On the field yesterday you said you din't know what to write. So what do I find today? Re-mix though it may be, you fashion this masterpiece. Nobody gets being a Cal fan better than you. And none of us write about it any better. Go Bears!!!!
Much respect to Avinash, I'd like to think we ALL get it. That's why we're all here. To various degrees, we all understand it on a very visceral level and live and die in our public and private spaces as we take in Cal games, particularly the Big Game.
Case in point: I like to post funny and weird .gifs on my classroom TV screen each day. But this past Friday, I chose to post a .gif of The Play. I had my reasons.
As it turns out, I have a youngster in my 3rd grade class, whose parents went to Cal during the Tedford years, and whose mother was a Cal band member. Her boy has been wanting to be in my class since he was in Kinder. But more importantly, he very much wants to go to Cal like his mom and dad. (He's even named after former Chief Justice Earl Warren, himself a Cal grad!) When he came in Friday morning, he saw the TV screen and turned to his classmates coming into the room and announced, "That's the Play. My mother taught me about that and told me that it's important that I know what that is..." I gasped hearing that, and fist bumped him as I moved to my desk, and quietly told him in passing why I posted that.
Given that the '82 Big Game was my last Cal game as a student, I had to take pause for that moment and realize that Cal fandom had come full circle and was regenerating itself, as those of us across the various Cal eras experience, even it's for one wild Saturday every November.
I am a substitute teacher. When I introduce myself I give the students 39 seconds to ask me any question they want. A favorite of the younger grades is “What’s tour favorite color?”
My answer:”Red, unless Cal is playing Stanford. Then it’s Blue & Gold.” Every once in a while, there will be a student who gets it. 😊
Avinash Kunnath has written some GREAT stuff over the years about Cal football and what it means to be a Cal fan, which he deeply, deeply understands as well or better than anyone. …But he outdid himself with is piece. I literally cried when I read this.
That post game Fernando interview might be the single greatest moment or expression of a non-game playing player in history. Nothing else comes to mind. Not even Evan Weaver. The authentic purity of it is sublime.
I just want to state that the "Go Bears Forever" is my contribution to Cal lore and history. A student of mine who transferred to Cal about 10 years ago responded to my congtratulatory email on her acceptance with, "Go Bears. FOREVER". Please send all royalties to the Cal NIL Legends website.
Say what you about Wilcox’s tendency to turn into Charlie Brown at the most inopportune times for this program, but pulling this one out of our ass with Jaron, Aaron, Marshawn, Desean, Tedford and the Riveras all in the house was huge. I don’t think there’s ever been so much star power in Memorial at once. Maybe the difference between securing Jaron, and with that, more dominoes.
This year's Big Game exemplifies of what makes sports great. I thought that after the first quarter, I've seen this show before. And then the 2nd quarter felt like a trough of disillusionment. I almost turned the game off in disgust. But, things began to gain a little steam by the 3rd quarter. The amazing comeback in the 4th quarter couldn't have been written any better. It's a classic come-from-behind story.
The Officials might have ruined Cal's bid for an 8-4 season (or better). They didn't call an obvious targeting call on Miami which would have given Cal a first down and a great chance to run out the clock. Yes, it's speculation, but wouldn't that have been great to beat high ranked Miami on "Game Day"?
What ifs vs what done…enjoying the what done this week. And the what may come with Mendoza leadership and unwavering passion. He has overachieved with our coaches, so frankly this should not be discounted. I love this team and am proud to call myself a Cal Alum! Go Bears forever!
I believe we're getting the "pledge" treatment in the ACC. We're the "new guys" to the frat.
The officials know that the ACC fan-base mostly hate the Left Coast, so "gray area" calls are likely to go against us, until, if ever, the prevailing thinking changes. Same thing with the mystery PI call that gave Auburn a TD in our game.
Honestly, overall, I think the cultural exchange that will be ongoing for as long the ACC lasts or we time out in 2036 is generally a good thing. Polarized regions might learn to see each other with more complexity, than being "the other guys."
Read the room, buddy. We're celebrating today, when we come down from this high we'll re-focus on the sh*tshow that is our football program. But for today....We've got the Axe!!!!
And Taylor doesn't have what Fernando Mendoza does have--a game winning touchdown drive to win the Big Game. My residual frustration from that ending of the 1988 Big Game remains. Only then it was Taylor who QB'd the better team with more talent and couldn't get a win. It also seems only appropriate that yesterday's win took place in the same shadow of the end zone that made players like Kevin Moen and Jackson Sirmon Cal Big Game heroes, among others, but where Taylor, for his part, failed to punch in a game winning score.
