UCLA v. Tennessee - a Cal fan's perspective

by totallyawesome on Sep 2, 2008 12:37 AM PDT Comment 63 comments

Woof - that was one ugly win for our brethren down south! A win's a win, however, and for a brand-new Pac-10 team to beat a solid SEC team is good for the conference. Here are some thoughts from this game to consider as we enter Week Two of the football season

The Game - Reason for optimism or worry for Bruins Nation?

If I'm a Bruins fan (which I'm not, Captain Obvious), I'm happy with the win and see what the next two games bring. UCLA travels to BYU to take on the Cougars and then take on an Arizona team that just put up 70+ points on the Vandals. I'd be "cautiously optimistic" rather than drunken-stupor-optimistic as the win may also be indicative of a Tennessee team in a down-year.

I would be, however, excited about the defense. UCLA's solid defensive unit kept them in the game, maintaining solid pressure on Crompton and somewhat containing their run game. You may even kinda sorta be excited about Craft (second half Craft)!

What does it mean for Cal and the rest of the conference:

A marquee win by UCLA over a traditional SEC power is good for the conference, period, end of discussion; however, you have to think as a Big _____ voter. That was an Ugly Betty type of game (also see: Fresno State vs. Rutgers) and I'm 100% supa dupa sure that SEC voters will play down the Bruins' W and play up the fact that the game was Tennessee's to lose. UCLA struggled like you would not believe offensively in the first half - and yet, Tennessee could not capitalize on 4 interceptions - against any Pac-10 team, that would have been an L for UCLA. But if the Vols go on to win against other SEC teams, THIS is the year that the SEC should lose its vaunted top dog status.

Call me crazy but I see this as a down year for the SEC and think the Pac-10 is fielding the toughest teams this year. We (Cal) cannot overlook any team in this conference, 'cuz clearly we can throw down with anyone from any conference (also see Cal vs. MSU, Virginia vs. USC). Am I crazy? Your thoughts

The opinions expressed in a FanPost are, in every way, reflective of the opinions of every California Golden Blogs Marshawnthusiast. Moreover, they are reflective of every employee of SBNation, including Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski.

0 recs | Comment 63 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Parity

I’m not so sure there is an up or down year for either conference. I sense more parity coming to football, it seems like most conferences, even ones like the big east, are claiming they sport the best teams

My heart skips a beat every time I hear the band strike up 'Our Sturdy Golden Bear".

by oskisunbear on Sep 2, 2008 12:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

true and

I hope that the Pac’s wins this weekend (excluding Wazzu’s loss to Ok State) give more weight voting-wise to wins within our own conference. I personally don’t care as much about week to week rankings or even how “strong” one conference is relative to another until we talk bowl games. Since we don’t have a playoff system and need VOTES to get into January bowl games, any win against a non-conference opponent is good for all of us.

by totallyawesome on Sep 2, 2008 1:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This post is ill-informed

Tennessee could be the 8th best team in the SEC this year. In fact, looking at how stacked the other teams in that conference, I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility. UCLA is still in the middle at best.

SEC still runs much deeper than the Pac-10, especially this season with the main contenders to USC in rebuilding mode. This was an uggggly game.

by BearsNecessity on Sep 2, 2008 5:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

YOU HURT MAH FEEEEEELINGS! cry

I don’t think that the Pac is the BEST conference (although you can’t blame me for the BLATANT AND AWESOME BIAS IN MY WRITING!) – I do think that the Pac-10 can hang with anyone (I mean you, SEC!). You make good (and probably right) points – Georgia is not looking as good as advertised, but they’re a top ten team. Florida and LSU are top shelf; Kentucky pants Louisville and the Crimson Tide exposed the Tigers. I’ll be watching Tennessee’s season closely to see how they spring back from their loss and handle the SEC east.

Yes, it was an ugly game. Both Tenn and UCLA could be top tier or bottom dwellers – it’s too early to know for sure

by totallyawesome on Sep 2, 2008 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

From my blogpoll after week 1

7 SEC teams (Tennessee dropped out)
5 Big 12 teams
4 Pac-10 teams
3 ACC teams (something’s wrong there, there should be two at most)
2 Big 10 teams
2 Big East teams
2 MWC teams

by BearsNecessity on Sep 2, 2008 5:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I keep on posting before I'm done

But the Pac-10 was much deeper last season. The SEC has Florida and Georgia at the top, Auburn and LSU only a little bit behind them, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Alabama all 8-10 win candidates. The Big 12 is on that second tier right now, with Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Missouri all fielding competitive BCS-worthy teams.

by BearsNecessity on Sep 2, 2008 5:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tenn - Ucla

First off, congratulations to Ucla … ugly, deserved, or not it was a big win on a nationally televised game against a “ranked” opponent.

Now, after the 1st quarter a few things were painfully obvious: Tenn is NOT the #18 team in the country (at least not right now); Ucla is NOT good; the announcers seem to have some serious bromance issues with Ricky Neu.

The thing that gets me is how everyone seems to be in some sort of competition to annoint the Ucla defense as some sort of impregnable wall. From what I saw yesterday they are more like a Maginot Line. Crompton is a below-average QB who got the yips early and made some horrible throws, and there were way too many false starts. Yes, Ucla got pressure, but that kid looked like Jim Everett against the 49ers. That’s not to say Ucla doesn’t have a solid D (they looked better than ours), but that much or Tenn’s offensive woes were they’re own doing.

