Reveling in Victory - Cal
by CBKWit on Sep 12, 2009 7:58 PM PDT
in California Golden Bears Football
217 comments
The second in (hopefully) a thirteen part series, this is a quick recap of a glorious Cal victory. Commence reveling!
Not too much to say about this one - Cal was supposed to win big against an over-matched opponent and did exactly that. If a 52 point victory can be considered subdued, this game was. Cal again showed a dominance akin to the 2004 squad, but unlike last week's game, big plays were few and far between. No deep passes, no deluge of sacks, and the only truly long run was (rightly) called back to the 40, where Best had stepped out of bounds. The most exciting play of the game (aside from scoring an apple juice box for Spazzy McGee) was a 15-20 yard punt return by Ross, on which Will Kapp (I think) absolutely leveled an EWU player and Ross showed off his trademark hops to gain a few extra yards. Maybe the weather, overcast, dark, and cool contributed to the laid back atmosphere, and perhaps this is the sort of game we should expect when facing a very well coached but obviously athletically over-matched team - a slow, consistent, inevitable bludgeoning. The margin of victory was 13 points greater than last week's game, but few would say it was as interesting or exciting. We must, then, revel in the fact that a 50 point victory does not incite much reveling. A ho-hum victory at home over an FCS team - we might as well be in the SEC.
Cal never seemed to truly regain their dominant showing from the first 3 minutes. The offense did put up 59 points, but EWU took away the 40 yard plays Cal found last week and settled for methodical, run heavy drives against a physically inferior opponent. Cal's down-field passing gave way to short play action and screens - Cal's leading receivers were the fullback and the tight end, and I counted only two passes completed to wide receivers, one to Marvin Jones and one to Boateng. The defense held EWU to only the first touchdown, but the Eagles successfully moved the ball at times using short passes over the middle of the field.
So how was Cal able to come out with a 50 point victory, when they couldn't throw down the field and had difficulty leaving the field on third downs? Like most games, it came down to running the ball. Eastern Washington couldn't do it, and one minor weakness from last week's game (run defense) looked much improved for our bears. We'll find out over the next two games if that was due to the opponent or if Cal really has the run defense to stop SC. On offense, Cal was able to move the ball easily on the ground and could have come away with a comfortable victory without throwing a pass.
The lack of drama did not preclude positive developments from our team. Giorgio Tavecchio put his first two kicks inside the five yard line, although others that followed were not as strong. The run defense was improved, especially up front. Shane Vereen continues to excel with a slippery, low to the ground running style, and Covaughn Deboskie-Johnson looks great as the 3rd string back. DebOSKIe runs upright, but has very quick feet which allow him to shuffle and change directions quickly. Isi Sofele is VERY shifty which, coupled with his very small stature, makes him seemingly impossible to tackle. Anthony Miller looks smooth and sure-handed at tight end, as Riley and the other QBs looked frequently for the big target over the middle. Beau Sweeney seemed very comfortable running the offense and leading them to a last minute touchdown.
Vereen, starter for most teams
via d.yimg.com
In a game of limited upside, however, the potential downside is of greater importance. After Riley's extremely ill-advised shovel pass and Best's miraculous something out of nothing run, Jahvid limped off the field and did not return (not that he needed to - I think we were up by 35 at that point). He was limping on the sideline with a taped left ankle, though he was walking around and smiling to congratulate his teammates. Judging by his demeanor, he was not in very much pain, but he hasn't proven himself to be the most durable player and it was disappointing to seem him get dinged up on a meaningless, broken play late in a long since decided game. This goes without saying, but man, I hope he is ok.
Two games, two blowout wins. Tonight may only include predictable, subdued reveling, but 111-20 over only two games is cause for at least some celebration. GO BEARS!
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Just got back ffrom the game. SO MUCH FUN!
Tons of stories about the security guards being epic dicks and trying to boot almost an entire section worths of fans out of their seats. Frustrating. Ugh. Will write more about that later in Photo Essays.
But until then, this game was about 1 thing and 1 thing alone to me: Health. Nobody get hurt! Anything else was unimportant. A W is a W.
Since, to my knowledge, nobody got seriously injured, this game was a complete success. Sure, Riley didn’t play perfect and Best had a few hiccups, but as long as they are still healthy, I’m 100% happy. GO BEARS!
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
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Section south of the band, right?
I was a couple of rows up from the massive exodus of fans, without a wristband. Luckily, the security guard with the beanie stopped kicking people out short of my row.
IMO, game wasn’t as fun as the Maryland game. Was hoping to see more out of Kevin Riley but, word, at least no one got hurt.
Sounds like we were close to each other. We refused to leave for a bit. AndBears really tore into the fat security guard. He threatened to call the cops on her. Ultimately, a few of my friends, we just went about 20 rows up for the 2nd quarter. The fat security guard came by bothering people, but he passed us. Then, we came down back to where we were from before. And nobody bothered us. I wanted to go up to one of the security guards at the end of the game and go “I DIDNT HAVE A WRISTBAND!”
