I can only share my own personal anecdotes, so this isn't a scientific survey. But over the past week I've noticed a sizable difference when out and about in the Bay Area. I see so many more Cal hats and clothing when at the supermarket, shopping in stores and walking around town. I've had many friends and relatives bringing up and talking about Cal to me, and these are people who have always been marginally aware of the status of Cal football.

Something has changed, and I can't put my finger on one exact reason. It feels like a confluence of events - winning, Calgorithm, JKS, national ACC exposure, Ron Rivera, reformed ATO.

I haven't seen a buzz like this in a long, long time. I'm fired up, LFG!

i keep telling myself to cool it, because... well... this next few games is where cal typically does... the thing...

... but at the same time, if you aren't excited about the prospects... whats the point of being a fan?

think about Cal's last 12 months..

2024: 3-0 start, faceplant at FSU, get Gameday anyway, Gameday goes awesome, huge lead vs Miami, blow said lead, lose a couple games because we can't hit a 30 yard kick, rally at the end of the year to make a bowl after big comeback win vs Stanford, lose our elite QB recruit due to "the conversation", lose our QB to portal (making "the conversation" that much more absurd), get blown out by UNLV which ended w/ fans chanting fire wilcox...

2025: starts w/ elite qb finding his way home in a never-before-seen portal transfer before taking a single class.. lose most of the rest of the offense in spring portal, are picked to finish in the bottom 3 or so of the ACC, but all the sudden the team looks pretty deep and that elite QB may be the answer to everything? Oh and 3-0 start again, with the easiest schedule anyone has ever seen

movies don't have this many plot twists. no one would believe it. my guess is we still have a few plot twists in store, but hopefully mostly fun along the way

In north Berkeley I still get mostly blank stares in response to my Go Bears when I pass someone wearing Berkeley gear. Whatever.

I'll tell you what has changed: the rest of the Bay Area is learning what we've already known: Stanfurd sucks and any sane good person should align themselves with Cal. Just a thought.

I think we need to continue to drive home, to the rest of the Bay area, how fun it is to attend a Cal game irrespective of the prominence of the team.

Oski's village, great restaurants, amazing views and walks through the stadium to the campus. We talk about how many options people in the Bay have but there is no reason why the Cal GameDay experience should be second to many of the more common activities.

People don't know how fun it is until they come and we could stand to do more promoting of what makes GameDay fun at Cal. Marketing should continue to entice the casual Bay Arean to come for a visit.

I remember typing over a decade ago how Cal was failing so hard by not marketing in El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole and the surrounding areas up to around Vallejo, Benicia etc. That whole area should be a huge Cal fan base.

Right now, I'm trying to balance staying grounded with enjoying the ride. I think it's possible to do both.

Go Bears!!!

Bobodeluxe said:

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In north Berkeley I still get mostly blank stares in response to my Go Bears when I pass someone wearing Berkeley gear. Whatever.

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I see the problem. A person wearing a shirt that says "Berkeley" is not the same as a person wearing a shirt that says "Cal or "California".

I have zero items of clothing that say "Berkeley" on them.

I do however have a cool blue and gold "Campanile Falcons" t-shirt. I've worn it to games.