Golden Nuggets: Our Axe! Our House!

by Berkelium97 on Nov 22, 2009 5:00 PM PST in Golden Nuggets Comment 84 comments

Whose domicile? OUR DOMICILE!

In only his third start, Vereen had the game of his career with 193 yards and three touchdowns on an astounding 42 carries. JO caught up with him on the field immediately after the clock hit 0:00.

"I needed to do anything I could do to help our team win," Vereen said on the field immediately after the game, his voice choking with emotion. "I've never carried that many times, and I never thought I would carry that many times. I came into the game prepared for anything."

After the jump, we have a smörgåsbord of stories on last night's incredible win (which should easily be among the top-5 of Tedford's career). From rankings to bowl projections to post-game quotes from Tedford and Harbaugh, there are plenty of stories covering a fantastic game. Also, thanks to TouchedTheAxeIn82, the torrent is already available! Tomorrow I'll wrap up the rest of the weekend in Cal sports, which included tough losses from women's basketball and women's volleyball. For now, continue reveling in victory!

Click here to download the torrent of yesterday's win. Once you're done downloading, keep seeding for everyone else who wants to preserve this game for all eternity. Click here to vote in royrules22's top-25 poll. For every ballot you don't submit, I'll submit three that have Texas at every position in the top-10.

Cal Football

Cal moves up to 22nd in the BCS rankings and makes another appearance in the AP poll at 21st. They're 26th in the Coaches' poll.
Tedford and Harbaugh at the post-game press conference. Tedford defends the decision to kneel the ball in the middle of the field on third down because it gave Cal the best possible chance to avoid a turnover and to get a field goal, which would force Stanford to score a TD to win. He says this is among the best Big Game wins in his career. Harbaugh says he thinks his team won on special teams, but that was about it. He admits they were dominated in the trenches.
The victory really meant something to Shane, who had tears in his eyes as he was being interviewed by JO immediately after the game. The players lobbied Tedford to give them today off after the big win. Some fun stats: Cal's 31 first downs ties them with Oregon for the Pac-10 high this year, Vereen had the most carries since Terrell Williams had 36 in Cal's pillow fight against Rutgers in 2001. Mike Tepper says "it was an honor for me to block for Shane."
Vereen and Tedford earned helmet stickers from Ted Miller. Vereen for his legendary performance and Tedford for taking his team to a 5-1 record after being the national laughingstock following the Oregon/USC faceplants.
Dr Saturday says Shane Vereen deserves an ice pack, a deep massage, and a good's night sleep. Vereen's workload ties this year's FBS record for most carries in a game. The good doctor says this should buy Cal some national respect for demonstrating resilience after their blowout losses to Oregon and USC.
All week long Tedford said he heard about how "physical" Stanford was, yet he patiently waited for Saturday when he said "we're going to find out who's physical." After falling down 14-0, Cal was the most physical team on the field as they dominated the trenches and held the ball for 26 of the next 36 minutes.
Cam Inman recaps what he called an "epic" game, sealed by "The Interception." Daily Cal recaps the game. Wilner, who said Stanford would dominate this game, recaps the upset.
Luck had a tough day as he struggled to connect with his receivers. He was 10/30 for 157 yards and also fumbled the ball three times.
Ray Ratto attempts to sort out the madness of the Pac-10 bowl games. Ted Miller predicts a Sun Bowl for Cal.

0 recs | Comment 84 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Hahaha

Anybody see this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WabdOIxVJvI&feature=

by GBB4188 on Nov 22, 2009 5:08 PM PST reply actions 4 recs

No, I had not seen this. But it is hilarious!!!

by paleodan on Nov 22, 2009 5:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Exceptional.

WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?

by Thoroughbred on Nov 22, 2009 5:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha, too awesome

by joshpeng on Nov 22, 2009 5:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

JO caught up with him on the field immediately after the clock hit 0:00.

