Golden Nuggets: Zach Maynard Knows What to Expect From Oregon's Autzen Stadium

Use this as an open thread if you can't get enough BIG EAST ACTION and want to discuss tonight's Pitt-South Florida game.

Though Maynard has performed well at the rowdy Folsom Field and the always-intimidating Husky Stadium, he knows that Autzen is unlike any venue in college football.  He experienced it firsthand when he was in high school. 

Before choosing to attend Buffalo out of high school, Maynard made a visit out to Eugene to take a gander at the Ducks, and witnessed firsthand how loud Autzen Stadium can get. In 2007 -- the same year Maynard visited -- during a game against USC, the Oregon faithful recorded a record raucous of 127.2 decibels, the very point at which tinnitus (ringing in the ears) begins, and the same level at which permanent hearing loss can occur.

"It was pretty crazy," Maynard said. "I think I've seen them in one game when Dennis Dixon was playing, and it was pretty tight, pretty live. It's crazy. It's loud. It's the loudest game we're going to play this year, probably."

In contrast, last week's venue -- Washington's Husky Stadium -- has recorded its own decibel record of over 130 decibels, but that was back in 1992. Not that history matters much to Maynard, who said that the Bears' week two opponent -- Colorado -- seemed to be a more hostile environment.

"Washington was pretty loud, but I feel like Colorado was louder than Washington, just to me. It got pretty loud in Colorado, so I feel like it's going to be louder in Oregon, just because it's Oregon," Maynard said. "It's loud. They're right on top of you. It's a bowl, basically, so we've got to communicate well. That's going to be key. We've got to shut them up early."

After the jump Giorgio is a semi-finalist for the Academic Heisman, the Bears' practice goes up-tempo, and Stefan McClure enters the cornerback rotation.

Football

• Giorgio Tavecchio was named as a semifinalist for the Campbell Award, aka the Draddy/Academic Heisman.
  
• The Bears fall to seventh in Wilner's Pac-12 power rankings.
• After making us relive the horror of the 70-yard pass to Polk, SBN Seattle breaks down the coverage breakdown that led to Allen's 90-yard touchdown.
• What's hot and what's not in the Pac-12? Hot: punting (Anger is 17th in the nation), passing (Cal is 22nd in the nation), and young receivers (including Keenan Allen).  Not:  pass defense (none of the Pac-12 teams--certainly not Cal--are in the top-25 for pass defense).
• While the Bears are familiar with Oregon's offense, much effort has been put into simulating the speed of it at practice.
• With an underwhelming pass defense, Tedford and Pendergast will rotate Stefan McClure in at cornerback.
• Jeremy Ross was signed to the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad.
• CalBears.com has a great article on Marvin Jones' sudden onset of beyond-his-years maturity when he found out he was going to have a son during his first year at Cal.
• Calling all members of the Keenan Allen Fan Club! Vote for Keenan Allen for the Paul Hornung Award.  You can vote daily.
• After Wednesday's practice, Tedford says he's gaining confidence in Bigelow as they bring him along slowly.  Most importantly, he has shown he take big hits and hold onto the football.