HearstMining said:

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Alkiadt said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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I guess Mendoza had a chat with Bo Nix after the Harsin hire

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You're off base with that assumption.
Nix left Auburn not specifically because of Harsin. One quote (the only one anyone has produced) stated he was miserable at Auburn, and it was a long developing situation. He had been miserable under Malzahn and taking all kinds of heat for Auburn's losing and his play for 3 years. He wanted out of Auburn, which growing up was his family dream school. Never did he say it was Harsin that made him leave.
He is quite friendly with Harsin. If you haven't seen the picture of him in the Oregon locker room last year with Harsin and Harsin's son arm in arm, I think you'll realize it's not fake news. That was a story line to blame Harsin for rverything they couldn't blame on malzahn anymore. That one quote was out of context.

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I thought Nix transferred to Oregon for the academics.

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Yes I guess he wasn't interested in Auburn's highly regarded Asphalt Engineering program!!
https://eng.auburn.edu/cee/academics/graduate/programs/pavement_materials.html#gsc.tab=0

falseintellect said:

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pingpong2 said:

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Hunter gone, Fernando gone, who's next? My money is on Jet; if he's as good as he looked this year just imagine how much better he would be behind a competent o-line, and he knows it.

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Anyone and everyone with any talent will be headed for the door. This is a sinking ship.

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Some guys will stay for the degree. Some will get paid enough to stay. Some will hang around for playing time that opens up. This isn't the end of Cal football, it's just a more of the same mediocrity. We're part of a food chain now - we feed on lower-tier programs, while top-tier programs feed on us. No way out of it unless the rules change or we put together enough wins/money to move up the ladder.

philly1121 said:

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DavisBear said:

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QB Fernando Mendoza to the portal.

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Not a surprise to me. I wrote this before and perhaps on this thread but his dad never looked pleased in the stands. I think he got out of us what he came for - to show he can be a good qb with a miserable o-line. Put him on a team that has a decent line, he will look that much better. Thank you Nando! Was good while it lasted.

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I hope he goes somewhere where he can be closer to his ailing mom. Either way, I'll root for Nando except when/if he plays against Cal.

01Bear said:

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philly1121 said:

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DavisBear said:

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QB Fernando Mendoza to the portal.

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Not a surprise to me. I wrote this before and perhaps on this thread but his dad never looked pleased in the stands. I think he got out of us what he came for - to show he can be a good qb with a miserable o-line. Put him on a team that has a decent line, he will look that much better. Thank you Nando! Was good while it lasted.

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I hope he goes somewhere where he can be closer to his ailing mom. Either way, I'll root for Nando except when/if he plays against Cal.

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He's going to Indiana. His brother is a redshirt frosh qb. Mom only had to make one trip to see both sons.

Alkiadt said:

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01Bear said:

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philly1121 said:

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DavisBear said:

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QB Fernando Mendoza to the portal.

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Not a surprise to me. I wrote this before and perhaps on this thread but his dad never looked pleased in the stands. I think he got out of us what he came for - to show he can be a good qb with a miserable o-line. Put him on a team that has a decent line, he will look that much better. Thank you Nando! Was good while it lasted.

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I hope he goes somewhere where he can be closer to his ailing mom. Either way, I'll root for Nando except when/if he plays against Cal.

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He's going to Indiana. His brother is a redshirt frosh qb. Mom only had to make one trip to see both sons.

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I didn't really watch IU games this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if their success this year was due more to upperclassmen playing well together (coupled with a softer schedule). With them graduating, I suspect IU will return to its previous levels of Cal-like seasons. For that reason, I doubt Nando will be going there.

I'm still thinking he goes home to play for Cristobal at Miami.

01Bear said:

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Alkiadt said:

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01Bear said:

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philly1121 said:

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DavisBear said:

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QB Fernando Mendoza to the portal.

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Not a surprise to me. I wrote this before and perhaps on this thread but his dad never looked pleased in the stands. I think he got out of us what he came for - to show he can be a good qb with a miserable o-line. Put him on a team that has a decent line, he will look that much better. Thank you Nando! Was good while it lasted.

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I hope he goes somewhere where he can be closer to his ailing mom. Either way, I'll root for Nando except when/if he plays against Cal.

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He's going to Indiana. His brother is a redshirt frosh qb. Mom only had to make one trip to see both sons.

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I didn't really watch IU games this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if their success this year was due more to upperclassmen playing well together (coupled with a softer schedule). With them graduating, I suspect IU will return to its previous levels of Cal-like seasons. For that reason, I doubt Nando will be going there.

I'm still thinking he goes home to play for Cristobal at Miami.

