Yes, there were some atrocious calls down the stretch but it shouldn’t even come to that. Wilcox had a completely undeserved opportunity after 7 1/2 years of disappointment to pull a fanbase right back in, and in that moment, he pulled the quintessential example of the last 7 1/2 years.
How can you expect a fanbase to keep showing up for this punishment time and time again?
I try to not be reactionary and coming off of a 45 minute walk to cool down, I can comfortably say that this one broke me in a way others haven’t before.
That's what I told my best friend (and Cal roommate) at the end of the game. This is the worst "Cal being Cal" collapse I've ever witnessed in 45 years of watching Cal, going back to my childhood.
Nothing for me matches the heartbreak of losing the 1990 Big Game in the manner as it played out, or the 1993 loss to UW, so last night's loss is merely added to a long and sad list of bad memories and trauma. For whatever inexplicable reason though, I'm a Cal fan that still keeps trying to show up. Maybe all that scar tissue has made me numb...
This is worse. If we beat Miami and run the table (which we still have a chance to do), including winning the ACC - we would go to the playoffs.
The only "loss" more painful is when the Southern coaches heeded then Texas Longhorn coach Mack Brown's call to vote us out of the Rose Bowl in the last BCS ranking in 2004.
I haven’t been a Justin Wilcox fan since early in his tenure. Hopefully, Cal fans with better memories can help with the details. Cal was down by 3 late in the 4th quarter. They had driven the ball inside the 5?, but it was 4th down. Instead of kicking the FG and sending it into overtime, Justin decided to go for the win. They didn’t make it and Cal lost. Although I don’t understand why you go for the win on the road, there has to be a yardage needed limit. I’ve never been angrier at a player or coach in my life. Does anyone remember that game?
1. Our offense scored 38 points on the #8 ranked team. Our team never quit.
2. Our student fans, themselves balled out and showed up strong with no quit.
3. We competed with the #8 team.
4. We have a jumpstart on reviving interest and increasing our fan base.
5. Our recruit targets had to be impressed, even if we lost, oh, so, heartbreakingly and narrowly.
6. Did anybody honestly imagine us being in this game by the Fourth Quarter? If you're honest, your'e surprised we did as well as we did.
Things that could be better:
Time of possession in the second half was a joke. Play-calling went mostly vanilla. A joke that put most of the second half of the game on the sturdy, but human shoulders of our defense. In my humble opinion, SIrmon needs a raise. And Bloesch, too, impressed with some interesting and effective adjustments.
Fun Fact: It ACC officiating that made the Immaculate Encroachment call. Did you notice the other refs, after seeing it on the big screen, seemed to be questioning the head referee about the targeting non-call?
There really needs to be a way to have official reviews to be more transparent. I don’t know what the TV audience heard but all we got in the stadium after the targeting review was “4th down” with a fisted salute in the air by the need ref. One of my coworkers who is an FSU grad was at the game and he was shocked at the call. Other friends who watched the game on TV thought that there was about a 5% chance that it wouldn’t be targeting. But this is how the football gods treat Cal every year. If it’s not a ridiculous schedule or bad injuries, it’s something like what happened on Saturday. Is there anyway that the reffing crew could be reprimanded? Do they get graded and if so, are their grades shared publicly or is it another private sham. It really like it was the ACC protecting their best bet for a championship 12 slot. Miami will eventually get what’s coming…karma. I’m sure there were calls against Cal that were missed but the non-targeting call was the difference between a win and a loss. I was somewhat neutral about Miami but after I saw the behavior of their players after the pick my view of Miami is forever changed. They got only one unsportsmanlike penalty but they really deserved more. There were multiple U players that were jawing at the Cal bench from just feet away before the mild pushing and shoving. I would much rather lose like how our players did than win like how the Miami players did. I wouldve been embarrassed to be a Miami grad on this night.
I think open ref evaluations would open a can of worms that BCAA sports would not want out there. It’s tough to make ref games. It’s an unpopular job.
