Just in case there are confusion, I'm referring to the title and lyrics of the song ("I Ain't Worried" by One Republic) rather than worried about Cal having to start playing football games with two simultaneous balls like in the clip and in the film Top Gun: Maverick.
Plummer was a bust. Our new QB's will need a little time to get used to Spavs system but I expect them to be better than Plummer, who would not stand in the pocket and take a hit to deliver a pass. Our O-line should be better. Even if they are marginally better it will be good for our QB, passing game and our running game. With the new system, an O-line coach who knows what he's doing and better talent, I expect them to be more than marginally better. Out TE's will be better because of of our new ones can block. Our receiver corp is better than last year even without Sturdivant. If Brett Johnson can play and stay healthy our D-Line should be excellent. We have some solid talent at OLB and ILB and our DB group may be our best in the Wilcox era. The key to our season will be ball management by whomever ends up as our QB. Turnovers will kill us. Low turnover margin and we have a good season.
Football is all lined up for success. As you pointed out, the only unknown variable at this point is can the new QBs keep control of the ball? Finley is a proven steady pair of hands if Jackson V comes out of the North Tunnel a bit too hot. I think Cal are right where they want to be. Let’s get those reps in and then kick it off!!
Watch his film. If he was any good Spav would have kept him around. Our O-line wasn't good last year but a lot of Plummer's scrambles and sacks were manifested by his fear of standing in the pocket (Kai Milner stood in the pocket and delivered in his few game appearances). His on field decision making was poor as well. Again, the film tells everything.
If a first round draft pick played poorly you would call him a bust. If an UFA ended up becoming a starter and played poorly you don't call that a bust. You'll just move on and forget about him.
For me, I call a guy who came through the portal and got the job as our starting QB, and didn't perform well, a bust. Again, the way I look at football (and this is not everyone's way), I call anyone who doesn't perform well a bust. It doesn't matter to me of their * status, draft status or expectations, if they don't play well they are a bust.
What, me worry? Nah. Cal football just needs to win more games that it loses and play football that is not painful to watch. If the team does that, then the benches and seats will start to fill again. We have the coaches and players who can make going to games fun again this season.
Cal is set for success in football and men’s basketball. Fans just need to show up, help pay off the stadium by buying $13 beers, and pump them up with some mighty cheers.
On the football front I feel confident that this team is a lot better than last year
The receiving Corps is better and deeper, the rb room is better and deeper, the secondary is better, the dline is better and deeper, the oline is better…the areas I feel are questions are qb and lb but that is the literal specialty of both coordinators one of whom has a son playing the position. Also we don’t have Musgrave and a team of slap dicks coaching on the offensive side. I still don’t get the gloom here. I’m confident this team will go at least 8-4. That rb room is absolutely lethal.
As for basketball, I can’t say I know enough about what madsen’s coaching style is but I like his energy and it seems to be contagious.
As for the conference thing? I think we are well positioned to come out ahead whether that’s as part of a new pac 12 or part of the b1g.
Stop listening to the southern trolls who claim to be experts stating “nobody wants cal” broadcasting live from their grandma’s double wide. The fact of the matter is this. We sit in the middle of a top ten media market; we present an opportunity for regionalism with the 2 new members who otherwise have to travel 2 time zones to games; our research budget together with Parnassus is bigger than any other university not named mellon; and we have a top tier directors cup athletic department…that is the truth of what’s going on behind the scenes. Anyone bidding on us knows that as do the regents. That research budget is 100x an Ohio state or a Michigan and to give it up for athletic revenues in the mere hundreds of millions a year is some seriously stupid shit. I believe we’ll be bowling this year in football and dancing in basketball if my intuition is correct. I feel extremely excited in fact the only way I’d feel more excited would be if one Jim Knowlton were to abdicate.