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Somebody who knows has pretty much confirmed Indiana.

Alkiadt said:

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01Bear said:

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Alkiadt said:

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01Bear said:

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philly1121 said:

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DavisBear said:

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QB Fernando Mendoza to the portal.

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Not a surprise to me. I wrote this before and perhaps on this thread but his dad never looked pleased in the stands. I think he got out of us what he came for - to show he can be a good qb with a miserable o-line. Put him on a team that has a decent line, he will look that much better. Thank you Nando! Was good while it lasted.

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I hope he goes somewhere where he can be closer to his ailing mom. Either way, I'll root for Nando except when/if he plays against Cal.

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He's going to Indiana. His brother is a redshirt frosh qb. Mom only had to make one trip to see both sons.

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I didn't really watch IU games this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if their success this year was due more to upperclassmen playing well together (coupled with a softer schedule). With them graduating, I suspect IU will return to its previous levels of Cal-like seasons. For that reason, I doubt Nando will be going there.

I'm still thinking he goes home to play for Cristobal at Miami.

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Somebody who knows has pretty much confirmed Indiana.

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If that's the case, I don't understand the transfer. IU will likely be a Cal redux next year. Nando would've been better off going to pretty much any other school. I'm pretty certain schools will be throwing high NIL offers at him, including those closer to home. He can easily negotiate for a package deal with his little brother.

bluehenbear said:

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Ummm...IU got a new coach from JMU and brought a lot of JMU players with him and are now in the playoffs.

If Cal wanted to change, seems like IU is the model.

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I don't disagree that Cal should emulate other successful schools. If the IU model works, let's try it!

Also, you could be right about IU's success being the result of the portal players that the new HC brought to IU. You obviously paid much more attention to IU than I did, so I'll defer to your knowledge.

Along those lines, do you know if the JMU transfers were upperclassmen or frosh/soph players? Will they have any eligibility to play next year or will they be gone? Basically, I'm wondering if IU's run this year was a one-off or if Nando (or whomever plays QB at IU next year) will see continued success or a Cal-like kick in the pants.

https://apnews.com/article/indiana-hoosiers-big-ten-cignetti-a32fa50e47c752c93be4f464a6f4bc97

Quote:

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"We have playmakers all across the board," sixth-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke said earlier this season. "It makes my job a lot easier. The O-line is playing great so we can run and pass. We're just clicking right now."

Naturally, all these wins have put players such as Rourke, the 2022 Mid-American Conference MVP, in the postseason award debate. Some think Rourke even belongs in the Heisman Trophy race.
He's hardly alone.

Defensive end Mikail Kamara, a transfer from James Madison, leads the conference in sacks (9 1/2) and earned two national defensive player of the week awards following a 2 1/2-sack, 4 1/2-tackle for loss performance as Indiana reclaimed the Old Brass Spittoon at Michigan State.

Elijah Sarratt also played previously for Cignetti at James Madison and now ranks fifth in the Big Ten in catches (38), yards (685) and yards per catch (18.0). He's tied for sixth with six TD receptions.

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https://apnews.com/article/indiana-hoosiers-coach-cignetti-05fb01faa66e3bfb4fdfdf31dca609de

Quote:

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"We came in and changed the roster and then you have to change the way people think the mindset, the culture, the identity of your football team," he said after welcoming 54 new players, 30 of them transfers. "I think we've made progress. But you really can't measure it until you play."

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Alkiadt said:

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01Bear said:

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philly1121 said:

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DavisBear said:

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QB Fernando Mendoza to the portal.

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Not a surprise to me. I wrote this before and perhaps on this thread but his dad never looked pleased in the stands. I think he got out of us what he came for - to show he can be a good qb with a miserable o-line. Put him on a team that has a decent line, he will look that much better. Thank you Nando! Was good while it lasted.

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I hope he goes somewhere where he can be closer to his ailing mom. Either way, I'll root for Nando except when/if he plays against Cal.

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He's going to Indiana. His brother is a redshirt frosh qb. Mom only had to make one trip to see both sons.

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Too bad we couldn't get the brother to transfer here.

pingpong2 said:

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southseasbear said:

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Alkiadt said:

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01Bear said:

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philly1121 said:

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DavisBear said:

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QB Fernando Mendoza to the portal.

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Not a surprise to me. I wrote this before and perhaps on this thread but his dad never looked pleased in the stands. I think he got out of us what he came for - to show he can be a good qb with a miserable o-line. Put him on a team that has a decent line, he will look that much better. Thank you Nando! Was good while it lasted.

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I hope he goes somewhere where he can be closer to his ailing mom. Either way, I'll root for Nando except when/if he plays against Cal.

