Somehow we've got to come up with five more wins to get to 7-5 and a bowl game. Taking on this Herculean Task requires that we start by beating UNLV. Wiser minds than mine can palaver about the games following the UNLV win. I propose we focus on winning one game at a time. For my credentials enabling me to to opine such a strategy I present my Cal degree which validates the last 56 years of declaring GoBears! at every available opportunity. And yes: Go Bears!
I’ll see you and raise you 12 years as I’ve been watching Bear football since 1958 when my Old Blue father took me to watch Cal in its last Rose Bowl appearance where it lost, of course, to that perennial football powerhouse, Iowa. I must beg to differ.
Unless my hearing has completely left me, at his Tuesday press conference I did not hear anything in Lupoi’s long winded soliloquy that leads me to believe there will be any changes in direction as long as he’s in charge and Somerville is allowed to continue rummaging around for a play that might work and our offense stumbles along at 3 and out.
We all know this team is completely dysfunctional. A blind bear can see that there’s something drastically wrong with an offense that can’t score when being led by a QB with generational talent.
The “we must do better” and “this is unacceptable” platitudes served up at the press conference beg the question: SO WHAT THE FU$K ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Like many others, I’ve opined previously on all the issues facing this team and am not going to raise my blood pressure by going through them all again here.
Suffice it to say, UNLV could be Cal’s last win of this season, but I wouldn’t put much money on that outcome. I would not be surprised if Cal goes 4-8 (if it can beat UNLV and Stanford), or obviously worse if it can’t. A 7-5 or 6-6 season seems laughably unachievable at this point.
We all know there is talent on this team but the terrible coaching has not allowed it to show itself. As a result, without fundamental change Cal risks wholesale portal departures, decommits by top high school prospects, and the dry up of the big money that feeds and sustains the program.
I am not a “give it time” kind of guy — I’ve given it plenty of time and I’m sick and tired of watching Cal play mediocre football.
A Bear fan of 52 years, I’m with you GoldenBear68, “I am not a “give it time” kind of guy — I’ve given it plenty of time and I’m sick and tired of watching Cal play mediocre football.”
You've certainly "seen the elephant" (as Am Civil War soldiers would say after their first battle). And you are spot on with the compelling observations you've made.
As Vince Lombardi said to the Packers during a game that wasn't going well: "What the hell is going on out there?!"
I read a comment from someone on the previous Cal blog in early 2002, after the firing of Holme. that the new head coach (Tedford) can either be a winner from the start, a yearly improving head coach, or another plain (.500 or less) head coach.
To quote Urban Meyer...the contribution of assistant coaches is often overlooked and underrated (or something like that). You need more than having a talented roster, you need good assistants, and so far, all of the newness is showing. Doesn't mean they won't improve, but it may take a season or two, however...the receivers aren't blocking well, or cathcing everything, and that's really coaching thing. The talent on the O-line wasn't all that heralded, either, except one guy from MSU, and he's now 2nd string. Gonna be a lot of lessons learned the hard way this year, and JKS will likely be gone after this season, and that new legislation won't be around in time to prevent that. There's obviously a host of new system issues that are plaguing this team right now.
If JKS continues at current level.. a transfer would be met with little sorrow by Cal....some independent reviewers note that he's shown nothing.. even in scenarios where receivers were open or when he was called on to make quick decisions... Hopefully, if he's as talented as many think he is, he'll make positive adjustments.
. many posters seem to be going soft on the players...and putting total blame on staff. Not sure that's an accurate assessment. Blame on all sides.!
.. Don't exempt any part if the program..especially when even the band was called out and someone also lamented that Clemson was a night game !!
This is a fair comment, but the reason why I think I’m putting most of the blame on staff is because Oline and QB are the same. Maybe Ian Strong isn’t that good. Maybe our receivers can’t crate separation. But what of Mini? And what about other WR on our roster that were here before? I don’t buy that de Jesus was such a singular talent that he was able to get the attention of the whole defense.
This was also almost a Rockfight game because Clemson was also BAD. As the unsturdy GBs come up against better ACC teams, I fear a lot more Ls and Bads. That Tosh and RR have not taken drastic action for O play calling means another lost season, portal transfers out and HS decommits. And I was so excited in August...
Fair enough, but time is running out for 2026 from what we have seen from the O. "Trusting the process" rings hollow when the O performs worse from game to game (FBS) - which is where we are. Either Nick or Avi have already pointed this out in WFC posts...
It sure does. The thing I'll be on the lookout for with UNLV is turnovers. Getting on the plus side there is vital. I think the problem stems from the team struggling with Somerville's playbook. OK, steam is starting to come out my ears -- calm down Bear19, calm down. Breath in, breath out . . .
Somehow we've got to come up with five more wins to get to 7-5 and a bowl game. Taking on this Herculean Task requires that we start by beating UNLV. Wiser minds than mine can palaver about the games following the UNLV win. I propose we focus on winning one game at a time. For my credentials enabling me to to opine such a strategy I present my Cal degree which validates the last 56 years of declaring GoBears! at every available opportunity. And yes: Go Bears!
