9/1/07 at 8:00Pm
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- Thread starter Buckeyeskickbuttocks
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Listening to ESPN All Night (Radio), they were talking about the Tennessee media arriving in town for the game, waffling back and forth with their prediction.
Until they saw how tiny Cal was.
It would be swell if sometime within two decades a legitimate contender emerges in the pac-10 opposite USC.
Until they saw how tiny Cal was.
It would be swell if sometime within two decades a legitimate contender emerges in the pac-10 opposite USC.
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jwinslow;916624; said:
Don't see it happening...Oregon looked like they had a chance at that a few years ago, maybe back in the late 90's and early "aughts", but they've fallen back since then.
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Oneshot
Goes For Three
A couple observations from the front row of the student section:
Vol fans showed up in DROVES. I wish I could get a count, but when everyone was in the stands, I turned to my friends and said, "God damn that's a lot of orange." They REALLY traveled well. I was very impressed with the fans.
I got the worst sunburn of my life, and now I have a white "I" in the middle of my chest, surrounded by burnt meat.
The stadium was the loudest I have *ever* heard it. I've never seen the entire crowd so pumped up. For an entire 4 quarters, no one sat down, and no one was quiet. We were rocking the stadium. This was probably the best game I've ever been to.
As for the game:
Cal's defense needs work. I think our pass defense is great. I can't recall any deep strikes, but there were some catch and runs up the middle when Ainge read the zone well. Our rush defense is very suspect. I think we have playmakers (see the HUGE hit on Ainge on the Vol's first possession), but we need to be more consistent and tough up the middle. Overall, I think I give it a B-, C+. I think the coaches aren't confident enough in our corners yet to leave them on islands. This explains the inordinate amounts of zone I was seeing. A lot of passes into the flats were turning into good chunks of yardage which makes me worried about the tackling ability of the Bear's defense.
However, on the bright side, the goal line stand at the 2 yard line is one of the most impressive goal line stands I've seen. 4 tries to get the ball 2 yards and they can't do it? Beautiful.
The Bear's offense - let me say this: it's one of the best in the country. Nate is finally the gunslinger we Bear fans have come to expect from a Tedford coached QB. His decision making was great (diving on mishandled snaps, throwing the ball away, not forcing it under pressure, having great feel in the pocket). His throws had zip when needed and touch when needed.
WRs are great. Very much similarity between the combination of Desean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins and then Teddy and Gonzo. Desean took a NASTY hit on the first drive after he made the catch, but popped up and talked some smack to the safety before lining up again. The crowd went crazy. And that punt return - unbelievable. Unbelievable.
Runningbacks: Justin Forsett is going to make us forget about Marshawn Lynch. He doesn't have the tackle breaking ability of Marshawn, but his vision and speed are top notch. On top of that, we have true freshman Javhid Best backing him up. Javhid has serious speed to burn, and I think he broke off a 35 yard run in between the tackles. AND he was returning kicks. AND he's a true freshman. I love it. I love it.
Tennessee played us real tough in the first half and I was left wondering if it was our porous defense or their powerful offense... And I think that it's a little of both. Ainge is a talented quarterback (but we made him look like Peyton Manning out there), and Arian Foster is a talented back. Chris Brown is a talented receiever. I think they'll be great next year, they're just too young this year.
AMAZING game atmosphere. I can't wait for the USC game. My sunburn and throat will have time to heal before then, so I can punish my body again.
GO BEARS.
Vol fans showed up in DROVES. I wish I could get a count, but when everyone was in the stands, I turned to my friends and said, "God damn that's a lot of orange." They REALLY traveled well. I was very impressed with the fans.
I got the worst sunburn of my life, and now I have a white "I" in the middle of my chest, surrounded by burnt meat.
The stadium was the loudest I have *ever* heard it. I've never seen the entire crowd so pumped up. For an entire 4 quarters, no one sat down, and no one was quiet. We were rocking the stadium. This was probably the best game I've ever been to.
As for the game:
Cal's defense needs work. I think our pass defense is great. I can't recall any deep strikes, but there were some catch and runs up the middle when Ainge read the zone well. Our rush defense is very suspect. I think we have playmakers (see the HUGE hit on Ainge on the Vol's first possession), but we need to be more consistent and tough up the middle. Overall, I think I give it a B-, C+. I think the coaches aren't confident enough in our corners yet to leave them on islands. This explains the inordinate amounts of zone I was seeing. A lot of passes into the flats were turning into good chunks of yardage which makes me worried about the tackling ability of the Bear's defense.
However, on the bright side, the goal line stand at the 2 yard line is one of the most impressive goal line stands I've seen. 4 tries to get the ball 2 yards and they can't do it? Beautiful.
The Bear's offense - let me say this: it's one of the best in the country. Nate is finally the gunslinger we Bear fans have come to expect from a Tedford coached QB. His decision making was great (diving on mishandled snaps, throwing the ball away, not forcing it under pressure, having great feel in the pocket). His throws had zip when needed and touch when needed.