Yeah Wilcox has lost my good will. A decent man but a pussy when it comes to leadership. Started his tenure with nepotism highlighted by his hire of Greatwood. That hire started the OL down the wrong path that has yet to be corrected. Then when Wilcox was clearly wrong in his hires (e.g. Baldwin) he didn't have the nut sack to fire him and others that should have been fired. Should Sirmon not have a top 3 Pac 12 defense, this year, then Wilcox should fire him at the end of the year. I don't expect the Cal O to be that great especially in the first half of the year. It all depends on the OL. That Cindric is the odds on favorite to be the center is completely crazy. The kid was contemplating retirement due to his injuries. In addition, like Saffell, Cindric just isn't big nor strong enough to be a starter in the Pac 12. BTW ~ have any of you seen Saffell lately? He's lost like 60lbs, the fake weight OL in college put on is ridiculous!! As I've stated previously I'm not on the Jackson band wagon. Given his style of play, I would be surprised if Jackson is healthy to play the whole year. In fact, as fall camp nears I'm more interested in Mendoza's development. Wilcox needs to win 8 games this year, which means he will need to change his in-game coaching tendencies a lot to get those wins.
Knowlton needs to go and needs to go before the next chancellor comes in. There is cause for his dismissal and Cal needs to get this done. If you are a candidate for chancellor would you want to inherit this cluster F? So, this I am worried about.
Madsen. Can't wait bring on the season and let us fans enjoy watching players that are happy, nurtured & supported.
I'm worried about Rory. It is tough to win back-to-back on the PGA tour and with his win at the Scottish Open last week this week's Open is sketchy. So I'm worried about this. Hell he hasn't won a major in 9 years and this Open was looking like his best chance until he screwed it up by winning the Scottish. I was hoping he would would finish the 17th & 18th holes bogey / bogey.
I'm worried FOMO's are going to think the stock market left w/o them and pile in, only to see their life savings take a pounding in September.
Lastly, and DBD should do a series on this: I'm not worried about the BSF (Black Soldier Fly), this fly will save humanity. Don't believe me look it up and read DBD's future piece. In fact I have more of an interest in the BSF than I do about Cal football these days!
You expect a lot for a football team that can only recruit 3 stars going up against 4 & 5's.
Knowlton has done a C- job, but was constrained by admin/budget. Unleashed, he could have done a C+ job.
Madsen brought in some guys who can shoot (as opposed to the last guy). I don't expect miracles, but a double-digit win season is with reach as our side will have points.
Don't worry about Rory. You have to 1) be playing well 2) know how to play links courses 3) get lucky bounces to win the Open. He has 1 & 2, #3 no one can control. He has good of a chance as anyone.
The market will be flat for a few years, you heard it here first.
I have lost confidence in Wilcox. When he first came to town the defense was elite. Each year it has gotten worse, the offense has always been in the bottom
Half. Also, his recruiting is awful and it’s not good when some of your best players enter the portal. I really think this should be the make or break year. No more excuses. I do like the new qb, run and pass will open up the offense. Let’s hop this team can win more than 5 games. Is that asking to much?
Worry? Only 3 winning regular seasons in the last 13, and only 1 of the 6 Wilcox seasons, so yeah, no reason to worry at all. With all due respect to what might actually be a somewhat decent team (on paper) and some players I really like, I'm looking for one more mediocre to awful season and then a Madsen-like replacement to re-energize the program (and this is without even seeing how Madsen will do). This program is a snoozer right now.
It may actually take a season for Cal to really reach their potential, but I think they have enough talent to at least go 6 wins and a cheap bowl game. I expect within the next 1 to 3 years for the program to completely turn around. Cal must do everything it can To get the Old raiders fans there. They are natural Cal fans.
No change in my list of worries, honestly. That’s the problem, we’ve hit the cycle and are back to Riley/Mansion, Klindergoff, Bowers/Garber/McIlwain and a new OC/offense after disappointment.
“No amount of regret changes the past. No amount of anxiety changes the future. Any amount of gratitude changes the present.“
— Marc and Angel Chernoff, The Simplicity Habits
Here, in one simple quote, is why I love Write for California (CGB)...Thanks...Go Bears!
I'm worried that some Cal fans will not handle our forthcoming successes in football and basketball well and will become boastful and arrogant.
Spot on! I worry that Coach Wilcox may strain his back hoisting the Rose Bowl trophy.
Grrrah! I’m hoping that this becomes my main worry regarding Cal athletics.
That would be a major problem....Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Not!!! ;-)
Probably not the most pressing issue that will have to be dealt within the immediate future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNEUkkoUoIA
Just in case there are confusion, I'm referring to the title and lyrics of the song ("I Ain't Worried" by One Republic) rather than worried about Cal having to start playing football games with two simultaneous balls like in the clip and in the film Top Gun: Maverick.
