Looks like I may have to get Apple Tv+ again

https://nypost.com/2023/02/21/apple-emerges-as-potential-landing-spot-for-pac-12-football/

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Assuming this is true, sounds like adding SDSU is a done deal.

Should be a fun meet tomorrow as the undefeated Cal gymnastics hosts the returning to prominence UCLA Bruins tomorrow at Haas. Cool story about the two Frazier sisters facing off for the first time in their careers.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2023-02-17/ucla-cal-gymnastics-margzetta-emjae-frazier

Sanders told ESPN on Friday that he doesn't cater his message to the team he inherited. Instead, he requires players to adjust to his expectations and demands.

"It's a whole different level of expectation around here, and you got to be able to play the game," Sanders told ESPN. "So a certain level that might have been welcome, that level is no longer welcomed here. It's a whole different game now."

"We will not settle for mediocrity," Sanders said. "It is what it is. You're going to get on this program, or you're going to get up out of here. We plan on winning and we don't have time to procrastinate."

I wish we had coaches/administrators that not only embodied this mentality within their game preparation and/or overall program management but were also willing to state it out loud and on the record.

Really enjoyed working on this and getting a better sense for Spavital through a couple conversations, including a follow-up call this evening to go deeper on some things than I did the first time.

Hope you enjoy ...

Pretty quiet but at least this is some good news!

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Hmmm

https://www.si.com/college/stanford/football/breaking-pac-12-commissioner-to-meet-with-smu-wednesday

Rivals was down network-wide the last few hours. I'm not privy to the details, but I'm told everything is good to go now. Apologies for the inconvenience.

Canzano: Cal flying low in men's basketball​

Part 2 of a series on Pac-12 hoops.​

Pretty good and thorough article.... and plenty of blame to go around...

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Not good to piss off your Governor can it? Especially since he is on his high profile visit to DC.

Again, Matt is relocating to the Bay Area for the duration of spring and will cover every practice for us. I would think Jesse will also be involved too, but I know he has a lot on his plate so I didn't want to put the full pressure on him.

Here's the official schedule:

March 11 (Saturday)

March 13 (Monday)

March 15 (Wednesday)

March 17 (Friday)

March 18 (Saturday)

March 20 (Monday)

March 22 (Wednesday)

March 24 (Friday)

April 5 (Wednesday)

April 7 (Friday)

April 8 (Saturday)

April 10 (Monday)

April 12 (Wednesday)

April 14 (Friday)

April 15 (Saturday) -- Spring Showcase

All weekday sessions are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., while times for Cal's annual Pro Day on March 23 and four Saturday practices including the Cal Football Spring Showcase on April 15 will be announced at a later date.

All sessions are open to the public and free of charge. Attendees can enter the venue via Gate 2 in the northwest corner of the stadium.

Interesting.

https://www.si.com/college/stanford...candidates-aside-from-smu-and-san-diego-state

I've been monitoring the score all game, but it's actually getting real now ...

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@Ryan Young or anyone else who may know. I've read Alabama has as many as 12 analysts on staff. Also do you know how our number compares with the rest of the conference?

I played (rode the bench) back in the Tedford era and am still close to the program. Many of you will remember stud TE, Craig Stevens and his younger brother, fullback, Eric Stevens. For those not already familiar with the story, Eric was diagnosed with ALS shortly after leaving the NFL, starting his career with LAFD and getting married. The diagnosis came a few years ago and he is still battling. The Stevens family started the AxeALS Foundation and I'm actively involved with them. We've run fundraising events and golf tournaments down in Southern, CA and in Atlanta raising money to fight ALS. Our next charity tournament is at Orinda CC. The women's soccer program (Eric's wife, Amanda, was a Cal soccer player), Men's Golf and Football programs will all send some representation and participate. James Hahn, PGA tour pro and Cal Alum will give a clinic ahead of the event. Many of our football alumni circle the wagons, so to speak, to support AxeALS and come out to the events as well.

Some of you may have already joined us at Virginia CC in Long Beach over the last few years and will know, it's a truly amazing day and extremely impactful. We'll be at Orinda CC on 4/3 coming up and are looking to book sponsors, live auction items and foursomes. I would suggest watching the video on Eric's story and last year's SoCal event. Details can be found on the link here. This is, admittedly, an expensive charity tournament but they go over-the-top to make it a wonderful day and it's a great way for the Cal community to rally around one of our own.

If you'd like to register as a single golfer or have any questions, you can DM me and I can help coordinate.

Thank you, @Ryan Young for allowing me to post the info on the board. Go Bears!

Right here:

Sorry all, I was a bit under the weather the last two days and there might not be a better time to have to lay low for a bit, but I always feel guilty all the same. Anyways, back at it!

I have my full Spavital story coming this week, plus a look back at the transfer portal movement, ranking the impact of the additions and departures.

AND we're a little more than a month to the start of spring practice (March 11). We'll start rolling out position breakdowns, spring preview pieces by the end of this week. I'd also like to share with you our plan for spring practice coverage. My hope is to have Jesse involved, still waiting to see what he's thinking, but to take the pressure off him as he juggles a busy schedule, we're transplanting Matt to the Bay Area for the duration of spring ball. He'll be there every day providing full coverage from practice, while also using the opportunity to connect with 2024 prospects in the area. We felt it was well worth the investment. He's a spring ball veteran, having covered Arizona's spring practices for many years, so he'll make sure we're covering every angle through stories, photos and videos.

I'd also like to get the 2024 recruiting database done in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for a more precise update.

Cal lost to Utah. Cal played well for 10 minutes and then imploded as usual.

as one of the top freshmen in the country.Glad he chose SMC over Cal as Mark Fox would have ruined this kid.

For all our dismay over men’s basketball, the women’s team is arguably worse. How long is her leash? How long should it be? Does anyone care?

She’s 6-37 in the Pac 12 over the last 3 years. Fox is literally twice as good, if you can imagine that.

I’ve been pondering what is Cal’s transfer portal strategy and was curious whether you all think it is likely to succeed.

I know we won’t obviously know until these players are in actual games in the Fall, but given we’re about to get our 10th transfer portal commit (likely David Reese), which is the same number of high school commits for the year. So clearly, there’s been a shift in Cal’s strategy given the big impact from NIL + transfer portal.

Besides the obvious (get players that fill a need, get the most talented athletes ideally 4* or 5*, recruit to your system), it feels like Cal’s recent transfer portals also are the following:

• 4* athletes that are early in their career (QB Sam Jackson), that are eager to play but haven’t started yet
• 4* athletes that are late in their career and have had limited or mixed success at their first school (David Reese, LB Sergio Allen, RB Justin Williams-Thomas, RB Byron Cardwell, WR Brian Hightower), but perhaps because they were at blue blood programs and were stuck in the depth chart and are still possibly high ceiling players
• 3* athletes that were really productive at lower tier schools (DB Nohl Williams, DB Kaylin Moore), so proven production even if they weren’t highly touted out of HS
• 3* workhorse type athletes (TB Asher Alberding, TE JT Byrne) with specific skillsets (blocking TE) and high character guy

So, I'm wondering: do you think the above summarizes Cal's strategy? What am I missing?

More importantly, are you guys optimistic this might actually work and we have a winning season in 2023 (based on these transfers really contributing to more wins for Cal)?

Yikes
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