Years ago Wax bought one of Finlayson's original Tom of Finland tote bags. She carried it a long time (12 years maybe?), until finally the handles wore so threadbare they were falling to pieces and there was a big and several small stains, so I confiscated it for treatment.
Washing it several times and soaking it in oxygen bleach only faded the main tea stain. But this week I finally got around to unpicking the stitches that attached the handles and sewing in new longer ones of cotton webbing (by hand because the sewing machine isn't working). I embroidered over a couple of small rust spots where there had been button pins and then sewed a zipper into the pocket. In the process, I accidentally put it down on top of a wet teabag, so it had to soak in cold water and be spot-treated with oxygen bleach, which removed the new spots. I then soaked it in some diluted lemon juice and the older tea stain faded to a faint yellowish.
See, I was going to embroider over it too, but it's much bigger than the other spots, about four inches long and two or three high. And the bag shrank a bunch when initially laundered. It's sturdy cotton canvas and it didn't occur to me to worry, but umm, it only shrank vertically, not horizontally, and so all the semi-obscene gay guys in the print became... stumpy. And Wax thinks that they will stretch out again over time when the bag is weighed down with cargo; a big embroidered patch would interfere with that.
Bay Area news from San Jose, Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Alameda Count (sjmerc_local_feed) wrote2025-09-1407:20 pm
The Cardinal needed, as Wright put it, “to change the narrative.”
So they did.
Behind Micah Ford’s career-high 157 yards rushing and an impressive performance from its defense, particularly in the second half, Stanford began ACC play with a 30-20 win over Boston College, giving interim coach Frank Reich his first victory in the collegiate ranks.
Wright’s pick six in the second quarter was one of a handful of big plays Stanford enjoyed against the Eagles following a 23-20 loss at Hawaii last month and a 27-3 loss to BYU in Provo last week.
“For us, we just came back every day, worked hard, didn’t listen to all the B.S., and then just came out here and played to our standards,” Wright said. “So, definitely excited and definitely looking forward to the rest of the season.”
“What I loved about it the most is it was a complete team win,” Reich said. “I’ve been around some good team wins. This is up there with the best team wins I’ve been around.”
Here are our takeaways from Stanford’s win on Saturday:
A STATEMENT SERIES: Stanford’s defense came up with the game’s biggest play late in the third quarter. On 4th and goal on the Cardinal 1-yard line, Eagles running back Turbo Richard tried to leap the pile at the line of scrimmage, but had the ball knocked loose by defensive lineman Clay Patterson, with safety Jay Green recovering in the end zone.
On the ensuing play, Ford darted up the middle for a 75-yard run to the Boston College 5, then scored on the next play to give Stanford a 27-20 lead after the extra point.
Stanford's quarterback Ben Gulbranson (15) runs with the ball against Boston College’s Daveon Crouch (1) and Boston College’s Chris Marable Jr. (52) in the first quarter at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
If Richard had scored, there’s no guarantee the Cardinal would be able to tie the game in the fourth quarter, and they may have been looking at a 0-3 record going into next week’s game against unbeaten Virginia.
“It was awesome,” Wright said. “It was a big emphasis this week, winning the third quarter. There are a lot of areas of improvement from our first two games. Those types of things just change the momentum in the game. Obviously, a big stop. Those points probably would’ve changed the trajectory of the game.”
For the game, the Cardinal scored 21 points off Boston College turnovers to help earn their first win of the season and open the season at home on a positive note.
“Since spring ball, since camp, we want three turnovers a practice and three turnovers a game,” Wright said. “So we accomplished that as a defense.”
REDISCOVERING AN IDENTITY: It wouldn’t look right for the Cardinal to have an ‘air raid’ type offense, and quite frankly, they might not be able to find the personnel to be able to run such a scheme effectively.
Stanford’s Collin Wright (6) scores a touchdown against Boston College in the second quarter at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
No, in the program’s heyday of 10-15 years ago, Stanford’s success on offense came from running the ball behind a bruising offensive line, utilizing their tight ends, and grinding teams down.
That’s what happened in the second half against the Eagles. While it was tough for Stanford to run the ball in the first half, with just 56 yards on 15 carries, holes started opening up in the second half, and the Cardinal finished with 213 yards on 37 carries.
