Ranking The Big Games Of The Decade: #7 2006 Big Game
[We are currently in the process of ranking the Big Games of the 2000s. We have discussed the 3 Big Game losses, 2007, 2000, and 2001. Here, we discuss what we deem to be the 7th best Big Game of the 2000s, the 2006 Big Game.]
It was more of an amble, really. A saunter, perhaps? Can one "mosey the field"? Well, if one could, that's what Cal fans did after the 2006 Big Game. Rushing the field doesn't quite cover it. It was similar to those delayed standing ovations. A few over-zealous souls instantly jump to their feet, clapping wildly, or, in this instance, rushing down to the field to celebrate Cal's 26-17 victory over Stanford. Most of the people, however, look at these excitable folk and mumble to themselves "Really? We're doing this now? I gotta stand up now?" "Really? I gotta rush the field now? OK. I guess."
It was with great reluctance that Cal fans rushed the field. But this is the Big Game. Winning any year, even if Cal is on the verge of winning a share of the Pac10 title for the first time in 30 years and Stanford is, well, Walt Harris' Stanford, it doesn't matter. It's Cal. Versus Stanford. In The Big Game. Was the psychic pain of the late 90s and early 00s already lost by 2006 such that a ho hum victory over a really bad Stanford team was viewed with the same disdain of a party guest who used the wrong salad fork? Apparently. Apparently, only a handful of years into the Tedford era, we were already acting like USC fans.
Welcome to the 2006 Big Game.
The first thing that jumps into my mind when I think of the 2006 Big Game is the concern I have for those who sit in the Gold Zone most of the year. The 2006 Big Game was the last year for old Stanford Stadium. Even though the game was played at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, it was the last year that Cal and Stanford provided ticket reciprocity for season ticket holders. What does that mean? Buy Cal season tickets and you get a ticket to the Big Game, even if it is at Stanford Stadium and vice versa. After 2006, with the construction of the much smaller Stanford Stadium, both teams stopped doing this. Obviously, Stanford realized that if they let all the Cal fans come on in, there wouldn't be any space left for that Stanford fan who actually shows up to games. And his friend. Oh and Toby Gerhart's father.
Back in 2006, it meant that the young alum sections in QQ were moved to the Goldzone to make space for Gerry, Gerry's friend, and Mr. Gerhart. We were moved not just anywhere in the Goldzone, but somewhere in the Goldzone's Mesosphere Seating Program. It was so high up, I was reasonably certain we were placed in the Faddisphere. Here is a photo indicative of how high we were placed:
"I think that white dot just got hit by that blue dot, but I'm not entirely sure, anybody got binoculars and 20/15 vision??"
What is forgotten years later is that Cal had lost the two games prior, making it a near impossibility to reach the Rose Bowl for the 365th straight year. They had lost to Arizona (at Arizona) thanks, partially, to DeSean Jackson's big toe being slightly too fat. Then, they lost a tough game to USC at the LA Coliseum. Heading into the Big Game, there was already a strong sense of frustration, because of the two losses. Given USC's loss to Oregon State, if Cal had defeated just Arizona, they would have gone to the Rose Bowl. Cal fans were hoping that the team would take out its frustration on the hapless Cardinal. So, only defeating them by 9 seemed off to many Cal fans.
However, it is important to remember that there was a very fierce wind that day whipping through Memorial Stadium. I know it seems as if I am just making excuses, but I remember the wind very clearly. It was strong enough to affect the trajectory of thrown balls and field goal attempts. Fortunately, Cal's field goal kicker was good on 4/5 attempts, but still I think that it is important to note the wind.
One reason why people might be less then enthused about this game was very little action took place in the first or fourth quarter. It started off with a quarter full of a sole field goal kick by Cal. Up 3-0 at the first quarter, Cal fans were perhaps nervous that the doldrums that affected them against Arizona and USC were continuing into this Big Game.
In fact, the first 3 scores were field goals.
Scoring Summary:
1st 04:16 CAL - Schneider, Tom 55 yd field goal
7 plays, 31 yards, TOP 2:18, STAN 0 - CAL 3
2nd 05:44 STAN - Aaron Zagory 23 yd field goal
11 plays, 74 yards, TOP 5:07, STAN 3 - CAL 3
03:38 CAL - Schneider, Tom 23 yd field goal
9 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:06, STAN 3 - CAL 6
It was not until there were just a few minutes left in the first half that things started to get interesting. Cal had just kicked a field goal to go up by a thrilling 6-3 lead. Stanford received the ball and everybody's favorite white non-QB Heisman contender, Toby Gerhart, rushed for 2 yards. Then, the following happened:
S 2-8 S20 T.C. Ostrander rush to the STAN15, fumble forced by Follett, Zack, fumble by
T.C. Ostrander recovered by CAL Thompson, S. at STAN15, Thompson, S. for 15
yards to the STAN0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 02:32, Schneider, Tom kick attempt
good.
