Nate Longshore Doing a Peyton Manning?
So last week against ASU I saw something which caught my eye. In the past 4 years or so that I've really started to study and analyze the Cal offense I saw the QB do something I've never seen them do before. I saw a Cal QB create-a-play at the line of scrimmage.
You see, I've said many times before, Cal QBs cannot do their best Peyton Manning impressions (meaning they call any play they want at the LOS or create-a-play at the LOS). QBs in the Cal offense are allowed to change the direction of runs, allowed to choose between the run or pass play on option plays (where the offense goes to the LOS with two plays in mind), and is allowed to audible to pre-selected plays which are packaged jointly with the personnel and formation on the field.
But on Saturday against ASU, I am pretty sure we witnessed Longshore doing a Peyton Manning-esque create-a-play at the LOS.
Let's have a look.

Above is the pre-snap look. Cal has 11 personnel on the field (3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 RB). Longshore is in shotgun with twin WRs to the open side of the field along with the TE ("open side" = the side of the offense with more field).
[Author addition post-publishing:
dballisloose asked a very good question in the comments:
Why do you always start off by saying “Cal has 11 personnel on the field”? How many did you expect them to have? I say, if there are 10 or 12, go ahead and mention it ;-)
I’m sorry, I guess I haven’t explained this before, but when I say “11 personnel” I don’t mean 11 people on the field.
Personnel packages are given numbers which correspond to how many RBs, TEs, or WRs, are on the field.
The first digit corresponds to how many RBs are on the field. The second digit corresponds to how many TEs are on the field. The number of WRs is implied. Thus 11 personnel = 1 RB (first digit), 1 TE (second digit), (3 WRs implied). 12 personnel = 1 RB, 2 TEs, (2 WRs implied). And so on…
When Cal is on defense, you can see the coaching assistant on the east sideline put up a yellow card with such numbers alerting the defensive players on the field of the offensive substitutions and what offensive personnel package the offense has on the field.]


But Longshore sees something in the defense. Longshore looks to his left and gives a signal to the SE WR (split end wide receiver). I've shown Longshore looking at the WR with the green vision cone.

Longshore then looks to his right and gives another signal to the twin FL (flanker) WRs to the offense's right. I've shown Longshore looking right and signaling with the green vision cone.

Above is the pre-snap look just before the snap. I've shown the routes of the SE WR and the RB with blue lines. The SE WR runs a quick in, and the RB runs a replace route [edit: correct name for the RB route is a "replace" route and not an outside sluggo].
I believe that Longshore was attempting to set up a "pick" on the ASU WLB (weakside linebacker). Longshore saw that the ASU WLB was in man coverage against the RB, Vereen. Vereen against a LB is a mis-match, a mis-match that Longshore was trying to exploit with the help of a WR pick.
Unfortunately, the pick does not work because the ASU WLB got a running start on the play prior to the snap. I've shown the ASU WLB getting his running start with the desert red arrow.
The two Cal FL WRs off the bottom of the screen are running comebacks.

Because the ASU WLB got a running start on the play, he got into the backfield quickly and jammed Vereen in the backfield. Furthermore, the ASU WLB avoided the SE WR's quick in which could have set the pick. Longshore was probably not anticipating the ASU WLB to get the running start and thought the ASU WLB would be in his normal 4-3 position.

Longshore gives one last look to his left to see if Vereen could beat the jam and the ASU WLB. I've circled Vereen and the ASU WLB. Note the SE WR just off the screen. Had the ASU WLB been where Longshore thought the LB would normally be, the WLB probably would have been picked by the SE WR and Vereen would be wide open down the sidelines.

But Vereen wasn't open so Longshore scrambles to his right, going through his progressions, and looking to his other options. Longshore even directs traffic by pointing to where he wants his FL WRs to go.

Longshore passes the ball...

And it's caught by Boateng.
Final Thoughts:
So how am I pretty sure that this was a create-a-play rather than an option play, or a pre-selected package play?
Well, it wasn't an option play because if it was, then Longshore would have only given one signal to the entire offense. It also wasn't a pre-selected package play because, like an option play, Longshore would have given one signal to the entire offense. On this particular play, Longshore gave out two distinctly different signals.
I've never seen any Cal QB do what Longshore did. I wasn't following the 2004 Cal offense as closely as I do now so I can't really say if Rodgers did this or not, but I'm pretty sure he never did. In my opinion, aside from Rodgers, no other Cal QB has been so "on the same page" as Tedford than Longshore. So it really doesn't come as any surprise to me that the first Cal QB to completely make his own play at the LOS would be Longshore.
So what are we to make of the fact that Longshore did a create-a-play Peyton Manning like-impression at the LOS?
It must mean that he's been given the approval by Tedford and Cignetti. And if he's been given the approval to do so, he must have the requisite knowledge of the offense and defenses - or even more than the requisite knowledge. Longshore might have the "expert" level of knowledge. It shouldn't be surprising that Longshore has such a high level of knowledge considering he is in his 5th year, and has about 24 games worth of starter experience.
It will be interesting to see how much more of this we see in the future by Longshore and other Cal QBs.
Read Related
Comments
Longshore went through progressions? Your analysis is flawed!!
From my basic observation during the game, it seemed that Longshore was more active with the offense before the snap than Riley.
by turkey on Oct 13, 2008 1:19 PM PDT 0 recs
33Swisher is going to have something to say about these "alleged" progressions . . .
"You can have the alimony. But I want some pussy payments!" - Chris Rock
by oaktownmario on
Oct 13, 2008 1:22 PM PDT
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I predict Olsonist and CalISeth might also chime in!
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 1:25 PM PDT
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His Olsonist-ship was caught up in a gale off Pt Conception but he sincerely appreciates your interest. Winds peaked at 50 knots with waves at about 18 feet. Miserable fun. In SB, I got invited for a ride on Taxi Dancer, a Reichel-Pugh 70 sled. Sweet. Friday, I’m heading off to Tucson for a visit with the cousins. I’ll try to post pictures of his Lardship’s butt.
A fifth year senior should be able to create a play at the LOS. Still, might a QB give two signals, one real and one fake? I don’t know but it’s a thought.
I think that Hydro photoshopped the play and that it didn’t break down like he’s saying. Boateng holding onto a pass? How gullible does Hydro think we are?
Stanfurd Delendum Est.
by Olsonist on
Oct 15, 2008 7:56 PM PDT
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I feel as if several times, Longshore told a player to go to another place. Either he was doing some sort of audible or the players were lining up incorrectly. If Tedford wasn’t going to play Slocum, meaning the entirety of the running was on Vereen and he didn’t want to tire out Vereen (which unfortunately DID happen), then we were going to throw a lot. Clearly, Tedford trusts Longshore to run the offense more than Riley and I think Tedford was proven correct there.
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 3:43 PM PDT
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11 personnel on the field?
Why do you always start off by saying “Cal has 11 personnel on the field”? How many did you expect them to have? I say, if there are 10 or 12, go ahead and mention it ;-)
Overall, this is a pretty good analysis, and I like the frame-by-frame screenshots, they really help make your point and help us follow your thinking. Good post.
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on Oct 13, 2008 1:20 PM PDT 0 recs
Hydro does that for stupid people amongst us. Like me!
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 1:20 PM PDT
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"stupid people amongst us" and "like me"
Redundant.
"You can have the alimony. But I want some pussy payments!" - Chris Rock
by oaktownmario on
Oct 13, 2008 1:24 PM PDT
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Touche, salesman.
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 1:26 PM PDT
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Simple
It lets us know he’s talking about the offense. Otherwise, he would’ve had to say “10 personnel and 1 pain train.”
by Nashville on
Oct 13, 2008 1:26 PM PDT
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I’m sorry, I guess I haven’t explained this before, but when I say “11 personnel” I don’t mean 11 people on the field.
Personnel packages are given numbers which correspond to how many RBs, TEs, or WRs, are on the field.
The first digit corresponds to how many RBs are on the field. The second digit corresponds to how many TEs are on the field. The number of WRs is implied. Thus 11 personnel = 1 RB (first digit), 1 TE (second digit), (3 WRs implied). 12 personnel = 1 RB, 2 TEs, (2 WRs implied). And so on…
When Cal is on defense, you can see the coaching assistant put up a yellow card with such numbers alerting the defensive players on the field of the offensive substitutions.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on
Oct 13, 2008 1:36 PM PDT
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Interesting, we learn something new every day……except for Twisty, because he learns old things every day, and never learns anything that the rest of us consider new, because it took him so long to catch up that we’ve already moved on. Are you following?
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 1:50 PM PDT
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………….No…………
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 1:58 PM PDT
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lemme explain....
