59bear said:

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I saw my first game at Memorial in 1949, the win over USC featuring Frank Brunk's 102 yard kickoff return but I had listened to Cal games on radio from about 1946. I was at Cal at the end of the Waldorf era and it was funereal. I was at Cal when the '58 team stumbled (it was truly a very average team) into the Rose Bowl. Compared to the present, I'd say only Willsey, Mike White, Snyder and Tedford were significantly better and Levy, Holmoe and Dykes much worse. I confess to being a Wilcox believer when he was hired but I also thought Gilby or Mariucci would be better than they were and Mooch might have been had he stayed. I do subscribe to the theory that the greater Cal community...Admin, faculty, student body and alumni don't care much whether or not our major sports teams succeed. Personally, I don't need national titles or the Rose Bowl (like me, it ain't what it once was) but I would like to see a team that could take the field with a reasonable chance to win on any given Saturday. I thought Wilcox was building toward that. This year and last certainly belie that notion but only our expectations put this season in any list of our absolute worst.

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I don't think I could of said it any better......sigh.

59bear said:

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I saw my first game at Memorial in 1949, the win over USC featuring Frank Brunk's 102 yard kickoff return but I had listened to Cal games on radio from about 1946. I was at Cal at the end of the Waldorf era and it was funereal. I was at Cal when the '58 team stumbled (it was truly a very average team) into the Rose Bowl. Compared to the present, I'd say only Willsey, Mike White, Snyder and Tedford were significantly better and Levy, Holmoe and Dykes much worse. I confess to being a Wilcox believer when he was hired but I also thought Gilby or Mariucci would be better than they were and Mooch might have been had he stayed. I do subscribe to the theory that the greater Cal community...Admin, faculty, student body and alumni don't care much whether or not our major sports teams succeed. Personally, I don't need national titles or the Rose Bowl (like me, it ain't what it once was) but I would like to see a team that could take the field with a reasonable chance to win on any given Saturday. I thought Wilcox was building toward that. This year and last certainly belie that notion but only our expectations put this season in any list of our absolute worst.

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My first game was 1956. Overall, I think you did a nice job of summarizing the Cal football state of affairs since the 1950's. Well said…….

I've been at this more years than I care to admit, but I was surprised that last week's game did not garner more response than it did. Cal seemed to have a lock on losing games like that back in the day. Just incredible ways to have games slip away that left you absolutely stunned. It reminded me of some games against UCLA in the 70's and a few with Washington in the 80's. That was the type of loss that used to haunt you for the whole weekend. But maybe because my expectations weren't too high, that I recovered more quickly.

I like Wilcox and hold him accountable for performance...but his assistants have let him and the team down. Musgrave's conservative play calling and refusal to pound when it is working have cost us two games. The clock management has been atrocious.

That said, how about Wilcox instead of stewing and getting mad in the press conference, get fired up DURING THE GAME. I never see him yank a player after an error or grab a position group and fire them up. The stoic limping with crutches is not a good look. And neither is Musgrave old man on the sideline. Not inspiring.

59bear said:

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I saw my first game at Memorial in 1949, the win over USC featuring Frank Brunk's 102 yard kickoff return but I had listened to Cal games on radio from about 1946. I was at Cal at the end of the Waldorf era and it was funereal. I was at Cal when the '58 team stumbled (it was truly a very average team) into the Rose Bowl. Compared to the present, I'd say only Willsey, Mike White, Snyder and Tedford were significantly better and Levy, Holmoe and Dykes much worse. I confess to being a Wilcox believer when he was hired but I also thought Gilby or Mariucci would be better than they were and Mooch might have been had he stayed. I do subscribe to the theory that the greater Cal community...Admin, faculty, student body and alumni don't care much whether or not our major sports teams succeed. Personally, I don't need national titles or the Rose Bowl (like me, it ain't what it once was) but I would like to see a team that could take the field with a reasonable chance to win on any given Saturday. I thought Wilcox was building toward that. This year and last certainly belie that notion but only our expectations put this season in any list of our absolute worst.

