Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Goobear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Lessons learned.

Don't piss of the boomer doners.

---

Lesson learned don't go on a site that is free and constantly post rinse and repeat bs. You don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. Start your own site and pay for the costs if you like….

---

Well yes, if you don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. And yet, people can't resist. They can't help but respond to Strong's posts.

---

Gee I can't imagine why people wouldn't want Bear Insider to be filled with posts talking about how no one should give to the Collective and it's just run by a bunch of yahoos. I mean what possible damage could there be in just letting that sit there unrefuted and potential recruits and donors read that with no one arguing against it? Anyone?

The "if you don't like what he says then just ignore him" theme is deliberately missing the point. Issue is not that the Duke (or whatever name he's using at that moment) doesn't want to give to NIL. The issue is that he has decided to take the premiere forum for Cal athletics dedicated to the furtherance and support of Cal Athletics and use it his personal platform to try to denigrate the efforts of everyone donating (which is a lot of you). And then he created a bunch of sock puppets to support his position. He isn't just expressing a view. He isn't advocating another plan. He doesn't have a plan. He is just trying to hurt the program. Over and over and over again. And no matter what you say or how you explain it you just get back some nonsense about how "Carol Christ never told CalStrong that when she consulted with CalStrong" nonsense. Which of course never happened.

There's no rational debate here. There's just a statement of a position over and over again. And that position is designed to damage Cal.

Again if he doesn't want to give, that's his right. But I don't see why Bear insider has any obligation to give him a platform to try to do damage. An arsonist can buy his own damn matches. He doesn't have the right to force BearGreg to supply them.

---

I get it that you disagree with Strong and his puppets. But he's been here for years, he's a fan like everyone else here. How has he personally caused damage to the program? And since you're itching to name names, who else is "denigrating the efforts of everyone donating"?

---

I'm pretty sure that "which is a lot of you" is referring to the number of people donating, not the number of people denigrating people for donating.

Also, I think this notion that there were a bunch of sock puppets that were agreeing with that position is risible. Go read that locked thread right now. You won't see a bunch of posts that say people shouldn't donate to the collective.

---

There was at least one sock puppet that had all posts (several) deleted from that thread. I'm not aware if there were others, but I didn't check in on that thread more than once a day.

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

---

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Goobear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Lessons learned.

Don't piss of the boomer doners.

---

Lesson learned don't go on a site that is free and constantly post rinse and repeat bs. You don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. Start your own site and pay for the costs if you like….

---

Well yes, if you don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. And yet, people can't resist. They can't help but respond to Strong's posts.

---

Gee I can't imagine why people wouldn't want Bear Insider to be filled with posts talking about how no one should give to the Collective and it's just run by a bunch of yahoos. I mean what possible damage could there be in just letting that sit there unrefuted and potential recruits and donors read that with no one arguing against it? Anyone?

The "if you don't like what he says then just ignore him" theme is deliberately missing the point. Issue is not that the Duke (or whatever name he's using at that moment) doesn't want to give to NIL. The issue is that he has decided to take the premiere forum for Cal athletics dedicated to the furtherance and support of Cal Athletics and use it his personal platform to try to denigrate the efforts of everyone donating (which is a lot of you). And then he created a bunch of sock puppets to support his position. He isn't just expressing a view. He isn't advocating another plan. He doesn't have a plan. He is just trying to hurt the program. Over and over and over again. And no matter what you say or how you explain it you just get back some nonsense about how "Carol Christ never told CalStrong that when she consulted with CalStrong" nonsense. Which of course never happened.

There's no rational debate here. There's just a statement of a position over and over again. And that position is designed to damage Cal.

Again if he doesn't want to give, that's his right. But I don't see why Bear insider has any obligation to give him a platform to try to do damage. An arsonist can buy his own damn matches. He doesn't have the right to force BearGreg to supply them.

---

I get it that you disagree with Strong and his puppets. But he's been here for years, he's a fan like everyone else here. How has he personally caused damage to the program? And since you're itching to name names, who else is "denigrating the efforts of everyone donating"?

---

I'm pretty sure that "which is a lot of you" is referring to the number of people donating, not the number of people denigrating people for donating.

Also, I think this notion that there were a bunch of sock puppets that were agreeing with that position is risible. Go read that locked thread right now. You won't see a bunch of posts that say people shouldn't donate to the collective.

---

There was at least one sock puppet that had all posts (several) deleted from that thread. I'm not aware if there were others, but I didn't check in on that thread more than once a day.

