This Week In The Pac-12: Two Team Race
by norcalnick on Oct 24, 2011 10:30 AM PDT
in California Golden Bears Football
Email
PrintTrue, this week's results only confirmed what we all pretty much already knew. But it was confirmed with a decisiveness that was disturbingly lopsided. Utterly untested Stanford faced a hot Washington team and completely blew them out of the water. 65 points? Just one punt? 446 rushing yards?!?!? I don't care how bat Washington's defense is, that type of offensive success is stunning. Though I'll admit that 10 yards/run is a savage indictment of Washington's front seven. Yes, I'm still bummed Cal didn't steal that game up in Seattle.
The ease with which Stanford dispatched Washington and Oregon dispatched Arizona St. means that unless you have an unusually high regard for USC, the November 12th match-up in Palo Alto will decide everything. Which yeah, we pretty much knew back in August. Worst of all? Oklahoma and Wisconsin gakked close games, opening the BCS door for Stanford. Rule of Tree is pretty jazzed:
And now, as the talking heads on ESPN note, and is especially evident in the human polls, the spotlight is no longer solely on the Alabama-LSU game in two weeks. It now shines just as bright on Stanford.
Ray: "And I looked, and he opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became as black as sack cloth, and the moon became as blood."
Winston: "And the seas boiled and the skies fell."
Ray: Judgement day.
Winston: Judgement day.
Ray: Every ancient religion has its own myth about the end of the world.
Winston: Myth? Ray, has it ever occurred to you that maybe the reason Stanford is undefeated is 'cause the dead HAVE been rising from the grave?
UW DawgPound is mildly displeased with the defensive performance of their Huskies:
Nick Holt isn't getting the job done...period. You have to be able to line your players up correctly and in year three he still can't get it done. Stanford obviously is a much better team and there is an obvious chasm in talent levels...but 65 points? You can't blame that all on the hand your dealt. Grade - F
Cal's defense has generally improved each week. Is it insane to suggest that by the end of the year we might be able to slow down Luck and Co.?
65 points and 446 rushing yards allowed - automatic grounds for dismissal for a defensive coordinator?
Arizona 48, UCLA 12
So after last night, no matter what happens rest of the season, we can say absolutely, without any doubt, that Rick Neuheisel is not the man for the job in Westwood:
Rick Neuheisel needs to either resign or be fired immediately.
But that's not enough folks.
Dan Guerrero needs to either resign or be fired immediately.
UCLA looked flat-out bad, but there's nothing but good things to take away from the Wildcats' point of view. However, the score and overall domination probably reflects more on the Bruins struggles than Arizona's success.In the end, the win means Arizona perhaps found a swagger and mojo to finish this season without further embarrassment. While winning out will be extremely difficult, it's a step in a positive direction that could give fans and the team itself some confidence.
The only negative? UCLA could soon be competing against Arizona for a top-notch head coaching hire, and that could now possibly happen during the season -- all thanks to Arizona's domination on Thursday.
Oregon St. 44, Washington St. 21
I'm not surprised that Oregon St. won, but so easily, and on the road? I think so many people wanted to believe that Wazzu turned the corner that they ignored massive evidence that they haven't (myself included). True, the Cougs haven't had much luck (see another injury to Jeff Tuel) but that doesn't exactly explain the 44 points and 551 yards Oregon St. racked up on the Washington St. defense.
Building the Dam celebrates Sean Mannion's best performance of the year:
Oregon St. quarterback Sean Mannion had time to throw all night, a combination of the best job by the Beavers' offensive line since the win over USC last November, and an inept Cougar pass rush. The result was Mannion completing 26 of 34 passes, to 11 different receivers, for 376 yards and 4 touchdowns, to 4 different receivers.
You know it was ugly for Wazzu, because the usually reserved Cougcenter holds no punches:
Crapping the bed, though, to the tune of a 44-21 beatdown? Which, if we were honest, wasn't even remotely that close?
Unacceptable. Just completely, utterly, totally unacceptable.