As for targeting, it should have been called, if we’re going to have the rule. If it’s a bad rule, change it. Our guys were flagged for far less in other games. Also, I’m pretty sure Miami was holding, all night. Since a good team trains to not commit penalties, then you don’t start holding Miami, just to keep it even.
“Play-calling went mostly vanilla”, Bloesch continues to think that he can successfully call running plays between the tackles when for three quarters has been unsuccessful.
Yes. Get rid of that F'n DJ! His s..t was so loud that you couldn't hear the ref's calls or the PA announcer after the plays. He was also playing stuff during the bands performance of God Bless America. Also, it wasn't the DJ asking for noise when we were on O. It was the loud, screaming male cheerleader.
The DJ who had the poorly operating was really annoying. Is he even a Cal grad who understands Cal sports? His timing was off. He definitely didn’t get the flow of the game. Just loud and annoying.
That was an epic collapse. I've endured half a century of California football and that might have been the worst yet. But it would never have happened if we had a good offensive line which would have allowed us to put together a 4th quarter drive that would have at least eaten some clock. That's on the head coach who's in his 8th season. I know he's a "nice guy" but so was Holmoe. We've got a good QB and and a lot of electrifying players on offense. But not enough in the trenches. The last two games have shown -- albeit in different ways -- that it's past time for a change at the top.
I'm not really angry or at all depressed, the sad fact is I'm used to it and that sucks.
It is clear that Bloesch isn’t able to handle both the OL coaching and OC duties. Wilcox made a major miscalculation when he didn’t hire a new dedicated OL coach.
He has a QB coach on staff who has been a very goo OC in other college programs. Let him do the play calling. However, it would really help if we could get some GOOD O linemen.
The 1990 Big Game and 1993 loss to UW will always be my top two. My old Cal classmate might even add the 1979 loss to uclol.
That said, it's just depressing AF that Cal Football has endured this so often over the program's history that there even has to be a list of these losses, much less trying to rank them.
“We've got a good QB and and a lot of electrifying players on offense. But not enough in the trenches.” Spot on! We did well when we were popping out OL to the NFL fairly regularly. A real winning program at any level has the ability to seal the deal and grind down the clock with a Q4 lead. Too many Wilcox losses exactly because we don’t have the OL to support the conservative play calls late.
I'm 20 years up on you. I've had my heart broken almost every year for about 70 years. The two things that stood out to me about last night was the fact that the 4th quarter gameplan ignored what got them that 25-point lead in the first place. Super aggressive defense, along with super aggressive offense. Prevent defense and worrying more about the clock than about down management is why the great John Madden （may he rest in peace） only had one Super Bowl.
Actually you're eight years up on me. It's been 62 years since my first Bear game. In any event, that's a lot of heartbreak. You're right about the game plan in the 4th, totally misread game state.
transfer student in 1973. Until Tedford arrived in 2002, Cal in 30 years had only 9 years of success (better than a .500 record). That's 21 years of failure. After Tedford, Cal's 10 year record is trending in that bad direction. I'd be suspect of any coach from texas, they're between jobs, then head out of Cal asap. The games against fsu, miami and last years game here against auburn were ALL winnable.
When I was younger, I heard from old blues, "Rose Bowl". Only the Joe Roth and Aaron Rogers teams came close (tied for first place). Since I will never experience a Jan. 1st Rose Bowl, I share everyone's grief and hope for Cal's football success soon.
I flew up with a bunch of friends from SoCal for today.
It was a lot of fun to be on campus and walking around Berkeley. The energy on campus and in Berkeley was great. We went to Jupiters for beer and pizza before hiking up to Memorial. Lots of wonderful memories made today with friends.
The game atmosphere in Memorial was awesome. The crowd was fully into it and Memorial was rocking. The drone show at halftime was a lot of fun.