---

If that was true, why didn't the original post that suggested not donating to the collective get deleted as well?

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

---

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Goobear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Lessons learned.

Don't piss of the boomer doners.

---

Lesson learned don't go on a site that is free and constantly post rinse and repeat bs. You don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. Start your own site and pay for the costs if you like….

---

Well yes, if you don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. And yet, people can't resist. They can't help but respond to Strong's posts.

---

Gee I can't imagine why people wouldn't want Bear Insider to be filled with posts talking about how no one should give to the Collective and it's just run by a bunch of yahoos. I mean what possible damage could there be in just letting that sit there unrefuted and potential recruits and donors read that with no one arguing against it? Anyone?

The "if you don't like what he says then just ignore him" theme is deliberately missing the point. Issue is not that the Duke (or whatever name he's using at that moment) doesn't want to give to NIL. The issue is that he has decided to take the premiere forum for Cal athletics dedicated to the furtherance and support of Cal Athletics and use it his personal platform to try to denigrate the efforts of everyone donating (which is a lot of you). And then he created a bunch of sock puppets to support his position. He isn't just expressing a view. He isn't advocating another plan. He doesn't have a plan. He is just trying to hurt the program. Over and over and over again. And no matter what you say or how you explain it you just get back some nonsense about how "Carol Christ never told CalStrong that when she consulted with CalStrong" nonsense. Which of course never happened.

There's no rational debate here. There's just a statement of a position over and over again. And that position is designed to damage Cal.

Again if he doesn't want to give, that's his right. But I don't see why Bear insider has any obligation to give him a platform to try to do damage. An arsonist can buy his own damn matches. He doesn't have the right to force BearGreg to supply them.

---

I get it that you disagree with Strong and his puppets. But he's been here for years, he's a fan like everyone else here. How has he personally caused damage to the program? And since you're itching to name names, who else is "denigrating the efforts of everyone donating"?

---

I'm pretty sure that "which is a lot of you" is referring to the number of people donating, not the number of people denigrating people for donating.

Also, I think this notion that there were a bunch of sock puppets that were agreeing with that position is risible. Go read that locked thread right now. You won't see a bunch of posts that say people shouldn't donate to the collective.

---

There was at least one sock puppet that had all posts (several) deleted from that thread. I'm not aware if there were others, but I didn't check in on that thread more than once a day.

---

If that was true, why didn't the original post that suggested not donating to the collective get deleted as well?

---

OK, I wasn't going to name names, but all 3 posts by WifeStrong are gone. My reply to one of them has been removed as well. You'll have to ask the moderators about why they left up many of the CalStrong posts.

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

---

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

---

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Goobear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Lessons learned.

Don't piss of the boomer doners.

---

Lesson learned don't go on a site that is free and constantly post rinse and repeat bs. You don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. Start your own site and pay for the costs if you like….

---

Well yes, if you don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. And yet, people can't resist. They can't help but respond to Strong's posts.

---

Gee I can't imagine why people wouldn't want Bear Insider to be filled with posts talking about how no one should give to the Collective and it's just run by a bunch of yahoos. I mean what possible damage could there be in just letting that sit there unrefuted and potential recruits and donors read that with no one arguing against it? Anyone?

The "if you don't like what he says then just ignore him" theme is deliberately missing the point. Issue is not that the Duke (or whatever name he's using at that moment) doesn't want to give to NIL. The issue is that he has decided to take the premiere forum for Cal athletics dedicated to the furtherance and support of Cal Athletics and use it his personal platform to try to denigrate the efforts of everyone donating (which is a lot of you). And then he created a bunch of sock puppets to support his position. He isn't just expressing a view. He isn't advocating another plan. He doesn't have a plan. He is just trying to hurt the program. Over and over and over again. And no matter what you say or how you explain it you just get back some nonsense about how "Carol Christ never told CalStrong that when she consulted with CalStrong" nonsense. Which of course never happened.

There's no rational debate here. There's just a statement of a position over and over again. And that position is designed to damage Cal.

Again if he doesn't want to give, that's his right. But I don't see why Bear insider has any obligation to give him a platform to try to do damage. An arsonist can buy his own damn matches. He doesn't have the right to force BearGreg to supply them.

---

I get it that you disagree with Strong and his puppets. But he's been here for years, he's a fan like everyone else here. How has he personally caused damage to the program? And since you're itching to name names, who else is "denigrating the efforts of everyone donating"?

