Of course we shouldn’t blame the kid. We should blame the system. Mendoza wouldn’t have this option unless Cal had developed him. Yet the system allows him to bail. NIL deals need to start to have clawbacks in them to address this flaw. And I’m not sure IU represents greener pastures. IU has been exposed and is ripe to regress to the mean when they face a tougher schedule next year. Mendoza should buckle up and get ready for B1X play.
Fernando will be a Golden Bear forever because he beat Leland Stanfurd Jr College twice. I cannot blame him (or any of the other kids) for taking advantage of the current transfer system but the system needs regulation. The problem is not the kids, it is the system.
I do not know this for a fact, but chances are pretty good he is making a lot more money at Indiana. If that is true, I cannot fault him for the decision to transfer.
Cal has been down before (see November 20, 1982) and somehow found a way to come back.
No way he’s a Golden Bear forever. That’s a joke. He deceitfully dumped the Golden Bears for his own benefit, after Cal rescued him from football obscurity at Yale, and that may be ok with all of you who simply just want to blame the Csl coaching staff and AD but count me out.
Others may be blaming the coaching staff and the AD, and perhaps they deserve some of the blame, but the larger issue is an unregulated system that is wreaking havoc on college sports.
BTW, I still think of Vince Ferragamo as a Golden Bear. I can still see his pass to Steve Sweeney in the corner the end zone to beat furd in 72.
I empathize with him and like him, but in no way is he a golden bear forever. He transferred. He's a Hoosier now and forever. Sayonara dude, from the guy you politely called Mr. Bryan.
The "Forever" vibe, while plans were already made.
If he was more clear and honest, like, maybe:
"Hey I love Cal, but I want the rare chance to play for a CFP contender and the coaching staff. Also, I get the equally rare chance to play on the same team as my brother, with whom I'd like to share my college experience.
Cal will always be my alma mater and I will be for Cal, always.
Go Bears Forever.
With Respect,
Fernando Mendoza"
I could live with this and I am pretty sure this is most of the moving points that swayed him. Not mentioned is his getting sacked for a FBS season record.
With most of the QB's already committed the chances of adding a difference maker are narrowing fast. Wonder if Malachi Nelson, originally a 5 star QB out of SoCal who went from USC and then to Boise State but has yet to find significant PT, might be of interest??
Hearing that Duke has committed $8 million to the Tulane QB is a shocking indication of what's happened to the FBS.
Yes. Something has to be done to rectify this whole NIL thing. Number one is a SALARY CAP. number two is a no meddling from one college to another college's players.
Mendoza put up good numbers while getting pummeled behind an offensive line that couldn’t do basic blocking assignments. I don’t love that he basically quit the team before the SMU game but taking off my blue and gold colored glasses, why would he stay on with a declining program and a lame duck coach? Assuming Indiana (a rising program) is giving him the QB1 job it would be illogical to stay.
Don't waste time thinking about Mendoza. We got the Jet and Uluave back. They're more valuable players. Unfinished Business! 2025 Bears the offensive line may be better
I'm mostly pushing up against the idea that Mendoza was mid or overrated and is somehow easily replaceable. He is not. He's the best QB we've had in a decade. There were a handful of QBs in the portal that I'd grade better than or even with Nando and they are all going elsewhere. Maybe we can come out even in the wash with an improved o-line and a lesser QB, but that leaves us where we are: a mediocre at best team. I just don't see us winning 9-10 games with a merely serviceable QB.
I won't argue about Nando's quality. While he overachieves, he has some great skills that he willed himself into improving. His quick reads and release; his short to mid range accuracy; and his surprising, serviceable mobility. I rate him ahead of Garbers but much behind Goff. Of course, I am contrasting him with Senior Goff, not the deer-in-the-headlights, trial-by-fire Goff of his first or even second years. No doubt, Nando has yet to hit his ceiling, but how much more could he have done this year with better protection? The game is, mostly, won or lost in the trenches and a better Oline performance will prove that.
Another diamond-in-the-rough is our best hope. Someday, I hope, we'll be taking stock from the top shelf, not the well, the hoping for a jolt.
