It is time for bowl season in year 2 of the Rabbit Hole Sports and Media, Sonoma State Dynasty series. For the first time, our Seawolves will get a chance to play in a bowl game! For this edition of our mock-game preview I decided to do a Q&A. Chatgpt made up questions and had them answered from the point of view of my fictional coach in the game, but based on how it believes I would actually respond to the questions. I always love seeing what it comes up with, and I hope you guys do to.

Link to videos:

Short Episode- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR57dfKAdF8

Full-game- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SzOzioXab4&t=476s

Rising Tide: A Conversation with Sonoma State Head Coach Calvin Zeljak Ahead of the Cure Bowl

Rabbit Hole Sports & Media – College Football Magazine

By Aaron Vance | December 17, 2025

When Calvin Zeljak took over a reeling Sonoma State football program less than two years ago, few could have predicted what would happen next.

After a 9-3 season, a top-25 finish, and a berth in the Cure Bowl against Pac-12 rival Stanford, the Seawolves are riding a wave of momentum not seen since their storied Division II and FCS days. We caught up with Coach Zeljak as his team prepares for its rematch with Stanford — a triple-overtime thriller back in September — and talked about the state of the program, the philosophy driving it, and where Sonoma State is headed next.

Rabbit Hole Sports & Media (RHSM): Coach, take us back to when you were hired. How did you approach taking over a program that, frankly, many had left for dead?

Calvin Zeljak:
It started with honesty. We didn't sugarcoat where we were. We were one of the youngest, least experienced rosters in the country, coming off two brutal seasons. But that also meant there was a blank canvas. We told the kids: "If you want to be part of something real, something built from the ground up, this is your chance."

Our staff focused on re-establishing standards, not results. Standards in how we trained, how we competed, how we connected with each other and the community. Wins are a byproduct of the work, not the work itself.

RHSM: You’ve gone from four wins to nine in just two seasons. How would you describe the biggest area of growth you've seen?

Zeljak:
It's been our belief — in each other, in the process, in what Sonoma State football means.

Physically, sure, we’ve gotten stronger, faster. Tactically, we’ve gotten sharper. But the biggest growth is that we built a program where players take ownership. They invest in the culture every day. It’s not me holding everyone accountable anymore; it’s them.

We’re a player-driven team now. That's the heartbeat of sustainable success.

RHSM: You talk a lot about turning Sonoma State into a powerhouse. What does that goal mean to you?

Zeljak:
It means building something that's bigger than a good season or two.

A powerhouse doesn't just win; it sustains. It evolves. It becomes part of the identity of its school, its region. That's the vision. To make Sonoma State a place where players want to come not just because they can win games, but because they know they'll be developed, challenged, and be part of something that's earned, not given.

We're not here to borrow greatness. We're here to forge it.

RHSM: Philosophically, your offense and defense both seem unique. Could you explain the ideas behind them?

Zeljak:
Offensively, we believe in controlled aggression. We run a Coryell-based spread, but with physicality at its core. We want to stretch you vertically, punish you horizontally, and hammer you between the tackles. Balance doesn't mean 50/50 run-pass — it means being able to dictate terms.

Defensively, our philosophy is "Pressure with Poise." We're fast, we're disruptive, but we stay disciplined. It's organized chaos — multiple fronts, movement, disguised coverages — but always with a backbone of fundamentals.

If you can't stop the run or run the ball, you’re just trading punches until you lose. We start there every week.

RHSM: How does the football program’s rise impact Sonoma State University as a whole?

Zeljak:
Success on the field ripples through everything. Enrollment, community pride, alumni engagement — it all grows when people feel connected to something bigger than themselves.

Sonoma State has always been a special place, but sometimes you need a spark to remind everyone. Football is a communal language. When we win, the whole campus wins. The town wins. It's a shared identity.

We're not just building a team; we're helping lift a university.

RHSM: Speaking of community, your fanbase has really embraced this team again. Why is their support so important?

Zeljak:
It’s everything.

Our players are fueled by the energy in the stands, on social media, around town. They notice the difference — they talk about it. When you know you're playing for more than just yourselves, it changes your commitment level. It demands more from you, and it gives you strength when you’re exhausted, when you’re doubted.

And honestly, this community deserves it. They stayed loyal when it would've been easy to walk away. Now we get to give them something back.

RHSM: Finally, what’s the mindset heading into the Cure Bowl rematch with Stanford?

Zeljak:
Respect and readiness.

Stanford is a proud program. We know they’ll come at us different than the first time. And we love that. We want their best shot. That’s how you measure yourself — against the best versions of your opponents.

For us, it’s about staying true to who we are: tough, prepared, relentless. This game is another step in the journey, not the final chapter.

We’re just getting started.

Sonoma State vs. Stanford
Cure Bowl – Orlando, FL
Kickoff: December 20, 2025 | 5:30 PM EST | ESPN

@SSUFootballNation
"‘We’re not here to borrow greatness. We’re here to forge it.’ 🔥 Coach Zeljak gets it. Seawolf football is different now. Let’s finish the job in Orlando! #SeawolfRising #CureBowl"

@RabbitHoleCFB
"Sonoma State is becoming one of the most compelling stories in college football. Calvin Zeljak's blueprint isn’t a flash in the pan — it’s a movement. Cure Bowl vs. Stanford just got even more interesting. 🍿 #CFB"

@SeawolvesUnleashed
"From a ghost program to a Top 25 team in 2 years... and it’s just the beginning. Proud of this team, proud of this coach, proud of this school. 🐺💙 #SonomaStrong #SeawolfRising"

@CFBRealtalk
"Zeljak said ‘organized chaos’ on defense and ‘controlled aggression’ on offense. Sonoma State is a nightmare matchup for anyone who thinks 'names' win games. #CFB #CureBowl"

@Pac12Pulse
"Sonoma State isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. They earned their seat at the Pac-12 table — and it sounds like Coach Zeljak wants to build a dynasty. #Pac12 #CureBowl"

@BriannaD_CFB
"I don’t care what anyone says: Calvin Zeljak should be in the conversation for National Coach of the Year. You take Sonoma State to 9 wins and a ranking in two years? That’s elite work. #SeawolfRising"

@WineCountryWolves
"We’ve waited for a team like this. A team that means something. Thank you Coach Z. See y’all in Orlando. 🍷🐺 #SonomaState #CureBowl"

@NoHuddleNetwork
"Stanford vs Sonoma State is lowkey one of the best storylines of bowl season: Conference rematch, triple OT thriller last time, rising power vs traditional brand. Can’t wait. #BowlSeason"

Link to videos:

Short Episode- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR57dfKAdF8

Full-game- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SzOzioXab4&t=476s