131 Comments

Competent football should be a choice in the poll

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The closest available choice is three more wins.

But yeah, I agree with you. In spades.

Fire everyone.

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Will we get 1 more win?

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Big Game, but that's probably it unless Wazzu's death spiral continues.

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Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023

Gonna have to find a pass rush or Cam Ward could pick us apart…

I liked our Big Game chances a whole lot better before ’Furd stormed back on a nearly-full strength Buffs team at altitude. That figures to be a dogfight now too.

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Participation

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Only 3 of us participating. I wonder if the DBD is locked to subscribers only again.

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i just started drinking heavily.

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only subscribers can vote in polls, though :(

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NOPE!

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If that were so, I wouldn't be able to post. Maybe people are just taking a relaxed start to the day?

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Its been a draining week.

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Apropos to a previous discussion on estate planning. Learned that our state has a forcible 3 meals per day law if you have dementia. This includes force feeding or sedating you to stick a tube in you. I had my lawyer write up different directives.

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Oh Yeah, just what I needed.

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That law is just pure evil.

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sounds bad. maybe all the geese in France have dementia and that is how they get away w/ all the force feeding w/ tubes ..

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The last wedding you went to

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July in San Ramon! it was very warm

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Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023

my wife's cousin & his wife, about this time last year, at the Brooklyn Grange Sunset Park location (amazing views as long as you don't get too close to the edge facing the solid waste barge loading dock & it must suck for the inmates next door to see people having a good time, but oh well)

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Hahahahhahaha

Be careful!

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My wife’s coworker got married on September 30, 2023. It was a very nice wedding ceremony at a Catholic Church and an out door reception at a local golf clubhouse.

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Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023

August, 2019, Lake George, NY.

Wedding’s suck.

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My brother's was last week. I officiated, and it was a costume party.

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Well, THAT sounds cool.

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That sounds much more fun than the usual garb

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what costume did you wear?

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Cookie Monster!

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Please tell me you officiated in character:

"Okay now repeat after cookie, 'wit dis ring, me thee wed.'"

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Local friends with great taste in food/drink, no travel, plus big bonus the venue was same location we held our reception many moons ago. We hadn't been back inside since, so it was fun to celebrate the newlyweds and relive a little of our own history.

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My wife's former coworker's wedding in Charlotte, NC in 2021. Nice city--I had never been before and enjoyed my time there. Lots of good breweries and tons of great food. I left the wedding a little early to 1) put Cf98 to bed and 2) watch Cal lose to UW in OT.

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in Prospect Park in Brooklyn this summer for a good friend, former co-worker from our tight knit group of irreverent credit derivative strategists during the credit meltdown. it was something of a mini reunion as well.

while it was not a family wedding, the kids were invited too since 1) they are mostly grown up and 2) they have known my friends a good fraction of their life.

food and drink were good. the dancing and party was just ok.

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Something that starts with "Ant"

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oh come on, no one here said "Antifa"?!

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Ant-Love?

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Antimony

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Symbol: Sb

Atomic number: 51

Atomic mass: 121.76 u

Electron configuration: [Kr] 4d105s25p3

Melting point: 1,167°F (630.6°C)

Discovered: 1600 BC

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Alrighty, then.

I was just impressed that I knew it.

Ooops, now, that Tom Lehrer song is gonna' be going through my head the rest of the day.

Good times.

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i just knew it was a not normal symbol, something like Sn or Sb.

but then i found all this other fun info like when it was discovered.

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It reminds me of Gaelic, which has phonic rules that make no sense to English speakers.

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Anthony, Marc

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antidisestablishmentarianism

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Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023

Anthrax.

My work here is done.

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Antonym.

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Anstead. One of the co-hosted of Wheeler Dealers, a car show where they buy up cars, fix them up, and sell them. It was a British show, moved to LA for maybe 5 years, then back to England. He is a British guy that took over the wrenching in LA. He was married to the host of Christina on the coast, a home makeover show, divorced after having a baby during covid, and now dating Renee Zellwegger.

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close .. you started w/ Ans .. not Ant!

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His name is Ant Anstead, so HAG was indeed sticking with the prompt

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ah nice. i didnt appreciate that!

had not heard of this person until today ..

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oh yup, I missed the '-'.

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author

I really like the educational, informative approach that show uses, rather than the manufactured-drama, sensationalized approach used by most car restoration shows. And it definitely helps that they do all kinds of cars rather than the same old whinga-dinga 50s-70s American cars.

Although I do kinda miss when they had a tiny, £1000 budget in the first several seasons. They got pretty clever with money-saving approaches to fixing up old beaters.