Not true. Immediately after the clock hit 0:00, I jumped on Vereen and hugged him.

by Rishi on Nov 22, 2009 5:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

kneeling on a 3rd down to prevent a turnover

WTF is the chance of a turnover? how many plays did we run vs that 1 fumble we had in the game? what are the chances of a turnover in a handoff. If that’s something you’re not willing to face, that’s pathetic. This isn’t even as risky as going for it on a 4th and 1. Like I said it didn’t matter if we lost a few yards, got sacked, didn’t get the 1st down or whatever. We’d still kick the FG. The chance that we COULD get the ball was turned over was SO little. By doing this, it shows Tedford has no faith in our o-line or Riley’s handoff abilities, or Shane’s ability to hold onto the ball.

Running the ball on 3rd down would’ve been the least risky play you could run in a situation like this. We didn’t NEED a TD to win, but it would’ve been nice to get it, or to at least try for it even if most likely you’re going to settle for a FG.

by dmo580 on Nov 22, 2009 5:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I completely didn’t agree with that.

Do realise he centred the ball too, to make the FG easier.

by Rishi on Nov 22, 2009 5:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt “Tedford has no faith in our o-line etc etc”… And I also think he had a lot of faith in our D.

It was ultra-conservative, and he misjudged the downsides of running a diff play.

If you were watching the TV broadcast, you even saw that Riley was pissed at the decision. He shook his when there was a close up.

WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?

by Thoroughbred on Nov 22, 2009 5:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t have a huge problem with the kneel down because the 3 points were very valuable and i don’t think the chances of the offense getting 9 yards were high. The problem was the previous 2 plays that didn’t have much of a chance of getting yardage.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Nov 22, 2009 6:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Tedford was more concerned about missing the FG by going at it from the hash than he was about getting a turnover.

by GBB4188 on Nov 23, 2009 1:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah now that you bring it up, that's an excellent point...

Centering the ball makes more sense.

But if it’s about not being able to get that 9 yards, that’s not the point. To me it seems a running play would run the clock the same way. Furd would burn a timeout, and even if we got nowhere, we’d be just where we were if we kneeled.

by dmo580 on Nov 23, 2009 1:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I was hoping

we would throw it to the end zone – not on that third down, but on first down. Then run it twice into the line, to center the ball.

by LeonPowe on Nov 23, 2009 5:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

yes, both Taveccio and D'amato have really struggled from teh

right hash.

it was the first and second down plays there where we didn’t go for the kill, third down was the right call.

Go Bears Go

by Rocksanddirt on Nov 23, 2009 11:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I still think they could at least have done a run play towards the left. It probably would have been stopped for a couple yard gain, but it would have been roughly centered and had at least the chance of breaking one.

by tmoran3020 on Nov 23, 2009 11:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Like most (all?) of us, I didn't like the play call either. But ...

Tedford has been strongly (and reasonably) criticized for two late-game decisions: the ultra-aggressive decision to have Vereen throw vs. ASU, and the ultra-conservative decision to take a knee. I guess a case can be made that what we don’t like is the “ultra” part of these scenarios, but it still smacks of a fan base being unsatisfiable. We want the Bears to be more aggressive, except when we want the Bears to be more conservative.

Maybe the important thing to remember is this: Cal won both games. Maybe not because of these coaching decisions, but at worst, despite them. The season’s not over yet, but I will remember 2009 for several things:

1. Winning in L.A. for the first time under Tedford;
2. Emphatically holding onto our Mojo as Harbaugh and Co. were threatening to steal it away;
3. The emergence the last two weeks of Shane Vereen and a young offensive line finally starting to put it together;
4. Promising signs of a very nice offensive partnership between Tedford and Ludwig;
and (here’s where I get back on point),
5. The Bears winning close games, especially on the road.

Much has been made about bouncing back from adversity, exorcising the memories of 2007. Yes, that’s big. But being able to consistently win in the 4th quarter (@Minnesota, @ASU, Arizona, @Stanford) is a HUGE step forward for the Bears. I don’t know how much trends like this transfer from one season to the next, but we’ve all got to like the momentum Cal has right now and be optimistic heading into December and 2010 ahead.

