I'm the the first in my family to set foot on a college campus, attending Cal having never even been to the Bay Area as an LA kid. The Bay was where my family said it was just cold and dark and miserable. Truly, they all believed that. My first Cal football game was my first college football game. I was hooked. That was the 1987 season. I'm still hooked. A new season begins. Go Bears!
My first Cal game was UCLA vs. Cal in 1984. I was a freshman. I loved football. My high school, Loyola High in Los Angeles, had been #1 in the USA Today poll for a time before losing in the CIF playoffs my senior year. I was used to winning football, and had been a UCLA fan my whole life because my grandmother worked in the ombudsmen office at UCLA.
I sat in the stands and immediately noticed how SMALL Cal looked compared to UCLA. I mean, really small. But a close loss hooked me. I ditched my lifelong UCLA fandom and grabbed hold to the Sisyphus rock that is Cal football.
Yep. I agree with this article. I think it's critical that Cal wins to show its worth to other conferences. It starts with Auburn. A must win game! They must play like this is their last game. It just might be.
My Dad ( Class of '45) took me to my first Call football game when I was 9. It didn't take me long to figure out Cal wasn't a powerhouse and didn't need to be. My life long hope as an alum and a fan is they compete, don't cheat like most of the "Big Boys" and have a shot at some Bowl game. Beating Stanford is always a just, however. Go Bears.
We used to ride bikes from El Cerrito to the games and go sit on Tightwad Hill when I was 8 years old. My Dad brought my brother and me to games once or twice a season. My dad, both my Uncles, one of my my Grandmother's, one of my Grandfather's, a Great Uncle, my Brother, Sister and two of my cousins, all went to CAL. And my mom worked for Clark Kerr and one of my Aunt's worked for Slotman. We are a CAL family. We moved to Oakland when I started junior high school and I received 13 offers out of high school. Some of those schools wanted me more than CAL. But anyone who read the previous knew where I would end up. There was never a doubt. I bleed Blue and Gold. I had a great time playing ball and ended up on the very 1st National Champion Rugby team, and I got a GREAT education. I'm an older dude now, but I will always be grateful for what CAL has given me. Roll on you Bears!
Forgotten what year my dad was. 44 maybe, so he might have known JCB's dad and OD's mom. Talked up a lot of different Cal sports. I think he had a class with Jackie Jensen.
I became a Cal fan in 2003, when I saw them beat USC on my grandmother's old TV. That game not only made me a Cal fan, but a College football fan. The first game I ever went to was the Northwestern Game in 2013, sitting at the north endzone. We went 1-11 that year and that was as dark a time for the program in my memory. (Though I'm sure the Holmoe days were a real nightmare.)
I hear about the dark times Rugbear and others have talked about and how Cal survived it, and it honestly gives me hope. It's the only thing giving me hope in this time. I just hope they know when to find a life raft. I spoke with Rob and Alpha earlier; I understand but the silence is still unsettling to me.
Freshman year was the fall of 1991 for me. Russell White & Mike Pawlawski!!! I totally fell in love with all of it -- tradition and the winning (No. 8 in the country)! I thought it was going to be like this forever. But college is sometimes about growing up and looking life in the face. However, I'm still a life long fan. Even if we go Big Sky, we'll always have the memories. (I am really hoping for something along the lines of a major plot twist with today's media deal).
CAL Football survived the Tom Holmoe years and it will survive anything it's going through now. With Respect to the PAC losing USC and UCLA hurts, especially from a revenue point for a media deal. I think USC will fare well in the BIG10, but I think UCLA made a big mistake. Sure they get $75m/yr, but their travel expenses are estimated at $20m/yr and the UC Regents dinged them for $10m/yr which will go to CAL. The media rights from the LA market just with UCLA might have garnered another $10m/year for the PAC. If that was the case they could have stayed in the PAC, been more competitive than they will be in the BIG10 and netted the same revenue. But, that's why the smart people go to CAL. ;-)
Last I checked, $45M net with better visibility and exposure is still better than $20M to be relegated to a streaming service deal that might have to rely on subscriptions.