Then Wilcox did what Wilcox does and wasted another opportunity to show he has what it takes to turn the program around. 8 years of Wilcox failing to deliver. How many more years does he get? This was the Wilcox experience. He is a nice guy but an average coach.
Good morning, I just wanted to commented that I had a rough time sleeping last night. It seemed I woke up every 15 minutes and the Cal game was in my head. I cannot imagine what the players and coaches went through last night. I just want to give the team some word of encouragement. That they did play a Top 10 school to the bitter end. They knew that it is a full 60 minute game and every play and unfortunately some bad calls to fight for a victory. Don't give up on the season. They will probably play another couple of ACC teams that will be ranked in the Top 25 this season. We have a chance to battle. The next 7 games are not out of our realm. Stay strong and GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!(
Team played out of their heads with their hair on fire. I love them and am so proud of them. We got another game, battle, war. You are competitors and will put this behind and charge, charge forward Bears. You were glorious, even in defeat.
Ah, the Cal-est game that ever Cal-ed. The missed targeting call isn't the only reason we blew the lead. With a lead that size you need multiple things to go wrong. But it was enough to turn a close win into a close loss.
Just got home from the game, too exasperated from that 2nd half to be angry. That bullshit defensive meltdown - and I guess the 5+ Elysian IPAs I had starting at halftime - is seriously is giving me heartburn and making me sick. How TF do you blow a 25 point 2nd half lead at home?!!
Fireable DEFENSE and OFFENSE. List off every goddamn CFB cliche - 'prevent D prevents winning', 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory', 'play not to lose = lose every time', 'typiCAL heartbreaker', et cetera rinse and repeat.
Why the hell do you put in your cold backup QB when a hot Nando potentially answering that 3Q Miami TD essentially seals a W? Instead having to settle for that FG, regardless of our kicker's reliability issues. ACC refs aside, we should've never even been in a position where a potential targeting call/no-call puts the game in the balance.
This loss is squarely on Wilcox; along with Sirmon & Bloesch. The kids played balls out - Jack, Nohl, Cade, Nando, Jaydn, et al left it all out there. Unfortunately CJW and his chickenshit conservative mentality has lost us how many games now? Like another poster said elsewhere the other day - why the fukk do I do this to myself?
Silver lining, if anything - at least my friend group & I had an amazing time at Gameday this morning. And as were leaving the game an hour or so ago, we saw Mama Lynch and her group in the parking garage and said hi. Told her we saw Marshawn do his thing on Gameday, and that we love her son and that we love her too. Really awesome lady and the epitome of the East Bay - TOWN BIDNESS!
Thanks for being there for CGD and making us look great. Just know that because of folks like you, this will be the beginning of the new chapter for Cal notwithstanding the tough and preventable loss
LOL! The beginning of a new chapter for Cal??? What are you talking about? What evidence do you have of a new chapter? This is typical Cal- they lose. Mediocrity at best is expected and accepted.
Yes, the call was missed and had it not been, we likely win. This is but one f'ed up thing of many in this game. But all those other f'ed up things land squarely on this team, and on our coach. Miami ended up with 15 more minutes of possession than us. We are up 25, 25!!! in the second half. And yet, we don't have the ability to run between the tackles and kill the f'ing clock. That is the most pathetic and damning part of this game.
Having slept on it I'm still upset with the loss. I like Wilcox but I am not sure after eight years that he will get us to the promised land. Several of us pointed out after the VT loss that the zebras could not be trusted to make the right call even with the review booth. Never get into a situation where their whimsy can dictate the outcome. Still if we got 2 or 3 first downs it would have iced the game. Sadly this didn't happen.
Their players were just better. Give our team credit for playing hard, but in the end, size, strength and skill prevailed. We will win more games, but competing at the top level is a couple years away.
Yes, there were some atrocious calls down the stretch but it shouldn’t even come to that. Wilcox had a completely undeserved opportunity after 7 1/2 years of disappointment to pull a fanbase right back in, and in that moment, he pulled the quintessential example of the last 7 1/2 years.