“I just felt the will in the Boston College defense, that they didn’t really want any part of it anymore,” Ford said. “Just to go out there and execute, take advantage of that.”
Ford’s 157 yards was the most in a game by a Cardinal running back since Bryce Love had 166 yards on Nov. 10, 2017, against Washington.
Ford said on his 75-yard run, “The line did a great job getting up to the second level, and I just finished the play.”
Quarterback Ben Gulbranson completed his first touchdown pass of the season late in the first half. On 3rd and 3 at the Cardinal 31, Gulbranson found tight end Sam Roush along the sideline at the 50-yard line, where Roush eluded a tackle and outraced cornerback Isaiah Farris to the end zone as Stanford cut Boston College’s lead to 17-13.
Bryce Farrell had five catches for 72 yards, and tight end Roush’s 79 yards receiving on three catches was a career high.
“We were running the ball well, and we called one of our movements off it,” Gulbranson said of Roush’s touchdown. “Sam did a great job getting open and then finishing the run. He’s a special player, and he can make a lot of guys miss after the catch.”
Asked if he had anything to prove after an uneven start to the season, Gulbranson said, “I was just going to keep believing in my process. I felt like offensively we kind of found (some rhythm) late against BYU, and it felt good to carry it out here.”
Stanford’s head coach Frank Reich watches the team warm up before a game against Boston College at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
INTIMATE GATHERING: The announced attendance for Saturday’s game was 22,162, the smallest crowd for a non-COVID-affected Stanford home opener in over 25 years. The actual number of fans in the stands looked far less, with most of the upper deck at Stanford Stadium empty.
Last season, paid attendance for Stanford home conference games against SMU and Louisville dipped below 20,000, an indication that there’s work to be done to generate more local enthusiasm for the program.
Still, Saturday’s crowd showed it could be loud, and maybe the win will get more fans on board for Stanford’s next home game on Sept. 27 against San Jose State.
“I’m just happy the guys got it done, especially in the home opener,” Ford said. “Fans showed out. Crew showed out. Everybody showed out. Just to get it done feels amazing.”
MINNEAPOLIS — The Valkyries opened their first-ever playoff game against the Minnesota Lynx with a promising start.
The expansion team was hitting shots, getting stops and looked comfortable in front of a rowdy Minnesota crowd for Game 1 of the teams’ first-round playoff series.
But the Valkyries’ momentum evaporated quickly as the Lynx’s star power, again, proved to be too much.
Golden State dropped Game 1 on the road 101-72 as it couldn’t stop Minnesota’s high-octane offense after holding an early lead in the first quarter. It was the Valkyries’ worst loss since falling to the Connecticut Sun by 31 points on July 27.
Cecilia Zandalasini and Veronica Burton each had 14 points to lead the Valkyries. Temi Fágbénlé had 12 points — all coming in the first half.
“If we want to beat that team, then we have to be consistent,” Zandalasini said. “It’s 40 minutes game, and I think we just played a solid half, but we need the second half as well.”
MVP candidate Napheesa Collier had 20 points and six rebounds for the Lynx. Kayla McBride added 17 points. Natisha Hiedeman came off the bench and had 18 points.
Minnesota shot 51.5% from the field and hit 21-of-24 free throws. Golden State was held to 33.9% shooting and turned the ball over 16 times, which led to 16 Lynx points.
The Valkyries have now lost all five games they’ve played against the Lynx.
Though the Valkyries shot three more free throws than Minnesota, coach Natalie Nakase said she believed her team lost control of the game when officials called fouls that killed momentum.
“I thought we were playing beautiful basketball. And then all of a sudden the fouls get called consecutively,” Nakase said. “It wasn’t that the fouls are balanced it was that the fouls are being called when we’re on a run, and it shifts the momentum.”
Unlike Thursday’s regular-season finale, the Valkyries started off hot in the first quarter. Golden State finished the period shooting 50% from the field and hit five of its eight 3-point attempts. The Valkyries held Minnesota to 40% shooting and forced three turnovers to take a seven-point lead after the first 10 minutes.
But after a solid start, the Valkyries cooled off in the second quarter and Minnesota took advantage.
