Cal 24, Arizona 16: Bears Play Spoiler. Can They Do It to The Furd?
by Avinash Kunnath on Nov 15, 2009 2:59 AM PST
in California Golden Bears Football
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PrintAfter five home duds, we finally had a winner. The Bears avenged their 2006 defeat to Arizona with a game strikingly similar in its flukiness and heartbreak.
An upset goes two ways. Cal had a lot of lucky breaks, from dropped passes, to Nick Foles missing streaking receivers downfield, to surviving two really bad Riley interceptions (one on the offensive line, one on him), to Mike Stoops and Sonny Dykes calling a curious amount of runs to Keola Antolin on 1st and 2nd down, to MVP of the game Giorgio Tavecchio playing the game of his life on special teams defense (2 big tackles), to Foles catching his own pass and throwing it again...anything else swings the other way, Arizona walks ahead to an epic showdown with Oregon unscathed. Oh well, at least they know how we felt three years ago.
But Tavecchio hit clutch field goals, the defense stepped up, Shane Vereen played the game of his life, and the Bears held on. The question now is, can they replicate that effort against their cross-Bay rivals?
CBKWit will have more detailed postgame thoughts later. But I want your guys's thoughts. Based on what you've seen of us, and what you've seen of the Furd, how do you feel about the Big Game?
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I honestly have no idea what is going to happen on Saturday. On one hand, the Furd have convincingly beaten two opponents that whipped us. On the other, we were able to (narrowly) beat an opponent that (narrowly) beat them. Yes, I suppose that the logic that “team x beats team y which beat team z, therefore x > z” is flawed, but it’s still interesting to think about.
I think we have a CHANCE if we play to our strengths (stopping the run up the middle) and if Luck doesn’t go all crazy on us. I have to say though, unfortunately for us, Stanford seems to be peaking at just the right time.
Yes but remember we said that about Oregon after they demolished U$C, and they turned around and got punked, and people were saying they were playing the best football in the nation. This being the big game, all bets are off.
In communist Russia, Sanchez declares YOU!
by HOUSE66 on Nov 15, 2009 7:54 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Both interceptions are on Riley – if you’re in that much trouble with pressure just take the sack. We’d have still been in field goal range.
BTW sorry that interception. I stated before the play “just no interceptions” and was almost strangled by the girl standing next to me after the play.
Riley is ultimately responsible because he threw the picks, but to blame him entirely for the second one is not right. The forever mediocre but often too glorified Tepper let the blitzer run right by him to pressure Riley into making that bad throw. Tedford said Riley was trying to throw the ball away – and sh!t just happens sometimes when a QB doesn’t throw with his feet set.
What’s funny – and I’m not directing this at you – is that had Riley taken the sack, people would have been screaming bloody murder at him for not throwing the ball away. I must agree with you that taking a sack in this specific scenario would have been way more productive. Afterall, it was 1st and 10….
He was trying to throw the ball away across his body onto the side of the field he was running away from? Near a wide open Cal player?
President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
IIIRC, the second one was when he was beign flushed to the right and he threw the ball backa cross the field while on the run. It was a floater (both were) and easily picked.
President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
The second one he was in the shotgun, dropped straight back 3 steps, and thew the ball. It was a floater type pass, it was easily picked, but KR was not flushed from the pocket.
YO a little more pointed than usual?
From YO’s “From the Press Room” entry:
–Tedford admitted wanting to play it safe on the drive that ended with Tavecchio’s final field goal. It was clear he had lost confidence in Riley after his second crucial interception.
Maybe “lost confidence” is a little strong? Remember, just a few plays earlier, Riley came through with a dart to Verran Tucker on 2nd and 12, which gave us a first down at the Arizona 32.
Praise be to Tedford!
I was wondering about that until I saw this comment from the post-game press conference
But Tedford apparently didn’t forget about [Riley’s interceptions] because the Bears went the safe route on their next possession, pounding the ball with Vereen to march deep into Arizona territory. After a false start on left tackle Mike Tepper made it first-and-15 from the Wildcats 16, Cal went with three straight running plays to set up Tavecchio’s final field goal.
“We were going to stay safe,” Tedford said. “We were going to run the football. We hadn’t played very smart. We threw two balls down by the end zone for interceptions. We weren’t going to take a chance.”
Whose domicile? OUR DOMICILE!
So did Tavecchio!