How can you expect a fanbase to keep showing up for this punishment time and time again?
I try to not be reactionary and coming off of a 45 minute walk to cool down, I can comfortably say that this one broke me in a way others haven’t before.
That's what I told my best friend (and Cal roommate) at the end of the game. This is the worst "Cal being Cal" collapse I've ever witnessed in 45 years of watching Cal, going back to my childhood.
Yup. This was as bad as I ever recall, in that same amount of time.
It's always the same thing every year. It was like this after the loss to Auburn last year.
We didn't blow a 25 point lead against Auburn.
I was referring to "How can you expect a fanbase to keep showing up for this punishment time and time again?"
Nothing for me matches the heartbreak of losing the 1990 Big Game in the manner as it played out, or the 1993 loss to UW, so last night's loss is merely added to a long and sad list of bad memories and trauma. For whatever inexplicable reason though, I'm a Cal fan that still keeps trying to show up. Maybe all that scar tissue has made me numb...
This is worse. If we beat Miami and run the table (which we still have a chance to do), including winning the ACC - we would go to the playoffs.
The only "loss" more painful is when the Southern coaches heeded then Texas Longhorn coach Mack Brown's call to vote us out of the Rose Bowl in the last BCS ranking in 2004.
I haven’t been a Justin Wilcox fan since early in his tenure. Hopefully, Cal fans with better memories can help with the details. Cal was down by 3 late in the 4th quarter. They had driven the ball inside the 5?, but it was 4th down. Instead of kicking the FG and sending it into overtime, Justin decided to go for the win. They didn’t make it and Cal lost. Although I don’t understand why you go for the win on the road, there has to be a yardage needed limit. I’ve never been angrier at a player or coach in my life. Does anyone remember that game?
OK.
Since I tend to be a sunshine pumper.
1. Our offense scored 38 points on the #8 ranked team. Our team never quit.
2. Our student fans, themselves balled out and showed up strong with no quit.
3. We competed with the #8 team.
4. We have a jumpstart on reviving interest and increasing our fan base.
5. Our recruit targets had to be impressed, even if we lost, oh, so, heartbreakingly and narrowly.
6. Did anybody honestly imagine us being in this game by the Fourth Quarter? If you're honest, your'e surprised we did as well as we did.
Things that could be better:
Time of possession in the second half was a joke. Play-calling went mostly vanilla. A joke that put most of the second half of the game on the sturdy, but human shoulders of our defense. In my humble opinion, SIrmon needs a raise. And Bloesch, too, impressed with some interesting and effective adjustments.
Fun Fact: It ACC officiating that made the Immaculate Encroachment call. Did you notice the other refs, after seeing it on the big screen, seemed to be questioning the head referee about the targeting non-call?
Yes but I am still devastated. What a collapse after an amazing 3qs.
One cannot sit on a lead with Saint Cam.
I forgot to add, the pass protection was 100% better! Not perfect, but Nando was not getting the pretzel treatment.
There really needs to be a way to have official reviews to be more transparent. I don’t know what the TV audience heard but all we got in the stadium after the targeting review was “4th down” with a fisted salute in the air by the need ref. One of my coworkers who is an FSU grad was at the game and he was shocked at the call. Other friends who watched the game on TV thought that there was about a 5% chance that it wouldn’t be targeting. But this is how the football gods treat Cal every year. If it’s not a ridiculous schedule or bad injuries, it’s something like what happened on Saturday. Is there anyway that the reffing crew could be reprimanded? Do they get graded and if so, are their grades shared publicly or is it another private sham. It really like it was the ACC protecting their best bet for a championship 12 slot. Miami will eventually get what’s coming…karma. I’m sure there were calls against Cal that were missed but the non-targeting call was the difference between a win and a loss. I was somewhat neutral about Miami but after I saw the behavior of their players after the pick my view of Miami is forever changed. They got only one unsportsmanlike penalty but they really deserved more. There were multiple U players that were jawing at the Cal bench from just feet away before the mild pushing and shoving. I would much rather lose like how our players did than win like how the Miami players did. I wouldve been embarrassed to be a Miami grad on this night.
