Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Love the aggression and the gambler ethos. Playing it safe has gotten us absolutely nowhere. Glad to try something new.
I have reached a point in my Cal FB fandom I honestly did not think I would reach again, at least not during the Justin Wilcox era: legitimate frigging excitement.
It is a strange feeling of vulnerability, as I should probably be more like Charlie Brown, waiting for Lucy to pull the football out from under me… but despite my issues with Justin Wilcox and the questions I have as to his leadership chops, this JKS news coupled with the coaching staff/player additions leads me to honestly believe the Golden Bears will have their best season yet under JW.
Fully prepared to be completely wrong, but I think this program surprises a lot of people this year, especially the main stream sports media and their lazy a$$ Cal takes.
Go Bears…8-4 and a visit to El Paso on NYE Day. Let’s do it.
I refuse to raise my expectations, and if the season is a pleasant surprise so be it. Avoiding all disappointment this year. This will be the year that I don't ride a roller coaster of emotions, unlike most Falls of my adult life.
Reading the first paragraph of your post made me think that a reply would be the last sentence. I'm on the East Coast and fell asleep on the couch during the Miame game. Hot to Go and Ott To Go had been in heavy rotation. Gameday was mesmerizing. I woke up with a few minutes to go in the fourth and Cal had the ball up by six (why are we always up by six at the end of the game!). Obvious roughing call on Mendoza simply ignored. I was sucked in emotionally in mere moments. And my blue and gold heart was ripped from the chest. Do you have to have an addictive personality to be a Bears fan?
Oh it's all too familiar. I'm an East Coaster too. As if the thrills and agonies of these games alone weren't enough, having them ending close to 2am and then being wired and raging in the comment section even later made for many a rough Sundays.
(also in the Boston area.. Can't wait to go to the BC game. Been waiting decades for this matchup)
I think I’m going to hit up the draft bar and grill before the game today. I believe it is close to the stadium. Feel free to holler if you are around the parts. Need to shake off the fuzz from that Oregon state fiasco last night. It scorched my parlay. If I don’t see ya, enjoy the game.
Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t spend my days rooting for Walmart to come in and destroy Nana and Pop Pops 60-year old family business…;-)
I’ve always given reasons for my doom and gloom…I’m seeing a lot of MSM sports talkies with such lazy Cal takes…they went 6-6, & lost guys blah blah blah.
My thinking is none of the players we lost are irreplaceable (Mendoza and Ott both overrated), and the coaching minds we added will help Wilcox immensely.
Not surprised. Brown is solid but not exceptional and had been inconsistent. JKS came back to Fall camp much bigger and stronger. He has an elite arm. The only thing keeping him from winning the starting role was his ability to assimilate to the speed of the P4 game and make the reads. It sounds like he has done that. He will make some rookie mistakes for sure, but I'm betting his consistency outshined Brown in camp and his ability to connect on big plays also provided an additional reason to play him.
I mean with today's transfer portal, you never know who is on the team next year - the whole redshirt and learn model is toast. Let 'er rip and see what happens!
Yup. And if he cared more about what's out of his control -- the portal -- he'd worry more about prioritizing an offense that doesn't make the players *have* to leave for the sake of their potential careers.
This is also a sign that Wilcox knows he isn’t on the hot seat and doesn’t need to win right away to save his job. Wilcox has another 3 years left at Cal.
This is a bold move by Wilcox and co. but one that is badly needed. We need a qb for the "long term" (in college football today that means at least two years, hopefully three) so giving him the opportunity now is the right move. Hopefully, we can win at least 8 games this season and shock the pundits. Football gods, pray for us.
I don’t think there was much doubt about this based on my conversations with folks inside the program. I think they are REALLY high on JKS. The word “real deal” was mentioned more than once in private conversations.
I hear ya…New Year’s Eve in the shadow of Juarez is nobody’s idea of fun, but it’s been so elusive over the years that damnit, GE, as my man Marty Robbins said I want to go to Rose’s Cantina and watch Felina whirl….
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Love the aggression and the gambler ethos. Playing it safe has gotten us absolutely nowhere. Glad to try something new.
Dishonour not your mothers: now attest,
That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war.
Absolutely!
Go be great, JKS.,
Folks:
I have reached a point in my Cal FB fandom I honestly did not think I would reach again, at least not during the Justin Wilcox era: legitimate frigging excitement.
It is a strange feeling of vulnerability, as I should probably be more like Charlie Brown, waiting for Lucy to pull the football out from under me… but despite my issues with Justin Wilcox and the questions I have as to his leadership chops, this JKS news coupled with the coaching staff/player additions leads me to honestly believe the Golden Bears will have their best season yet under JW.
Fully prepared to be completely wrong, but I think this program surprises a lot of people this year, especially the main stream sports media and their lazy a$$ Cal takes.
Go Bears…8-4 and a visit to El Paso on NYE Day. Let’s do it.
I refuse to raise my expectations, and if the season is a pleasant surprise so be it. Avoiding all disappointment this year. This will be the year that I don't ride a roller coaster of emotions, unlike most Falls of my adult life.
The only problem is I know I'm lying to myself.
Reading the first paragraph of your post made me think that a reply would be the last sentence. I'm on the East Coast and fell asleep on the couch during the Miame game. Hot to Go and Ott To Go had been in heavy rotation. Gameday was mesmerizing. I woke up with a few minutes to go in the fourth and Cal had the ball up by six (why are we always up by six at the end of the game!). Obvious roughing call on Mendoza simply ignored. I was sucked in emotionally in mere moments. And my blue and gold heart was ripped from the chest. Do you have to have an addictive personality to be a Bears fan?