I don't think anyone has our numbers yet. If it ends up at $20m you would be correct. I'm hearing $35m and holding out for more, but no one really knows.
WriteForCalifornia Gang - had anyone explored a campaign canvas Christ and Knowlton with emails, letters, pigeons, etc expressing the need to be proactive and not left behind. Doubt it does anything but at least we’re going down swinging.
I would say Auburn is. At some point, we can't just keep living up to the bare minimum of our expectations. He has to coach them beyond, or what are we truly doing here?
Absolutely. One game at a time, my brother. I consider all the out of conference games must win. They will have to win some games they aren’t supposed to to hang in there
Yes, I agree. If this team is gonna bowl, they likely have to win all 3 non-cons, given the strength of the P12…
I just look at that UNT game as a litmus test for the ‘23 season…Wilcox probably loses this game with the O he’s thrown out the last 4-5 seasons…will the new additions (players and coaches) be ready to fire out of the gates in what promises to be the Mean Green’s biggest home game in decades?
I think we win, but it’s close. Line opened at Cal -9.5, but it’s down to 8.5. Wilcox doesn’t blow teams out…would love to see that change.
I am excited about our chances. The change in offense is so over due. I am confident coach Spavital will get the most out of the talent we have. Our defense will be solid with BRETT JOHNSON. Damn the schedule - The Mighty Golden Bears will return!
We’re going 8-4 (5-4 in conference with upset win over USC) then winning a bowl game, and then hopefully we are able to play football in 2024
I proudly endorse this comment.
I like it, Go Bears!
That halloween energy for USC
I'm the the first in my family to set foot on a college campus, attending Cal having never even been to the Bay Area as an LA kid. The Bay was where my family said it was just cold and dark and miserable. Truly, they all believed that. My first Cal football game was my first college football game. I was hooked. That was the 1987 season. I'm still hooked. A new season begins. Go Bears!
My first Cal game was UCLA vs. Cal in 1984. I was a freshman. I loved football. My high school, Loyola High in Los Angeles, had been #1 in the USA Today poll for a time before losing in the CIF playoffs my senior year. I was used to winning football, and had been a UCLA fan my whole life because my grandmother worked in the ombudsmen office at UCLA.
I sat in the stands and immediately noticed how SMALL Cal looked compared to UCLA. I mean, really small. But a close loss hooked me. I ditched my lifelong UCLA fandom and grabbed hold to the Sisyphus rock that is Cal football.
I'm nearly 40 years in. We'll be fine.
Yep. I agree with this article. I think it's critical that Cal wins to show its worth to other conferences. It starts with Auburn. A must win game! They must play like this is their last game. It just might be.
My Dad ( Class of '45) took me to my first Call football game when I was 9. It didn't take me long to figure out Cal wasn't a powerhouse and didn't need to be. My life long hope as an alum and a fan is they compete, don't cheat like most of the "Big Boys" and have a shot at some Bowl game. Beating Stanford is always a just, however. Go Bears.
We used to ride bikes from El Cerrito to the games and go sit on Tightwad Hill when I was 8 years old. My Dad brought my brother and me to games once or twice a season. My dad, both my Uncles, one of my my Grandmother's, one of my Grandfather's, a Great Uncle, my Brother, Sister and two of my cousins, all went to CAL. And my mom worked for Clark Kerr and one of my Aunt's worked for Slotman. We are a CAL family. We moved to Oakland when I started junior high school and I received 13 offers out of high school. Some of those schools wanted me more than CAL. But anyone who read the previous knew where I would end up. There was never a doubt. I bleed Blue and Gold. I had a great time playing ball and ended up on the very 1st National Champion Rugby team, and I got a GREAT education. I'm an older dude now, but I will always be grateful for what CAL has given me. Roll on you Bears!
Slotman!!!!!!!
I was eight and mom was class of 42 but otherwise this is my story too.