Go Bears!

by California Pete on Nov 23, 2009 8:16 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs

I completely agree that Mohammed’s interception deserves a “the” and capital letters.

"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

by AERose on Nov 22, 2009 5:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Down South...

…Daniel Moore would already be doing sketches for an oil painting of Mike Mohammed to be called “The Pick” and be available for purchase just in time for Christmas.

by VandyImport on Nov 22, 2009 6:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Go Bears!

by MBT91_78 on Nov 22, 2009 6:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

This one is going to feel good for a long, long time. It was just a very satisfying win in just about every way. It was a great domination of Furd in their place. And damn, it feels hella good.

Whose Axe?

OUR AXE!

by SoCal Oski on Nov 22, 2009 6:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I think this victory more than anything finally exorcised the demons of 2007.

There was a lot of talk about how our victory against Oregon last year was “the one” but I think this victory against the Furd was truly the one. It capped off a season that went exactly opposite of what Cal would’ve done (and did do) a few years back.

Two gut-wrenching blowout losses that took us out of Pac-10 race? Check.
One horrific injury and lackluster performance? Check.
Horrific collapse? Nope.

Instead Cal showed their resliency and fought back to win tough games in the Rose Bowl, in Tempe against a ranked Arizona that should’ve killed us and almost beat Oregon and dominated a ranked Stanfurd team in their home in a game that everything thought was over when Stanfurd went up 14-0. This is a different gutty team and Tedford deserves a lot of credit for this. Something that the folks at BearInsider fail to realize.

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Nov 22, 2009 7:03 PM PST reply actions 3 recs

Riley said the exact same thing post-game

I really really like watching this team play. Not to be too hyperbolic/homerish, but this seems like the best group of kids Tedford has put out on a field since he’s been here. The grit and heart they’ve shown should make all Cal fans proud

by calbeers05753 on Nov 22, 2009 7:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If we have to hear crap about ‘collapses’ from the media next year I’m going to be pissed. If we beat Washington or win the bowl game Cal will have won at least 9 games in 4 of the last 6 seasons, and 8 wins in another season. That is not the record of a team with a ‘collapsing’ problem.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Nov 22, 2009 7:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Dr. Saturday

Totally agree about the collapsing myth. But Dr. Saturday hit the nail on the head when he said Tedford’s Cal has a problem losing random games that they should win

by calbeers05753 on Nov 22, 2009 8:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This year we have, to date, not lost a game we should have won.

President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Nov 22, 2009 8:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The thing is, most teams do that. Hell, USC does that.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Nov 22, 2009 8:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, but we are getting to the program point that a random stupid loss

is a big deal, cause we might not have many losses at all.

Go Bears Go

by Rocksanddirt on Nov 22, 2009 9:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a problem that doesn’t seem to be unique to Cal. Happens to everyone in the Pac-10…

by Missing Barry on Nov 22, 2009 9:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

~~Tedford’s Cal has~~ Pac-10 teams have a problem losing ~~random~~ conference games that they should win

Fixed.

CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.

by BearStage on Nov 22, 2009 11:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It happens but....

USC (excluding this season, because I think this season they’re actually not that great) loses random games. 1 a season or so. It’s never a blowout loss either.

The way we got blown out this year was like uhhhh. Maryland blew us out too. Arizona stomped on us last year also.

Not to mention our blowout losses to Oregon and SC this year. OSU had us shot too the whole game.