Oh it's all too familiar. I'm an East Coaster too. As if the thrills and agonies of these games alone weren't enough, having them ending close to 2am and then being wired and raging in the comment section even later made for many a rough Sundays.
(also in the Boston area.. Can't wait to go to the BC game. Been waiting decades for this matchup)
I will be at the BC game as well, driving down from Maine. Hoping for an evening game.
Also going to the BC game with my four boys -- Pregame?
I think I’m going to hit up the draft bar and grill before the game today. I believe it is close to the stadium. Feel free to holler if you are around the parts. Need to shake off the fuzz from that Oregon state fiasco last night. It scorched my parlay. If I don’t see ya, enjoy the game.
Sounds like a plan.
Can’t blame you.
It would be just like Wilcox to come out and lose the opener in Corvallis and destroy everything.
Yes, I'm pretty optimistic except for the fat our secondary is very questionable and I hope it doesn't fail miserably this year.
Ideally the improved DL can generate enough of a push to put less pressure on the back end.
I don't think our secondary is fat Geoff, the S&T program is much better now. :)
Oops. I didn't spell check. I guess I'll drop and do 20. Well at my age maybe 10
Wow! Given your doom and gloom posts over the years, I would have never imagined you would consider 8-4 for the Bears.
Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t spend my days rooting for Walmart to come in and destroy Nana and Pop Pops 60-year old family business…;-)
I’ve always given reasons for my doom and gloom…I’m seeing a lot of MSM sports talkies with such lazy Cal takes…they went 6-6, & lost guys blah blah blah.
My thinking is none of the players we lost are irreplaceable (Mendoza and Ott both overrated), and the coaching minds we added will help Wilcox immensely.
Again, could be wrong.
See you in Corvallis!
Couldn't agree more
Not surprised. Brown is solid but not exceptional and had been inconsistent. JKS came back to Fall camp much bigger and stronger. He has an elite arm. The only thing keeping him from winning the starting role was his ability to assimilate to the speed of the P4 game and make the reads. It sounds like he has done that. He will make some rookie mistakes for sure, but I'm betting his consistency outshined Brown in camp and his ability to connect on big plays also provided an additional reason to play him.
I mean with today's transfer portal, you never know who is on the team next year - the whole redshirt and learn model is toast. Let 'er rip and see what happens!
Yeah, he might transfer if he sits on bench this year and wants a playing time.
He might transfer if he plays really well this year and blue blood schools come calling.
He might transfer if he plays terribly this year and loses trust in the coaching staff.
Like coach says, I don't worry about things I can't control.
I might need to adopt that mindset…..
Maybe he should a little more?!
He was talking about the f'n portal.
Yup. And if he cared more about what's out of his control -- the portal -- he'd worry more about prioritizing an offense that doesn't make the players *have* to leave for the sake of their potential careers.
This is the right play, considering the veteran did not run away with the job.
Go with the higher upside play.
This is also a sign that Wilcox knows he isn’t on the hot seat and doesn’t need to win right away to save his job. Wilcox has another 3 years left at Cal.
Regardless of what happens this year with the program, be it good or bad, I really do not think that is the case.
THIS
This is a bold move by Wilcox and co. but one that is badly needed. We need a qb for the "long term" (in college football today that means at least two years, hopefully three) so giving him the opportunity now is the right move. Hopefully, we can win at least 8 games this season and shock the pundits. Football gods, pray for us.
Well this certainly adds an extra level of excitement to things...Go Bears Forever baby!
I don’t think there was much doubt about this based on my conversations with folks inside the program. I think they are REALLY high on JKS. The word “real deal” was mentioned more than once in private conversations.
Don’t you have to call your shot BEFORE you make it? 😝
they did https://open.substack.com/pub/writeforcalifornia/p/cal-football-2025-season-preview-ab9?r=4dtu7&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=142173672
In THAT case, well-played!
Good chance Brown will get a shot to play at some point. QBs get injured; will be nice to have him on stand by, just in case...
Of course
Whoa. A little surprised. Last true freshman to start week 1 was prolly Goff. That worked out ok.
Brown really does not have that much of an experience-edge in terms of meaningful PT so if it’s a toss up, go with the high upside many, IMO.
Let ‘er rip indeed! He must have impressed….. Wow!
Not going to lie, this increases the level of intrigue and excitement! GO JKS
Here we go!
Wilcox clearly isn’t on the hot seat so he might as well go with the younger guy. This ensures he gets a younger guy more experience for next season.
Disagree, this to me still points to Cal's best chance to win
This is exciting news! Go Jaron!
Jimmy—I agree with all you wrote, but PLEASE DON’THOPE FOR EL PASO!
I hear ya…New Year’s Eve in the shadow of Juarez is nobody’s idea of fun, but it’s been so elusive over the years that damnit, GE, as my man Marty Robbins said I want to go to Rose’s Cantina and watch Felina whirl….
I’ve driven thru El Paso many times (on my way to Austin) but have yet to see a reason to stop.
If Cal played a bowl game there I’d likely stop to watch. I think!
Hoping for a better Bowl!!😎‼️
Let me tell you, El Paso would be incredibly better than the crap show that was Shreveport, LA last year. What a joke that was.