The Lynx opened the period with a 12-3 run and extended their lead to as big as 10. The home team hit 12 of its 14 free throw attempts in the first half and outscored the Valkyries 22-14 in the paint.
Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin, left, falls over Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) as they scramble for a lose ball during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 09: Dominique Malonga #14 of the Seattle Storm blocks a shot by Temi Fagbenle #14 of the Golden State Valkyries during the third quarter at Climate Pledge Arena on September 09, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 14: Cecilia Zandalasini #24 of the Golden State Valkyries shoots against Courtney Williams #10 of the Minnesota Lynx during the first quarter in game one of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 14: Kaila Charles #6 of the Golden State Valkyries works around Natisha Hiedeman #2 of the Minnesota Lynx during the second quarter in game one of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 11: Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries shoots while Courtney Williams #10 of the Minnesota Lynx jumps to block during the first quarter at Target Center on September 11, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, right, drives past Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle (14) during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle, center, goes up for a shot past Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) and forward Bridget Carleton (6) during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Golden State Valkyries guard Kaila Charles, left, drives past Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) goes up for a shot past Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
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Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin, left, falls over Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) as they scramble for a lose ball during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Golden State went with a short rotation early, playing just Kate Martin and Iliana Rupert off the bench in the first two quarters.
Temi Fágbénlé led the Valkyries with 12 points and three rebounds in the first half, but Golden State trailed by seven going into halftime.
Minnesota ended the Valkyries’ hopes of stealing Game 1 early in the third quarter.
The Lynx came out of halftime firing on all cylinders, going on an 8-2 run to balloon their advantage. Minnesota outscored the Valkyries 23-13 in the third quarter behind timely shot making and stingy defense to make its lead insurmountable for the visiting team.
The Valkyries were outscored 58-30 in the second and third quarters and trailed by as much as 36.
“I think (Minnesota’s) physicality increased for sure,” Burton said of losing the second and third quarters. “We weren’t hitting as many shots. I think the thing about a team like Minnesota is that they’re going to be very steady throughout the entire game, and there’s no let up, and there’s really no drop off.”
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve cleared her benches at the 4:18 mark of the fourth quarter.
Golden State will return to the Bay Area for Game 2 at SAP Center in San Jose on Wednesday (7 p.m., ESPN).
The swell two days before Christmas that gave Santa Cruz surfer Alo Slebir the ride of his life on a towering wave at Mavericks off the coast of Half Moon Bay was officially the biggest wave ridden over the most recent season of surfing, the sport’s authorities announced late Saturday.
But it didn’t set a new world record for the largest wave ever ridden. And the elusive quest to ride a 100-foot wave is still on.
It not only fell short of the yet-to-be-reached 100-foot “Holy Grail” of surfing, it also was 10 feet shy of the existing world record set in 2020 by a German surfer at Nazare, Portugal at 86 feet.
The news came during the Big Wave Challenge awards ceremony Saturday night in Newport Beach that drew surfers from around the globe.
“What they came up with kind of shocked the crowd,” Bay Area surfing photographer Frank Quirarte, who was in the ocean taking photographs and video that day, said Sunday after attending the Saturday ceremony.
Even so, the 76-foot wave earned Slebir the “Men’s Biggest Wave Winner” of the 2024-2025 season. Quirarte’s photo of Slebir’s ride earned him the “Biggest Wave Photo” of the night.
Slebir’s ride during one of the biggest swells ever recorded in the Pacific Ocean drew national attention. The same storm two days before Christmas destroyed the Santa Cruz Wharf. But Slebir, 24, who works in construction during the off-season, had downplayed the anticipated feat from the start.
“If it happens, it happens, and if not,” Slebir said before the announcement, “I got to ride the tallest wave of my life and I’ll never forget it.”
Although the crest of a wave is usually simple to gauge, determining the trough is trickier, surf experts have said. It’s possible that initial estimates of the 108-foot height, which stacked images of Slebir crouching on his surfboard up the face of the wave, may have started at a lower point than what the World Surf League measured. Photos of six angles of Slebir’s ride were used to assess the height of the wave, said Bill Sharp of the Big Wave Challenge.
Despite Quirarte’s disappointment that Slebir’s wave fell short of the record, he said, people surf for the love of the sport, not the accolades.
