Cal lost to Oregon State in Corvallis this past weekend by a score of 38-10, the team’s sixth-straight loss. Cal’s 10-year field-naming rights deal with FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange company, will come to a sudden and premature end very soon as the company filed for bankruptcy last Friday. And on Sunday, head coach Justin Wilcox announced that offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and offensive line coach Angus McClure had been fired, effective immediately. Both were in their third year in their respective roles.
Am I missing anything? Probably.
But I think at this point it would be better to take a break from criticizing everything that is Cal football. Beating a dead horse is fun for a while, but one’s arms get tired after a while and then one remembers that one has homework to do.
So, instead, here’s simply a list of the most mind-bendingly atrocious stats and facts from this past Saturday’s loss, the year-long partnership with FTX, and the past three years under Musgrave and McClure.
Fans can draw their own conclusions about what all of this means. But it would be completely unfair to blame Cal’s failures on the players themselves. They have held up their end of the deal. The grown ups have not.
Junior varsity coaches show up in Corvallis
The Bears scored just three points on offense against the Beavers. Cal’s lone touchdown was a scoop and score by one of the best young defensive backs in the country, true freshman Jeremiah Earby.
Cal tallied just nine total rushing yards to Oregon State’s 196.
Cal’s defense allowed 38 points, but Oregon State’s offense had a 13 minute advantage in time of possession as Musgrave’s offense mustered just 10 first downs. Defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon also had to do without several key injured players: starting cornerbacks Lu-Magia Hearns III and Collin Gamble and starting linebacker Muelu Iosefa.
R.I.P. FTX Field
In August of last year, Cal Athletic Director Jim Knowlton wrote in the press release announcing the field-naming partnership with FTX, “We believe we have found a great partner in FTX.”
In January of this year, FTX was valued at $32 billion.
FTX.US’s Chief Operating Officer Sina Nader was a walk-on for the Cal football team and pushed for a sponsorship deal with his alma mater. In 1999, Nader showed up to practice to watch his roommate. His size impressed a team trainer, who asked him to come back and try out for the team. Nader was then a member of the scout team defensive line for two years.
Fate is a funny thing.
Three years, one trillion failed screen passes
Between 2020 and 2022, Cal has ranked a high of 96th and a low of 111th in scoring offense. There are currently 131 teams in the FBS.
Bill Musgrave ends his tenure at Cal without a single victory outside of the Bay Area. His only road victory as the Bears’ offensive play caller came during last year’s 41-11 Big Game victory.
On October 15 of this year, Cal scored just 13 points through four quarters in a 20-13 overtime loss against winless Colorado. The Buffaloes have allowed an average of 29 points per game this season, including 41 against Air Force, 49 against Minnesota, and 43 against Arizona.
Former offensive line coach Angus McClure replaced the legendary Steve Greatwood in 2020. This year, the Cal offense has the 120th ranked rushing offense in the country and is sixth to last in total number of run plays despite having one of the most talented young running backs in the country in true freshman Jaydn Ott.
Cal’s offensive line has allowed 30 sacks for 245 yards this year, tied for 109th worst in the country.
“FTX Field at Memorial Stadium” is no longer.