Plummer was a bust. Our new QB's will need a little time to get used to Spavs system but I expect them to be better than Plummer, who would not stand in the pocket and take a hit to deliver a pass. Our O-line should be better. Even if they are marginally better it will be good for our QB, passing game and our running game. With the new system, an O-line coach who knows what he's doing and better talent, I expect them to be more than marginally better. Out TE's will be better because of of our new ones can block. Our receiver corp is better than last year even without Sturdivant. If Brett Johnson can play and stay healthy our D-Line should be excellent. We have some solid talent at OLB and ILB and our DB group may be our best in the Wilcox era. The key to our season will be ball management by whomever ends up as our QB. Turnovers will kill us. Low turnover margin and we have a good season.
Football is all lined up for success. As you pointed out, the only unknown variable at this point is can the new QBs keep control of the ball? Finley is a proven steady pair of hands if Jackson V comes out of the North Tunnel a bit too hot. I think Cal are right where they want to be. Let’s get those reps in and then kick it off!!
Just win, baby.
Plummer wasn't a bust. He was just as good as he was advertised. No one had any expectations for him and he was exactly what we expected.
Watch his film. If he was any good Spav would have kept him around. Our O-line wasn't good last year but a lot of Plummer's scrambles and sacks were manifested by his fear of standing in the pocket (Kai Milner stood in the pocket and delivered in his few game appearances). His on field decision making was poor as well. Again, the film tells everything.
If a first round draft pick played poorly you would call him a bust. If an UFA ended up becoming a starter and played poorly you don't call that a bust. You'll just move on and forget about him.
For me, I call a guy who came through the portal and got the job as our starting QB, and didn't perform well, a bust. Again, the way I look at football (and this is not everyone's way), I call anyone who doesn't perform well a bust. It doesn't matter to me of their * status, draft status or expectations, if they don't play well they are a bust.
That's exactly my point!
What, me worry? Nah. Cal football just needs to win more games that it loses and play football that is not painful to watch. If the team does that, then the benches and seats will start to fill again. We have the coaches and players who can make going to games fun again this season.
Cal is set for success in football and men’s basketball. Fans just need to show up, help pay off the stadium by buying $13 beers, and pump them up with some mighty cheers.
Not worried at all
On the football front I feel confident that this team is a lot better than last year
The receiving Corps is better and deeper, the rb room is better and deeper, the secondary is better, the dline is better and deeper, the oline is better…the areas I feel are questions are qb and lb but that is the literal specialty of both coordinators one of whom has a son playing the position. Also we don’t have Musgrave and a team of slap dicks coaching on the offensive side. I still don’t get the gloom here. I’m confident this team will go at least 8-4. That rb room is absolutely lethal.
As for basketball, I can’t say I know enough about what madsen’s coaching style is but I like his energy and it seems to be contagious.
As for the conference thing? I think we are well positioned to come out ahead whether that’s as part of a new pac 12 or part of the b1g.
Stop listening to the southern trolls who claim to be experts stating “nobody wants cal” broadcasting live from their grandma’s double wide. The fact of the matter is this. We sit in the middle of a top ten media market; we present an opportunity for regionalism with the 2 new members who otherwise have to travel 2 time zones to games; our research budget together with Parnassus is bigger than any other university not named mellon; and we have a top tier directors cup athletic department…that is the truth of what’s going on behind the scenes. Anyone bidding on us knows that as do the regents. That research budget is 100x an Ohio state or a Michigan and to give it up for athletic revenues in the mere hundreds of millions a year is some seriously stupid shit. I believe we’ll be bowling this year in football and dancing in basketball if my intuition is correct. I feel extremely excited in fact the only way I’d feel more excited would be if one Jim Knowlton were to abdicate.