The problem with our losses right now are where the whole offense stalls. We’re not talking just Riley throwing bad. Our running game crashes, and so does our passing game. At the same time the fragile special teams that almost screws us every game seems to be extra screwing us over… so it’s just an all around collapse when we lose. It kinda sucks too. Even looking at SC’s games, they can answer like when Oregon scored or when Furd scores…. and then finally their opponent pulls away… but at least they fought on a little more ><

by dmo580 on Nov 23, 2009 1:30 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I’m just talking about the random ones. We didn’t really have any of those this year, but there are always some in the Pac-10 every year. They rarely happen out of conference, though (at least it feels that way)

Anyway, I LOVE this Pac-10 season. In general, the most exciting Pac-10 season I’ve seen in quite a while!! :-)

CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.

by BearStage on Nov 23, 2009 2:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah well you’re using USC as your measuring stick, what do you expect? We’re going to fall short, just like every other team in the country. Just to use a different baseline: OSU last year lost to Penn St 45-14 and Oregon 65-38. The year before they lost 34-3 to Cinncinati, 40-14 to UCLA, 24-3 to USC. The year before that they lost 42-14 to Boise St, 41-13 to Cal, 25-7 to UCLA…did I mention they finished the season ranked in all three of those years?

The point is it’s college football. There are injuries, teams are composed of 18-22 year old kids, all the different schemes run throughout college football present different matchups, and sometimes a team just doesn’t match up as well against one team as another. These losses happen, and to pretty much all good teams. As I said the first time, this is hardly unique to Cal.

by Missing Barry on Nov 23, 2009 9:20 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs

Feel obliged to stir the pot...

I have never been angrier after a Big Game victory. The Bears’ players were gutsy, showed heart, and gave everything they had in that game. And the coaching staff just about cost them the game:
Tedford’s decision not to go for it on 4th and less than 1 to keep Stanford’s offense off the field (Predictably results in Stanford TD in less than 2 minutes)
Tedford’s decision to have Riley take a knee on third down on the Bears final drive, rather than attempting to sustain the drive and run out clock OR ice the game with a TD
Gregory’s decision to rush only 3 and drop into the usual zone on Stanford’s second to last drive, resulting in the long completion to Owusu.
These decisions are emblematic of why Cal can’t beat teams like Oregon St., Oregon, and U$C. This coaching conservatism is why Tedford will NEVER take the Bears to the Rose Bowl while the likes of Chip Kelly, Mike Riley, and Pete Carroll are around. All the pieces were there this year, and Cal missed yet another opportunity to take the next step. Until Tedford and Gregory start coaching to win (rather than coaching not to lose), this will be our lot in life. Is it any wonder recruits like Jay Guy decommit??? I don’t know how much more of this I can take…..

by RickySanchez on Nov 22, 2009 9:25 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Putting your arguments about JT and Gregory aside, did it ever occur to you that our defense coming into this season was grossly overrated? I’m not talking about the coaching; I’m talking about the talent level. Hagan’s regression took away what was supposed to be a Cal strength – the secondary. I will even make the argument that none of our current starting LBs are future NFL draft picks.

i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*

by ch0ster on Nov 22, 2009 9:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Frankly, I think you’re just wrong on these points. Let’s start off where we’re in agreement – the two specific plays – the 4th down and the kneel down, I agree with you, I would have liked to see them go for it. The rest….not so much in agreement. First, I don’t like rushing 3, but this wasn’t the first time all game they tried it – in fact, they did it fairly often and it had been effective all game. Luck was 10/30 for 157 yards on the day, and a decent amount of that happened against a 3 man rush. I can’t blame Gregory for going with a strategy that was working all game long.

Second…I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Tedford basically already has taken Cal to the Rose Bowl, it just took a major BCS conspiracy that kept them out. No one besides Pete Carroll has gone to a Rose Bowl since Tedford has been here. This year that will change – but for the loser of the Civil War, you can’t point to them as any more successful than Tedford, because the opposite is in fact true; Tedford has been more successful than them. I don’t see how you can possibly be so upset after Cal beat a team, on the road (kind of), that dismantled USC and Oregon like Stanford did. This was a quality win by a quality program, and should be celebrated, and is a big sign that Tedford and the coaching staff are doing a good job.

by Missing Barry on Nov 22, 2009 9:43 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs

btw

You’re right, regarding covering up the TE. I see the plays you’re talking about now. I’ll be sure to talk about that in my post-game thoughts. Pretty rare that we do this kind of stuff.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by HydroTech on Nov 23, 2009 4:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome, looking forward to your recaps.

by Missing Barry on Nov 23, 2009 9:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I have never been angrier after a Big Game victory.

Sounds like you’ve come to take winning for granted. Winning is never guaranteed and football is, in the end, just a game (I’d hoped that Jahvid’s injury would’ve put that into perspective for many and not be forgotten so soon). If you can’t enjoy a win, regardless of flaws, you need to take a step back and get some perspective. You’re going to give yourself an aneurysm/heart attack, otherwise.

by BleedinBlue on Nov 22, 2009 9:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, one more point, while you say the coaching staff just about cost them the game, that makes it sound like the only influence the coaching staff was on those 3 plays. Overall the coaching was great all game long – and what you do for the other 97% of the game matters a lot more to winning than decisions on 3 plays. Give credit where credit is due – this was a well coached game overall for Cal.

by Missing Barry on Nov 22, 2009 9:48 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs

Yeah, aside from a few game management decisions (specifically the 4th and inches, and the centering of the ball), the coaching – both pre-game preparation coaching and in-game management coaching decisions – all seemed pretty good.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by HydroTech on Nov 22, 2009 11:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know how much more of this I can take…..

I, TOO, AM UPSET THAT WE ARE 8-3!!! HOW DARE WE SUCCEED!

President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Nov 22, 2009 9:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If you really think the reason for the long completion to Owusu is because Gregory only rushed three guys… you really missed out on what really happened on that play.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by HydroTech on Nov 22, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

go on…

Undefeated in Southern California since Oct. 2009...

by CruzinBears on Nov 22, 2009 10:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, Cal didn’t actually rush three passrushers (see my comment below). But even if Cal had, the real problem was that Johnson was playing extremely deep on the play, and playing outside leverage which gives up inside routes. Since Owusu was lined up to the offense’s right (defense’s left), the inside routes are to the more open side of the field which lead to bigger completions. Even with Johnson’s deep coverage and outside leverage, if Cal was actually rushing three passrushers, there would have probably been more deep support for Johnson which wouldn’t have resulted in a completion, or it at least would have made the completion a lot tougher.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by HydroTech on Nov 22, 2009 10:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i read your post below right before you responded, i totally agreed w/ you just hadn’t watched the play that closely to remember the d in the sitch, thanks for the clarification

Undefeated in Southern California since Oct. 2009...

by CruzinBears on Nov 22, 2009 10:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Tedford’s decision not to go for it on 4th and less than 1 to keep Stanford’s offense off the field (Predictably results in Stanford TD in less than 2 minutes)

I agree he should have gone for it, but there was nothing predictable about Stanford scoring in 2 minutes. Although going for it would have been good, Tedford had every reason to trust the defense’s performance and a 10 point lead to that point.

Tedford’s decision to have Riley take a knee on third down on the Bears final drive, rather than attempting to sustain the drive and run out clock OR ice the game with a TD

as I said above, the bigger problem was getting no yards on 1st and 2nd down. Then we’re faced with either a run that probably wouldn’t get the 1st down and create a dangerous FG angle or a potential incomplete pass that would stop the clock. Plus, the FG turned out to be HUGE at the end of the game.

Gregory’s decision to rush only 3 and drop into the usual zone on Stanford’s second to last drive, resulting in the long completion to Owusu.

Gregory and Cal’s defense had a great game against a great offense. Criticizing one play is ignoring the successes of the rest of the game.

These decisions are emblematic of why Cal can’t beat teams like Oregon St., Oregon, and U$C.

Coaching conservatism is #3,592 on the list of reasons we lost to Oregon, OSU and USC.

I don’t know how much more of this I can take…..

Then feel free to follow a team that doesn’t make you angry. The point of sports is to have fun. I’d hate for you to follow a team that makes you angry

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Nov 22, 2009 10:05 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

As for the knee thing

Can’t we use a running play to help center the ball? As many have said, the issue is not getting the TD or getting the First Down. It’s about at least running a play that would have SOME CHANCE at those results. I really need to look at what a FG from that distance and angle would look like, but if we needed to center the ball, can’t we use a running play to do so?

