For the fourth time, California defensive back Hezekiah Masses has been named to an All-America team. This time, the Football Writers Association of America voted Masses a second-team All-American, the association announced Thursday.
He has garnered All-America status from four of the five major All-America teams, (Walter Camp, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and FWAA) with only the NCAA Consensus All-America team left to be announced.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers continued his late-season surge to lift Pittsburgh to a 28-15 home win over Miami on Monday Night Football to highlight performances by former California football players during Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season. Rodgers had the second-best completion percentage (23-of-27, 85.2%, 224, 2 TD, 0 INT, 125.9 rating) over 254 career starts in the victory that keeps the Steelers on top in the AFC North.
PITTSBURGH – The California women's gymnastics program checks in at No. 20 in the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Preseason Poll, announced by the organization Tuesday afternoon. This is first-year head coach Geralen Stack-Eaton's inaugural top-20 ranking as head of a program.
California women's water polo's 2026 schedule features a number of marquee events coming to Spieker Aquatics Complex as the Golden Bears look to extend their run of NCAA Tournament appearances. Head coach Coralie Simmons' group is a dynamic blend of U.S. and international talent primed to take the Bears on a fifth straight NCAA run in the season to come.
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its 2026 football conference opponents on Tuesday afternoon, unveiling California's regular season conference slate for next season.
The Golden Bears will host Clemson, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest at California Memorial Stadium next year while traveling to NC State, SMU, Syracuse and Virginia in ACC play.
California volleyball's Peyton DeJardin and Sophia Johnson have been named as College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honorees for the 2025-26 season, as announced by the organization Tuesday.
To be eligible for consideration, players must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and at least an academic sophomore. They must also have either competed in 90% of their team's matches or started at least 66% of those matches.
California men's soccer midfielder Cam Wilkerson was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team for his success in the classroom and on the field, CSC announced Tuesday. The is the first such honor for the senior Golden Bear.
California sophomore forward Liz Klompmaker has been named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American Third Team, the organization announced on Tuesday morning. She is one of 16 student-athletes recognized on the third team and one of 48 across the country to be placed on one of the three teams.
California defensive back Hezekiah Masses has been named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America team, the outlet announced on Tuesday.
He has now garnered All-America status from three of the five major All-America teams, (Walter Camp, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, The Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America) with the remaining two teams being announced later this week.
For those of you who are CAA members, I just received my current issue of California magazine yesterday. The cover page is fantastic. There are also two articles that were really fun reads. One was a profile of Ron Rivera (written before Wilcox was fired). The other was an article on the birth of the Calgorithm. That was just a really fun story, especially the interviews and comments from those who created and regularly contribute to this blog. With all my heart, I thank you to you who make this place special and downright fun.
Trump administration declares anyone with Antifa-aligned viewpoints along immigration, gender care, and anything they don't like is classified as a domestic terrorist. This includes me and my family, who are advocates for the trans community. We can no longer fly with our primary phones. Our friend had their school hire a full time security guard to ensure that their transdaughter could not use the bathroom. We are trying to expunge our names from various contact databases. We are expatriating money so it is harder for the Trump administration to freeze our funds. We are fleeing this country as soon as possible because it is so fucked. We'll return when y'all fix this mess.
We'll agree that the song is about a loser. We'll also agree that Deacon Blues is a shot at Wake Forest.
But I don't know how that makes its way to a NYTimes Crossword puzzle clue when Wake Forest is known as the Demon Deacons and neither Demon nor Deacons is a color.
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE
That's not my cocaine, baby. That's not my bag.
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/nation-world/trucker-returns-to-find-trailer-loaded-with-16-million-worth-of-cocaine-at-truck-stop-indiana-pilot-travel-center-whiteland-inspection-seal-tempered-boxes
LOL
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/we-let-ai-run-our-office-vending-machine-it-lost-hundreds-of-dollars/ar-AA1SAlNa
PRO
Gary, Indiana, Gary, Indiana. Gary, Indiana. GAAAAAAAAAAaaarYYYYYYY - Ron Howard
https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2025/12/17/chicago-bears-moving-team-considering-northwest-indiana-for-stadium/87818743007/?
NFL team shamelessly plays its home city off against another potential site in another state. Film at 11.
Cam Ward wants a say in the matter
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47338253/cam-ward-wants-titans-involve-hc-search-process
Puka pokes the bear
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47336359/rams-puka-nacua-nfl-refs-worst-make-calls-get-tv
Article omitted the part where he promised to do a deeply antisemitic touchdown celly: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/puka-nacua-adin-ross-appearance-215452865.html
CAL
[FB] Masses Named To Fourth All-America Team
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/18/football-masses-named-to-fourth-all-america-team.aspx
For the fourth time, California defensive back Hezekiah Masses has been named to an All-America team. This time, the Football Writers Association of America voted Masses a second-team All-American, the association announced Thursday.
He has garnered All-America status from four of the five major All-America teams, (Walter Camp, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and FWAA) with only the NCAA Consensus All-America team left to be announced.
[FB] Rodgers Keeps Steelers On Top In AFC North
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/17/rodgers-keeps-steelers-on-top-in-afc-north.aspx
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers continued his late-season surge to lift Pittsburgh to a 28-15 home win over Miami on Monday Night Football to highlight performances by former California football players during Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season. Rodgers had the second-best completion percentage (23-of-27, 85.2%, 224, 2 TD, 0 INT, 125.9 rating) over 254 career starts in the victory that keeps the Steelers on top in the AFC North.
[MBB] Cal Streaks Into Two More Tests At Haas
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/16/mens-basketball-cal-streaks-into-two-more-tests-at-haas-this-week.aspx
THIS WEEK
Cal is in the midst of an eight-game home stand and holds its best record since 2014 with its 10-1 mark.
