10 Best Non Big Games of the 2000s: The Also-Rans
by norcalnick on Jun 22, 2010 3:00 AM PDT
in All-Decade
Email
Print
Join us in remembering Declarations of Bear Territories past!
Soon CGB will begin a countdown of the top-10 non Big Games of the 2000s. But before we begin another (mostly) fun nostalgia trip down memory lane, we had to recognize the also-rans. Praise be to Tedford, because when we began compiling this list I was pleased to realize that there were easily more than 10 deserving candidates. Coming up with 10 games worthy of inclusion might have been a painful task in the 70s or 80s, but eight years of Tedford has provided ample material to sift through. Almost every year since 2002 has multiple deserving candidates, even disapointing years like 2007. And you never know, maybe a rare Holmoe win will sneak into the top 10! (Spoiler alert: They don’t.)
So without further ado, here are the games that received votes, but couldn’t quite crack the top ten in a voting of CGB writers. The list is presented (mostly) chronologically. Have fun speculating about those that made the cut!
2000: Cal 46, UCLA 38
Why it should make the list: A wild, crazy game that saw 7 total turnovers and 3 overtime periods before Cal emerged with a win at home. The Bruins were ranked #13 coming into the game but ran into the hit squad, with Nnamdi Asomugha and Andre Carter providing a number big plays. A slew of Cal fumbles let the Bruins back into the game but Kyle Boller wouldn’t be denied.
Why it didn’t make the list: Because nobody wants to remember that football was being played in the first two years of the decade, even the wins? I’m 90% sure I watched this game and 100% sure I purged everything from the Holmoecaust out of my memory. Still, it’s pretty skocking how many Cal players are still in the pros from this game. Can I get a Fire Holmoe, folks?
2002 Cal 34, Washington 27
Why it should make the list: Cal finally ended a 19 game losing streak to the #12 ranked Huskies in one of Kyle Boller’s best performances as a Bear. The Cal defense bent (399 yards passing for Washington) but rarely broke, holding UW to four field goals and causing three turnovers. This was the win that confirmed that Tedford had turned things around in Berkeley.
Why it didn’t make the list: Again, a lack of drama probably hurt this game, and again, this wasn’t the greatest Washington team ever, though they did make a bowl (barely). This might be the toughest omission on the list – I can’t come up with many reasons why it shouldn’t be top 10.
2003 Cal 54, Washington 7
In before Ohio Bear!
Why it should make the list: In terms of yardage gained, this was the greatest performance by a Cal offense ever. Aaron Rodgers, J.J. Arrington, Geoff McArthur and the rest of the Bears rolled up 729 total yards and the Bear defense intercepted four passes en route to a humiliation of Washington. Plus a win was required to secure an eventual invitation to the Insight Bowl.
Why it didn’t make the list: A lack of drama? Washington was a solid team that year, but not good enough for a win to resonate. Plus, this game is overshadowed by a number of amazing, thrilling games in 2003 (stay tuned for more!).
2004 Cal 28, Oregon 27
Why it should make the list: Because it was easily the most exciting Cal win in 2004, a year that the Bears mostly spent blowing other teams away. A late, awesome touchdown catch from Rodgers to McArthur finally gave Cal a lead and Oregon’s tight end dropped a pass on 4th down that would have put the Ducks in easy field goal range for the game winner. Just another in a long line of thrilling games against the green and yellow crew.
Why it didn’t make the list: Probably because Cal ended up escaping more out of luck than anything else. Oregon was a good team that year, but Cal was better and they shouldn’t have needed a dropped pass to win at home.
2009 Cal 52, Maryland, 13
Maryland trips over itself trying to catch The Jet via imgs.sfgate.com
Why it should make the list: It was a fun, blow-out revenge game that saw Jahvid add to his highlight reel with another incredible touchdown run full of moves only Jahvid can pull off.
Why it didn’t make the list: As it turns out, Maryland was bad in 2009. Really, really bad. If anything, I’m bitter about this game because it raised my expectations that much higher before cruel reality struck in Eugene.
2009 Cal 45, UCLA 26
Why it should make the list: Because somehow this was Tedford’s first ever win in Los Angeles. Illegal touchdowns, Maurice Jones, Chase Lyman’s knee and painful missed field goals had all conspired to create a truly weird and painful 0-for-Los Angeles and this game helped to exorcise some demons. Mychal Kendrick’s 4th quarter interception was the nice cap to a solid win.
Why it didn’t make the list: UCLA really wasn’t very good. They weren’t a train wreck, but Cal really had no business losing to them, even on the road. This game was only close to making the list on the basis of ending that streak.
