Golden Nuggets: Everything You Might Have Missed After Big Game
Come to the table where we have amassed a Thanksgiving Feast of links. Don't be afraid to come back for seconds.
Hello and welcome to the Turkey Week edition of Golden Nuggets. Given the week, we’re going to opt for a slightly larger Golden Nuggets serving this week, followed by a good mid-day nap, and then an after dinner serving of some pie (additional links). Let’s carve this baby up.
BIG GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Are you aware that your California Golden Bears beat the hated Stanford Cardinal this past Saturday in the 127th Big Game? Of course you are! By now, you’ve read TD’s column, Berkelium97’s recap, Nick’s column, and Avi’s column right? It’s okay. Go give them a read, we’ll wait a second. The rest of the post needs a few more minutes in the oven to get to the Golden B(ear)rown we all know and love.
Alright you’re ready? Got your Thanksgiving pants on? Let’s dig in. Prior to the game, Steve Kroner of the San Francisco Chronicle interviewed Miles Williams and Craig Woodson. Chancellor Rich Lyons joined in the festivities. Multiple times. The Daily Californian won the Ink Bowl. CalRivals snapped this picture of a sold out Memorial Stadium, the most beautiful sight in college football. Prior to the game, 33 Seniors on the Football Team were recognized.
Desean Jackson was interviewed mid-game about the importance of the rivalry. Jeff Tedford, Marshawn Lynch, and the 2004 team were on hand to celebrate 20 years. Jonathan Brady and Mikey Matthews celebrated a big touchdown. Jonathan Brady broke down the touchdowns here. Mendoza was interviewed post-game and man, what an interview. 98 Yards With My Boys became an instant rallying cry. It’s everywhere. Really. Want to relive those 98 Yards? ACC Network put together a recap for you. Jonathan Brady was dubbed a Big Game hero. Cal fans obviously rushed the field. Here’s the view from the press box courtesy Steve Kroner. Chad Hansen was on hand. So was Zack Follett. Fernando celebrated with his professor. And the Cal Gnome. Riverboat Ron and Stephanie Rivera took the scene in. As a result of winning the Big Game, the Bears not only retained the Axe, but got bowl eligible. CalTwitter was glorious post-game. BART reminded CalTrain that the Axe was staying in Berkeley. Marshall Cherrington took it all in. Pat McAfee joined in the chants. The Axe was updated. Chancellor Lyons has the heart of a poster. Justin Wilcox celebrated with the team afterwards. Stewart Mandel included the Big Game in his Final Thoughts recap ($). Bill Connelly also mentioned the game in his Week 13 recap, including naming Mendoza as an honorable mention Heisman Candidate ($). The Daily Californian put together a nice recap.
The Calgorithm continues on, fighting to update Wikipedia with The Drive. Trevor Skogerboe chased down a would be helmet thief and showed off some impressive LB form. Trevor later celebrated with the team and also got a little ink on SFGate.com. Wilcox gave his thoughts on the situation, and some fundamentals he’d like to see improved on the next time this happens. Intrepid statisticians figured out that Mendoza is one of only 5 Cal QBs to beat Stanford twice. In the College Football imperialism map, Cal took Ireland. Mendoza was named a Manning Award Star for a third time. And ACC Quarterback of the week. And a Herbstreit top performer of Week 13. Mendoza was also interviewed on the ACC Network. Aaron Rodgers went on The Pat McAfee Show and talked about it all.
Phew. What a weekend!
What Else Happened?
SFGATE dove deep into controversy, aiming to create a definitive map of California regions and they need your help. Help them out, because your version is true and correct and unbiased (unless you’re excluding Oakley and Brentwood from the East Bay I mean I know, we’re out here but we straddle the border and we’re like 10 minutes from BART.)
On the Hunt for Dark Matter
Again. My degree is in Environmental Science (but I took Physics! And Astro C-10!), so I’m gonna let the pros talk about it. UC Berkeley news profiled some researchers looking at a nearby supernova.
Astrophysicists at the University of California, Berkeley, now argue that the axion could be discovered within seconds of the detection of gamma rays from a nearby supernova explosion. Axions, if they exist, would be produced in copious quantities during the first 10 seconds after the core collapse of a massive star into a neutron star, and those axions would escape and be transformed into high-energy gamma rays in the star’s intense magnetic field.
Golden Bear Honors
As mentioned above, Fernando Mendoza was nominated was named the Manning Award Star of the Week. This is Fernando’s third win including Week 9 against Oregon St., Week 11 against Wake Forest, and Week 13 against Stanford. At some point, its got to be named after him right? Nohl Williams went on the Heisman Podcast talking about his knack for intercepting errant footballs. Max Casabella of Men’s Water Polo was named First Team All-MPSF. George Avakian was named Second Team All-MPSF along with Albert Ponferrada. Jake Howerton was named an Honorable Mention All-MPSF. Cal Athletics as a whole recorded it’s higher graduation success rate (GSR) ever with 93% of athletes graduating. Teddye Buchanan and Aidan Keanaaina were recognized as the 2024 All-Underrated Transfer Team. Coach Peter Sirmon was named a Broyles Award Nominee given to the best assistant coach in the country.
Cal Athletics Roundup
Women’s Basketball beat Grambling State and Auburn to open the season 6-0 before falling to Michigan State at the Acrisure Classic in Palm Springs. Men’s Basketball beat Air Force and Sacramento St. Men’s Water Polo beat Augustana but lost to UCLA and Stanford in the MPSF Championships. Volleyball lost to North Carolina but beat Duke. Women’s Soccer dropped out of the NCAA Championship with a loss to #5 Arkansas. Rugby throttled Long Beach State 101-7. FOOTBALL KEPT THE AXE.
Cal Pros Roundup
The California Golden Bearcast caught up with Giorgio Tavecchio. Jaylon Tyson got a start over New Orleans and made the most of it, playing 37 minutes and recording 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 16 points. Jaylen Brown was on the cover of Men’s Health. Jaylen also met Bill Nye. Oh to be a fly on the locker room wall for that conversation. Jaylen also frustrated the hell out of the Minnesota broadcast team, opening the game with 5 straight 3 pointers.
That should just about it do it! Thanks for reading, and I’m sure I missed about 15 different things, so please help us out and drop them in the chat! Have a safe, and happy Thanksgiving, and Go Bears!
You failed to mention that Aaron Rodgers was on the field and in the tunnel with the 2004 team. Yes, he has problems with his image right now but he was the greatest QB Cal has ever produced and when he was at Cal the fans loved him.
How could you miss Qb1 talking to the team in the locker room about the game..on field presence etc
?