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While I never saw a Cal football game until 1957 when I was a freshman, I also became a fan by listening to the games on a Honolulu radio station in the early 1950's. I didn't see too many games in person after graduating in 1962 until I retired from my job in Japan in 1999. I bought season tickets for the first time in 2003, which I reluctantly gave up in 2019 because of the problem with the game starting times. The pandemic has further complicated my travel plans.

I was hoping yesterday's game would be the turning point in turning this season around, but now I'm not confident that HC Wilcox and staff are capable of accomplishing that. I have no idea if this is the worst season ever, but I hate myself for not caring, one way or the other.

blungld said:

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I like Wilcox and hold him accountable for performance...but his assistants have let him and the team down. Musgrave's conservative play calling and refusal to pound when it is working have cost us two games. The clock management has been atrocious.

That said, how about Wilcox instead of stewing and getting mad in the press conference, get fired up DURING THE GAME. I never see him yank a player after an error or grab a position group and fire them up. The stoic limping with crutches is not a good luck. And neither is Musgrave old man on the sideline. Not inspiring.

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It is not his style, apparently, but extreme conditions demand extreme responses. Perhaps he does need to read the locker room better.

This is my 45th season following Cal. In that time I've seen 10 Head Coaches at Cal:

Coach (Won/Lost record) (all time list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_California_Golden_Bears_head_football_coaches)

Mike White (35/30)
Rodger Theder (18/27)
Joe Kapp (20/34)
Bruce Snyder (29/24)
Keith Gilbertson (20/26)
Steve Mariucci (6/6)
Tom Holmoe (12/43)
Jeff Tedford (82/57)
Sonny Dykes (19/30)
Justin Wilcox (22/23)

I've seen so many poor Cal football performances over the years that in all honesty it is hard to rank them. I doubt I could see one more depressing than in 1978 when UCLA beat Cal 45-0 and made 10 interceptions. The Theder, Gilbertson and Holmoe eras stand out to me as particularly depressing times to be a Cal fan, though I really did not care for the Dykes era either.

The best seasons I saw were with Bruce Snyder and Jeff Tedford as coach.

I've been following Cal since 1982 and The Play. My high school friends that were all 'furd fans were apoplectic over the injustice of it all. "His knee was down!" I thought it was funny. I started following Cal and enrolled as a freshman a couple years later. It's been mostly darkness and doom - with the occasional glimmer of hope to encourage optimism, only to be dashed on the jagged rocks of despair time and time again. When one decides to be a Golden Bear, one must accept the fate one has chosen.

blungld said:

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That said, how about Wilcox instead of stewing and getting mad in the press conference, get fired up DURING THE GAME. I never see him yank a player after an error or grab a position group and fire them up. The stoic limping with crutches is not a good look.

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Exactly. During the game it seems like Wilcox is completely disconnected from what is (or isn't) happening on the field and from his players.

59bear said:

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I saw my first game at Memorial in 1949, the win over USC featuring Frank Brunk's 102 yard kickoff return but I had listened to Cal games on radio from about 1946. I was at Cal at the end of the Waldorf era and it was funereal. I was at Cal when the '58 team stumbled (it was truly a very average team) into the Rose Bowl. Compared to the present, I'd say only Willsey, Mike White, Snyder and Tedford were significantly better and Levy, Holmoe and Dykes much worse. I confess to being a Wilcox believer when he was hired but I also thought Gilby or Mariucci would be better than they were and Mooch might have been had he stayed. I do subscribe to the theory that the greater Cal community...Admin, faculty, student body and alumni don't care much whether or not our major sports teams succeed. Personally, I don't need national titles or the Rose Bowl (like me, it ain't what it once was) but I would like to see a team that could take the field with a reasonable chance to win on any given Saturday. I thought Wilcox was building toward that. This year and last certainly belie that notion but only our expectations put this season in any list of our absolute worst.

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Agree 100%. Thanks.