Yeah, Taylor almost beat us, but that's what he does, at least over his career to this point--"almost" win Big Games.
Wow! What's your problem with Taylor? He's a great coach. Just look at his career record as a coach from high school, college and now. I'm a die hard CAL fan but what he's done with the lowest talent level any one would never want as a coach is remarkable.
Woke up Sunday morning with a hoarse voice and sore jaws because when I wasn’t cheering or yelling “DEFENSE,” I was anxiously chewing gum for three hours.
I still can’t believe we came from behind and WON!
Saturday aside, the on-field results have been disappointing this year (same record against a weaker schedule? Ugh). But we definitely have improved the visibility and cultural cache of Cal football this season, and I'll take that as a net positive.
Like, did anyone have Pat McAfee down as a new Cal fan before the season started?
The image at the top of the story is perfect. Beautiful day. The game itself had a surprise ending that we have waited all year to enjoy. But damn, that Oline needs more coaching time. Imagine Fernando with just one more second to make his reads and passes. I don't know how many times he has been sacked and beat up this season, but it has got to be a record, a bad record. Everyone knows this, but damn, fix that Oline.
Hey man. We've gone through all the negative comments about the O line, Wilcox, O and D coordinators, etc. Let's keep this positive right now. This was a GREAT positive write from Avi and it exposed the true longtime CAL fans who go to every game and never gets tired of rooting for his or her favorite team. During the season I can't wait for the Saturday trip to Memorial Stadium again and again. I've been doing this since I was a small child with my dad and it started sometime in the 1940's and as long as I can walk I'll keep going. Go Bears forever.
OK, I can do that. I will keep it positive. The 4th quarter was very sweet. and when I got home seeing the after game on field interview with Fernando was very special. We don't see that kind of emotion and love for teammates so much anymore. I loved it. Go bears!
On the field yesterday you said you din't know what to write. So what do I find today? Re-mix though it may be, you fashion this masterpiece. Nobody gets being a Cal fan better than you. And none of us write about it any better. Go Bears!!!!
Much respect to Avinash, I'd like to think we ALL get it. That's why we're all here. To various degrees, we all understand it on a very visceral level and live and die in our public and private spaces as we take in Cal games, particularly the Big Game.
Case in point: I like to post funny and weird .gifs on my classroom TV screen each day. But this past Friday, I chose to post a .gif of The Play. I had my reasons.
As it turns out, I have a youngster in my 3rd grade class, whose parents went to Cal during the Tedford years, and whose mother was a Cal band member. Her boy has been wanting to be in my class since he was in Kinder. But more importantly, he very much wants to go to Cal like his mom and dad. (He's even named after former Chief Justice Earl Warren, himself a Cal grad!) When he came in Friday morning, he saw the TV screen and turned to his classmates coming into the room and announced, "That's the Play. My mother taught me about that and told me that it's important that I know what that is..." I gasped hearing that, and fist bumped him as I moved to my desk, and quietly told him in passing why I posted that.
Given that the '82 Big Game was my last Cal game as a student, I had to take pause for that moment and realize that Cal fandom had come full circle and was regenerating itself, as those of us across the various Cal eras experience, even it's for one wild Saturday every November.
I am a substitute teacher. When I introduce myself I give the students 39 seconds to ask me any question they want. A favorite of the younger grades is “What’s tour favorite color?”
My answer:”Red, unless Cal is playing Stanford. Then it’s Blue & Gold.” Every once in a while, there will be a student who gets it. 😊
💙💛🫶🏼
And may the fandom increase exponentially.
100% agreed. Wonderfully written, bravo Avi!
Avinash Kunnath has written some GREAT stuff over the years about Cal football and what it means to be a Cal fan, which he deeply, deeply understands as well or better than anyone. …But he outdid himself with is piece. I literally cried when I read this.
tears of victory...I was with you!
Surely, got this! It was my 64th Big Game! Terrific capture of all that is Cal football. “Go, bears forever!
That post game Fernando interview might be the single greatest moment or expression of a non-game playing player in history. Nothing else comes to mind. Not even Evan Weaver. The authentic purity of it is sublime.
Yep. No smug gloating. No perfunctory praise of the opponent. Just simple, pure happiness.
Go Bears Forever!
I just want to state that the "Go Bears Forever" is my contribution to Cal lore and history. A student of mine who transferred to Cal about 10 years ago responded to my congtratulatory email on her acceptance with, "Go Bears. FOREVER". Please send all royalties to the Cal NIL Legends website.
Simply exceptional Avi! You captured our collective emotions. I can rarely explain what it is to be a Cal football fan. Nailed it.
