Hi, NegaBear2021 reporting in. What's the line on how many games get cancelled due to smoke, covid, or other super awesome modern day phenomenon? Have a grate day. :|
I won't predict the outcome of our season. I am optimistic that we will do well, but I will plan on just soaking up and enjoying the college football experience watching my sturdy Golden Bears compete every Saturday. ;-)
I am planning on bringing my kids to the games like I do every season, they are younger than the approved age to receive the vaccine. Does anyone know what the policy is for vaccines? Must all in attendance be vaccinated? Are masks going to be mandatory?
I really just want to enjoy the games with my kids and continue to indoctrinate my children to be life-long Cal fans.
I'd fully expect Cal to match current state and local regulations, and right now there are no rules governing outdoor events. Unless and until that changes I'm expecting no capacity restrictions and no mask requirements at Memorial Stadium.
No word on the vaccination policy for games (at least that I've heard) though it would be great if folks had to prove vaccination before entering Memorial.
Yes, but the unvaccinated are significantly more likely to transmit COVID. Also, we need to start instituting some actual societal penalties to encourage people to get vaccinated so that those who did their civic duty don't have to keep sacrificing on behalf of the selfish.
Coach Wilcox has been a middle of the pack kind of guy throughout this tenure. The pattern has been to win every non-conference game and then have a losing record in conference with some WTF losses against teams Cal should have handled and some WTF wins against teams they should have lost to.
I don't see anything being any different this year, right around 6-6 or 7-5. Historically, this is not such a bad thing. There has only been one Cal head coach in the last 40 or so years who left the place with a winning record, and he exited with a bad taste in his mouth.
I need to see some consistent offense from a Wilcox coached team to alter my assessment. I have eagerly read every post form the optimists who are saying that Musgrave is the real deal and has a system that will click this year with Garbers finally coming into his own as an NFL ready leader. If true, it's going to be a fun fall.
I wonder if there will be any improvements to the streaming situation. I'm guessing no... it's probably too late and the ludicrous Sling and Fubo contracts (where you have to pay for a whole-ass redundant TV subscription) are still in place. If George Kliavkoff can deliver a standalone Pac-12 app subscription in the next 3.5 weeks I'll pay daily homage to him as my new God for the entire season.
"[Kliavkoff], if you be the right god for the business here, I call on you to help. If you would [give me this standalone app subscription], then I would kill for you a fine white lamb, or, failing that, if I couldn't get a good one at a decent price, then six pigeons." - Titus Pullo
Just started back up my Sling subscription, which I have to keep active from Mid-August through early March because the Pac-12 network distribution is so crummy. Sigh.
"So: will we get something like the 2020 Bears that we were promised, or something like the 2020 Bears that we actually got, but over a 12 game schedule?"
It's entirely possible that we get both.
It's been popular to cite Cal being "decimated" last year, but the takeaway from that is it didn't take that much to have a decimating affect, which speaks to the combination of depth and experience, or in the Bears case, the lack thereof.
The reason a lot of people are skeptical of Cal this year is the Bears appear to still be perilously thin. A team that Bear fans and players correctly see as capable of pulling off some good stuff (see some recent and relevant wins over UW & Oregon) could also be easily derailed due to relatively few issues compared to some others in the conference. A system designed to win close games also makes narrow losses in some of those close games a greater possibility. Its a formula for a middle of the division finish, and a middle of the road overall record, especially given a pretty tough road schedule.
I see us being a 7-5 team this season. Despite it being Wilcoxs 5th season we are thin at OL, DL, and ILB. I like all of our starters at those positions but once we sustain and injury or two we will be tapping into depth that is largely young and inexperienced.
huh? Our o-line is bigger, more athletic and deeper than anytime since Wilcox arrived. DL has never had more quality players, even without Brett Johnson. We may not have an Evan Weaver or Jordan Kunaszyk, but All-American players don't come along every day. We do have some good talent that has yet to show itself, but I expect them to acquit themselves well.
