honestly, whatever the stories are aside, the kids story is a great one, his mom is sick, he moves closer to his family and now looks like there's a good chance he'll be in the championship game, won the Heisman and very well after this performance might be the number one draft pick! sure, the emotional story about winning one with the guys after the Stanford game was probably real for him at the time, maybe he did know he was leaving, but hey he's a kid, give him a break He's not a 40-year-old guy cheating on his wife lol! JSK would not have had a chance to develop as much as he did this year if Mendoza had stayed, so it worked out for everyone for the best. I'm going to cheer him on like I did Aaron, Jared and any other former cal player in the NFL. it bodes well for us, when we have people who played here do well in the NFL. anyway, I for one am enjoying watching him tear up Oregon, with perfect passes, receivers that can actually catch and although the defense looks good, they're still making the offense work. tosh defense personally does not look bad, Indiana just looks like that team this year. I'm happy Tosh is here too, now let's hire a former cal alum for athletic director and keep it all in the family :-) Go bears!
honestly congratulations to Mendoza!
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36 Replies |
Last: 17 days ago by PAC-10-BEAR
College football is disgustingly mercenary now and while that's not Mendoza fault, I refuse to esteem him the same as wire-to-wire Bears. Maybe Aaron and Jared would have ditched us too for a better program if they had the chance but they didn't. They were Bears from start till finish, not Bears from start till they could join a better program. Maybe if Mendoza gives back to Cal like Aaron and Jared did, I'll have better feeling for him.
Then there's the whole recruiting against us thing but who knows what happened there. I'll never believe anything that comes from "insiders" after the Toshgate reversal, for which we have still yet to receive an explanation.
Then there's the whole recruiting against us thing but who knows what happened there. I'll never believe anything that comes from "insiders" after the Toshgate reversal, for which we have still yet to receive an explanation.
tldr
This is very impressive... That is a very good Defense.
BTW he also joined his younger brother in Indiana and as far as Aaron and Jared, it was a different time, the new portal is way, way more active and crazy!
When the dust has finally settled on this whole affair, Cal will be mere footnote. Not that he got a Cal degree. Not that he went to Cal. It will only read that he chose to leave and won the whole lot of it. That shouldn't be celebrated no matter how nice a guy he or his family is. Of course he got paid and that's to his credit. But celebrate him? The cheering? Against our own brand new Bearinsider Stamp of Approval Savior Coach? Well, memories are not long indeed.
I suppose some peeps on this board will be dusting off the ol Beat Miami for the dancing that Randall Hill put on us in 90.
I suppose some peeps on this board will be dusting off the ol Beat Miami for the dancing that Randall Hill put on us in 90.
jamonit said:
This is very impressive... That is a very good Defense.
That ball is out quick. And he is robotically calm. #Mendoza
— kyle (@Ky1eLong) January 10, 2026
Wish he had stayed. But we got JKS and got rid of Wilcox, so maybe it's all for the best.
He's been near perfect. It's great story for everyone but Cal fans
Him and his mom look like they are sharing the same stockpile of botox! That's some crazy skincare!
All glory to god!
All glory to god!
Anarchistbear said:
He's been near perfect. It's great story for everyone but Cal fans
I think it's a great story for Cal fans too. Yes, it would have been much, much better if he had stayed. But if he's going to go, better that people be able to say, "hey, that kid from Cal is great-- maybe Cal is good at developing players" than "ha, ha, ha, an overrated bum from Berkeley."
Even for Cal fans! Cal provided the foundation for what he has become. Partial credit!
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
Big C said:
Even for Cal fans! Cal provided the foundation for what he has become. Partial credit!
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
If we can forgive Tosh for how he left, we can forgive Mendoza for how he left.
Linda Blair emoji
Like i keep saying eventually Indiana and any association with Indiana will begin to fade as when they talk about him they will mention the Cal Grad and unless they win the championship, that 1 year will fade and our four years and that degree will dominate.
Like in that Star Trek series people will simply "Forget".
Like in that Star Trek series people will simply "Forget".
gardenstatebear said:Big C said:
Even for Cal fans! Cal provided the foundation for what he has become. Partial credit!
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
If we can forgive Tosh for how he left, we can forgive Mendoza for how he left.
Whatever happened on "The Call," Sagapolutele was able to transfer back to Cal before Spring ball and refers to Mendoza as "brother" so if he is good, I don't see any reason for Cal fans to hold any resentment towards him. Maybe some Wilcox fans were thinking Mendoza could have saved Wilcox with a win or two more while sacrificing everything he has achieved this year? IMO everything is working out just fine.