“Last night will be long forgotten and the big wave season will start up again in about another month,” Quirarte said. “We’ll do it all over again.”
Title: The Dance of Life Fandom: Stargate Atlantis Pairing/Characters: Miko Kusinagi, Teyla Emmagen Word Count: 286 Content Notes: none Prompt:no_true_pair September 14 - Teyla Emmagen & Miko Kusinagi - new and improved
Also for sweetandshort September 2025 prompt - dance
Welcome to a new feature on the Hotline — an assessment of the eight teams in the rebuilt Pac-12 as if they were competing in the conference this season. We’ll even recognize one lucky team as the regular-season champion. The power rankings will be published each Sunday throughout the regular season. (Here are last week’s rankings.)
It’s rivalry week in the Pacific Northwest with the Apple Cup in Pullman and the Civil War in Eugene.
To commemorate the occasion, the Hotline hit the record books. Our goal: Identify the worst beatings in the history of each series.
Because it will get ugly on Saturday, folks — it’s only a matter of degrees.
Will Washington State and Oregon State lose by three or four touchdowns?
Or will they lose in epic fashion, in record-breaking fashion?
So that our readers can be fully prepared to assess the pending devastation, here are the existing marks:
The worst beating in Civil War history came in 2017, with Oregon’s 59-point victory (69-10) over the Beavers in Eugene. That was the lost season for OSU, when Gary Andersen quit in October and the Beavers staggered through the final weeks with an interim coach and zero direction.
Prior to that year, the largest Civil War margin was Oregon’s 44-0 victory in 1987.
The oddsmakers do not expect a rewriting of the record book. The Ducks opened as 27.5-point favorites this week, although we expect that line to climb into the 30s by kickoff. Oregon State just lost at Texas Tech by 31 points, after all.
The point spread for the Apple Cup is nowhere close. The Huskies are merely 12.5-point favorites, based on the opening lines.
That feels low given Washington’s extra week of preparation, the revenge factor — WSU won last year in Seattle — and the discombobulated state of the Cougars’ offense.
Any team that loses to North Texas by 49 points is fully capable of losing to Washington by 50. And 50 would, in fact, break the series record.
To date, the largest victory margin in Apple Cup history is 48 points, in the Huskies’ 51-3 victory in 2000.
(That was the end of a three-year downturn for the Cougars under Mike Price. They recovered the following season and then reached the Rose Bowl in 2002.)
To be clear, the Hotline doesn’t expect a record breaker Saturday evening in Pullman.
The Civil War is more likely to produce utter devastation considering the location, Oregon’s high-octane offense and Oregon State’s across-the-board flaws.
At least the Cougars are at home and possess the faint outline of a decent defense. Yes, North Texas scored 59 points, but the output was largely the result of five WSU turnovers.
That said, there’s a good chance both games turn lopsided in the first half or midway through the third quarter. The disparity between the Ducks and Beavers and the Huskies and Cougars — between the haves and have-nots in the unforgiving world of college football — has never seemed greater.
It wasn’t long ago that Oregon State rallied from 17 down in the fourth quarter to stun the 10th-ranked Ducks, or that Washington State planted a flag at midfield of Husky Stadium following a blowout victory.
Today, those results feel like relics from an ancient world.
