Cal Sports Report

Jaydn Ott Comments on the Difference Between Cal and Oklahoma

Cal football GM Ron Rivera responds to the shot Ott took at Cal. Ott played the past three seasons with the Golden Bears before transferring to Oklahoma
Jake Curtis|
Jaydn Ott
Jaydn Ott | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

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California Golden Bears

Jaydn Ott had an outstanding 2023 season for Cal, when he rushed for 1,315 yards, and an injury-plagued 2024 season in Berkeley, when he was clearly limited physically and rushed for 385 yards.  In the offseason he transferred to Oklahoma.

Ott had some interesting things to say to the Oklahoma media during the Sooners media day recently when he was asked to describe the difference between Cal and Oklahoma football.

Cal football general manager Ron Rivera on Thursday responded to Ott's comments, which are noted below.

Here is what Ott said when asked to describe the differences in the two programs:

“I don’t know how to put it nicely. Biggest difference, these guys care. Not saying my former teammates at Cal don’t care, but, you know, there’s levels. And it shows. In the way, you know, guys treat their craft, and how often they’re taking care of things outside of the facility in order to be good within it, you know."

When asked on Thursday for his response to Ott's comments, Rivera' answered with the statement below, which is also available in the video atop the story:

"Yeah, you ignore it. Yeah, because again what consequence is it of us? We don't play them. OK. He's no longer here. So what's the concern for us? My concern is the 113 guys we have downstairs. To me those are the most important players in college football right now. I really believe that. I think people get caught up in what's out there. That's not important; that's interesting. Focus on what's important.

"What's the most important thing we have? A hundred thirteen players in that locker room. What's interesting? Well, what someone said over there, what somebody said over there. I could say something but what good is it going to do me? So let's move forward. Let's focus in on what's important, not what's interesting."

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables commented on Ott during SEC media days.

“He wanted to be challenged, and he wanted to be in an environment where there’s a lot of people moving in the same direction," Venables said, according to On3. "Where guys are ambitious and driven, and that’s his testimony.”

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Jake Curtis
JAKE CURTIS

Jake Curtis worked in the San Francisco Chronicle sports department for 27 years, covering virtually every sport, including numerous Final Fours, several college football national championship games, an NBA Finals, world championship boxing matches and a World Cup. He was a Cal beat writer for many of those years, and won awards for his feature stories.

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