Costs assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Nov 15, 2009 2:39 PM PST up reply actions
Weren’t you responsible for something in the game preceding , too?
by Yes We Cannon on Nov 15, 2009 11:33 AM PST up reply actions
It’s been a long time since the Big Game has looked like such an attractive matchup. To a neutral observer, this is the first time in many, many years that the Big Game holds more appeal than USC-UCLA. I’m not terribly optimistic about the Bears’ chances, but I’d still give them a 1-in-3 shot of holding onto the Axe.
This has been a frustrating and disappointing season, yet it’s also been one full of pride. The players, the coaches, and even the fans have generally held it together, and I expect to enter 2010 with good feelings about Cal football—even if the Bears fail to win their final three games.
Go Bears!
by California Pete on Nov 15, 2009 8:26 AM PST reply actions 3 recs
I feel good about beating UofA, but I don’t think all of our issues are fixed with one game. What’s encouraging is that the team has shown that it’s capable of playing at a high level, which means that we can beat Stanford if we play with any consistency. Cal does best in an underdog role as well, so despite Stanford peaking right now I think we have a chance. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost either.
Well, as I stated in the post game thread, there are 2 times that stick out in my mind when Stanford should have whupped us and the game was very close. We were not very good in 2000 (the year after Stanford went to the Rose Bowl, may that never happen again!) and we took Stanford to overtime before losing.
And in 2001 when we literally had 0 wins going into the Big Game (0!) and it was AT Stanford, we still only lost by 7. I mean, IIRC, that was Willingham’s final year (maybe?) and that wasn’t a really awesome Stanford team. But still we were absolutely pathetic that year. WSU levels. And I can clear as day remember Boller just heaving the ball repeatedly downfield for the potential game tying TD. We didn’t get it.
But it shows that you have to throw out the record books. The same way that in 2006 and 2007 I think we shoulda beaten them pretty good and it was close/disastrously painfully loss-oriented.
So, yes, Stanford is peaking just at the right time. Yes, it’s going to be a tough game for Cal, no denying that. But in these rivalry games, anything can happen. Anything!
President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Nov 15, 2009 9:08 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Anything can happen - but it usually doesn't
Rivalry games can produce mammoth upsets, but they usually don’t. The Big Game is actually one of the more predictable games, with the “better” team almost always winning. [1986 was an exception, and a fun one.] That doesn’t mean the game will be a blowout from beginning to end, and Stanford is probably due for a bit of a letdown. But they sure look like the superior team to me.
Couldn't disagree more.
But I refuse to look up stats to back this up. :-)
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Nov 16, 2009 12:16 PM PST up reply actions
Also, don’t discount Jahvid being back for Big Game.
by BlackandOldGold on Nov 15, 2009 9:30 AM PST reply actions
We sure he’ll be back? That’s still up in the air.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Nov 15, 2009 9:33 AM PST up reply actions
I did see his standing on the sideline at yesterday’s game, sot hat was cool.
President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
They showed an interview with him pre-game. No grogginess.
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS
by Thoroughbred on Nov 15, 2009 9:48 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t want Jahvid up in the air anymore this year,
by CalBear81 on Nov 15, 2009 1:02 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I doubt it too, but stranger things have happened
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS
by Thoroughbred on Nov 15, 2009 9:49 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Hold on, I’ll put up an NFL thread.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Nov 15, 2009 10:01 AM PST up reply actions
Stanford is clearly has more upside than we do. But we still have a puncher’s chance, especially in a rivalry game. It’ll be interesting to watch (or listen to, since I can’t get a Versus broadcast in the midwest… dammit).
by dchu on Nov 15, 2009 10:09 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
There will probably be a Justin TV stream. That’s how I watched the Arizona game.
by BlackandOldGold on Nov 15, 2009 10:38 AM PST up reply actions
Public Transportation to Palo Alto
Not having a car and having never taken public transportation to Palo Alto, does anybody know the best way to get there from Berkeley? Every time I use the 511 trip planner it gives me a completely different itinerary.
Go Bears!
by RollOnYouBears667 on Nov 15, 2009 10:12 AM PST reply actions
My solution is to live in the south bay.
Is there anyway to get to Caltrain? I don’t know how close the station is to the campus. However, it is Stanford, so you are going to have to go on a bit of a walk no matter what.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Nov 15, 2009 10:17 AM PST up reply actions
Take Bart from Berkeley to Embarcadero, then walk a few blocks to the Caltrain station and take it from there. Not sure how frequent the trains run on Saturday though. Caltrain stops pretty close to the furd stadium.
OR
Make some new friends that are driving down there.
