I live 15 minutes away from Boston College (which really is in Chestnut Hill) and am very excited to bring my kiddos to the game. No Cal Band, no Cal Cheer, but the CAA Tailgate sold out in three days! Should be a lot of blue and gold out there :)
Jim Turner, a senior fullback, got his first career touchdown, a 1-yard run with 6 minutes 56 seconds remaining, to give Boston College a 21-15 victory that spoiled California's season opener. This was the first meeting between the two programs. Boston College finished the season with a 9-3 record, while Cal finished 2-9.
California took a 15-13 lead in the fourth quarter, with 13:31 remaining, on a 7-yard run by quarterback Brian Bedford, his second touchdown of the game. Boston College rallied after a punt put the ball on their 48-yard line.
Third-string quarterback Mark Kamphaus, who made his first career appearance when he replaced Mike Power on Boston College's previous series, started the 52-yard march with a 15-yard completion to Darren Flutie, the brother of the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner, Doug Flutie.
This game marked the beginning of Boston College's turnaround after an 0-1 start to the 1986 season. The following week BC played host to Penn State (1-0) in an ESPN nationally televised Saturday night game at Sullivan Stadium (formerly Schaefer Stadium, later Foxboro Stadium, replaced by Gillette Stadium), and they ended the year on an eight-game winning streak.
Thanks to the NYT and AI for this all-too-familiar type of memory.
When I first started reading, I was thinking that you are like the guy from rain man. And then I read the last sentence. But this is amazing nonetheless.
Brian Bedford was a dual-threat quarterback for the University of California (Cal) Golden Bears in the mid-1980s, known for his ability to both pass and run the ball. He played as a backup his freshman and sophomore years before becoming the starting quarterback his junior year. By his senior year, he moved to slot receiver, where he led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches.
Career Highlights:
High School: He was an All-Metro quarterback for C. K. McClatchy High School.
Freshman/Sophomore Year (Cal): Served as a backup quarterback but saw some playing time.
Junior Year (Cal): Was named the starting quarterback, though the season opener was a 15-21 loss against Boston College.
Senior Year (Cal): Moved to slot receiver, leading the team with 39 receptions for 515 yards and 4 touchdown catches in his only full year at the position.
Bedford was pretty hyped coming out of McClatchy High School, and then-coach Joe Kapp pinned a great deal of hope in his development, given that he was far more mobile than Gale Gilbert, whom he backed-up as a freshman. But like with everything (Marc Hicks, anyone?) associated with the latter stages of Kapp's Cal career, things did not work out for him. His eventual benching in 1986, led to his replacement by freshman Troy Taylor, which did nothing to turn around that 2-9 team's decline. By the the end of the season, Taylor suffered a broken jaw against U$c, and had his jaw wired shut, missing Big Game. Bedford, by now relegated to the WR corps, did not regain his starting job. As we know, that enabled 3rd string QB Kevin Brown to step up and lead the Bears to their 17-11 upset in Joe Kapp's final game as Cal's coach.
I thought a lot about Brian Bedford quite a bit in 2018, while watching Brandon McIlwain's struggles and eventual demotion. In many respects, we saw the same thing happen with Sam Jackson V more recently.
The classic answers are probably Nuggets (Kenmore Square in Boston) or Armageddon (Harvard Square in Cambridge). You'll like Armageddon if you're into punk and underground music.
From what I remember, Newbury Comics is annoying. The actual store and website have different prices, and they won't honor prices on the other if one is lower.
But keep in mind that I used to visit Boston often as a teenager, so my memory may be biased or hazy after 20 years. Things may have changed, but they used to have a reputation for overcharging, especially the locations in malls, because they're the most "normie" store/chain.
I had heard they often hold and sell some their exclusive NC releases on the secondary market. I think I might have gone to the one on Newberry Street maybe 20 years ago, but don't think I left with anything.
Eating: tons of great places to eat in Beantown. Naturally, it depends upon what you're into.
Sometimes you have to lean into the cliche and get a bowl a chowdah, get a pint of Sammy's at Legal Seafood... or perhaps a lobstah roll. Boston's North End is one of the better "Little Italy" districts. However, it is known for that, so you're going to need reservations now to any place good. But it's part of the Freedom Trail, you can grab a cannoli at Modern Pastry (cash only, better than Mike's), take a peek at TD Gardens, and have an espresso at Cafe Vittorio.
