UCLA football can finally deliver some payback for Calimony

What’s a rivalry renewed without a little trash talk?Indulging a reporter asking about the dreaded word “Calimony,” new UCLA football coach Bob Chesney suggested he found it distasteful.“I don’t know if I would have agreed to that,” Chesney said of the $10 million annual payments from UCLA to California after leaving its sister school behind on its way to the Big Ten Conference, “but that’s how it went down, so it is what it is.”The Bruins can deliver some special payback Saturday night at Memorial Stadium in the first meeting between the former Pac-12 rivals since 2023.It will be a battle of new coaches leading their teams into new eras in what will be a familiar environment for longtime fans of each team.A 7:30 p.m.kickoff also means the revival of another tradition – “Pac-12 After Dark,” where seemingly anything goes and one should expect the unexpected.“It’s nothing like it, the Pac-12 After Dark games,” UCLA cornerback Rodrick Pleasant said.

“This is one that you don’t get to do very often … especially our first game, a new era, a new regime, so I’m excited about it.”Here are five things to watch when the Bruins face the Golden Bears in a game broadcast by ESPN:UCLA’s roster is sprinkled with five Cal transfers – running back Jaivian Thomas, wide receiver Mikey Matthews, edge rusher Ryan McCulloch, defensive tackle Tyson Ford and kicker Mateen Bhaghani.Returning to their onetime football home will spark some memories.“Where I started off my college career at, man,” said Thomas, an Oakland native who was the Golden Bears’ leading rusher in 2024.“I wouldn’t have it no other way, just go back and play in front of my family.”Those keeping score might note that Cal’s roster has zero former Bruins, meaning that those who get a taste of Westwood aren’t often willing to trade it in for Berkeley.“I was talking mess with one of my friends up there yesterday, man,” Thomas said.

“It’s just, you know, j...