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
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I did the same thing as AndBears to I believe the same guy last week. Good times.
It'll be just you, me, and Peter Nincompoop.
I got kicked out of that section too, it was really annoying considering that it was completely empty. But I just had to move one section over into QQ where my tickets actually were.
by BornOnThePlay on Sep 13, 2009 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions
TwistNHook:
But until then, this game was about 1 thing and 1 thing alone to me: Health. Nobody get hurt!
BleedinBlue:
Was hoping to see more out of Kevin Riley but, word, at least no one got hurt.
Did you guys even read my post? Best was hurt! I hope, I hope, I hope, he is not seriously hurt.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
Tedford didn’t seem to mention it at the press conference (at least, JO didn’t say anything about it), so hopefully it’s not serious
Whose domicile? OUR DOMICILE!
by Berkelium97 on Sep 12, 2009 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s probably the same injury that’s bothered him through fall camp, but I doubt it’s anything more than minor or we would have heard word of it.
Contact if you want to chat: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
I doubt it
that was his toe, today he tweaked his ankle. He was definitely limping on the sideline, but that doesn’t mean he’s seriously hurt.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
The Chron article doesn’t seem to say anything.
Maybe as important, Cal made it out of the game healthy and continued to develop its depth for what the team hopes will be an eventual run at the Pac-10 crown.
“We feel like we’ve done a lot of great things,” Jahvid Best said. “We’ve got some things to clean up, but we’re happy with where we are right now.”
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I dont remember seeing him limp off the field after that play. I didnt watch it directly, tho. I was more freaked about that play where the EWU guy tried to tackle his feet and Best did a forward flip.
That said, if you say you saw him limp, I dont doubt it. I later saw him rush over to the goal line to celebrate Sofele’s TD. So, I think that whatever injury he may have had was minor. Hopefuly, it wont crop up again.
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I did see him walk funny after I play I can’t quite remember. I didn’t correlate that with the fact that he didn’t play for most of the second half, though. In other words, I totally missed the possibility that he was hurt. My bad.
by BleedinBlue on Sep 13, 2009 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions
I really don’t remember a limp at all either. Are you thinking of Chris Little? He had a limp after a special teams play if I remember.
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Nope.
Best. I was watching him before and after he congratulated Sofele and debOSKIe. Definitely limping, definitely taped left ankle. Spazzy can back me up on this.
But if they didn’t say anything about it afterwards, it’s probably not too serious.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
He definitely limped off the field as he jogged, favoring his left side.
I think we can all agree it is not a major, serious injury threat. However, having dings and tweaks will definitely slow you down, especially as the season wears on.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 13, 2009 2:03 AM PDT up reply actions
My conjecture
That extra year in the 3-4 defense has given us so much confidence in our scheme that we can pretend to have injuries to throw off visiting scouts!
Jahvid Best is so good at football, hes decided its more about the performance art than the game. It wasnt an injury, but an improvisational opportunity.
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by TwistNHook on Sep 13, 2009 7:53 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
No, I didnt read it. I dont care much for this blog. Its so inane!
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I’m staying the night at my little sis’ place, so I’m using her computer and subsequently not looking at things carefully. If she wants her computer back, I give, lest I lose computer privileges. Again, my bad, CBKWit!
by BleedinBlue on Sep 13, 2009 12:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Show that little sister who's boss!
Kidding, thanks for participating anyways.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
Brother, can you spare a highlight?
For those of us out of range of the Comcast feed, does anyone know where I can find a clip of Isi’s carries? Been excited about him for some time and would like to see his moves on the field.
Also, I see Sweeney completed a pass, but it doesn’t look like Mansion did; did Mansion get in the game? If not, anyone know why? DeBoskie’s stats are impressive; who looked better, him or Vereen?
And lastly, a shout-out to UCLA for beating the SEC (oops, I mean Tennessee) at their house. If the Pac-10 can go 1-2 against the SEC with Wash., UCLA and ASU, maybe I’ll hear less flack down the road.
Go Bears.
I'd like to smell the Roses before I die.
Mansion was in the game. His hand offs to Vereen and Deboskie were things of beauty.
I predict he transfers.
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Party yacht going to a more nautical location?
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Shane looked better. Covaughn’s stats were good, and I’m really happy for him that he got his first TD, but a lot of the holes he had by the 4th quarter were MASSIVE.
I was sad to not see Brock pass for the 2nd week in a row. Heck, they had Beau fake a handoff, roll right, and make a nice little pass, why not Brock?
Alright, fine, I admit it! "Hydration Technician" really DOES just mean "water boy!"