To the power rankings …
All times Pacific
1. Fresno State (3-1)
Result: beat Southern 56-7 Up next: at Hawaii (8:59 p.m.) Comment: We can already envision Matt Entz being a rumored candidate for multiple second-tier power conference jobs once the coaching carousel starts to spin in late November. (Previous: 2)
2. Colorado State (1-1)
Result: did not play Up next: vs. UTSA (6:30 p.m. on FS1) Comment: The Rams don’t have a stout resume, but the competition for No. 2 is not exactly stiff based on the results to date and the number of teams that were idle in Week 3. (Previous: 3)
3. Texas State (2-1)
Result: lost at Arizona State 34-15 Up next: vs. Nicholls State (5 p.m. on ESPN+) Comment: The second-quarter fumble was a killer. Once ASU converted, that was it. But generally, the Bobcats comported themselves well against their Big 12 opponent — in contrast to, for example, Oregon State. (Previous: 1)
4. Utah State (2-1)
Result: beat Air Force 49-30 Up next: vs. McNeese State (5 p.m. on Mountain West Network) Comment: The overall resume looks brighter today than it did prior to the weekend after Texas A&M won at Notre Dame and UTEP gave Texas a fight for three quarters. We won’t know what to make of the win over Air Force for several weeks. (Previous: 4)
5. Boise State (1-1)
Result: did not play Up next: at Air Force (4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network) Comment: The Broncos need South Florida to lose several more, but it’s clear the American has several contenders for the Group of Five’s slot in the College Football Playoff. Also apparent: Boise State has a tough road to the top of the Mountain West. (Previous: 5)
6. Washington State (2-1)
Result: lost at North Texas 59-10 Up next: vs. Washington (4:30 p.m. on CBS) Comment: No way to justify putting the Cougars lower than sixth, but we tried. Of course we tried — that was an atrocious performance that should sound the alarm over the state of the quarterback play specifically and the offense generally. (Previous: 6)
7. San Diego State (1-1)
Result: did not play Up next: vs. Cal (7:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network) Comment: Huge opportunity for Sean Lewis to snag a signature win and corral some momentum for his program. But unless the offense was transformed during the bye week, it’s difficult to imagine an upset. (Previous: 7)
8. Oregon State (0-3)
Result: lost at Texas Tech 45-14 Up next: at Oregon (12 p.m. on Big Ten Network) Comment: An easy pick for the last spot, but we don’t expect the Beavers to remain here each week through November. They will have stiff competition at some point. (Previous: 8)
Follow along with our live updates from the game at the bottom of this story.
NEW ORLEANS – Left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Jauan Jennings are suiting up, which should help Mac Jones’ starting debut for the 49ers.
Jennings (shoulder) and Williams (knee) were injured in last Sunday’s 17-13 win at Seattle, where Brock Purdy (toe, left shoulder) and George Kittle (hamstring) also got hurt.
Ruled out along with Purdy were linebacker Nick Martin, running back Jordan James, wide receiver Jordan Watkins, guard Drew Moss, defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson and offensive tackle Austin Pleasants, the latter of which signals the 49ers fully expect Williams to make it through the game.
Williams tested his knee with only a handful of pass-blocking reps 2 ½ hours before the game, then spent several minutes consulting with offensive line coach Chris Foerster and the 49ers’ medical staff.
Trent Williams is testing out his knee under a lot of watchful eyes
Williams missed last season’s final seven games with an ankle injury. Since entering the NFL in 2010, Williams has played only two seasons without missing a game, in 2012 and ’13. He’s missed 16 games since joining the 49ers in 2021.
Neither Jennings nor Williams practiced Wednesday and Thursday.
Jennings left one snap into the fourth quarter, and examinations this past week reportedly revealed no significant damage to his left shoulder.
Running back Jordan James (finger) and wide receiver Jordan Watkins (ankle) were cleared to make their NFL debuts but will have to wait another week.
Backing up Christian McCaffrey are Brian Robinson Jr. and Isaac Guerendo.
Jones’ wide receivers will be Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore.
PURDY PRESENT
Purdy’s toe injury is forcing him to miss only his fourth start (third to injury) since becoming the 49ers’ quarterback in 2022. He was not wearing an orthopedic boot but rather sneakers as he arrived Sunday with the team.
The 49ers have stated that Purdy’s toe injury could keep him sidelined beyond this game, though it did not prompt them to put him on injured reserve for a minimum four-game hiatus.
TIGHT END PLAN
With Kittle on IR, he is out at least through the 49ers’ upcoming home games against Arizona and Jacksonville as well as an Oct. 2 trip to NFC West rival Los Angeles.
Brayden Willis was elevated from the practice squad to serve as the No. 3 tight end behind Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges, the latter of whom scored the game-winning touchdown last Sunday.
SAINTS’ INACTIVES
Out for the Saints are starting left guard Trevor Penning, defensive end Chase Young, wide receiver Trey Palmer, defensive back Rejzohn Wright, offensive lineman Xavier Truss, and defensive linemen Jonathan Bullard and Khristian Boyd.
