C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT
5/8 134 16.8 1 0

"As long as I have a pulse, I'm gonna make sure I'm being a warrior out there for my teammates." – Cal QB Fernando Mendoza after being hit several times Saturday against Pitt

— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) October 12, 2024

*After today's game Pitt would trade their'in (QB) for our'in plus cash.

And if the Bears don't start protecting him better in the second half especially, he'll be outta here like Plummer to a team that does protect him.

Nando needs to add some weight, but honestly we need to recruit some road grading beasts for our Online. I mean players with a mean streak, players with some jiujitsu or wrestling background that'll eat up their opponents.

59bear said:

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BarcaBear said:

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Nando needs to add some weight, but honestly we need to recruit some road grading beasts for our Online. I mean players with a mean streak, players with some jiujitsu or wrestling background that'll eat up their opponents.

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A dominant OL would make this coaching staff look much more competent.

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Maybe we need to transfer ownership of that OL recruiting page here on BI. Dude's not cuttin' it. Too much golf and T&A, not enough Grrrrr.

HearstMining said:

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bearister said:

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HearstMining said:

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Did Fernando Valenzuela ever need a nickname?

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He had one, "El Torro," but I'm not sure he needed one. Fernando Llamas needed one.

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Just one "L" in Lamas. Am I the only one who always mixed him up with Ricardo Montalban?
I think Montalban did the ads for the Chrysler Cordoba - " . . . fine Corinthian leather . . ."

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Quien es mas macho?

59bear said:

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BarcaBear said:

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Nando needs to add some weight, but honestly we need to recruit some road grading beasts for our Online. I mean players with a mean streak, players with some jiujitsu or wrestling background that'll eat up their opponents.

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A dominant OL would make this coaching staff look much more competent.

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One thing I would love would be to have all the Cal football and basketball players be required to take a semester of judo (or even yongmudo) during their first year. The primary reason would be so they learn to fall properly (tuck their chins to prevent banging the backs of their heads as they fall on their backs). But if the OL also stick with the Cal judo club for all four years, they'll learn how to grapple upright (and on the ground) better.

I don't know how often athletes are steered toward cross training with another discipline. For sake of grappling, the Oline should do off season training. Something that would help...not with the meanness, though, is ballet.

Hear me out.

I know Stephon Marbury was known to do ballet to help him with his lateral movement and with recovery. Same with Hakeem the Dream.

You'll rarely hear about this but Jordan's Bulls teams did ballet with the Joffrey ballet company in the offseason. It strengthens different muscle groups and which helps prevent injury, and helps with recovery time, as well.

Famous pro football players that did ballet...Lynn Swann, Herschel Walker, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, and Emmitt Smith.

Helps with balance, agility, strength, and coordination. helps develop flexibility, speed,

BarcaBear said:

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I don't know how often athletes are steered toward cross training with another discipline. For sake of grappling, the Oline should do off season training. Something that would help...not with the meanness, though, is ballet.

Hear me out.

I know Stephon Marbury was known to do ballet to help him with his lateral movement and with recovery. Same with Hakeem the Dream.

You'll rarely hear about this but Jordan's Bulls teams did ballet with the Joffrey ballet company in the offseason. It strengthens different muscle groups and which helps prevent injury, and helps with recovery time, as well.

Famous pro football players that did ballet...Lynn Swann, Herschel Walker, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, and Emmitt Smith.

Helps with balance, agility, strength, and coordination. helps develop flexibility, speed,

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I have nothing but respect for ballet dancers. Ballerinas put up with tons of pain just to dance en pointe. Their male counterparts don't have to put up with as much pain, but their agility, balance, and strength are phenomenal!

Membership for sale, $5 or best offer.*



*Specs, artist's rendering and mockup of proposed commemorative " 98 yards with my boys" bobblehead included.

bearister said:

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Membership for sale, $5 or best offer.*



*Specs, artist's rendering and mockup of proposed commemorative " 98 yards with my boys" bobblehead included.

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Yes, this forum has not aged well.
Since Nando is still in Portal Purgatory, I am puzzled what his expectations were.
Some pundits have echoed a theme that he was "underutilized" at Cal.
Not sure where that rumor originates.
I will say that he was underprotected, but maybe his handlers do not want him to say such, since a prosepctive school might see that as unwilling to play physical ball.
Hmmmm.
And, yet, no school has snagged him.
Could this have been a power play fail brought on by a greedy, shifty agent?
I was surprised at how well Nando improved this year. He has drive and desire a QB needs and his passing was much, much better.
I wish him well.

Nando ranks high in the QB ratings, but, OMG, there are a boatload of QBs in the Portal.
https://247sports.com/Season/2025-Football/transferportalpositionranking/

Brother?

https://247sports.com/player/john-keawe-sagapolutele-46098155/college-320352/

bencgilmore said:

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Hell find a home. I don't think anyone doubts that

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Yeah, but where's he gonna be a starter?