Avinash: Yeah, but we tried the Wildcat in a weird, low-risk environment (3rd down and 4 on the first drive in our own territory). Of course the execution was completely wrong. 

2008 is a decent example of unconventional playcalling going completely wrong. Do you think in the future Tedford should try to mix it up or try to out-USC the Trojans by playing a conventional pro-style game that they usually show against other Pac-10 opponents?

Hydrotech (continued): I think Tedford should do what he thinks is best.  I'm not going to quite say that he needs to be more conventional or unconventional against USC.  I don't think Cal needs to be more unconventional against USC just because it's USC.  Cal isn't like The Citadel taking on Miami.  Cal doesn't need to get overly fancy and throw every trick in the book and resort to crazy hail-mary/roll-the-dice types of plays.  Cal can play its usual game, its usual offense, to beat USC.

My point is that sure we're offensively not as talented as USC's defense, but we're not so out-talented that we need to get crazy.  To illustrate my point with numbers, Cal's offense is like an 8.  USC's defense is like a 10.  The Citadel is like a 1.  For The Citadel to beat the USCs and Miamis of the world, they need to get crazy.  Perhaps even crunk.

Avinash: However, we did try the flea-flicker against UCLA. The hook and ladder against the Furd. The wide receiver pass against Oregon State. You could argue that without those types of plays we have a much tougher time in our first two games, and get blown out by OSU. Wouldn't this suggest more trickery was needed against tougher opponents?

I am putting "trick plays" and "trickery" in quotes because as I've already discussed in previous posts, I do not believe there are such things as "trick plays."