BERKELEY — After losing four straight games last season by a combined nine points, Cal coach Justin Wilcox said the Golden Bears would either have to figure out how to win close games or stop engaging in them altogether.
So far this season, Cal has avoided the nail-biters.
With their 27-14 victory over Minnesota on Saturday night in front of 38,556 fans at Memorial Stadium, the Bears have won three games in a row by double-digit margins for the first time since the start of the 2009 season.
Curiously, that three-game run 16 years ago also ended with a victory over Minnesota.
In this one, Cal trailed the Golden Gophers 14-10 late in the third quarter before scoring the final 17 points of the night. The Bears are now 3-0 for the first time in six years.
“It means a lot (against) a really good football team,” Wilcox said afterward. “That will build confidence and validate the work our team puts in.”
Wide receiver Jacob De Jesus, who caught one of Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s three touchdown passes, is convinced the Bears — with 55 newcomers to the program — are just scratching the surface of what’s possible.
“We can get so much better,” he said. “These are the first three games we’ve played with each other and now we’re kind of recognizing what people can do. I just feel like the sky’s the limit for this offense.”
Here are a few takeaways:
California Golden Bears linebacker TJ Bush Jr. (3) tackles Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey (5) in the first quarter of their game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Defense continues to shine
After three games, the Bears are allowing just 10.8 points per game, the best mark in the ACC. Cornerback Hezekiah Masses, a transfer from FIU, intercepted a pass for the third straight outing to go with eight tackles and two pass breakups.
The Bears got it done despite the fact that star linebacker Cade Uuave had to sit out the first half because of a targeting penalty the week before.
“I was just on the sidelines going a little stir crazy,” said Uluave, who had nine tackles in the second half. “The guys played great and it was super awesome to see. It fired me up.”
Special teams truly special
Michael Kern averaged 47.0 yards on five punts, and the Bears downed a pair of them on the 2-yard line. His last one was muffed by return man Koi Perich, and Cal freshman Aiden Manutai recovered it at the Gophers’ 8-yard line to set up a touchdown that made it 24-14.
Abram Murray and Chase Meyer, sharing the field goal duties, each made one and the duo is 6 for 6 on the season, with four of those from 40 yards or beyond. Cal missed 12 field goals last season.
California Golden Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (3) runs for yardage while avoiding being tackled by Minnesota Golden Gophers linebacker Devon Williams (9) in the fourth quarter of their game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. California Golden Bears defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 27-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Sagapolutele keeps getting better
The freshman from Hawaii was 24 for 38 for a season-best 279 yards with the three touchdowns and no turnovers. He connected with nine different receivers. Through three games, Sagapolutele has six touchdowns and just one interception.
The coaching staff hardly considers him a freshman anymore.
“We don’t really sit there on the sidelines and say, ‘I don’t know if Jaron can handle that.’ That doesn’t even come out of our mouths because he’s prepared,” Wilcox said. “He obviously can handle and he’s doing a heck of a job.”
Run game still needs work
Cal rushed for 150 yards a week against FCS-level Texas Southern. But in two games against FBS opponents, the squad’s three running backs are averaging just 89 yards.
Against Minnesota, Cal gave the ball to one of its backs only three times in the first half while calling 30 pass plays. Until their final drive of the third quarter, the Bears had minus-13 net rushing yards. They finished with 61.
Next up: A trip to San Diego
The Bears play Saturday at San Diego State (1-1), seeking their first 4-0 start since 2019, when they posted an 8-5 record. The Aztecs had a bye this weekend.
California Golden Bears co-defensive coordinator/outside linebacker coach Vic So’oto celebrates with the team after a fumble ball recovery in the fourth quarter of their game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. California Golden Bears defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 27-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) California Golden Bears offensive lineman Frederick Williams III (54) celebrates with teammate Jordan King (4) after he scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter of their game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. California Golden Bears defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 27-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) California Golden Bears wide receiver Trond Grizzell (7) runs for yardage after making a reception in the first quarter of their game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) The California Golden Bears marching band performs on the field before the start of their game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 34 secrets from Secret Submission Post #975. Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ]. Current Secret Submissions Post:here. Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
This week's bread: the Country Oatmeal aka Monastery Loaf from Eric Treuille and Ursula Ferrigno's Bread (2:1:1 wholemeal/strong white/pinhead oatmeal), turned out nicely if perhaps a little coarser than the recipe anticipates (medium oatmeal has been for some reason a bit hard to come by).
