When you’re in the depths of a losing streak like the one Cal is riding against USC, every year seems like it could be “the year.” Sonny Dykes is Charlie Brown, Clay Helton is Lucy, and this time we’re finally gonna kick that football straight to the moon. This time, things will be different. Right?
I don’t want to dwell too much on the historical implications of this game, partly because they’re too depressing to mention and partly because I don’t want to give SC fans the satisfaction. So let’s leave aside for a moment the Bears’ seemingly preternatural futility against the Trojans.