As you all know, I'm "hated" here for defending Stanford, but you may not know, I'm also "hated" on the Stanford board for defending Cal. It's funny how both fan bases call me a fan of the other team.
In the aftermath of Cal's victory over Auburn, Stanford fans can't understand how Cal is better than they are given Cal's terrible recruiting classes under Wilcox. So I told them Cal had the #17 transfer class that has made up for a lot of recruiting failures. Then I twisted the knife a bit and asserted that paying better players more money and allowing them to enroll, will improve a team, in reference to Stanford's stupid, self-imposed restrictions that destroy its competitive ability, so it can uphold its ILLUSION of superiority over others, that makes their Stanford degree valuable for them. And I added that Cal cares more about Football than Stanford.
One of their most influential posters pushed back, saying it is laughable Cal is more friendly to Football than Stanford, using the fact Wilcox is still employed as a prime example. I was basing my position that Cal cares more, based on having more flexible transfer and admissions policies. Now, don't get me wrong, I wasn't claiming Cal cared about Football relative to virtually all the programs these two ostensibly compete against, or that Stanford didn't at one time care more. My assertion was that Cal cares more than Stanford does, at this moment. But I felt I needed some better evidence. So I did a little research, trying to find some example of Cal's new Chancellor supporting Football. This may have been posted here and seen by others, but it was new to me until today.
www.instagram.com
I was BLOWN AWAY when I saw this! When is the last time a Cal Football player felt the Chancellor had his back? When is the last time a Cal Football player had a Chancellor make them know how appreciated they are and what they do matters for the school? I can make a strong case this act by Rich Lyons allowed Cal to beat Auburn. When you don't feel like you matter, or you are suppose to lose because you play on a team that accepts losing because it really isn't that important, and other schools that care more are suppose to win, you lose. The Cal Football brand is effectively the other shoe dropping. It's the product of years of indifference, if not sabotage, from the hierarchy of the administration. It's hard enough to beat the opponent, It's impassible to do it while also fighting the school, which YOU KNOW Cal players have had to do for decades.
I showed this video to my partner who went to Cal games with me back in the Tedford era, and she almost cried. She knows how important this show of support is.
After posting these sentiments above, I said maybe Justin Wilcox now has the level of support he needs to show he in fact will be a coach other programs will value. I was skeptical of this Cal team in the aftermath of the Auburn win, but seeing this Instagram post of the Cal Chancellor breaking down a huddle with the team and telling the players how appreciated they are, and how they make the school proud, is changing my mind. There is a real reason to believe in this team now, and I am no longer skeptical because they "are Cal." They may not have the talent needed to have a special season. But I do not believe you will watch games this year and see the other shoe drop that always has before. There is reason to believe in this team because the Chancellor has shown it is worth believing in.
Stanford only wishes it could say the same thing about its team and President.
In the aftermath of Cal's victory over Auburn, Stanford fans can't understand how Cal is better than they are given Cal's terrible recruiting classes under Wilcox. So I told them Cal had the #17 transfer class that has made up for a lot of recruiting failures. Then I twisted the knife a bit and asserted that paying better players more money and allowing them to enroll, will improve a team, in reference to Stanford's stupid, self-imposed restrictions that destroy its competitive ability, so it can uphold its ILLUSION of superiority over others, that makes their Stanford degree valuable for them. And I added that Cal cares more about Football than Stanford.
One of their most influential posters pushed back, saying it is laughable Cal is more friendly to Football than Stanford, using the fact Wilcox is still employed as a prime example. I was basing my position that Cal cares more, based on having more flexible transfer and admissions policies. Now, don't get me wrong, I wasn't claiming Cal cared about Football relative to virtually all the programs these two ostensibly compete against, or that Stanford didn't at one time care more. My assertion was that Cal cares more than Stanford does, at this moment. But I felt I needed some better evidence. So I did a little research, trying to find some example of Cal's new Chancellor supporting Football. This may have been posted here and seen by others, but it was new to me until today.
Cal Football on Instagram: "Thanks for coming out and supporting us, Chancellor Lyons! 🐻🏈 #GoBears | #ALLIN"
cal_football on August 17, 2024: "Thanks for coming out and supporting us, Chancellor Lyons! 🐻🏈 #GoBears | #ALLIN".
www.instagram.com
I was BLOWN AWAY when I saw this! When is the last time a Cal Football player felt the Chancellor had his back? When is the last time a Cal Football player had a Chancellor make them know how appreciated they are and what they do matters for the school? I can make a strong case this act by Rich Lyons allowed Cal to beat Auburn. When you don't feel like you matter, or you are suppose to lose because you play on a team that accepts losing because it really isn't that important, and other schools that care more are suppose to win, you lose. The Cal Football brand is effectively the other shoe dropping. It's the product of years of indifference, if not sabotage, from the hierarchy of the administration. It's hard enough to beat the opponent, It's impassible to do it while also fighting the school, which YOU KNOW Cal players have had to do for decades.
I showed this video to my partner who went to Cal games with me back in the Tedford era, and she almost cried. She knows how important this show of support is.
After posting these sentiments above, I said maybe Justin Wilcox now has the level of support he needs to show he in fact will be a coach other programs will value. I was skeptical of this Cal team in the aftermath of the Auburn win, but seeing this Instagram post of the Cal Chancellor breaking down a huddle with the team and telling the players how appreciated they are, and how they make the school proud, is changing my mind. There is a real reason to believe in this team now, and I am no longer skeptical because they "are Cal." They may not have the talent needed to have a special season. But I do not believe you will watch games this year and see the other shoe drop that always has before. There is reason to believe in this team because the Chancellor has shown it is worth believing in.
Stanford only wishes it could say the same thing about its team and President.