I agree about the starters being bigger and athletic. It’s the depth I’m worried about. Saffell and Williams have medically retired. That means we are already down one projected starter and an experienced backup before the season has started.
I hear you but I think we will be ok. As much as Saffell was our anchor in the middle, I think all three of his potential replacements are bigger, stronger and more athletic. Same with Gentle. Gentle has been around for a while and has been a solid supporting player, but he has never broken through the starting role. Will Craig is a stud (if he can keep from getting injured again and it sounds like he got injured again); Mettauer is a physical beast who has had to tame his aggression into discipline and controlled physical play- i love those types of o-linemen; Daltoso, while not the best athlete is a versatile and experienced lineman who can play any position on our line; Cindric, Coleman and Driscoll are athletic, strong an physical and can fill starting an depth roles, I have high expectations for Rhome and Aguilar, even if Aguilar is undersized. And, we have more than a few more big uglies to fall back on. ;-)
He got injured during practice 3 and they pulled him out of drills for the rest of practice. Not sure his status. Hopefully he's all good and ready to go, but he is injury prone.
Thanks for the crystal ball analysis. I think the pendulum could swing either way. A couple of early victories over a scrappy Nevada team and a road game at TCU could help prove that the players' current stance is correct. However if we slip in either of those games we could end-up 5-5 or 5-6.
Oh man, Nick. I just entered all the Cal football dates into my Apple Calendar. The Sac State and TCU kick offs are going to ruin my entire week by being at 3:30am and 4:00am.
I mean we won every game last year when we played our O and D Line, so fairly good reason to be optimistic :)
Also OSU was a 4 point loss, Big Game was 1 point and Oregon was a 4 point win. 3 of 4 games were pretty close
Hi, NegaBear2021 reporting in. What's the line on how many games get cancelled due to smoke, covid, or other super awesome modern day phenomenon? Have a grate day. :|
I won't predict the outcome of our season. I am optimistic that we will do well, but I will plan on just soaking up and enjoying the college football experience watching my sturdy Golden Bears compete every Saturday. ;-)
Smart....and a good way to just enjoy it all!
Vaccines for attending games:
I am planning on bringing my kids to the games like I do every season, they are younger than the approved age to receive the vaccine. Does anyone know what the policy is for vaccines? Must all in attendance be vaccinated? Are masks going to be mandatory?
I really just want to enjoy the games with my kids and continue to indoctrinate my children to be life-long Cal fans.
I'd fully expect Cal to match current state and local regulations, and right now there are no rules governing outdoor events. Unless and until that changes I'm expecting no capacity restrictions and no mask requirements at Memorial Stadium.
No word on the vaccination policy for games (at least that I've heard) though it would be great if folks had to prove vaccination before entering Memorial.
Why? Both vaxxed or unvaxxed can get and transmit covid. If you are vaxxed, you shouldn't feel threatened by someone who isn't.
Yes, but the unvaccinated are significantly more likely to transmit COVID. Also, we need to start instituting some actual societal penalties to encourage people to get vaccinated so that those who did their civic duty don't have to keep sacrificing on behalf of the selfish.
Enough carrots, time to bring out the sticks for the unvaccinated.
For kids under 12 there are no vaccines are available yet, so I am not sure what the policy will be.
Coach Wilcox has been a middle of the pack kind of guy throughout this tenure. The pattern has been to win every non-conference game and then have a losing record in conference with some WTF losses against teams Cal should have handled and some WTF wins against teams they should have lost to.
I don't see anything being any different this year, right around 6-6 or 7-5. Historically, this is not such a bad thing. There has only been one Cal head coach in the last 40 or so years who left the place with a winning record, and he exited with a bad taste in his mouth.
I need to see some consistent offense from a Wilcox coached team to alter my assessment. I have eagerly read every post form the optimists who are saying that Musgrave is the real deal and has a system that will click this year with Garbers finally coming into his own as an NFL ready leader. If true, it's going to be a fun fall.
I want Chase to be great and think that he has it in him, but I don't see any NFL qualities in him. (which is fine! be a great college QB!)