Forgotten what year my dad was. 44 maybe, so he might have known JCB's dad and OD's mom. Talked up a lot of different Cal sports. I think he had a class with Jackie Jensen.
I became a Cal fan in 2003, when I saw them beat USC on my grandmother's old TV. That game not only made me a Cal fan, but a College football fan. The first game I ever went to was the Northwestern Game in 2013, sitting at the north endzone. We went 1-11 that year and that was as dark a time for the program in my memory. (Though I'm sure the Holmoe days were a real nightmare.)
I hear about the dark times Rugbear and others have talked about and how Cal survived it, and it honestly gives me hope. It's the only thing giving me hope in this time. I just hope they know when to find a life raft. I spoke with Rob and Alpha earlier; I understand but the silence is still unsettling to me.
Freshman year was the fall of 1991 for me. Russell White & Mike Pawlawski!!! I totally fell in love with all of it -- tradition and the winning (No. 8 in the country)! I thought it was going to be like this forever. But college is sometimes about growing up and looking life in the face. However, I'm still a life long fan. Even if we go Big Sky, we'll always have the memories. (I am really hoping for something along the lines of a major plot twist with today's media deal).
Thanks Bob Bockrath. My friends and I went to the Citrus Bowl. What could've been...
CAL Football survived the Tom Holmoe years and it will survive anything it's going through now. With Respect to the PAC losing USC and UCLA hurts, especially from a revenue point for a media deal. I think USC will fare well in the BIG10, but I think UCLA made a big mistake. Sure they get $75m/yr, but their travel expenses are estimated at $20m/yr and the UC Regents dinged them for $10m/yr which will go to CAL. The media rights from the LA market just with UCLA might have garnered another $10m/year for the PAC. If that was the case they could have stayed in the PAC, been more competitive than they will be in the BIG10 and netted the same revenue. But, that's why the smart people go to CAL. ;-)
Last I checked, $45M net with better visibility and exposure is still better than $20M to be relegated to a streaming service deal that might have to rely on subscriptions.
I don't think anyone has our numbers yet. If it ends up at $20m you would be correct. I'm hearing $35m and holding out for more, but no one really knows.
Me, before the season: The is no joy that can fill the void created by the anger and sadness I feel towards the current state of Cal football
Me, after witnessing Ott truck beast a defender en route to the endzone: *incoherent babbling, foaming at the mouth, hands raised to the Heavens*
WriteForCalifornia Gang - had anyone explored a campaign canvas Christ and Knowlton with emails, letters, pigeons, etc expressing the need to be proactive and not left behind. Doubt it does anything but at least we’re going down swinging.
Topic of discussion…is 9/2 at North Texas in Denton the biggest must win of Wilcox’s career?
I would say Auburn is. At some point, we can't just keep living up to the bare minimum of our expectations. He has to coach them beyond, or what are we truly doing here?
No arguments there.
But Auburn doesn’t really matter if you lose in Denton as 9.5 point favorites.
Absolutely. One game at a time, my brother. I consider all the out of conference games must win. They will have to win some games they aren’t supposed to to hang in there
Yes, I agree. If this team is gonna bowl, they likely have to win all 3 non-cons, given the strength of the P12…
I just look at that UNT game as a litmus test for the ‘23 season…Wilcox probably loses this game with the O he’s thrown out the last 4-5 seasons…will the new additions (players and coaches) be ready to fire out of the gates in what promises to be the Mean Green’s biggest home game in decades?
I think we win, but it’s close. Line opened at Cal -9.5, but it’s down to 8.5. Wilcox doesn’t blow teams out…would love to see that change.
Until we play Idaho.
Both are correct statements.
As for the Viking funeral, who will be the Angel of Death?
I am excited about our chances. The change in offense is so over due. I am confident coach Spavital will get the most out of the talent we have. Our defense will be solid with BRETT JOHNSON. Damn the schedule - The Mighty Golden Bears will return!
And when the season's over, we will buy a keg of booze...
Thanks Nick. Great work.