Zack Follett with a crushing hit, forces a fumble that Syd'Quan Thompson runs back for a touchdown. Sure, it's not an offensive TD, but we'll take it! Up 10-3, Cal has the momentum. For about 20 seconds:
Larson, Andrew kickoff 64 yards to the STAN6, M. McCutcheon return 68
yards to the CAL26, out-of-bounds (Ezeff, Marcus).
On the ensuing kick off, Stanford takes it all the way back to the Cal 26. A few plays later, this occurs:
S 2-G C08 T.C. Ostrander EZ pass complete to R. Sherman for 8 yards to the CAL0,
TOUCHDOWN, clock 01:12, Aaron Zagory kick attempt good.
So, with 2:33 minutes left in the first half, Cal was up 6-3 with minimal offense on both sides. Then, due to defense and special teams, a flurry of TDs occurred:
02:32 CAL - Thompson, S. 15 yd fumble recovery (Schneider, Tom kick)
STAN 3 - CAL 13
01:12 STAN - R. Sherman 8 yd pass from T.C. Ostrander (Aaron Zagory kick)
4 plays, 26 yards, TOP 1:20, STAN 10 - CAL 13
In the 3rd quarter, there was some more action, but again for every action, there was an opposite and frustrating reaction. Cal took the kick off to start the quarter and marched right down the field. 11 plays. 80 yards. Nate Longshore in his pre-He's The Worst Thing To Happen To Cal Since Ronald Reagan Murdered Pappy Waldorf throws a key TD pass to Lavelle Hawkins:
Derek Belch kickoff 65 yards to the CAL0, touchback.
C 1-10 C20 CALIFORNIA drive start at 15:00 (3rd).
C 1-10 C20 Longshore, Nate RR pass complete to Storer, Byron for 4 yards to the
CAL24 (Bo McNally).
C 2-6 C24 Lynch, Marshawn rush PR for 3 yards to the CAL27 (Pat Maynor).
C 3-3 C27 Lynch, Marshawn rush over right tackle for 11 yards to the CAL38, 1ST
DOWN CAL, out-of-bounds (Udeme Udofia).
C 1-10 C38 Longshore, Nate LL pass incomplete to Jordan, Robert.
C 2-10 C38 [SHOT], Longshore, Nate XR pass complete to Jackson, DeSean for 13 yards
to the STAN49, 1ST DOWN CAL (Bo McNally).
C 1-10 S49 Longshore, Nate middle pass incomplete to Hawkins, L. (Michael Okwo).
C 2-10 S49 [SHOT], Longshore, Nate LF pass complete to Hawkins, L. for 1 yard to
the STAN48.
C 3-9 S48 [SHOT], Longshore, Nate slant pass complete to Jackson, DeSean for 16
yards to the STAN32, 1ST DOWN CAL, out-of-bounds (Wopamo Osaisai).
C 1-10 S32 Longshore, Nate middle pass incomplete to Jackson, DeSean (Wopamo
Osaisai).
C 2-10 S32 Timeout Stanford, clock 11:38.
C 2-10 S32 [SHOT], Longshore, Nate LL pass incomplete to Forsett, Justin.
C 3-10 S32 Longshore, Nate middle pass complete to Hawkins, L. for 32 yards to the
STAN0, 1ST DOWN CAL, TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:26, Schneider, Tom kick
attempt good.
Cal goes up 20-10, but Stanford strikes right back! Their drive is also 80 yards, but in 7 plays. It helps when T.C. Ostrander throws a 50 yard pass for a TD:
S 1-10 S20 STANFORD drive start at 11:26 (3rd).
S 1-10 S20 Anthony Kimble rush over right guard for 4 yards to the STAN24 (Tafisi,
Nu'u;Bishop, Desmond).
S 2-6 S24 Toby Gerhart rush over left guard for 2 yards to the STAN26 (Pimentel,
M.;Bishop, Desmond).
S 3-4 S26 PENALTY STAN false start (C. Marinelli) 5 yards to the STAN21.