As I mentioned, everything worked out in the end. A nice kid who graduated from Cal won the Heisman, possibly the NC, got to play with his brother, was closer to his sick mom, will probably be the 1st pick in the draft, will probably give Cal some more QB clout, along with AR and JG down the road; we got rid of Wilcox, JSK came back, so far the portal has looked great; we got back a Cal guy to be the HC,, that is about to come from an Oregon program that has done very well over the last several years and he has brought with him several Oregon coaches, where we can probably poach some Oregon recruits and players. Don't worry, be happy! Don't hate on a young guy that made the right decision for himself and his family, while we still win in the end!
PS he also freed Tosh to be full time next week! Go Bears!
The Bloomington skyline on his LinkedIn looks incredible.
They really showed Fernando Mendoza's LinkedIn profile during the game 😅 pic.twitter.com/zghJvS1uJo
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) January 10, 2026
When he comes back or donates to the program, absolutely.gardenstatebear said:Big C said:
Even for Cal fans! Cal provided the foundation for what he has become. Partial credit!
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
If we can forgive Tosh for how he left, we can forgive Mendoza for how he left.
Sitting at the SMU game, and seeing his teammates faces while he stood smug and healthy on the sidelines, I can't think of anything other than betrayal when I see his face. I'd think the same thing of a any professional athlete who refused to play their role during a game. "First of all, I'd like to say all praise and honor to" the mighty dollar!
Roll on you Bears!
Big C said:
Even for Cal fans! Cal provided the foundation for what he has become. Partial credit!
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
This is what I don't get. Do people think he just got good by magic, or becoming another year older, or by simply working harder between his Cal years and spring ball at IU?
Whatever you may say, Cal is considered A cradle of QB's, if not THE cradle of QB's. He went from a one offer Yale prospect to a top P4 QB in the 3 years he was at Cal. IU didn't wave a wand over him in February, 2025.
Not enough is being said about that.
Big C said:
Even for Cal fans! Cal provided the foundation for what he has become. Partial credit!
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside
“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside
“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
bearister said:Big C said:
Even for Cal fans! Cal provided the foundation for what he has become. Partial credit!
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
Splitting hairs, I know, but "...made me what I am today." would have been the way to say it.
I guess his warding off JKS phone call still stings.
Big C said:
Even for Cal fans! Cal provided the foundation for what he has become. Partial credit!
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
Partial credit? What are we in a group project? The losers mentality is cheering on a guy who left the program and tried to wave off a guy that wanted to come in. And Mendoza fans are really putting JKS in a tight spot with this, "well, we lost Mendoza, but we got JKS!" By that rationale, JKS will have to perform at or near the level that Mendoza did, culminating in some sort of championship. That's what you're comparing.
"am will willing to take any scraps he might leave us"
The typical Cal fan.
Quote:
Whatever you may say, Cal is considered A cradle of QB's, if not THE cradle of QB's. He went from a one offer Yale prospect to a top P4 QB in the 3 years he was at Cal. IU didn't wave a wand over him in February, 2025.
Which pundit or website is saying this? Cradle of QB's? No, THE cradle of QB's? Who is is saying that? You guys are trying to mine any aura you can with this guy to spare your blushes. Its cringe.
You have two different posts in this thread referring to our current QB incorrectly. It's JKS, not JSK!gobears3000 said:
As I mentioned, everything worked out in the end. A nice kid who graduated from Cal won the Heisman, possibly the NC, got to play with his brother, was closer to his sick mom, will probably be the 1st pick in the draft, will probably give Cal some more QB clout, along with AR and JG down the road; we got rid of Wilcox, JSK came back, so far the portal has looked great; we got back a Cal guy to be the HC,, that is about to come from an Oregon program that has done very well over the last several years and he has brought with him several Oregon coaches, where we can probably poach some Oregon recruits and players. Don't worry, be happy! Don't hate on a young guy that made the right decision for himself and his family, while we still win in the end!
Great publicity for Berkeley (Haas). Berkeley mentioned multiple times each game.
My only in game experience of Mendoza was a 2024 loss to Syracuse. He went 22-34, 225 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs.
I saw a future Heisman Trophy winner. But at the time, he wasn't the man yet.
My only in game experience of Mendoza was a 2024 loss to Syracuse. He went 22-34, 225 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs.
I saw a future Heisman Trophy winner. But at the time, he wasn't the man yet.
philly1121 said:Big C said:
Even for Cal fans! Cal provided the foundation for what he has become. Partial credit!
Seriously, people who are wallowing in their Mendoza Hate... that's a loser's mentality. While I will always remember the way he left and never quite forgive him for it, I'm moving past it and am willing to take any scraps he might leave us.
I am honestly surprised at what he's turned himself into, but good for him. Having JKS has really helped assuage any pain.
Partial credit? What are we in a group project? The losers mentality is cheering on a guy who left the program and tried to wave off a guy that wanted to come in. And Mendoza fans are really putting JKS in a tight spot with this, "well, we lost Mendoza, but we got JKS!" By that rationale, JKS will have to perform at or near the level that Mendoza did, culminating in some sort of championship. That's what you're comparing.