2009 Cal 24, Arizona 16
Nick Foles celebrates learning one of the basic rules of quarterbacking via a.abcnews.go.com
Why it should make the list: With Cal fans beginning to squabble about the direction of the program and a once promising season threatening to fall completely into the abyss, the Cal defense rose up and turned in out of their best performances of the Teford era – completely stymieing a red-hot Arizona offense that came in putting up cartoonish numbers with Nick Foles under center. The Cal defense got very little support from an inconsistent offense, but Kevin Riley and Shane Vereen got just enough done to win the game, including a thrilling 61 yard touchdown by Vereen that seemed to seal the game.
Why it didn’t make the list: This game is overshadowed by the other incredible highs and lows of the 2009 season – the USC and Oregon blowouts, Jahvid’s frightening fall and the amazing Big Game win. Maybe if it was against a bigger rival or had more conference title implications this game would have finished higher.
2001 Cal 20, Rutgers 13
Why it should make the list: /crickets chirping
Why it didn’t make the list: You mean, beyond the obvious?
44 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Poll needs editing?
The poll says Oregon 2006 but the post says Oregon 2004. I can’t believe Oregon 2004 missed, but I’d be stunned — STUNNED — if Oregon 2006 didn’t make the “best of” list. STUNNED!
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
I'm up for speculatin' about those that made the cut
I can give it a shot. Chronologically with earliest first:
2002: Cal 46, Michigan State 22 — sort of signaled that maybe we were good and that this Jeff Tedford fellow was legit.
2003: Cal 34, USC 31, 3 OT — obvi
2004: Cal 49, Oregon State 7 — blowing out a decent team on the road after 2 bye weeks when some of us (okay, me) were a little afraid of our own expectations. Signaled maybe something special was happening
2005: Cal 35, BYU 28 (Las Vegas Bowl) — Beast Mode, Jackson and Levy. Oh my.
2006: Cal 45, Oregon 24 — national TV, huge opponent, big time performance
2006: Cal 38, Ucla 24 — Jackson’s punt return, DeCoud block are reasons enough
2006: Cal 45, Texas A&M 10 (Holiday Bowl) — Three words: Sweet beat down.
2007: Cal 45, Tennessee 31 — Revenge was sweet
2007: Cal 31, Oregon 24 — And then the 2007 season mysteriously ended after that.
2008: Cal 38, Michigan State 31 — season opener, national TV, angst about the quarterback situation. We came up big, against a team that ended up being pretty darn good in the Big1T1en that year.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
Forgot an important one
I was thinking in terms of wins when I posted the above, but I suppose if we’re talking about simply best best “non Big Games,” the 23-17 loss at USC in 2004 has to be on the list. This was probably the biggest single performance that elevated Cal football to a national prominence.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
by Ohio Bear on Jun 22, 2010 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Insight Bowl 2003
Cal 52 Virginia Tech 49
by LeonPowe on Jun 22, 2010 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
Yes, that’s also worthy. 35 first quarter points were a great way to show 2002 wasn’t like 2001.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
Hell, even just the first play from scrimmage would be a good addition to the list :)
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
by CruzinBears on Jun 22, 2010 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
I took a double take when I turned on the TV... and realized it was only the 1st quarter...
that was a seemingly ridiculous beatdown.
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Bobby Crosby is my Cousin
www.athleticsnation.com
by SeanCrosby87 on Jun 22, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
:: Facepalming ::
Can’t believe I forgot about the Insight Bowl as I was making my list. All the more inexcusable given that a photo of the field taken from behind the Cal sideline while the ball is being snapped on the game-winning FG attempt is framed in my office.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
You forgot the Insight Bowl?!?! Where did the real Ohio Bear go?
Please say ten “Hail Tedfords” and come on back to us.
Irate Toothmonger - Will get all up in your business for food
Penance done
Hail Tedford, Full of Football Knowledge
Pappy and Andy are with Thee
Blessed art Thou among Cal coaches
And blessed is the product of thy tireless film study
Wise Tedford, leader of the program
Lead us beyond our years of futility
And to the Rose Bowl we cherish.
Amen.
Recited X 10.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
by Ohio Bear on Jun 22, 2010 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 6 recs
I rec’d this before going to clinic. I can’t believe it’s not green yet! What is this? Utah?
Irate Toothmonger - Will get all up in your business for food
Oski be with you
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Jun 22, 2010 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions
The greatest loss ever.
As friends still constantly remind: A loss is a loss.
by PlayClassyBears on Jun 22, 2010 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
It compares to the 1991 Washington game...
and that game was in Berkeley, the day before the Oakland Firestorm. A nearly sell-out crowd, both bands on the field pre-game to play the National Anthem, and at halftime performing a combined rendition of the 1812 Overture (with cannon, of course!).