My first memories of CAl games are over 50 years old. I've been a fan since '75. The most hopeless feeling as a fan was the Holmoe teams. Our punter and punt returner were the only things I could take pride in.

There have been many bad teams and coaches over that time, but the only team I've felt 'embarrassed' by was the Tedford teams at the end. Those teams had talent but absolutely no guts. There were a handful of games where it was obvious that the team had quit and were only playing for themselves. Remember the USC game where Cal was getting humiliated 38-0 (?) at halftime and Tedford had the nerve to come out for the post-game presser saying that 'we won the second half.'

Besides the selfish players and inept coaching - there were the abysmal academics that cast a shadow over our program for years.

While I agree that Wilcox must go (and sooner rather than later), the fact is this team has a dearth of P5 talent (and that is on the coaches), but by no means am I embarrassed by them.

Since 2006...

2012 Nevada: Home opener in new stadium, big expectations to improve from the mediocrity of 2010-2011, and guess what, by about 8:00 left in the 1st quarter I knew something was awry because we looked totally out of sorts, and yesterday was pretty much the same result, an inexplicably awful performance which may mark the beginning of the end of the current regime.

I went to every home game during the 2013 season, and even though we were always losing (sometimes worse than others), I was always fascinated to see a young offense in development, the guys would take the field with determination and focus to aim for success, even if they were down by 50 (defense was another story of course). I saw none of that yesterday.

Since 1964.
In context, this season is easily the most disappointing.
With Holmoe, there was rarely any expectation of success.

Since 1940's, watching Ramblers, Cal, and fortunately for me a 1958 Rose Bowl. Traveled to early season away games with Cal group "Bears in the Air" beginning in 1976 for 25 years.

My comments echo 59bear. Sad to say IMO yesterday hit an all time low. All facets of the game failed. Students disengaged. Game atmosphere blasting corporate game propaganda. My surrounding seat holders hoping for better this week realized this season in serious jeopardy, some feel over. Personally I have no confidence the Athletic Department will take appropriate action. Management must make incisive decisions. Do I stop contributing? No, as I will not let down Student-Athletes who committed to Cal. Do I voice my opinion to AD? You bet. My loyalty is being tested. Go Bears!

SoFlaBear said:

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38 years. I saw some bad play in the Kapp era; early Bruce Snyder; Keith Gilbertson took us in the wrong direction, and Sonny Dykes was bad. It was never - ever worse than Tom Holmoe. Today approached Holmoe-level futility.

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TBH, this is about expectations...

Holmoe was bad. But games were like a nickel to get in, the atmosphere was mid tier budget football. Holmoe was an incompetent in an era full of incompetency. He was only mildly more incompetent than the decades before him. He replaced a "hero" who was a "hero" for winning 6 games.

The reality is the program under Holmoe was designed for Holmoe results. We built a program that celebrated a .500 season like Jesus had come down to bless us personally. We celebrated real grass like it was an massive institutional infrastructure accomplishment. We paid him below market rate because he was happy to have a job. But he was frustrating because he took us down a little too far, to 1 win, instead of the 3-5 we thought we were entitled to.

Dykes, OTOH, trained and played in a half billion dollar facility, the school was demanded massive donations to sit in the same seats I have for generations, he was constantly looked for better jobs, all while setting and breaking his own record after record for worsts at Cal. Hell, he even set a few defensive records for worst in the NCAA (FBS & FCS) ever.

To the "Wilcox has had x season of recruiting, and dykes blah blah blah...":

Dykes set the record for touchdowns given up at 67 in 2016. Even that deep in, he was still setting "worst ever" records at Cal. From 2013 through 2016, the books are full of worst evers under him.

People who dismiss how terrible Dykes was will point to all the "best ever" records... those, without the wins to back it up, dont offset the literal worst defenses the country has ever seen for 4 straight season.

Every time you went to a dykes game, from 2013-2016, a unit on the field was consistently THE WORST THE TEAM HAS EVER HAD, and sometimes the worst the country has ever had. for 4 straight years. Only competing with themselves for that great honor.