But I guess with all our kicking woes, unless we had that UCLA kicker or something, I wouldn’t trust D’Amato or Tavecchio with a 20 yarder… That’s why I almost passed out during the ASU game :P

by dmo580 on Nov 23, 2009 11:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

we had beaten oregon 3 years in a row…

and, really, it’s naive to judge recruiting this early in the year.

granted, i disagree wholeheartedly with kneel situation, and the coaches almost blew it there. but they also did a fantastic job of preparing the team for the game too. you can’t blame them for all the faults and not give them credit for any successes.

WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?

by Thoroughbred on Nov 22, 2009 10:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

you can’t blame them for all the faults and not give them credit for any successes.

woah woah woah, whats the point of writing an angry screed online if you can’t do that?? Thats the basic point of angry screeds everywhere!

President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Nov 22, 2009 10:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

FIRE TWISTNHOOK

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Nov 22, 2009 10:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This.

by paleodan on Nov 22, 2009 10:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

screed?

CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.

by BearStage on Nov 23, 2009 1:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

would rant work better?

President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Nov 23, 2009 8:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah.

CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.

by BearStage on Nov 23, 2009 8:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, I just watched that deep pass to Owusu again

That long pass to Owusu was on the 3rd to last Furd possession. And here’s the kicker… Cal actually rushed five guys. The coverage was man coverage too, not zone. So I mean… I’m sure you’re advocating for more pass rushers and more man coverage. You got exactly that on the play you are referencing and Stanfurd completed a deep pass for an easy 37 yards.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by HydroTech on Nov 22, 2009 10:10 PM PST up reply actions 6 recs

Who am I going to believe? The actual play as it occurred or the remembrance of an anonymous fan on the internet???? I mean c’mon!

President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Nov 22, 2009 10:24 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I don’t really see a reason why ‘all the pieces’ can’t be there next year. It depends on what other teams lose to the NFL and graduation, but we have basically all our offense back except for (probably) Best and Tucker. Both will be sorely missed but not irreplaceable.

Two spots we’ll need gamers to step up in: for Alualu and Syd. We actually have talented players for both these roles.

All this said, I think what hurt us the most this year was the LBs lack of speed + coverage ability. If this can be remedied next year (either by the new guys coming into the role or possibly the true frosh LB/DE hybrids we have on our radar), I think we can be an even better team.

Remember, our OL dominated this game, and I can see the that carrying over because Tepper has played at replacement level (and we lose no other starters).

WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?

by Thoroughbred on Nov 22, 2009 10:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Just look at the position Oregon and Oregon State are in right now. Both teams lost a host of players to the NFL, but they had talented guys waiting in the wings in key areas. We need those recruits, and now that the facilities are on their way, I don’t think we’ll be as hindered as we were during the 2007 and 2008 recruiting classes.

WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?

by Thoroughbred on Nov 22, 2009 10:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

MSG is the key to our OL it seems.

President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Nov 22, 2009 10:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He’s definitely one of the keys. If he doesn’t play the Big Game, I’m not sure we win. He had a number of key blocks that helped us move the ball big time. But he also an oopsie or two. He’s still a RS-Frosh, and he will be an All Pac10 first teamer when it’s all said and done in my opinion. It seems like Schwartz has rediscovered his mojo and is blocking with a purpose now. Perhaps he had an injury or was sick, but the dude has played very well the last 2 games. I’m still a bit iffy with Guarnero. He has big trouble playing against more talented, physical DTs, but he’s pretty good against the rest. Cheadle needs to get things together BIG TIME if he wants to stay at RG. I have hope for him, though. We’re going to lose Grandpa Tepper, who I have admittedly voiced not so nice things against in recent past, but he’s been pretty consistent throughout the year but can be very hit/miss at times.

We have a ton of young talent in the wings (Ragland, Siddoway, Brazinski) and good backups (Edwards, Schwenke, Galas). Four starters on the OL will be coming back next year sans LT. The key to the OL is experience, which breeds consistency.

