Cal v. Washington 11.27.10 Photo Essay I

by TwistNHook on Nov 30, 2010 10:30 AM PST in California Golden Bears Football

This was the first post-Thanksgiving Cal game that I can remember. We had had some games the week after Thanksgiving, but not the weekend of Thanksgiving. Given that coupled with the forecast of rain and the team's mediocre play, I expected attendance to be low.

It was rough. The usually hopping streets of Berkeley were like a ghost town. Here is a photo of a parking lot that is normally pretty packed an hour or so before gametime. You can see it is quite empty. :(!

After the jump, more photos from the pre-game and first half of the Cal-UW game. GO BEARS!

The band's show at Sproul, even in the drizzling rain, was very impressive. They did a funk show. Apparently, one of the members of the band Tower Of Power had written a song specifically for the band. It seemed to have specific rests so people could say "Go Bears" in it. So, if thats true, then that is pretty cool.

Entering the stadium was ridiculously easier than the week before against Stanford. It was sad, really. Too bad we have to have these post-Thanksgiving games from now on. Let's just make sure it is never the Big Game.

Soon, it was close to gametime and the band came out to do the last pre-game show in Old Memorial.

The weather was very confusing. While it rained heavily later in the game, at this time, the skies were blue and it was somewhat warm.

It was Senior Day for the band, too, so they got to honor the seniors for one moment. I don't remember being able to run around. I feel like we just stood up for a second. Kids these days.

Soon, the band was finished and it was time for the team to run out!

IMG_3777 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_3853 (via Monica's Dad)

It was Senior Day, so they honored the Seniors, such as Cameron Jordan.

The Seniors all ran out. However, Kevin Riley, he of the injured knee, could not run. So, he slowly walked out. Jeremy Ross came out after him and I was hoping that Ross would hurdle Riley on the way out! Didn't happen.

These photos are taken from right before the game began. The attendance did fill in a little, mostly in the west and east part of the stadiums near the 50. However, in the corners, things stayed fairly rough. This is not some punk kid trying to dig the old alumni, you'll see that even in the young alum and student sections, things were rough.

I don't remember them announcing the attendance, I wonder what it was.

Not a ton of UW fans in attendance. However, they seemed to make a LOT of noise for their size. More than the Stanford fans last week, it seemed. Very odd, how loud they were.

And, then, the game began!

IMG_3999 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4011 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4089 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4169 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4170 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4173 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4174 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4187 (via Monica's Dad)

The Cal fan speech this time was about a fan from the 1960s (when things were exploding around Berkeley) who used to climb a speaker pole to be an amateur mic man.

We saw a LOT of wildcat at this game. Especially with Keenan Allen at the QB position. With Brock Mansion essentially a giant black hole at QB, Ludwig did everything in his creative playcalling power to get the ball into the hands of the play makers. Fans behind me were grumbling about it at times and I yelled at them "So, you want more Brock Mansion passes?" That shut them up.

IMG_4200 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4202 (via Monica's Dad)

The sun came out!

IMG_4286 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4285 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4309 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4441 (via Monica's Dad)

The offense might have sucked, but the D was amazing. It played nearly perfectly. Here are some great shots.

IMG_4501 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4502 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4542 (via Monica's Dad)

As it was the last game played under Old Memorial configuration, Cal had many montages regarding the 87 year history of the site. Here was some information regarding its construction. It cost 1.4 million to build! It looked gorgeous upon finalization.

There is no way it could be built today. Not only is it on a major fault, but apparently Strawberry Canyon was truly gorgeous. One of the best parts of Berkeley. And then we came along and paved it over. GO BEARS!

IMG_4281 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4556 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4625 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4632 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4638 (via Monica's Dad)

Here, Isi Sofele got an opportunity to play at QB!

IMG_4664 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4686 (via Monica's Dad)

I would not to look up and see this visage tearing towards me!

IMG_4725 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4799 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4835 (via Monica's Dad)

IMG_4862 (via Monica's Dad)

It was 0-0 as we careened helplessly towards half. What a rough first half. Stunningly, Tavecchio attempted and made a 50+ yard field goal to put Cal up 3-0. The fans went CRAZZY!