Nothing will ever reach the level of 11 FBS losses in 2013. I could forgive it if he built a program and stopped setting negative records, but he didn't. 2013 was the lowest point of Cal football. This is closer to that than 2001, which was a massive step above 2013. Holmoe was expected to win a few games a year, collect his check and carry on. Dykes and Wilcox were and are expected to build sustained success.



I do agree that at least there was something to watch 2013, but 0 wins with the expectation of more than 0, while fielding the worst half of a team ever.... my god.

MathTeacherMike said:

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My first memories of CAl games are over 50 years old. I've been a fan since '75. The most hopeless feeling as a fan was the Holmoe teams. Our punter and punt returner were the only things I could take pride in.

There have been many bad teams and coaches over that time, but the only team I've felt 'embarrassed' by was the Tedford teams at the end. Those teams had talent but absolutely no guts. There were a handful of games where it was obvious that the team had quit and were only playing for themselves. Remember the USC game where Cal was getting humiliated 38-0 (?) at halftime and Tedford had the nerve to come out for the post-game presser saying that 'we won the second half.'

Besides the selfish players and inept coaching - there were the abysmal academics that cast a shadow over our program for years.

While I agree that Wilcox must go (and sooner rather than later), the fact is this team has a dearth of P5 talent (and that is on the coaches), but by no means am I embarrassed by them.

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I am embarassed by this team. I was still a Cal fan in 2001. My enthusiasm dipped through the end of the Tedford era. It hit 0 in 2016. It is back to 0. I changed the channel a lot yesterday.

TheFiatLux said:

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Big C said:

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46 years (started when I was a gleam in my daddy's eye, lol)

I have seen many. many lower moments and worse play than today. What is absolutely stunning about this year is how far our stock has fallen in the last 30 days. Coming into our first game, most everybody was feeling fairly optimistic. Maybe we didn't have Rose Bowl talent, but this looked to be at least a winning season. Then, with each successive week (even the week we won), we've needed to readjust expectations downward. And today, quite a bit further downward. Nobody expected 1-4 at this point. Hard to believe (and that's after 46 years which included plenty of futility).

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Boy, for some reason I always thought you were older.

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Is it perhaps my great wisdom?

Man, don't ever call me "boy".

We made the ESPN top 10 again, as the opposing team. This is EXACTLY like the holmoe years

I've seen worse offenses -- the Holmoe years were terrible.
And we used to get blown out a lot. 40, 50 point beat-downs by USC and UCLA happened frequently. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore (although our next game against Oregon could be dreadful).

The problem with this season, as others have said, is the sudden collapse within this season, or vs pre-season expectations, or how we felt after the Redbox Bowl. I didn't expect to be voting for a coaching change so soon.

I was kicked off this board for a predicting a one win season in Dyke's first year. I attended 90+% of spring and fall practices, and I commented regularly here the team had almost no talent, especially on the D. A few players who weren't shown the door remained as cancers. Once the season began, the injuries to too young players cascaded. Blame Buh, but Teddy left a giant turd.

Mama Bear said:

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Since 1940's, watching Ramblers, Cal, and fortunately for me a 1958 Rose Bowl. Traveled to early season away games with Cal group "Bears in the Air" beginning in 1976 for 25 years.

My comments echo 59bear. Sad to say IMO yesterday hit an all time low. All facets of the game failed. Students disengaged. Game atmosphere blasting corporate game propaganda. My surrounding seat holders hoping for better this week realized this season in serious jeopardy, some feel over. Personally I have no confidence the Athletic Department will take appropriate action. Management must make incisive decisions. Do I stop contributing? No, as I will not let down Student-Athletes who committed to Cal. Do I voice my opinion to AD? You bet. My loyalty is being tested. Go Bears!

---

When I came to Cal in '83, Old Blue friends of my family took me under their wing. Back then, Maggard was the AD and we had Kapp coaching football and Dick Kuchen coaching basketball. I mention all of this because, while I don't know you personally, I've followed your comments for what seems like at least a few years. Reading your comments reminded me almost word for word of what those Old Blues were saying almost 40 years ago. So we've come full circle.

