In today’s charged political atmosphere, the term “woke” has become controversial, representing awareness of social issues while also being used to disparage certain beliefs.

This word might hold a stigma, yet there’s a spot in California’s East Bay where it’s not just accepted but celebrated, propelling them into the national limelight.

Meet the California Golden Bears football team and their initiative, “The Woke Agenda,” through the Calgorithm.

For those not plugged into social media, it may come as a surprise to discover that this prestigious university has a lively fan base. In fact, Cal fans have emerged as the most inventive online community in college football this season.

Fans on social media have playfully embraced the stereotype that supporters of UC Berkeley are progressive, intellectual individuals advocating for diversity, equity, inclusion, and even touchy subjects like communism and critical race theory. Combine this with Cal’s entry into the ACC, where they encounter schools with different political views, and you’ve struck gold.

Although their memes are lighthearted, the Calgorithm has thrived because the Golden Bears are experiencing an exceptional season. As a newcomer in the ACC, they have surprised everyone by starting their season with a 3-1 record, including a notable victory against Auburn. Consequently, Cal football is now on the national stage with ESPN’s “College GameDay” coming to Berkeley for the first time ever, featuring their match against No. 8 Miami for their first ACC home game.

Just weeks ago, the excitement surrounding Cal was unimaginable. Yet, driven by a group of meme enthusiasts, Cal football is ready to shine.

“In the midst of all the changes in college football over the past few years, it’s a fantastic opportunity for a place like ours that has so much potential waiting to be explored,” remarked head coach Justin Wilcox.

The Calgorithm Explained

If you are among the many who have just discovered the Calgorithm this year, it may seem like a novel concept. However, there has been a dedicated, albeit small, group of passionate Golden Bears supporters for years.

Thanks to both on-field success and online engagement, this loyal fan base has rapidly expanded. Now it includes longstanding supporters like Admiral Bear, students such as Miles Goodman, and newer fans like Callie, who just joined in the fun weeks ago. Admiral Bear and Callie chose to remain anonymous for professional reasons.

Before the season began, many Cal supporters were “cautiously optimistic,” according to Admiral Bear. Winning against UC Davis was anticipated, but very few predicted a victory in Auburn’s SEC territory at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Following that game, the Calgorithm gained widespread attention. Goodman was pivotal, posting an image declaring, “you just lost to the woke agenda.” This image featured President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Cal’s mascot Oski, a rainbow, and the 2020 electoral map.

“We aimed to play into the stereotypes often associated with Cal. By addressing that label with humor, we’re establishing our own narrative while also poking fun at how others perceive our community,” Goodman shared regarding the meme.

Since then, college football feeds have been flooded with memes that seem to capture the stereotypical image of Californians as viewed by those who dislike the state. Before the Florida State matchup, Goodman shared a meme renaming the Seminoles’ stadium as “Woke” Campbell Stadium, featuring Harris’s presidential signs. Admiral Bear uploaded an image of a bear sporting a t-shirt that reads “open borders,” while Callie quipped about which bathrooms had litter boxes as her “daughter identifies as an ocelot,” riffing on a conspiracy theory from 2022.

Even after the Golden Bears faced a loss against Florida State, the Calgorithm revived the narrative, suggesting that their team was simply distributing wins to needy competitors as a form of communism.

The absurdity of the Calgorithm is deliberate and well-structured. Whether crafted through layered Photoshop techniques or artificial intelligence, the creators engage in group discussions about what memes to produce based on Cal’s opponents.

But there’s one rule that the Calgorithm abides by: they never mock the other team’s fans. Most of their content is playful jabs at themselves, not at others.

“It’s not about belittling someone else,” Callie explained. “It’s about poking fun at an idea that has been absorbed as some form of truth within a community, particularly the more outrageous right-wing portrayals of leftists.”

The Calgorithm has become so prominent that even the team has taken notice. Wilcox mentioned he’s aware of the memes but has enough on his plate regarding his job. On the other hand, sophomore linebacker Cade Uluave is deeply immersed in it.

