I believe Eason spent 2 years at a JC before going to Illinois.

It may be politics.

He's in a unique position in that it looks like he'll be HC and OC. Sure, it helps Cal.

He'll be spread thin if he wants to change any staff, help recruit and evaluate talent / needs. I thought it would be icing on the cake to bring in the HC, be it Hawkins or Plough, to close the deal. He can make phone and zoom calls. We'll see. But it seems we're two steps short on offense at a key juncture. We've had one QB excel in a dozen years? Our top receiver had 430 yards receiving.

"Tight ends coach Tim Plough, who has accepted the head coaching job at UC Davis, will remain with the [Berkeley] program through the bowl game and will work with the quarterbacks, Wilcox said."

" “Coach Plough is uber-intelligent,” Mendoza [quarterback] said. “As a coach, he’s a guy who has helped me develop a lot. It’s an honor to work with him these next two weeks.” "

https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/cal-bowl-notebook

So Plough will likely be splitting time during a crucial period. Who will do in-person recruiting for him? We need competition and depth at QB and WR. He can possibly get out to NorCal spots, CCSF, etc. Maybe skip a practice day to go nab a key recruit.

Transfer portal dates: Dec 4 2023 - Jan 2, 2024

Cal bowl game: December 16th

Early signing date: December 20, 2023

At Coach Sochor's memorial, I believe KO said the first time Soch recruited him, Sochor kinda overlooked him. Something else had Soch's attention, thus KO went to Sac.

And we've got Jordan Fisher in the pipeline for 4 years, he had 3,000 yards and 40 TDs his senior year in high school.

I guess in modern football it's tougher to find players like O'Brien, Moroski, and Doss.

Before Coach Hawkins, we reportedly had a trainer who was beyond hyper vigilant.

Sac threw a pick, and had a ball stripped.

2019 was a brutal schedule.

At Cal
At #1 ND State
#17 Montana (disappointing)
At North Dakota (2 point loss)
#3 Weber
#10 Montana State

Look at the Sac State RB, Skattebo, had modest success at Arizona State. I'm not saying that's LL, but it does provide a comparison.

I'd figure LL would either be a return year, or a shot at the NFL. Why risk getting buried on an FBS roster?

Find Joy coach! Go Ags!

Cal adds a little polish and seasoning. Hopefully.

Boise opened 2-2 in 2022, even struggling in their two wins. That's when Coach Plough was let go.

QB problems apparently were at the heart of it. In 2021, Boise had 'underperformed' at 7-5 under QB Hank Bachmeier, who was banged up the previous year bc of a porous line. Bachmeier struggled to open 2022, including being benched after throwing 2 picks and a fumble in game 4. HB then declared his intention to enter the portal and to redshirt, and 6'6" redshirt freshman Taylen Green lit it in reeling off 8 wins in a row (?).

Boise is 7-5 this year, and plays in Vegas tomorrow in the Mountain West Championship game.

Coach Hawkins and staff identified and landed Jake Maier.

Hawk said he's been fired three times. I can only think of two, Canada (CFL) and Colorado.

FWIW, from the Cal board.

December 4th is the day when undergraduate students can officially enter the portal. Right now grad students can enter. And players whose coach has left the school can enter.

You are seeing posts from players saying they are intending to transfer and will enter "officially" on Dec 4.

In addition, back channel communications allegedly happen before players even enter the portal. Estimates are that upwards of 1500 undergrads may enter this year.

FWIW, Cal OC Jake Spavital leaves for Baylor
He led the Bears' offense to its best season in seven years under Coach Wilcox.

Would Cal offer Plough the OC position?

Assuming a qualified coach has HC, OC, or DC experience, I can think of these people. (We proved elevating a position coach is disastrous.)

Davis has a unique culture and philosophy that an outsider might not appreciate.The second tier seems less likely.

Tim Plough - Cal
Kevin Daft - Dartmouth

Chris Petersen - UW, TV
Khari Jones - CFL
Nathaniel Hackett - NFL
Mike Moroski - College of Idaho

Did I miss anybody?

Idaho State's impressive 27 point comeback in 15 minutes vs EWU.

https://youtu.be/p0WAp35ofDw?si=3GULY3DBGzSD7Wiy

A fellow Aggie sent me these predictions:

- we'll win less than half our games
- Les will get a contract extension
- Coach Nosek will get a raise

I vote for more PT for Manu.

From the Big Game / Axe photo he may have three young children.