Honestly the food in Boston isn't very good. If you're in Cambridge, Oleana / Sofra (Ana Sortun restaurants) are lovely and then La Saison makes excellent pastry (https://www.lasaison-bakery.com/our-story). All the Tatte's are good-ish. If you're looking for great beer and mid-food at lunch, The Publick House (Brookline) is charming and only 8 minutes by car to the stadium.
I also love their clam chowder, which isn't traditional new england style but delish. Definitely get some chowder somewhere though.. the old google could recommend better than I probably could for traditional new england style.
If you go (they have a few locations now), get some of the signature Row 34 oysters. Nice and sweet and clean, not too briny. The restaurant is named after the row where they grow them in Duxbury Bay.
" . . . only the second time the two teams have met in either program's history"? Or maybe it was the second time in one program's history but not in the other's? Were you an English major at Stanford?
Coming from San Jose to root for our Sturdy Golden Bears as they meet up with the BC Eagles, our daughter's alma mater. We are pumped to see this match up with her. It is one perk from this very weird conference change we've been looking forward to since last year. Hope the Bears can bring it on and win and even the record. Go Bears!
Official Cal tailgate tickets are $100 each - check with Cal Athletics for availability. They had no idea about what was included (of course, Cal Band will perform).
I thought this game would get the CW pick maybe, but that went to VT-NCST instead (even though VT looks awful so far). That game starts just half an hour later, so about the same time slot.
I'm guessing that BC coughing it up to Furd might have turned them against picking the BC game. Anyway, at least it wasn't a 9am PT game!
I live 15 minutes away from Boston College (which really is in Chestnut Hill) and am very excited to bring my kiddos to the game. No Cal Band, no Cal Cheer, but the CAA Tailgate sold out in three days! Should be a lot of blue and gold out there :)
Going back to that game in 1986:
Jim Turner, a senior fullback, got his first career touchdown, a 1-yard run with 6 minutes 56 seconds remaining, to give Boston College a 21-15 victory that spoiled California's season opener. This was the first meeting between the two programs. Boston College finished the season with a 9-3 record, while Cal finished 2-9.
California took a 15-13 lead in the fourth quarter, with 13:31 remaining, on a 7-yard run by quarterback Brian Bedford, his second touchdown of the game. Boston College rallied after a punt put the ball on their 48-yard line.
Third-string quarterback Mark Kamphaus, who made his first career appearance when he replaced Mike Power on Boston College's previous series, started the 52-yard march with a 15-yard completion to Darren Flutie, the brother of the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner, Doug Flutie.
This game marked the beginning of Boston College's turnaround after an 0-1 start to the 1986 season. The following week BC played host to Penn State (1-0) in an ESPN nationally televised Saturday night game at Sullivan Stadium (formerly Schaefer Stadium, later Foxboro Stadium, replaced by Gillette Stadium), and they ended the year on an eight-game winning streak.
Thanks to the NYT and AI for this all-too-familiar type of memory.
When I first started reading, I was thinking that you are like the guy from rain man. And then I read the last sentence. But this is amazing nonetheless.
You mean Cal collapsed in Q4 and lost? Was Justin Wilcox coaching that team?
Justin Draper Wilcox (born November 12, 1976), he would be 9 years old.
Joe Kapp was Cal's head coach in his final season. A very memorable home
Big Game win against furd. The team carried a emotional Coach Kapp off the field.
The biggest upset Big Game win for the 2-9 Cal Bears.
https://calbearshistory.com/2021/11/18/1986-the-biggest-big-game-upset-of-them-all/
I’m class of 86 and the name Brian Bedford doesn’t ring a bell, was he the starter all year?
More AI research:
Brian Bedford was a dual-threat quarterback for the University of California (Cal) Golden Bears in the mid-1980s, known for his ability to both pass and run the ball. He played as a backup his freshman and sophomore years before becoming the starting quarterback his junior year. By his senior year, he moved to slot receiver, where he led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches.
Career Highlights:
High School: He was an All-Metro quarterback for C. K. McClatchy High School.
Freshman/Sophomore Year (Cal): Served as a backup quarterback but saw some playing time.
Junior Year (Cal): Was named the starting quarterback, though the season opener was a 15-21 loss against Boston College.
Senior Year (Cal): Moved to slot receiver, leading the team with 39 receptions for 515 yards and 4 touchdown catches in his only full year at the position.
