This story does not do justice to what happened at Memorial Stadium on Friday, December 5, 2025.
Tosh Lupoi is not the most polished speaker who will dazzle you with his intellect. Hell, he even talked about being proud to get a C+ in a tough Business class at Cal. In his own, by the bootstraps, work for everything you get style, what he did was provide insight into how he is thinking about Cal Football, what its potential is, and how to realize it, in a way that has never been done at Cal before.
The first and most important thing to note is that Cal had both an internal "welcome" event and a traditional press conference on YouTube. The welcome event allowed Cal to control the narrative, which included the Chancellor making abundantly clear to everyone how Cal is now aligned with Football as a priority from the top of the organization. This has never existed at Cal in most of our lifetimes, if not all of them.
Lupoi touched on so many topics that demonstrate the scale and ambition of his vision for the program, but also made sure to be humble, saying he needs people to follow him, and he won't ask anyone to do what he won't do himself.
When is the last time you heard anyone associated with Cal Football talk about players getting out in the community to build support for the program, and how there are business interests that can support the program? Or my personal favorite, saying it's not enough for former players to come to games. Tosh wants them at practices too.
This is not a guy who thinks he can use Cal to get to a preferred destination. It is one who believes he can make Cal the preferred destination, with a track record of bringing people along with him to make it happen.
I do not hesitate to say Cal got the best Head Coach of any hire this cycle, because of how perfectly Tosh fits as Cal's HC, how committed he is to the university, and the lock-step alignment he has with Ron Rivera and Rich Lyons that will open up so much untapped potential.
…”Cal is now aligned with Football as a priority from the top of the organization. This has never existed at Cal in most of our lifetimes, if not all of them.” This sentence speaks volumes, and provides hope, and an answer to the question “why can’t the top public university also have a top football program?" Go Bears!
Thanks for this beautifully written statement about the arrival of Tosh Lupoi as the new California football coach. I've been a Cal football fan for over 65 years, following our team through thick and thin. I look forward to following the team under the leadership of our new coach, and I appreciate the support that Chancellor Rich Lyons has given the team, particularly by bringing Ron Rivera aboard. We welcome Tosh back to Bear Territory and look forward to his efforts to bring glory to our beloved football team. Go Bears!
I first went to a Cal football game when I was 5 - more than 70 years ago and have bled blue and gold ever since. I've seen all the ups and downs like many of you and have never been so optimistic about the program (even during those glorious Tedford years when I never felt he had the full support of the university). The optimism comes not only from Lupoi's talent vision and work ethic, but also because the the key roles of Ron Rivera and Chancellor Lyons. Buckle up Bear fans, it's going to be a blast.
It's smart to prioritize football success as that pays the way for so many of the other non-revenue sports. If football withers the dependent programs will disappear.
This will be an interesting new chapter, great academics and a strong football and sports culture.
Just saw a picture of Tosh in the same clothes as in the press conference standing with JKS, who is thanking him for coming to visit in HI. He fucking went there last night! and now reports are that JKS is coming back. no words.......other than GO BEARS FOREVER!
Tosh said his phone is buzzing with messages from current NFL coaches (he did not specify levels) who are interested in joining his staff. I suspect he has his hands full coaching Oregon through its playoff run and will use that time and more to decide his hires for Cal. But I know nothing.
The prodigal son is a parable about a lost and wayward son who squanders his fortune before returning home to a forgiving father . .. Tosh, by all accounts, has been very successful wherever he's gone, so its not exactly a prodigal* son.
Prodigal means excessive and wreckless living - it's not just someone once spurned, coming back home. The only parallel is the repentance.
Like the prodigal son, Tosh did not leave under the happiest of circumstances and the Cal family were disappointed in him. Like the son in the story, he was gone for many years, wandering from place to place. The twist in the tale is that this son prospered while he was gone, while the family he left behind have been lost in the football wilderness. The sons in both stories returned and were welcomed with open arms and open pocket books. This Son of California has the potential to lead us out of the wilderness. I hope he does so and remains here at home for many years to come. Roll on You Bears!
Another aspect of the prodigal son story is that the older brother was resentful of the warm welcome that the younger son received upon returning. Certainly something like that is also going on for some folks.
Right. The subhed should have read, “The former player, grad assistant and DT coach who took a job at another PAC 12 school and took some recruits along with him while earning the ire of a significant portion of the fan base and then worked a slew of collegiate and NFL gigs before taking the HC job to a warm welcome at that original university returns”. Much more poetic.
One of the main takeaways from this press conference was Tosh's intensity; he must have said attack a dozen times! JW energy was fading. Also, I know it was a small, simple change, but I like the idea of having the players take notes. This shows respect and can help them learn. ROLL ON!
This story does not do justice to what happened at Memorial Stadium on Friday, December 5, 2025.