I am annoyed too. We aren’t letting him pass, even though he is the guy if Riley gets hurt? How dumb is that?
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
It’s totallllllly dumb. I think Ludwig should be canned!!!!
Contact if you want to chat: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
If that gets Mansion some throws, so be it.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
Sometimes I dont know if you are joking or if you are just that, yknow.
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Dude, I merely said Mansion should have got some throws because we are currently playing with fire with him as our backup. And Avinash mocked me. So instead of acting defensively, I decided to roll with his mockery.
I would like to think I am quite reasonable. Ludwig is doing an absolutely fantastic job, but Mansion needs some throws.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions
So, if I understand you correctly, you were joking.
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That Ludwig should be fired? Yes, I was joking.
That Mansion should get some throws in? No, I was not.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Isi's HS runs
If you mean Sofele in HS, just type his name on Google, and u should get quite a few You Tube videos of his running in HS, at Cottonwood High, Utah.
Isi's Saturday highlights
Thanks, I’ve seen those. I want to see his EWU runs; sounds like he was impressive.
I'd like to smell the Roses before I die.
USC wins. Will College Gameday come to Cal for Cal vs USC?
…If both of us are undefeated?
Mmmmhmmmm
Anyone else like our chances in that game? Some SC fan was screaming at me after I left the game and I’d like for him to eat some crow. Actually, I’d like a lot of SC fans to eat, well, a lot of crow (except for our friendly non obnoxious Conquest Chronicle associates).
hard to say. sc looked pretty damn impressive today.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
No they didn't
They looked utterly beatable. OSU had a real lack of offense. OSU was overrated coming in.
U$C’s offense is totally suspect. Barkley is great for a freshman, but is a mere mortal.
What impressed me about $C was how they played in the 4th quarter. They are great athletes who kept high intensity, or maybe reached max intensity in the 4th quarter. They wore out an also physically impressive OSU defense. So that is something to worry about.
But if you took USC into the 4th quarter with a 2TD lead – I don’t see how they recover aside from giving them turnovers.
Scary thought – this is season 1 of 4 for Matt Barkley. He can go on the road against #8 OSU, with 105k fans, and maintain composure, even if his passing game was nothing special. I’m going to get tired of hearing his name in 2011.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 12, 2009 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I didn’t see the game, but the sense I get from the radio broadcast and some writing I’ve seen is that if OSU wasn’t so damn conservative they wouldn’t have been in a position that one end-of-game drive would lose them the game.
Tressel’s teams aren’t so good anymore that they can win without any creativity. It’s a shame a talent like Pryor is wasted playing in that offense.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
U$C Is also coached well...3/4 on 4th Down
They coach and play like they want to win, not hang around and hope.
I say this very grudgingly – but they know to go on 4th, and they can often get it.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 12, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Ironically, it was a lack of conservatism that cost OSU dearly at the end of the first half. With a little over a minute left in the half, SC out of timeouts, and OSU on its own 30-ish, the Buckeyes threw 2 incomplete passes deep down the field. It meant OSU couldn’t run out the clock and SC got the ball back w/ enough time to drive for a FG to end the half 10-10.
Praise be to Tedford!
Yeah, but that's different.
That was poor clock management. They weren’t desperate for a 1st down, playing from behind – they had a lead, and needed to prevent U$C from getting a free posession and scoring (which $C did).
I’m aggressive as a Sunday morning coach, but I’m not stupid!
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 13, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
There was some heisman hype for Terrelle Pryor preseason. Why? If the game is on the line, would you trust Pryor? I sure as hell wouldn’t.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 12, 2009 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Huge mental mistake by TP on the intentional grounding on last series. It basically killed any chance for a comeback drive.
Praise be to Tedford!
I just don’t in general trust him.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes. Everyone steals too.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
just one big hit
what I am hoping for the SC game, is that we can start the game with one big hit on the QB like the one we had on tennessee. Being a freshmen quarterback, nothing like a big hit to get you thinking and helping you lose your focus…
get off me bandwagoners!
http://blog.cleancutmedia.com
by cleancutmedia on Sep 12, 2009 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions
It'd be nice - but I'd like a sustained drive ending in a TD
…as our opening. Maybe the first 3 drives. And 3 defensive stands by us, starting the game 21-0. I want to beat them straight up. That’s my dream.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 13, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
4 v 4 : Best vs. McKnight
I. Can. Not. Wait!
Go Bears!
by California Pete on Sep 12, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Man you are getting ahead of yourselves
Minnesota: first actual road test.
Oregon: holy crap you aren’t worried about this game? I mean, sure, Oregon is beatable, but that is no joke in their house.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 12, 2009 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Eh.
