2022 Colorado was worse, but I do not think I have ever seen a team flail so abominably as much as we did that afternoon.bear2034 said:
2021
Cal 3
Arizona 10.
Cal loses to a ****e Arizona team (last place?) because of Covid protocols.
List of worst Cal losses, all-time
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Sure but poor coaches eventually get fired, we give Wilcox extensions, so we seemingly endorse the practice.bear2034 said:Many schools drop games due to stupidity on the field stemming from poor coaching.Strykur said:The thing is, Cal football has a notoriety for dropping games because of stupidity on the field, stemming from poor coaching, is that the kind of program we want to have, football that is entertaining because of idiocy and not winning? Serious question here.ducktilldeath said:Breakthrough is a noun. The verb is "to break through".Econ141 said:This. The resurgence Cal story and fan base would be national and we enter the "lighter" part of the schedule. Everytime we are about to breakthrough, something stupid happens.Big C said:
This one hurt because we almost had -- including GameDay -- one of the greatest days in the history of modern Cal Football.
Almost. One play away...
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bro. lol.Econ141 said:
Oregon's first scholar!
I've been a Cal fan for more than two decades, so I've seen some bad ones, but I've got to say these last two losses are right up there in my top 5. We've lost bigger, more important games. We've been blown out in embarrassing fashion. We've lost too many heartbreakers to count. But the FSU and Miami losses were so, so demoralizing because with any sort of competent coaching we're 5-0 right now, ranked into the top 15 and going into the meat of our schedule feeling confident we can beat anyone we face. Now that's gone. Sure, we might find a way to eek out 3 or 4 more wins and get some lame, bottom feeder bowl, in which case Wilcox will accept an apathetic shrug from general Cal fandom and keep on keeping on for another few years of mediocrity. Sometimes a 7 or 8 win season is a victory in its own right. This is not one of those years. Given our schedule and the level of play in the ACC, this was a prime year for us to contend for a conference title and a playoff spot.
I'd put Cal's pathetic loss to an 0-5 UCLA team in 2018 near the top of the list for recent defeats. It was so bad that we talked about anything but the game during the entire two-hour drive back to Roseville.
Yeah, the Arizona game was explainable because half the starting roster had to sit at home for COVID protocol. That Colorado game was just a terrible performance against a team we should easily beat.Strykur said:2022 Colorado was worse, but I do not think I have ever seen a team flail so abominably as much as we did that afternoon.bear2034 said:
2021
Cal 3
Arizona 10.
Cal loses to a ****e Arizona team (last place?) because of Covid protocols.
I think he only had 4 touches the whole game.01Bear said:
Add the 2012 Ohio State Game where Bigelow went crazy but then didn't get touches toward the end of the game.
After the game, OSU people asked us "why didn't 5 get the ball more" and we just shook our heads "we have no idea"
They were especially asking why that idiotic coach (JT) didn't give it to 5 on 4th and 1 instead of trotting out a lousy kicker who had already missed two fgs earlier.ncbears said:I think he only had 4 touches the whole game.01Bear said:
Add the 2012 Ohio State Game where Bigelow went crazy but then didn't get touches toward the end of the game.
After the game, OSU people asked us "why didn't 5 get the ball more" and we just shook our heads "we have no idea"
Hadn't he missed three field goals earlier? Our whole Cal section just let out an exasperated sigh and "NOOOOO" when the field goal unit trotted out in front of us.BadNewsBear1 said:They were also asking why that idiotic coach (JT) didn't give it to 5 on 4th and 1 instead of trotting out a lousy kicker who had already missed two fgs earlier.ncbears said:I think he only had 4 touches the whole game.01Bear said:
Add the 2012 Ohio State Game where Bigelow went crazy but then didn't get touches toward the end of the game.
After the game, OSU people asked us "why didn't 5 get the ball more" and we just shook our heads "we have no idea"
I think it was only two, but let's go with your recollection to make it a better (worse?) story lol.ncbears said:Hadn't he missed three field goals earlier? Our whole Cal section just let out an exasperated sigh and "NOOOOO" when the field goal unit trotted out in front of us.BadNewsBear1 said:They were also asking why that idiotic coach (JT) didn't give it to 5 on 4th and 1 instead of trotting out a lousy kicker who had already missed two fgs earlier.ncbears said:I think he only had 4 touches the whole game.01Bear said:
Add the 2012 Ohio State Game where Bigelow went crazy but then didn't get touches toward the end of the game.
After the game, OSU people asked us "why didn't 5 get the ball more" and we just shook our heads "we have no idea"
ncbears said:I think he only had 4 touches the whole game.01Bear said:
Add the 2012 Ohio State Game where Bigelow went crazy but then didn't get touches toward the end of the game.
After the game, OSU people asked us "why didn't 5 get the ball more" and we just shook our heads "we have no idea"
Yup, he averaged 40 yards per carry that game. That was nuts! But what was crazier was that Tedford didn't get him more touches against a Buckeye team that could not catch him.
I would add the '75 UCLA game...Cal out played the Bruins, but had a few key turnovers. A win in that game means the Rose Bowl. Instead Cal had to root for $SC to beat(or tie) the Bruins on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and it didn't happen....obviously.HongKong_Bear said:
I feel like for most of us Old Blues we've endured enough tough losses over the years that after a while we learn to deal with the hurt after all the disappointment. So if you ask me which losses really hurt the most, I feel like I should go back to my youth when I was relatively naive to the ways of being a Cal fan. I've mentioned before in another thread attending in person the 1974 Big Game in Berkeley, when Mike Langford won the game for Furd on the last play with a 50 yard field goal, kicking it off natural grass with the old straight on style. The other painful loss was listening to the Bears lose to UCLA away at UCLA in 1979, 28-27. Similar to the Miami game the Bears were up and seemingly in control in the 2nd half, but it just seemed to slip away, with the Bruins being led by their 3rd string QB Bernard Quarles, who didn't do anything else again of note in his career.
@ Tennessee for those who went. Not as bad as this but we were ranked with high expectations and this was the SEC. Beat down
Then there was the 1981 game against A&M. Opening game. New "run and shoot" offense. Hot shot new QB Gale Gilbert.mbBear said:I would add the '75 UCLA game...Cal out played the Bruins, but had a few key turnovers. A win in that game means the Rose Bowl. Instead Cal had to root for $SC to beat(or tie) the Bruins on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and it didn't happen....obviously.HongKong_Bear said:
I feel like for most of us Old Blues we've endured enough tough losses over the years that after a while we learn to deal with the hurt after all the disappointment. So if you ask me which losses really hurt the most, I feel like I should go back to my youth when I was relatively naive to the ways of being a Cal fan. I've mentioned before in another thread attending in person the 1974 Big Game in Berkeley, when Mike Langford won the game for Furd on the last play with a 50 yard field goal, kicking it off natural grass with the old straight on style. The other painful loss was listening to the Bears lose to UCLA away at UCLA in 1979, 28-27. Similar to the Miami game the Bears were up and seemingly in control in the 2nd half, but it just seemed to slip away, with the Bruins being led by their 3rd string QB Bernard Quarles, who didn't do anything else again of note in his career.
Cal is slinging and running at will - scoring and races out to 28 points - maybe even 28 point lead (I don't recall the exact lead, but it was big) - but then Gilbert breaks his leg. Cal loses 29-28 and the "run and shoot" becomes the 'run and ****" and Cal stumbles to a 2-9 record.
delete this, why post that garbage here?concordtom said:I missed this one, living in DC.JSC 76 said:
1990 Big Game.
My dad was so angry and disgusted.
Considering it was Stanford (BIG GAME) and not Miami, I put this at the top of the list.
Final 17 seconds, "Revenge of the The Play" (same location, same endzone, 8 years later):
SBGold said:delete this, why post that garbage here?concordtom said:I missed this one, living in DC.JSC 76 said:
1990 Big Game.
My dad was so angry and disgusted.
Considering it was Stanford (BIG GAME) and not Miami, I put this at the top of the list.
Final 17 seconds, "Revenge of the The Play" (same location, same endzone, 8 years later):
I remember, after that game, some Stanfurd fan yelled, "This makes up for 'The Play'"! I laughed in his face. "No, it doesn't. It doesn't even come close to making up for the play, you idiot!"
1990 Big Game will always be the most crushing Cal defeat for me. The fans running onto the field with 12 seconds left after Stanford's failed 2-pt conversion attempt cost us 15 yards so Stanford tries the onside kick from the 50. Then the recovered onside puts Stanford at the Bears' 37, then another 15 yard roughing the passer call that simply was not a roughing the passer call in those days, and then the game-winning FG. The ending of that game is something I'll never forget.
The loss to Miami on Saturday night was excruciatingly painful. But 1990 Big Game will forever stand as the most painful Cal loss I've ever experienced. For some sick reason, I just watched the video again. Still sickens me.
The loss to Miami on Saturday night was excruciatingly painful. But 1990 Big Game will forever stand as the most painful Cal loss I've ever experienced. For some sick reason, I just watched the video again. Still sickens me.
we can't beat undefeated teams or winless teams.
How could I forget the "phantom" offsides vs Norte Dame........
Revisiting that UW loss in 93. Call was 5-0 and ranked around 16. Per online search Cal had 13 point lead with three minutes left and Washington had 4th and 9 at their own 25. They convert and score with two minutes left. All Cal has to do is recover the onside kick. Epic fail on that and Washington goes down and takes the lead with one minute left and Cal fails to score when it gets the ball back. The starting QB Dave Barr had gone out earlier in the game and Cal basically avoided passing in the fourth quarter and just tried to milk the clock. That game is always in the back of my head when there's a big lead.
That was quite the season with Cal from 30 point deficit the week before and then losing a 13 point lead in the final minutes.
That was quite the season with Cal from 30 point deficit the week before and then losing a 13 point lead in the final minutes.
This is the all time number one stupid loss ever as Bruce loved it at Cal and wanted to stay but Bob the Idiot Bockrath chased him away.BearsWiin said:
Losing Bruce Snyder after the 1991 season
Another heartbreaker to add to the list is the 1974 Big Game
Bartkowski throws a TD pass to Steve Rivera with seconds remaining.
Stanfurd then somehow kicks a 50 plus yard FG with no time left to win the game. A FG that long by a college kicker in those days was unheard of. Was a total heartbreaker and a portent of things to come.
And it is the heartbreakers that make the big victories so sweet when they come.
bear945 said:
Revisiting that UW loss in 93. Call was 5-0 and ranked around 16. Per online search Cal had 13 point lead with three minutes left and Washington had 4th and 9 at their own 25. They convert and score with two minutes left. All Cal has to do is recover the onside kick. Epic fail on that and Washington goes down and takes the lead with one minute left and Cal fails to score when it gets the ball back. The starting QB Dave Barr had gone out earlier in the game and Cal basically avoided passing in the fourth quarter and just tried to milk the clock. That game is always in the back of my head when there's a big lead.
That was quite the season with Cal from 30 point deficit the week before and then losing a 13 point lead in the final minutes.
That game totally turned when Dave Barr was injured I believe late in the first half but also because our star safety, I believe it was Eric Zomalt also went down.
That year, Cal won every game with a healthy Dave Barr for the whole game.NVBear78 said:bear945 said:
Revisiting that UW loss in 93. Call was 5-0 and ranked around 16. Per online search Cal had 13 point lead with three minutes left and Washington had 4th and 9 at their own 25. They convert and score with two minutes left. All Cal has to do is recover the onside kick. Epic fail on that and Washington goes down and takes the lead with one minute left and Cal fails to score when it gets the ball back. The starting QB Dave Barr had gone out earlier in the game and Cal basically avoided passing in the fourth quarter and just tried to milk the clock. That game is always in the back of my head when there's a big lead.
That was quite the season with Cal from 30 point deficit the week before and then losing a 13 point lead in the final minutes.
That game totally turned when Dave Barr was injured I believe late in the first half but also because our star safety, I believe it was Eric Zomalt also went down.
Going way back in history, the 1929 Rose Bowl loss to Georgia Tech in which Roy Riegels had his infamous "wrong way run".
Yup, the Barr injury derailed the whole season.ncbears said:That year, Cal won every game with a healthy Dave Barr for the whole game.NVBear78 said:bear945 said:
Revisiting that UW loss in 93. Call was 5-0 and ranked around 16. Per online search Cal had 13 point lead with three minutes left and Washington had 4th and 9 at their own 25. They convert and score with two minutes left. All Cal has to do is recover the onside kick. Epic fail on that and Washington goes down and takes the lead with one minute left and Cal fails to score when it gets the ball back. The starting QB Dave Barr had gone out earlier in the game and Cal basically avoided passing in the fourth quarter and just tried to milk the clock. That game is always in the back of my head when there's a big lead.
That was quite the season with Cal from 30 point deficit the week before and then losing a 13 point lead in the final minutes.
That game totally turned when Dave Barr was injured I believe late in the first half but also because our star safety, I believe it was Eric Zomalt also went down.
59bear said:
Going way back in history, the 1929 Rose Bowl loss to Georgia Tech in which Roy Riegels had his infamous "wrong way run".
For those of us "younger guys" here is Roy tearing it up......
The reopening of Memorial game against Nevada was plenty deflating.
At least after that game I knew that the end was coming, after this past weekend I do not know yet if we are teetering or if I should care otherwisechazzed said:
The reopening of Memorial game against Nevada was plenty deflating.
Right. After all that Tedford did to have Memorial Stadium fixed up, he only got to coach in it one season.Strykur said:At least after that game I knew that the end was coming, after this past weekend I do not know yet if we are teetering or if I should care otherwisechazzed said:
The reopening of Memorial game against Nevada was plenty deflating.
Good one! I was really excited to be in the stadium for this game and walked out feeling sh*t-stomped.chazzed said:
The reopening of Memorial game against Nevada was plenty deflating.
This was the weirdest Cal game I ever attended. Grass replaced with new ungodly bright green plastic "turf". The run-and-shoot offense with four or five receivers and an empty backfield is common now, but it was other-worldly in 1981. Cal moved down the field and scored so easily the first three series that I thought, "Defenses will eventually figure this out, but maybe Cal can get away with it for an entire season". But for Gilbert's bad luck, maybe they would have. Not sure why, with the recent history of QBs like Ferragamo, Bartkowski, Roth, and Campbell, Cal didn't have a better backup than J Torchio, but they didn't, and as you said, the season went downhill from there.ncbears said:Then there was the 1981 game against A&M. Opening game. New "run and shoot" offense. Hot shot new QB Gale Gilbert.mbBear said:I would add the '75 UCLA game...Cal out played the Bruins, but had a few key turnovers. A win in that game means the Rose Bowl. Instead Cal had to root for $SC to beat(or tie) the Bruins on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and it didn't happen....obviously.HongKong_Bear said:
I feel like for most of us Old Blues we've endured enough tough losses over the years that after a while we learn to deal with the hurt after all the disappointment. So if you ask me which losses really hurt the most, I feel like I should go back to my youth when I was relatively naive to the ways of being a Cal fan. I've mentioned before in another thread attending in person the 1974 Big Game in Berkeley, when Mike Langford won the game for Furd on the last play with a 50 yard field goal, kicking it off natural grass with the old straight on style. The other painful loss was listening to the Bears lose to UCLA away at UCLA in 1979, 28-27. Similar to the Miami game the Bears were up and seemingly in control in the 2nd half, but it just seemed to slip away, with the Bruins being led by their 3rd string QB Bernard Quarles, who didn't do anything else again of note in his career.
Cal is slinging and running at will - scoring and races out to 28 points - maybe even 28 point lead (I don't recall the exact lead, but it was big) - but then Gilbert breaks his leg. Cal loses 29-28 and the "run and shoot" becomes the 'run and ****" and Cal stumbles to a 2-9 record.
You nailed it. The white helmets must have been bad juju.HearstMining said:Good one! I was really excited to be in the stadium for this game and walked out feeling sh*t-stomped.chazzed said:
The reopening of Memorial game against Nevada was plenty deflating.
Speaking of this last Saturday, where a frustrating loss came in the middle of a lot of positives, how about the 1991 Big Game? ("Touchdown... TOMMY VARDELL!")
Only one loss coming into the game (the loss to UW, who was ranked at or near the top) and then Furd runs over us, plus we get a few too many unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. I felt absolutely terrible after that game...
But then we went on to destroy Clemson in the Citrus Bowl to finish the year ranked (?) seventh. Hopefully we will get some more great wins against ACC teams this season, too!
Pat McAfee said on his shows that the Bears were ripped off, twice, at the end of the game.
Acknowledged.
That and $5.50 will get you a cup of coffee.
Acknowledged.
That and $5.50 will get you a cup of coffee.
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