Great write up as always, Nick. NOW it feels like football is back….. One stat you forgot to touch on; we didn’t TURTLE when we got ahead in the 2nd half!!!! I was so proud of JW and Spav for sticking to the playbook (for the most part, until Mendoza came in…..). Fun!!!!!!
Last season Jack Plummer was running around on one leg and Kai Milner couldn't get a snap - having 3 QB options who can come in is already making me feel better.
I'll always respect Plummer for the poise he showed. He never did get enough credit for how he played through what was basically a guaranteed beating every game.
You won't find me writing or saying one negative word about Jack Plummer - but the poor dude got pummeled every game and we had a back-up who didn't look terrible in the half game he got to play.
I'd rather not send out my number on a public forum such as this. Do you not have my email address anymore? (Remember we went back and forth about our mutual friend Dave Bordessa). I don't want to put it on here for everyone to read, but if you have it then you can send to me via my personal email.
Watched some of the highlight plays but not the game film yet. As far as the o-line goes our best combo is RT Sessions RG Vatikanin C Driscoll LG Wykoff LT Barrett. This combo was fun to watch...that is some serious meat with attitude. Like I said, fun to watch them get after it.
Thanks for the great write-up. Auburn is gonna be a really good early barometer.
I enjoyed the win -- and I am enjoying the sudden positive energy surrounding the program as of the ACC invite, and with more people DONATING. I don't take any of it for granted, but I can't help but take away very little from the North Texas game, other than feeling pretty good about the ability of our backups, and that we look MUCH BETTER COACHED on offense, albeit still an early work in progress -- BUT feeling equally NERVOUS about our defense and how much it might struggle with a suddenly up-tempo offense (that will undoubtedly have those quick 3-and-out stretches against our better opponents). What does the trade off end up looking like? Or do we really, finally, eventually, get the best of both worlds, after a decade+ of torment?
I appreciate Wilcox's willingness to change. But, the DOOM side of me thinks we end up with the same Wilcox end just by different means, and different and more intense flavors of highs and lows... Basically, higher scoring, higher variability, but same record. And that continues for the rest of his tenure.
The SUNSHINE side thinks, all bets are off, this is a new team, a new era, a new game -- as some others have suggested. And its going to be a FUN ride whatever the outcome.
Only time will tell, but we should get a very good sample this Saturday.
We could be much improved over last year’s team and still have the same record because of how tough the schedule is. But that also might bode well for entering the ACC.
Every team in the conference won, and had some unexpected positives, and pretty much exceeded expectations. It is going to be a very brutal (but entertaining and completive) conference. But Cal looks better positioned for that than they have in years.
If we can stay healthy I'd say 6 wins is now the floor. And it's easier to stay healthy if you rotate a lot of guys so the individual snap count is reduced a bit. But this is only possible with quality depth, which we seemed to have gained through the portal. Prime is now the poster boy for this approach.
Random observation after rewatching the game... It looks like the glossy blue helmets are back. I always hated the matte blue helmets we wore for the last 5-10 years and thought they didn’t match well with our unis.
I always thought the matte helmets were too dark and looked like we were wearing black helmets over a blue jersey. Maybe it was just a bad color match. Either way I like the new helmets. It also doesn’t really matter as long as we WIN BABY :)
As I wrote earlier, if the Bears can show improvement from game to game, this could be a rewarding season for Cal. This weekend against an historically powerful SEC team may tell us a great deal. That said the performance against NTS was very gratifying. Fingers crossed.
"Cal could have missed every single PAT and field goal in this game and still won 48-21, so if this was a one-off performance from Michael Luckhurst, then no harm no foul. But there will absolutely be games later on this season in which a field goal or extra point will be the difference, so Cal had better figure out what’s up quickly. Camp reporting had very good things to say about Luckhurst’s leg strength, but the accuracy is going to have to come first before kick distance can become a consideration."
The reactions of the North Texas fans. They sound like us when we are so negabears. Anyway they are saying even Cal writers didn't know Cal had a run game. I don't know what they are talking about because the only certainty coming into the season was Jaydn Ott.
I WATCHED AUBURN BEAT THE FOURTH RANKED U.S. TEAM, ALABAMA. WILCOX NOW HAS MORE THAN HE'D LIKE WITH WHICH TO DEAL! JUST TO STAY EVEN IN THE GAME WITH AUBURN CAL MUST PLAY AT LEAST 20% BETER THAN AGAINST N.TEXAS. IF ANYTHING MORE IS NEEDED IT BETTER BE JUST SOME VERY LUCKY, UNEXPECTED, EVENTS FOR THE BEARS ON THE FIELD WITH AUBURN. GERBEAR
All good. Not everybody knows, but GERBEAR comes and goes.
And cap locks is kind of a troll look and it's a good guess. You're good. We're all Bears, here, mostly. It is important to be vigilante since we have been getting trolls, for sure.
How is it only Monday...while Nick closes out with that paragraph...
This is going to be a wild week.
Great write up as always, Nick. NOW it feels like football is back….. One stat you forgot to touch on; we didn’t TURTLE when we got ahead in the 2nd half!!!! I was so proud of JW and Spav for sticking to the playbook (for the most part, until Mendoza came in…..). Fun!!!!!!
Ahh, I meant to include that note as an example of a potential philosophy shift
Last season Jack Plummer was running around on one leg and Kai Milner couldn't get a snap - having 3 QB options who can come in is already making me feel better.
I'll always respect Plummer for the poise he showed. He never did get enough credit for how he played through what was basically a guaranteed beating every game.
You won't find me writing or saying one negative word about Jack Plummer - but the poor dude got pummeled every game and we had a back-up who didn't look terrible in the half game he got to play.
I'll second that. Excellent observations and thoughts Nick. You are the voice of reason when it comes to CAL football.
Discrete is my middle name. Send it. ;-)
I'd rather not send out my number on a public forum such as this. Do you not have my email address anymore? (Remember we went back and forth about our mutual friend Dave Bordessa). I don't want to put it on here for everyone to read, but if you have it then you can send to me via my personal email.
Thanks Nick! Enjoyed watching the game with you and the crew at Dokkaibier.
Watched some of the highlight plays but not the game film yet. As far as the o-line goes our best combo is RT Sessions RG Vatikanin C Driscoll LG Wykoff LT Barrett. This combo was fun to watch...that is some serious meat with attitude. Like I said, fun to watch them get after it.
Thanks for the great write-up. Auburn is gonna be a really good early barometer.
I enjoyed the win -- and I am enjoying the sudden positive energy surrounding the program as of the ACC invite, and with more people DONATING. I don't take any of it for granted, but I can't help but take away very little from the North Texas game, other than feeling pretty good about the ability of our backups, and that we look MUCH BETTER COACHED on offense, albeit still an early work in progress -- BUT feeling equally NERVOUS about our defense and how much it might struggle with a suddenly up-tempo offense (that will undoubtedly have those quick 3-and-out stretches against our better opponents). What does the trade off end up looking like? Or do we really, finally, eventually, get the best of both worlds, after a decade+ of torment?
I appreciate Wilcox's willingness to change. But, the DOOM side of me thinks we end up with the same Wilcox end just by different means, and different and more intense flavors of highs and lows... Basically, higher scoring, higher variability, but same record. And that continues for the rest of his tenure.
The SUNSHINE side thinks, all bets are off, this is a new team, a new era, a new game -- as some others have suggested. And its going to be a FUN ride whatever the outcome.
Only time will tell, but we should get a very good sample this Saturday.
GO BAREZ
We could be much improved over last year’s team and still have the same record because of how tough the schedule is. But that also might bode well for entering the ACC.
Every team in the conference won, and had some unexpected positives, and pretty much exceeded expectations. It is going to be a very brutal (but entertaining and completive) conference. But Cal looks better positioned for that than they have in years.
If we can stay healthy I'd say 6 wins is now the floor. And it's easier to stay healthy if you rotate a lot of guys so the individual snap count is reduced a bit. But this is only possible with quality depth, which we seemed to have gained through the portal. Prime is now the poster boy for this approach.
About that health thing, still no idea about the health of the QB?
Presser tomorrow should speak to that. But maybe keep Auburn guessing until game time
Random observation after rewatching the game... It looks like the glossy blue helmets are back. I always hated the matte blue helmets we wore for the last 5-10 years and thought they didn’t match well with our unis.