When you get jeered at by USC fans, you feel like a damsel that’s been slighted and you expect your gentleman to kill the offender in a duel. Only, Cal hasn’t been able to defend my honor for the past few years. Sigh…
“Glove slap, baby glove slap…”
by BleedinBlue on Sep 13, 2009 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions
From a season-long perspective, with unrequited dreams of a Rose Bowl, I agree. Two big road tests loom large.
But even if the Bears lose both those games, and even if the Trojans stumble against Washington, I’m still looking forward to this matchup. After watching ‘SC last night, I am convinced Cal is the better football team, especially with the game in Berkeley. But I’m also equally convinced that ’SC has at least a 50-percent shot of nonetheless winning.
More than that, I am a huge fan of the running game, and I love it when two big-time running backs square off against each other. That used to be common in college football, but it’s been the age of the quarterback for so long, that it will be a very welcome change of pace (to me) to see the lion’s share of attention on #4 versus #4.
Go Bears!
by California Pete on Sep 13, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions
what blew me away was how in the world this Freshman, with barely a 50% pass completion in that game, found McKnight for a 19-yd gain on 3rd and nine, particularly when he started from his own, what, 5 yrd line? Maybe knowing at USC, you get an extra down from Carroll no matter what ( 3 of 4 on 4th downs) gave the young QB whatever hope or confidence to finish the 90-yard drive. I still don’t get it. Wtf happened to Buckeyes vaunting Defense at the end of the game?
Yes, I am completely biased, predjudiced, and can’t stop looking over my shoulder to see where that aroma of roses is coming from. But, I truly believe Cal is a better team that USC, OSU, BYU, and maybe even Alabama. We will automatically move up to 8th with the fall of Oakie State and Ohio. I still feel there are teams ahead of us in the ranking who are more than beatable, particularly the Trojans.
I wish I could believe that. Better than BYU? Sure, I’ll go for that. I think there’s a chance we beat USC. OSU, I dunno. But are we definitely better than USC or OSU? I don’t think we are. We only haev to play USC once – that’s the key. On that given day, we’ve got a really good shot to beat them. But best out of 10? I don’t like our chances.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Ducks beat non-ranked Purdue. But, next week they play ranked Utah, and I think they will fall again. USC pullled some kind of Trojan Magic very late in that game last nite to beat OSU, and that dropped OSU to #11 in AP…while we are at #8. If/when we beat both Ducks and Trojans, the rest of the Pac-10 will be much easier…’cept maybe for the dreaded “sixth” game, vs. UCLA. But if we drop 2 in the Pac-10 aftter beating both USC and UO, we will still win the Pac-10, as I am sure whoever wins USC/Ducks game will lose one more. So, we win the tie-breaker…..even IF we lose 2.
BTW, u may want to google “AP rankings” and see how close we are in points to moving up again. I am thinking more and more, after Oct. 3, Cal will be ranked #3, or, #2.
i think the damp and sprinkly rain
Held back the excitement. Bears were solid, wr’s dropped a number of catchable balls, fb’s and te’s didn’t.
Hardest hit was calband bass drummer who drilled a security guy who didn’t get out of the north tunnel area.
Go Bears Go
by Rocksanddirt on Sep 12, 2009 8:40 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Gloomy. Less debauchery. Small crowd. Meaningless opponent.
It'll be just you, me, and Peter Nincompoop.
Oh yeah, I saw that
I brought a newbie to the game today, she saw that Yellow-Jacket go down, and she was really worried about him.
I had to explain that we don’t care about “Event Staff” in the slightest.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 12, 2009 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions
She seemed to think they deserved the respect of any normal human being.
What could I say?
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 12, 2009 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions
(aside from scoring an apple juice box for Spazzy McGee)
Epic clutchness on the part of CBKWit here, I must say.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
Does CGB have its own section now or are 95% of commenters young alumni?
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
haha, section A AA B BB C CC CGB D DD … etc
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 12, 2009 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Stay strong, section L. We stick together! Section L is like a gang.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 12, 2009 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Do most of you stick to assigned seating? Most of my friends migrate over to the section south of the Cal band, so I do too. Well. Friend. With girlfriend who was in the Cal band. And plays at some events with them. And my sister is a student.
by BleedinBlue on Sep 13, 2009 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions
we do the same
our seats are in QQ or Q, but a lot of us move over to R, just next to the band.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
You left me hangin’ yesterday Rollon. You gotta have my back every game!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
:[
I will be there from now on. To support you with high fives and brief conversations about who the hell #18 is and why is he carrying the ball.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Dude my plan woulda worked, too! I coulda gotten on all fours behind the band member and then you coulda pushed them over me and grabbed the juice box.
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
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my friend’s suggestion of plan B was to kill that girl with the clarinet and rob her corpse. I thought it was a bit extreme but hey.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 12, 2009 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps the best play of the game, either:
1. pass down the sideline to Best for TD.