Yeah Wilcox has lost my good will. A decent man but a pussy when it comes to leadership. Started his tenure with nepotism highlighted by his hire of Greatwood. That hire started the OL down the wrong path that has yet to be corrected. Then when Wilcox was clearly wrong in his hires (e.g. Baldwin) he didn't have the nut sack to fire him and others that should have been fired. Should Sirmon not have a top 3 Pac 12 defense, this year, then Wilcox should fire him at the end of the year. I don't expect the Cal O to be that great especially in the first half of the year. It all depends on the OL. That Cindric is the odds on favorite to be the center is completely crazy. The kid was contemplating retirement due to his injuries. In addition, like Saffell, Cindric just isn't big nor strong enough to be a starter in the Pac 12. BTW ~ have any of you seen Saffell lately? He's lost like 60lbs, the fake weight OL in college put on is ridiculous!! As I've stated previously I'm not on the Jackson band wagon. Given his style of play, I would be surprised if Jackson is healthy to play the whole year. In fact, as fall camp nears I'm more interested in Mendoza's development. Wilcox needs to win 8 games this year, which means he will need to change his in-game coaching tendencies a lot to get those wins.
Knowlton needs to go and needs to go before the next chancellor comes in. There is cause for his dismissal and Cal needs to get this done. If you are a candidate for chancellor would you want to inherit this cluster F? So, this I am worried about.
Madsen. Can't wait bring on the season and let us fans enjoy watching players that are happy, nurtured & supported.
I'm worried about Rory. It is tough to win back-to-back on the PGA tour and with his win at the Scottish Open last week this week's Open is sketchy. So I'm worried about this. Hell he hasn't won a major in 9 years and this Open was looking like his best chance until he screwed it up by winning the Scottish. I was hoping he would would finish the 17th & 18th holes bogey / bogey.
I'm worried FOMO's are going to think the stock market left w/o them and pile in, only to see their life savings take a pounding in September.
Lastly, and DBD should do a series on this: I'm not worried about the BSF (Black Soldier Fly), this fly will save humanity. Don't believe me look it up and read DBD's future piece. In fact I have more of an interest in the BSF than I do about Cal football these days!
You expect a lot for a football team that can only recruit 3 stars going up against 4 & 5's.
Knowlton has done a C- job, but was constrained by admin/budget. Unleashed, he could have done a C+ job.
Madsen brought in some guys who can shoot (as opposed to the last guy). I don't expect miracles, but a double-digit win season is with reach as our side will have points.
Don't worry about Rory. You have to 1) be playing well 2) know how to play links courses 3) get lucky bounces to win the Open. He has 1 & 2, #3 no one can control. He has good of a chance as anyone.
The market will be flat for a few years, you heard it here first.
BSF burritos tonight!
Knowlton has done a C- job only if the grader is a Stanford professor.
I have lost confidence in Wilcox. When he first came to town the defense was elite. Each year it has gotten worse, the offense has always been in the bottom
Half. Also, his recruiting is awful and it’s not good when some of your best players enter the portal. I really think this should be the make or break year. No more excuses. I do like the new qb, run and pass will open up the offense. Let’s hop this team can win more than 5 games. Is that asking to much?
Worry? Only 3 winning regular seasons in the last 13, and only 1 of the 6 Wilcox seasons, so yeah, no reason to worry at all. With all due respect to what might actually be a somewhat decent team (on paper) and some players I really like, I'm looking for one more mediocre to awful season and then a Madsen-like replacement to re-energize the program (and this is without even seeing how Madsen will do). This program is a snoozer right now.
It may actually take a season for Cal to really reach their potential, but I think they have enough talent to at least go 6 wins and a cheap bowl game. I expect within the next 1 to 3 years for the program to completely turn around. Cal must do everything it can To get the Old raiders fans there. They are natural Cal fans.
I worry that Lu Maggia Hearns will be injured again and we won't see him
I'm always somewhat worried. I'm a Cal alum. Thanks for articulating so many reasons to worry, Avi.
I worried even in the most hopeful of times, including the peak Tedford years, so can hope even in more worrying times. Still always good to be a bear
I have been there for them since 1945 the good and the bad, no way in hell will
They lose my support this or any year.
Bud Van Bokkelen
Fearless prediction: Barring an injury to Fardaws, Madsen will have Cal in the Bubble conversation on Valentine’s Day.
It’s amazing what competent coaching can do.
2029 we are screwed!!!
No change in my list of worries, honestly. That’s the problem, we’ve hit the cycle and are back to Riley/Mansion, Klindergoff, Bowers/Garber/McIlwain and a new OC/offense after disappointment.