S 3-9 S21 T.C. Ostrander middle pass complete to Toby Gerhart for 16 yards to the
STAN37, 1ST DOWN STAN (DeCoud, Thomas).
S 1-10 S37 T.C. Ostrander rush left for 5 yards to the STAN42 (Bishop, Desmond).
S 2-5 S42 Toby Gerhart rush over right tackle for loss of 1 yard to the STAN41
(Pimentel, M.;Mebane, Brandon).
S 3-6 S41 T.C. Ostrander RR pass complete to R. Sherman for 8 yards to the STAN49,
1ST DOWN STAN, out-of-bounds.
S 1-10 S49 T.C. Ostrander SR pass complete to Evan Moore for 51 yards to the CAL0,
1ST DOWN STAN, TOUCHDOWN, clock 06:57, Aaron Zagory kick attempt
good.
That is the extent of the touchdowns for the day. Cal is up by 3 with 6:57 left in the 3rd quarter and the only scoring left is 2 field goals by Cal. Cal doesn't even score the last one until there are 58 seconds left in the game. So, that entire time Stanford is one broken play TD away from going up either 24-20 or 24-23. But, fortunately, the Cal D holds and with about a minute left in the game, Cal fans can breath easy. Certainly not the dominating performance Cal fans were looking for, but a win is a win is a win is a win is a win.
Here are the game stats:
STAN CAL
FIRST DOWNS................... 15 18
Rushing..................... 6 7
Passing..................... 9 10
Penalty..................... 0 1
NET YARDS RUSHING............. 65 127
Rushing Attempts............ 33 33
Average Per Rush............ 2.0 3.8
Yards Gained Rushing........ 107 152
Yards Lost Rushing.......... 42 25
NET YARDS PASSING............. 204 217
Completions-Attempts-Int.... 15-31-0 14-31-0
Average Per Attempt......... 6.6 7.0
Average Per Completion...... 13.6 15.5
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS........... 269 344
The real advantage for Cal is in the rushing yards where they get almost twice as many as Stanford. Otherwise, both teams played about even. The Cal rushing is paced by, well, you know who:
Rushing No Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
--------------------------------------------
Forsett, Justin 11 75 0 75 0 19 6.8
Lynch, Marshawn 15 73 6 67 0 13 4.5
Big Game 2006 highlights at 1:10
Nate Longshore has a remarkably bad day:
Passing Att-Cmp-Int Yds TD Long Sack
--------------------------------------------
Longshore, Nate 31-14-0 217 1 44 2
That is a 45.6% completion rate. Ouch. The vast majority of the receiving yards went to two guys:
Receiving No. Yds TD Long
-----------------------------------
Jackson, DeSean 7 127 0 44
Hawkins, L. 3 53 1 32
Good day for DeSean there and good day for Cal. Soon, we had this:
Plus, this:
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This was Cal's version of Stanfurd's 2001 Big Game win
The furds were 1-10 coming into this game. They were awful. Awful. Maybe not as awful as our 2001 Cal Bears, but still pretty awful. And just like the 2001 Cal team treated the Big Game as its Super Bowl, so it seemed did the 2006 Stanfurd team. Stanfurd just seemed to have the emotional edge, as it seemed Cal did in 2001. And just as the heavily favored Stanfurd team in 2001 did not play well in the Big Game, the heavily favored 2006 Cal team did not play well in the Big Game.
When Marshawn fumbled deep in our own territory early in the 4th quarter with Cal leading 23-17, I actually started to fear that this would surpass 1986 as the most improbable Big Game upset of the last 35 years, if not all time. But Stanfurd did not take advantage, going three and out and missing a very short FG. If memory serves, Marshawn got benched after that and Forsett took the load in the 4th quarter. I didn’t really relax until the late FG to give us a 9 point lead.
This one brought joy — beating Stanfurd in the Big Game always brings joy — but there was a lot of relief there, too.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
There's two things about this game I remember
1. The incredible sense of glee I got knowing, that for the second straight year, there were Stanford undergraduates who would graduate not knowing what it felt like to have the Axe on their campus. As somebody who has experienced such pain (class of 2000, baby, which means football seasons 1996-1999), I am allowed to bask in the schadenfreude.
2. One one of those Thompson touchdown returns, he lost his shoe, but scored anyway.
And a couple things I remember about the day:
1. Going to the Faculty Club after the game, and watching UCLA squeak by USC. The first realization — reliving the hideous horrible game against AZ, and knowing that’s what kept us out of the Rose Bowl…
My friend stares at me in horror when I express this thought. Then he thinks about it for a moment and says, “That means we’re Pac-10 co-champs.” Awesome! Not quite as awesome as going to the Rose Bowl, but still something that made the day feel better.
