California Football Coach Appeals to Student Fans After Card-Throwing Incidents Result in Penalties

"Cal fans, we love you. Stop throwing the cards on the field," Wilcox pleaded through the microphone.Photo byAnthony HallonUnsplash

During Saturday night's game, Cal coach Justin Wilcox made an unusual plea to the fans after a series of disruptive incidents involving cards thrown onto the field. The game saw multiple card-throwing incidents, which led to two 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against Cal.

The incident occurred after fans were given cards for stunts during breaks in the game. Some fans began tossing their cards onto the field during play, prompting Wilcox's frustration. With the Golden Bears leading 14-3 and 9:13 remaining in the third quarter, Wilcox took the rare step of borrowing the referee’s microphone to address the crowd directly.

"Cal fans, we love you. Stop throwing the cards on the field," Wilcox pleaded through the microphone. "That’s two 15-yard penalties. Please stop throwing the cards on the field."

Despite the interruptions, the Golden Bears went on to secure a 31-10 victory, marking their first 3-0 start since 2019.