A first-year coach received about as stern of a warning as he could possibly get from his general manager before the final month of the regular season. The California Golden Bears are 3-6 overall and 2-4 in ACC play at their bye this week. Cal lost to NC State 31-10 on Saturday, just days after the Wolfpack fired head coach Dave Doeren.
Cal's season has first-year head coach Tosh Lupoi feeling some heat, especially with first-year head coach Bob Chesney having UCLA ranked No. 8 with an 8-0 record despite losing starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to a season-ending injury on Oct. 10. More News: Exclusive: Breakout NFL Executives Who Could Become Future General Managers More News: 4 QBs Generating Serious Trade Buzz Weeks Before NFL Regular Season Starts Cal general manager Ron Rivera offered Lupoi sharp criticism when speaking to reporters on Thursday, saying at times Lupoi has not been receptive to advice offered to him this season. "He has bumped his head a lot," Rivera said, via SFGATE.
"We have talked a lot, tried to give him a lot of advice, point him in the right direction. Some of it, he’s been very receptive and other portions of it, he hasn’t." Rivera noted that there are clear differences between what Chesney has at UCLA in comparison to Lupoi. Chesney brought over players who made the College Football Playoff with him at James Madison last season.
Lupoi is dealing with "inexperienced" coordinators. Rivera sent a warning to Lupoi, saying "now it's time" for Cal to start showing progress. Rivera believes that the culture is growing and there has been some player development, but the Golden Bears must show more in the final three games.
Lupoi spent the last four seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach with Oregon. He decided to leave the Ducks to become the head coach of his alma mater, where he played on the defensive line from 2000 to 2005. Cal signed Lupoi to a five-year deal worth at least $22.6 million.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
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