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What channel is it on???

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I think it's on Motor Trend, Xfinity 754. I've been watching the older shows On Demand on Xfinity, or you can go to Motor Trend's website and watch.

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You're right. They do a good job explaining things. Also, it seems like many of the things they do can be done by your average person. Unlike the shows where they rebuild everything. I've watched all the Ant and Elvis (current season) ones. I'm working through the older Edd ones. Mike and Elvis had an older series where they trade up an old car and money from someone to get them what they want. That was a pretty cool series as well.

I liked Gas Monkey Garage for pure entertainment but the only other show that I liked was Monster Garage. The rest of them aren't good.

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Ant-arctica

my research group in grad school would put our neutrino detectors deep in the Antarctic ice. the idea was that all the extra stuff the neutrino had to go thru might cause it to interact a little more than the zero it normally interacts and we might detect a few of them ..

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A mild inconvenience

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spotty internet service in the house. for some reason my phone (pixel) and laptop (macbook) are mostly fine but everyone else in the house complains how bad the wifi is.

it seems to be getting a little worse, but i dont have any great ideas on how to fix it w/o putting 10 of the wifi repeaters around the house. we already have 5.

we also have a 100 yr old house w/ lath and plaster walls and it seems to make it extra hard for the wifi to get around ..

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Yes. I am lath and plaster too and the Wifi does not reach the master bedroom just down the hall.

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look at unifi. it’s good stuff

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Happiness

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Is what you make it.

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Happiness is a good marriage, great kids and a terrific college football team to root for. I am currently polling at two out of three.

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I am seeing my kid today and nothing would make me happier

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Nice!! That's awesome.

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yesterday while driving around i saw a Fordham intercampus transfer shuttle.

presumably it goes between the NYC and Bronx campuses

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The Ram Van for the Ram Fam

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OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

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Can we invoke the three-knockdown rule on Jim Jordan? Looks like he's losing again.

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He is officially toast after losing a secret ballot in conference 86-112. Hilarious.

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I went to a mid-day concert at Georgetown and got home to turn on the TV and have lunch. CNN was interviewing Rep. Luna from Florida who referred to Jordan as one of the most liked Republicans in history. This is her.

https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2013/08/09/atlanta-braves-win-13-in-a-row-since-opening-waffle-house#gid=ci0255c6e49008279d&pid=amp-5jpg

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What was she wearing? I think she was on her way to sacrifice a child to her cult.

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Luna is the short form of her name. Her full name is Lunatic.

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This exercise is a test of everyone to put the republic over party.

For the so-called moderate GOP: can they find a spine and join with Democrats to elect a Speaker?

For the Democrats: can they find some room, any room, in which to show they can make common cause with GOP House members who still believe in a republic where the people are represented by their electeds and live and let live is more than just a slogan?

For the people: do you want to keep a republic, even if it's been damaged, because the alternative is needless suffering imposed by zealots?

The fringes need to be ignored. The center must coalesce and hold.

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The Democrats have been ready to make a deal this whole time. They were ready to make a deal with McCarthy before he got toppled; he told them to go fuck themselves.

https://x.com/heatherscope/status/1715406409527931178?s=20

Seems like the major Dem asks are very clear and reasonable:

1) Agree to fund the government through next year so we don't have any more shutdown nonsense

2) Bring up Ukraine and Israel aid packages for a full floor vote

No Republicans want to work with the Dems at all. That's the basic issue.

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Oct 23, 2023·edited Oct 23, 2023

Dems still have work to do. They could show the moderate Republicans that there is a safe harbor *if* those same moderate Republicans can meet them halfway. This is a case where rhetoric can have an effect without giving away the store.

EDIT: I don't think that any so-called "moderate" Republicans have the moxie or the courage to make this a reality.

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Re: Your edit, that's exactly what I'm saying.

I would imagine that some Republicans in Biden districts might in theory be willing to make a governing deal to show they are responsible and bipartisan. And again, the Democrats have an open negotiating posture here. They have clear, reasonable asks and are willing to make a deal. The problem is, I don't see what "safe harbor" Democrats can provide those Republicans from a right-wing GOP primary challenge... Maybe if a few of them want to switch parties, otherwise the only thing to do is to sit back and wait. Maybe if this drags on long enough GOP leadership might realize this is hurting them and be willing to make a deal for Dem votes. We'll see.

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It's not what the Dems can provide per se, it's what the Dems can remind the "moderate" GOPers is needed to break the gridlock within the GOP - leave the damn party and form a new one.