Absolutely electric atmosphere, big plays on display. Never more than a 7 point lead in any team’s favor.
Washington 24, California 17
Pawlawski & Co. had the ball on the last play from scrimmage at Washington’s 20. A pass attempt to Brian Treggs at the goal line (IIRC) fell incomplete. As the teams left the field, the crowd stood and gave the players an ovation.
Washington went on to win the co-national championship that year with Miami (Washington was #1 in the AP poll, I believe). No team, other than Cal, came closer than 11 points of tying Washington in any game in 1991 (USC lost to UW 14-3 in LA on November 9 and Nebraska lost to UW in Lincoln, NE, 36-21). Most 1991 UW margins of victory were at least 35 points.
For Cal, tht was the Citrus Bowl year, the year Cal should have gone to the Sugar Bowl and ran the “Sugarooskie” against ASU in an effort to sway the Selection Committee members in attendance.
I have to agree this is the best GAME Cal played, but it is not the best WIN.
Perhaps we should make a list of best losses and worst losses.
And Worst wins?? A few UCLA games would rank on that list
by PlayClassyBears on Jun 22, 2010 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions
WORST Losses
2004 Texas Tech Holiday Bowl
2006 Arizona
2007 Oregon State
2006 Tennessee
2007 USC – rainy as hell Joe Roth game
2007 Stanford – sensing a theme
2005 UCLA
2009 Oregon State – for losing Jahvid
2009 Oregon – that beat down was demoralizing
2001 USC – that game was attended by about 7000 people most of whom were USC fans. The rains and crows circling our end zones were indicative of the Holmoe era. Also pretty sure its the worst modern era loss.
2002 Oregon State – Two words: Steven Jackson
2003 Colorado State – how we lost that game is still beyond me
by PlayClassyBears on Jun 22, 2010 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions
BEST Losses
2004 USC
2003 Utah – Aaron Rodgers’s debut
That’s all I got. Havin’ a hard time finding any losses that I felt good about. Most of the time I feel like the Bears shoot themselves in the foot rather being outplayed while at their best.
by PlayClassyBears on Jun 22, 2010 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions
2003 Kansas State (wasn’t this A-Rod’s debut?) I drove up from Houston to Kansas City to watch this one.
It was indeed
Perhaps I am recalling the announcers on TV calling the Utah game talking about how great this kid is after Cal was down a bunch and he started to bring them back and almost pulled off an upset against Urban Meyer’s team. The announcers were saying “Ladies and Gentlemen we are witnessing the start of an era. This kid is going to play on Sundays.” Boy were they ever right.
by PlayClassyBears on Jun 22, 2010 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Kansas State was Aaron Rodgers’ actual debut
Utah was Rodgers’ coming out party for a national audience
The following week at Illinois (a 31-24 Cal win, at which the CALumbus Bears and I were in attendance) was Rodgers’ first career start.
His second career start was a certain game vs. USC that went to three overtimes.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
I’d say that 07 OSU game was a best and worst loss at the same time. Worst cause of the way it ended, but when I think back about how Riley (young backup QB) went in there and played a tough game against a good defense, it could have been a lot worst.
by LostRenegade7 on Jun 22, 2010 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions
ooooo this too!
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
by CruzinBears on Jun 22, 2010 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Emerald Bowl
Beating the U is pretty special. Having Jahvid average TEN YARDS PER CARRY while doing it? That was just fun.
by PlayClassyBears on Jun 22, 2010 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I bet the Emerald Bowl made it too....
…which means that one of the teams on the list above didn’t even get considered. It might be Michigan State in 2002 because they ended up sucking pretty badly (plus we were fairly lucky to win it, as MSU turned the ball over twice very deep in our end of the field). Or the Oregon State game, which rocked as a ball game and was total domination against a good team, but I bet our guys just forgot about it.
Oregon 2004 has got to be the winner here. Fantastic game, perhaps marred only by the fact that Cal had to get a huge lucky break to win. That’s the kind of game that last year’s team probably goes on to get blown out in, but Rodgers and McArthur wouldn’t let the Bears lose that one.
Arizona 2009 would have been my next choice. Totally exhilarating and unexpected victory, and generally well-played except for Foles’ huge mistake.
I think that UCLA 2000 would have been more likely to make the cut had more than 2 of our writers here been in attendance at that game. That is one of the more impressive victories lost to the mysts of time (i.e. Holmoe).
