I don't see Rivera playing the role of authoritarian. I would expect a civil working relationship between him and Wilcox that complements their relative strengths and weaknesses. I think Wilcox values the teaching aspect of coaching and would welcome a "GM" that allows him to have his hands in that. No inside knowledge (so I could be FOS) but that's just my sense of things.
Yes, I think Rivera is here largely to add to Wilcox’s brain trust. It’s interesting that for the first part of Rivera’s career he had reputation for being an ultraconservative game manager before he became “riverboat ron”. And rivera knows a thing or two about being on a hot seat.
Man, you've really got it on for Wilcox. Do you ever comment any thing positive re Cal football? It's getting a little old now. We all know how you feel so please ease off.
I'll vouch for Jimmy Chitwood, Geoff. He's a Cal sports lover just like you and I (which is why we are all here). Can't blame Cal fans for being cynical. It's a tough row. I tend to be sunshine pumper myself (always hopeful) but a little reality don't hurt.
I vouch for JC (along with his buddy Newellbany) as well. Many of us have been through more losing years than winning years (Snyder and Tedford) so we're naturally cynical and don't expect Cal to do the right thing. But, we still go to away games and support the team!
First off Geoff, if you follow the thread, you see I acknowledge the post was mostly a joke….thought the ;-) gave that away but whatever.
Second, if you’ve followed my football posts since Dec, you’ll see I am in fact rather bullish on the Harsin/Rolo/and especially Famika Anae additions…so yes, I absolutely say positive things about Cal football.
Lastly, I will say even more positive things about Justin Wilcox if he finally shows in year 9 that he is a competent and legitimate D1, power conference-caliber Head Football coach, something he has unfortunately failed to show over the previous 8 seasons. Sorry you’re triggered tho…didn’t think that was a bad comment, considering it’s 💯 accurate…ya got 3 proven head coaches on staff…and then Wilcox.
If he runs the table this year, unlike the last one he will have earned an extension. More realistic is maybe he can finally finish with a conference record above .500…I would take that in a heartbeat my friend! ;-)
I honestly don’t think we will either. A lot of that was tongue in cheek.
I am a big fan of the coaching additions and think Cal is set up to have their best season under Wilcox and make a serious run at the ever-elusive Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl…
Be. Still. My. Heart…New Year’s Eve day in El Paso, baby!
Re RR being an authoritarian. My first week as a freshman in Spens-Black Dorm i took the lobby elevator via the 1st Floor and 245 lb Sophomore Ron Rivera (next to 290 lb Reggie Camp) headed to his 8th flr rrom, said to me "anyone mess with you about taking elevator to 1st floor, come see me".....I walked the staircase next 9 months. I can see his civil working relationship...
In addition to his football acumen, RR is a class act -- both important qualities to have in this still-developing era of college football. We're lucky to have him on board.
Reading the tea leaves, the rumors of Knowlton eventually being terminated for cause will likely come to fruition but the bureaucratic disaster that IS Cal will continue to prevent it from happening anytime soon. This is probably as much to appease donors, and Wilcox is almost certainly coaching for his job this year...you don't add 3 different HC minds to the staff, ALL of whom are more successful and accomplished than your current one, unless you're desperate for success, as this program is.
The insider folks at BearInsider seem to think that Rivera will be reporting directly to Lyons, effectively taking the football program out from under Knowlton. We will see if they are right, but I hope so.
I had commented previously that the GM if we in fact were going to hire one would need to report to the Chancellor. Right now we need to recognize that football revenue flows ARE essentially the Athletic department
Thanks as always Avi. Now for one of my endless NIL adjacent questions...once the NCAA payout is done and there is an on going 20M cap, does that 20M come from sources such as as California Legends, or the University or some combination? In other words, what will be the source and will it be in addition to what is already being raised currently.
This is a good summary of how it all will work. Bottom line is that separate NIL collectives will still exist but must offer legit marketing deals to players and not just pay for play. The 20mil internal budget can essentially be pay for play but is capped to prevent obvious abuse. Enforcement will be very interesting…
Thanks. I read the article and it was indeed helpful. One on-going, and I think at this point unanswered question, is what will be the source of the nominal $20M per year. These must be additional dollars on top of current budgets. So, in reading this there does not seem to be a preclusion of having a collective morph into a fundraising entity. They could raise funds to go directly into athletics, that could then help fund the "internal budget" allocation to pay the athletes. This would be on top of any direct NIL they could offer under the rules. Will be fascinating to see how it all shakes out, but as noted, it's great to have someone like Rivera overseeing all this.
