Spend all the NIL money on the buyout. Please.

ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

Why did we kick a field goal in the 4th? Should've just gone for it especially since Ward wasn't giving up

An unpopular question:

Is it me or did Mendoza have the deer in the headlights look late for the second game in a row? I don't know if its him, the Oline, or a bit of both.

ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

Why did we kick a field goal in the 4th? Should've just gone for it especially since Ward wasn't giving up

---

No Field Goal was the right play. It moved the game from 2 TDs and a Field Goal, to 3 TDs.

Bowlesman80 said:

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Well.
We know we can compete.
D got gassed.
Not enough TOP in the second half and it burned out our D.

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3 and outs running up the middle will hurt your TOP. But scoring 3 points early in the 4th then nothing on every possession after is why we lost. Playing to burn clock instead of playing to score is why we lost.

Bowlesman80 said:

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Well.
We know we can compete.
D got gassed.
Not enough TOP in the second half and it burned out our D.

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We have known Wilcox teams will play, and lose, to any opponent of any skill.

The only thing we know about Wilcox teams is they will always be close and mostly lose

golden sloth said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

Why did we kick a field goal in the 4th? Should've just gone for it especially since Ward wasn't giving up

---

No Field Goal was the right play. It moved the game from 2 TDs and a Field Goal, to 3 TDs.

---

It moved the game from a guaranteed victory to one where Miami won by 1

falseintellect said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

---

I know you are emotional, but you can't say that with any certainty.

It is so absolutely depressing that we should be undefeated right now and instead we found a way to lose when the other team was all but beaten.

DoubtfulBear said:

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golden sloth said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

Why did we kick a field goal in the 4th? Should've just gone for it especially since Ward wasn't giving up

---

No Field Goal was the right play. It moved the game from 2 TDs and a Field Goal, to 3 TDs.

---

It moved the game from a guaranteed victory to one where Miami won by 1

---

Assuming you get the TD. Which is not a given.

falseintellect said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

---

Mendoza didn't get the TD's against FSU - no guarantee he does so in that situation today. And Rogers put that pass right on Grizzell's hands.

This is just like the SC game last year

BadNewsBear1 said:

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Spend all the NIL money on the buyout. Please.

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NIL money for NIL is a terrible investment in the program.

We don't have a talent issue. We have a coaching issue.

golden sloth said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

Why did we kick a field goal in the 4th? Should've just gone for it especially since Ward wasn't giving up

---

No Field Goal was the right play. It moved the game from 2 TDs and a Field Goal, to 3 TDs.

---

Exactly. We just needed to get at least another FG the rest of the quarter, but we weren't going to do that running up the middle fir 2. We needed to stick with what was working.

Well, that was both shocking and totally predictable at the same time.

First of all, kudos to the coaching staff for putting together a good game plan, and major props to the players for executing so well for 2.5-3 quarters. Miami is the better, more physical team, no doubt, and the players did a hell of a job capitalizing on every opportunity and getting us to 35-10.

Now that said, I'm convinced Justin Wilcox is the worst late-game coach in the country. We've seen this pattern of loss play out so many times. I'm thinking back to our last loss to SC at the moment. Like clockwork, when we have a less late in the game, JW goes into conservative, boneheaded play calling mode. He plays not to lose, every damn time. He mismanages the clock, calls timeouts at inexplicable times. We snap it with 6 seconds left on the play clock play after play. We start committing penalties at breakneck speed. JW pulls Mendoza in the RZ and we end up with 3 points instead of 7.

It's all just completely baffling. Obviously, I'm gutted, but I've come to expect it. I fully expected we would blow the game, even when we were up 35-10. It ****ing sucks to feel that way as a fan.

There has been so much excitement and energy around Cal FB recently, and we've completely blown it the last two weeks. We will never break out of our low to middling status with JW at the helm. Please, for the love of God, fire Wilcox, get a good OL coach, get a special teams coach, and focus on getting great OL and DL recruits.

We have to be the most cursed team in college football. National stage, first ever gameday against a legendary Miami program and we blow a 35-10 lead at home. Just wow. I'm at a loss for words

golden sloth said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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golden sloth said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

Why did we kick a field goal in the 4th? Should've just gone for it especially since Ward wasn't giving up

---

No Field Goal was the right play. It moved the game from 2 TDs and a Field Goal, to 3 TDs.

---

It moved the game from a guaranteed victory to one where Miami won by 1

---

Assuming you get the TD. Which is not a given.

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Nothing is a given but it's all about attitude. I loved the 4th and 1 on our 35 yard line in the 1st quarter. Why did we give up that aggressiveness and revert to typi-cal Wilcox conservative plays in the second half? Gave Ward a chance to regroup with his weapons and score non-stop

CMHBear said:

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This is just like the SC game last year

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Funny you should mention that, Ward reminds me of Caleb Williams.