do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 2:05 PM PDT
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…………….maybe.
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 2:09 PM PDT
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Bueno, a veces no entiendes lo que estamos ensenandote, pues esta bien porque puedo hablarte con mis dedos lo mismo que hablo a nate longshore…..asi, mira nate, tu eres numero uno mijito…….carajo.
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 2:14 PM PDT
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yo quiero taco bell
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 2:21 PM PDT
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blahblahblahblahblahblahIwantTedfordsBabiesblahblah
It's spelled "S-h-u-f-a-i-l"
by JShufelt on
Oct 13, 2008 2:28 PM PDT
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Tedford’s babies aren’t nearly as desireable as SydGod’s babies. The real question is, would SydGod’s babies be born with a gold grill?
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 2:29 PM PDT
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I don’t speak blahblah as well as Twist, but I’m hoping that I translated it correctly so he could understand it.
It's spelled "S-h-u-f-a-i-l"
by JShufelt on
Oct 13, 2008 2:32 PM PDT
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Unfortunately, I got a 2 on AP blahblah. I’m not the one to ask on this.
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 2:38 PM PDT
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Good Stuff
Glad you explained that HydroTech. Love the analysis and the various pictures. Love this kind of stuff. the 11 personnel thing was new to me. Good stuff keep it up
get off me bandwagoners!
http://blog.cleancutmedia.com
by cleancutmedia on
Oct 14, 2008 9:55 AM PDT
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Longshore and Manning used in the same sentence?
The reason we haven’t heard a response from Olsonist yet is because his brain just exploded.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Oct 13, 2008 1:27 PM PDT 0 recs
Clearly, Longshore is the 4th Manning brother!
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 1:35 PM PDT
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I don’t really follow pro ball but I’ve really liked the Mannings.
Stanfurd Delendum Est.
by Olsonist on
Oct 15, 2008 8:06 PM PDT
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Signals
So, Longshore turns to one side of the field, and calls out a different play, telling the WR to set a pick for the RB. Then, he turns to the other side of the field, and tells the other WRs….?
What does he tell them? Does he give them new routes as well? Does he simply tell them that he changed the routes on the other side of the ball? Would routes on opposite sides of the field typically be coordinated so that every wideout would need to know what the other receivers are doing?
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Oct 13, 2008 1:30 PM PDT 0 recs
Longshore turns left and tells the SE WR to run a quick in. Longshore turns right and tells the twin FL WRs to run comebacks. That’s it.
Longshore does not tell the twin FL WRs he changed the route on the other side of the field because they know it because they saw (and heard) it. All the WRs presumably know what each other is running because they can see (and hear) the hand signals.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on
Oct 13, 2008 1:33 PM PDT
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I give Longshore signals
I sign in to him “1”, and sometimes I also tell him that he should run the “11” package….which I sign with one digit from each hand.
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 1:51 PM PDT
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Isn't Vereen's route just a go?
Or maybe a stop and go? I thought a sluggo would involve him slanting towards the middle of the field before turning upfield.
Still happy over the fact that the Nets signed Ryan Anderson. Now if only they can sign Leon Powe after this year...
by yellow fever on Oct 13, 2008 1:42 PM PDT 0 recs
You could be right. The names of RB routes are different than WR routes. I was merely applying the WR route name to the RB route since I am not privy to the names of the RB routes. This website calls Vereen’s route a “replace” route – although Cal assuredly uses a different name for it.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on
Oct 13, 2008 1:46 PM PDT
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Sluggo is also a type of fishing lure that mimics a wounded baitfish. Just thought I’d add to the football analysis around here…
by sec119 on
Oct 13, 2008 2:23 PM PDT
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I once caught two bass on the same Rapala…it was pretty cool. Definitely upped my fish:cast ratio.
by Spazzy Mcgee on
Oct 13, 2008 2:37 PM PDT
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That’s some serious talent, would have been even more impressive if that Rapala only had one treble hook
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 2:40 PM PDT
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not that many people would know what i’m talking about but i once was reeling in a rockfish that i had caught on a single hook jig, and had a lingcod come up from below, bite the rockfish, and hang on to the rockfish long enough for me to gaff it. so i guess technically that was two fish on a single hook!
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 2:43 PM PDT
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Wow, I thought that kind of stuff only happened in cartoons.
by sec119 on
Oct 13, 2008 2:44 PM PDT
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If you’ve ever seen a lingcod, you’d understand…..they are close to the top of their food chain, 30% of their body is their mouth with pointy front teeth. almost had to bust out my holy hand grenade.
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 2:48 PM PDT
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I’ve seen a lingcod. I understand. Gaffs are for pussies.