I can understand why he vacated. what's left to believe that wilcox can turn around an offense at best that's so mediocre? seriously how much more sacks can he handle? his profile will elevate more to a place where he's more appreciated. this is on numbnuts wilcox for setting the exit. why can't we let go knowlton now and give him an ultimatum? it's no secret he is a sucky coach at least on offense
Hey, I'm a newcomer to full-fledged Cal football misery (daughter's a junior, so I'm sure there's more to come) but not a newcomer to Cal's history as a longtime Pac-10/12 honk. I absolutely loved this kid's moxie on the field - and the way he conducted himself on and off it - but that "illness" was just such a tell, and I'm pissed I didn't recognize it sooner instead of ending up a blindsided optimist. I don't know if what truly happened during those final weeks will ever come out, but from 98 yards and my boys to this in such a short amount of time was one of the most dispiriting things I've experienced this year.
It would have killed me if he ended up at UCLA (I live in Long Beach, so that locality would have been a killer, and my UCLA truthers told me BRO was lit up about how it was happening), so I'm feeling a bit better about the distance of Indiana, the blow to UCLA, and maybe, just maybe, finding out this move was something more legitimate than $$$. Either way I'm going to continue to follow his story, but in reality I never, ever saw NFL quarterback in him, so ultimately if that's what this is and it actually comes to fruition, maybe I can see rooting for him again.
The only pro attribute Mendoza currently has is NFL size. He has a right to continue to improve with more reps, and he’s going to have to if he is going to compete in the B1G.
He’s also accurate and has consistently improved. He’s not an NFL QB now, but it’s not farfetched given his growth trajectory. Clearly the staff never bought into him or showed him they bought into him until the damage was already done. But he sees himself as having an NFL future or at least he wants to pursue that over everything else, and doesn’t feel the staff has his best interests in mind. I can’t criticize him for that. I just wish he had the maturity to leave the house in order as he left so that the fanbase had something to fall on and he could retain our good will.
Fernando, good luck with Indiana preparing you for the NFL- . Cal has a history of success to do just that, which you are walking away from.. See Aaron Rodgers, Jared Goff, Rich Campbell etc.
IU has had virtually no one play QB in the NFL per a Google search.
At least Nando can’t save Wilcox’s job again. Not sure how we can take another 4-6 win season, but I’m also not sure we can take an extended Wilcox tenure either.
The program has completely stagnated. Hopefully the Harsin/Rolovich/Anae troika can elevate the O just enough to turn some of those classic Wilcox-turtling gag jobs into wins.
Better preparation, game planning and in-game adjustments would be huge.
During the Portal Age, all kinds of churn will happen. I'm thankful we had Nando to lead the Golden Bears for the past 1 1/2 years and deliver 2 wins over Furd. As for the QB room, Harris looked just ok, and EJ Caminong looked really bad in the Gronk Bowl. We need help at QB for 2025...
Meh. Second most defensible option, imho. Let’s his folks make just one trip a week to see both their boys. Done and gone. Next man up, next legacy to make. Roll on…
Of course we shouldn’t blame the kid. We should blame the system. Mendoza wouldn’t have this option unless Cal had developed him. Yet the system allows him to bail. NIL deals need to start to have clawbacks in them to address this flaw. And I’m not sure IU represents greener pastures. IU has been exposed and is ripe to regress to the mean when they face a tougher schedule next year. Mendoza should buckle up and get ready for B1X play.
Fernando will be a Golden Bear forever because he beat Leland Stanfurd Jr College twice. I cannot blame him (or any of the other kids) for taking advantage of the current transfer system but the system needs regulation. The problem is not the kids, it is the system.
I do not know this for a fact, but chances are pretty good he is making a lot more money at Indiana. If that is true, I cannot fault him for the decision to transfer.
Cal has been down before (see November 20, 1982) and somehow found a way to come back.
Go Bears Forever.
No way he’s a Golden Bear forever. That’s a joke. He deceitfully dumped the Golden Bears for his own benefit, after Cal rescued him from football obscurity at Yale, and that may be ok with all of you who simply just want to blame the Csl coaching staff and AD but count me out.