---

I'm pretty sure that "which is a lot of you" is referring to the number of people donating, not the number of people denigrating people for donating.

Also, I think this notion that there were a bunch of sock puppets that were agreeing with that position is risible. Go read that locked thread right now. You won't see a bunch of posts that say people shouldn't donate to the collective.

---

There was at least one sock puppet that had all posts (several) deleted from that thread. I'm not aware if there were others, but I didn't check in on that thread more than once a day.

---

If that was true, why didn't the original post that suggested not donating to the collective get deleted as well?

---

OK, I wasn't going to name names, but all 3 posts by WifeStrong are gone. My reply to one of them has been removed as well. You'll have to ask the moderators about why they left up many of the CalStrong posts.

---

While he's at it, maybe he can ask them why he's still allowed to post using the account you're talking to.

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Goobear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Lessons learned.

Don't piss of the boomer doners.

---

Lesson learned don't go on a site that is free and constantly post rinse and repeat bs. You don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. Start your own site and pay for the costs if you like….

---

Well yes, if you don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. And yet, people can't resist. They can't help but respond to Strong's posts.

---

Gee I can't imagine why people wouldn't want Bear Insider to be filled with posts talking about how no one should give to the Collective and it's just run by a bunch of yahoos. I mean what possible damage could there be in just letting that sit there unrefuted and potential recruits and donors read that with no one arguing against it? Anyone?

The "if you don't like what he says then just ignore him" theme is deliberately missing the point. Issue is not that the Duke (or whatever name he's using at that moment) doesn't want to give to NIL. The issue is that he has decided to take the premiere forum for Cal athletics dedicated to the furtherance and support of Cal Athletics and use it his personal platform to try to denigrate the efforts of everyone donating (which is a lot of you). And then he created a bunch of sock puppets to support his position. He isn't just expressing a view. He isn't advocating another plan. He doesn't have a plan. He is just trying to hurt the program. Over and over and over again. And no matter what you say or how you explain it you just get back some nonsense about how "Carol Christ never told CalStrong that when she consulted with CalStrong" nonsense. Which of course never happened.

There's no rational debate here. There's just a statement of a position over and over again. And that position is designed to damage Cal.

Again if he doesn't want to give, that's his right. But I don't see why Bear insider has any obligation to give him a platform to try to do damage. An arsonist can buy his own damn matches. He doesn't have the right to force BearGreg to supply them.

---

I get it that you disagree with Strong and his puppets. But he's been here for years, he's a fan like everyone else here. How has he personally caused damage to the program? And since you're itching to name names, who else is "denigrating the efforts of everyone donating"?

---

LOL. I don't think what I wrote was unclear. But since it is being misinterpreted, let me say it again. What I said was a lot of you were donating. I did not say a lot of you were denigrating. As far as I know, no one else is engaged in a jihad to try to convince people not to give to the collective. Because, of course, why would you if you were interested in seeing Cal be successful?

On that note will just drop this here. Remind me the last time Cal was tied for 5th IN THE NATION in landing 4 and 5 star recruits in any recruiting cycle. And with some luck we may even squeeze one more in. Stay tuned on that.

Most blue chip (4/5 star) transfer players added in the 2024 cycle (per 247 Sports):

1. Florida State (10)
2. Texas A&M (8)
3. Ole Miss (7)
4. Colorado (6)
T-5. Cal (5)
T-5. Louisville (5)
T-5. Oregon (5)
T-5. Southern Cal (5)
T-5. Texas (5)

— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) January 17, 2024

---

I suppose if we ban others on BI for calling for the athletic director and head coach to be fired prior to donating, Cal would be higher up on the list. Surely, the other programs have taken similar actions on their fan message forums.

CalBearinLA said:

---

let it go. Sebasta has done a lot more than you know to help save this program from the brink of complete collapse, but we're not out of the woods yet. Arguing this point is not a hill you want to die on. There aren't any kudos points to give out here regarding your thoughts on Cal Strong

---

But this isn't about Sebasta.

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

---

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

---

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Goobear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Lessons learned.

Don't piss of the boomer doners.

---

Lesson learned don't go on a site that is free and constantly post rinse and repeat bs. You don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. Start your own site and pay for the costs if you like….

---

Well yes, if you don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. And yet, people can't resist. They can't help but respond to Strong's posts.

