A surprisingly great article with little known facts. I learned a lot. Since I like memorializing famous Bears, I think we need to update the one for Andy Smith. He had a fantastic career at Cal. I'm sure Joe Starkey would agree.
Please let me know if publishing this is a WFC "no no." I have no idea as to what the rules are on this. I think it is nice to provide outside opinions on sports matters to readers of WFC. I like to post what is going on with regard to former Pac 12 schools, especially if is really opinion matters. But since the rules have not been published on this issue, I (and others) have no idea as to what I will get kicked out again for. Looking for some guidance on this.
This guy is VERY long winded ( think 36 minutes) but is interesting. A thinker. See his ten minute or so summary of how he would rate the results of each team in the Pac 12 for 2023. versus expectations Didn't take notes but I think I remember most of them, Starts at minute 22 or 23.
Washington A+
Washington State -- somewhere arond D
Oregon -- A
Oregon St. -- B-
Cal -- B-
Stanford -- C
Colorado -- C
Utah -- around a B (low talent)
Arizona -- probably around B
Arizona St. -- I forget
USC -- I think a D
UCLA -- maybe a C.
BTW, at the very end there is a very detailed summary of the Pac 12 history. regarding alignment.
At the end, after the summary above was prevented, there is a VERY DETAILED VERBAL SUMMARY OF THE LEGAL HISTORY OF THE STEPS THE PEOPLE RUNNING THE PAC 12 DID IN RECENT YEARS. IT'S LONG BUT FROM WHAT I ACTUALLY LISTENED TO WAS VERY, VERY GOOD AND SEEMED very ACCURATE. Someone from WFC might want to listen to it and let others on the WFC staff know about his opinion of it. Again, it is very detailed.
The jury is out on Bloesch but truthfully it is a very small sample size. Still coming out of the chute rolling only to hibernate thereafter is concerning as DeRuyter's adjustments were not countered by the Bears, who put up a Cheeze-it bowl type of performance. Mendoza looked out of his element to be sure.
For a Friday night game against an east coast opponent not located reelatively near a major airport, does Cal have to fly out on an early Wednesday to be assured they arrive the same day so they get a full days rest before the game. If this is not assured, this is why going to the east coast to play a game can create a travel problem.
Am I correct that this could be an issue for Cal and how do they minimize the travel risk?
Not on point, but I want to show an interesting video from YouTube (which shows videos on tons of interesting topics, including good segments from TV shows.
This one is College Football Stadiums that are too big, with good pictures and comments. Here's the list with some interesting facts that are mentioned.
1. Rice.
2. UCLA
3. L.A. Memorial Coliseum (though they may have to expand it within five years because it will be used then in the Olympics.
4. Sparton Stadium -- Michigan State
5. Alamodome (Bowl) Capacity around 72,000 but I didn't see any games for the bowl game coming close to that capacity. UTSA (University of Texas San Antonio plays there)
5. Maryland
6. Nebraska -- thought the comments indicated that Nebraska has (or did have) a streak of capacity games there so, I believe they said, they may reduce their capacity to keep the streak alive.
I suspect that if more teams were listed Cal would be included in the next five for the biggest stadium which does not draw to capacity. Would love to hear who does and does not agree with me on this point.
Next season will be Justin Wilcox's 8th as head coach. He'll be the sixth coach in Cal football history to reach year eight. Ray Willsey coached exactly eight years, Andy Smith, Stub Allison and Pappy Waldorf coached ten seasons and Jeff Tedford eleven. It's amazing to hold a head coaching job for eight years, as JW has, while having such limited success (two winning seasons in the first seven). Speaking of eight, hopefully he can finally win eight regular season games.
A sober assessment, and thank you. Not likely to get any arguments here. To achieve anything less than a winning schedule in conference and go to a solid bowl game should be doom for the coaching staff, despite our appreciation for Wilcox.
You're right in that Cal has only one really questionable area and that is the defense and in particular pass defense. That could be lessened by a lot more blitz schemes. This would take a lot of pressure of the DB's
This article is the truth exclamation. Poi never really thought about it. From this angle. We should be among the best in the ACC because of how difficult the opponents were in the pac 12.
Gobears49
A surprisingly great article with little known facts. I learned a lot. Since I like memorializing famous Bears, I think we need to update the one for Andy Smith. He had a fantastic career at Cal. I'm sure Joe Starkey would agree.
https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/no-6-andy-smith
Gobears49
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YijmHMGhly8
Please let me know if publishing this is a WFC "no no." I have no idea as to what the rules are on this. I think it is nice to provide outside opinions on sports matters to readers of WFC. I like to post what is going on with regard to former Pac 12 schools, especially if is really opinion matters. But since the rules have not been published on this issue, I (and others) have no idea as to what I will get kicked out again for. Looking for some guidance on this.