2. Going to the woman’s basketball game and watching the Cal women lay a hundred on Hahvahd. It was a nice capper to a day in Berkeley.
-kat
Member of the Lost Tribe of Mooch
Flag free so far. Could this be the first Big Game write up to not go flagged? Do you believe in miracles???
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I seem to remember a blatant push off by Moore on that 50 yd TD
In what seems like a yearly occurrence in the Big Game, a furd WR blatantly pushes off the Cal defender or a long gain or TD and it promptly ignored by the officials…
Also, was this the year of the “Furd Band? / No Got Banned!” card stunt?
Yes, and it was incredibly obvious. Moore made a one-handed catch, but the only reason he had to catch it one-handed is because he had extended his entire other arm to push the Cal defender away. That TD shouldn’t have counted.
stanfurd cheated and they still lost. All was right with the world.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on May 13, 2010 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
I love Schneider
God that was a painful game to watch. I unfortunately wasn’t at the game and was instead watching it on a TV in Napa so frustrations were doubled. But it worked out for the best.
In other words, Go Bears!
I was there too, and three things stand out in my memory.
1. The wind. It was brutal, if the game was an Air Show, it would have been canceled as too dangerous (like Blue Angels last year). Considering the wind, I think Longshore was ok, just really tough conditions. I was moved from my normal seats in II to more of corner seats in D, IFRC. It wasn’t so bad sitting, as the crowd itself provided a wind block, but if you stood up, it felt like you might get blown away, and die from hypothermia as well. By comparison, the Oregon ’08 was a fun slip & slide.
2. Twist nailed it, it was a tense game throughout. Stanfurd really did see this as their super bowl, and played their little red hearts out. Thankfully it wasn’t enough, but I was never comfortable until the last few minutes of the 4th qtr.
3. One asshole old blue kinda ruined the game for me. A couple rows down, he was constantly screaming at the top of his lungs and cursing the Cal players, esp. Longshore, but really almost all of them for failing to live up to his expectations. I never will understand Cal fans like that. I wanted to go down and tell him to STFU, but that may not have ended well, so I didn’t, but I loath fans like this, much more than the most obnoxious $C frat boy.
4. As I walked away from the game, I walked behind some Stanfurd fans, and they were just happy that their team played well, and didn’t embarrass themselves in the Big Game. ?? What kinda fans are these? So lame. Also, they were just glad that Stanfurd was still playing football, and hadn’t decided to drop the football program. Maybe someone who knows more than me can answer this, but was that ever a serious possibility?
Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?
RE: #4
As far as I’m concerned, there will always be a tension within the Stanf*rd community about whether or not to continue with their football program. Or to remain in Division I-A.
I’m sure you’re aware that there have been tensions at Cal for decades with regard to the relationship a university ought to have with inter-collegiate athletics. It’s no different at Stanf*rd. It’s true of any university that takes itself seriously as a first-rate academic institution; even at some universities that don’t.
We can all name Division I-A institutions where that is apparently not the case. The anti-athletics crowd at those institutions have been either driven underground or into resigned silence.
#2…definitely waiting to score those breakaway points…and waiting…and waiting, and they never came. I think the wind really hindered the gameplan, as Tedford was hesitant to call many deep passes.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 13, 2010 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Back when Cal was Kicker U
Does anyone remember that for YEARS (even during the Holmoecaust), Cal had some of the best kickers in the nation? We never missed the short stuff under 35, and to hit a 55 yarder in swirling wins in the Big Game under a tense tie…can you imagine Tedford having enough faith in Giorgio or Vinny to do that? No way.
by PlayClassyBears on May 13, 2010 11:56 AM PDT reply actions
like the WRs
I think the biggest problem with the current crop of kickers is that they’ve been thrown into the spotlight too early. Somewhere along the line, the replacement to Schneider was never groomed, leaving a void where freshmen kickers had to jump in. I would think you need a couple of years (at least) to develop the strength and accuracy of the kicking game, so that you have a junior taking the place of a departing senior. Most have very positive memories of Ryan Longwell, but he was wildly inconsistent as freshman.
I think the same can be said about our current WRs. Their current stage of development is the stage at which they should have been taking over for Desean, Jordan, & Hawkins. The ideal situation is our RB depth. Javid leaves early, but Shane is ready. When Shane leaves, we’ll be ready.