I’ll see you and raise you 12 years as I’ve been watching Bear football since 1958 when my Old Blue father took me to watch Cal in its last Rose Bowl appearance where it lost, of course, to that perennial football powerhouse, Iowa. I must beg to differ.
Unless my hearing has completely left me, at his Tuesday press conference I did not hear anything in Lupoi’s long winded soliloquy that leads me to believe there will be any changes in direction as long as he’s in charge and Somerville is allowed to continue rummaging around for a play that might work and our offense stumbles along at 3 and out.
We all know this team is completely dysfunctional. A blind bear can see that there’s something drastically wrong with an offense that can’t score when being led by a QB with generational talent.
The “we must do better” and “this is unacceptable” platitudes served up at the press conference beg the question: SO WHAT THE FU$K ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Like many others, I’ve opined previously on all the issues facing this team and am not going to raise my blood pressure by going through them all again here.
Suffice it to say, UNLV could be Cal’s last win of this season, but I wouldn’t put much money on that outcome. I would not be surprised if Cal goes 4-8 (if it can beat UNLV and Stanford), or obviously worse if it can’t. A 7-5 or 6-6 season seems laughably unachievable at this point.
We all know there is talent on this team but the terrible coaching has not allowed it to show itself. As a result, without fundamental change Cal risks wholesale portal departures, decommits by top high school prospects, and the dry up of the big money that feeds and sustains the program.
I am not a “give it time” kind of guy — I’ve given it plenty of time and I’m sick and tired of watching Cal play mediocre football.
A Bear fan of 52 years, I’m with you GoldenBear68, “I am not a “give it time” kind of guy — I’ve given it plenty of time and I’m sick and tired of watching Cal play mediocre football.”
You've certainly "seen the elephant" (as Am Civil War soldiers would say after their first battle). And you are spot on with the compelling observations you've made.
As Vince Lombardi said to the Packers during a game that wasn't going well: "What the hell is going on out there?!"
I read a comment from someone on the previous Cal blog in early 2002, after the firing of Holme. that the new head coach (Tedford) can either be a winner from the start, a yearly improving head coach, or another plain (.500 or less) head coach.
It's early, but it's not looking so good.
Since 11/65 -5 mos old-I’m so tiiiiiiiired of this. GO BEARS
To quote Urban Meyer...the contribution of assistant coaches is often overlooked and underrated (or something like that). You need more than having a talented roster, you need good assistants, and so far, all of the newness is showing. Doesn't mean they won't improve, but it may take a season or two, however...the receivers aren't blocking well, or cathcing everything, and that's really coaching thing. The talent on the O-line wasn't all that heralded, either, except one guy from MSU, and he's now 2nd string. Gonna be a lot of lessons learned the hard way this year, and JKS will likely be gone after this season, and that new legislation won't be around in time to prevent that. There's obviously a host of new system issues that are plaguing this team right now.
Other sad numbers:
Ratings and Rankings
ESPN SP+ 81 (down 14 spots) (93 offense, 70 defense(D actually went up), 124 special teams)
Football Power Index 76, down 4, predicted record 4.6-7.4 , 25% chance to win 6 games
The Athletic's ranking: #63. Down 12 spots, UNLV is 82.
Sagarin: Rank = 73, down 10, Using predictor ratings, CAL is about 4.5 pt favorite
Masse composite (60) rankings - 78 (down 6), range 52-109
JKS is down to QB rank of 50th of the 68 power 4 schools (22 pre-season)
Bonagura and Schlabach both no longer predict we will make a bowl
AP No votes
Coaches Poll No votes
Eek
If JKS continues at current level.. a transfer would be met with little sorrow by Cal....some independent reviewers note that he's shown nothing.. even in scenarios where receivers were open or when he was called on to make quick decisions... Hopefully, if he's as talented as many think he is, he'll make positive adjustments.
. many posters seem to be going soft on the players...and putting total blame on staff. Not sure that's an accurate assessment. Blame on all sides.!
.. Don't exempt any part if the program..especially when even the band was called out and someone also lamented that Clemson was a night game !!
...
...
...
This is a fair comment, but the reason why I think I’m putting most of the blame on staff is because Oline and QB are the same. Maybe Ian Strong isn’t that good. Maybe our receivers can’t crate separation. But what of Mini? And what about other WR on our roster that were here before? I don’t buy that de Jesus was such a singular talent that he was able to get the attention of the whole defense.
This was also almost a Rockfight game because Clemson was also BAD. As the unsturdy GBs come up against better ACC teams, I fear a lot more Ls and Bads. That Tosh and RR have not taken drastic action for O play calling means another lost season, portal transfers out and HS decommits. And I was so excited in August...
Well, I'm with you here. But perhaps we should wait a few more games before jumping out of the plane & pulling the rip-cord on the season.
Fair enough, but time is running out for 2026 from what we have seen from the O. "Trusting the process" rings hollow when the O performs worse from game to game (FBS) - which is where we are. Either Nick or Avi have already pointed this out in WFC posts...
It sure does. The thing I'll be on the lookout for with UNLV is turnovers. Getting on the plus side there is vital. I think the problem stems from the team struggling with Somerville's playbook. OK, steam is starting to come out my ears -- calm down Bear19, calm down. Breath in, breath out . . .