Take BART to Millbrae. The Millbrae station is both Caltrain and BART. The walk from Embarcadero to 4th and King will take you at least 15 mins. Ride Caltrain to Palo Alto Caltrain stop. You can basically see Stanford Stadium when you hop off the train.
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
by GoldBlooded on Nov 15, 2009 10:23 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs
anything else swings the other way, Arizona walks ahead to an epic showdown with Oregon unscathed.
I disagree. Cal made just as many mistakes as Arizona did. Two bad interceptions, TONS of wasted field position, a missed field goal that barely missed, a fumble inside the five that screwed up a touchdown possibility, a missed extra point…
Cal could have easily won this game by much more than 8. This wasn’t a game in which the plucky underdog took advantage of every mistake the vaunted favorite made. Cal outplayed Arizona for most of the game, especially in the 1st, 3rd and 4th quarters. We were the better team and the score reflected that.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Nov 15, 2009 10:25 AM PST reply actions 4 recs
+2
Yeah, I thought we should’ve won by more…
I mean: three consecutive three and outs, and I don’t remember if we got a single point off ’em
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS
by Thoroughbred on Nov 15, 2009 11:17 AM PST up reply actions
I love how the firemen are cheering Vereen on here.
President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Nov 15, 2009 10:29 AM PST reply actions 4 recs
Last night I was saying Georgio was the player of the game, but now I gotta revise and say he and Vereen are co-players of the game.
Cal Football: It could happen!
by CalBandGreat on Nov 15, 2009 12:20 PM PST up reply actions
Why is the guy on the left is trying to force choke Vereen?
by Kai on Nov 15, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
lawl
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
by GoldBlooded on Nov 15, 2009 12:32 PM PST up reply actions
Tedford needs a day in a spa or something. Or to drink the blood of virgins.
President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Nov 15, 2009 10:30 AM PST reply actions 4 recs
In best John Wayne voice..
“All I need is for my qb to stop throwin’ picks, partnah.”
by BlackandOldGold on Nov 15, 2009 10:40 AM PST up reply actions
Unfortunately, you cannot post the best picture taken last night.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Nov 15, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions
Probably Twist and him staring longingly into each other’s eyes.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Nov 15, 2009 2:16 PM PST up reply actions
Surprisingly close.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Nov 15, 2009 2:29 PM PST up reply actions
Was there honking involved? If so, please call the cops and Childrens’ Services
Costs assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Nov 15, 2009 2:40 PM PST up reply actions
I’m hoping there’s a good pick of the one Cam Jordan sack where he just flies in like Superman.
"Let me tell you a story. I was a political prisoner for two years. The instant I was released I ran to McDonald's. I had a Big Mac and a Coke.
It was fantastic."
-Toyama Koichi, US Presidential candidate from Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZqOkeYbB0
lol we dropped Arizona from rankings
http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings
SC is still ranked, but lower than Stanford!
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
I like our run D…but if Gerhart ran all over USC, Oregon, and ASU, I don’t have a lot of hope that we’re going to miraculously shut him down.
dboneisloose
Get ready for a HONKING, Gerhart!
Ze Germans Shall Fall!
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS
by Thoroughbred on Nov 15, 2009 11:22 AM PST up reply actions
Oregon took ‘furd lightly. ’sc took ’furd more seriously, but were still drinking the scarlet n’ gold kool-aid that comes with Pom Pom never losing in November and being nearly invincible at the Coliseum, etc.
Our guys are going into this game fired up and ready to scratch and bleed for every inch.
Emotion and morale are everything in college ball.
On paper, we’re screwed. But, fortunately for us, we’re playing this one on grass.
Game on, bitches.
by Kodiak on Nov 15, 2009 1:02 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Dick Tomey?
Cal had a lot of lucky breaks, from dropped passes, to Nick Foles missing streaking receivers downfield, to surviving two really bad Riley interceptions (one on the offensive line, one on him), to Mike Stoops and Dick Tomey calling a curious amount of runs to Keola Antolin on 1st and 2nd down,
Am I missing something here?
Praise be to Tedford!
Well I’m an idiot. Hold on, fixing that.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Nov 15, 2009 2:09 PM PST up reply actions
FYI for interested parties:
Dunno if this was already on TV, but CSNCA is currently playing the Cal-Oregon Volleyball game.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
I think it’s live.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Nov 15, 2009 2:09 PM PST up reply actions
Best of luck from Duck country
You got a HUGE cheer from Autzen when they announced the score last night.
