If the San Francisco Giants go on another deep playoff run, the Cal-USC game could be moved to another location. Tedford spoke about the issue at today's NYC Pac-12 Media Day.
"If the Giants go deep into the playoffs," Cal coach Jeff Tedford told me Thursday on the ESPNU College Football Podcast, "there could be a couple of games there that could overlap. That would be an interesting problem to have at that point.
Actually, the USC game is the only one at issue, thanks to the stylings of Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder. Utah is scheduled to play at Cal on Saturday, Oct. 22. That’s the day of Game 3 of the World Series. Since the National League, fueled by Fielder’s three-run homer, won the All-Star Game, 5-1, Game 3 will be played in the park of the American League champion.
"We are currently working with all of the alternative facilities (Candlestick Park and Oakland Coliseum) to secure a backup in case of a conflict," Cal athletic director Sandy Barbour said in an email reply.
...The site of the NLCS games won’t be known until the two teams are determined, because home-field advantage is based on regular-season records. So Cal must prepare a contingency. It would make Tedford’s life easier if the Giants failed to hold their three-game lead over Arizona, right? Tedford all but blanched.
"No, no, no," he said. "I am actually a Giant fan, so no, I do not root against them. I’m happy when they’re successful because that puts everybody in a good mood in the Bay Area."
After the jump several Bears join the NFL as free agents, the Pac-12 announces seven new networks, and everyone and their mothers report from the Pac-12 Media Tour. Whatabonanza!
Football
- Darian Hagan is teaming up with Alex Mack and the Cleveland Browns.
- Jeremy Ross joins Shane Vereen in New England while Donovan Edwards goes across the Bay to the 49ers.
- Ted Miller has a list of all the Pac-12's free agent signings: Derrick Hill has joined the Ravens.
- The Bears were picked to finish 5th in the Pac-12 North this season.
- Cal Sports Digest has video of the Cal press conference during media day.
- Uncle Ted post his Pac-12 Media Day Wrap-Up: the Cal portion focuses on the Tedford-Lyles relationship (or lack thereof).
- Wilner posts his Media Day notes. Why are no one's Media Day stories as comprehensive CGB's? Twist, I demand a raise!
- Ryan Gorcey has the best and most comprehensive coverage of Tuesday's Media Day.
- JO recently toured the SAHPC and has some new details on the layout.
- The Pac-12 has launched not one, but seven national television networks. Each geographic pair of teams has its own network in addition to the conference's overall network. They will be available nationwide next August.
- Wilner has more details on the network: over 500 Olympic sporting events will be televised each year among the regional networks, in addition to coverage of every single football and men's basketball game. Although the existing partnership is with Time Warner, Cox, Bright House, and Comcast, Scott is still negotiating with telephone and satellite providers in an attempt to bring them aboard. With the four partners, the television network covers 40 million of the nation's 100 million households.
Basketball
- Theo Robertson has been hired by the Pac-12 as an administrative fellow for the 2011-12 season. He was working at the West Coast Pac-12 Media Day.