LunchTime said:

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MathTeacherMike said:

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My first memories of CAl games are over 50 years old. I've been a fan since '75. The most hopeless feeling as a fan was the Holmoe teams. Our punter and punt returner were the only things I could take pride in.

There have been many bad teams and coaches over that time, but the only team I've felt 'embarrassed' by was the Tedford teams at the end. Those teams had talent but absolutely no guts. There were a handful of games where it was obvious that the team had quit and were only playing for themselves. Remember the USC game where Cal was getting humiliated 38-0 (?) at halftime and Tedford had the nerve to come out for the post-game presser saying that 'we won the second half.'

Besides the selfish players and inept coaching - there were the abysmal academics that cast a shadow over our program for years.

While I agree that Wilcox must go (and sooner rather than later), the fact is this team has a dearth of P5 talent (and that is on the coaches), but by no means am I embarrassed by them.

---

I am embarassed by this team. I was still a Cal fan in 2001. My enthusiasm dipped through the end of the Tedford era. It hit 0 in 2016. It is back to 0. I changed the channel a lot yesterday.

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In 2016 our defense sucked as usual under Dykes but we had an offense that was decent, and we beat Texas (again), AND we ended the year with a dominating win over UCLA, and almost sneaked into a bowl at 5-7. Nothing impressive but leagues better than what we just saw last Saturday, this year's team would get smoked by the 2016 squad and is going to struggle to get to 5 wins.

I've followed Cal football since my freshman year at Cal, 61 years. During those years I've seen worse than today many ,many times.
My time at Cal was during the marv levy years. Levy makes Holmoe look good (at least passible).
Wilcox's best year he won 8 games. It toke Levy 4 years to win 8 games. Levy's recod:
1960 2-7-1
1691 1-8-1
1962- 1-9
1963 4-5-1.
1961 was a disapointing year for some Cal Fans. Cal started the season losing to #4 Texas 28-3, and #1 Iowa 28-7. Cal then tied Missouri 14-14. Then we upset Washington (winner of the last 2 RoseBowls) 21-14 on a blocked punt by either Roger Stull or John Erby. Some Fans left Memmorial Stadium (me included) chanting 'We smell Roses'. I even went to the Rally before the USC game (the only none big game rally that I attended). Cal fumbled on the first lay of the USC game, and didn't win any games the rest of the season.
The following chant during Levy's time at Cal 'Coach Marv, Coach Marv lev (leave).

In 1964 (Ray Wllsey's first year) Cal was 3 and 4 after the first 7 games. During the 4 loses Cal played 'good enoughto lose'. The close loses were to #3 Illinois 20-14 when on the last drive a Morton to Bradley TD pass,was ruled Bradley stepped on the back line of the endzone. After a close los to UCLA a fan remarked 'we should be 7-0'.

1965 had some bad moments, but bounced back each time. Cal lost the first game to #3 Notre Dame 48-6. The next week we were on the verge of upsetting #Michigan, when Cal fumble when we were close to scoring the winning TD. Cal lost 10-7. Cal then won the next 3 games. Then lost to UCLA 56-3. Beat Penn Stat 21-17 on a Hail Marry TD pass from Jim Hunt to Jerry Bradly as time ran out. Lost to USC 35-0. Beat Oregon 24-0.and lost the Big game to Stanford 9-7. Cal finish 5-5.

1967 had 2 bad loses, to #1 Notre Dame 41-6, and San Jose State 30-6, But Cal finished 5-5.

Cal lost it's first game in 1973 to #6 Alabama 66-0, We also lost to to UCLA 61-21, and USC 14-50. On the right side, Cal beat Army 51-6. and Washington 54-49. Finishing the year 4-7.

I said the Levy years were worse that the Holmoe years, but I might be wrong. Levy on 8 games in 4 years, Holmoe won 12 in 5 years.