I don't know how the team comes back from this loss. We are emotionally and physically spent and now have to travel to Pitt and play another team that has figured out how to win. It's going to be ugly.

golden sloth said:

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falseintellect said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

---

I know you are emotional, but you can't say that with any certainty.

---

My point is just that, why did we throw in a guy who's played like 5 snaps this year when Mendoza had just put up 35 points in this game???

calumnus said:

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philly1121 said:

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Burn it down. Season over. I don't freaking care about the season anymore. The sunshine pumpers are going to say "there's still a lot to play for" but context is everything. We should have won this game. We bottled it. We have CAVED IN. In front of half the nation.

It is such a typi-Cal loss. Gameday. Sold our stadium. 3 touchdown lead. And we dial an L. I'm done.

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Wilcox is holding this team back. We should be 5-0 (2-0) in first place in the ACC and ranked. Instead we are 3-2 (0-2) in last place struggling to finish above .500

---

I'll say this - to the members on this board who attended GameDay this morning - props to you!. To the students who probably haven't slept in 24 hours - props to you! I couldn't go because my son was working and my daughter had cheer. But I gave 4 hours to this. And yeah, I'm being petty and perhaps selfish. But this was a disaster from a PR and psychological standpoint.

I'll just say that this team is destined for wins like this. It is our karma. Perhaps we should investigate whether Memorial Stadium was built on a Native American burial ground? Nah. This is just as a pathetic and embarrassing loss that I have ever experienced. I can't invest myself like this again. Its too tough. Ashes dear boy. Ashes.

bluehenbear said:

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I don't know how the team comes back from this loss. We are emotionally and physically spent and now have to travel to Pitt and play another team that has figured out how to win. It's going to be ugly.

---

We'll grind out 5-6 more wins against a slate of mostly medicore teams and maybe win a bottom tier bowl game for 7-8 win season. THat's a great success for Wilcox and all he really strives for.

falseintellect said:

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golden sloth said:

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falseintellect said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

---

I know you are emotional, but you can't say that with any certainty.

---

My point is just that, why did we throw in a guy who's played like 5 snaps this year when Mendoza had just put up 35 points in this game???

---

Two things. You may have forgotten Rogers scored a TD, earlier.
Second, I think Nando was hit hard and coach was giving him a break.

ncbears said:

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falseintellect said:

---

ncbears said:

---

I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

---

Mendoza didn't get the TD's against FSU - no guarantee he does so in that situation today. And Rogers put that pass right on Grizzell's hands.

---

Trying to blame Rogers, who had our only scoring drive in the 4th quarter and as you said, put the ball in Grizzell's hands for the dropped TD is ludicrous. We lost because we scored zero on every possession after that, due to conservative play calling (unlike what got is the lead).

Bowlesman80 said:

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falseintellect said:

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golden sloth said:

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falseintellect said:

---

ncbears said:

---

I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

---

I know you are emotional, but you can't say that with any certainty.

---

My point is just that, why did we throw in a guy who's played like 5 snaps this year when Mendoza had just put up 35 points in this game???

---

Two things. You may have forgotten Rogers scored a TD, earlier.
Second, I think Nando was hit hard and coach was giving him a break.

---

I don't forget things. It was a braindead decision by a braindead coach who makes braindead decisions week after week. I doubt he cares though, he's collecting his paychecks and enjoying the job security of a program that doesn't really care and can't afford to fire him if they did.

calumnus said:

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ncbears said:

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falseintellect said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

---

Mendoza didn't get the TD's against FSU - no guarantee he does so in that situation today. And Rogers put that pass right on Grizzell's hands.

---

Trying to blame Rogers, who had our only scoring drive in the 4th quarter and as you said, put the ball in Grizzell's hands for the dropped TD is ludicrous. We lost because we scored zero on every possession after that, due to conservative play calling (unlike what got is the lead).

---

I'm not blaming him. I'm saying it's pretty different to put him in for a running play change up VS letting him quarterback the offense. We took out our best passer and put in the backup in a situation where we needed a touchdown. Maybe we score, maybe we don't but Mendoza throwing the ball gives us the best chance to. It's only one of about 50 poor decisions the coaches made to let our guys down tonight.

falseintellect said:

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bluehenbear said:

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I don't know how the team comes back from this loss. We are emotionally and physically spent and now have to travel to Pitt and play another team that has figured out how to win. It's going to be ugly.