Friday night supper: ven pongal (South Indian khichchari), v nice.
Saturday breakfast rolls: eclectic vanilla, texture seemed a bit off, possibly the dough could have been a bit slacker?
Today's lunch: the roasted Mediterranean vegetable thing - whole garlic cloves, red onion, fennel, red bell pepper, baby peppers, baby courgettes and aubergine (v good), served with couscous + raisins.
Irish Cream (5106 words) by Alethia Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Pitt (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Jack Abbot/Michael "Robby" Robinavitch Characters: Jack Abbot (The Pitt), Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, Parker Ellis Additional Tags: Post-Season/Series 01, Established Relationship, Developing Relationship, Celebrations, Hugs, Porn, parker ellis has little shit tendencies, and we love her for it, who doesn't want a piece of jack abbot, couldn't be robby Summary:
"Everyone, can I have your attention, please," she said, using her soccer captain voice. The floor instantly quieted as everyone paused to look at her, curiosity replacing the usual distracted bustle. Parker looked back to Jack, smirking now. "We have a celebrity in our midst."
"Man, what are you on about?" Jack asked, getting a little annoyed now.
Parker flashed a grin. "Dr. Abbot has just officially become the most-cited emergency physician in the entire country," she announced with a little relish.
Title: Lies Fandom: Babylon 5 Author:badly_knitted Characters: John Sheridan. Rating: PG Written For: Challenge 448: In The Dark at drabble_zone. Spoilers/Setting: The Illusion of Truth. Summary: Everything ISN had screened was a lie to discredit Babylon 5. Disclaimer: I don’t own Babylon 5, or the characters. They belong to J. Michael Straczynski. A/N: Double drabble.
Title: Time Passes By Fandom: FAKE Author:badly_knitted Characters: Ryo, Dee. Rating: PG Written For: Challenge 467: Time at drabble_zone. Setting: Years after Like Like Love. Summary: Where did the time go? So much had changed since Ryo had become a detective. Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh. A/N: Double drabble.
Interminable September has not defeated me yet! My goal for the week is to get through the Dream of Gerontius without attempting to faint. Other than work, chores, and choir I have been doing nothing but read read read and have already finished more books this month than I managed in any other month this year, but do now seem to be slowing down slightly.
My boss has set up a new joint task tracker for our 121s and we went through and added numerous things from my to-do list to it on Friday, but she wants to put predicted end dates on them and I just... can't. "OK, can you finish this one in September?" no I can't do anything else in September I'm going to be in a tent. "Shall we say October for this?" no because there's already two things you wanted in September and also in October I'm going to be spending a fortnight testing something single-handed because everyone else is busy. "OK then this one in November?" right but didn't you also want me to guarantee the bespoke work testing before Christmas because this schedule doesn't give me any room for that in September or October and there's graduations to fit in somewhere, so...
She's not actually unreasonable, but also I don't think I've ever quite been able to explain how much of my workday is taken up by "ordinary" things that never get as far as her list of bigger tasks but, crucially, do still need to be done. And most of the bigger jobs require significant blocks of focussed time and I don't have very much capacity for that in any one day, although I can work on boring maintenance tasks OK... anyway, I was feeling extremely stressed on Friday, and it's trying to creep back now except I don't have time because tomorrow I have a half-day away day and then my singing lesson and then a choir rehearsal and then I have to get home and unpack and repack my bag before bed because I have another on-campus day on Tuesday so I can attend a half-day meeting she can't make, and then another choir rehearsal in the evening and sure theoretically I can't explain why I can't find three hours in there to work on live chat, but also...
Time to go and read another book and do my best not to think about it, I think!!1!
Title: Bad Fashion Author: badly_knitted Characters: Jack, Ianto. Rating: PG Written For: Challenge 882: Taste at torchwood100. Spoilers: Nada. Summary: Jack’s fashion sense may be dated, but there are worse styles than period military. Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters. A/N: Double drabble.
A heartfelt thank you to all our post-deadline pinch hitters who worked on gifts! All required works are now in, and we are on track for reveals at 11:59PM UTC, today, Sept 14th.