To illustrate the commitment of Calgorithm to its mission, Callie, alongside Admiral Bear and others, shared a song titled “Ott to go” on Saturday. This tune is a tribute to star running back Jaydn Ott and parodies the popular song “Hot To Go!” by Chappell Roan. Remarkably, Callie created a “music video” for it, and team members even hired a singer, Micky Hage, to perform it in Roan’s style rather than using A.I.

Uluave caught the video and mentioned on Tuesday that he couldn’t stop humming the tune during practice. He even approached Ott to serenade him with the song.

“The Cal burners, or whatever you want to call them, are really doing awesome work,” commented Uluave. “Whoever created that, I’d rate it a perfect 10.”

The excitement generated by the Calgorithm has spread throughout Berkeley.

Shining a Light on Cal

Just over a year back, Cal athletics seemed to be in distress. Already burdened by major debt, the university found itself excluded when other former Pac-12 teams shifted to the Big Ten and Big 12.

Cal and its competitor Stanford sought inclusion in the ACC, but an initial poll showed insufficient support for adding new members. However, a month later, enough votes were secured to bring Cal, Stanford, and SMU into the fold, providing a lifeline for the Bears.

The challenges of the past year made those involved with the Calgorithm realize they needed to enhance their efforts, not just for the team, but for the athletic department as a whole, to prevent such a crisis from happening again.

“We can’t let a disaster happen again. We were really at the brink, and the ACC provided us with a lifeline,” said Admiral Bear. “This existential threat to our beloved football program has motivated us to intensify our efforts to elevate its visibility.”

This renewed energy has also allowed Cal to redefine its image as it connects with new conference partners. ACC schools might have assumed they were welcoming yet another prestigious university with low sports engagement, but the Calgorithm has changed that perspective.

“We’re gradually dispelling the stereotype that ‘Cal has no fans.’ While Cal is famous for its academics, the claim that there is little investment in athletics is simply untrue,” Goodman remarked.

“It’s crucial that everyone in the ACC on the East Coast is aware that we exist, and we deserve to be taken seriously,” added Callie.

The combined impact of the Calgorithm and the team’s strong start this season has been fruitful, evident by “College GameDay” visiting Berkeley for the first time. Cal is among seven Power Four schools yet to host the show since its launch in 1993.

Those involved with the Calgorithm are not claiming full credit for bringing this popular ESPN show to their campus, but they acknowledge their influence. Yes, the fact that they’re set to play a top 10-ranked team like Miami contributes to the excitement, but College GameDay and national attention require a fan presence, too. Goodman noted that Cal “memed our way” into securing the show, while Admiral Bear mentioned that the Calgorithm likely reassured ESPN that there would be a substantial turnout if it came to campus.

It seems the crowd for the show will be substantial, starting at 6 a.m. local time, and Cal has sold many tickets for the game. Goodman has observed and felt the growing excitement. As a graduate student, he shared that his peers and other students are buzzing about the football team. Many plan to rise early for the show and ensure their presence at California Memorial Stadium for kickoff.

A packed stadium would be a refreshing change for a fan base that often only sees large crowds during “The Big Game” against Stanford. Like its counterpart UCLA and nearly every team in California, attendance dwindles without consistent success.

“In California, if you’re just an average team, or worse — no one in SEC country knows who you are or cares,” Admiral Bear explained. “We need to be competitive and give fans a reason to come.”

Understanding the significance of the event in an academically-focused environment, Wilcox has even urged students to “get their studies done at another time to ensure they’re present bright and early” for “College GameDay.” The Bay Area’s BART public transportation is even collaborating with the Calgorithm by providing early rides to facilitate fan attendance on campus.

“There’s a lot of excitement, and acknowledgment that this is a significant moment. This is arguably the biggest game the team has had in the last 20-25 years,” Goodman noted. “I think many students recognize this and are truly thrilled to participate in something of this magnitude.”

It’s definitely a pivotal time in Berkeley. The Calgorithm has demonstrated how deeply they are willing to support their team. Goodman expressed his contentment in being among like-minded individuals who share his values and humor, all united in their goal of bringing this program into national focus.

“It’s a very close-knit community; we’re bonded not only by tough losses but also by hope and excitement for the future of our program,” he reflected.

The most remarkable aspect? This enthusiasm is here to stay.

“No matter what happens this Saturday or in the weeks ahead, the Calgorithm will endure,” concluded Callie.