TomBear said:

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I was able to listen to Fernando's post game radio interview while exiting the stadium, and watched his television interview on "tape" last night.

Fernando is a class act. And he is as tough as Joe Kapp was, and that's a HUGE compliment.

He is well spoken, extremely humble, obviously loves Cal, and is an energetic and enthusiastic representative of the program. He presents himself well in every opportunity I see him get, and is the kind of player it is easy to root for. No wonder the team has been so supportive of him!

In my humble opinion, (based on the things I value most about a player) I believe he is one of the greatest quarterbacks ever at Cal.

I do not know what the future holds for him. But I do know this......whatever he does, he will do it well. And I am anxious to see how his life turns out.

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I agree with all that you say. As a 1976 Cal grad, Joe Roth is my (blue and) gold standard for Cal QBs when it comes to a combination of ability, character, and leadership. I'm getting the same sort of vibe from Fernando. He's not as skilled (yet) as Roth, and he may have a more effusive personality than Roth, but there's a genuineness that's common to both. I remember a Daily Cal interview where they asked several Cal players what they were doing over a long holiday weekend, and Roth's answer was that he was going to get caught up on school work. That's when I thought, "Yeah, he really is one of us students". I get the same feeling from Fernando; he's at Cal for football, but he's also there for the education, and he's there for his teammates. What more (aside from maybe a better touch on deep passes) could we ask for?

I think it looks pretty good. Thought about selling it but worried about copyright issues. Would be cool to sell and give proceeds to NIL.

blungld said:

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I think it looks pretty good. Thought about selling it but worried about copyright issues. Would be cool to sell and give proceeds to NIL.

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Text could be revised, add score?--maybe put image on the back and just scrpt Cal on the front.

98 yards sweatshirt?

blungld said:

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blungld said:

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I think it looks pretty good. Thought about selling it but worried about copyright issues. Would be cool to sell and give proceeds to NIL.

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Text could be revised, add score?--maybe put image on the back and just scrpt Cal on the front.

[img]<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="nXHAjrb"><a href="https://imgur.com/nXHAjrb">View post on imgur.com</a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>[/img]

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"The Drive." or "Drive98" or "Drive 98"

Rushinbear said:

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blungld said:

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blungld said:

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I think it looks pretty good. Thought about selling it but worried about copyright issues. Would be cool to sell and give proceeds to NIL.

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Text could be revised, add score?--maybe put image on the back and just scrpt Cal on the front.

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"The Drive." or "Drive98" or "Drive 98"

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98 to 24

(24 being the final score and 2024)

Rushinbear said:

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blungld said:

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blungld said:

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I think it looks pretty good. Thought about selling it but worried about copyright issues. Would be cool to sell and give proceeds to NIL.

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Text could be revised, add score?--maybe put image on the back and just scrpt Cal on the front.

[img]<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="nXHAjrb"><a href="https://imgur.com/nXHAjrb">View post on imgur.com</a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>[/img]

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"The Drive." or "Drive98" or "Drive 98"

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First and 98! Wait, that's already taken? Never mind.

Mendoza is climbing up my list of all time favorite Bears. He's been the lone bright spot for me this year. This kid is all heart.

Here are my top performing players of WEEK 13:

Devin Neal @KU_Football
Payton Thorne-Cam Coleman @AuburnFootball
Caleb Banks @GatorsFB
Pat Bryant @IlliniFootball
Darrell Gill Jr. @CuseFootball
Fernando Mendoza @CalFootball
Cam Skattebo @ASUFootball
The Swamp @GatorsFB (Crowd has… pic.twitter.com/HGiRY3U7s9

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 25, 2024

blungld said:

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Rushinbear said:

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blungld said:

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blungld said:

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I think it looks pretty good. Thought about selling it but worried about copyright issues. Would be cool to sell and give proceeds to NIL.

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Text could be revised, add score?--maybe put image on the back and just scrpt Cal on the front.

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"The Drive." or "Drive98" or "Drive 98"

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98 to 24

(24 being the final score and 2024)

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Why yes, I do take 980 to the 24

Cal's Big Game victory was a team effort, but for next season, the Cal Band really needs to add "Fernando" to their repertoire.


Even better if they put the lyrics on the big screens so students could sing the chorus.

HearstMining said:

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HairOfTheBear said:

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blungld said:

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aws56 said:

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89Bear said:

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Sign me up to buy a shirt with that quote and a picture of the axe!!!!!

