Two years ago when Stanford hired Troy Taylor to be its Football coach, the Cal fans went crazy. How could their AD let a rival get a favorite son? At the time their fan base wasn't very enamored with Wilcox. That same year Cal hired Mark Madsen. Our fans went crazy. How could Muir let Cal hire a favorite son? At that time our fan base wanted Haase gone.
Fast forward 2 years. What Taylor and Madsen both had in common was they both inherited a program that had hit rock bottom. Their predecessors left them with virtually nothing to build on. Initially Taylor tried to rebuild through the traditional HS recruiting cycle. Madsen chose to rebuild day one almost exclusively through the portal. Neither has found much success in their first two years.
I personally think both are good, but not great, coaches. Maybe they will have some success that their respective fan bases will appreciate and come to like. But I post this because I wonder how each fan base feels now? Wilcox seems to have become more acceptable now and Smith is a potential jewel. The incredulousness from a fan base when a favorite son goes to a rival is somewhat baffling to me. I can't find any consistent evidence where a former star player returned to his/her alma mater and was an instant and continuing success. Although if there is any consistent evidence, Matt will find it and let me know.
Fast forward 2 years. What Taylor and Madsen both had in common was they both inherited a program that had hit rock bottom. Their predecessors left them with virtually nothing to build on. Initially Taylor tried to rebuild through the traditional HS recruiting cycle. Madsen chose to rebuild day one almost exclusively through the portal. Neither has found much success in their first two years.
I personally think both are good, but not great, coaches. Maybe they will have some success that their respective fan bases will appreciate and come to like. But I post this because I wonder how each fan base feels now? Wilcox seems to have become more acceptable now and Smith is a potential jewel. The incredulousness from a fan base when a favorite son goes to a rival is somewhat baffling to me. I can't find any consistent evidence where a former star player returned to his/her alma mater and was an instant and continuing success. Although if there is any consistent evidence, Matt will find it and let me know.