---

Gee I can't imagine why people wouldn't want Bear Insider to be filled with posts talking about how no one should give to the Collective and it's just run by a bunch of yahoos. I mean what possible damage could there be in just letting that sit there unrefuted and potential recruits and donors read that with no one arguing against it? Anyone?

The "if you don't like what he says then just ignore him" theme is deliberately missing the point. Issue is not that the Duke (or whatever name he's using at that moment) doesn't want to give to NIL. The issue is that he has decided to take the premiere forum for Cal athletics dedicated to the furtherance and support of Cal Athletics and use it his personal platform to try to denigrate the efforts of everyone donating (which is a lot of you). And then he created a bunch of sock puppets to support his position. He isn't just expressing a view. He isn't advocating another plan. He doesn't have a plan. He is just trying to hurt the program. Over and over and over again. And no matter what you say or how you explain it you just get back some nonsense about how "Carol Christ never told CalStrong that when she consulted with CalStrong" nonsense. Which of course never happened.

There's no rational debate here. There's just a statement of a position over and over again. And that position is designed to damage Cal.

Again if he doesn't want to give, that's his right. But I don't see why Bear insider has any obligation to give him a platform to try to do damage. An arsonist can buy his own damn matches. He doesn't have the right to force BearGreg to supply them.

---

I get it that you disagree with Strong and his puppets. But he's been here for years, he's a fan like everyone else here. How has he personally caused damage to the program? And since you're itching to name names, who else is "denigrating the efforts of everyone donating"?

---

I'm pretty sure that "which is a lot of you" is referring to the number of people donating, not the number of people denigrating people for donating.

Also, I think this notion that there were a bunch of sock puppets that were agreeing with that position is risible. Go read that locked thread right now. You won't see a bunch of posts that say people shouldn't donate to the collective.

---

There was at least one sock puppet that had all posts (several) deleted from that thread. I'm not aware if there were others, but I didn't check in on that thread more than once a day.

---

If that was true, why didn't the original post that suggested not donating to the collective get deleted as well?

---

OK, I wasn't going to name names, but all 3 posts by WifeStrong are gone. My reply to one of them has been removed as well. You'll have to ask the moderators about why they left up many of the CalStrong posts.

---

So a bunch of sockpuppets was just one sockpuppet. Got it.

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

---

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

---

Bear Naked Ladies said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Goobear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Lessons learned.

Don't piss of the boomer doners.

---

Lesson learned don't go on a site that is free and constantly post rinse and repeat bs. You don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. Start your own site and pay for the costs if you like….

---

Well yes, if you don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. And yet, people can't resist. They can't help but respond to Strong's posts.

---

Gee I can't imagine why people wouldn't want Bear Insider to be filled with posts talking about how no one should give to the Collective and it's just run by a bunch of yahoos. I mean what possible damage could there be in just letting that sit there unrefuted and potential recruits and donors read that with no one arguing against it? Anyone?

The "if you don't like what he says then just ignore him" theme is deliberately missing the point. Issue is not that the Duke (or whatever name he's using at that moment) doesn't want to give to NIL. The issue is that he has decided to take the premiere forum for Cal athletics dedicated to the furtherance and support of Cal Athletics and use it his personal platform to try to denigrate the efforts of everyone donating (which is a lot of you). And then he created a bunch of sock puppets to support his position. He isn't just expressing a view. He isn't advocating another plan. He doesn't have a plan. He is just trying to hurt the program. Over and over and over again. And no matter what you say or how you explain it you just get back some nonsense about how "Carol Christ never told CalStrong that when she consulted with CalStrong" nonsense. Which of course never happened.

There's no rational debate here. There's just a statement of a position over and over again. And that position is designed to damage Cal.

Again if he doesn't want to give, that's his right. But I don't see why Bear insider has any obligation to give him a platform to try to do damage. An arsonist can buy his own damn matches. He doesn't have the right to force BearGreg to supply them.

---

I get it that you disagree with Strong and his puppets. But he's been here for years, he's a fan like everyone else here. How has he personally caused damage to the program? And since you're itching to name names, who else is "denigrating the efforts of everyone donating"?

---

I'm pretty sure that "which is a lot of you" is referring to the number of people donating, not the number of people denigrating people for donating.

Also, I think this notion that there were a bunch of sock puppets that were agreeing with that position is risible. Go read that locked thread right now. You won't see a bunch of posts that say people shouldn't donate to the collective.