Bobodeluxe said:

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I was kicked off this board for a predicting a one win season in Dyke's first year. I attended 90+% of spring and fall practices, and I commented regularly here the team had almost no talent, especially on the D. A few players who weren't shown the door remained as cancers. Once the season began, the injuries to too young players cascaded. Blame Buh, but Teddy left a giant turd.

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Cal was #107 in pass defense in 2012, Tedford's last year. #107. We were #111 in defensive efficiency.
From that team we lost two DBs to the NFL draft (StevecWilliams and Marc Anthony). How does the #107 pass defense have two NFL DBs on it? Then you lose them and other staters to graduation. Others kicked off the team. Then the injuries.

When you are reduced to starting a true freshman walk-on at CB, in the PAC -12 you are screwed.

Then against Stanford your best remaining DB gets tossed by the PAC-12 refs on a bogus call on the opening kickoff? (I may have mixed years there).

I've been a fan since my freshman year in 1980.

I've seen a lot of bad football, but back then it was fun being a Cal fan. Our old stadium was beautiful, in a magnificent setting. Our student section was loud. Our Micmen were great. Cal Band was great. We had the best fight songs. We had great traditions. Our team had the best uniforms and colors. The students were rowdy. We felt like we could impact the game. We could help the Bears win. We were smart and knew it. We threw the cards after the card stunts. We invented The Wave despite what others will tell you. We had bonfire rallies. We got drunk. Our team often sucked and we commiserated together. There was always Big Game against equally pathetic Stanford but in a full Stadium, with one side red and the other blue.

Even during Holmoe we had individual stars that were fun to watch. O'Neal or Igber for example.

The current level of suckitude, without the fun of our traditions, without the consolation of a traditional Big Game and chance at redemption at the end and our miserable record against them, is just depressing. Part of it is the era, TV, COVID, the changes in college football, the Rose Bowl as we knew it fading from memory and thus It really feels worse than prior eras of sucky football.

RichyBear said:

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I've followed Cal football since my freshman year at Cal, 61 years. During those years I've seen worse than today many ,many times.
My time at Cal was during the marv levy years. Levy makes Holmoe look good (at least passible).
Wilcox's best year he won 8 games. It toke Levy 4 years to win 8 games. Levy's recod:
1960 2-7-1
1691 1-8-1
1962- 1-9
1963 4-5-1.
1961 was a disapointing year for some Cal Fans. Cal started the season losing to #4 Texas 28-3, and #1 Iowa 28-7. Cal then tied Missouri 14-14. Then we upset Washington (winner of the last 2 RoseBowls) 21-14 on a blocked punt by either Roger Stull or John Erby. Some Fans left Memmorial Stadium (me included) chanting 'We smell Roses'. I even went to the Rally before the USC game (the only none big game rally that I attended). Cal fumbled on the first lay of the USC game, and didn't win any games the rest of the season.
The following chant during Levy's time at Cal 'Coach Marv, Coach Marv lev (leave).

In 1964 (Ray Wllsey's first year) Cal was 3 and 4 after the first 7 games. During the 4 loses Cal played 'good enoughto lose'. The close loses were to #3 Illinois 20-14 when on the last drive a Morton to Bradley TD pass,was ruled Bradley stepped on the back line of the endzone. After a close los to UCLA a fan remarked 'we should be 7-0'.

1965 had some bad moments, but bounced back each time. Cal lost the first game to #3 Notre Dame 48-6. The next week we were on the verge of upsetting #Michigan, when Cal fumble when we were close to scoring the winning TD. Cal lost 10-7. Cal then won the next 3 games. Then lost to UCLA 56-3. Beat Penn Stat 21-17 on a Hail Marry TD pass from Jim Hunt to Jerry Bradly as time ran out. Lost to USC 35-0. Beat Oregon 24-0.and lost the Big game to Stanford 9-7. Cal finish 5-5.

1967 had 2 bad loses, to #1 Notre Dame 41-6, and San Jose State 30-6, But Cal finished 5-5.

