Golden Nuggets: Big Game Week Part Two

Football

• Its Big Game Week... again! Find out how Moe Ways is preparing for his only game vs. Stanford. Excerpt from Rusty Simmons’ article. Cal Bears Maven has a similar article.

“I knew of Cal. I watched a couple of Cal games, but I wasn’t too aware of the rivalry games, traditions and things like that,” said Ways, who caught the final touchdown in a 33-21 win over Colorado on Saturday. “Being here for the past six months, I’ve caught up to speed very fast. …

“Learning the history and traditions gives you a better understanding and respect for the game. … It’s the Big Game. It’s a big rivalry game. We haven’t beaten them in a long time, so we’re looking forward to breaking that tradition as well and start a new trend of Cal getting W’s.”

Having already prepped a week for the Nov. 17 meeting, which was postponed to Saturday because of poor air quality caused by a wildfire in Butte County, Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said the Bears are spending Big Game 2.0 almost like a bowl game.

• Nam’s weekly novel acknowledges that on paper, the Big Game doesn’t look as winnable as it did on Nov 17.

In short, there’s some cause for worry on the Stanford offense, because size, and red-zone threats – both components are healthy for the Trees now -- make a poor matchup for the Bears, who entered Colorado allowing points on 88% of red zone trips (touchdowns 60% of the time).

Then, when you factor in how thoroughly the offensive line was whipped without Patrick Mekari and reeling from the loss of Mike Saffell weeks before, and you have what seems to be a Stanford favorite.

Weird things happen during the game itself, which still has to be played, but it’s fair to suggest that the odds have shifted some…

I don’t feel as good as I did earlier. But regardless, everything has to be should be on the table here (…even if the year is technically a successful one regardless of Axe result.)

• Josh Yuen looks back at his time working for the Daily Cal this year, in which high expectations were shattered (UCLA) and low expectations were as well (Washington) plus other cool behind the scenes details.
• Jeff Faraudo makes a good effort at explaining the bowl possibilities for Cal. Basically a Big Game loss makes only Vegas or Phoenix as possibilities. A win and all of the mid-tier bowls become possible as well, including playing down the road in Santa Clara on NYE.
• Big Game Week is back, and Rally Comm confirmed that the Big Game Rally will happen this Friday! The previously cancelled Tree Chopping Rally and Night Rally will also take place on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. Plus other notable events.

Basketball

• Observation from the men’s first four games (Not including Santa Clara).
• The women remain undefeated after a successful Thanksgiving trip to San Diego.

Pac-12

• At least they’re nice enough to wait until after The Big Game. On December 2, AT&T U-Verse will remove the Pac-12 Network. How is Larry Scott still the leader?