Well said.
I think open ref evaluations would open a can of worms that BCAA sports would not want out there. It’s tough to make ref games. It’s an unpopular job.
As for targeting, it should have been called, if we’re going to have the rule. If it’s a bad rule, change it. Our guys were flagged for far less in other games. Also, I’m pretty sure Miami was holding, all night. Since a good team trains to not commit penalties, then you don’t start holding Miami, just to keep it even.
“Play-calling went mostly vanilla”, Bloesch continues to think that he can successfully call running plays between the tackles when for three quarters has been unsuccessful.
I also want to punch the DJ who kept telling the fans to make noise when we were on offense.
And the fans who kept chanting F Miami when we were on offense.
Yeah. Major pet peeve. And blasting 107 Db noise (yeah i measured) while our boys are huddling. Dumb.
Same and some fans started chanting overrated when we went up by 25, which was was too premature.
Welp, premature snarkelation, but still may be true.
Yes. Get rid of that F'n DJ! His s..t was so loud that you couldn't hear the ref's calls or the PA announcer after the plays. He was also playing stuff during the bands performance of God Bless America. Also, it wasn't the DJ asking for noise when we were on O. It was the loud, screaming male cheerleader.
Both. It was also up on the screens. Brain dead.
The DJ who had the poorly operating was really annoying. Is he even a Cal grad who understands Cal sports? His timing was off. He definitely didn’t get the flow of the game. Just loud and annoying.
Thought nothing would ever top the hill mary game against Arizona in terms of epic collapses...
But Wilcox is a defensive genius, he would never lose a game up 35-10 in the 3rd quarter.
Correct, but he can lose a game up 38-18 in the 4th qtr.
The kicker with that U of A game is that it wasn’t really even a true Hail Mary…it was a legit play call that resulted in a 40-some odd yard TD.
And agreed - this was worse.
That was an epic collapse. I've endured half a century of California football and that might have been the worst yet. But it would never have happened if we had a good offensive line which would have allowed us to put together a 4th quarter drive that would have at least eaten some clock. That's on the head coach who's in his 8th season. I know he's a "nice guy" but so was Holmoe. We've got a good QB and and a lot of electrifying players on offense. But not enough in the trenches. The last two games have shown -- albeit in different ways -- that it's past time for a change at the top.
I'm not really angry or at all depressed, the sad fact is I'm used to it and that sucks.
It is clear that Bloesch isn’t able to handle both the OL coaching and OC duties. Wilcox made a major miscalculation when he didn’t hire a new dedicated OL coach.
He has a QB coach on staff who has been a very goo OC in other college programs. Let him do the play calling. However, it would really help if we could get some GOOD O linemen.
Unfortunately, Wilcox failed to hire a competent offensive coordinator. Bloesch is a fine OL coach, but is in over his head as an OC.
>>> the sad fact is I'm used to it and that sucks <<<
Yup. Found myself just shaking my fool head on yet another drive home after a big let down. 🤦🏻♀️
The 1990 Big Game and 1993 loss to UW will always be my top two. My old Cal classmate might even add the 1979 loss to uclol.
That said, it's just depressing AF that Cal Football has endured this so often over the program's history that there even has to be a list of these losses, much less trying to rank them.
“We've got a good QB and and a lot of electrifying players on offense. But not enough in the trenches.” Spot on! We did well when we were popping out OL to the NFL fairly regularly. A real winning program at any level has the ability to seal the deal and grind down the clock with a Q4 lead. Too many Wilcox losses exactly because we don’t have the OL to support the conservative play calls late.