Funny story
As my buddy and I (both students at the time) made our way down the stands towards the field a group of Furdie Band Dorks started hootin and hollerin’ at my friend. Not sure what their deal was, but something along the lines of calling him a “fat hippie” or something similar.
My bud, intoxicated of course, proceeded to grab two pretty-much-full cups of soda, and heaved them simultaneously at the Band guys talking trash. I’ll always remember the look on the two sousaphone players faces when coke was spilling all over not only their instruments, but their faces and uniforms.
Afterwards I witnessed the most aggressive action I’ve ever seen from the police officers at Memorial. Instantly, there were 4 officers grabbing my friend, handcuffing him and pushing him through gobs of people towards the exit. Another awesome site since my friend is 6’5’’ 275 lbs and made an awesome path through exiting Bear fans.
I just laughed, rushed the field, high fived Sydquan and caught up with my boy the next day.
by Another Failed Tedford QB on May 13, 2010 12:43 PM PDT reply actions
So, you posted 50 comments at the Chiefs SBN site with the handle “Another Failed Tedford QB” and just now had your first comment here?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I know I know
I need to participate more over here. I had Chiefs season tix for 15 years growing up and I’m friends with the dude who runs Arrowhead Pride.
But you guys seriously do a kickass job and I’m reading everyday. Just need to be more active in the comments.
by Another Failed Tedford QB on May 13, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for the kind words. Do they get confused over there about your handle?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Yes of course
I don’t think a lot of them know that the Pac-10 exists. It’s all Big 12, Big 10 and SEC homers. I throw in west coast references all the time but few seem to follow.
I guess the same would happen over here if I talked about Brandon Albert’s development or how Dexter McCluster will be the next Wes Welker.
I’m a rare breed of about 6 total people on the planet that cheer for the Cal Bears on Saturday and the KC Chiefs on Sundays.
by Another Failed Tedford QB on May 13, 2010 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions
I know!
Rodgers success is making me considering changing my name.
But then I remember Dilfer, Carr, Akili Smith, Harrington, Boller, Volek, Feeley, etc.
And please everyone, spare me the “Dilfer won a Super Bowl” trash. He is the only QB of all time to not get resigned after winning it all.
by Another Failed Tedford QB on May 14, 2010 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I was there too
This was a really boring game.
#1… For that explosive offense we had in 2006, why couldn’t score any TDs?
#2… Marshawn got benched for fumbling.
#3… There was some circus catch by Furd.
#4… Wasnt this supposed to be the last game played at the Original Memorial Stadium?
Also, i want Tom Schneider’s book
Well, I guess I can be glad I missed this… Just told CalNet (my wife) that I couldn’t even remember this game. She then informs me that I didn’t even see it! Apparently I was at work when this game happened. (I know, I know. I’m a terrible Cal fan.) Happy to see I don’t have anything to be sorry for.
Don’t tell anybody, but….
I had tickets and didn’t even go.
shhhhhhh
Cooler than a Polar Bear's toenails.
by Thoroughbred on May 13, 2010 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Ditto. Not a game I could’ve given a crap about.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on May 13, 2010 6:26 PM PDT up reply actions
A Cal Football game is a game you couldn’t give a crap about? A BIG GAME is a game you couldn’t have given a crap about?
We really might need to revoke your Cal fanship license now.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
Hey this isn’t fair! I was young and stupid!
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on May 14, 2010 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, this was when we were living in New York City and missed two seasons of seeing Cal football in person. We still tried to follow on TV/radio. SO I DON’T KNOW ABOUT THOROUGHBRED SKIPPING THE GAME WHEN HE HAD TICKETS. I MIGHT CONSIDER MY BEING OUT OF STATE A BETTER EXCUSE THAN THOROUGHBRED AND AVI WHO BOTH HAD TICKETS TO THIS CAL GAME AND DIDN’T GO.
by paleodan on May 13, 2010 7:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was lounging in a jacuzzi, sipping on some Lemon Drops and eyeballing some fine South Asian womenfolk.
Cooler than a Polar Bear's toenails.
by Thoroughbred on May 13, 2010 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Chill y’alls.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on May 13, 2010 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Nope
Pics of good reason for not attending or you were playing golf in Palo Alto with T-bred
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
I AGREE! WHO HAS A TICKET TO THE BIG GAME AND FAILS TO GO??
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I CAN THINK OF TWO PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON THIS BLOG THAT HAD A TICKET TO A BIG GAME AND FAILED TO GO.

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