Tosh Lupoi is not the most polished speaker who will dazzle you with his intellect. Hell, he even talked about being proud to get a C+ in a tough Business class at Cal. In his own, by the bootstraps, work for everything you get style, what he did was provide insight into how he is thinking about Cal Football, what its potential is, and how to realize it, in a way that has never been done at Cal before.
The first and most important thing to note is that Cal had both an internal "welcome" event and a traditional press conference on YouTube. The welcome event allowed Cal to control the narrative, which included the Chancellor making abundantly clear to everyone how Cal is now aligned with Football as a priority from the top of the organization. This has never existed at Cal in most of our lifetimes, if not all of them.
Lupoi touched on so many topics that demonstrate the scale and ambition of his vision for the program, but also made sure to be humble, saying he needs people to follow him, and he won't ask anyone to do what he won't do himself.
When is the last time you heard anyone associated with Cal Football talk about players getting out in the community to build support for the program, and how there are business interests that can support the program? Or my personal favorite, saying it's not enough for former players to come to games. Tosh wants them at practices too.
This is not a guy who thinks he can use Cal to get to a preferred destination. It is one who believes he can make Cal the preferred destination, with a track record of bringing people along with him to make it happen.
I do not hesitate to say Cal got the best Head Coach of any hire this cycle, because of how perfectly Tosh fits as Cal's HC, how committed he is to the university, and the lock-step alignment he has with Ron Rivera and Rich Lyons that will open up so much untapped potential.
…”Cal is now aligned with Football as a priority from the top of the organization. This has never existed at Cal in most of our lifetimes, if not all of them.” This sentence speaks volumes, and provides hope, and an answer to the question “why can’t the top public university also have a top football program?" Go Bears!
This captures it well. Thanks, man.
Agreed, thanks!
Thanks for this beautifully written statement about the arrival of Tosh Lupoi as the new California football coach. I've been a Cal football fan for over 65 years, following our team through thick and thin. I look forward to following the team under the leadership of our new coach, and I appreciate the support that Chancellor Rich Lyons has given the team, particularly by bringing Ron Rivera aboard. We welcome Tosh back to Bear Territory and look forward to his efforts to bring glory to our beloved football team. Go Bears!
It’s a team effort. Welcome back Coach!!
I first went to a Cal football game when I was 5 - more than 70 years ago and have bled blue and gold ever since. I've seen all the ups and downs like many of you and have never been so optimistic about the program (even during those glorious Tedford years when I never felt he had the full support of the university). The optimism comes not only from Lupoi's talent vision and work ethic, but also because the the key roles of Ron Rivera and Chancellor Lyons. Buckle up Bear fans, it's going to be a blast.
Well said.
It's smart to prioritize football success as that pays the way for so many of the other non-revenue sports. If football withers the dependent programs will disappear.
This will be an interesting new chapter, great academics and a strong football and sports culture.
Go Bears man, we deserve this
Yeah, we really do…..
Just saw a picture of Tosh in the same clothes as in the press conference standing with JKS, who is thanking him for coming to visit in HI. He fucking went there last night! and now reports are that JKS is coming back. no words.......other than GO BEARS FOREVER!
So when are we going to know who is the OC, OL, and QB coaches? Very important......
Tosh said his phone is buzzing with messages from current NFL coaches (he did not specify levels) who are interested in joining his staff. I suspect he has his hands full coaching Oregon through its playoff run and will use that time and more to decide his hires for Cal. But I know nothing.
I'm rolling on with Coach Lupoi and the Bears!! Welcome home, Coach!! Let's fill Memorial Stadium each and every game!! Go Bears!!
The prodigal son is a parable about a lost and wayward son who squanders his fortune before returning home to a forgiving father . .. Tosh, by all accounts, has been very successful wherever he's gone, so its not exactly a prodigal* son.
Prodigal means excessive and wreckless living - it's not just someone once spurned, coming back home. The only parallel is the repentance.
Like the prodigal son, Tosh did not leave under the happiest of circumstances and the Cal family were disappointed in him. Like the son in the story, he was gone for many years, wandering from place to place. The twist in the tale is that this son prospered while he was gone, while the family he left behind have been lost in the football wilderness. The sons in both stories returned and were welcomed with open arms and open pocket books. This Son of California has the potential to lead us out of the wilderness. I hope he does so and remains here at home for many years to come. Roll on You Bears!
Another aspect of the prodigal son story is that the older brother was resentful of the warm welcome that the younger son received upon returning. Certainly something like that is also going on for some folks.
Yes; an odd choice of words by the author.
Right. The subhed should have read, “The former player, grad assistant and DT coach who took a job at another PAC 12 school and took some recruits along with him while earning the ire of a significant portion of the fan base and then worked a slew of collegiate and NFL gigs before taking the HC job to a warm welcome at that original university returns”. Much more poetic.
genius
Nice work, gentlemen.
One of the main takeaways from this press conference was Tosh's intensity; he must have said attack a dozen times! JW energy was fading. Also, I know it was a small, simple change, but I like the idea of having the players take notes. This shows respect and can help them learn. ROLL ON!
Well see...