Things are looking good for our OL in the future.

by Cali49a on Nov 23, 2009 11:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

after rewatching the game this evening, I feel like we got a good dose of what we might be able to expect from our team next year… We have quite a few sophomores and juniors returning next year, Hopefully they will continue to grow, and improve.

I for one am celebrating this game and this team, the improvements form last season are clear… Vastly improved road record… A win in L.A. …….. A win in an another time zone…. A refusal to quit after two detrimental losses, resulting in 5 wins in in the next 6 games… The Axe… Turning Stanfurd into Bear Territory….

Undefeated in Southern California since Oct. 2009...

by CruzinBears on Nov 22, 2009 10:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Undefeated in Southern California since Oct. 2009...

by CruzinBears on Nov 22, 2009 10:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You’re an idiot

by BerkeleyChris on Nov 22, 2009 11:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Come on dude, we can do better than name-calling here.

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash on Nov 23, 2009 12:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry man, next time I’ll hug it out

by BerkeleyChris on Nov 23, 2009 1:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely!

I think the next time anyone posts here with a dissenting opinion, rather than show him where and why he is wrong, while allowing him to retain his wrong opinion, the mods should instead threaten him, call him names, and (inevitably) ban him. After all, it’s the only way to maintain the freedom for us to say what the moderators want.

Just ask bn for some guidance.

Whose Axe?

OUR AXE!

by SoCal Oski on Nov 23, 2009 8:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The Dude would not approve

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash on Nov 23, 2009 8:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, well, that’s just like, um, your opinion, man.

Whose Axe?

OUR AXE!

by SoCal Oski on Nov 23, 2009 9:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rec'd, Rec'd, 1000 times Rec'd

Although I was ecstatic after the win, not angry. A Big Game win at Stanfurd is so totally awesome, and my #1 goal each year. Other goals come after.

I thought our players played awesome, and the coaches nearly took it away from them. The coaches made several good decisions throughout the game, including clock management at the half, but making game-losing caliber decisions trumps that. I expect great coaching decisions – they’re a lot easier than throwing or catching a long 3rd down pass. I forgive the unpaid kids for failing to execute sometimes. The well-paid coaches I have higher standards for, and some of you are way too forgiving of them.

I think Ricky should be a lot happier with the win, but he’s spot on with much of the criticism.

How one feels overall about Cal football can be very positive and yet include these coaching criticisms. I’m very happy about 8 and a shot at 9 wins, 6 in conference.

And if you want to beat the likes of OSU, Oregon and U$C the coaches aren’t stepping up.

I am not saying the grass is greener with some other coach, but if you agree with those calls you are a coach’s yes man, you believe in playing not to lose instead of playing to win, and you are not paying attention. There, I said it.

Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS

by JerrottWillard45 on Nov 23, 2009 5:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is clearly controversial and we are planning to take a closer look later in the week.

President Emperor Warlord Of The Sun!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Nov 23, 2009 5:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It must have taken a tazer to prevent royrules to respond to this one.

All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!

by rollonubears on Nov 23, 2009 9:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Judging from the number of players drinking their faces off at Kips tonight I would guess Tedford gave them the day off? A drunk Tepper is a cute and cuddly sight.

by Itchy25 on Nov 23, 2009 2:35 AM PST reply actions 3 recs

Go Bears!

Go Bears Go

by Rocksanddirt on Nov 23, 2009 11:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This being my last year as a student at Cal

I can honestly say that this game was the most exciting, emotional, and fulfilling game I have ever attended. Rushing that field was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life. I have never been prouder to be a Bear.

I am Ted Miller

by ava1anche69 on Nov 23, 2009 2:37 AM PST reply actions 2 recs

this game was the most exciting, emotional, and fulfilling game I have ever attended.

I think you could use a few more adjectives. I’d kindly suggest the addition of the following: “the most amazing, sensational, traumatic, heart rending, exciting, thrilling” …

Go Bears!

by California Pete on Nov 23, 2009 8:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs