UC Berkeley’s football team, the Golden Bears, have embraced the label of being “woke” as a rallying cry, turning an insult from rival schools into a meme. The team joined the Atlantic Coast Conference this year, playing games in new locations far from their hippie origins in Berkeley, California. Some fans from rival schools mocked the Bears online as far-left radicals, sparking a digital culture war in college football memes.
The campaign was fueled by a meme that gained over 5 million views after Cal’s upset win at Auburn, created by grad student Miles Goodman. Cal fans responded by flooding social media with memes poking fun at “woke” culture and hot-button issues. Despite stereotypes, the fan base at Cal is diverse, including people from various political ideologies.
The memes posted by Cal fans have included images related to LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, and social justice topics. Some memes have parodied conservative cultural values, immigration, and critical race theory. Despite the humor, Cal fans hope that these memes can help bridge the political gap by dispelling stereotypes and showing their true, diverse fan base.
The Golden Bears will face the Florida State Seminoles in their upcoming game, where the meme culture war will likely continue. The hope is that through exaggerated memes, fans can better understand each other and come together despite political differences.
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