Anybody watch that game yesterday? That crowd was phenomenal - while I prefer the West Coast from a lifestyle standpoint, our CFB crowds just really don't match up to that atmosphere. I've just added that to my list of places I'd love to catch a game.

I was watching two games at the same time (incl Wisky - Nebraska) and loved hearing the fans singing... amazing. Even though they lost, Nebraska made a great move getting out of the Big 12...

That just looks like a great place to hit a game - I understand that the tailgate scene outside is great as well. However, I may be less enthusiastic in December.

never been there in the winter.. closest I've been is Chicago or Minneapolis... I can tell you that in mid summer during the humidity that the small airplane sized mosquitos aren't much fun there either... but it is a beautiful place for sure...

Can't wait to go to the shoe next year I hope a ton of CAL fans show up

That was a royal a$$ kicking by Wisconsin. Nebraska was not competitive. It'll be interesting if Wisconsin and Stanford win their conferences and meet in the Rose Bowl

Wisconsin's OL recruiting and training strategy (detailed in an article posted on this board a while ago) sure seems to be paying dividends. The way Tedford coaches we need the exact same type of line (who doesn't?): big, tall, strong and athletic enough. Then just man up and run. Throw in some play-action and you can almost smell the roses.

Wisconsin is one of those programs that are consistently in top 10 without much hype. What's interesting is that their recruiting usually don't crack top 25 (recall Cal was 15th and 18th few years ago). Certainly they are able to get most out of their players (including transfers, obviously).

The SEC environment is insane

82 - they recruit maulers - size and strength over agility. Guys who want to take it out on the man across from them. West coast sensibilities are too delicate to produce too many like that.

82gradDLSdad;583986 said:

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Wisconsin's OL recruiting and training strategy (detailed in an article posted on this board a while ago) sure seems to be paying dividends. The way Tedford coaches we need the exact same type of line (who doesn't?): big, tall, strong and athletic enough. Then just man up and run. Throw in some play-action and you can almost smell the roses.

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[U]The key is that they have a strategy [/U]and they stick to it. For example, I don't see any short OL's at Wisconsin, maybe an occasional 6-3 center or guard, but highly unusual.

Wisconsin has long had one of the best crowds in college football.

Also, with Russell Wilson, the Badgers are a legitimate national contender threat in my opinion. We'll see how that defense holds up this season though.

Rushinbear;584091 said:

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82 - they recruit maulers - size and strength over agility. Guys who want to take it out on the man across from them. West coast sensibilities are too delicate to produce too many like that.

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agreed they are huge - but they are also fairly mobile - that OL does a ton of trapping and pulling, which requires a decent amount of agility

bearwithfangs;584097 said:

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Wisconsin has long had one of the best crowds in college football.

Also, with Russell Wilson, the Badgers are a legitimate national contender threat in my opinion. We'll see how that defense holds up this season though.

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Agreed 100%
They have a sensational tailback duo with Monte Ball (30 for 150, 4 TD's)
Russell Wilson looks like a legitimate Heisman candidate, and WR Toon ran right by (and through) the Nebraska secondary. The Huskers got exposed.

The Badgers are my new FAVORITE team outside of the Pac-12.

SouthBayPhenom;583917 said:

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That crowd was phenomenal - while I prefer the West Coast from a lifestyle standpoint, our CFB crowds just really don't match up to that atmosphere.

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I think you just explained in your own sentence why our CFB crowds don't match up. :p

The Big 10 may be slipping a bit as a football conference, but one area it has always been strong is its crowds. Look at Michigan, OSU and PSU, regularly selling out their 100K+ stadiums, with the other schools (except Northwestern) not far behind.

The solution for Cal is simple....we need to recruit some of their fans!