Ted Miller says it's time to start asking some tough (but reasonable) questions about Jeff Tedford's performance. This will probably be the most important offseason of his career at Cal. Can he rebuild a foundation for consistent 9/10-win seasons, or will this be the beginning of the end?
Cal fans have been obsessed for the past few years over the question of whether Tedford is the guy to get the Bears to the proverbial "next level." Has Tedford plateaued? Or have Cal fans just become too greedy? Berkeley, after all, is not Tuscaloosa or Columbus. It's an elite university that's known more for its counterculture than its football culture.
And you know what? Our country needs a Berkeley more than it needs another win-at-all-cost institution. Of that I am 100 percent certain.
When Cal fans ask about Tedford, you almost feel they are as much asking about themselves and their university: Should I not care this much? Am I keeping this football stuff in perspective? Or should I be more even critical because Tedford is paid a whole bunch of money when world-class professors are not?
Two years ago, the questions were unfair and premature. Tedford had transformed a program and made it a cash cow. But this fall, they became fair and relevant. And it's clear Tedford knows that.
His job this offseason is to make changes that right the program and redirect it toward the trajectory it had during his first five seasons.
After the jump Bak Bak saves the day, water polo advances to the NCAA championship game, volleyball sweeps its first two NCAA tourney opponents, and more from post-season action.
Basketball
-
Turnovers cost the women's team the chance to upset no. 7 Texas A&M. They lost 74-58. Boyle was pleased with the energy on defense, but acknowledged that the offense still has some work to do.
- Bak Bak's late-game heroics helped the Bears hold onto a 74-72 win over Iowa State in the Pac-10/Big 12 hardwood classic. Bak made some clutch free throws and forced a crucial ISU turnover. Monty seemed especially cheerful during the postgame press conference.
Volleyball
-
Cal won its NCAA tournament opener against Utah State in three sets. They followed that up with an impressive sweep over North Carolina. The Bears advance to the Seattle regional where they'll face Minnesota on Friday.
Water Polo
Soccer
- Cal came up just short in its bid to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history. The Bears were defeated by Akron 3-2 in penalty kicks after a 3-3 tie.
Swimming