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He's going to Indiana. His brother is a redshirt frosh qb. Mom only had to make one trip to see both sons.

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Too bad we couldn't get the brother to transfer here.

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That only works with half-brothers

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Keenan Allen is one of our few remaining standouts in the NFL.

Well, has anyone heard from Jaydn Ott?

philly1121 said:

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Well, has anyone heard from Jaydn Ott?

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The question might be, Has Ott heard from anyone?

bluehenbear said:

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https://apnews.com/article/indiana-hoosiers-big-ten-cignetti-a32fa50e47c752c93be4f464a6f4bc97

Quote:

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"We have playmakers all across the board," sixth-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke said earlier this season. "It makes my job a lot easier. The O-line is playing great so we can run and pass. We're just clicking right now."

Naturally, all these wins have put players such as Rourke, the 2022 Mid-American Conference MVP, in the postseason award debate. Some think Rourke even belongs in the Heisman Trophy race.
He's hardly alone.

Defensive end Mikail Kamara, a transfer from James Madison, leads the conference in sacks (9 1/2) and earned two national defensive player of the week awards following a 2 1/2-sack, 4 1/2-tackle for loss performance as Indiana reclaimed the Old Brass Spittoon at Michigan State.

Elijah Sarratt also played previously for Cignetti at James Madison and now ranks fifth in the Big Ten in catches (38), yards (685) and yards per catch (18.0). He's tied for sixth with six TD receptions.

---

https://apnews.com/article/indiana-hoosiers-coach-cignetti-05fb01faa66e3bfb4fdfdf31dca609de

Quote:

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"We came in and changed the roster and then you have to change the way people think the mindset, the culture, the identity of your football team," he said after welcoming 54 new players, 30 of them transfers. "I think we've made progress. But you really can't measure it until you play."

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So the takeaway here, for me anyways, is that you can pretty much gut the entire program and replace them with transfer portal guys - kina like Prime did at Colorado - "change the roster, then change the way people think, the mindset, the culture, the identity of your football team", with "54 new players - 30 of them transfers." You need an absolute home run of an coaching hire - an elite OC in Cal's case, which is what we (many of us) believe Harsin to be - who already knows coming in what he wants his offensive mindset and culture to be. He's not trying to come up with an idea of what kind of culture or mindset he wants to cultivate, on the fly. He's already done it, coached it, and run roughshod over the opposition with it, with extended high-level success. So he already 'knows' what he wants to establish, and how he will be going about it, walking in the door. As longtime friends and coaching colleagues, Harsin's hire by JW was not some sudden, last ditch epiphany. They have likely - almost certainly - been talking for the whole time, over the last couple of seasons. With Wilcox just seeking Harsin's private counsel and input. Asking Harsin what he sees when he looks at Cal's game film (i imagine that JW has been sending Harsin film to analyze for him and give him feedback back for quite some time). And when JW finally, at some point during this season, decided to gage Harsin's interest in taking over the OC position, Harsin already knew everything he needed to know about Cal's offense and Cal's offensive player, and coaching personnel that he needed to know, and how he would proceed. I doubt that Harsin would not have been the least bit concerned with the unavoidable churn in player movement or coaching departures that would be inevitable with the offensive "culture and mindset" program he understood he would be undertaking to establish, walking in the door. He's not shook by this. He's not 'new'. And he understands what he wants, and what it looks like, and how to build it, and coach it. And he clearly has JW's backing to take ownership of 'all things offense'. Unlike the background, cutthroat goings on at Auburn.

Bobodeluxe said:

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That is some quadruple strength Kool-Aid you're drinking!

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It's just how I perceive the differences between Bloesch and Harsin (and Spav, to a good degree). I see the Harsin hire - albeit for OC rather than HC - as more akin to Cal's hiring of Oregon OC, and Belotti understudy, Jeff Tedford (Harsin was BSU OC, and CP understudy) than I do as similar in any way to the Baldwin, the Musgrave, or Bloesch hires. Spav was nearer to Harsin, but too short-lived at Cal to impact any real change or transformation. Dykes was a similar-type hire as Harsin, but hasn't had any 'long runs', or sustained dominance, as did Bellotti/Tedford or Petersen/Harsin. Harsin then succeeded Petersen (after a brief interlude at Texas & Arkansas St), while Cal snatched up Tedford before Oregon ever had an opportunity to tap him as Bellotti's successor. I was simply pointing out the stark differences between Harsin's pedigree, and that of Baldwin, Musgrave, and Bloesch (Harsin's 'known' politics and 'reputed' *******ness aside).

Pittstop said:

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Bobodeluxe said:

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That is some quadruple strength Kool-Aid you're drinking!