---

There was at least one sock puppet that had all posts (several) deleted from that thread. I'm not aware if there were others, but I didn't check in on that thread more than once a day.

---

If that was true, why didn't the original post that suggested not donating to the collective get deleted as well?

---

OK, I wasn't going to name names, but all 3 posts by WifeStrong are gone. My reply to one of them has been removed as well. You'll have to ask the moderators about why they left up many of the CalStrong posts.

---

So a bunch of sockpuppets was just one sockpuppet. Got it.

---

You need psychological treatment.

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Goobear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Lessons learned.

Don't piss of the boomer doners.

---

Lesson learned don't go on a site that is free and constantly post rinse and repeat bs. You don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. Start your own site and pay for the costs if you like….

---

Well yes, if you don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. And yet, people can't resist. They can't help but respond to Strong's posts.

---

Gee I can't imagine why people wouldn't want Bear Insider to be filled with posts talking about how no one should give to the Collective and it's just run by a bunch of yahoos. I mean what possible damage could there be in just letting that sit there unrefuted and potential recruits and donors read that with no one arguing against it? Anyone?

The "if you don't like what he says then just ignore him" theme is deliberately missing the point. Issue is not that the Duke (or whatever name he's using at that moment) doesn't want to give to NIL. The issue is that he has decided to take the premiere forum for Cal athletics dedicated to the furtherance and support of Cal Athletics and use it his personal platform to try to denigrate the efforts of everyone donating (which is a lot of you). And then he created a bunch of sock puppets to support his position. He isn't just expressing a view. He isn't advocating another plan. He doesn't have a plan. He is just trying to hurt the program. Over and over and over again. And no matter what you say or how you explain it you just get back some nonsense about how "Carol Christ never told CalStrong that when she consulted with CalStrong" nonsense. Which of course never happened.

There's no rational debate here. There's just a statement of a position over and over again. And that position is designed to damage Cal.

Again if he doesn't want to give, that's his right. But I don't see why Bear insider has any obligation to give him a platform to try to do damage. An arsonist can buy his own damn matches. He doesn't have the right to force BearGreg to supply them.

---

I get it that you disagree with Strong and his puppets. But he's been here for years, he's a fan like everyone else here. How has he personally caused damage to the program? And since you're itching to name names, who else is "denigrating the efforts of everyone donating"?

---

LOL. I don't think what I wrote was unclear. But since it is being misinterpreted, let me say it again. What I said was a lot of you were donating. I did not say a lot of you were denigrating. As far as I know, no one else is engaged in a jihad to try to convince people not to give to the collective. Because, of course, why would you if you were interested in seeing Cal be successful?

On that note will just drop this here. Remind me the last time Cal was tied for 5th IN THE NATION in landing 4 and 5 star recruits in any recruiting cycle. And with some luck we may even squeeze one more in. Stay tuned on that.

Most blue chip (4/5 star) transfer players added in the 2024 cycle (per 247 Sports):

1. Florida State (10)
2. Texas A&M (8)
3. Ole Miss (7)
4. Colorado (6)
T-5. Cal (5)
T-5. Louisville (5)
T-5. Oregon (5)
T-5. Southern Cal (5)
T-5. Texas (5)

— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) January 17, 2024

---

I suppose if we ban others on BI for calling for the athletic director and head coach to be fired prior to donating, Cal would be higher up on the list. Surely, the other programs have taken similar actions on their fan message forums.

---

Not really going to continue this debate with someone who seems to be deliberately misreading what I have written. But for the record, these results were achieved before Cal Strong decided that we were doing too well in the portal and that he needed to derail our success because of . . . "stuff."

But you may have noticed the name of one of the teams on this list is not like the others in terms of success on the field and/or marketing hype. One. And that one is Cal. But if you have another explanation of what put us in this company please feel free to share.

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Sebastabear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Goobear said:

---

bear2034 said:

---

Lessons learned.

Don't piss of the boomer doners.

---

Lesson learned don't go on a site that is free and constantly post rinse and repeat bs. You don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. Start your own site and pay for the costs if you like….

---

Well yes, if you don't like it, go to OT or don't visit the site. And yet, people can't resist. They can't help but respond to Strong's posts.

---

Gee I can't imagine why people wouldn't want Bear Insider to be filled with posts talking about how no one should give to the Collective and it's just run by a bunch of yahoos. I mean what possible damage could there be in just letting that sit there unrefuted and potential recruits and donors read that with no one arguing against it? Anyone?