Disown the rabid nihilists in the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) and take their mailing lists and fundraising apparatus elsewhere. But again, that takes courage, which these so-called moderates might not have. The longer they drag their feet, the longer they allow the HFC to hold the GOP hostage and, by extension, the federal government.

This is all vaguely reminiscent of an episode of MadMen.

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Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023

I would guess they would want some assurances to end these ridiculous Biden impeachment inquiries.

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That would be a reasonable ask as well.

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Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

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truth

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Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023

He's just evil. Why would he agree to a plea when there's work to be done?

UPDATE: Chesebro accepted the plea deal after several hours of jury selection. One imagines that the handwriting was on the wall with the voir dire process and Chesebro decided to cut his losses. Jim dandy.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/10/20/chesebro-guilty-plea-trump-georgia/

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If I'm not careful, I might start to believe that TFG might have to face consequences for his actions...

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Engoron in the NY fraud trial threatened to toss him in jail for violating the gag order... I think he should just do it.

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DBD AV CLUB

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Oct 21, 2023·edited Oct 21, 2023

Cheers and Moonlighting from my Plex server to our room in Cabo as Norma picks up?

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PRO

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Someone, I think it was GrEAT®️, posted a recommendation of "Football Done Right" by Lombardi (no relation). Pretty darn good.

One take away I have that I can apply to Cal was a quote of a legendary coach. I will paraphrase:

If you don't have a deep ball option, then you ain't got the run. You ain't got shit.

Hmmm.. is that what's missing in our game?

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Nope, we have deep dame.

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First of all, there is nothing like a dame, even the less deep ones. 😉

I don't have the stats, but here's this:

Rank / Pass Compl./ Pass Att./ Pass Yards. / Average/completion

104 California 136 240 1484 10.91

A 56.7 % completion percentage does not have defenders sweating.

So, they stack the box and, if we lose the LOS battle, our run game is dead. It is interesting that we were able to win the LOS and use our run game against OSU.

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45 years as an umpire in MLB. That's the resume. So the case is that due to sheer longevity and the fact he wasn't forced out earlier he gets consideration for induction into the HOF?

Are there no standards?

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CAL

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So, SI posted this interview with WIlcox.

Here's a quote:

“My job and our job is to make sure that we provide as many answers as we possibly can for the players and then ultimately give them the tools to put them in position to go out and make the play.”

“I know we can play better."

Wow. What was Einstein's definition of insanity?

https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/wilcox-interview-part1

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I didn't realize how bad things were for Cal football until I noted that we're 2 1/2 underdogs on our bye week.

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Has Cal made the Bottom Ten this season?

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None of our losses have been embarrassing enough to highlight: a narrow one to Auburn and otherwise against Top 20 opponents.

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The loss to U-Dub felt pretty fucking embarrassing...

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I'm sure it did, but they are #5 in the country right now and we were playing in their house. A national column is not going to consider that result noteworthy.

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To us, it was embarrassing, because, somehow, we hold forlorn hopes high enough to think we have a chance to beat a team that could very well end up national champions. To the rest of the country, if they actually map out our schedule and consider how our academic self-sanctioning (since Tedford) hobbles us, then they will likely say, wow, it take nearly a miracle for them to upset a ranked conference opponent.

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It's not that we lost to them, it was how we didn't look like we belonged on the same field.

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Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023

and to witness it in person, was no fun either ...

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Don't think so. I stopped reading it. The writer got too smarmy even for something that's supposed to be sarcastic. He's also become too wordy and it's become more mean and less funny.

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Ugh. That's a disappointment.

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pqtm

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author

I went for a ride on some forest trails this morning and a bear took a dump right next to the trail, so it must be bear season again in MD.

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I suppose that answers the classic question about where a bear shits...

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Yay!

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[WSOC] Cal Routs Oregon 8-1

https://calbears.com/news/2023/10/19/womens-soccer-cal-routs-oregon-8-1.aspx

BERKELEY- The California women's soccer team put on an offensive showcase Thursday afternoon topping Oregon 8-1. Eight different Golden Bears found the back of the net as Cal saw it's highest scoring effort since 2010.

Cal now holds a 6-3-6 overall record and remains undefeated in Pac-12 play at 3-0-4. Oregon now stands at 0-13-2, 0-7-0.

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[MSOC] Cal Wins 2-1 At Washington

https://calbears.com/news/2023/10/19/mens-soccer-cal-wins-2-1-at-washington.aspx

SEATTLE – Kevin Carmichael scored the game-winning goal, Fernando Lara scored his first career goal, Evan Davila set up both goals and Marco Brougher made two saves in the win as the California men's soccer team defeated Washington, 2-1, Thursday night at Husky Soccer Stadium.