Cal lost it's first game in 1973 to #6 Alabama 66-0, We also lost to to UCLA 61-21, and USC 14-50. On the right side, Cal beat Army 51-6. and Washington 54-49. Finishing the year 4-7.

I said the Levy years were worse that the Holmoe years, but I might be wrong. Levy on 8 games in 4 years, Holmoe won 12 in 5 years.

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Holmoe actually won 16, but Cal was stripped of its 4 wins in 1999 due to the grading scandal. That doesn't make him a good coach (he wasn't), but don't get me started on the NCAA.

My first game was a loss to Texas, 17-0, 1969, I think. But even then, the place rocked, and for a 9 yr old kid was an unbelievable experience. Went to almost every home game with Dad from then till I moved to SoCal in 1990. Have only been back to CMS for a couple games since, most notably the 2018 Big Game. And what I noticed there was how very different the CMS experience had become. And IMHO, it is not a good fan experience. Maybe I am too old, but I don't think so.
What I saw on TV yesterday seemed that all tradition has been lost to corporate BS. The loss of how it used to be, even the losing years, which were many. It was fun. The difference was that the place was fun, as calumnus described above. The card stunts, or lack of, the band, the wild rooting section, including the slingshots used to deploy fruit and water balloons at opposing team bands ( I remember one time they nailed an $c tuba player, hilarious). Smoking pot, sneaking booze in., sometimes tossing it over the barbed wire and hoping it wouldn't get stuck there, LOL.
OK, I'm done. At least I have great memories of CMS, and also of Harmon Gym, before it became Haas.

Go Bears!

Lived near the Claremont hotel from early 70s to 1975 when I was in K-3. We used to walk the 1.5 miles to the games. So sat through not seeing a Cal victory over UCLA in football or basketball until I was in my 20s. There's been so many bad spells that I don't want to relive. The direction doesn't look great right now but it's been worse. Depth is thin as usual. They've lost some valuable pieces on the lines (Saffell and Johnson). It's becoming harder to invest emotionally when you don't think the administration wants to be a top 20 program in the major sports. I don't think it's an easy place to win at especially with the academic restrictions so I want to be patient with the coaching staff but I want to have a reason to be semi optimistic which I'm not now.

Bobodeluxe said:

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I was kicked off this board for a predicting a one win season in Dyke's first year. I attended 90+% of spring and fall practices, and I commented regularly here the team had almost no talent, especially on the D. A few players who weren't shown the door remained as cancers. Once the season began, the injuries to too young players cascaded. Blame Buh, but Teddy left a giant turd.

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Maybe, but largely the same D that gave up the most touchdowns in a season in 2016 was the same D that was pretty good in 2017.

Talent was part of it. Talent doesnt explain the majority, over 4 years, though.

Strykur said:

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LunchTime said:

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MathTeacherMike said:

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My first memories of CAl games are over 50 years old. I've been a fan since '75. The most hopeless feeling as a fan was the Holmoe teams. Our punter and punt returner were the only things I could take pride in.

There have been many bad teams and coaches over that time, but the only team I've felt 'embarrassed' by was the Tedford teams at the end. Those teams had talent but absolutely no guts. There were a handful of games where it was obvious that the team had quit and were only playing for themselves. Remember the USC game where Cal was getting humiliated 38-0 (?) at halftime and Tedford had the nerve to come out for the post-game presser saying that 'we won the second half.'

Besides the selfish players and inept coaching - there were the abysmal academics that cast a shadow over our program for years.

While I agree that Wilcox must go (and sooner rather than later), the fact is this team has a dearth of P5 talent (and that is on the coaches), but by no means am I embarrassed by them.

---

I am embarassed by this team. I was still a Cal fan in 2001. My enthusiasm dipped through the end of the Tedford era. It hit 0 in 2016. It is back to 0. I changed the channel a lot yesterday.

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In 2016 our defense sucked as usual under Dykes but we had an offense that was decent, and we beat Texas (again), AND we ended the year with a dominating win over UCLA, and almost sneaked into a bowl at 5-7. Nothing impressive but leagues better than what we just saw last Saturday, this year's team would get smoked by the 2016 squad and is going to struggle to get to 5 wins.

