If the word out there is true, then we are in for some good times, Nation! Word on the Tweet Block is that the Raiders have hired Jason Tarver, the Co-Defensive Coordinator for the Stanford Cardinal. This guy brings it to practice every day and there is no quit. Here is some of an article by Tom Fitzgerald of SFGate.com:

In 2001 Jason Tarver had finished three years as a graduate assistant on UCLA coach Bob Toledo's staff. He had a master's degree in biochemistry and molecular biology.

He could have gone into drug design or research, or to medical school. He had thought about being an orthopedic surgeon after shattering his knee as a high school safety.

But there he was, sitting at a conference table at the 49ers' headquarters. Bill Walsh was there. So was Steve Mariucci, then the head coach, along with others.

"Why the heck do you want to be doing this?" they asked.

He's been asked the question quite a few times over the years in a career that led him this year to become co-defensive coordinator at Stanford. He and Derek Mason guide a unit that leads the nation in run defense.

Tarver had gotten his interview with the 49ers through the coaching network. After a long talk, they offered him the keys to a club van and told him he could either take them, go to his father's home in Livermore and come back to work - or take a job he had been offered with the Green Bay Packers. He said, "Give me the keys."

Here's all you need to know about his skills as a coach: He was hired by Mariucci, then retained by Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary. Counting Jim Tomsula, who coached the 2010 finale after Singletary was fired, he worked for five head coaches in one organization.

Jim Harbaugh would have kept him, too, but David Shaw offered him a key position at Stanford.

He's 37 now, and still gets asked: "Why coach?"