Yes agreed. As long as 22% of your media and ticket revenue is equal to or greater than $20.5 mil then all the money becomes fungible and ADs just need to make up the difference in donations or cost cutting or more advertising and ticket sales or whatever. At the end of the day, every P4 program now has $20mil in additional overhead day 1
It's a role we needed to create and he's the best candidate to fill it as far as I can tell. I'm sure Ron is making below his earning potential and, I'm sure, still contributing financially to the cause.
I always forget he won a ring with the '85 Bears. Was also one hell of a defensive coach for Andy Reid's Eagles and the Chicago Bears with Urlacher.
I truly hope a course in Financial Intelligence is offered to, and such skills instilled in, as many of those athletes who care to listen. Meanwhile, I try to do as my CU Buff friend Chris Browne does and just watch the games.
Notre Dame is hiring Detroit Lion's director of scouting as their new GM. The Lions have built a great roster by identifying talents in the drafts. It's a must now in the college too.
Great hire for Cal. Would like to see a similar reporting relationship as a Stanford, with Wilcox and team reporting into Rivera. As for salaries of GMs they are escalating fast...
Courtney Morgan just signed a three-year deal to become the General Manager of Alabama football that averages over $800,000 per year officially making him the highest paid personnel or recruiting staff member ever in college football.Aug 28, 2024
I don't see Rivera playing the role of authoritarian. I would expect a civil working relationship between him and Wilcox that complements their relative strengths and weaknesses. I think Wilcox values the teaching aspect of coaching and would welcome a "GM" that allows him to have his hands in that. No inside knowledge (so I could be FOS) but that's just my sense of things.
Yes, I think Rivera is here largely to add to Wilcox’s brain trust. It’s interesting that for the first part of Rivera’s career he had reputation for being an ultraconservative game manager before he became “riverboat ron”. And rivera knows a thing or two about being on a hot seat.
No shortage of interim candidates when Wilcox gets off to a 1-4 ACC start....;-)
Man, you've really got it on for Wilcox. Do you ever comment any thing positive re Cal football? It's getting a little old now. We all know how you feel so please ease off.
I'll vouch for Jimmy Chitwood, Geoff. He's a Cal sports lover just like you and I (which is why we are all here). Can't blame Cal fans for being cynical. It's a tough row. I tend to be sunshine pumper myself (always hopeful) but a little reality don't hurt.
I vouch for JC (along with his buddy Newellbany) as well. Many of us have been through more losing years than winning years (Snyder and Tedford) so we're naturally cynical and don't expect Cal to do the right thing. But, we still go to away games and support the team!
First off Geoff, if you follow the thread, you see I acknowledge the post was mostly a joke….thought the ;-) gave that away but whatever.
Second, if you’ve followed my football posts since Dec, you’ll see I am in fact rather bullish on the Harsin/Rolo/and especially Famika Anae additions…so yes, I absolutely say positive things about Cal football.
Lastly, I will say even more positive things about Justin Wilcox if he finally shows in year 9 that he is a competent and legitimate D1, power conference-caliber Head Football coach, something he has unfortunately failed to show over the previous 8 seasons. Sorry you’re triggered tho…didn’t think that was a bad comment, considering it’s 💯 accurate…ya got 3 proven head coaches on staff…and then Wilcox.
What happens when Wilcox runs the table this year? Will you give him an extension?
If he runs the table this year, unlike the last one he will have earned an extension. More realistic is maybe he can finally finish with a conference record above .500…I would take that in a heartbeat my friend! ;-)
I hope we won't need it, but that's a good point. Should it be Harsin or Rivera?
I honestly don’t think we will either. A lot of that was tongue in cheek.
I am a big fan of the coaching additions and think Cal is set up to have their best season under Wilcox and make a serious run at the ever-elusive Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl…
Be. Still. My. Heart…New Year’s Eve day in El Paso, baby!