I wanted to spend the afternoon lying in bed, reading, as the raindrops splashed against the window, but the weather didn't play ball, and I'd already finished my book before the rain arrived. Nevertheless, it's been a cosy couple of days, aided by a day off on Friday in which I did very little besides go swimming, chat on FaceTime with my sister and then my mum in quick succession, and sit out in the courtyard garden of our favourite cafe/bar with Matthias for a pre-dinner drink.
Yesterday, I was in Cambridge during the morning to get my hair cut, and also took the opportunity to refill all my spice jars at the health food shop that does refills. We do have a zero waste shop in Ely, but it only does refills of oils and vinegars, legumes, grains, nuts and dried fruit, and toiletries and cleaning products.
Matthias and I watched The Ballad of Wallis Island as our Saturday film last night. We'd meant to see this at the community cinema a few weeks ago, but ended up being sick with a cold, and we had to abandon those plans; thankfully it was available to rent on streaming fairly swiftly. It's a film that starts off being hilariously awkward, and awkwardly hilarious — an eccentric fan hires the two halves of his favourite (disbanded) folk duo for a private concert on a remote island, and all the artistic, professional, and romantic tensions that caused the pair to break up a decade ago come bubbling to the surface — and ends up sweet and emotionally affecting, without ever feeling saccharine.
This morning Matthias and I woke unprompted at about 6am, which I actually don't mind on the weekends — there's something nice about being awake at a time most people are asleep, watching the sunlight spread across the garden, lingering over breakfast and coffee, wandering around the cathedral and along the river, looking at smoke curling out of the houseboat chimneys, as the town slowly wakes up. We were back home by midmorning, and I baked an apple cake — an experiment that turned out successfully. I'm not a very good baker, and I'm worried that if I put more effort into it, I'll start treating it as I do cooking. I had to restrain myself from buying a stand mixer there and then (which would definitely do the job better than the whisk attachment on my handheld blender — which sent butter and sugar flying around the room — but which would also only enable me in this insanity).
I was a bit burnt out by reading, and therefore only finished a single book this week — Those Beyond the Wall (Micaiah Jonhson) — which I read essentially in an entire sitting this afternoon. It's a follow up to Johnson's incredible dystopian multiverse extractive capitalism critique, The Space Between Worlds, involving many of the same characters, but focusing not on the privileged elitist tech company town, but rather on the Mad Max-esque community eking out an existence on its periphery, sustained both by an incredibly codified violent honour culture, and an incredibly intense sense of community cohesion (residents may be terrified by the violence of their existence, but they would prefer that at least their own people are the ones inflicting it). As with The Space Between Worlds, it's both a plausible future endpoint of, and an incredibly unsubtle metaphor for, the history and contemporary politics of the United States (in this case colonisation and the genocidal displacement of the land's original inhabitants), but written with such exquisite worldbuilding and interpersonal dynamics between the characters that I can definitely forgive a lack of subtlety. I find the ending a bit too tidy and convenient, but hey, if Johnson wants to indulge the fantasy that it's possible to reveal a society's injustices to its citizens in a way that will inspire them to react en masse, who am I to stop her?
ETA: Updating with a second book — Sunbringer (Hannah Kaner), the second in her epic fantasy Fallen Gods trilogy. As with many second books in epic fantasy trilogies, this one sees our ragtag band of misfit heroes artificially separated for most of the book, so we miss out on the fun character dynamics that come from throwing together a bunch of mismatching individuals and seeing sparks fly, but it's still a lot of fun. My favourite part of this series is the way it conceptualises gods and deities, and how people understand and practice religion in a world where the divine is tangible and present (and terrifying). The double crossing, shocking reveals, and twisty political machinations come thick and fast, setting things up for what should hopefully be a satisfying concluding third book in the series.
The rain has started in earnest, and the sky is a mass of white. The house smells of cooked apples and brown sugar, and things couldn't be more cosy if they tried.
Hovertext: I don't know if you can build ethics out of expected value, but I know that if I'm on a deserted island with someone who DOES think that, I'm running in the opposite direction.
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cimorene) wrote2025-09-14 10:53 pm
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