Oh Avi...thank you for being our voice. Go Bears Forever!
“If it wasn’t hard everybody would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great”
Say what you about Wilcox’s tendency to turn into Charlie Brown at the most inopportune times for this program, but pulling this one out of our ass with Jaron, Aaron, Marshawn, Desean, Tedford and the Riveras all in the house was huge. I don’t think there’s ever been so much star power in Memorial at once. Maybe the difference between securing Jaron, and with that, more dominoes.
Great writing……allows us all to go back and enjoy the emotions all over again !! The Bear truly never will die….
You nailed it. I’m saving your piece for philosophical strength when times of trouble come upon us.
This year's Big Game exemplifies of what makes sports great. I thought that after the first quarter, I've seen this show before. And then the 2nd quarter felt like a trough of disillusionment. I almost turned the game off in disgust. But, things began to gain a little steam by the 3rd quarter. The amazing comeback in the 4th quarter couldn't have been written any better. It's a classic come-from-behind story.
The Officials might have ruined Cal's bid for an 8-4 season (or better). They didn't call an obvious targeting call on Miami which would have given Cal a first down and a great chance to run out the clock. Yes, it's speculation, but wouldn't that have been great to beat high ranked Miami on "Game Day"?
What ifs vs what done…enjoying the what done this week. And the what may come with Mendoza leadership and unwavering passion. He has overachieved with our coaches, so frankly this should not be discounted. I love this team and am proud to call myself a Cal Alum! Go Bears forever!
I believe we're getting the "pledge" treatment in the ACC. We're the "new guys" to the frat.
The officials know that the ACC fan-base mostly hate the Left Coast, so "gray area" calls are likely to go against us, until, if ever, the prevailing thinking changes. Same thing with the mystery PI call that gave Auburn a TD in our game.
Honestly, overall, I think the cultural exchange that will be ongoing for as long the ACC lasts or we time out in 2036 is generally a good thing. Polarized regions might learn to see each other with more complexity, than being "the other guys."
Troy doesn't have half the talent that we have and almost beat us. We're still 6-5 and bottom sniffing in the conference.
Read the room, buddy. We're celebrating today, when we come down from this high we'll re-focus on the sh*tshow that is our football program. But for today....We've got the Axe!!!!
And Taylor doesn't have what Fernando Mendoza does have--a game winning touchdown drive to win the Big Game. My residual frustration from that ending of the 1988 Big Game remains. Only then it was Taylor who QB'd the better team with more talent and couldn't get a win. It also seems only appropriate that yesterday's win took place in the same shadow of the end zone that made players like Kevin Moen and Jackson Sirmon Cal Big Game heroes, among others, but where Taylor, for his part, failed to punch in a game winning score.
Yeah, Taylor almost beat us, but that's what he does, at least over his career to this point--"almost" win Big Games.
Wow! What's your problem with Taylor? He's a great coach. Just look at his career record as a coach from high school, college and now. I'm a die hard CAL fan but what he's done with the lowest talent level any one would never want as a coach is remarkable.
Woke up Sunday morning with a hoarse voice and sore jaws because when I wasn’t cheering or yelling “DEFENSE,” I was anxiously chewing gum for three hours.
I still can’t believe we came from behind and WON!
Saturday aside, the on-field results have been disappointing this year (same record against a weaker schedule? Ugh). But we definitely have improved the visibility and cultural cache of Cal football this season, and I'll take that as a net positive.
Like, did anyone have Pat McAfee down as a new Cal fan before the season started?
https://x.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1860483255142605128
The image at the top of the story is perfect. Beautiful day. The game itself had a surprise ending that we have waited all year to enjoy. But damn, that Oline needs more coaching time. Imagine Fernando with just one more second to make his reads and passes. I don't know how many times he has been sacked and beat up this season, but it has got to be a record, a bad record. Everyone knows this, but damn, fix that Oline.
Hey man. We've gone through all the negative comments about the O line, Wilcox, O and D coordinators, etc. Let's keep this positive right now. This was a GREAT positive write from Avi and it exposed the true longtime CAL fans who go to every game and never gets tired of rooting for his or her favorite team. During the season I can't wait for the Saturday trip to Memorial Stadium again and again. I've been doing this since I was a small child with my dad and it started sometime in the 1940's and as long as I can walk I'll keep going. Go Bears forever.
OK, I can do that. I will keep it positive. The 4th quarter was very sweet. and when I got home seeing the after game on field interview with Fernando was very special. We don't see that kind of emotion and love for teammates so much anymore. I loved it. Go bears!