Cal – which has already doubled its win total of 2022 – improved its record to 6-4-3 (2-2-1 Pac-12). Washington is now 5-5-4 (2-3-1).

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[MPOLO] No. 2 Cal Utilizes Depth In Doubleheader

https://calbears.com/news/2023/10/19/mens-water-polo-no-2-cal-utilizes-depth-in-doubleheader.aspx

BERKELEY – Hosting a Thursday doubleheader at Spieker Aquatics Complex, the No. 2 California men's water polo team downed No. 16 Fordham 18-11 before defeating West Valley 24-8 in a late-afternoon exhibition.

The Golden Bears (14-3) utilized their depth in both games. Goalkeepers Kai Seed (4 saves) split time at goalkeeper with Will Kieckhafer (5) in the win over Fordham, while Nik Mirkovic scored a game-high four goals and Jake Howerton recorded his first hat trick of the year.

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[FH] Bears Host Aggies On Senior Day

https://calbears.com/news/2023/10/19/field-hockey-bears-host-aggies-on-senior-day.aspx

BERKELEY – The California field hockey team will play its final home contest of the 2023 campaign on Saturday when UC Davis comes to Underhill Field. Saturday's nonconference contest is scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. PT and will feature live video and stats.

The game against the Aggies will be Senior Day for the Golden Bears. Cal will honor spectacular student-athletes in a pregame ceremony. Playing their final home contest in the Blue and Gold are seniors Kiki de Bruijne, Claire Hind and Sabine Homes, as well as graduate transfers Daniella Rhodes, Merel Hanssen, Maria Cambra Soler, Cato Geusgens, Bente Baekers and Kitty Baccanello.

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[WGOLF] Bears Close Fall Slate At Stanford Intercollegiate

https://calbears.com/news/2023/10/19/womens-golf-bears-close-fall-slate-at-stanford-intercollegiate.aspx

STANFORD – With two straight tournament wins and a 4-3 victory over Stanford in the Big Match, the California women's golf team heads into this weekend's Stanford Intercollegiate looking to continue its most prolific stretch in program history.

Seven Golden Bears are traveling to play in the three-day tournament at the par-71, 6,269-yard Stanford Golf Course, which will have 19 total teams in competition this Friday through Sunday.

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On this day in 2018 in Memorial Stadium the Golden Bears defeated Oregon State, 49-7. Cal quarterback Chase Garbers led the offense connecting on 17 of 26 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile Patrick Laird ran 22 times for 193 yards and two scores — he also caught a TD pass. The game’s final TD came on a 54-yard Josh Drayden interception return 20 seconds before the final whistle. The Bear out-gained the Beavers 539-241. The victory raised the hosts’ record to 4-3 en route to a bowl berth.

DBD celebrates 100 years of football in Strawberry Canyon with this daily feature appearing throughout the football season.

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I do remember that game pretty well.

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That same Oregon State team was in the depths of its rebuild and now they're consistently a top-15 team. Meanwhile, not only have we not been improving steadily since 2018, we've gone backwards.

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How do you rebuild a team?

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New coaches, new system, new players

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That's one reason I picked this game. It really highlights the different directions the two schools have gone.

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went to Discover Cal event in NYC last night. about 75-100 people. good mix of alumni and recent grads and a few current students and parents.

the headline topic was "AI in the workplace" but Chancellor Christ said a few words about the state of the university. things she mentioned

- tension in the middle East

- creation of new school of CDSS - computing, data science, and society - and the giant new building they will occupy

- more student housing

- raising over $7b in the Light the Way campaign

- Cal going to ACC to secure "long term future of Cal Athletics"

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there will be no long term future for Cal athletics unless they start investing in revenue sports by putting winning programs on the field and court

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Jim Knowlton is antithetical to “long term future of Cal Athletics.”

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You misunderstood her, what she meant was that Jim and Justin HAVE a long term future with Cal Athletics.

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That they do.

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ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE

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Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023

NIL has made college players too entitled. Or has it always been so at USC?

https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3489672/caleb-williams-reportedly-wants-partial-ownership-of-whatever-nfl-team-drafts-him

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The ND secondary partially owned Caleb Williams last week.

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More details come out over the Michigan sign stealing and oppo scouting. Harbaugh denies any knowledge [Jennifer_Lawrence_ok_sarcastic_thumbs_up.gif]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38700739/michigan-staffer-eyed-center-elaborate-scouting-scheme-sources-say

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