maybe one or more of Washington, WSU, or USC (in descending order of likelihood). We could have been in a bowl game.
I hope this wasn't the last time we saw J Mike, Mavin Anderson, Jaydn Ott, etc. in Cal unis.
Clueless Caroll + Empty Suit Jim = Rudderless Doom = Very Sad Fate
Nick, thank you for your articles throughout this dumpster fire of a season. I have to admit I didn't read anything after we lost to Colorado for a couple weeks. I have that luxury, but you (and the other fine writers here) do not; I really appreciate your dedication to a sub-par program that I hate to love.
I'm terrified of the exodus I expect to see through the portal; I'd get a new OC on staff ASAP to keep our skill players in blue and gold uniforms.
Thanks Nick. Good stuff.
"Can Knowlton get Cal the Big-10 invite it needs..." I continue to be fascinated with many in the Cal community's fascination with this fantasy that the Big-10 has any interest in them. Cal stands a better chance of getting both an NFL and an NBA invite in order to reestablish an east bay presence. I fear this delusional dream will distract from taking other measures that might actually make Cal more attractive as a property than New Mexico St.
Solid analysis, Nick. The turnovers were damaging and the Ott fumble was a real killer (just after my hopes got up). A long off-season and, by next August, I will be hopeful again.
The close of a very disappointing two year stretch in which Cal and Wilcox were supposed to have winning season, winning Pac12 seasons and challenge for the Pac12 north.
What I find most disappointing is this is a very experienced team with a lot of upperclassmen on the OL and just about every position group with the exception of RB and WR.
To compound things further, it isn’t like we have a great incoming recruiting class to fix some of the problems at OL, DL, OLB and QB. Thankfully the portal now exist, so Wilcox has a chance to remedy some of these issues but he hasn’t shown he can use the portal as well as other programs and coaches.
Lots of doom right now.
A disaster of a season comes to an end. Please don’t sugar coat it. Now it’s basketball season and last time I looked the team is 0-7. You are doing a fine job AD, keep uou the great work.
I hope we can recover but we need to admit at the top that the college football world has changed. NIL and the portal have scuttled the old model of 4-5 year lifecycle for recruits. Recruit them, redshirt them, coach them up, and let them play. So if we are going to succeed in this new environment then we need speed and a judo strategy to quickly pivot to match what our competitors are doing. Whether the braintrust has the will to do this or the ability is an open question. Business as usual will not cut it.
"Judo strategy is based on three elements—rapid movement, flexibility, and leverage—each of which translates into a competitive principle." David Yoffie, Harvard Biz Review classic article