Others may be blaming the coaching staff and the AD, and perhaps they deserve some of the blame, but the larger issue is an unregulated system that is wreaking havoc on college sports.
BTW, I still think of Vince Ferragamo as a Golden Bear. I can still see his pass to Steve Sweeney in the corner the end zone to beat furd in 72.
I empathize with him and like him, but in no way is he a golden bear forever. He transferred. He's a Hoosier now and forever. Sayonara dude, from the guy you politely called Mr. Bryan.
He will be finishing with his BA or BS from Haas Business School.
I understand his decision, but I still hoped he played the Bowl game before he made the move.
He didn't even play the finale of regular season.
I got Tosh Lupoi vibes from Mendoza; professing his undying love for Cal while all the while having one foot out the door.
That's the part that troubles me.
The "Forever" vibe, while plans were already made.
If he was more clear and honest, like, maybe:
"Hey I love Cal, but I want the rare chance to play for a CFP contender and the coaching staff. Also, I get the equally rare chance to play on the same team as my brother, with whom I'd like to share my college experience.
Cal will always be my alma mater and I will be for Cal, always.
Go Bears Forever.
With Respect,
Fernando Mendoza"
I could live with this and I am pretty sure this is most of the moving points that swayed him. Not mentioned is his getting sacked for a FBS season record.
With most of the QB's already committed the chances of adding a difference maker are narrowing fast. Wonder if Malachi Nelson, originally a 5 star QB out of SoCal who went from USC and then to Boise State but has yet to find significant PT, might be of interest??
Hearing that Duke has committed $8 million to the Tulane QB is a shocking indication of what's happened to the FBS.
He went to UTEP
Yes. Something has to be done to rectify this whole NIL thing. Number one is a SALARY CAP. number two is a no meddling from one college to another college's players.
They’ll never be able to be able to police poaching or no matter how this NIL era evolves. The NCAA doesn’t have that capacity.
The NCAA didn't do but a hit-and-miss job of policing gifting rule violations before it was all legal.
Great summary of how college football has evolved into a mini-NFL is the podcast: Who Killed College Football?
I can only think it is about the money. Word is Indiana offered $2 mil. College sports are so broken.
Word is sitting at SMU was part of the deal.
Maybe he just wants to hang out with them Indiana boys on an Indiana night…
Nice call! Rolling into Bloomington along with Mary Jane for that last dance? ;-)
I miss Tom Petty.
Same, I miss Tom Petty but at least he left us with plenty of great music to enjoy and remember him.
By the way, Merry Christmas JC!
Merry Christmas to you and your family, my friend!
That really sounds exciting.
LOL. One of my favorite TV shows was The Middle, which is full of love and self-deprecation of the Midwest and Indiana.
Mendoza put up good numbers while getting pummeled behind an offensive line that couldn’t do basic blocking assignments. I don’t love that he basically quit the team before the SMU game but taking off my blue and gold colored glasses, why would he stay on with a declining program and a lame duck coach? Assuming Indiana (a rising program) is giving him the QB1 job it would be illogical to stay.
Word has it that he was no fan of competing for the QB1 job.
I wish him luck with that.
Steel sharpens steel.
Don't waste time thinking about Mendoza. We got the Jet and Uluave back. They're more valuable players. Unfinished Business! 2025 Bears the offensive line may be better
The QB position is the most important position in the game of football and also the hardest to replace.
But an average QB can overachieve with an higher graded OLine.
I'm mostly pushing up against the idea that Mendoza was mid or overrated and is somehow easily replaceable. He is not. He's the best QB we've had in a decade. There were a handful of QBs in the portal that I'd grade better than or even with Nando and they are all going elsewhere. Maybe we can come out even in the wash with an improved o-line and a lesser QB, but that leaves us where we are: a mediocre at best team. I just don't see us winning 9-10 games with a merely serviceable QB.
I won't argue about Nando's quality. While he overachieves, he has some great skills that he willed himself into improving. His quick reads and release; his short to mid range accuracy; and his surprising, serviceable mobility. I rate him ahead of Garbers but much behind Goff. Of course, I am contrasting him with Senior Goff, not the deer-in-the-headlights, trial-by-fire Goff of his first or even second years. No doubt, Nando has yet to hit his ceiling, but how much more could he have done this year with better protection? The game is, mostly, won or lost in the trenches and a better Oline performance will prove that.
