Cal vs. North Carolina State Football Insta-Recap & Rate the Game: Bears Lose Another Close Game, Fall 23-24
Cal out-gained NC State 399 yards to 363, but lost after missing a late-game field goal
The California Golden Bears (3-4, 0-4 ACC) remain winless in Atlantic Coast Conference league games. The North Carolina State Wolfpack (4-4, 1-3 ACC) trailed the entire game but scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win their first conference game of the season.
California and the North Carolina Tar Heels remain the only teams in the ACC without an in-conference victory.
California first-year placekicker Derek Morris missed what would have been the go-ahead field goal from 28 yards out with 1:37 remaining in the game. Instead, the Golden Bears trailed the Wolfpack 23-24.
Morris, who started for the first time this season, was successful on three other field goals Saturday afternoon, from 41 yards, 26 yards and 24 yards, before the late-game miss.
California’s defense gave up 363 yards to the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Freshman quarterback CJ Bailey went 25-for-36 and put up 306 passing yards, including two touchdowns thrown against the Golden Bears.
I'm a huge fan of Justin Wilcox. He's a very good human being, he's a great role model for the kids and he understands Berkeley. That being said I believe its time for a change. Why? Because we keep making the same mistakes and keep fielding teams that are not well coached and we keep losing close games that with better coaching including better play calling and better execution, we should win. I think the decision to hire Bloesch was a disaster. I keep hearing in the weekly press interviews the same reasons about why we are not winning, but I hear no solutions, none! Bloesch has just turned into a recording. We know the problems but they can't tell us the solutions. That means they don't have solutions. Time for a change. We have ballers on this team. They need a coach who can help them realize their potential. Forget the fans, do it for our players.
As an early adopter to Wilcox, today I am firm he needs to be fired and the sooner the better. What FINALLY tipped it? When Morris missed the field goal, Wilcox was shown walking down the sideline with his hands on his head. That is the worst body language a leader much less a HC of a team (any team/sport) should be displaying to their team. In fact, I'm not sure I have ever seen a coach do that! But that was the final straw.
Additionally, I've tired of his "football is hard"; "we were 1 play away (no you aren't)" and the constant hiring of friends. He has created his fears. He is committed to attempting to win by one score (scored in the last minute) and does not have a killer attitude. In short, his coaching philosophy is so ingrained that even with a huge NIL and plethora of talent, he would coach/scheme/manage to win ugly and make everything much harder than needed. He is who he is.
I could go on and on. Even if he wins out this year, he needs to go. It would be best if that happened on Monday. The change is over due.