I'm 20 years up on you. I've had my heart broken almost every year for about 70 years. The two things that stood out to me about last night was the fact that the 4th quarter gameplan ignored what got them that 25-point lead in the first place. Super aggressive defense, along with super aggressive offense. Prevent defense and worrying more about the clock than about down management is why the great John Madden （may he rest in peace） only had one Super Bowl.
Actually you're eight years up on me. It's been 62 years since my first Bear game. In any event, that's a lot of heartbreak. You're right about the game plan in the 4th, totally misread game state.
transfer student in 1973. Until Tedford arrived in 2002, Cal in 30 years had only 9 years of success (better than a .500 record). That's 21 years of failure. After Tedford, Cal's 10 year record is trending in that bad direction. I'd be suspect of any coach from texas, they're between jobs, then head out of Cal asap. The games against fsu, miami and last years game here against auburn were ALL winnable.
When I was younger, I heard from old blues, "Rose Bowl". Only the Joe Roth and Aaron Rogers teams came close (tied for first place). Since I will never experience a Jan. 1st Rose Bowl, I share everyone's grief and hope for Cal's football success soon.
Agreed 100% OD…I found myself chuckling on the drive home.
The offensive line depth needs to be where all team improvements need to start and end. Period.
Wilcox has to go. He simply can't win big games or establish a culture of consistent winning.
I flew up with a bunch of friends from SoCal for today.
It was a lot of fun to be on campus and walking around Berkeley. The energy on campus and in Berkeley was great. We went to Jupiters for beer and pizza before hiking up to Memorial. Lots of wonderful memories made today with friends.
The game atmosphere in Memorial was awesome. The crowd was fully into it and Memorial was rocking. The drone show at halftime was a lot of fun.
Then Wilcox did what Wilcox does and wasted another opportunity to show he has what it takes to turn the program around. 8 years of Wilcox failing to deliver. How many more years does he get? This was the Wilcox experience. He is a nice guy but an average coach.
No, Wilcox is a below average coach.
18 games below .500 in conference play is downright brutal.
This was likely the nail in the coffin at least
For Wilcox? I highly doubt it. I wish it were but I don’t believe it. He will be back next season to find new ways to lose and disappoint us.
Again, we shall see.
I am convinced Lyons wants to build this program back to a national contender and a modern brand.
If so, he needs to fire our AD and Wilcox. If he brings them back then he isn’t serious.
Well he needs to fire AD first.
Yes, AD first. Wilcox will be very expensive.
It should be, but it won't be.
The craziest part about being a Cal fan? Not one person thought the game was over when it was 35-10.
Yeah... even when some Miami fans were starting to leave the stadium.
Not one person thought that Cal could ever get into such a position either.
Good morning, I just wanted to commented that I had a rough time sleeping last night. It seemed I woke up every 15 minutes and the Cal game was in my head. I cannot imagine what the players and coaches went through last night. I just want to give the team some word of encouragement. That they did play a Top 10 school to the bitter end. They knew that it is a full 60 minute game and every play and unfortunately some bad calls to fight for a victory. Don't give up on the season. They will probably play another couple of ACC teams that will be ranked in the Top 25 this season. We have a chance to battle. The next 7 games are not out of our realm. Stay strong and GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!(
^^^^^THIS!
I will add:
Team played out of their heads with their hair on fire. I love them and am so proud of them. We got another game, battle, war. You are competitors and will put this behind and charge, charge forward Bears. You were glorious, even in defeat.
Ah, the Cal-est game that ever Cal-ed. The missed targeting call isn't the only reason we blew the lead. With a lead that size you need multiple things to go wrong. But it was enough to turn a close win into a close loss.
It was the single most infuriating loss I have ever seen.
Yeah I hear you. I can think of at least five that are worse, but hear you
What Saban said at CHD stuck with me though - be a transformative coach
I want to be a transformative fan
Excellent.
Yeah, honestly, I expected Miami to give us one of those Washington, Oregon, OSU blow outs like last year.
