And rest assured that Mendoza is also spending time calling highly sought HS QBs throughout the midwest and southeast and terrorizing them that they'd better not even think about coming to Indiana or Georgia to compete with *him*.
I feel like they did BT3 wrong. But maybe I don't know the whole story.
As for Fernando, it's interesting that the most logical landing spot with his family situation that has VERY deep pockets isn't in the mix. I'd be curious to see why the 'Cane's seemingly didn't even try.
Observing social media, it's been interesting to see the impact of the new offensive staff. Whether you're in favor or not, they seem to be bringing a noticeable energy compared to the Bloesch/Gilbert crew. Additionally, when reading senior thank-you posts, it’s rare to see mentions of Wilcox. I think a couple of defensive players have declared NFL draft. Lets hope for a winning season is on my 2025 wish list.
One wonders why a return to Cal is not on the table for Mendoza, especially if he is considering staying on the West Coast. I bet Burl is recruiting him hard for UCLA.
Money, money, money, is what I’m thinking. How can Cal compete with SEC and Big10 $$? Highest bidder wins. His family is clearly of great importance to Fernando. With his mother battling terminal illness, his own future unknown, he must do his best to get all he can income-wise. This could be his thinking. Hard to argue with, if that’s the case. But yeah, whatever bridges were casualties of this, it would be hard to come back over.
Didn't he poison the Hawaiian QB to not go to Cal? If so, total bush league move. And would tarnish his supposed "98 yards with my boys" cry-fest. I hope that's not true.
I had been hoping to introduce my 20-year-old daughter to Mendoza…LOL! He was/is a very unique kid and I will miss watching him play at Cal and in the press conferences. While I was shocked by him leaving, I do know he has his very good reasons which we aren’t privy to. I can’t imagine his parents liked seeing him get clocked by defensive lines bc our O-line couldn’t protect him. I think this could be a very big reason he left. Wilcox said in a presser that NIL money was not at issue here.
Ott also chimed in to say enough of the negative talk about Nando on social media.
Go Bears and thanks for the memories Nando… 💛🐻💙🏈💛🪓💙
It sucks Fernando is leaving because I really really like him. I hate the transfer portal for trashing college football more than I hate NIL. I have a hard time singling HIM out when all of college football is on the move, though. So I wish him the best of luck, and am glad we won’t play against him next year.
Please wake me up or not, after all this bs stops. Do I care where Fernando goes? You would think the colleges are just a mere conduit or an enabling institution; and, education….wtf is that? I think getting a scholarship should come with financial penalty for entering the portal. Most of these guys leaving will never make the NFL, so it’s for the NIL bucks, pathetic but time will tell what happens to those guys…with the cash depleted. I’ve heard outlandish amounts upwards of $5M or more for a QB. There should be an NIL financial cap so poorer schools can compete for talent on a level playing field. Ah, perhaps Harvard with its huge endowment will decide to buy a national championship. Does any of this further the sport?
Hmm, sounds like socialism, hard pass! I am all about that pure, uncut, unregulated, laissez faire capitalism. If a program can’t compete, they should put down the avocado toast and work harder to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
Why does everything have to be Kumbaya? I agree with his comment that Fernando got an opportunity to play at CAL and now he’s walking away when greener pastures beckon.
How bad would the last couple of years of Cal football have been without Fernando? Very very bad. I wish him the best.
Agreed. We more than likely lose a couple more games and potentially Big Game without him.
Best to Armando!
Lots of buzz about Indiana...but that's sort of like your GF leaving you for a fat guy. Why?
Except that once fat guy has been on Ozempic and in the weight room for the last year. He's starting to look buff.
Cal became a fat guy and he left
"Try fat, you'll never go back."
-Fat Bastard
Congrats to Burl!!
I hope Mendoza never hits the field at his new school. Cal rescued him from football obscurity in the Ivy League and this is how he repays us?
Awfully strong feelings towards a dude who was able to buy his first beer only two months ago...
You are serving up some petty spaghetti.