Also, what happened to Tenn’s defense in the 2nd half? Aside from one series where they almost got the safety, it looked like they sort of just stopped playing hard. Credit Ucla for making a couple of adjustments to calm their QB down (and I do feel really good for him … after that first half the poor guy looked worse than the Law Firm did against Notre Dame), but Ucla doesn’t get two TDs in the 4th quarter unless Tenn stops playing defense.

All in all last night’s game told me two things:
1. Tenn is way over rated.
2. Ucla isn’t as bad as some folks thought, or as good as the babybruins nation people think.

Ugly game. Ugly win. Ugly Ucla uniforms.

Go Bears!

by SoCal Oski on Sep 2, 2008 7:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

awesome

Any time I can read about the Maginot Line is a good time.

I'm still wondering why the Nets didn't draft Leon Powe.

by yellow fever on Sep 2, 2008 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

More like

All in all last night’s game told me two things:
1. UCLA is bad.
2. Tenn is worse.

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This describes the game performance but on the season I don’t think Tennessee will end up worse than UCLA.

by zoonews on Sep 2, 2008 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i actually thought ucla wasn't that bad

their defense looked pretty good..granted they were going against an inexperienced quarterback, but i thought that side of the ball played pretty well.

also, if you only watched the second half, Kevin Craft looked decent. chow mixed up the playcalling nicely, and once craft stopped throwing into traffic, the interceptions stopped.

i don’t think this is a top 25 team, but i certainly think they’re a top 40 team. tennessee, on the other hand, well, i think we’re about to see just how much weight Phil Fulmer’s national title is going to carry regarding his continued employment…

So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!

by ragnarok on Sep 2, 2008 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

a lot of weight. a LOT.

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look, let’s give credit where credit is due. UCLA won. A win is a win is a win is a win. It’s better than losing, right?

And for those who didn’t actually, yknow, watch any of the game and/or highlights, it might sound impressive, defeating a team with the historic cachet of “Tennessee.” But if you actually watched the game, you know that UCLA was just good enough to barely beat Tennessee, a team SO bad that they actually lost to UCLA!

Of course, Cal fans know how painful shattered expectations can be. Now, UCLA fans have/are building expectations. Could make the rest of their season that much more painful.

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 1:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ve noticed, we don’t tend to win games in heartbreaking, lucky fashion (except Oregon 2007?) We tend to win games solidly and then lose games that make it feel like you were just kicked in the testes.

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

oregon 2004 also comes to mind, with the wide open receiver dropping a 4th down pass that puts oregon in easy field goal position. washington 2006 (the ghost riding the injury cart game)? we’ve had a couple lucky wins, i’m sure.

So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!

by ragnarok on Sep 2, 2008 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That UW game should not have gone to overtime considering they needed a hail-mary THAT FELL IN THE LAPS OF THREE CAL DEFENDERS to force it.

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

good point.

So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!

by ragnarok on Sep 2, 2008 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It didn’t help that 2 Cal defenders lept into the air with a great opportunity…………to volleyball set the ball back UP into the air and give UDub more time to catch it.

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How could you win a game in heartbreaking fashion?

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ie, heartbreaking for THEM.

I’m sure MSU fans are disappointed after Saturdays game, but I wouldn’t call them ‘heartbroken.’
Could you say the same about us vs. OSU last year?

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oklahoma State did what now?

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

um oregon state?

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can I get a The Maharg run in here?

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

would you settle for a Mack Attack?

I'm still wondering why the Nets didn't draft Leon Powe.

by yellow fever on Sep 2, 2008 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is that Alex or Alex?

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can’t it be both?

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what?

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stop it, Spaz. You’ll never be as good as The Maharg. You can try. But trying is the first step towards failure. Nobody brings the nonsense like The Maharg. NOBODY!

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, like, I didn’t get it. Were you honestly thinking I meant Oklahoma State? Or were you being sarcastic? Or were you being sarcastic on top of sarcasm, thus you were NOT being sarcastic?

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You seem worried.

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He could use a backrub.

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ARGH.

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn, you’ve got some deep knots in your back.

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Calm down. No reason to yell now.

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I’ll give you a reason to yell.

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is it due to your lack of couch?

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe, maybe not.

And no, it can’t be both.

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m having trouble understanding the reasoning behind why it can’t be both.

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You seem worried.

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nonsense. Also, more nonsense.

And for Twist, Instructions (semi-NSFW word).

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just got fired thanks to that word. Thanks a lot!

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hooray!

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now, my wife is divorcing me for being unemployed. I’m moving to Seattle. I hope you have a couch!

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hooray! (except for the you moving to Seattle and wanting to stay on my couch part)

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, you don’t have a couch, then?

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a couch, but it’s a couch that only people can sleep on, not you.

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Am I not people? If you prick me, do I not bleed?

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can you boys get a room or something?

by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 2, 2008 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No. For reasons I can’t understand.

"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Sep 2, 2008 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spazzy, don’t be jealous that Twist thinks I out worthless you. I think that you’re plenty worthless.

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, Somebody’s Bitter!

I kissed Dumpster Muffin and I liked it. The taste of her hippie chapped lips.

by Maharg on Sep 2, 2008 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the only reason UCLA was able to "rise" to the occasion,

or at least manage not to sink lower than the good ship Tennessee, was because they had a chip on their shoulders about being trashed-talked in the media for so long before the game.

Now that they actually think of themselves as “good,” I suspect they’ll take a quick plunge.

Also, Neuheisel is a good coach, but that win has “pyrrhic” written all over it: they lost another 3 starters to injury yesterday – there won’t be a team left by the time conference play starts.

by bearsglory on Sep 2, 2008 4:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs