Tavecchio's late-game redemption was like something out of one of his dreams.
"My mentality before I kick a field goal is, I really don't remember how far it is," Tavecchio said. "In my dreams, it's always 55 yards. I don't think of distances in reality, but in my dreams, why not?"
Tavecchio's game-winner made up for his miss from 39 yards out with 5:46 remaining that also would have given the Bears the lead. He said it was the first game-winning field goal he's ever made at any level.
"I was praying for (another chance)," Tavecchio said. "Something inside me just told me that I was going to get another chance. A kicker's greatest dream is a game-winning field goal. I feel very blessed to have been able to win the game at the end."
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"I'm happy for Giorgio that he came in and kicked that because you really feel bad for a kid when the game is on the line," Tedford said. "I was happy that he came back and knocked it through."
After the jump, we have more stories on Tavecchio, updated rankings, bowl projections, the early spread for Saturday (Cal by 6.5), postgame quotes, an article on the wildcat pass, and more. Tomorrow I'll have the rest of the weekend in Cal sports.
Cal Football
- Cal moves up to 20th in the BCS rankings and debuts (again) at 23rd in the AP and Coaches' polls.
- The Bears are an early 6.5 point favorite over the Beavs.
- Kevin Riley earns a Pac-10 helmet sticker from Ted Miller. Miller wonders if the final drive was "a defining moment" for Riley, but he believes "[Riley] and Cal have turned a corner this season."
- ESPN bowl projections: Schlabach anticipates a Cal-Utah Las Vegas Bowl (I still think he's nuts for putting Stanford in the Emerald Bowl). It's a step up from last week's Poinsettia Bowl! Feldman thinks we'll face Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. Both had no love for USC, as they expect the Trojans will miss the BCS for the first time under Carroll.
- Tedford and Riley have a few postgame quotes in addition to those from Dennis Erickson, Danny Sullivan, LB Mike Nixon, and RB Cameron Marshall.
- Despite missing a crucial field goal late in the fourth quarter, Tavecchio remained calm and composed when given another chance.
- JO has an article on the Wildcat pass. Tedford initially thought it was a sure touchdown, but believes it spent too much time wobbling through the air. Kevin thinks he may have made Vereen tentative by telling him to avoid any costly mistakes. Best is just glad they were able to run another play after that: "Thank God nobody caught it."
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