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I'm in.

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Funny. I made one yesterday.

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OK cool! Now let's see it. is it good? Can we buy?

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https://ashbubble.com/product/98-yards-with-my-boys-shirt/

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The creator (Cal burner @justinwilcocks) of that design's shirt is sold here among other Cal related designs and he got shirts to the team today apparently: https://calfansburden.com/shop/p/98-yards

That ashbubble site is an internet copycat shirt mill

My favorite Cal T-shirt that I think was a one off because I can't find it on a Google search is (blue shirt, gold lettering)
We Are Going To Be Good Next Year

Rivals Sacred Heart's

0-10 Never Again

T-shirts back in 1974 after two 0-10 seasons.

sosheezy said:

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HearstMining said:

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HairOfTheBear said:

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blungld said:

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aws56 said:

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89Bear said:

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Sign me up to buy a shirt with that quote and a picture of the axe!!!!!

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I'm in.

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Funny. I made one yesterday.

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OK cool! Now let's see it. is it good? Can we buy?

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https://ashbubble.com/product/98-yards-with-my-boys-shirt/

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The creator (Cal burner @justinwilcocks) of that design's shirt is sold here among other Cal related designs and he got shirts to the team today apparently: https://calfansburden.com/shop/p/98-yards

That ashbubble site is an internet copycat shirt mill

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Thanks for the link.

Someone sitting courtside at the Warriors game last night was wearing that shirt.

This is my go to Big Game week shirt that I made a few years ago (Cal is undefeated in the Big Game since!) A blatant ripoff of Baseballism's 1989 shirt but works well for 1982 on the IYKYK tip.

CalConor said:

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Mendoza is climbing up my list of all time favorite Bears. He's been the lone bright spot for me this year. This kid is all heart.

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Overlooking guys like Thomas, Nyziah, Endries, Cade and Woodson? Oy vey

SBGold said:

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CalConor said:

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Mendoza is climbing up my list of all time favorite Bears. He's been the lone bright spot for me this year. This kid is all heart.

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Overlooking guys like Thomas, Nyziah, Endries, Cade and Woodson? Oy vey

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You're absolutely correct! That was a dumb thing to write. I'll add Corey Dyches and Teddye Buchanan to the list of players I've been impressed with. We actually have some amazing talent on the team this year, which is one of the reasons this season has been so frustrating.

CalConor said:

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SBGold said:

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CalConor said:

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Mendoza is climbing up my list of all time favorite Bears. He's been the lone bright spot for me this year. This kid is all heart.

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Overlooking guys like Thomas, Nyziah, Endries, Cade and Woodson? Oy vey

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You're absolutely correct! That was a dumb thing to write. I'll add Corey Dyches and Teddye Buchanan to the list of players I've been impressed with. We actually have some amazing talent on the team this year, which is one of the reasons this season has been so frustrating.

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Good adds, and yes, frustrating overall

HearstMining said:

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Cal's Big Game victory was a team effort, but for next season, the Cal Band really needs to add "Fernando" to their repertoire.


Even better if they put the lyrics on the big screens so students could sing the chorus.

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They did play their songs of Abba show for us in the extended big game celebration show. But yeah I don't think it includes Fernando.

blungld said:

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blungld said:

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I think it looks pretty good. Thought about selling it but worried about copyright issues. Would be cool to sell and give proceeds to NIL.

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Text could be revised, add score?--maybe put image on the back and just scrpt Cal on the front.

98 yards sweatshirt?

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I love this idea. Graphic is nice. Better than just text.

In this day and age, I cannot fault a player leaving a school for better opportunities. I have a hard time rooting for players that treat NIL and the portal as some willy nilly free agent opportunity, but if Nando were to go to Miami to be closer to his family, I would absolutely support him and continue rooting for this young man to be successful and reach his dreams. He has been one of my favorite Golden Bears of 30 years rooting for this university.

01Bear said:

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BarcaBear said:

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Watching Mendoza's post game interview was amazing. Young man is all heart, "98 yards with my boys", indeed.

I think every Cal fan talking smack about Nando in the Big Game thread should hang their heads in shame.

Laying into coaches is one thing, they signed up for that as coaches. But bad mouthing our players is low class.

I get folks get frustrated, maybe they had a few cold ones, but some folks comments went too far. I hope our students athletes do not read these threads.

