I didn’t know a whole lot about the Cal Bears or its fanbase headed into this fall, I will admit, but as Bears fans have garnered more attention on Twitter for all the meme-heavy work they do, I’ve noticed that we have a lot in common.
For instance, did you know that Cal fans have a longstanding grudge against Mack Brown for the lobbying he did in 2004 that helped his Texas team slide into a Rose Bowl berth ahead of the Bears?
Last year, Cal was seeking one more vote for ACC inclusion to save the team in the wake of Conference Realignment. Standing between Cal and salvation was the blockade led by Mack Brown and North Carolina.
We have secured the secret CCTV tapes of the final ACC vote. pic.twitter.com/g22wXYAizt
— The Liberal Calgorithm (@wokemobfootball) October 14, 2024
Two schools, thousands of miles apart, which have never met on a football field, brought together by a shared disdain for Mack Brown. (And conference realignment.) This whole time we’ve had this cosmic connection and were totally unaware of each other before this year, when we were introduced through the machinations of conference realignment’s bizarro era. I think that’s beautiful.
It almost makes me willing to forgive Cal basketball for that heartbreaking loss in the NCAAs way back. Almost.