- The Bears carry a seven-game win streak — the longest since 2014 — into their next test at Haas Pavilion, where Cal is currently undefeated at 9-0.
- This week's competition in Berkeley brings Montana State (2-8) to town on Friday (Dec. 19) for a 7 p.m. meeting between the two Bears squads.
- From there, it's a tight turnaround to a Sunday (Dec. 21) matchup at 2 p.m. between Cal and Columbia (9-2).
[WGYM] Cal Earns No. 20 Ranking In WCGA Preseason Poll
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/16/womens-gymnastics-cal-earns-no-20-ranking-in-wcga-preseason-poll.aspx
PITTSBURGH – The California women's gymnastics program checks in at No. 20 in the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Preseason Poll, announced by the organization Tuesday afternoon. This is first-year head coach Geralen Stack-Eaton's inaugural top-20 ranking as head of a program.
[WPOLO] Cal Women's Water Polo Schedule Announced For 2026
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/16/cal-womens-water-polo-schedule-announced-for-2026.aspx
California women's water polo's 2026 schedule features a number of marquee events coming to Spieker Aquatics Complex as the Golden Bears look to extend their run of NCAA Tournament appearances. Head coach Coralie Simmons' group is a dynamic blend of U.S. and international talent primed to take the Bears on a fifth straight NCAA run in the season to come.
[FB] Cal Football Announces 2026 ACC Opponents
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/16/cal-football-announces-2026-acc-opponents.aspx
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its 2026 football conference opponents on Tuesday afternoon, unveiling California's regular season conference slate for next season.
The Golden Bears will host Clemson, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest at California Memorial Stadium next year while traveling to NC State, SMU, Syracuse and Virginia in ACC play.
[VB] DeJardin, Johnson Named Academic All-District
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/16/volleyball-dejardin-johnson-named-academic-all-district.aspx
California volleyball's Peyton DeJardin and Sophia Johnson have been named as College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honorees for the 2025-26 season, as announced by the organization Tuesday.
To be eligible for consideration, players must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and at least an academic sophomore. They must also have either competed in 90% of their team's matches or started at least 66% of those matches.
[MSOC] Wilkerson Named CSC Academic All-American
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/16/mens-soccer-wilkerson-named-csc-academic-all-american.aspx
California men's soccer midfielder Cam Wilkerson was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team for his success in the classroom and on the field, CSC announced Tuesday. The is the first such honor for the senior Golden Bear.
[FH] Klompmaker Named NFHCA All-American
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/16/field-hockey-klompmaker-named-nfhca-all-american.aspx
California sophomore forward Liz Klompmaker has been named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American Third Team, the organization announced on Tuesday morning. She is one of 16 student-athletes recognized on the third team and one of 48 across the country to be placed on one of the three teams.
[FB] Masses Named To AFCA Coaches All-America Team
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/16/football-masses-named-to-afca-all-america-team.aspx
California defensive back Hezekiah Masses has been named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America team, the outlet announced on Tuesday.
He has now garnered All-America status from three of the five major All-America teams, (Walter Camp, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, The Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America) with the remaining two teams being announced later this week.
For those of you who are CAA members, I just received my current issue of California magazine yesterday. The cover page is fantastic. There are also two articles that were really fun reads. One was a profile of Ron Rivera (written before Wilcox was fired). The other was an article on the birth of the Calgorithm. That was just a really fun story, especially the interviews and comments from those who created and regularly contribute to this blog. With all my heart, I thank you to you who make this place special and downright fun.
WaPo ranks a happiness factor for seventy football programs. Furd comes in last. But don’t get too happy as Cal is sixty so not much better.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/interactive/2025/best-worst-college-football-programs-rankings/?itid=sf_sports_package-1_1_3
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
Apparently, they should be writing in Head Coach contracts for teams in the midwest that they can and should only have sex with their wives.
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2025/12/18/ohio-university-coach-brian-smith-fired-relationship-student-college-football/87829300007/
POLITICS
Trump administration declares anyone with Antifa-aligned viewpoints along immigration, gender care, and anything they don't like is classified as a domestic terrorist. This includes me and my family, who are advocates for the trans community. We can no longer fly with our primary phones. Our friend had their school hire a full time security guard to ensure that their transdaughter could not use the bathroom. We are trying to expunge our names from various contact databases. We are expatriating money so it is harder for the Trump administration to freeze our funds. We are fleeing this country as soon as possible because it is so fucked. We'll return when y'all fix this mess.
https://www.advocate.com/politics/pam-bondi-trans-equality-bounties
DBD AV CLUB
fun stuff
NYT crossword clue ... "Colorful" Atlantic Coast Conference team
could have been (it was not) Golden Bears!
PANTONE 4515 C (Tech Gold)
Cardinal?
BlueDevils
GoldenBears
YellowJackets
Cardinal
Orange
Problem being that there are too many spaces for GOLDENBEARS and not enough spaces for YELLOWJACKETS (EDIT: shades of the 1929 Rose Bowl)
Orange (for Syracuse)
Deacon Blues?
That's a song, not a mascot.
This is the day of the expanding man.
That shape is my shade,
There where I used to stand...
Well, yes, and a shot at Wake Forest.
The song is about a loser.
They got a name for the winners in the world;
I want a name when I lose;
They call Alabama (a winner) the Crimson Tide;
Call me (a loser) Deacon Blues
We'll agree that the song is about a loser. We'll also agree that Deacon Blues is a shot at Wake Forest.
But I don't know how that makes its way to a NYTimes Crossword puzzle clue when Wake Forest is known as the Demon Deacons and neither Demon nor Deacons is a color.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CxX8nvLalE
Blue Devils?