The "if you don't like what he says then just ignore him" theme is deliberately missing the point. Issue is not that the Duke (or whatever name he's using at that moment) doesn't want to give to NIL. The issue is that he has decided to take the premiere forum for Cal athletics dedicated to the furtherance and support of Cal Athletics and use it his personal platform to try to denigrate the efforts of everyone donating (which is a lot of you). And then he created a bunch of sock puppets to support his position. He isn't just expressing a view. He isn't advocating another plan. He doesn't have a plan. He is just trying to hurt the program. Over and over and over again. And no matter what you say or how you explain it you just get back some nonsense about how "Carol Christ never told CalStrong that when she consulted with CalStrong" nonsense. Which of course never happened.

There's no rational debate here. There's just a statement of a position over and over again. And that position is designed to damage Cal.

Again if he doesn't want to give, that's his right. But I don't see why Bear insider has any obligation to give him a platform to try to do damage. An arsonist can buy his own damn matches. He doesn't have the right to force BearGreg to supply them.

---

I get it that you disagree with Strong and his puppets. But he's been here for years, he's a fan like everyone else here. How has he personally caused damage to the program? And since you're itching to name names, who else is "denigrating the efforts of everyone donating"?

---

LOL. I don't think what I wrote was unclear. But since it is being misinterpreted, let me say it again. What I said was a lot of you were donating. I did not say a lot of you were denigrating. As far as I know, no one else is engaged in a jihad to try to convince people not to give to the collective. Because, of course, why would you if you were interested in seeing Cal be successful?

On that note will just drop this here. Remind me the last time Cal was tied for 5th IN THE NATION in landing 4 and 5 star recruits in any recruiting cycle. And with some luck we may even squeeze one more in. Stay tuned on that.

Most blue chip (4/5 star) transfer players added in the 2024 cycle (per 247 Sports):

1. Florida State (10)
2. Texas A&M (8)
3. Ole Miss (7)
4. Colorado (6)
T-5. Cal (5)
T-5. Louisville (5)
T-5. Oregon (5)
T-5. Southern Cal (5)
T-5. Texas (5)

— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) January 17, 2024

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I suppose if we ban others on BI for calling for the athletic director and head coach to be fired prior to donating, Cal would be higher up on the list. Surely, the other programs have taken similar actions on their fan message forums.

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Not really going to continue this debate with someone who seems to be deliberately misreading what I have written. But for the record, these results were achieved before Cal Strong decided that we were doing too well in the portal and that he needed to derail our success because of . . . "stuff."

But you may have noticed the name of one of the teams on this list is not like the others in terms of success on the field and/or marketing hype. One. And that one is Cal. But if you have another explanation of what put us in this company please feel free to share.

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Thank you for supporting Cal Athletics.

Quote:

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LOL. I don't think what I wrote was unclear. But since it is being misinterpreted, let me say it again. What I said was a lot of you were donating. I did not say a lot of you were denigrating. As far as I know, no one else is engaged in a jihad to try to convince people not to give to the collective. Because, of course, why would you if you were interested in seeing Cal be successful?

On that note will just drop this here. Remind me the last time Cal was tied for 5th IN THE NATION in landing 4 and 5 star recruits in any recruiting cycle. And with some luck we may even squeeze one more in. Stay tuned on that.

Most blue chip (4/5 star) transfer players added in the 2024 cycle (per 247 Sports):

1. Florida State (10)
2. Texas A&M (8)
3. Ole Miss (7)
4. Colorado (6)
T-5. Cal (5)
T-5. Louisville (5)
T-5. Oregon (5)
T-5. Southern Cal (5)
T-5. Texas (5)

— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) January 17, 2024

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I was curious about these 4 star recruits (there are no 5 stars on this list), so even though I haven't bothered with recruiting minutiae in years, I took the time to look up these guys.

Tobias Merriweather - Sophomore 4 star WR - played two seasons at Notre Dame
14 rec/20.3 yards per catch in 2023
Was rated a 4 star recruit out of high school

Kadarius Calloway - Junior RB - played one season at Old Dominion, transferred from Alabama to JC
88 carries/623/7.1 yards per carry
Was rated a 4 star recruit out of high school.

Mikey Matthews - Freshman WR - played one season at Utah
29 rec/261 yards.
Was rated a 3 star recruit out of high school. No idea why he's rated a 4 star transfer.