Could we win 3-0? 3-2? DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

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My favorite part of the montages was seeing the oaks that predated the stadium.

All none of them.

by Yes We Cannon on Nov 30, 2010 11:32 AM PST reply actions 5 recs

First Thanksgiving Weekend game since 1962

November 24, 1962 – Stanf*rd 30, California 13

The previous Thanksgiving Weekend game at Cal Memorial -

November 25, 1950 – California 7, Stanf*rd 7 (one of two ties vs the ’Furd under Pappy Waldorf).

So, you can see that there have been very few Thanksgiving Weekend games at Cal Memorial. 3 in 60 years (counting this year’s game against UW).

by FiatSlug on Nov 30, 2010 12:23 PM PST reply actions

Other Thanksgiving Weekend football games at Cal Memorial

Dug into the archives at www.cfbdatawarehouse.com and gleaned a list of other games played at Cal Memorial on Thanksgiving Weekend:

November 24, 1945 – California 6, UCLA 0
November 25, 1944 – St. Mary’s Pre-Flight 33, California 6
November 27, 1943 – Del Monte Pre-Flight 47, California 8
November 29, 1941 – California 16, Stanf*rd 0
November 30, 1940 – Stanf*rd 13, California 7
November 24, 1934 – Stanf*rd 9, California 7
November 24, 1928 – California 13, Stanf*rd 13
November 24, 1923 – California 9, Stanf*rd 0 (also the Inaugural Game at California Memorial Stadium)

Counting the 1950, 1962, and 2010 games this list makes 11 Thanksgiving Weekend games in the 87 year history of California Memorial Stadium. Cal’s record during those games was 3-6-2.

by FiatSlug on Nov 30, 2010 12:38 PM PST reply actions

Damn you, Del Monte Pre-Flight!!!

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Dec 1, 2010 1:27 PM PST up reply actions

I know it’s long overdue, but it’s still tough to see Memorial go under the knife.

Thanks for all the memories – ’Can’t wait to see you soon.

Old Toothwrangler

by Kodiak on Nov 30, 2010 6:33 PM PST reply actions

Apparently, one of the members of the band Tower Of Power had written a song specifically for the band. It seemed to have specific rests so people could say “Go Bears” in it. So, if thats true, then that is pretty cool.

I was excited to hear the song at halftime . . . and then the band decided to play the song while facing the alumni side the entire time, thus preventing me from hearing it. WTF Cal band?!?

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Dec 1, 2010 1:27 PM PST reply actions

With Brock Mansion essentially a giant black hole at QB, Ludwig did everything in his creative playcalling power to get the ball into the hands of the play makers. Fans behind me were grumbling about it at times and I yelled at them “So, you want more Brock Mansion passes?”

At least those fans were knowledgeable enough to understand it was KA21 getting the snap and not Brock Mansion. Ask Solarise how many times different people behind us would yell, “come on Brock” or “oh, look at Brock run!” every time KA21 got the ball. It’s like, come on, you shouldn’t even show up if you’re not going to pay attention to the game.

[Cal is] a fabulous university with a football program that typically has precious few and very fleeting brushes with success but a great many unions with failure.
--Monte Poole, Oakland Tribune

by SonofCalifornia on Dec 2, 2010 3:42 PM PST reply actions

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Golden Bears Football Schedule

Fresno St.	Sat 09/03	W 36 - 21
@ Colorado The Ralphie Report	Sat 09/10	W 36 - 33
Presbyterian	Sat 09/17	W 63 - 12
@ Washington UW Dawg Pound	Sat 09/24	L 23 - 31
@ Oregon Addicted To Quack	Thu 10/06	L 15 - 43
USC Conquest Chronicles	Thu 10/13	L 9 - 30
Utah Block U	Sat 10/22	W 34 - 10
@ UCLA Bruins Nation	Sat 10/29	L 14 - 31
Washington St. CougCenter	Sat 11/05	W 30 - 7
Oregon St. Building The Dam	Sat 11/12	W 23 - 6
@ Stanford Rule Of Tree	Sat 11/19	L 28 - 31
@ Arizona St. House Of Sparky	Fri 11/25	W 47 - 38
@ Texas Burnt Orange Nation	Wed 12/28	L 10 - 21