2. Ross return where somebody blew up a EWU player and Ross hurdled another. They did NOT show a replay. I gotta see it!!!
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I liked the pitch to Sofele for excitement for nerdy internet Cal fans.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Sep 12, 2009 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
The Sofele TD was cool, because a)it was his first of (hopefully many) and b)a huge swath of the team ran over to celebrate with him. I believe Best threw him up into the air in celebration (kinda no joke).
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….“Jahvid Best tried to twirl Isi Sofele in celebration….he ended up landing in—-” nvm
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 12, 2009 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought it was spelled noogie
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 12, 2009 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions
no no, joke success…the image of Jahvid giving Isi a noogie made me chortle.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 12, 2009 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
The image of you chortling made me give Isi a noogie.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 12, 2009 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Isi
I love that play where we put Isi out wide and then send him in motion. We’ve seen it go for a nice gain twice when Isi takes the handoff, and we’ve seen Vereen get a nice gain (I don’t remember exactly what happened) when we don’t give it to Isi. I think that play can be great for freaking out/ confusing defenses.
Alright, fine, I admit it! "Hydration Technician" really DOES just mean "water boy!"
rec'ed
Sofele makes me tingly in my tingly parts.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 12, 2009 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
The image of your tingly parts made Isi give a noogie to rollonubears
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 13, 2009 2:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Isi is a running back now
–Coach Jeff Tedford said he moved Sofele from wide receiver to running back this week because of the team’s lack of depth. With Kevin Lewis academically ineligible and Langston Jackson injured, the Bears were down to three running backs. Tedford said Peter Geurts’ return to the team last week was just for one game.
Sofele’s natural position is running back anyway, and that’s the position he wants to play. He exhibited a great burst during his 22-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
"He’s comfortable at that position," Tedford said. "You can see today that he has some ability to play there."
Praise be to Tedford!
I was wondering since Isi started Camp, why JT had him listed and practicing as WR. I just couldn’t see a 5’7" recver running fast enough to get 20 yrds ahead of any 6’ DB so the QB could see him. Isi played RB and returner in HS, not WR. So, must be something JT felt Sofele needed to develope in his catching ability as an RB, or, just the motion, end around, and reverse routes? Who Cares! My friends in Section U put up with my exhuberance and shouting “ISI” when I saw him lined up as single tailback down at the South end. Great bunch there in U…..they all high-fived me after his TD.
I think he is going to be a stinging gnat flying in the front of the eyes of sweaty Defensive Co-ords, just when they are about to be frustrated to death.
Something that worries me
Passes complete over the middle, especially to TEs. That’s not good
In other words, Go Bears!
Something that worries me, running a hotel restaurant and being attacked by pterodactyls.
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
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by TwistNHook on Sep 12, 2009 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Harby is salivating right now.
Alright, fine, I admit it! "Hydration Technician" really DOES just mean "water boy!"
by giantfan5 on Sep 12, 2009 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I loved the Best play that almost went for the TD not because it was a big gain, but because we had both Best and Vereen in the backfield and the fake pitch to Vereen totally fooled the D. More plays with Best and Vereen in the backfield please!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
There was backfield misdirection on soooo many plays and most of the time it worked…totally kept their D off balance.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 12, 2009 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions
BTW, we were commenting during the game on someo f the players on the sidelines. Ragland and Siddoway are both redshirting this year. We see them just chilling on the sidelines in sweats during the game.
THEY
ARE
HUGE.
Just fucking epicly huge. Massive beasts. Ragland is like 14 feet tall.
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Oregon's Uniforms
Do they all have identical back-sweat patterns, or is that an intended design?
Alright, fine, I admit it! "Hydration Technician" really DOES just mean "water boy!"
our number 3 running back is rocking!
Just a quick shout out for Mr. Deboskie-Johnson…I know he’s doing it late in the games but it’s great to see how well he is doing…nice depth to our game and portends well for the future….
by TKE Prytanis 79 on Sep 12, 2009 10:13 PM PDT reply actions
Surprisingly, we don’t have many healthy RB’s behind those guys :( ; Jonathan Okanes reports that Kevin Lewis is academically ineligible, Langston Jackson and Dasarte Yarnway are injured, and Geurts was only back on the team for the Maryland game. Sofele has actually been moved to RB. Luckily, Vereen appears to be very durable, but I’d still be very worried if Best goes down.
by BleedinBlue on Sep 12, 2009 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Great game today Bears! Congrats! Don't let it go to your head....
"Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect."
Vince Lombardi
CaliSeth, who will have a better season
2009 Cal football, or Aaron Rodgers?
Contact if you want to chat: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
Wow, that is such a tough question to answer, Avi. The Bears are playing great, and Rodgers is playing great. If I had to make a guess, I would say they both have better seasons overall. Tomorrow is set to be a real blockbuster, as Chicago goes into GB to play the Rodgers led Packers. Note to fantasy football players: If you were smart enough and lucky enough to select Rodgers, for the love of GOD start him! Chicago had the 30th ranked pass d last year, and they look no better this year. Rodgers should carve up the secondary all night long.