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If Dykes gets credit for beating Texas (twice, 5-7 and 5-7), Holmoe gets credit for beating similar Oklahoma teams (twice 4-8, 5-6). I mean, if that is Dykes' notable wins...

But thats not the point, or the question:

Quote:

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... when have you seen worse than today?

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2013 was worse. So much worse it isnt comparable. 2013 we set like a dozen team records, including most points given up in a half, biggest margin loss, twice. Biggest loss to Stanford... the list of accomplishments in 2013 that make it worse than today is seemingly unending.


The idea that we can only compare 4th year coaching seasons leaves a pretty narrow field to view. I say we only accept pandemic seasons. 1917-1919 and 2020-2022 Anything else is a sham.

59bear said:

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I saw my first game at Memorial in 1949, the win over USC featuring Frank Brunk's 102 yard kickoff return but I had listened to Cal games on radio from about 1946. I was at Cal at the end of the Waldorf era and it was funereal. I was at Cal when the '58 team stumbled (it was truly a very average team) into the Rose Bowl. Compared to the present, I'd say only Willsey, Mike White, Snyder and Tedford were significantly better and Levy, Holmoe and Dykes much worse. I confess to being a Wilcox believer when he was hired but I also thought Gilby or Mariucci would be better than they were and Mooch might have been had he stayed. I do subscribe to the theory that the greater Cal community...Admin, faculty, student body and alumni don't care much whether or not our major sports teams succeed. Personally, I don't need national titles or the Rose Bowl (like me, it ain't what it once was) but I would like to see a team that could take the field with a reasonable chance to win on any given Saturday. I thought Wilcox was building toward that. This year and last certainly belie that notion but only our expectations put this season in any list of our absolute worst.

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Well said '59. My first game in person was in 1951. I love Cal and always will. but Please God..................

Well, driving home to Davis I must admit I was thinking about ugly games I have seen…. 1978 UCLA 45 Cal 0. On national TV. Believe Cal threw 10 interceptions. That was pretty pretty ugly

I changed my mind. Holmoe was a much better coach then Levy. Holmoe beat USC not once, not twice, but 3 times. More than any Cal Coach in the last 70 years. Mike White is next with 2 wins and a tie against USC.
The thing that turned many Cal fans (including me) against Levy was his third down punts. Not quick kicks, but punts on third down. Especially when Cal was inside it's 30 yard line (over 70 yards from a TD). Once when sked why he did this, Levy replied 'Even if we make a first down, we still have 70 yards to go'.

We stopped flying up from Long Beach for just about every home game after JT left and then just occasionally. It lost its fun to my family members who like many of us, enjoyed the atmosphere, gameday, chance to visit the Bay Area. Once I became a cynic and started realizing that JT;s years were gone, it lost it's magic for all of us. Pity, it was fun! (to win!).

RichyBear said:

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I changed my mind. Holmoe was a much better coach then Levy. Holmoe beat USC not once, not twice, but 3 times. More than any Cal Coach in the last 70 years. Mike White is next with 2 wins and a tie against USC.
The thing that turned many Cal fans (including me) against Levy was his third down punts. Not quick kicks, but punts on third down. Especially when Cal was inside it's 30 yard line (over 70 yards from a TD). Once when sked why he did this, Levy replied 'Even if we make a first down, we still have 70 yards to go'.

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Mahalo, RichyBear! 1961-62 was my senior year when I watched then-powerhouse Kansas with John Hadl and Curtis McClinton run roughshod over Cal. I believe our punter was Roger Stull, and I vaguely remember a saying coined most likely by Daily Cal that went "Roger Stull back in the hull, punting on 3rd down." or something like that.

Our schedule that year was suicidal with Texas (L), Iowa (L), Missouri (T), UW (W), SC (L), Penn State (L), UCLA (L), Air Force (L), Kansas (L) and Big Game (L).