Golden Nuggets: Drunk Apes, The Lesser Schwartz Interview, and the Very Hungry Cal-terpillars
Just what you need to take your mind off San Diego
Hello and welcome to Golden Nuggets, our weekly recap article where we try to highlight all the fun, funny, or interesting things you might have missed roughly over the last week across Bear Territory (the whole damn world of course). Before we get started, come here for a quick hug. Season isn’t over yet. Long way to go and lots of links to read.
Turns Out Chimps Like Sangria
Some weeks, the various Google Alerts I have set up to find these great links for you come back empty, or full of Trump related stuff you’ve probably already seen. And then some weeks one jumps right out of the email and straight to the top of Golden Nuggets.
This past week, Berkeley researchers Aleksey Maro and Robert Dudley, had a study published in the journal Science Advances examining the ethanol content of fruits available to chimpanzees in their native African habitat. Which ultimately led them to conclude that the chimpanzees are getting absolutely sloshed, “consuming the equivalent of more than two standard alcoholic drinks each day.” No word on if any of their studies led them to Triple Rock Brewery on a Thursday… Read more here.
Running Through a Wall with Ron
Whoops Ron Rivera was on KNBR yesterday morning (I thought it was this morning) and talked up the San Diego State loss. Below, the_calgorithm (great follow by the way!) on Instagram clipped a particular poignant message from Ron to the fans. Only listen if you need a big boost in your productivity. Stick with it!
Hot Links
A Night in Cal Band’s Museum
[in best Al Locher Voice] Theeeee University of California Marching Band will soon have their annual Northern California Benefit on October 11th 2025 from 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM at the Pauley Ballroom at the MLK Jr. Student Union. The NorCal benefit is Cal Band’s biggest fundraiser of the year, so support the band!
The Lesser Schwartz Brother Interviews Trond
Fresh off trolling Geoff Schwartz on Twitter, Trond Grizzell sat down with Geoff for a quick interview on the upcoming Cal season. Watch it here.
Unnecessary Roughness
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was interviewed last week on Unnecessary Roughness, one of the Barstool Sports college football podcasts. Give it a watch here.
If We’re Being Honest a Bit More Rat Poison
Stewart Mandel of The Athletic answered fan questions this past week as part of his weekly column, Mandel’s Mailbag, discussing the subject of who is 2025’s Indiana, meaning the team that seemingly comes out of nowhere to get a playoff spot (still possible! Undefeated in ACC Play!) You can read more of his thoughts here.
Rece Davis is still thinking about Berkeley
Nearly a year removed from campus, Rece Davis again brought up last year’s special College GameDay appearance on campus unprompted in an interview where he was trying to defend the choice to visit Miami vs. Florida this past week. And herein lies the golden quote, “I think that might’ve been in my now 11th season on GameDay, I think that might be the best crowd we’ve had.” Read the full article here.
The Very Hungry Caterpillars
In case you aren’t in Berkeley, campus apparently is being inundated by an outbreak of California oak moth caterpillars. The Daily Cal has the story and my favorite quote of the piece “They are not at all harmful to people — unless you eat a big handful of them. I don’t recommend eating a big handful of these caterpillars.” Well now I want to…
The ACC Travel Strikes Again
Cal Football will soon be playing the planets first game on Mars wait what? Oh, Cal scientists at the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory will nervously be watching a livestream of a sporting event rocket launch that will take one of their experiments to Mars. Read more here.
Hispanic Football Hall of Fame
With the start of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15), the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame announced its creation in Las Vegas. Ron Rivera (of Puerto Rican ancestry) was integral in its creation. Read the press release here.
What does campus life look like for an athlete now?
This is the question the Athletic went out to answer this week, and interviewed Aidan Keanaaina and Cade Uluave. Read the full article here.
Oh and Cal is Still #1
The 2026 US News & World Report Best College rankings came out and Cal retained its spot as the SOLE #1 Public University and 15th Nationally. Read some more here.
And Fat Bear Week Is Here!
Welcome back Fall. Meet the bears, study the bracket, and cast a vote at: https://explore.org/fat-bear-week.
Golden Bear Honors
Doug King, Matt Lucena, and Tom Ross (Tennis alumni) were inducted into the UTSA Northern California Hall of Fame
Mikayla Hayden (Volleyball) reached 300 Blocks in her career this past week
Kai Inque (Water Polo) was named MPSF Newcomer of the Week
Cal Athletics Recap
Men’s Soccer lost to Clemson (1-3) but beat UNC Asheville (1-0)
Men’s Water Polo beat #17 UC Santa Barbara (16-14), #13 LMU (15-9), #2 USC (13-11), but lost to UCLA (9-11)
Women’s Tennis started with a couple of pre-qualifying singles wins at the ITA All-American Championships on Day 1, and concluded their pre-qualifying run falling in singles. Senior Berta Passola Folch won her qualifying singles opener and advanced to the main draw.
Women’s Soccer beat Santa Clara (2-0)
Football, well they got some exercise.
Men’s Golf posted a strong second round at the The Tindall, sitting in 6th place after Monday and improved on the second day to tie for 4th place.
Cal Pros Recap
Football
Teddye Buchanan got a feature for being among the few to go Day 3 in the draft and eventually find themselves a starter in their first year. Teddye also got some love, with some calling him a steal in the draft. Keenan Allen caught Justin Herbert’s most improbably completion since Week 8 last year for a touchdown. Ashtyn Davis meanwhile prevented a touchdown. Jared Goff led his team to beat the Ravens on Monday Night Football, including this incredible 4th Down Completion in the 4th Quarter. Aaron Rodgers lead the Steelers past the Patriots.
Golf
Michael Kim became the first American to win the French Open in 53 years. Read a great recap here.
Baseball
The Oakland Ballers are your 2025 Pioneer Baseball League Champions! Congrats Connor Sullivan and Luke Short!
Basketball
Jaylen Brown was on hand was Bill Nye received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Olympic Sports
Georgia Hunter Bell set a personal best of 1:54.90 in the Women’s 800m to clinch the World Championships silver medal. Mykolas Alekna picked up silver at the World Championships with a discus throw of 67.84.
Next Week in Bear Territory
Men’s Tennis ITA All-American Championships Continue (through 9/28) and the Tiburon Challenger (9/29-9/30)
Women’s Tennis ITA All-American Championships Continue (through 9/26) while the Cal Fall Invitational starts (9/26-9/28)
Men’s and Women’s Golf competes in The Big Match against Stanford (9/25)
Women’s Golf competes at Oregon State in the Molly Invitational (9/29-9/30)
Women’s Soccer takes on Syracuse (9/25) and Boston College (9/28)
Field Hockey plays Virginia (9/26) and UC Davis (9/28)
Rugby competes against the West Coast 7s (9/27)
Volleyball competes at Virginia Tech (9/27) and Virginia (9/28)
Football travels to Boston College (9/27)
Men’s Water Polo competes against Pepperdine (9/27)
Men’s Soccer plays Syracuse (9/27)
Thanks, as always, for reading Golden Nuggets. It was great to catch up with TKE Prytanis 79 in San Diego as we unknowingly sat right next to each other to watch everyone get some good jogging in this weekend. In case you missed it, last week’s most clicked link was The Athletic’s Interview of Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele. As always, lets me know of anything else I forgot, and hope to see you at the Boston College Watch Party at Headlands!
Thanks as always Ben! Love these recaps of our world, and yes, it was really cool meeting you and Nam IRL. Go Bears Forever!