Golden Nuggets: Big Game Press Conference

JO has some quotes from yesterday's press conference.  CalBears.com has a full transcript of Tedford's quotes.  Tedford has some interesting opinions on the round-robin schedule.  Go here to see Harbaugh at the press conference.  If you want to play a fun game, count how many times he says "hubris."  Anyway, here are a couple quotes from Mike Tepper.  Not surprisingly, there is no shortage of motivation to win this year.

On Cal’s loss to Stanford in 2007

It’s probably one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had at Cal. My combined 0-6 record I have against USC, the loss to Stanford was worse than all six of those losses combined. It’s one of the worst feelings in the world. The community hurt more. It’s not just the team or the campus. It’s the community. That definitely fuels you.
...

On when he realized the magnitude of the Big Game

I realized how big it was when I lost it in ’07. That was probably one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had at Cal. Going 0-6 to SC is pretty bad, but losing the axe in ’07 was the worst feeling I ever had in my life. It tears you apart. It tears the community apart. It means a lot to us. I think we have to be very motivated to get it again this year.

After the jump I have more quick-hitters from the press conference, some fightin' words from Wilner, a look at which Pac-10 coaches are on the hotseat, a fun Q+A with bball's Nikola Knezevic, and some basketball tidbits (Kamp out for Thursday's game).

Cal Football

• JO has some notes from the press conference: Although Vereen usually relieved Best several times per game, Gould kept Vereen in for all but one carry because he felt he was managing the heavy workload quite well; Derrick Hill is "getting very close" to coming back and playing this weekend; Devin Bishop embraces Cal's underdog role in the Big Game because he likes surprising people and proving them wrong.
• Wilner thinks Stanford will easily win the Big Game.  He says their O-line, tight ends, and fullbacks will plow through Cal's front seven to open up big holes for Toby.  I don't quite agree with his reasoning: he comes to this conclusion because Stanford's starting O-linesmen, TE, fullback, and RB all weigh more than each of Cal's starting LBs.  He finishes the article saying "Stanford wins, and it won't be close." Them's fightin' words!
• Wilner was very impressed with Cal's performance Saturday (especially the defense) and gave it an A-.  Had Riley not thrown a couple of interceptions near the end zone, it would have been a solid A.
• Ted Miller looks at the temperatures of Pac-10 coaching hot seats: Tedford's is "tap water." I liked his answer for Mike Riley: absolute zero.

Cal Basketball

• Farudo has begun a series where he asks 20 unusual questions to members of the men's bball team.  Today's feature: Nikola Knezevic.  He says Oregon has the best fans in the Pac-10 (he wasn't allowed to pick Cal) and that he'd like to have dinner with Nixon or Lenin/Stalin (he's a big history fan).  He goes on to list his dream team, best-looking member of the Cal bball team, and more.  It's a fun read.  I was disappointed, however, that Farudo didn't ask Nikola who he would like to punch in the face.
• Although he practiced a bit yesterday, Harper Kamp will miss Thursday's Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament game against no. 25 Syracuse.
• Cal is 14th in Wilner's poll, two spots behind conference foe Washington.