GO BEARS!
"Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect."
Vince Lombardi
by CaliSeth on Sep 12, 2009 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
No, but my opponent does this week...
At least when I get trounced, it’ll be by a former Bear.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 12, 2009 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Sweet
I picked up Rodgers for my team. =)
All looking ahead aside, we should be ranked #8 Monday, right?
OSU loses, Okla St blows it – everyone else moves up 2 slots?
Will anyone leapfrog us?
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 12, 2009 11:20 PM PDT reply actions
Quick glance, probably not.
But again, these rankings mean nothing until like Week 7-8.
Contact if you want to chat: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
We probably move to #9. I thought we would have moved up more last week, but we didn’t. So the safe bet would be we move to #9.
"Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect."
Vince Lombardi
Well, it’s straight attrition. Oklahoma State will drop out of the top ten, Ohio State will drop to 10-ish, therefore Cal becomes #8. Unless OSU only drops 3 slots, but I don’t think that’s realistic.
"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
It was a close game. Could see Ohio State going down only to 8th.
Contact if you want to chat: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
Exactly, OSU will go to #8, (though considering how they played against Navy, this is a complete joke) and we go to #9.
"Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect."
Vince Lombardi
Virginia Tech dropped from 7 to 14 after losing to Alabama, and though OSU didn’t lose as decisively as VT they did lose at home. At the very least Cal will be #8 in the AP, and I’m dubious of the prospects of Ohio State staying above us in the Coaches’ Poll.
"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
On Fan BCS
I’m dropping Ohio State way out down in my Fan BCS rankings. Under no conditions can Ohio State be considered for a national championship game. Not even if they win every game remaining by 20. So, they have to be way down. Course the media voters will only move them down one spot.
I agree with Avinash, its still far too early to begin worrying about ranking. After two weeks, I still have no idea who the good teams are. Florida, Texas, BYU, USC, Alabama, after them I don’t really know.
Usually I don’t think teams need to worry about rankings until the 3rd week of October. Since Cal’s scheduled is frontloaded, I think we need to start worrying about our ranking after the SC game. By then the good teams should start seperating themselves, and our best opportunity to impress the pollsters will have passed.
by chowder on Sep 13, 2009 12:24 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’m worried we’ll be ranked way too HIGH is the thing.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 13, 2009 2:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Look, if Cal is going to start being a perennial power under Tedford, we need to stop being so scared of high rankings. High rankings come with being a national power. Do you think people at Ohio State worry about being ranked too high? There is nothing bad about it. Stop shying away from it and embrace it.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Tedford, the guy you need to tell this to —>that way
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 13, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't "Worry" about rankings...
I just like to follow them. I don’t respect the rankings, I rarely agree with most of them, and pre-season rankings are a problem and should be banned.
Nonetheless, as a know-it-all type, I like to predict what the rankers will do, and know what to expect.
I also worry about us being ranked too highly and getting jinxed. Because that’s a problem of mine. We have to win big on the road some to get to the next level.
In the end, I could care less about our ranking if we win the pac-10.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 13, 2009 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
I also worry about us being ranked too highly and getting jinxed.
I reallllllllly hate that most everyone here has this attitude.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
I know, but...
FIRST the bears have to win big (e.g., USC, or a game like a Top 25 opponent on the road), while highly ranked, and win the Pac-10 solo for the first time since…anyone?
THEN, I will stop being so worried about jinxing.
Don’t you get it? People have hoped the Bears would do well every damned season for ever, and been burned over and over again, often right after a high ranking.
This does not in any way make me less of a fan – and I am the loudest yeller in Section T, and don’t want to hear any smack-talk about my Bears. But for my own sanity, I don’t want to get ahead of myself and say “We’re #1!” until we’ve proved it, with the necessary end of season of Bowl Game Win in appropriate Rose colors.
It’s just the way it is.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 13, 2009 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions
The ranking won’t be a jinx though. If we have a high ranking and lose, then we lost. There is no voodoo going on. No jinx of the high ranking. We simply lost. These things like rankings have weight to them because we give them weight. If we just think of them as a number, then they won’t matter.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
OK, let's not call it a jinx
‘Cause you’re right, it’s not the high ranking that does us in. It’s losing.
So let me say this – in my heart, I would always rank Cal #1.
If I were to try to be an outsider ranking Cal, I would not put them in the Top 20 until they had beaten much tougher opponents.
Of course, I wouldn’t rank anybody until 3 weeks into the season so I could judge them on who they beat (which is only possible after who they beat has played at least 2 other games).
The AP poll basically judges people on their reputation, which is crap. It’s gotta be on the field.