I actually really love the matte helmets 😅
I always thought the matte helmets were too dark and looked like we were wearing black helmets over a blue jersey. Maybe it was just a bad color match. Either way I like the new helmets. It also doesn’t really matter as long as we WIN BABY :)
I love the gold helmets from the Big Game last year. Since it’s a Goldout, maybe we’ll see them on Saturday. Undefeated in them so far.
I think it will be the gold jersey over blue pants and regular helmet. Just like Tennessee 2007
The gold helmets were sick!!
Side note:
How long before Dabo Sweeney and the Clemson crew blame us (Calford-SMU) for their loss to Duke?
The perfect comment and from a Furdie. 🤡
"Idk if Clemson can cut it in the ACC, would probably vote no on them joining my conference"
https://twitter.com/DaStanfordTree/status/1698898624233484587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1698898624233484587%7Ctwgr%5E8266ed914bd02e14077d31c86b96148d12bb7b0b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbearinsider.com%2Fforums%2F2%2Ftopics%2F116413%2F2
The ACC is OURS.
Dabo will be even more mad when Duke takes Clemson's SEC invite.
That’s hilarious !
As I wrote earlier, if the Bears can show improvement from game to game, this could be a rewarding season for Cal. This weekend against an historically powerful SEC team may tell us a great deal. That said the performance against NTS was very gratifying. Fingers crossed.
"Certain doom mongers..." Aw, shucks. I thought it would lead me to some off site pundits/bloggers who I find cavalier and dismissive.
A true Cal writer always pokes fun at themselves
GREAT POINT:
"Cal could have missed every single PAT and field goal in this game and still won 48-21, so if this was a one-off performance from Michael Luckhurst, then no harm no foul. But there will absolutely be games later on this season in which a field goal or extra point will be the difference, so Cal had better figure out what’s up quickly. Camp reporting had very good things to say about Luckhurst’s leg strength, but the accuracy is going to have to come first before kick distance can become a consideration."
The fact that we set a new record for offensive snaps in the Wilcox Era with the new running clock rule change is wild
Duke is up 21-7 against Clemson in the 4th quarter
Clemson suddenly doing a 180 on the payout premium for success.
The reactions of the North Texas fans. They sound like us when we are so negabears. Anyway they are saying even Cal writers didn't know Cal had a run game. I don't know what they are talking about because the only certainty coming into the season was Jaydn Ott.
https://youtu.be/doUgtcW2w98?si=Cnt8jvYlhv7YGXTa
I WATCHED AUBURN BEAT THE FOURTH RANKED U.S. TEAM, ALABAMA. WILCOX NOW HAS MORE THAN HE'D LIKE WITH WHICH TO DEAL! JUST TO STAY EVEN IN THE GAME WITH AUBURN CAL MUST PLAY AT LEAST 20% BETER THAN AGAINST N.TEXAS. IF ANYTHING MORE IS NEEDED IT BETTER BE JUST SOME VERY LUCKY, UNEXPECTED, EVENTS FOR THE BEARS ON THE FIELD WITH AUBURN. GERBEAR
UH AUBURN? DIDN'T PLAY BAMA; BAMA BEAT MIDDLE TENNESSEE.
HE'S TROLLING
I HOPE I CAN STILL TROLL MESSAGE BOARDS WHEN I'M 94 KEEP IT UP GERALD!!!!
GERALD has been around a long time and is a Cal guy. E.L.E.
He's no troll.
He was on the cheer squad during the Pappy Waldorf years.
Respect.
You're awesome GERBEAR
My apologies to the Old Blue. We are a diverse community and I myself have been accused here of being Polyanna.
All good. Not everybody knows, but GERBEAR comes and goes.
And cap locks is kind of a troll look and it's a good guess. You're good. We're all Bears, here, mostly. It is important to be vigilante since we have been getting trolls, for sure.
I didn't know that! That's awesome!
GERBEAR may be the last one here to see Cal in the Rose Bowl. Not "to have seen" but last one of us to ever see due to all the changed circumstances.
Brilliant! er, BRILLIANT!!
He's probably referring to a previous year. In fact, was it last year? I know 'Bama lost a few.
Great write up, Nick!
Not much left to say but it will feel so good to be back in Memorial this weekend.