WRs are great. Very much similarity between the combination of Desean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins and then Teddy and Gonzo. Desean took a NASTY hit on the first drive after he made the catch, but popped up and talked some smack to the safety before lining up again. The crowd went crazy. And that punt return - unbelievable. Unbelievable.
Runningbacks: Justin Forsett is going to make us forget about Marshawn Lynch. He doesn't have the tackle breaking ability of Marshawn, but his vision and speed are top notch. On top of that, we have true freshman Javhid Best backing him up. Javhid has serious speed to burn, and I think he broke off a 35 yard run in between the tackles. AND he was returning kicks. AND he's a true freshman. I love it. I love it.
Tennessee played us real tough in the first half and I was left wondering if it was our porous defense or their powerful offense... And I think that it's a little of both. Ainge is a talented quarterback (but we made him look like Peyton Manning out there), and Arian Foster is a talented back. Chris Brown is a talented receiever. I think they'll be great next year, they're just too young this year.
AMAZING game atmosphere. I can't wait for the USC game. My sunburn and throat will have time to heal before then, so I can punish my body again.
GO BEARS.
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cincibuck
You kids stay off my lawn!
Pauvre Phil. He quit on his team on 4th and 15 or so and less than two minutes to go and he punts. Way to go down fighting Phil.
Look for Pholdin' Phil and Loosin' LLLLloyd in the "situation wanted" section of your newspaper.
Great to see Cal's stadium full for something other than the West Coast version of The Game. It's a great place to watch a game and Sturdy Golden Bear is a super fight song, just hasn't been heard much in the second half of the 20th century.
Look for Pholdin' Phil and Loosin' LLLLloyd in the "situation wanted" section of your newspaper.
Great to see Cal's stadium full for something other than the West Coast version of The Game. It's a great place to watch a game and Sturdy Golden Bear is a super fight song, just hasn't been heard much in the second half of the 20th century.
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PlanetFrnd
Head Coach
I was at the game in the Tennessee section with some friends of a friend from Knoxville... a couple observations of my own:
Tennessee fans are just not real optimistic these days. They really traveled for this game (though not to the extent that we did to Austin or to Phoenix every year), but no one seemed really confident about the game. Many admitted to scheduling other events in the Bay Area in order to distract them from the game. Maybe they shouldn't be too optimistic: they have a medisocre ground presence and very average receivers, which is not usual for a UT team. Their defense did not pressure the QB at all, and they don't seem to have the usual Tennessee team speed. I will say that I did focus on Eric Berry at random plays during the game and he looks like a stud athlete. He moves at a high speed and at times seemed to be the only one in the secondary that wanted to put a hit on Cal.
UT fans can be optimistic about Ainge. He looked very good in person. I'm not sure if it was because they dont have the receiver talent, but UT did not run nearly enough plays for the talent level that Ainge has at QB. In fact, UT's play calling was abhorrent. Even though the game never really felt that close to me, Tennessee was moving the ball on Cal. If Tennessee had better play calling and even average special teams (which were terrible), and the game could have been very close.
That being said, Cal looked very good on offense and great on special teams. Their defense wasn't completely solid, but they look like they can score with anyone. Cal will give USC some real trouble this year, if USC is favored, I'll take the under on any VBet.
The game atmosphere was great, though Cal fans should be embarrassed that they let so many UT fans get their hands on tickets. There were two solid orange corners in the south end and sprinkles of orange throughout. But what a beautiful campus... wow.
A great first weekend event for my new life in the West... especially since I got to watch tOSU win first thing in the morning.
Tennessee fans are just not real optimistic these days. They really traveled for this game (though not to the extent that we did to Austin or to Phoenix every year), but no one seemed really confident about the game. Many admitted to scheduling other events in the Bay Area in order to distract them from the game. Maybe they shouldn't be too optimistic: they have a medisocre ground presence and very average receivers, which is not usual for a UT team. Their defense did not pressure the QB at all, and they don't seem to have the usual Tennessee team speed. I will say that I did focus on Eric Berry at random plays during the game and he looks like a stud athlete. He moves at a high speed and at times seemed to be the only one in the secondary that wanted to put a hit on Cal.
UT fans can be optimistic about Ainge. He looked very good in person. I'm not sure if it was because they dont have the receiver talent, but UT did not run nearly enough plays for the talent level that Ainge has at QB. In fact, UT's play calling was abhorrent. Even though the game never really felt that close to me, Tennessee was moving the ball on Cal. If Tennessee had better play calling and even average special teams (which were terrible), and the game could have been very close.
That being said, Cal looked very good on offense and great on special teams. Their defense wasn't completely solid, but they look like they can score with anyone. Cal will give USC some real trouble this year, if USC is favored, I'll take the under on any VBet.
The game atmosphere was great, though Cal fans should be embarrassed that they let so many UT fans get their hands on tickets. There were two solid orange corners in the south end and sprinkles of orange throughout. But what a beautiful campus... wow.
A great first weekend event for my new life in the West... especially since I got to watch tOSU win first thing in the morning.
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muffler dragon
Bien. Bien chiludo.
I gotta give it up to DeSean Jackson. That kid can run it back.
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