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California - PAC 10

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kinch

kinch

Wash me
Staff member
I need some help. . .

So California is getting massive props lately, and I can't for the life of me figure out why, other than that they had one good game last season.

They may be great, I know very little about the PAC 10. If anyone here could illuminate the California team, and, if possible, other contenders such as Oregeon State, Washington State, etc., I would appreciate it. I want to learn more about this league and feel that I am not getting any true knowledge from the over-hyped national media.

Thanks.
 
Cal - I would say they're fairly comparable to NC State. Their coach, Jeff Tedford, is seen as an offensive guru - they play the west coast offense/short passing game for the most part. Both seem to play over their heads in big games (USC, OSU) and then play down to the level of lesser competition (Utah, Wake Forest.) I saw two of their games last year - Utah and USC, and their performance in those games were like night and day. Against the Trojans they were flying all over the place making big plays both ways, and then against the Utes it seemed like their shoes were filled with concrete. I think with all of the media stroking they've gotten this summer they will lose one or two games they shouldn't, and end up no better than 8-4..
 
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as to cal....

the main reason is Jeff Tedford the head coach....he is an offensive guy much like norm chow...he was the OC at Oregon before coming to cal (this is his third year at cal)...he is credited for creating the great oregon's offenses of the late 90's early 00's..and there seems to be merit to that as the ducks offense has declined since he left and Cal's is growing by leaps and bounds...
before telford arrived cal had averaged...18.3, 22.4,16.4 and 16.6 ppg for four years...in two years under telford they have averaged...35.6 and 32.6....

they have an average defense....a great young qb in aaron rodgers....the tough part is replacing Echemandu...a really solid rb....but arrington seems to be capable....

finally....a major reason for being on the cal bandwagon (i picked them 7) is the schedule...ooc they play airforce, newmexst and s.miss.....and the pacten appears to be down a little this year......

hope that helps....
 
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tedford #1 reason.

reason # 2 - once someone jumps on the bandwagon.....look out. Someone in the media picked Cal as a "sexy" pick and then people just ran with it. You'll hear it for the next few weeks louder and louder until they lose. At that point - you will hear Jeff Tedford may be coaching his last year at Cal because opportunities at bigger schools will be everywhere. It's the fun of being a low-mid level team. Just when they get good, somebody wants their coach.
 
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actually Tedford turned down the Chicago Bears this off-season.....they are already after him.....

tedford is credited for the success of harrington, boller and now rodgers....
 
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DiHard said:
actually Tedford turned down the Chicago Bears this off-season.....they are already after him.....

tedford is credited for the success of harrington, boller and now rodgers....
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If they liked him last year - they will love him this year. Since I hate the freakin Bears, I'm glad they didn't get him. I wish ol' dickie boy was still around. darn. maybe they could bring back ditka. that is what everyone wants anyway. he is terrible. that trade looks real good doesn't it coach? ha ha.

lovie smith i believe is their guy now right? we'll have to wait and see. maybe he'll end up like the coach in g.b. that was there for one year and they realized ... oooops we made a mistake. the ever popular ray rhodes.
 
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So California is getting massive props lately, and I can't for the life of me figure out why, other than that they had one good game last season.
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My perception is that Cal is getting props as a challenger for the PAC-10, versus any national title props. Quite frankly, and not to sound condescending, but who else would you pick from the PAC-10 to challenge USC? Cal was the only team that proved they could play well with USC last year.

It's the only major conference that does not have a legitimate challenger to the top team, USC. Either USC is that good, or it's a weak conference.
 
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Cal returns 9 starters on D and 7 on O. Thier QB play last year was outstanding (19 TD/5 INT for Rodgers) and they have a big play receiver in McArthur, who caught 85 passes for 1500 yards and 10 scores. They don't make a lot of mistakes, and they have a pretty weak nonconference schedule. All areas (D, O, ST) are probably top 4 in the conference, and they come into the season after beating VTU in their bowl game. They will be good, and the conference is down this year top-to-bottom, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them finish 2nd or 3rd.
 
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kippy1040 said:
Matt Hayes of "The Sporting News" has Ohio State playing California in the Rose Bowl. And for the N/C he has Georgia Vs SoCal in the Orange Bowl. FIW
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Georgia will drop at least one of Florida, TN, Auburn, or LSU, and likely two. I know that doesn't affect the PAC 10 and is off topic, I just like saying it. In fact, I think they may lose to GA Tech.
 
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This lame ass schedule is why they are being favored as a darkhorse. If they can beat USC in L.A. they have a nice shot at being a 1 loss team at the end of the season. ASU, Oregon, or Oregon St. will give them their other loss.


2004 Schedule/Results
Day Date Opponent Location TV Outcome/Time
Sat 09/04/2004 Air Force Colorado Springs, CO ESPN2 9:00 AM

Sat 09/11/2004 New Mexico State Berkeley 3:30 PM

Thu 09/16/2004 Southern Miss Hattiesburg, MS ESPN 4:45 PM

Sat 10/02/2004 Oregon State Corvallis, OR TBA

Sat 10/09/2004 USC Los Angeles, CA TBA

Sat 10/16/2004 UCLA Berkeley 2:00 PM

Sat 10/23/2004 Arizona Tucson, AZ 4:00 PM

Sat 10/30/2004 Arizona State Berkeley 12:30 PM

Sat 11/06/2004 Oregon Berkeley 12:30 PM

Sat 11/13/2004 Washington Seattle, WA 12:30 PM

Sat 11/20/2004 Stanford Berkeley 12:30 PM
Click to expand...
 
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I hate Cal but they should be pretty good this year. Tedford is a good coach and their qb is either the best or second best in the pac ten. Dihard, your right this is a down year for the pac ten. However, I'm sure one team will pop out of nowhere like Washington State has the last couple of years. Cal has the most classless fans in all of college football
 
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