Chuckle
Re RR being an authoritarian. My first week as a freshman in Spens-Black Dorm i took the lobby elevator via the 1st Floor and 245 lb Sophomore Ron Rivera (next to 290 lb Reggie Camp) headed to his 8th flr rrom, said to me "anyone mess with you about taking elevator to 1st floor, come see me".....I walked the staircase next 9 months. I can see his civil working relationship...
I dunno. There is a certain clarity in a defined hierarchy. An undefined partnership usually leads to an acrimonious divorce.
In addition to his football acumen, RR is a class act -- both important qualities to have in this still-developing era of college football. We're lucky to have him on board.
I believe only positive things will come out of this hire.
Please don’t convince me otherwise.
I’m sure someone else here will make some good counterpoints but let me have a few months of good feelings about Cal football.
Reading the tea leaves, the rumors of Knowlton eventually being terminated for cause will likely come to fruition but the bureaucratic disaster that IS Cal will continue to prevent it from happening anytime soon. This is probably as much to appease donors, and Wilcox is almost certainly coaching for his job this year...you don't add 3 different HC minds to the staff, ALL of whom are more successful and accomplished than your current one, unless you're desperate for success, as this program is.
Good move...Rivera is a Cal icon.
The insider folks at BearInsider seem to think that Rivera will be reporting directly to Lyons, effectively taking the football program out from under Knowlton. We will see if they are right, but I hope so.
I had commented previously that the GM if we in fact were going to hire one would need to report to the Chancellor. Right now we need to recognize that football revenue flows ARE essentially the Athletic department
If that's the case, then the Chancellor will be answerable for the football program.
Thanks as always Avi. Now for one of my endless NIL adjacent questions...once the NCAA payout is done and there is an on going 20M cap, does that 20M come from sources such as as California Legends, or the University or some combination? In other words, what will be the source and will it be in addition to what is already being raised currently.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5672150/2024/08/01/nil-collectives-ncaa-lawsuit-settlement/
This is a good summary of how it all will work. Bottom line is that separate NIL collectives will still exist but must offer legit marketing deals to players and not just pay for play. The 20mil internal budget can essentially be pay for play but is capped to prevent obvious abuse. Enforcement will be very interesting…
Thanks. I read the article and it was indeed helpful. One on-going, and I think at this point unanswered question, is what will be the source of the nominal $20M per year. These must be additional dollars on top of current budgets. So, in reading this there does not seem to be a preclusion of having a collective morph into a fundraising entity. They could raise funds to go directly into athletics, that could then help fund the "internal budget" allocation to pay the athletes. This would be on top of any direct NIL they could offer under the rules. Will be fascinating to see how it all shakes out, but as noted, it's great to have someone like Rivera overseeing all this.
Yes agreed. As long as 22% of your media and ticket revenue is equal to or greater than $20.5 mil then all the money becomes fungible and ADs just need to make up the difference in donations or cost cutting or more advertising and ticket sales or whatever. At the end of the day, every P4 program now has $20mil in additional overhead day 1
It's a role we needed to create and he's the best candidate to fill it as far as I can tell. I'm sure Ron is making below his earning potential and, I'm sure, still contributing financially to the cause.
I always forget he won a ring with the '85 Bears. Was also one hell of a defensive coach for Andy Reid's Eagles and the Chicago Bears with Urlacher.
I truly hope a course in Financial Intelligence is offered to, and such skills instilled in, as many of those athletes who care to listen. Meanwhile, I try to do as my CU Buff friend Chris Browne does and just watch the games.
Notre Dame is hiring Detroit Lion's director of scouting as their new GM. The Lions have built a great roster by identifying talents in the drafts. It's a must now in the college too.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/detroit-lions/lions-unfortunate-news-offseason/
Great hire for Cal. Would like to see a similar reporting relationship as a Stanford, with Wilcox and team reporting into Rivera. As for salaries of GMs they are escalating fast...
Courtney Morgan just signed a three-year deal to become the General Manager of Alabama football that averages over $800,000 per year officially making him the highest paid personnel or recruiting staff member ever in college football.Aug 28, 2024
Wish him luck.