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sycasey's avatar

This is great news. I think further scuttlebutt is that he'll report directly to the Chancellor? Getting the football program out of Knowlton's hands is a big deal.

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Rugbear's avatar

This is absolutely YUGE for our recruiting and fundraising efforts. Stanfurd got Luck and we got Rivera. I'll take our deal. This will put us at the upper tier of programs, especially with our new offensive staff. CAL is making a huge commitment to being a top program. Excited!

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Daniel Lahl's avatar

I have refrained from sunshine pumping this off season, but I'm now officially joining the sunshine pumpers with this news. RR bleeds Blue and Gold, and is a class act as well as a great football mind! This reminds me of how excited I was when Jerry West became a special advisor to the Warriors when Lacob bought GSW. RR will have a huge impact on the overall Cal football program - welcome back Riverboat Ron!!! GO. BEARS. FOREVER.

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Justbear's avatar

Every off season, Wilcox has been successful in getting the fans pumped up. Then usually around October we are let down. We all say "Enough of Wilcox. Nothing is going to change" and then he somehow gets everyone excited in the off season. This particular news may not be directly brought by Wilcox, but it's still his team. He just needs to be successful at the same level during the season.

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Daniel Lahl's avatar

Justbear, let us do a little sunshine pumping, PLEASE!!! :-)

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mrjpark's avatar

One day, he will win a conference game outside of Memorial that's not Furd.

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sycasey's avatar

Hey now, we did beat Wake Forest! Are you excited yet?

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Macarolina's avatar

Soooooo exciting! RR knows how to get things done, is a complete Cal guy, as well as someone that has the recruit magnet of NFL experience. It's been a long time since Cal has had such blockbuster investment in management. Go Bears!

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AndDriveDriveDrive's avatar

It really seems like the university might actually be serious about wanting a good football program.

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Justbear's avatar

This.

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TKE Prytanis 79's avatar

Gathering my thoughts, but without a doubt this has huge upside on so many levels. Pumping the sunshine baby! Go Bears forever!

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Take off that Red Shirt's avatar

WOOHOO. CAL LEGEND

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CalBear91's avatar

I'm thoroughly delighted about this news. Ron Rivera is a true warrior and champion of all things Cal. He's the closest thing to a Joe Kapp like alumni we've had on staff in decades. Various sites say different things about whether he will be titled as GM, and whether Wilcox will report to him or to Knowlton. All I really care about is success on the field, and I'm sure Ron would not have taken the position if he wasn't excited and pleased with the arrangement.

This isn't merely a "Go Bears" moment. This is a HELL YES, GO FREAKING BEARS! moment.

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Rose Bowl Oski's avatar

Awesome! Adds gravitas to recruiting and to Cal Football as a whole. Welcome back, Ron!

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Bluehenbear's avatar

Hopefully this is a prelude to JK being shown the door, especially at his salary, if he no longer has any responsibilities related to football.

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Bear19's avatar

This could be a real turning point in Cal becoming a dominant football program. Super news!

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TKE Prytanis 79's avatar

It could...but we need to support this effort in every way possible. There will be headwinds but this is an amazing first step.

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Walter's avatar

Great news! Class act!

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C Bass's avatar

Really like this addition. As all have already mentioned, it’s a win on many levels. Hopefully Wilcox sees it this way as well. It will be critical to see how the management structure is finalized. As a lifetime Warrior fan, I remember the Nelson/Webber debacle. Hopefully Lyons will be closely involved. The framework is there…

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Rugbear's avatar

I'm sure Wilcox is a huge fan of this upgrade.

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mrjpark's avatar

He can worry a little less about recruiting and more on coaching, which is probably nice. Especially since he's run out of any recruiting steam; I've been screaming for a new coach because we have no future with recruiting classes ranked in the 60's, but this is an interesting way of hopefully breaking that curse.

It also means he can survive individual coaches and help us plan over longer periods of time.

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Blondiesandtopdog's avatar

So I’ve thought about this more. Why would Ron want to be a part of Cal other than his desire to make it amazing and why would he come back if he thought he couldn’t make a difference? This must mean that he will have an outsized role in the overall shape of Cal football going forward. I don’t even think that he is getting paid much - if anything - for doing this. I think this is his way to stay relevant but also to give back to Cal. This is a great transition for a great servant leader.

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Blondiesandtopdog's avatar

Even though I don’t know what a GM role is supposed to be in CFB, I’m all for bringing in legends!

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GoldenBear8933's avatar

Best news we've gotten in a long while

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Justbear's avatar

Best news since JKS transferred to Cal from Oregon.

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