Bedford was pretty hyped coming out of McClatchy High School, and then-coach Joe Kapp pinned a great deal of hope in his development, given that he was far more mobile than Gale Gilbert, whom he backed-up as a freshman. But like with everything (Marc Hicks, anyone?) associated with the latter stages of Kapp's Cal career, things did not work out for him. His eventual benching in 1986, led to his replacement by freshman Troy Taylor, which did nothing to turn around that 2-9 team's decline. By the the end of the season, Taylor suffered a broken jaw against U$c, and had his jaw wired shut, missing Big Game. Bedford, by now relegated to the WR corps, did not regain his starting job. As we know, that enabled 3rd string QB Kevin Brown to step up and lead the Bears to their 17-11 upset in Joe Kapp's final game as Cal's coach.
I thought a lot about Brian Bedford quite a bit in 2018, while watching Brandon McIlwain's struggles and eventual demotion. In many respects, we saw the same thing happen with Sam Jackson V more recently.
History ‘81. Nuff said?
Optimal. Can't wait. Anyone got recommendations for where to eat and buy records in Boston?
The classic answers are probably Nuggets (Kenmore Square in Boston) or Armageddon (Harvard Square in Cambridge). You'll like Armageddon if you're into punk and underground music.
Thanks. I have heard about Armageddon and of course Newberry Comics also.
From what I remember, Newbury Comics is annoying. The actual store and website have different prices, and they won't honor prices on the other if one is lower.
But keep in mind that I used to visit Boston often as a teenager, so my memory may be biased or hazy after 20 years. Things may have changed, but they used to have a reputation for overcharging, especially the locations in malls, because they're the most "normie" store/chain.
I had heard they often hold and sell some their exclusive NC releases on the secondary market. I think I might have gone to the one on Newberry Street maybe 20 years ago, but don't think I left with anything.
Eating: tons of great places to eat in Beantown. Naturally, it depends upon what you're into.
Sometimes you have to lean into the cliche and get a bowl a chowdah, get a pint of Sammy's at Legal Seafood... or perhaps a lobstah roll. Boston's North End is one of the better "Little Italy" districts. However, it is known for that, so you're going to need reservations now to any place good. But it's part of the Freedom Trail, you can grab a cannoli at Modern Pastry (cash only, better than Mike's), take a peek at TD Gardens, and have an espresso at Cafe Vittorio.
If you like oysters and other seafood, I recommend Row 34 in the seaport district.
I’m in Boston monthly and go here frequently
Honestly the food in Boston isn't very good. If you're in Cambridge, Oleana / Sofra (Ana Sortun restaurants) are lovely and then La Saison makes excellent pastry (https://www.lasaison-bakery.com/our-story). All the Tatte's are good-ish. If you're looking for great beer and mid-food at lunch, The Publick House (Brookline) is charming and only 8 minutes by car to the stadium.
I do, I do.
I also love their clam chowder, which isn't traditional new england style but delish. Definitely get some chowder somewhere though.. the old google could recommend better than I probably could for traditional new england style.
Same regarding lobster rolls.
If you go (they have a few locations now), get some of the signature Row 34 oysters. Nice and sweet and clean, not too briny. The restaurant is named after the row where they grow them in Duxbury Bay.
If would be disturbing if they had met a different number of times in one team's history than in the other team's history.
Clever
Any know anything about the BC tailgating scene? Is it big there? How welcoming are they for visiting fans?
" . . . only the second time the two teams have met in either program's history"? Or maybe it was the second time in one program's history but not in the other's? Were you an English major at Stanford?
I wish
Love it...a day game! And a good time for our guy's body clocks!
I've been waiting 16 years for this one (the time I've lived in and around Boston)
BC will be coming off a bye week, so hoping the team gets here well in advance to adjust and get rested.
Go CALIFORNIA BEARS 🐻💛🏈💙
Coming from San Jose to root for our Sturdy Golden Bears as they meet up with the BC Eagles, our daughter's alma mater. We are pumped to see this match up with her. It is one perk from this very weird conference change we've been looking forward to since last year. Hope the Bears can bring it on and win and even the record. Go Bears!
I can't wait. A few of my fellow alums ('84) are coming out to the game. Any suggestions on where Cal fans are gathering or tailgating? GO BEARS!
Official Cal tailgate tickets are $100 each - check with Cal Athletics for availability. They had no idea about what was included (of course, Cal Band will perform).
Official Cal tailgate tickets are $100 each - check with Cal Athletics for availability. Too much for a hot dog.
Official Cal tailgate tickets are $100 each - check with Cal Athletics for availability. Too much for a hot dog.
I thought this game would get the CW pick maybe, but that went to VT-NCST instead (even though VT looks awful so far). That game starts just half an hour later, so about the same time slot.
I'm guessing that BC coughing it up to Furd might have turned them against picking the BC game. Anyway, at least it wasn't a 9am PT game!