Another diamond-in-the-rough is our best hope. Someday, I hope, we'll be taking stock from the top shelf, not the well, the hoping for a jolt.
I can understand why he vacated. what's left to believe that wilcox can turn around an offense at best that's so mediocre? seriously how much more sacks can he handle? his profile will elevate more to a place where he's more appreciated. this is on numbnuts wilcox for setting the exit. why can't we let go knowlton now and give him an ultimatum? it's no secret he is a sucky coach at least on offense
The new OC and support staff has solid credentials and reputations.
Hey, I'm a newcomer to full-fledged Cal football misery (daughter's a junior, so I'm sure there's more to come) but not a newcomer to Cal's history as a longtime Pac-10/12 honk. I absolutely loved this kid's moxie on the field - and the way he conducted himself on and off it - but that "illness" was just such a tell, and I'm pissed I didn't recognize it sooner instead of ending up a blindsided optimist. I don't know if what truly happened during those final weeks will ever come out, but from 98 yards and my boys to this in such a short amount of time was one of the most dispiriting things I've experienced this year.
It would have killed me if he ended up at UCLA (I live in Long Beach, so that locality would have been a killer, and my UCLA truthers told me BRO was lit up about how it was happening), so I'm feeling a bit better about the distance of Indiana, the blow to UCLA, and maybe, just maybe, finding out this move was something more legitimate than $$$. Either way I'm going to continue to follow his story, but in reality I never, ever saw NFL quarterback in him, so ultimately if that's what this is and it actually comes to fruition, maybe I can see rooting for him again.
Plus I loved that burrito. :( )
Welcome, Heino!!
The only pro attribute Mendoza currently has is NFL size. He has a right to continue to improve with more reps, and he’s going to have to if he is going to compete in the B1G.
He’s also accurate and has consistently improved. He’s not an NFL QB now, but it’s not farfetched given his growth trajectory. Clearly the staff never bought into him or showed him they bought into him until the damage was already done. But he sees himself as having an NFL future or at least he wants to pursue that over everything else, and doesn’t feel the staff has his best interests in mind. I can’t criticize him for that. I just wish he had the maturity to leave the house in order as he left so that the fanbase had something to fall on and he could retain our good will.
Totally agree with that, P. I don’t begrudge FM for moving on…just with how it went down.
Fernando, good luck with Indiana preparing you for the NFL- . Cal has a history of success to do just that, which you are walking away from.. See Aaron Rodgers, Jared Goff, Rich Campbell etc.
IU has had virtually no one play QB in the NFL per a Google search.
Especially with the new offensive coaching hires, but he left to go to Indiana.....Damm!
C'mon, Gibran Hamdan threw for seven yards in the NFL!
with an asterisk. We can't forget Antwaan Randle El, who had much success as IU QB, and did play in the NFL. Just as a receiver though.
None of those QBs played or were developed under Wilcox and his hapless band of OCs.
Wilcox/OC did play a major role in developing Mendoza.
Fair enough.
Contender, perhaps, but leaving Cal for Indiana? What in the actual fuck.
If we are not good enough for Nando (good name for under arm spray) bye, bye. I am shocked at his lack of loyalty.
At least Nando can’t save Wilcox’s job again. Not sure how we can take another 4-6 win season, but I’m also not sure we can take an extended Wilcox tenure either.
The program has completely stagnated. Hopefully the Harsin/Rolovich/Anae troika can elevate the O just enough to turn some of those classic Wilcox-turtling gag jobs into wins.
Better preparation, game planning and in-game adjustments would be huge.
During the Portal Age, all kinds of churn will happen. I'm thankful we had Nando to lead the Golden Bears for the past 1 1/2 years and deliver 2 wins over Furd. As for the QB room, Harris looked just ok, and EJ Caminong looked really bad in the Gronk Bowl. We need help at QB for 2025...
agree on all your points.
Meh. Second most defensible option, imho. Let’s his folks make just one trip a week to see both their boys. Done and gone. Next man up, next legacy to make. Roll on…