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Yeah you guys SERIOUSLY MUFFED this one. Allow me to recount why it should be on the list:
TRIPLE OT!!!! This was one of the best OT games that the Bears ever engaged in. And by the way, Twist I don’t think you were there because you would have remembered that the student sections moved THREE SECTIONS OVER at each over time period. And since there were six changes of end zone that was a LOT of people moving back and forth.
It was absolute insanity, how people weren’t trampled to death as the entire East side of the stadium squashed into the end zones is a miracle. It was probably the loudest Cal game ever pre-Oregon 2006. Absolute freakin’ mayhem. And then the collective gasp and explosive cheer that emerged when Jameel Powell stayed in bounds in the corner of the endzone on his interception on Cory Paus’s fade pass for the win. Not to mention a veritable Hall of Fame game for some of Cal’s best future NFL stars:
Fujita – 4th and 1 stop
Asomougha – 31 yard INT return for TD
Igber – 3 TDs
Echemandu – 1 TD
Reasons to forget? I don’t think the greatest win of the Holmoe era should be discounted because he failed to win so many games. These Bears were young and they played their hearts out. There was a LOT of talent on this team, talent that Tedford used in his rise to greatness. In my mind, this game set the tone for what the future COULD be like. And it should not be forgotten.
For shame that it was an “also-ran.”
by PlayClassyBears on Jun 22, 2010 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Forgot to mention Sacks by Andre Carter and Tully Banta-Cain
by PlayClassyBears on Jun 22, 2010 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
My favorite memory from this game (I was a kid sitting on the alumni side) was watching the student section move over several sections in either direction after each change… I’d like to say I’d hope to see that again some day, but I think we’d have to drop significantly in attendance, so I’ll pass
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
Must include this win in the Worst games list
2005 vs Sacramento State 41-3
It was the first time Longshore got hurt. And it signaled the slow downward spiral that Cal has been climbing out of ever since. Just crushing. If Longshore was healthy in 2005 and had full confidence, those could have been some special teams.
by PlayClassyBears on Jun 22, 2010 1:18 PM PDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
GoldenBlogs' FAQ and Community Guidelines
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
About Us
• About the Golden Bloggers
• Our previous site @ Blogsome
• Avinash @ Bears Necessity
• Best of the Golden Blogs
• Golden Blogs Interviews
• HydroTech's Cal Football Analyses
• Ron Fimrite's Anatomy Of A Miracle
• CGB Weekly Guides
• GoldenBlogs' Community Guidelines
• GoldenBlogs' FAQ
• CGB GIF Army
Learn More About The California Golden Blogs Clothing Store
Pac-12 On SBN
Pacific Takes (Pac-12) NORTH AddictedToQuack: (Oregon)
UW Dawg Pound: (Washington)
CougCenter: (Washington State)
BuildingTheDam: (Oregon State)
Rule Of Tree: (Stanford)
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: (Cal)
SOUTH
BruinsNation: (UCLA)
ConquestChronicles: (USC)
HouseOfSparky: (ASU)
Arizona Desert Swarm: (Arizona)
TheRalphieReport: (Colorado)
Block U: (Utah)
Golden Bears Football Schedule
| Fresno St. | Sat 09/03 | W 36 - 21 |
@
Colorado
|
Sat 09/10 | W 36 - 33 |
| Presbyterian | Sat 09/17 | W 63 - 12 |
|
@
Washington
|
Sat 09/24 | L 23 - 31 |
|
@
Oregon
|
Thu 10/06 | L 15 - 43 |
|
USC
|
Thu 10/13 | L 9 - 30 |
|
Utah
|
Sat 10/22 | W 34 - 10 |
|
@
UCLA
|
Sat 10/29 | L 14 - 31 |
|
Washington St.
|
Sat 11/05 | W 30 - 7 |
|
Oregon St.
|
Sat 11/12 | W 23 - 6 |
|
@
Stanford
|
Sat 11/19 | L 28 - 31 |
|
@
Arizona St.
|
Fri 11/25 | W 47 - 38 |
|
@
Texas
|
Wed 12/28 | L 10 - 21 |
Pacific-12 Conference Standings
(updated 1.2.2012 at 11:12 PM PST)
| North | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Oregon Ducks
|
8 | 1 | 12 | 2 |
|
Stanford Cardinal
|
8 | 1 | 11 | 2 |
|
Washington Huskies
|
5 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
|
California Golden Bears
|
4 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
|
Oregon St. Beavers
|
3 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
|
Washington St. Cougars
|
2 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| South | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
USC Trojans
|
7 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
|
UCLA Bruins
|
5 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
|
Utah Utes
|
4 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
|
Arizona St. Sun Devils
|
4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|
Arizona Wildcats
|
2 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
|
Colorado Buffaloes
|
2 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