Many have asked at what point we blame the coaches for this sort of thing. I've held off, believing strongly in the personal responsibility of players. Not anymore.
I try not to put too much emphasis on the results of one game. But this is no longer "just one game." This is the 25th time under Paul Wulff that WSU has lost by 20 points or more, and at some point, these kinds of embarrassments have to end. Is halfway through year four of a coach's regime too much to ask?
Per the usual, Oregon St.'s offense has been turning it on in October. Do you think Cal's defense has what it takes to bring Mannion back to earth?
Would you fire Paul Wulff?
USC 31, Notre Dame 17
This column is nominally about Pac-12 teams, but is there anything more Notre Damish than losing by 14 points because you fumbled the snap on a likely touchdown play, thus allowing the opponent to return that fumble for a touchdown? Meanwhile, USC does the nation a service by shutting up the usual '10-2 Notre Dame BCS Bowl!' blather, and makes me feel .00000001% better about Thursday night's debacle.
Conquest Chronicles can feel themselves falling for Lane:
Kiffin is finding a way win to win.
He has really integrated the young players effectively. it hasn't been perfect and his game management, at times, has been frustrating.
Kiffin is growing as a coach, but he still has a long way to go.
Sigh. It was so much easier to rationalize Cal's defeats to USC when Carroll was in charge.
What chance to you give USC to upset Stanford in L.A. next week?
Oregon 45, Colorado 2
Somehow, having 2 points in a blowout rather than zero seems more embarrassing. That's really the only thought I have about this game, which was an inevitably painful rout.
It was a dominant performance on both sides of the ball by the Ducks, and would have been a shutout had it not been for a boneheaded mistake on a punt return.
Will Colorado win a Pac-12 game this year?
Next Week
Saturday
Washington State at Oregon, 12:00 pm
Colorado at Arizona St., 3:30 pm
Cal at UCLA, 4:00 pm
Stanford at USC, 5:00 pm, ABC
Oregon St. at Utah, 5:00 pm
Arizona at Washingon, 7:30 pm
Finally, for the first time in 2011, there are six Pac-12 games - no byes, no non-conference games. Unfortunately, there's only one game matching up two teams from the top half of the conference. That's Stanford at USC, which hopefully will be worth watching, though I'm skeptical after watching USC stand around for 3 hours and let Cal hand them a win. Meanwhile, I'm curious to see if Arizona's one-week renaissance was just a function of playing USC, or if Nick Foles might pose a threat to Washington's sieve-like defense.
Burning questions: Is there any point in playing Darron Thomas and LaMichael James against Wazzu? Will Rick Neuheisel, sans wide receivers and any kind of hope, elect to run the ball on every down because "Hell, I'm fired anyway!" And: Can Utah and Colorado finally join the Pac-12 with a win?
41 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Will Colorado win a Pac-12 game this year?
Well, they do play uclol. so I’d give them more than a puncher’s chance of getting at least one win.
Being an Old Blue means never accepting success.
20-5 overall, 4-1 last week (Cal notched the upset!)
Here’s this week’s predictions from the SBN community. Of the five incorrect predictions so far, four have been predictions that Utah or Colorado would win. We’d be 16-1 if we only predicted Pac-10 games!
Arizona (41.69%) at Washington (58.31%)
Cal (66.27%) at UCLA (33.73%)
Colorado (9.83%) at Arizona State (90.17%)
Oregon State (13.08%) at Utah (86.92%)
Stanford (63.52%) at USC (36.48%)
Washington State (2.36%) at Oregon (97.64%)
"Some people watch adult videos on their computer - I go to YouTube and watch Jahvid Best highlight clips. That’s what gets me going."- Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions head coach
Whats the other game?
In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It
UCLA's win over Oregon State
The more I think about it, the more I am surprised that anyone managed to win that game.
"Some people watch adult videos on their computer - I go to YouTube and watch Jahvid Best highlight clips. That’s what gets me going."- Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions head coach
by Berkelium97 on Oct 24, 2011 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Why cant we ever schedule Oregon State in like September?