This guy is VERY long winded ( think 36 minutes) but is interesting. A thinker. See his ten minute or so summary of how he would rate the results of each team in the Pac 12 for 2023. versus expectations Didn't take notes but I think I remember most of them, Starts at minute 22 or 23.
Washington A+
Washington State -- somewhere arond D
Oregon -- A
Oregon St. -- B-
Cal -- B-
Stanford -- C
Colorado -- C
Utah -- around a B (low talent)
Arizona -- probably around B
Arizona St. -- I forget
USC -- I think a D
UCLA -- maybe a C.
BTW, at the very end there is a very detailed summary of the Pac 12 history. regarding alignment.
At the end, after the summary above was prevented, there is a VERY DETAILED VERBAL SUMMARY OF THE LEGAL HISTORY OF THE STEPS THE PEOPLE RUNNING THE PAC 12 DID IN RECENT YEARS. IT'S LONG BUT FROM WHAT I ACTUALLY LISTENED TO WAS VERY, VERY GOOD AND SEEMED very ACCURATE. Someone from WFC might want to listen to it and let others on the WFC staff know about his opinion of it. Again, it is very detailed.
The jury is out on Bloesch but truthfully it is a very small sample size. Still coming out of the chute rolling only to hibernate thereafter is concerning as DeRuyter's adjustments were not countered by the Bears, who put up a Cheeze-it bowl type of performance. Mendoza looked out of his element to be sure.
The horrendous offensive showing in the bowl game with bloesch at the helm does not bode well.
Gobears49
For a Friday night game against an east coast opponent not located reelatively near a major airport, does Cal have to fly out on an early Wednesday to be assured they arrive the same day so they get a full days rest before the game. If this is not assured, this is why going to the east coast to play a game can create a travel problem.
Am I correct that this could be an issue for Cal and how do they minimize the travel risk?
Gobears49
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce4D4DtKKJA
Not on point, but I want to show an interesting video from YouTube (which shows videos on tons of interesting topics, including good segments from TV shows.
This one is College Football Stadiums that are too big, with good pictures and comments. Here's the list with some interesting facts that are mentioned.
1. Rice.
2. UCLA
3. L.A. Memorial Coliseum (though they may have to expand it within five years because it will be used then in the Olympics.
4. Sparton Stadium -- Michigan State
5. Alamodome (Bowl) Capacity around 72,000 but I didn't see any games for the bowl game coming close to that capacity. UTSA (University of Texas San Antonio plays there)
5. Maryland
6. Nebraska -- thought the comments indicated that Nebraska has (or did have) a streak of capacity games there so, I believe they said, they may reduce their capacity to keep the streak alive.
I suspect that if more teams were listed Cal would be included in the next five for the biggest stadium which does not draw to capacity. Would love to hear who does and does not agree with me on this point.
Love the Auburn through Miami portion of the schedule. Win or lose, it should be interesting, and a respectable challenge for our program. Go Bears!
Nice write up. I'm excited for the new season. I just question the first half of this analysis.
"The wide receiver room is filled with experienced returners and talented newcomers"
I can only think of Grizzel.
Mavin Anderson was not healthy last year, he should be back in the rotation.
Next season will be Justin Wilcox's 8th as head coach. He'll be the sixth coach in Cal football history to reach year eight. Ray Willsey coached exactly eight years, Andy Smith, Stub Allison and Pappy Waldorf coached ten seasons and Jeff Tedford eleven. It's amazing to hold a head coaching job for eight years, as JW has, while having such limited success (two winning seasons in the first seven). Speaking of eight, hopefully he can finally win eight regular season games.
A sober assessment, and thank you. Not likely to get any arguments here. To achieve anything less than a winning schedule in conference and go to a solid bowl game should be doom for the coaching staff, despite our appreciation for Wilcox.
With a couple of exceptions, next season will be like preparing for a bowl game every week. 😄
This headline couldn't be more of a jinx.
A jinx would be "Cal will be successful in 2024" and I'm too Cal to ever say that.
You're right in that Cal has only one really questionable area and that is the defense and in particular pass defense. That could be lessened by a lot more blitz schemes. This would take a lot of pressure of the DB's
This article is the truth exclamation. Poi never really thought about it. From this angle. We should be among the best in the ACC because of how difficult the opponents were in the pac 12.