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It's just how I perceive the differences between Bloesch and Harsin (and Spav, to a good degree). I see the Harsin hire - albeit for OC rather than HC - as more akin to Cal's hiring of Oregon OC, and Belotti understudy, Jeff Tedford (Harsin was BSU OC, and CP understudy) than I do as similar in any way to the Baldwin, the Musgrave, or Bloesch hires. Spav was nearer to Harsin, but too short-lived at Cal to impact any real change or transformation. Dykes was a similar-type hire as Harsin, but hasn't had any 'long runs', or sustained dominance, as did Bellotti/Tedford or Petersen/Harsin. Harsin then succeeded Petersen (after a brief interlude at Texas & Arkansas St), while Cal snatched up Tedford before Oregon ever had an opportunity to tap him as Bellotti's successor. I was simply pointing out the stark differences between Harsin's pedigree, and that of Baldwin, Musgrave, and Bloesch (Harsin's 'known' politics and 'reputed' *******ness aside).

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I will say Wilcox was DC at Boise while Harsin was OC under Peterson, so he should know how much of Boise's offense those years was Harsin and how much was Peterson.

Harsin's record as head coach at Boise is good, and sure we can assume the offense was his, even though that was a bad assumption with Baldwin and EWU's great offenses when he was HC there.

However, all of these discussions are of coach's success pre-Transfer Portal. You need talent to win. It is like the people who would always bring up Mark Fox's success at Nevada with the players he inherited from Trent Johnson. Different place, different era.

This is the Portal era. Our only reference there is Auburn where he was a disaster in retaining talent and recruiting talent. Also chasing off, by most accounts, the young Black assistant coaches that were Auburn's best recruiters. But if you see that as slander forget it. It is the past. What matters is what he does at Cal.

Similarly, for him to succeed at Cal, the question will be what talent can he keep and what talent can he attract? We already lost Mendoza, Hunter and our best recruiter in Toler. Most people think Ott is gone. I hope to God The Jet stays. CJ Harris looks promising.

So if he can keep our remaining talent and attract more talent, chances are good. A big part will also be his ability to connect with Cal's NIL donors and inspire them to empty their pockets to help him succeed. Unfortunately, I see him as another Mark Fox.

Time will tell, and you are clearly more optimistic than I am, but I really hope you are right,

Very well put and I agree 100%.

Go Bears,
Let's move on and support whatever changes.

01Bear said:

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pingpong2 said:

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Hunter gone, Fernando gone, who's next? My money is on Jet; if he's as good as he looked this year just imagine how much better he would be behind a competent o-line, and he knows it.

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Jaydn's likely also gone. Wilcox sank his draft odds with his porous OL, horrible offense, and playcalling. He got Jaydn injured running into the middle of the defense on 1st and 2nd downs with no decent blocking. Then Wilcox kept throwing Jaydn out there when he was still clearly injured. After all this, it doesn't look like next year will be any different. Upshot is, I'd bet Jaydn's going to portal out to pursue his NFL dreams at a school that has a decent OL and competent coaching.

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This ^^^

southseasbear said:

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Alkiadt said:

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01Bear said:

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philly1121 said:

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DavisBear said:

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QB Fernando Mendoza to the portal.

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Not a surprise to me. I wrote this before and perhaps on this thread but his dad never looked pleased in the stands. I think he got out of us what he came for - to show he can be a good qb with a miserable o-line. Put him on a team that has a decent line, he will look that much better. Thank you Nando! Was good while it lasted.

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I hope he goes somewhere where he can be closer to his ailing mom. Either way, I'll root for Nando except when/if he plays against Cal.

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He's going to Indiana. His brother is a redshirt frosh qb. Mom only had to make one trip to see both sons.

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Too bad we couldn't get the brother to transfer here.

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I'd have to think that was something that was contemplated and inquired into. After all, Fernando is not only the established starter here, he is in Haas and is a year away from a degree. Thus I think the Mendozas just really like Cignetti, believe Fernando's NFL potential is real and think Cignetti can better help him get there.

Long snapper David Bird to the portal

DavisBear said:

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Long snapper David Bird to the portal

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He came highly touted, but didn't seem any better than past long snappers.

southseasbear said:

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DavisBear said:

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Long snapper David Bird to the portal

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He came highly touted, but didn't seem any better than past long snappers.

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He is.

B

WR Josiah Martin to the portal

01Bear said:

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DavisBear said:

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WR Josiah Martin to the portal

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He's the freshman who showed out last night, right?

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If by 4/40 & 1/29 (Cal's lone TD) you mean showed out, then yes.