Teddye Buchanan - Junior LB, played three seasons at UC Davis
61 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INT in 2023.
Was rated a three star recruit out of high school No idea why he's rated a 4 star transfer.

No idea who the fifth guy is supposed to be - maybe it's the new kicker.

You can come up with your own conclusions about how meaningful 5 4/5 star transfers is as a figure. Personally, I think there's a difference between a guy you get that was recruited by Notre Dame or Alabama as opposed to a guy that played three years at UC Davis.

Can somebody please lock down this thread about a locked down thread?

I agree. The positions of the two sides are clear. The CalSrongs believe we have to burn the village down to save it, because that's the only way to cure the JW pestilence. The Sebastabears believe if you burn the village down now, there'll be no way to rebuild it, because it'll be the football equivalent of Chernobyl.

Continuing this debate is not accomplishing anything.

Cal Strong has a point on giving or withholding NIL support to lobby his preferences. Forum admins have the right to ban him, as it's a private for-profit company, but they should have kept their heads and not let emotion overcome good sense.

Bear Naked Ladies said:

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Quote:

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LOL. I don't think what I wrote was unclear. But since it is being misinterpreted, let me say it again. What I said was a lot of you were donating. I did not say a lot of you were denigrating. As far as I know, no one else is engaged in a jihad to try to convince people not to give to the collective. Because, of course, why would you if you were interested in seeing Cal be successful?

On that note will just drop this here. Remind me the last time Cal was tied for 5th IN THE NATION in landing 4 and 5 star recruits in any recruiting cycle. And with some luck we may even squeeze one more in. Stay tuned on that.

Most blue chip (4/5 star) transfer players added in the 2024 cycle (per 247 Sports):

1. Florida State (10)
2. Texas A&M (8)
3. Ole Miss (7)
4. Colorado (6)
T-5. Cal (5)
T-5. Louisville (5)
T-5. Oregon (5)
T-5. Southern Cal (5)
T-5. Texas (5)

— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) January 17, 2024

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I was curious about these 4 star recruits (there are no 5 stars on this list), so even though I haven't bothered with recruiting minutiae in years, I took the time to look up these guys.

Tobias Merriweather - Sophomore 4 star WR - played two seasons at Notre Dame
14 rec/20.3 yards per catch in 2023
Was rated a 4 star recruit out of high school

Kadarius Calloway - Junior RB - played one season at Old Dominion, transferred from Alabama to JC
88 carries/623/7.1 yards per carry
Was rated a 4 star recruit out of high school.

Mikey Matthews - Freshman WR - played one season at Utah
29 rec/261 yards.
Was rated a 3 star recruit out of high school. No idea why he's rated a 4 star transfer.

Teddye Buchanan - Junior LB, played three seasons at UC Davis
61 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INT in 2023.
Was rated a three star recruit out of high school No idea why he's rated a 4 star transfer.

No idea who the fifth guy is supposed to be - maybe it's the new kicker.

You can come up with your own conclusions about how meaningful 5 4/5 star transfers is as a figure. Personally, I think there's a difference between a guy you get that was recruited by Notre Dame or Alabama as opposed to a guy that played three years at UC Davis.

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For their ratings as transfers, their high school ratings are only one factor. The problem for me is, after years and years of seeing the high school star ratings, I have a pretty good feel for what it means to be a "four star", (for example). These new transfer ratings... they're somewhat different and I don't have a feel for them yet.

Some of the players leave "blue blood" programs in order to get more playing time and showcase themselves (the two LBs we got last year). Some leave smaller programs because they feel they can now compete at a bigger program (like Ifanse and the LB from Davis). Some just leave because they don't like it where they are for whatever reason.

Bottom line, the more they have played in college, the better we can assess how they will do. I think a number of guys we got this year will be starters and really help us, but I don't see any all-conference type talent. Hopefully we are able to screen them for "character" because it could be hard on team chemistry to integrate a bunch of transfers.

Jeff82 said:

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I agree. The positions of the two sides are clear. The CalSrongs believe we have to burn the village down to save it, because that's the only way to cure the JW pestilence. The Sebastabears believe if you burn the village down now, there'll be no way to rebuild it, because it'll be the football equivalent of Chernobyl.

Continuing this debate is not accomplishing anything.

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I agree, this thread is heading rapidly in the direction of the locked thread. I'm not sure what good it does to let one or two posters continue to use our players as a punching bag.

