Great article Avi, both in game summary and in summation of the feelings of so many of us. Bittersweet was the perfect word for how I felt after going to Strawberry Canyon to see Pac-X Conference football for the last time after 38 years.
Avi: Great article and, like you, I am torn by the destruction of the Pac-12. My neighbor, who is also a Cal alum and Pittsburgh, Pa. native, told me; "I could care less if we play Pitt in the ACC". Yes, we are losing some of the traditional excitement of west coast rivalries but that doesn't mean that we can't establish some new ones or that they can't be as exciting as the Cal-Wazzu games you cited. Remember the home and home with Texas a few years back? There is no reason that we can't have the same level of excitement in the ACC. Hell, it can't hurt us to move to a new conference considering how badly we have had the shit kicked out of us by the likes of UO, UW, U$C and others in the Pac-12 for the last ten years. A change of scenery might be just the ticket (I hope).
I just can't let go of the underlying, seething anger and disgust I have regarding the implosion of the Pac-12. I first started following Cal in my pre-teen years, when my parents went to a Cal-USC game in the mid 1970s. Years of going to games as a student with my girlfriend, now wife, then games with our kids, a couple of whom are Cal grads. I'll take the family to the UCLA game at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 25.
A 100+ year history, the best combo athletic/academic conference in the country, the conference with the most NCAA championships - all gone. Over ineptitude, money, and greed. It's sick.
However, I think the impending entrance of the teams into the Big 10 will be utterly unsuccessful. I predicate in 5 years, we will have the original Pac 8 reconfigured with 4 additional teams (possibly including the two Arizona teams).
I'll miss WSU, they were like our wacky neighbor. When the two schools met you just waited for the madcap antics. Yesterday was weird, wild fun but only because we won. Like I said elsewhere, you can't lose 'em all. The premature Bear territory chant seemed like a bad omen but that we overcame speaks to us finally having some luck.
Djouvensky Schlenbaker stepped out of bounds on that 2-point conversion.
Great article Avi, both in game summary and in summation of the feelings of so many of us. Bittersweet was the perfect word for how I felt after going to Strawberry Canyon to see Pac-X Conference football for the last time after 38 years.
Avi: Great article and, like you, I am torn by the destruction of the Pac-12. My neighbor, who is also a Cal alum and Pittsburgh, Pa. native, told me; "I could care less if we play Pitt in the ACC". Yes, we are losing some of the traditional excitement of west coast rivalries but that doesn't mean that we can't establish some new ones or that they can't be as exciting as the Cal-Wazzu games you cited. Remember the home and home with Texas a few years back? There is no reason that we can't have the same level of excitement in the ACC. Hell, it can't hurt us to move to a new conference considering how badly we have had the shit kicked out of us by the likes of UO, UW, U$C and others in the Pac-12 for the last ten years. A change of scenery might be just the ticket (I hope).
As my grandfather from Ireland once told me, "the grass isn't greener on the other side".
Taco: You are probably right but being a Cal Football fan for all of these years has taught me to be an incurable optimist!
Bob: They are obviously jealous that they didn't get into Cal!
I just can't let go of the underlying, seething anger and disgust I have regarding the implosion of the Pac-12. I first started following Cal in my pre-teen years, when my parents went to a Cal-USC game in the mid 1970s. Years of going to games as a student with my girlfriend, now wife, then games with our kids, a couple of whom are Cal grads. I'll take the family to the UCLA game at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 25.
A 100+ year history, the best combo athletic/academic conference in the country, the conference with the most NCAA championships - all gone. Over ineptitude, money, and greed. It's sick.
However, I think the impending entrance of the teams into the Big 10 will be utterly unsuccessful. I predicate in 5 years, we will have the original Pac 8 reconfigured with 4 additional teams (possibly including the two Arizona teams).
Well, said. I'll miss ya Cougs. Wishing you only good fortune.
Feel we may be seeing Wazzu in a non-con sooner rather than later.
I hope its Wazzu and not the beavs
I'll miss WSU, they were like our wacky neighbor. When the two schools met you just waited for the madcap antics. Yesterday was weird, wild fun but only because we won. Like I said elsewhere, you can't lose 'em all. The premature Bear territory chant seemed like a bad omen but that we overcame speaks to us finally having some luck.
A thoroughly enjoyable post, Avi, thanks.
A major part of that also had to do with The Pirate. I miss the good ol Air Raid Commander....
Amen OD.