I wonder if there will be any improvements to the streaming situation. I'm guessing no... it's probably too late and the ludicrous Sling and Fubo contracts (where you have to pay for a whole-ass redundant TV subscription) are still in place. If George Kliavkoff can deliver a standalone Pac-12 app subscription in the next 3.5 weeks I'll pay daily homage to him as my new God for the entire season.
"[Kliavkoff], if you be the right god for the business here, I call on you to help. If you would [give me this standalone app subscription], then I would kill for you a fine white lamb, or, failing that, if I couldn't get a good one at a decent price, then six pigeons." - Titus Pullo
Just started back up my Sling subscription, which I have to keep active from Mid-August through early March because the Pac-12 network distribution is so crummy. Sigh.
Kliavkoff has said the contract is set in stone, so expect no change until 2023.
I have Hulu...looks like I will need to get Sling or Fubo. Grrrrrrrrr!
"So: will we get something like the 2020 Bears that we were promised, or something like the 2020 Bears that we actually got, but over a 12 game schedule?"
It's entirely possible that we get both.
It's been popular to cite Cal being "decimated" last year, but the takeaway from that is it didn't take that much to have a decimating affect, which speaks to the combination of depth and experience, or in the Bears case, the lack thereof.
The reason a lot of people are skeptical of Cal this year is the Bears appear to still be perilously thin. A team that Bear fans and players correctly see as capable of pulling off some good stuff (see some recent and relevant wins over UW & Oregon) could also be easily derailed due to relatively few issues compared to some others in the conference. A system designed to win close games also makes narrow losses in some of those close games a greater possibility. Its a formula for a middle of the division finish, and a middle of the road overall record, especially given a pretty tough road schedule.
I see us being a 7-5 team this season. Despite it being Wilcoxs 5th season we are thin at OL, DL, and ILB. I like all of our starters at those positions but once we sustain and injury or two we will be tapping into depth that is largely young and inexperienced.
huh? Our o-line is bigger, more athletic and deeper than anytime since Wilcox arrived. DL has never had more quality players, even without Brett Johnson. We may not have an Evan Weaver or Jordan Kunaszyk, but All-American players don't come along every day. We do have some good talent that has yet to show itself, but I expect them to acquit themselves well.
I agree about the starters being bigger and athletic. It’s the depth I’m worried about. Saffell and Williams have medically retired. That means we are already down one projected starter and an experienced backup before the season has started.
I hear you but I think we will be ok. As much as Saffell was our anchor in the middle, I think all three of his potential replacements are bigger, stronger and more athletic. Same with Gentle. Gentle has been around for a while and has been a solid supporting player, but he has never broken through the starting role. Will Craig is a stud (if he can keep from getting injured again and it sounds like he got injured again); Mettauer is a physical beast who has had to tame his aggression into discipline and controlled physical play- i love those types of o-linemen; Daltoso, while not the best athlete is a versatile and experienced lineman who can play any position on our line; Cindric, Coleman and Driscoll are athletic, strong an physical and can fill starting an depth roles, I have high expectations for Rhome and Aguilar, even if Aguilar is undersized. And, we have more than a few more big uglies to fall back on. ;-)
Craig is injured??
He got injured during practice 3 and they pulled him out of drills for the rest of practice. Not sure his status. Hopefully he's all good and ready to go, but he is injury prone.
Thanks for the crystal ball analysis. I think the pendulum could swing either way. A couple of early victories over a scrappy Nevada team and a road game at TCU could help prove that the players' current stance is correct. However if we slip in either of those games we could end-up 5-5 or 5-6.
I meant 6-5 or 5-6.
Oh man, Nick. I just entered all the Cal football dates into my Apple Calendar. The Sac State and TCU kick offs are going to ruin my entire week by being at 3:30am and 4:00am.
Well, if that's not motivation enough to move back to California . . .
See you first home game 2022 (and probably sooner for taco crawl 3 or 4) at the WFC tailgate
Brooks! It confuses me cuz it also starts with a B.....
All-Brooks' backfield...