In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It
Why cant we just schedule the Dave Kragthorpe Beavers every year...
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 - Where masochism is defined.
I rushed the Furd's farm in 2009
www.californiagoldenblogs.com - Where Cal grads prove they learned something.
by SeanCrosby87 on Oct 25, 2011 2:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Oregon St scares me. WSU less so now.
And somebody please beat the Furd. I cannot stand them going to the NCG. Fuck the Furd
In other words, Go Bears!
WSU was just looking ahead
They’re saving all of their tricks for Oregon and upcoming upset. After that, they will have shot their wad and fall lifelessly to Cal.
I think it would be nice for Cal to face an undefeated Stanford for an epic upset.
by ginfizzbear on Oct 24, 2011 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Probably no chance of this but...
I’d prefer for Cal to be facing Stanf*rd for the chance to complete Stanf*rd’s epic late season collapse.
Yup.
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
by atomsareenough on Oct 24, 2011 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions
No worries.
This just all makes Cal’s victory in the Big Game this year that much more impressive.
by mrjpark on Oct 24, 2011 11:07 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs
Man, we Cal fans are such a weird bunch. Ask a majority of Cal fans, and you’ll hear mostly DOOOOOM and gloom about Cal’s prospects for most of the season… but damned if we don’t feel confident of beating the cursed Lobsterbacks, no matter how good they might be.
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
by atomsareenough on Oct 24, 2011 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I didn’t say anything was wrong with it, the inconsistency is just a little funny, that’s all :)
Though, I do think we’re too pessimistic/cynical in general. I know it’s a hard-earned pessimism, but still.
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
by atomsareenough on Oct 24, 2011 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't see SC winning next week
The running stats that Stanford posted this week worry me – because that means that Stanford can victimize the SC secondary and / or just run the ball until SC’s defense is completely gassed. Neither option is very exciting.
That said, I was pleased with what I saw Saturday night against Notre Dame. It looked like a coherent plan and the team finally got it together in areas that have been troublesome (offensive line play and defense). I don’t think we need to expect upsets against Oregon or Stanford but the team has a puncher’s chance of going 9 – 3 depending on how the Washington game goes. That would be a pretty damn good result.
"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
Is it okay to admit to a growing unease over this coming matchup against the Normal School?
I really get nervous when we have to face a team that needs something to prove. I am absolutely convinced that whenever we have to play a team that had some sort of negative emotional experience the week before, we always lose. And don’t bother trying to show me any numbers or statistics that prove otherwise, because, like Stephen Colbert, I trust the truthiness of my gut way more than your fancy facts.
I mean. we only beat Utah because they won the previous week, so the fact that uclol was just clowned by Zona only means that the game is ripe for DOOOOOOOM! The only thing we have going for us is that all of the gutties in their delightfully marvelous pastel blue have quit on Newhizel, and even if not, the entire uclol coaching staff is as clueless as an ASU coed trying to find a career other than porn or stripper.
Being an Old Blue means never accepting success.
I hear Maurice Jones-Drew is suiting up for this one.
by Avinash Kunnath on Oct 24, 2011 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m just hoping that Sanford goes 11-1 in the regular season, their only loss coming in triple overtime to the Cal Golden Bears.
I hope Stanfurd loses all of their games, always.
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
by atomsareenough on Oct 24, 2011 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Triple overtime? Fuck that...
I’m hoping for Cal to come firing on all cylinders against a Stanfurd team that prepares against Cal about as well as Cal seems to prepare for Whoregon/U$C.
Then Cal proceeds in a blowout fashion.. winning 20-38, as Furd doesnt get it together till Cal’s already up 31-10 in the 3rd.
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 - Where masochism is defined.
I rushed the Furd's farm in 2009
www.californiagoldenblogs.com - Where Cal grads prove they learned something.
by SeanCrosby87 on Oct 25, 2011 2:42 AM PDT up reply actions
UCLA could soon be competing against Arizona for a top-notch head coaching hire
I love Bruins fans. So, so delusional.
"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
Didnt the Arizona fans say that?
In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It
Wildcats fans are delusional then!
Realistically neither team is in the market for a truly stop-notch coach, is the gist. Either or both might find a keeper from the ranks of BCS coordinators or overlooked mid major head coaches, but neither is anywhere near in the running for a Meyer, Patterson, Petersen, etc.
"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
What about a guy like Leach? I could see him at Zona possibly.
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
by atomsareenough on Oct 24, 2011 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Desert Air Storm?
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 - Where masochism is defined.
I rushed the Furd's farm in 2009
www.californiagoldenblogs.com - Where Cal grads prove they learned something.
by SeanCrosby87 on Oct 25, 2011 2:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Schools like Arizona are the reason Leach is still unemployed.
I mean, we’re talking about a guy who couldn’t get an interview following an 11-2 season at Texas Tech. Mike Leach, for whatever reason, fucking terrifies athletic administrators. I highly doubt that Byrne is really cut from a different cloth than the Dan Guerreros and Ken Andersons of the world.
"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
my brother (ucla alum) says they aren’t competing with ‘zona for a coach, and i agree with him. i don’t see how ’zona can be considered a better or even an equal job than ucla.
he’d have been worried if the cal job came open as well, but we all know it’s not going to happen whether you think tedford should be fired or not.
Institutional support?
From what I’ve gathered (mostly through reading BN), the UCLA administration is very underwhelming in its support for football, from both the facilities angle and the coaching salaries angle. The impression is that they tend to rest back on long faded laurels and assume that their brand will be enough to lure a good coach without giving that person top-level compensation and support. And that’s if there even is a vacancy after this year, since just mediocre might be enough for another year at least of the Weez (a development I would wholeheartedly support).
Arizona has many general structural disadvantages, but they may be a lot more willing to be aggressive in doing what it takes to bring in a great hire, willing to break the bank for the right head person AND assistants, willing to throw their full weight behind football success including competitive facilities, etc.
Somewhere, somehow, a Duck is watching you.
while i too wholeheartedly support ucla mediocrity, i do talk to my brother about his football team. he does admit there is underwhelming support from the administration, but he says there’s a growing alumni support for bringing in the best they can with talk of a tedford-style pay plan. whether it amounts to anything is another story; they’re already paying for the pauley renovations.
Easy coaching choice for UCLA
They should hire this guy named Karl Dorrell; he has a MUCH better record than Neuheisel.
I don’t see USC doing anything to Stanford past the first quarter. The one time I actually root FOR USC is when they play ND. Maybe less so now that Charlie Weiss is gone, but still; that sweetheart BCS deal, on N(otredame)B(roadcasting)C(orporation) EVERY week…..join a conference and you’ve got my respect.
I don’t think Colorado wins a conference game this year, but I predict their exposure as part of the Pac gives them a little better recruiting results, especially with those sunny days in Boulder on TV. SLIGHTLY better results……
I'd like to smell the Roses before I die.
I think what Colorado needs out of the Pac-12 more than recruiting is straight cash.
They need to upgrade their facilities, hire quality coaches, and scrap the Bill McCartney mentality of winning on a shoestring budget. They had success with McCartney, Neuheisel, and Barnett, but I think Hawkins broke the spell and if they want to see better than scrappy-underdog results they’re going to have to spend more than a scrappy-underdog budget.
"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
Was this the all-time low for UCLA football?
With the way they played Arizona last week, I think UCLOL is too much of a compliment for them. I now deem the Fetal (that’s right, they’ve been downgraded from Baby Bears) Bears: UCLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. :)
by FromCtoShining(Blue)C on Oct 24, 2011 4:59 PM PDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
GoldenBlogs' FAQ and Community Guidelines
Related FanPosts on California Golden Blogs
Related FanShots on California Golden Blogs
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
I recorded the entire last out as Cal clinches the first ever PAC12 Softball Title! It was also a...
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 |
