To join his dad and Lovie at Illinois

LB just got thinner. Again

Pray to jebus downs healthy

Hard to argue against that. Wish he stayed but he graduated. Best of luck. He's still a Bear just like his dad.

I wonder how hight that guy from Illinois will be on draft boards next year?

Classy statement. I wish him the best.

We need to go to a 7 DL 4 DB defense :P

Best of luck to young Hardy! Wish him all the best! Hard to pass up an opportunity to play for his pops at the college level!

Am I the only one who is kind of miffed by this? I mean, I am definitely all for graduating, and the statement was classy, but when the team is looking to you for experience and leadership on defense - at a position where we have precious little depth - you just leave? Sorry, I just don't think that's the right thing to do. Maybe there's more to the story than I realize, but I think it's a bad look.

CalBearinLA;842679811 said:

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To join his dad and Lovie at Illinois

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Say it ain't so, Hardy! :cry:

Congrats, Hardy Jr. and Hardy Sr. Good luck at Illinois!

Wish Cal had hired his dad

might as well have everyone play as a true frosh, less incentive to go to another school

BEAST2324MODE;842679845 said:

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might as well have everyone play as a true frosh, less incentive to go to another school

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That is way things are now

Best Wishes Hardy! Totally understand why you would want to play for your Dad...................

Cal Bears Great;842679831 said:

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Am I the only one who is kind of miffed by this? I mean, I am definitely all for graduating, and the statement was classy, but when the team is looking to you for experience and leadership on defense - at a position where we have precious little depth - you just leave? Sorry, I just don't think that's the right thing to do. Maybe there's more to the story than I realize, but I think it's a bad look.

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+1

Viramontes, there is PT at linebacker right away!!!

Whatever. I love my dad but wouldn't move to Champaign to play for him for 4 months. I wish him well.

Slow player.

Cal Bears Great;842679831 said:

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Am I the only one who is kind of miffed by this? I mean, I am definitely all for graduating, and the statement was classy, but when the team is looking to you for experience and leadership on defense - at a position where we have precious little depth - you just leave? Sorry, I just don't think that's the right thing to do. Maybe there's more to the story than I realize, but I think it's a bad look.

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Nickerson Sr. and Jr. are super Bears. Playing for dad? In his situation, I would. He's close to his dad. Can't imagine many in his shoes wouldn't make the move.

going4roses;842679844 said:

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Wish Cal had hired his dad

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Best response in this thread.

It's a nice statement, but I'm sorry this just blows. With Drew probably/ almost certainly out for the Fall, Hardy was one of the few guys we couldn't lose on D. My expectations for the season just took a hit.

Suck it up ... Downs and the new jc LB its your show

Forget RB U or first round QB U, we're LB transfer U. That's got to be at least the 6th scholarship LB we've lost in the last 2 years.

Barton should have stayed!

Looks like my prediction of a 4-win season is (very unfortunately) getting stronger.

Can't help but think that the guys who have been coaching our LBs have not done the job. No depth and players showing no reluctance to pack up and leave. I guess Kaufman has coached LBs before. Let's hope he's not too busy with his other duties to recruit LBs like a mad man and coach them so well that they actually want to stay and play for a good coach on a good defense.

concernedparent;842679871 said:

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Forget RB U or first round QB U, we're LB transfer U. That's got to be at least the 6th scholarship LB we've lost in the last 2 years.

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Man, gotta do something to shore up the D or it's going to be a long season.

One kid leaves to play with his younger brother, another to play under his dad.......why do I feel like this stuff only happens to CAL?

Just wondering- did Nickerson's Dad apply for a Cal football job? And Dykes mentioned one other person might leave - who?

moonpod;842679815 said:

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LB just got thinner. Again

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"it's okay guys! we run the 4-2-5 base!"

sounds like this move has been in the works for some time...

Wish him the best. We have guys leaving left and right..I really don't remember turnover like this in the 30 years of Cal fandom. Starting from Sonny's first year here. It speaks to the state of the program imho.

MinotStateBeav;842679890 said:

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Wish him the best. We have guys leaving left and right..I really don't remember turnover like this in the 30 years of Cal fandom. Starting from Sonny's first year here. It speaks to the state of the program imho.

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at a certain point, you have to realize some of these kids are choosing to graduate early for the sake of being eligible for a grad transfer. it's not just a matter of Cal's grad programs not being easy to get into that's forcing our players out. it's not difficult to spread out your units into 4 years as it is--and I'm sure it's even easier when you're splitting time with D1 ball at a challenging school...

worst part is it's no longer the insignificant players we saw depart in the first seasons. these are all experienced, seasoned leaders that are departing (Barton and Nickerson) at an already thin position. the staff had to have known this for some time, yet doesn't seem to have made any adjustments in the recruiting season to counter it.

I suppose it is to be expected. after all, we've had 3 different coaches for LB in about as many years, and we've reduced that position to be part of the unappealing 4-2-5. Dozier said in his announcement that coaching instability was a big hardship in his time here as well. don't blame them.

Congrats Hardy on graduating !!!!

um ... transfer from Cal to Illinois to play for dad for a couple of months ...
assuming Hardy I won't play Hardy II over other players who are younger, bigger, faster, stronger, etc. or that could create a bit of nepotistic resentment ...
another from Dykes, Phase I passes on ... Good luck to him.

beeasyed;842679894 said:

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at a certain point, you have to realize some of these kids are choosing to graduate early for the sake of being eligible for a grad transfer. it's not just a matter of Cal's grad programs not being easy to get into that's forcing our players out. it's not difficult to spread out your units into 4 years as it is--and I'm sure it's even easier when you're splitting time with D1 ball at a challenging school...

worst part is it's no longer the insignificant players we saw depart in the first seasons. these are all experienced, seasoned leaders that are departing (Barton and Nickerson) at an already thin position. the staff had to have known this for some time, yet doesn't seem to have made any adjustments in the recruiting season to counter it.

I suppose it is to be expected. after all, we've had 3 different coaches for LB in about as many years, and we've reduced that position to be part of the unappealing 4-2-5. Dozier said in his announcement that coaching instability was a big hardship in his time here as well. don't blame them.

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Didn't Hardy Sr just get hired at Illinois last month?