---

We'll grind out 5-6 more wins against a slate of mostly medicore teams and maybe win a bottom tier bowl game for 7-8 win season. THat's a great success for Wilcox and all he really strives for.

---

And his defenders will come up with some BS to say that is good, Cal is "a tough place to win" and he needs to be a extended "for recruiting."

falseintellect said:

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bluehenbear said:

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I don't know how the team comes back from this loss. We are emotionally and physically spent and now have to travel to Pitt and play another team that has figured out how to win. It's going to be ugly.

---

We'll grind out 5-6 more wins against a slate of mostly medicore teams and maybe win a bottom tier bowl game for 7-8 win season. THat's a great success for Wilcox and all he really strives for.

---

Where do you see 5-6 wins coming from?

Pitt is quite good. Syracuse also has talent. NC State we probably win. Wake is also good. I see two wins. Stanford and Oregon State. After a game like this, somebody phone Tony Robbins.

falseintellect said:

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calumnus said:

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ncbears said:

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falseintellect said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

---

Mendoza didn't get the TD's against FSU - no guarantee he does so in that situation today. And Rogers put that pass right on Grizzell's hands.

---

Trying to blame Rogers, who had our only scoring drive in the 4th quarter and as you said, put the ball in Grizzell's hands for the dropped TD is ludicrous. We lost because we scored zero on every possession after that, due to conservative play calling (unlike what got is the lead).

---

I'm not blaming him. I'm saying it's pretty different to put him in for a running play change up VS letting him quarterback the offense. We took out our best passer and put in the backup in a situation where we needed a touchdown. Maybe we score, maybe we don't but Mendoza throwing the ball gives us the best chance to. It's only one of about 50 poor decisions the coaches made to let our guys down tonight.

---

I will certainly agree we need longer TOP.

BadNewsBear1 said:

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Spend all the NIL money on the buyout. Please.

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Only if the AD also goes

blungld said:

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It is so absolutely depressing that we should be undefeated right now and instead we found a way to lose when the other team was all but beaten.

---

Almost lost to Auburn as well in what was a pretty horrific performance

This was the most classic Cal thing that ever happened.

philly1121 said:

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falseintellect said:

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bluehenbear said:

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I don't know how the team comes back from this loss. We are emotionally and physically spent and now have to travel to Pitt and play another team that has figured out how to win. It's going to be ugly.

---

We'll grind out 5-6 more wins against a slate of mostly medicore teams and maybe win a bottom tier bowl game for 7-8 win season. THat's a great success for Wilcox and all he really strives for.

---

Where do you see 5-6 wins coming from?

Pitt is quite good. Syracuse also has talent. NC State we probably win. Wake is also good. I see two wins. Stanford and Oregon State. After a game like this, somebody phone Tony Robbins.

---

Depends, if the players lose interest after they realize they are coached by morons we might fall apart. But if the team is still locked in then none of those teams are as good as Miami or as talented as FSU so we can do it. It will be a grind.

falseintellect said:

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calumnus said:

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ncbears said:

---

falseintellect said:

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ncbears said:

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I don't think Cal went into turtle mode. They scored on big plays and a pick 6. I don't really recall any long drives with multiple first downs. The Cal offense (o-line) just isn't that good and that restricts everything.
Even if targeting had been called, Cal would have had a first down, but Miami had 3 timeouts - so instead of getting the ball with 1:50 left, Miami gets the ball with 1:30 left and that still would have been a lot of time for Ward.

---

We ran ran pass punted the ENTIRE rest of the game. Our OL cannot pass block on third and long. Period.

We put a backup QB in for a series and settled for a FG when a TD ended the game. Fernando gets us that TD.

---

Mendoza didn't get the TD's against FSU - no guarantee he does so in that situation today. And Rogers put that pass right on Grizzell's hands.

---

Trying to blame Rogers, who had our only scoring drive in the 4th quarter and as you said, put the ball in Grizzell's hands for the dropped TD is ludicrous. We lost because we scored zero on every possession after that, due to conservative play calling (unlike what got is the lead).

---

I'm not blaming him. I'm saying it's pretty different to put him in for a running play change up VS letting him quarterback the offense. We took out our best passer and put in the backup in a situation where we needed a touchdown. Maybe we score, maybe we don't but Mendoza throwing the ball gives us the best chance to. It's only one of about 50 poor decisions the coaches made to let our guys down tonight.

---

Bringing Rogers in for relief actually worked. We put him in for a little more than a drive and we got 10 points. I agree we needed to have Mendoza passing for every possession after that, but we didn't, and we scored nothing for almost the entire 4th quarter with Mendoza, that is why we lost. It was the conservative play calling for the entire rest of tge 4th quarter, playing not to lose that cost tge game.