by Spazzy Mcgee on
Oct 13, 2008 3:28 PM PDT
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Yes, well I have a gaff I use for pussies too.
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 5:13 PM PDT
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Anyone need a ticket for the UCLA game?
I have an extra ticket for the Cal-UCLA game, I’ll be posting it up on Craigslist but thought I’d be inappropriate and mention it here
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on Oct 13, 2008 2:07 PM PDT 0 recs
im looking for a ticket
hey dballisloose. i hope its not on craigslist yet.
send me an email- mellowfellow [at] gmail.com
thanks.
by mellowfellow on
Oct 14, 2008 1:12 PM PDT
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This is an interesting analysis, and much appreciated since I don’t pick up on things like these. Thanks. Could we say, fairly, that Longshore has reached that state of football nirvana, where he is one with Tedford? Maybe he’ll be a great coach one day.
by sec119 on Oct 13, 2008 2:25 PM PDT 0 recs
You're not subtle enough - I can tell you're just a Longshore-lover
Yes, Nate called a butt-load of audibles in that game. No, the results weren’t very impressive.
He does have a lot of experience and knowledge. The ASU game was a good example of why that’s not enough. We need offense, and we need it when we’re in trouble, and in the 4th quarter, and we need to play with passion, and we need to make plays. Riley’s better at those (fallible though he is).
I will NOT enjoy telling you “I told you so” the next time Nate loses us a game in the 4th quarter. Maybe Tedford will have the smarts to know when to pull him…but it doesn’t look likely.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Oct 13, 2008 2:26 PM PDT 0 recs
Who would genuinely enjoy saying “I told you that Cal would lose”?
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 2:31 PM PDT
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Maybe Tedford is already running a two-QB system and you just don’t know it because we never trailed at the ASU game.
by Rishi on
Oct 13, 2008 2:34 PM PDT
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I don’t want Longshore thinking independently
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 2:37 PM PDT
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Because it starts a good argument.
When I say friendly boring things, no one replies to my comments.
Well, that’s conjecture – I don’t ever just say friendly boring things.
Let’s try it: nice weather we’re having today. Gosh, I think we’re all Bear fans.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on
Oct 15, 2008 4:00 PM PDT
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ASU game isn’t that good an example, since Longshore did enough to win and made no egregious mistakes in the 4th quarter.
by sec119 on
Oct 13, 2008 2:45 PM PDT
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What exactly do you mean by playing with ‘passion’? I’m willing to listen to a variety of Longshore vs. Riley arguments either way, but random guessing at their emotional levels during the game and the impact is has isn’t going to be convincing anyone.
Also…Nate didn’t lose this game in the 4th quarter…
by norcalnick on
Oct 13, 2008 2:56 PM PDT
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Instead of Nate Longshore’s mechanical interceptions, he wants Kevin Riley’s passionate interceptions.
by BearsNecessity on
Oct 13, 2008 3:00 PM PDT
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Correction: Kevin Riley’s passionate interception.
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 3:02 PM PDT
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I’m still waiting for an emaculate interception
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 3:04 PM PDT
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As compared to the immaculate?
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 3:24 PM PDT
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Oh Twisty don’t get all spell-checky on me….as compared to the ejaculate interceptions you might be more familiar with
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 3:26 PM PDT
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The only one I’m familiar with is Ashwaryi Rai!
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 3:30 PM PDT
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I want premature interceptions.
It’s times like this I wish they’d never discovered CougCenterium.
by Maharg on
Oct 13, 2008 4:05 PM PDT
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Aren’t they all?
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 5:14 PM PDT
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No. For reasons only Twist understands.
It’s times like this I wish they’d never discovered CougCenterium.
by Maharg on
Oct 13, 2008 5:31 PM PDT
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If Twisted and Rai mated the result would be a virgin birth.
Stanfurd Delendum Est.
by Olsonist on
Oct 15, 2008 8:13 PM PDT
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California Golden Blogs: Interceptions with Passion.
…if ever there was a Bollywood movie blog about Cal football, I’m pretty sure that’s what it would be called.
by Spazzy Mcgee on
Oct 13, 2008 3:18 PM PDT
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As long as it stars Ashwaryi Rai, I don’t care what it’s called!
I'm no The Maharg! But I try. Oh, how I try!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Oct 13, 2008 3:25 PM PDT
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she’s an ejaculate interception fo’ sho’
I left my heart at the Durant Food Court
by dballisloose on
Oct 13, 2008 3:26 PM PDT
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I know Passion when I see it
It’s like obscenity. So I can’t spell it out for you. But I think you know what I mean anyways. Nate doesn’t seem fired up enough to me. In a big, catch-all, general kind of way, over the years and including this year.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on
Oct 15, 2008 4:02 PM PDT
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