Just got home from the game, too exasperated from that 2nd half to be angry. That bullshit defensive meltdown - and I guess the 5+ Elysian IPAs I had starting at halftime - is seriously is giving me heartburn and making me sick. How TF do you blow a 25 point 2nd half lead at home?!!
Fireable DEFENSE and OFFENSE. List off every goddamn CFB cliche - 'prevent D prevents winning', 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory', 'play not to lose = lose every time', 'typiCAL heartbreaker', et cetera rinse and repeat.
Why the hell do you put in your cold backup QB when a hot Nando potentially answering that 3Q Miami TD essentially seals a W? Instead having to settle for that FG, regardless of our kicker's reliability issues. ACC refs aside, we should've never even been in a position where a potential targeting call/no-call puts the game in the balance.
This loss is squarely on Wilcox; along with Sirmon & Bloesch. The kids played balls out - Jack, Nohl, Cade, Nando, Jaydn, et al left it all out there. Unfortunately CJW and his chickenshit conservative mentality has lost us how many games now? Like another poster said elsewhere the other day - why the fukk do I do this to myself?
Silver lining, if anything - at least my friend group & I had an amazing time at Gameday this morning. And as were leaving the game an hour or so ago, we saw Mama Lynch and her group in the parking garage and said hi. Told her we saw Marshawn do his thing on Gameday, and that we love her son and that we love her too. Really awesome lady and the epitome of the East Bay - TOWN BIDNESS!
Thanks for being there for CGD and making us look great. Just know that because of folks like you, this will be the beginning of the new chapter for Cal notwithstanding the tough and preventable loss
LOL! The beginning of a new chapter for Cal??? What are you talking about? What evidence do you have of a new chapter? This is typical Cal- they lose. Mediocrity at best is expected and accepted.
Coach Bloesch was so good in the first half, rolling out Mendoza, and not having RBs run into walls down the middle.
It was working so well, but he stopped all of that in the 4th quarter. Why???
Also what happened to our defense on the 4th?
Officiating was awful but we played even worse than the refs.
We tried to salt the game away without a running game. That doesn’t work.
Wilcox style of football needs exactly that. He still hasn't figured it out
He doesn't get the linemen to do it.
D was gassed. They played 15 more minutes than Miami D.
Defense was completely gassed at the end. Also Cam Ward played that 4th quarter about as well as a QB can play it while under duress.
He was rarely under duress. We stopped blitzing after the first 4th quarter TD.
Yes, the call was missed and had it not been, we likely win. This is but one f'ed up thing of many in this game. But all those other f'ed up things land squarely on this team, and on our coach. Miami ended up with 15 more minutes of possession than us. We are up 25, 25!!! in the second half. And yet, we don't have the ability to run between the tackles and kill the f'ing clock. That is the most pathetic and damning part of this game.
I wanted to be up three more scores before I felt I could breathe.
Yep, especially given how we were scoring.
We just needed one more score. That's all I was begging for. Even a FG. Just a few more points to give us that buffer.
Having slept on it I'm still upset with the loss. I like Wilcox but I am not sure after eight years that he will get us to the promised land. Several of us pointed out after the VT loss that the zebras could not be trusted to make the right call even with the review booth. Never get into a situation where their whimsy can dictate the outcome. Still if we got 2 or 3 first downs it would have iced the game. Sadly this didn't happen.
Last night I was so pissed.
This morning I'm just sad.
I’m empty.
When you can’t run the ball or even protect your QB when they send three, no lead is safe.
Their players were just better. Give our team credit for playing hard, but in the end, size, strength and skill prevailed. We will win more games, but competing at the top level is a couple years away.
Miami has a dynamic QB and a functional offensive line, outside of that didn’t see a huge difference in talent.
Not with Wilcox as the HC.
3-2 / 0-2 in conference now and going to 5-0 red hot Pitt next week.
Does a 4-6 win season and a losing conference record sound familiar?
Competing at the top level is something that the Cal football program isn’t capable of doing.