I love my Bears, and I think we have a GREAT team this year, and I really want us to earn everyone’s respect with BIG wins, and big wins on the road. I don’t want to sneak into a high ranking with an easy schedule or whatever…
Does that make any sense?
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 13, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
I understand. You want to truly earn the high ranking, not be handed it.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, and get real respect.
I don’t want people saying “well, you got lucky on that one tipped pass, and that stupid clipping penalty”, or a hail mary, etc.
Trick plays executed well, fine, but when you win by getting lucky (4 bad calls your way…), people don’t respect you.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 13, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions
If I were to try to be an outsider ranking Cal, I would not put them in the Top 20 until they had beaten much tougher opponents.
We already did this, at Oregon 2007. Remember, that was a ducks team that was going to the national championship game if Dixon hadn’t gone down.
Of course, we lost 6 of our last 7 games, but that doesn’t change the fact that we won a HUGE road game against a very good opponent, while we were also highly ranked.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
Let me give full props to Cal for the '07 @ Oregon win
At that point, I felt we deserved our ranking. We had earned it.
We just started losing games after that, so we couldn’t keep it.
But it felt right at the time, and I didn’t think it jinxed us. My problem in ’07 was JT keeping an injured Longshore in. Others disagree.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 13, 2009 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions
On second thought, I do see Cal being #8! OSU #9, Oklahoma St. drops into the teens and BYU or Boise moves up to #10. No?!?
"Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect."
Vince Lombardi
On the play where Syd got beat, he was in zone and was watching the QB. The QB gave Syd a pump fake, Syd bit, and the WR went right by him.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
Dude do you have chameleon eyeballs that allow you to monitor different places on the field at the same time?
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 13, 2009 2:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Well, I might have seen it wrong. But I’m pretty sure that’s how it went down. I guess I had a good angle, but if the play allows it, I usually try and check the players downfield on pass plays if I can.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
Also: that was the assessment of the commentary team as well.
"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
I wasn’t doubting you, just wondering how you manage to take in different parts of the field seemingly at the same time.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 13, 2009 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
If the QB drops back and it appears like he’s not going to get sacked, I look down field to see what he sees.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
This all happens too fast for me. If the QB drops back and it appears like hes not going tog et sacked, it takes me too long to think “Look downfield not, eyes” to actually look downfield.
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
You might want to work on your internal thought grammar. Your eyes are probably just confused.
by Kai on Sep 13, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Wondering about that
How often does our secondary play zone coverage? I’m assuming they played differently against Maryland; it looked different to me, at least. Please pardon any ignorance on my part. I’m a bit of a newbie without friends to bum football knowledge off of.
Oops on Syd
Looked to me like Syd blitzed, and left the zone unmanned. Right? Shouldn’t a safety have been aware of what Syd was up to?
2nd half total yards
EWU outgained us 193-192 in the first half. Cal outgained EWU 315-42 in the 2nd half. I knew we were dominating the 2nd half, but I didn’t appreciate while I was watching that the stats were that disparate.
Praise be to Tedford!
Around the League & BCS
HUGE win for USC and the Pac10 last night. We, as Cal fans, needed that. A Cal loss vs USC might get us smelling [can’t say it] – A Cal win and anything goes. We really needed this with Oregon’s surprising start. It was encouraging to see tOSU do well in the trenches vs. USC. As a side note, I doubt God cares that you’re praising him after beating
tOSU, Mr. Barkley. Never understood that, but that’s a topic for a different day.
Oregon/Oregon St – 2 point victories by both teams…I think I feel better playing these teams than I did at the start of the season. They could, however, find themselves.
Minny – narrow home win vs AF but it sounds like their QB is legit.
UCLA – It is harder to have a letdown game against a team that has beaten Tennessee (at Neyland) than a hapless FUCLA team.
Furd – wow.
Washington – would be nice to see these guys in the middle of the year rather than the end.
Colorado/Wazzu – Wilner thinks these coaches could be fired in season. He lists Gregory as a possible replacement. If that were to happen at all it would suck, but it would especially suck if that was in-season. We could be playing a Colorado team with a new HC early next year.
Okie St – wow, really? Can any team in the Big12 be trusted? If they get two BCS bowl games I’m going to be livid.
Notre Dame – thank goodness.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
by carp on Sep 13, 2009 9:18 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I’m pretty sure there are rules against firing a coach in the middle of the season and hiring a replacement outside your program. Could be wrong though.
Contact if you want to chat: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
So, my dream if being Colorado Head Coach is dead?
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
And your dream of being is dead too! Sorry.
by CaliforniaCMB on Sep 13, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions
In other news, Wilner is an idiot
Fire Wulff in his second year so you can replace him with someone who will only complicate the rebuilding process by installing a new set of systems. Genius.
