As always, Avi, well said. Thank you. I'm Charlie Brown about Cal football for a lot of good reasons. It's not a question of my hope, it's only a question of the percentage of my energies I allow to be placed in the program given the likelihood of a competitive outcome. Go Bears now. Go Bears tomorrow.
I am most happy for the Cal players that their regular seaon ended on a high note with perhaps their best performance. May this keep the team intact, and a successful post season game in Los Angeles where Cal fans can be able to attend.
THREE ROSE BOWL LOSSES ..VIZ. 1949,1950 AND 1951. WE NEVERGOT TO PLAY STANFURD IN THE ROSE BOWL. BUT BEATING THEM ON THEIR 0WN FIELD CAN BE ALOST AS GOOD!! CAL WILL PLAY UCLA NEXT SAT. ON THEIR OWN FIELD ( THE ROSE BOWL).WE DEFINITELY NEED TO WIN THIS GAME SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN HOPE TO COUNT OUR BLESINGS AGAIN AND WIN IN THE ROSE BOWL THIS TIME! Gooooooooooooo B E A R S!!! GERBEAR
Nov 22, 2023·edited Nov 22, 2023Liked by Avinash Kunnath
Thanks for the wonderfully resonant hope discussion, Avi. Speaking of which, I hope Cal can secure an opponent for a twelfth game next year. The months are getting few and it appears OSU and WSU’s slates will be filled with Mt. West opponents and their in-state rivals. Does anyone hear anything through the rumor mill as to who in the country Cal is trying to add as its fourth non-con (it needs to be an FBS program, since Cal already has an FCS-UC Davis-on it’s schedule for next year)? I don’t even know if any schools at all still have openings, but perhaps it’ll be one of the eight departing schools not named ‘Furd.
I see that ALL the other P12 leftovers (other than WSU and OSU) as well as EVERY OTHER FBS school already has its twelve game schedule filled for next season. This means that either WSU/OSU bails us out of this predicament or Cal finds a last minute opening from another school changing its schedule.. Right now I don’t think WSU or OSU will schedule us (their tentative plan, in addition to keeping their already scheduled non-cons) is to add Mt. West opponents (via a set agreement) and their in-state rivals. Maybe that will mean UW and UO themselves will have to unload one previously scheduled non-con opponent that could be gobbled up by Cal and Stanford. Otherwise, unless I’m missing something, we’re looking at a potential eleven game schedule, meaning Cal will have to lose no more than five games to go to a bowl. The lack of a twelfth game is a huge issue, and has$$$ consequences.
This will lead my letter of nomination to the Pulitzer Committee...."When Cal took a double-digit lead in the second half and the rain drizzled a little harder than usual, the Cardinal started trickling out into the night, ready to plan more white collar crime."
I guess I may be on to something...I made my comment before reading the two others calling this out as well...goofing aside, this is one of your best pieces Avi...thank you!
Another excellent piece, Avi, but you summed it all up with this one line: "Cal fans have to live on hope, because living in reality would crush us." Amen.
Beautifully said: "Stanford fans were their usual quiet, dispersed, confused selves, checking their crypto wallets, Google Traffic reports, and dinner reservations, briefly cheering on the five to ten plays the Trees did something interesting. When Cal took a double-digit lead in the second half and the rain drizzled a little harder than usual, the Cardinal started trickling out into the night, ready to plan more white collar crime."
Wonderful insight of how so many of old alums feel about the Big Game. The future old Cal is up to getting the "sponsors" in the ridiculous NIL crap. When you can find a NIL that will offer a recruit or portal transfer a 5 figure "salary", then he or she will probably come to Cal.
As always, Avi, well said. Thank you. I'm Charlie Brown about Cal football for a lot of good reasons. It's not a question of my hope, it's only a question of the percentage of my energies I allow to be placed in the program given the likelihood of a competitive outcome. Go Bears now. Go Bears tomorrow.
A nice summary of the season, and being a Cal fan.
Thanks for the kind words all season Nadesan. Hope we have more fun times ahead.
As do I, thanks.
I am most happy for the Cal players that their regular seaon ended on a high note with perhaps their best performance. May this keep the team intact, and a successful post season game in Los Angeles where Cal fans can be able to attend.
iono man I watched UCLA's defense against USC. Not hoping for much this weekend
Was it good?
IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIAL TRICKS CAL HAS BEEN HIDING , LETS USE THEM ALL TO....B E A T THE BRUINS!! GERBEARS
Hopefully Spav remembers he has a backside of his playcard.
THREE ROSE BOWL LOSSES ..VIZ. 1949,1950 AND 1951. WE NEVERGOT TO PLAY STANFURD IN THE ROSE BOWL. BUT BEATING THEM ON THEIR 0WN FIELD CAN BE ALOST AS GOOD!! CAL WILL PLAY UCLA NEXT SAT. ON THEIR OWN FIELD ( THE ROSE BOWL).WE DEFINITELY NEED TO WIN THIS GAME SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN HOPE TO COUNT OUR BLESINGS AGAIN AND WIN IN THE ROSE BOWL THIS TIME! Gooooooooooooo B E A R S!!! GERBEAR
Thanks for the wonderfully resonant hope discussion, Avi. Speaking of which, I hope Cal can secure an opponent for a twelfth game next year. The months are getting few and it appears OSU and WSU’s slates will be filled with Mt. West opponents and their in-state rivals. Does anyone hear anything through the rumor mill as to who in the country Cal is trying to add as its fourth non-con (it needs to be an FBS program, since Cal already has an FCS-UC Davis-on it’s schedule for next year)? I don’t even know if any schools at all still have openings, but perhaps it’ll be one of the eight departing schools not named ‘Furd.
There aren't many teams left with unfilled schedules, I'd imagine OSU/WSU and some other Pac-12 leftovers are candidates.
I see that ALL the other P12 leftovers (other than WSU and OSU) as well as EVERY OTHER FBS school already has its twelve game schedule filled for next season. This means that either WSU/OSU bails us out of this predicament or Cal finds a last minute opening from another school changing its schedule.. Right now I don’t think WSU or OSU will schedule us (their tentative plan, in addition to keeping their already scheduled non-cons) is to add Mt. West opponents (via a set agreement) and their in-state rivals. Maybe that will mean UW and UO themselves will have to unload one previously scheduled non-con opponent that could be gobbled up by Cal and Stanford. Otherwise, unless I’m missing something, we’re looking at a potential eleven game schedule, meaning Cal will have to lose no more than five games to go to a bowl. The lack of a twelfth game is a huge issue, and has$$$ consequences.
Been hoping since 1966. Hope is what sustains the Cal fan...Thank you, Avi.
Absolutely, glad you appreciate it, and thank you for the decades of hoping!
Since 1979 here. What Ken said. Thanks to you all for your work reporting this. Being a Cal fan is being part of a great community.
This will lead my letter of nomination to the Pulitzer Committee...."When Cal took a double-digit lead in the second half and the rain drizzled a little harder than usual, the Cardinal started trickling out into the night, ready to plan more white collar crime."
^^^I can’t stop laughing 😂
I guess I may be on to something...I made my comment before reading the two others calling this out as well...goofing aside, this is one of your best pieces Avi...thank you!
https://youtu.be/VcjzHMhBtf0?si=PT3dn4WYHItDofrz
Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"
Very good and meaningful message. Go Bears
Go Bears William!
Another excellent piece, Avi, but you summed it all up with this one line: "Cal fans have to live on hope, because living in reality would crush us." Amen.
If we didn't have our hope I dunno where we'd be.
Beautifully said: "Stanford fans were their usual quiet, dispersed, confused selves, checking their crypto wallets, Google Traffic reports, and dinner reservations, briefly cheering on the five to ten plays the Trees did something interesting. When Cal took a double-digit lead in the second half and the rain drizzled a little harder than usual, the Cardinal started trickling out into the night, ready to plan more white collar crime."
Rebellions are built on Hope.
Let’s crush the evil Empire that is College Football
This was the best line in a piece filled with many great lines:
"...the Cardinal started trickling out into the night, ready to plan more white collar crime."
TRUTH.
Go Bears
Wonderful insight of how so many of old alums feel about the Big Game. The future old Cal is up to getting the "sponsors" in the ridiculous NIL crap. When you can find a NIL that will offer a recruit or portal transfer a 5 figure "salary", then he or she will probably come to Cal.