Tosh Lupoi doesn’t have much time for moral victories, and Cal’s rookie head coach isn’t pretending the Bears can afford any.
His team is 3-5 heading into Saturday’s trip to NC State, and after last weekend’s collapse at SMU, the message this week has been less about speeches from the sideline and more about getting the right voices to rise inside the locker room. Lupoi, who never lost a game at De La Salle and coached under Nick Saban on two Alabama national championship teams, is pushing for Cal players to do more of the driving.
“The best teams that I’ve ever been around, you have some player-led leaders that arise,” Lupoi said this week. “Trying to empower the champions. Not me being the cheerleader.
“We’ve got a lot of guys capable of that. That’s the exciting part. Those guys that have earned the respect.”
The need for that kind of leadership sharpened after Cal’s fourth loss in its last five games. The Bears were up 20-17 at halftime against No. 19 SMU, then got blasted 42-0 after the break in a 59-20 loss.
Lupoi said linebacker AJ Tuitele has already shown signs of being one of the players who can steady things. The redshirt freshman from Las Vegas, who came over from USC, caught his coach’s eye by pushing for a reset when the game started slipping away.
“He was someone who stood out in those moments and that’s what you’re looking for.” Lupoi said.
Veteran defensive tackle Derek Wilkins sees that same theme playing out across the roster. In his sixth year with the program, he’s trying to be one of the steadying voices for younger teammates.
“That’s definitely something I focus on. Having been here for a while, we have a lot of guys who are maybe playing their first seasons or getting a lot more reps. So as a guy with that experience, I try to bring guys up,” he said.
Wilkins said seniors such as center Bastian Swinney, guard Sioape Vatikani and defensive back Cam Sidney have also stepped into that role.
“I know the results on the field might not necessarily show it, but I see guys on the sideline - they’re engaged,” Wilkins said.
Starting quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, a sophomore, said he’s been more comfortable leading by example so far in his college career, but he knows the job keeps expanding for him.
“I try to continue to uphold these guys, even when times are hard. It really shows by effort and doing everything right,” Sagapolutele said. “What people have said is it’s how you live your life and people will follow.
“Sometimes people don’t have to lead by words but by actions. Then when you really start using your voice people take it as credible and accountable.”
Lupoi also has help in his first season as a head coach from general manager Ron Rivera, whose years in the NFL have given him a wide-ranging perspective. Lupoi called Rivera a dependable sounding board.
“It’s awesome. He’s someone that’s been a solid rock for me to lean in to.
Ask for advice and he gives it,” Lupoi said. “Go back to some of those moments he’s had in the past, times of greatness and times of awful, and (his) reaction to it.
Greatly appreciate that from him.”
The Bears spent the week working through both ends of the emotional spectrum - cleaning up the ugly parts while still recognizing what went right in that first half at SMU. Lupoi made it clear that the standard doesn’t change just because one half looked promising.
“There’s no victory lap of playing well for a half,” he said.
Still, he wants the team to remember that stretch, too.
“We came out and played really well, obviously, in the first half. And that put us in position to become the first team in the ACC ever to beat that team at home,” he said. “Highlighting the greatness we’ve shown at times.”
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