"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
Speaking of not trusting people from Ohio, how are BOTH Bay Area NFL morning games coming to us from the greatest state in the union, Ohio. We have Cin-Den from Paul Brown Stadium and Cle-Min from whatever stadium Cle calls home (shouldn’t it be Paul Brown Stadium??).
Ohio Bear, Calumbus Bear, what are you guys doing to us!?!?!?!?!
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Cal is ranked 8th, with over 100 pts on 9th place LSU in the AP. To give you an idea of how many pts that is, if Cal had another 100 pts, they would be in ranked 5th.
In other news, USC is a mere 8 pts behind Texas and the 2nd position.
My son, if and when I have one, will play for the California Golden Bears.
LSU is 9????
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
7th in the Poll the Actually Matters, The Coaches Poll
Tied with LSU
1 Florida (56) 2-0 1472
2 Texas 2-0 1399
3 USC (3) 2-0 1368
4 Alabama 2-0 1277
5 Penn State 2-0 1216
6 Mississippi 1-0 1060
7 California 2-0 1051
7 LSU 2-0 1051
9 BYU 2-0 941
10 Boise State 2-0 913
My son, if and when I have one, will play for the California Golden Bears.
LSU IS TERRIBLE. THEY NEARLY LOST TO WASHINGTON AND ONLY PUT UP 23 ON VANDY.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Funny, because I have them ahead of Cal in my ballot.
Contact if you want to chat: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
I consider you a reasonable human being. Why would you go and do such an unreasonable thing? Avinash, are you secretly an SEC apologist?
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
He probably believes that Vandy at home and @Washington are significantly harder games than Maryland and Eastern Washington, justifying a higher ranking despite smaller winning margins.
Well our scoring margin total is 91. And theirs is 22. And we don’t know if Maryland is better than Vandy. And LSU did suck last year.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I personally agree that Cal should be higher than LSU, but it’s not unreasonable to switch them if you think strength of schedule is more important than win margin. Also, I really don’t like looking at the past to judge current teams.
There is just something about that team that screams 10-3 to me.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Not for nothing, but ...
I really like the blue shirts and yellow pants color-scheme. Much better than the all-blue unis.
Yellow shirt & blue pants is just as good too. Hopefully we’ll see more of the contrasting unis over the year and less of the one-colors.
Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by SoCal Oski on Sep 13, 2009 11:55 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
All blue is the best.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Sep 13, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed. It’s all about the all-blue uniforms.
I don’t like the yellow pants – the yellow in the pants is too yellow. It should batch the color that’s on the jerseys, It’s not quite Michigan maize, but it’s not the right color for us.
We should always wear the all-yale-blue uniforms, and we should get yale-blue turf.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Just as long as we’re not using that radioactive vomit-shade of gold Minnesota uses, I can make peace with any of Cal’s uni combinations. (But I really like our white shirt blue pants away uniforms.)
"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
Blue and Gold together are best
All Blue is #3. All Gold is (gulp) #4. White sucks. Our colors are Blue & Gold, not White.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 13, 2009 12:00 PM PDT reply actions
Funny, because I actually enjoy Cal’s white and blue combo.
All Gold is #400, it makes me feel like I’m watching the Banana Slugs.
Contact if you want to chat: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
I like blue pants, gold jerseys.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 13, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey, Spazz, its me, the nimrod, noob who can’t download a photo here. Now, I have a file in flikr, and, make sure the Addy in the URL includes the photo file, and, when i paste it to the “URL” space for the little green tree icon, the pasted URL shows in my “comments” window…but, in preview, all i see is a small box with an “x” in it….any ideas?
Hm, I actually don’t, because I’ve only ever used Flickr for fanposts. Maybe try imageshack.us?
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in California makes the world go round.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Sep 13, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, no one's perfect!
:-). I can still like you even though you like white uniforms.
Criticism of the all Gold is totally reasonable – though they don’t bug me much. I like the idea of how easy it is for the QB to see his teammates.
What I don’t like is how it makes us seem like we wished were Oregon…and I don’t care to follow in Oregon’s footsteps.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Sep 13, 2009 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I like the traditional combos the best: blue on top of gold at home, white on top of gold on the road. But I’m OK with the blue pants, too.
Given the mystique that has developed, gold on top of blue is good for one game a year—like the ‘SC game this year. But the gold on gold is terrible, and I don’t much like the white pants with any jersey.
All the color combinations could use a tramp stamp on the shoulders and/or the lower back. That, and an insanely ugly font for the numbers and the names, preferably in a silver/gray that is barely legible.
Go Bears!
by California Pete on Sep 13, 2009 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions
i thought of that, but it was more of
a reveling in victory moment….
Go Bears Go
by Rocksanddirt on Sep 14, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions
I got it tomorrow, dont worry, rocksanddirt.
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
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