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Hear hear!

Nando completely balled out and bailed out Cal this game. Heck, he's been one of Cal's few bright spots this year (especially on offense). I'm highly impressed by his toughness. I'm more touched by his obvious love of his teammates and for Cal. This kid is special. Cal fans should enjoy watching him while we can.

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I totally agree with this post. I have been lucky enough to talk with Mendoza in person in various settings. He is a very decent human being and a TEAM player with very little ego considering that he has been the key to ALL Cal wins this year.
As an impartial fan I have been impressed with his physical and mental toughness on and off the field. He stands in the pocket to take the BIG HIT so that he can get the ball to his receivers. On his scrambles he goes head first into the defense to get the that critical extra yard on third and fourth down (where he might come up short if he were to slide).
I consider Mendoza as a cross between Joe Kapp and Jarod Goff. He does it with an O-Line that had not yet learned how to provide consistent pass protection

GivemTheAxe said:

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01Bear said:

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BarcaBear said:

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Watching Mendoza's post game interview was amazing. Young man is all heart, "98 yards with my boys", indeed.

I think every Cal fan talking smack about Nando in the Big Game thread should hang their heads in shame.

Laying into coaches is one thing, they signed up for that as coaches. But bad mouthing our players is low class.

I get folks get frustrated, maybe they had a few cold ones, but some folks comments went too far. I hope our students athletes do not read these threads.

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Hear hear!

Nando completely balled out and bailed out Cal this game. Heck, he's been one of Cal's few bright spots this year (especially on offense). I'm highly impressed by his toughness. I'm more touched by his obvious love of his teammates and for Cal. This kid is special. Cal fans should enjoy watching him while we can.

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I totally agree with this post. I have been lucky enough to talk with Mendoza in person in various settings. He is a very decent human being and a TEAM player with very little ego considering that he has been the key to ALL Cal wins this year.
As an impartial fan I have been impressed with his physical and mental toughness on and off the field. He stands in the pocket to take the BIG HIT so that he can get the ball to his receivers. On his scrambles he goes head first into the defense to get the that critical extra yard on third and fourth down (where he might come up short if he were to slide).
I consider Mendoza as a cross between Joe Kapp and Jarod Goff. He does it with an O-Line that had not yet learned how to provide consistent pass protection

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I think if Mendoza played for Sonny he'd be a decently high draft pick. He'd have crazy numbers. Still, no idea how he'd be in the NFL.

82gradDLSdad said:

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GivemTheAxe said:

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01Bear said:

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BarcaBear said:

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Watching Mendoza's post game interview was amazing. Young man is all heart, "98 yards with my boys", indeed.

I think every Cal fan talking smack about Nando in the Big Game thread should hang their heads in shame.

Laying into coaches is one thing, they signed up for that as coaches. But bad mouthing our players is low class.

I get folks get frustrated, maybe they had a few cold ones, but some folks comments went too far. I hope our students athletes do not read these threads.

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Hear hear!

Nando completely balled out and bailed out Cal this game. Heck, he's been one of Cal's few bright spots this year (especially on offense). I'm highly impressed by his toughness. I'm more touched by his obvious love of his teammates and for Cal. This kid is special. Cal fans should enjoy watching him while we can.

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I totally agree with this post. I have been lucky enough to talk with Mendoza in person in various settings. He is a very decent human being and a TEAM player with very little ego considering that he has been the key to ALL Cal wins this year.
As an impartial fan I have been impressed with his physical and mental toughness on and off the field. He stands in the pocket to take the BIG HIT so that he can get the ball to his receivers. On his scrambles he goes head first into the defense to get the that critical extra yard on third and fourth down (where he might come up short if he were to slide).
I consider Mendoza as a cross between Joe Kapp and Jarod Goff. He does it with an O-Line that had not yet learned how to provide consistent pass protection

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I think if Mendoza played for Sonny he'd be a decently high draft pick. He'd have crazy numbers. Still, no idea how he'd be in the NFL.

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Sonny would likely have recruited over Mendoza, who would have had less opportunity to develop from a 2* into a good college QB.

HearstMining said:

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Cal's Big Game victory was a team effort, but for next season, the Cal Band really needs to add "Fernando" to their repertoire.


Even better if they put the lyrics on the big screens so students could sing the chorus.

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"There was something in the air that night. The stars were bright Fernando.
They were shining there for you and me and VICTORY Fernando."