I still think Miller was really trying to infer that this was the first time Maynard would be tested on the road, but now I'm not so sure with the language of today's post:

"Zach Maynard's first road test: The Cal QB has been solid in the Bears first three games, but playing at Husky Stadium is not something he's done before, certainly not during his days as the starting QB at Buffalo. While the Huskies defense has been vulnerable, it's also faced three experienced QBs. Expect the Huskies to throw a lot at Maynard, whose biggest weakness in the early going has been accuracy."

As for the argument that Boulder is a tougher road test than Seattle, I can certainly see the point. I usually side with Washington given how terrible we've looked there in certain years, but I suppose we'll see this Saturday.

Unit2Sucks;576075 said:

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I can't speak for everyone, but I think some of the clowning has to do with the fact that Miller jumped on our bandwagon early a few times and we always let him down. The fact that he's choosing us now has us bracing for more of the same and he has done a great job of reminding us what happens when he starts calling things our way. I hope this is the time that he got it right and that things are different and that we'll win, but as a Cal fan I fear for the stomach punch.

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So it's a "jinx" thing? Ted, you suck because you jinxed us!!!

LegoBear;575919 said:

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Hmm yeah I haven't been that impressed by our o-line yet.

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Too many penalties, especially on MSG!

ManBear;575913 said:

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so Miller thinks our O-line is better than Nebraska's? OK.

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And why is this a surprise??

MikeLit09;576093 said:

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Too many penalties, especially on MSG!

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MSG might have had a couple of false starts but that leg whipping thing was totally bogus. He's been one of our best run blockers.

68great;575979 said:

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A friend of mine was at Colo for the game and has been to Cal games at both UW and UO.

My friend said that the crowd at Colo this year was as loud as any games he attended at UW and UO.

To that if you add the altitude factor, I would conclude that Colo was a tough venue.

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I think that one mitigating factor for Husky Stadium is the track which makes players further away from the crowd. Folsom is very cozy and compact so that makes for a feeling that everyone is right there on top of you. I mean it's more intimidating if you can hear some of the actual words people are saying, LOL.

barabbas;576098 said:

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And why is this a surprise??

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well it's a surprise to me because I think Nebraska's o-line is better than ours. and i think most people would agree on that.

WhipItOutJoe;575942 said:

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I don't think Miller knows enough about Cal to make an educated pick - I doubt he has even seen a Cal game this year. I think if Cal's coaches game plan well (i.e. use Anderson more as UW's run defense looks vulnerable as long as the RB does not fall down on first contact) and the D plays a decent game then we have a good chance.

As noted above the O-line comment also shows Miller really knows nothing about our team. I love that he comments "Cal, don't make me wrong again" - he might be right more often if he actually watched some games and followed the team.

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I think Miller knows more about our team than you do.

KoreAmBear;576110 said:

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I think that one mitigating factor for Husky Stadium is the track which makes players further away from the crowd. Folsom is very cozy and compact so that makes for a feeling that everyone is right there on top of you. I mean it's more intimidating if you can hear some of the actual words people are saying, LOL.

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I was at the Colorado game this year and at the Washington game in 2008.

The Colorado game was really loud. There was a big crowd and the game was really close and having it go into overtime really worked the home folks into a frenzy.

Washington has that junky-looking aluminum overhang which magnifies the sound dramatically on one side, but as you point out the fans are also separated from the field by the track. It also may rain (which though typical will still have some impact on the crowd). Overall, I would say the Washington could be considerably louder, depending upon what's going on in the game.

I think the key will be to not let the game stay too close at the end where the crowd can really be worked into a frenzy at crunch time. If we don't have some separation, the crowd could become a big factor, but I would say that the offense's performance in crunch time at Colorado provides some reassurance that they can handle it.

However, I am hoping we are at least 2 scores ahead by the 4th quarter.

I too feel that the Colorado game counts as a major road win, especially for this team. Not sure what Miller was thinking there...

That said, I suppose I'm alone here, but this might be the best OL UW has faced this year. Not saying our OL is great, or even good at this point of course, but Nebraska started 3 new guys, walk-ons too, I believe. Read that somewhere... That might be why he said that.

Cal fans can be disappointed if the team doesn't live up to expectations but Miller can't. He's there to provide info, analysis and predict scores. He's not there to pick favorites and then act like he's been let down because his picks were wrong.

True...true....I agree with you afroski....I think the problem he is having is not uncommon not only to us fans but to his ilk, that is, how can he "provide info, analysis and predict scores" any better than any of us....when the Cal football program is not very forethcoming with such information upon which to provide the aforementioned things?.....I mean someone like xultaif probably knows as much as Miller does.....