The best players you can get through the portal are probably, on average, NOT as good as the ones you can get as freshmen. The best of those just do great from the start and mostly stay where they are because they are already having success.

However, clearly all of the schools ARE competing to get the best available in the portal and Cal is doing quite well in that competition. That means the NIL is having a positive effect and it's silly to argue otherwise.

sycasey said:

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The best players you can get through the portal are probably, on average, NOT as good as the ones you can get as freshmen. The best of those just do great from the start and mostly stay where they are because they are already having success.

However, clearly all of the schools ARE competing to get the best available in the portal and Cal is doing quite well in that competition. That means the NIL is having a positive effect and it's silly to argue otherwise.

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It's more of a crapshoot taking high schoolers, and it's less of a crapshoot taking transfers.

Wow. Big wow

75bear said:

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sycasey said:

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The best players you can get through the portal are probably, on average, NOT as good as the ones you can get as freshmen. The best of those just do great from the start and mostly stay where they are because they are already having success.

However, clearly all of the schools ARE competing to get the best available in the portal and Cal is doing quite well in that competition. That means the NIL is having a positive effect and it's silly to argue otherwise.

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It's more of a crapshoot taking high schoolers, and it's less of a crapshoot taking transfers.

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Maybe, but it seems like the ceilings are lower with the transfers. Doesn't mean we shouldn't get guys there, just that you need good high school recruits too.

NM

sycasey said:

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75bear said:

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sycasey said:

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The best players you can get through the portal are probably, on average, NOT as good as the ones you can get as freshmen. The best of those just do great from the start and mostly stay where they are because they are already having success.

However, clearly all of the schools ARE competing to get the best available in the portal and Cal is doing quite well in that competition. That means the NIL is having a positive effect and it's silly to argue otherwise.

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It's more of a crapshoot taking high schoolers, and it's less of a crapshoot taking transfers.

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Maybe, but it seems like the ceilings are lower with the transfers. Doesn't mean we shouldn't get guys there, just that you need good high school recruits too.

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It is always going to be a mix, but it is zero sum, you only have so many scholarship openings so the question is, how many HS recruits do you take so you leave open slots for the portal? Complicating that is you don't know who you will lose via the portal, but you will always need to replace them.

HS recruits are generally more of an unknown. Rankings give you an idea of expectations. The higher the rankings, the better the chances.

We have the #60 HS recruit class. Last year we had the #79.

By contrast this year our transfer class is #20 and last year it was #18. Top 20 two years in a row is really significant. Amazing really.

All 17 of our HS recruits this year are 3 stars. In contrast 5 of our 11 transfers are 4 stars.

Nothing against anyone in this incoming HS class. However, based on the above, the fact Cal is a major player in portal recruiting, but is an also ran in HS recruiting, it seems going forward we should be more selective in our HS recruiting, taking fewer guys, only the guys we are really high on and take fewer reaches, to leave more slots to fill via the portal where we are killing it. The guys we don't take out of HS can prove themselves and develop in G5 or FCS and then transfer in later.

I think my emphasis in high school recruiting would be the offensive and defensive lines, because the evidence so far is that linemen are harder to get via the portal. That makes sense to me, because they seemingly take longer to develop, and if they're good, you're going to do everything you can to keep them. High school skill players are more of a crap shoot, it seems like, because their high school performance doesn't always translate to the next level, if they are coming in as a three-star, for example.

Jeff82 said:

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I think my emphasis in high school recruiting would be the offensive and defensive lines, because the evidence so far is that linemen are harder to get via the portal. That makes sense to me, because they seemingly take longer to develop, and if they're good, you're going to do everything you can to keep them. High school skill players are more of a crap shoot, it seems like, because their high school performance doesn't always translate to the next level, if they are coming in as a three-star, for example.

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I don't know, I think that is more true about 17 year old high school linemen. Many are not going up against similar sized players. They require development which only adds to uncertainty. They usually need to add a lot of bulk, but not everyone can and sometimes guys lose foot speed. A lot of 2 stars end up being better than 4 and 5 stars. I would definitely take more PWO linemen because of that uncertainty. And get the best developed guys from lower levels via the portal.

I do think we need more bodies period. OL is 5 of 22 starting positions.

FremontBear said:

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Cal Strong has a point on giving or withholding NIL support to lobby his preferences. Forum admins have the right to ban him, as it's a private for-profit company, but they should have kept their heads and not let emotion overcome good sense.

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Everyone and everything has a point. It has been made, lets stop here!