"am will willing to take any scraps he might leave us"
The typical Cal fan.
I was pissed at the way he left... and still am a bit. That said, there's two ways to play this:
We can "claim" him as much as possible and get some of the credit for what he has become (he seems to have no problem with this)...
Or, we can sit there and stew in our own bitterness.
IMO, one of the above is a winner's strategy; the other is not. This is why, when a team loses out on a recruit or loses a transfer, the coach almost always takes the high road, at least in public, and wishes the player well. It's about what's going to happen in the future; less so about what happened in the past.
There really isn't any strategy to play here. Cal Athletics, rightfully, has moved on from him. There's no X post. No mention. Nothing. Which I think is the way to go.
What you say, "claiming" him is a winning strategy. Claiming him doesn't mean what you think it means. Are we to say to QB recruits, "hey, look what we (which really isn't "we" since those coaches have moved on) did with Mendoza. You can do that too....and then transfer when you get good and grow beyond us". Is that what you mean by "claiming" him?
And I'm not sitting here all bitter and neither is Cal Athletics. We've simply moved past him. He's not to be celebrated. He's not to be denigrated. He was here. He moved on. His choice. That's it. Cal Athletics IS taking the high road. Its not a winning or losing strategy. Move on. Stop aura farming off of him. There is no aura to claim. Cal Athletics knows this.
What you say, "claiming" him is a winning strategy. Claiming him doesn't mean what you think it means. Are we to say to QB recruits, "hey, look what we (which really isn't "we" since those coaches have moved on) did with Mendoza. You can do that too....and then transfer when you get good and grow beyond us". Is that what you mean by "claiming" him?
And I'm not sitting here all bitter and neither is Cal Athletics. We've simply moved past him. He's not to be celebrated. He's not to be denigrated. He was here. He moved on. His choice. That's it. Cal Athletics IS taking the high road. Its not a winning or losing strategy. Move on. Stop aura farming off of him. There is no aura to claim. Cal Athletics knows this.
philly1121 said:
There really isn't any strategy to play here. Cal Athletics, rightfully, has moved on from him. There's no X post. No mention. Nothing. Which I think is the way to go.
What you say, "claiming" him is a winning strategy. Claiming him doesn't mean what you think it means. Are we to say to QB recruits, "hey, look what we (which really isn't "we" since those coaches have moved on) did with Mendoza. You can do that too....and then transfer when you get good and grow beyond us". Is that what you mean by "claiming" him?
And I'm not sitting here all bitter and neither is Cal Athletics. We've simply moved past him. He's not to be celebrated. He's not to be denigrated. He was here. He moved on. His choice. That's it. Cal Athletics IS taking the high road. It's not a winning or losing strategy. Move on. Stop aura farming off of him. There is no aura to claim. Cal Athletics knows this.
Maybe he will claim us in the NFL like Rodgers claims Butte JC? :p
If he is a starter in the NFL it might be mentioned if he plays the Lions and whatever team Rodgers might be on.
calumnus said:philly1121 said:
There really isn't any strategy to play here. Cal Athletics, rightfully, has moved on from him. There's no X post. No mention. Nothing. Which I think is the way to go.
What you say, "claiming" him is a winning strategy. Claiming him doesn't mean what you think it means. Are we to say to QB recruits, "hey, look what we (which really isn't "we" since those coaches have moved on) did with Mendoza. You can do that too....and then transfer when you get good and grow beyond us". Is that what you mean by "claiming" him?
And I'm not sitting here all bitter and neither is Cal Athletics. We've simply moved past him. He's not to be celebrated. He's not to be denigrated. He was here. He moved on. His choice. That's it. Cal Athletics IS taking the high road. It's not a winning or losing strategy. Move on. Stop aura farming off of him. There is no aura to claim. Cal Athletics knows this.
Maybe he will claim us in the NFL like Rodgers claims Butte JC? :p
If he is a starter in the NFL it might be mentioned if he plays the Lions and whatever team Rodgers might be on.
they film those intros once per season or every few years.
It would be a lot of working filming most of the teams.
"Ticket prices for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Miami are through the roof. As of Saturday morning, the cheapest ticket on GameTime was over $3,500 (including fees) and the average ticket price was $5,589 more than double the average price of last year's title game."
YahooSportsAM
YahooSportsAM
Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside
“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside
“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
It becomes full circle for Haas graduate and former Cal QB Fernando Mendoza
— Thomas Dunn (@Thomasdunn24) May 23, 2026
The Raiders QB and No. 1 overall draft pick, who got his UC Berkeley undergrad degree at Haas, was finally able to walk at today's commencement at the Greek Theater pic.twitter.com/4HkDQipcTK
I rest my case....
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