Why do we have to be all Kumbaya about Fernando? He seemed like such a decent kid. Principled and all that but walks away for greener pastures.
And rest assured that Mendoza is also spending time calling highly sought HS QBs throughout the midwest and southeast and terrorizing them that they'd better not even think about coming to Indiana or Georgia to compete with *him*.
You do realize his younger brother is a Freshman QB at Indiana, right?!? No calls needed at IU. Keep it in the family. https://247sports.com/player/alberto-mendoza-46135097/
screw the portal
I feel like they did BT3 wrong. But maybe I don't know the whole story.
As for Fernando, it's interesting that the most logical landing spot with his family situation that has VERY deep pockets isn't in the mix. I'd be curious to see why the 'Cane's seemingly didn't even try.
In the case of Miami, sometimes the girl of your dreams is not attracted to you!
Maybe Nando is too much of pocket passer.
Ward's "difference" was when a play went to crap, he could improvise and do his own RPO.
Interesting Georgia is the only school near home....
Observing social media, it's been interesting to see the impact of the new offensive staff. Whether you're in favor or not, they seem to be bringing a noticeable energy compared to the Bloesch/Gilbert crew. Additionally, when reading senior thank-you posts, it’s rare to see mentions of Wilcox. I think a couple of defensive players have declared NFL draft. Lets hope for a winning season is on my 2025 wish list.
One wonders why a return to Cal is not on the table for Mendoza, especially if he is considering staying on the West Coast. I bet Burl is recruiting him hard for UCLA.
Bridges were most likely burned.
Money, money, money, is what I’m thinking. How can Cal compete with SEC and Big10 $$? Highest bidder wins. His family is clearly of great importance to Fernando. With his mother battling terminal illness, his own future unknown, he must do his best to get all he can income-wise. This could be his thinking. Hard to argue with, if that’s the case. But yeah, whatever bridges were casualties of this, it would be hard to come back over.
Didn't he poison the Hawaiian QB to not go to Cal? If so, total bush league move. And would tarnish his supposed "98 yards with my boys" cry-fest. I hope that's not true.
There’s no proof of that. It’s a dumb rumor until there’s any substantial proof
I'm leaning towards true.
I'm pretty sure he was non-plussed with having to compete with Rodgers for QB1.
He likes to be the only one, it would seem.
I had been hoping to introduce my 20-year-old daughter to Mendoza…LOL! He was/is a very unique kid and I will miss watching him play at Cal and in the press conferences. While I was shocked by him leaving, I do know he has his very good reasons which we aren’t privy to. I can’t imagine his parents liked seeing him get clocked by defensive lines bc our O-line couldn’t protect him. I think this could be a very big reason he left. Wilcox said in a presser that NIL money was not at issue here.
Ott also chimed in to say enough of the negative talk about Nando on social media.
Go Bears and thanks for the memories Nando… 💛🐻💙🏈💛🪓💙
It sucks Fernando is leaving because I really really like him. I hate the transfer portal for trashing college football more than I hate NIL. I have a hard time singling HIM out when all of college football is on the move, though. So I wish him the best of luck, and am glad we won’t play against him next year.
Please wake me up or not, after all this bs stops. Do I care where Fernando goes? You would think the colleges are just a mere conduit or an enabling institution; and, education….wtf is that? I think getting a scholarship should come with financial penalty for entering the portal. Most of these guys leaving will never make the NFL, so it’s for the NIL bucks, pathetic but time will tell what happens to those guys…with the cash depleted. I’ve heard outlandish amounts upwards of $5M or more for a QB. There should be an NIL financial cap so poorer schools can compete for talent on a level playing field. Ah, perhaps Harvard with its huge endowment will decide to buy a national championship. Does any of this further the sport?
Hmm, sounds like socialism, hard pass! I am all about that pure, uncut, unregulated, laissez faire capitalism. If a program can’t compete, they should put down the avocado toast and work harder to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
Why does everything have to be Kumbaya? I agree with his comment that Fernando got an opportunity to play at CAL and now he’s walking away when greener pastures beckon.