NOW WIN THE AXE! GO CAL!
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
by skywaker9 on Nov 15, 2009 2:38 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Furd prelim 8 point favorites
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Nov 15, 2009 2:39 PM PST reply actions
TAKE THE POINTS!
TAKE THE AXE!
WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?
by Thoroughbred on Nov 15, 2009 2:47 PM PST up reply actions
Forsett is over 100 yards! Wish I could see the game.
OK, back on topic. In 1974, Stanf*rd beat us in Memorial with a last second 52 yard field goal, and won by 2. In 1975, Stanf*rd was favored to beat the Bears by 2. But we won 48 to 15.
Hmm. This post doesn’t have enough of that college football fever.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ah, that’s better.
We’re 25th in the BCS Poll…
Have Furd and Cal ever both been ranked for a Big Game?
WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?
1991, when Cal went to the Citrus Bowl and Furd went to the Alamo Bowl?
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Nov 15, 2009 5:51 PM PST up reply actions
was Furd ranked then?
WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?
by Thoroughbred on Nov 15, 2009 5:53 PM PST up reply actions
StUCK FANFORD!
KEEP THE AXE!
NO ROSES FOR FURD. NO EFFING WAY. NO NO NO NO NO NO
I don’t care what bowl Cal goes to, but keeping the axe means furd has no way to get to Pasadena.
And when did furd players get so big? They must be juicing…
And when did furd players get so big? They must be juicing…
I don’t know how valid this statement is, but I do wonder about Harbaugh’s character after their game against Stanford…
Post-game thoughts from AZDesertSwarm
Game Plan: Cal had a great defensive game plan Saturday night. The Cal defense was well-coached and prepared for Arizona’s offensive attack. Arizona’s screen game was flustered all night, many of the short routes that are always there for Foles were stifled all night long by Cal’s zones. Cal’s secondary has been torched all season long, but last night they held strong against a potent Arizona passing offense.
FIRE GREGORY!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
My favorite "Cardinal Be Damned" Lyric
I’m getting fired up!
Sung to the Ramblin’ Wreck song:
If we find a Stanfurd “man” within our sacred walls,
We’ll take him down to Menlo and amputate his b*lls,
And if that doesn’t fix him, I’ll tell you what we’ll do,
We’ll stuff his *ss with broken glass and seal it up with glue.
And we would, too.
Method Man should write more university fight songs.
"Let me tell you a story. I was a political prisoner for two years. The instant I was released I ran to McDonald's. I had a Big Mac and a Coke.
It was fantastic."
-Toyama Koichi, US Presidential candidate from Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZqOkeYbB0
more lyrics
Oh I’m a Stanford whore and I fuck for fifty cents
I’ll spread my legs out on the ground, my pants out on the fence.
I’ll fuck almost anyone if you’ve got the fee
but you can get the hell off me if you’re from USC!
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Golden Bears Football Schedule
| Fresno St. | Sat 09/03 | W 36 - 21 |
@
Colorado
|
Sat 09/10 | W 36 - 33 |
| Presbyterian | Sat 09/17 | W 63 - 12 |
|
@
Washington
|
Sat 09/24 | L 23 - 31 |
|
@
Oregon
|
Thu 10/06 | L 15 - 43 |
|
USC
|
Thu 10/13 | L 9 - 30 |
|
Utah
|
Sat 10/22 | W 34 - 10 |
|
@
UCLA
|
Sat 10/29 | L 14 - 31 |
|
Washington St.
|
Sat 11/05 | W 30 - 7 |
|
Oregon St.
|
Sat 11/12 | W 23 - 6 |
|
@
Stanford
|
Sat 11/19 | L 28 - 31 |
|
@
Arizona St.
|
Fri 11/25 | W 47 - 38 |
|
@
Texas
|
Wed 12/28 | L 10 - 21 |
Pacific-12 Conference Standings
(updated 1.2.2012 at 11:12 PM PST)
| North | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Oregon Ducks
|
8 | 1 | 12 | 2 |
|
Stanford Cardinal
|
8 | 1 | 11 | 2 |
|
Washington Huskies
|
5 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
|
California Golden Bears
|
4 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
|
Oregon St. Beavers
|
3 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
|
Washington St. Cougars
|
2 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| South | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
USC Trojans
|
7 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
|
UCLA Bruins
|
5 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
|
Utah Utes
|
4 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
|
Arizona St. Sun Devils
|
4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|
Arizona Wildcats
|
2 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
|
Colorado Buffaloes
|
2 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
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