I have all the photos on my computer sorted as well as one can. Photos leads you to Berkeley leads you to Football leads to you to a new folder today: 2010.
Yes, when it comes to California football, we've entered the new year, the new decade. Welcome to 2010. Hopefully, we are walking towards a decade as bright as the one we just finished up. Sure looks like it!
Join me after the jump to see where Cal football is walking, including photos from turkey.
I've spoken previously of the connection college football fans seem to have with their teams. The easy access to players, even if not emotionally meaningful, makes you feel like you are a part of the team. Now, no team is going to take this 5'10 160 pound weakling, but at least they let me walk right next to the players as we enter Memorial Stadium.
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Here is Tedford entering with "donors that matter," a category I hope to be in someday.
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While Ragnarok and AndBears set up the banner in our usual spot, CalBandGreat and I went down to take some warm up photos.
The receivers were catching passes in front of us:
Loggy!
JO came wandering by, so I said hi. Didn't want to bother him too much on his way to work. We kept an eye out for Ted Miller, but couldn't find anybody who matched that photo on ESPN. turkey was also taking some warm up photos:
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Warming Up (via ja_williams)
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They had fancy graphics now for the roster:
The offense was in white with the defense in blue. When there was a special teams play, giant orange hats were used to delineate the two teams since both offensive and defensive players are on special teams:
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Apparently, DeSean Jackson was taking on DeSean Jackson today:
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Riley scrambles out here to make a throw. He showed great arm strength on the day:
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Loggy in a rare "Not Falling Down While Catching The Pass" pass catch.
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Quinn Tedford was getting some action. We attempted to Twitter a Quinn Tedford For Heisman tweet, but ended up sending Quinn Tedford For Heissman. Although an unfortunate typographical error, I think we could really do something with this. The First Annual CGB Award For Outstanding Achievement In The Field Of Excellence: The Heissman! But who should we give it to? And why?
Yknow, CalBandGreat, who was our Twitter Secretary on the day (after PaleoDan's iPhone stopped being able to access the internet) sent out this Tweet about my so-called disturbing obsession with TKEPryantis79's shoes. I need to clear the air here, because there was no disturbing obsession. Not even a gentle, emotionally uplifting obsession! I just was asking a few questions, because TKE wasn't wearing any socks. And I was concerned that he was experiencing chafing. Can't I express some concern for a newfound friend's feet? If my feet were chafing, I would want my newfound friends to express concern over said chafing.
Fortunately, his moccasin-style shoes were apparently very comfortable! Disaster averted!
More phtoos:
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New running back Trajuan Briggs was looking very good. He even ran back a punt for a TD. There were a few runbacks. I never know what to do there. It is exciting on one hand, but also, ALAMARRRRRR!!! So, you can see the confusion and frustration. Here is Jeremy Ross running one back:
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Anger was somewhat inconsistent on the day.
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Field goals were generally good:
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More action shots:
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Yarnway in for a TD (via ja_williams)
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DeBoskie Breaks Free (via ja_williams)
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Thus, the game ended. With the scoreboard reading Blue 23 White 21 as it had the entire time.
Notice how it anticipated that Cal had screwed up the kick off already and the opposing team was on the 40 to start! The fact that it read this the entire time (with 1:00 remaining for the vast majority of it) led to a series of inane Twitter jokes, each one stupider than the last.
Score update: Blue still winning 23-21.
blue still beating white white 23-21
blu still beating wh dickety-three to dickety-one
white's upset bid falls short. blue wins 23-21
WE'RE SO WACKY!
Believe me, we had so many stupid jokes on the day:
what do they call a wertenberger in france?
After the game "ended," there was another drill. It was Make As Much Noise At The Kickers As They Kicked Field Goals. Even us fans got into it. I thought we were in mid-season noise-making form!
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Mike Costanzo was in the stands. I saw Brian Holley, too:
After the game ended, people started to stream onto the field. I attempted to send turkey down to snap some shots, but he was blocked. It seemed as if for a while anybody could merely wander on, but we waited too long. D'oh! Oh well. Many players came into the stands to interact with the fans and their family:
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Cameron Jordan loves to play for the camera. When he came off the field, I was right by him. I was all "Hey, good luck next year." Then, seeing him with a big beard, I was all "Hey, Cameron, you gonna grow out your beard?" He's all "Yeah, I think I'll grow it down."
I told him "I think the Moses look would look good on you. But I'm not sure you could pass as a Hebrew." I'm not entirely sure how conversational he is regarding Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jewry, so I decided not to continue down that path too much. He told me that he called it his thinking beard. I said "I say, less thinking, more sacking!" He seemed to like that and introduced himself to me. I took his hand for a quick shake and in that moment could have perhaps introduced him to CGB, tried to get an interview, or segued into even more embarrassing Jewish jokes. My segue ways are terrible and I feel weird pimping CGB to real, honest to god Cal athletes, so I just left it at that. I am not the CGB whore you all take me for.
But I do think Cameron should go for the Moses look. It's so hot right now!
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All in all, a very fun morning. No idea why they made it so frigging early, but it is what it is. Fun time had by most. I'll leave you with a sign we discovered on the way down from the Stadium. Not entirely sure what the Blue And Gold plan is, but I guess it's similar to Cake:
GO BEARS!