BeachyBear;575933 said:

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This quote tells me how much he's paying attention:


I don't care that he picked Cal, he's a blind monkey who doesn't have a clue about our program. If the Bears will it will be for reasons totally unrelated to Miller's lame analysis.

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I hope the blind monkey is right. It is my fervent hope that the elation of the early season should extend into October. At least I will not then approach the Oregon game with a foregone and depressing attitude of 'no contest'.

jankoski;575970 said:

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I have to vehemently disagree. Home is in Strawberry Canyon. Going across the bay in a venue with fewer seats and nearly zero college football pageantry without the band marching to the stadium, frat houses going bonkers, and picnics/tailgates around a picturesque campus. The Bears have entered the Twilight Zone this year, and I look forward to a return to normalcy in Strawberry Canyon ASAP.

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Amen, brother!

double amen.....that's what Brother Jkake of Berkeley says....

The key to the game is too get to the QB!!!!!!!!!!!
If we rush Price, then he will make mistakes, he is not Jake Locker. We also need to keep Polk in check.

RollOnYouBears3;576121 said:

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I think Miller knows more about our team than you do.

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Well I guess you can think whatever you want although your comment above is about on par with Miller's analysis. You know nothing about me. At least with Ted we have his online commentary to make some sort of analysis regarding his knowledge of the bears. I don't follow Miller very closely but based on the litany of errors made by him regarding Cal as pointed out in this thread he is either very sloppy or really does not know what he is talking about (at least in relation to Cal). To be fair, I do not think anyone really knows much about the bears yet as the 3 games we have played have not been very illuminating.

As an aside, I sure hope Miller knows more about the Bears than me as it is his job to know.

afroski;576213 said:

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Cal fans can be disappointed if the team doesn't live up to expectations but Miller can't. He's there to provide info, analysis and predict scores. He's not there to pick favorites and then act like he's been let down because his picks were wrong.

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Captain No Fun to the rescue!

Blueblood;576222 said:

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....I mean someone like xultaif probably knows as much as Miller does.....

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BB, anyone who has seen the Fresno State game knows more about the Cal team than Miller does, because he admitted that he didn't watch the FSU game. Pathetic.

Well, given this fact, then I do not see anyone outside this cyber-community knowing any more than those here about Cal football....excluding player families, coaches, etc. So, the individuals who cite these clowns, like Miller, should throw a lot of salt on this outside information.....I don't know why any one here would put any credence into anyone on the outside telling us how we should feel about the game or how Cal will perform.....

ManBear;576113 said:

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well it's a surprise to me because I think Nebraska's o-line is better than ours. and i think most people would agree on that.

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Nebraska started 3 walk-ons on their OL. That is another reason that UW fans want Holt to walk the plank.

CMHBear;575938 said:

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I think Ted actually has a good pause on the conference and is almost always informed and objective. Calling him a blind monkey is a bit harsh. I do agree that Cal hasn't really had a single "home" game yet, so playing on the road isn't quite as big a concern as has been in years past.

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Yeah, what did the blind monkey ever do to you?!

likwid1;576388 said:

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BB, anyone who has seen the Fresno State game knows more about the Cal team than Miller does, because he admitted that he didn't watch the FSU game. Pathetic.

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Did he say he hadn't seen the Cal - FSU game? I'd be a bit surprised if he named Cal/Kendricks as his team/defensive player of week one without watching the tape or at least extensive highlights. The guy covers 12 teams and he attends one or two a week. Outside of watching early games from the press box or whatever I do wonder how he reviews the other games. Week 1 the Pac played 12 games so there's probably no way to watch all of them start to finish and still file articles, videos and blog posts but you'd hope he tries to see as much as possible. I'm also not shocked a guy that used to live in Seattle would consider Husky Stadium a tougher road venue and bigger test than Colorado.

oursdor;576440 said:

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Did he say he hadn't seen the Cal - FSU game? I'd be a bit surprised if he named Cal/Kendricks as his team/defensive player of week one without watching the tape or at least extensive highlights. The guy covers 12 teams and he attends one or two a week. Outside of watching early games from the press box or whatever I do wonder how he reviews the other games. Week 1 the Pac played 12 games so there's probably no way to watch all of them start to finish and still file articles, videos and blog posts but you'd hope he tries to see as much as possible. I'm also not shocked a guy that used to live in Seattle would consider Husky Stadium a tougher road venue and bigger test than Colorado.

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Yes he did. He stated when asked by a fan about Maynard. He said his stats appear solid, but he didn't see the game. I give him some kredit for honesty.