http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--college-football-worst-non-conference-games.html;_ylt=Avbg_d0UhX_vUKpPRl2i7jYcvrYF

Number 6 on the list of 12 best OOC games for 2012.


:tedford :gobears:

I saw this, too. Not sure the writer really has a good handle on our football program (not that I'm surprised):

Quote:

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The Golden Bears' offense could pose some problems. Cal's defense looks as if it will have some issues; can QB Braxton Miller and the Buckeyes' offense take advantage?

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Isn't it the other way around?

Anyway, totally pumped for this game.

well if you have an all american candidate coming back at wr and a 1300 yard back with great depth behind him, typically you would think the offense could be hard to deal with. you only really know i guess if you watch cal games and see our qb in action

I thought that too...

He probably knows we have Allen and may have heard of Sofele as a top underrated back. OTOH, he probably saw we had a bunch of defensive guys at the combine and doesn't know if we have depth.

Or maybe he knows literally nothing about us and is just thinking Pac12 team - good passing offense, bad defense.

We are going to beat the Buckeyes by 2 TDs.

Its unfortunate sweater vest is no longer coach. It could of had potential to top Bama-LSU as the most painful game ever.

Epic battle for field position...followed by countless punts on 4 and inches inside 40

BobbyGBear;736144 said:

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We are going to beat the Buckeyes by 2 TDs.

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What road game against any meaningful OOC opponent on the road gives you such confidence? Last decent OOC team we beat on the road. Hmm... anyone? ... tick, tick, tick, ...

Michigan State in 2002.

That was a long time ago. The @Minnesota game in 2008? Hmm, I think this game at The Shoe is going to be a lot tougher than that one.

KoreAmBear;736166 said:

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What road game against any meaningful OOC opponent on the road gives you such confidence? Last decent OOC team we beat on the road. Hmm... anyone? ... tick, tick, tick, ...

Michigan State in 2002.

That was a long time ago. The @Minnesota game in 2008? Hmm, I think this game at The Shoe is going to be a lot tougher than that one.

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Call me crazy, but I see us having a real shot to win this game. But it'll require tOSU looking past us (to Michigan St.)

KoreAmBear;736166 said:

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What road game against any meaningful OOC opponent on the road gives you such confidence? Last decent OOC team we beat on the road. Hmm... anyone? ... tick, tick, tick, ...

Michigan State in 2002.

That was a long time ago. The @Minnesota game in 2008? Hmm, I think this game at The Shoe is going to be a lot tougher than that one.

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It's not about us, it's about them not being that good.

ive been saying for the last 4 months we'll beat ohio state when the time comes.

510Bear;736173 said:

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Call me crazy, but I see us having a real shot to win this game. But it'll require tOSU looking past us (to Michigan St.)

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Could happen but them having Urban Meyer doesn't help. We'll have to fight him, the team and their crowd. And we don't even know if we're going to be any good (I'm hoping we are, but hope hasn't been enough to stave off these last three bad to mediocre years). The Nevada game sure won't be much of an indicator (unless we lose, then we'll know we're not too good).

OSU has a QB that is a lot like Maynard - good runner and questionable passer. We have a shot here if Maynard loses the happy feet and can establish a reasonable running game.

I see this game shaping up to be very similar to the Cal v Texas game in the holiday bowl. They will bring a very athletic front 7 and we'll need to deal with that somehow.

Quote:

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Could happen but them having Urban Meyer doesn't help. We'll have to fight him, the team and their crowd.

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You're probably right. But what's not to like about the image of 100,000+ tOSU fans quietly filing out of the Horseshoe wondering how the F they lost at home to Cal?

Why does the URL say "worst", but the title says "best"?

510Bear;736213 said:

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You're probably right. But what's not to like about the image of 100,000+ tOSU fans quietly filing out of the Horseshoe wondering how the F they lost at home to Cal?

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100,000 ... DISAPPOINTED FANS! Is that chant coming? I hope so.

I gotta say this sounds like the UT matchup except we're on the road. Questionable QB but no lack of talent for OSU. This will be their first "real" game under Urban and the fans will be loud and I think they'll be itching to make a statement. We have a poor history of road games so I don't know that we will win but I don't see why we can't win.

I doubt OSU will look past us since their next game is against UAB. If anything we'll be too concerned with the upcoming visit to the Colloseum.

Having said that, ask me again right before the game starts and I'm sure I'll have convinced myself that we just need a few things to fall into place to pick up this win and then the sky is the limit!

easdog1;736210 said:

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I see this game shaping up to be very similar to the Cal v Texas game in the holiday bowl. They will bring a very athletic front 7 and we'll need to deal with that somehow.

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This sums up my concern.

easdog1;736210 said:

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I see this game shaping up to be very similar to the Cal v Texas game in the holiday bowl. They will bring a very athletic front 7 and we'll need to deal with that somehow.

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I still dont think that their perceived talent was the issue, after all, there were many teams who didnt have a problem with their "athletic front 7".

We straight up werent ready for that game, which is how I think this game will turn out.

Cal Bears Great;736119 said:

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I saw this, too. Not sure the writer really has a good handle on our football program (not that I'm surprised):



Isn't it the other way around?

Anyway, totally pumped for this game.

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National writers general assess unit strength on the basis of # of returning starters more than the talent level of the projected starters. Our offense has more returning starters but less talent and our defense lost 6 starters at key positions, both DEs, both ILBs and both safeties. We have plenty of top level talent to replace those losses, accept at one of the safety spots where either Hill, Logan or Coley (if he returns) are projected to start. So it is not surprising that the writer would think that Cal's offense is better.

In any case Cal continues to be somewhat of an enigma and predicting how they will do is risky business, especially if you are putting money on it, which I wouldn't recommend.

The story does bring to mind the possibility that Cal could be surprisingly good on both sides of the ball, which would be very timely for the grand reopening of CMS. I will be in attendance in either case hoping for the best as always
:gobears:

KoreAmBear;736166 said:

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What road game against any meaningful OOC opponent on the road gives you such confidence? Last decent OOC team we beat on the road. Hmm... anyone? ... tick, tick, tick, ... Michigan State in 2002. That was a long time ago.

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Ace4eVer;736238 said:

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100,000 ... DISAPPOINTED FANS! Is that chant coming? I hope so.

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For those who may not get the reference, here ya go:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQd24fq8hBE#t=28s

:cheer

510Bear;736173 said:

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Call me crazy, but I see us having a real shot to win this game. But it'll require tOSU looking past us (to Michigan St.)

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You're crazy man.

easdog1;736210 said:

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I see this game shaping up to be very similar to the Cal v Texas game in the holiday bowl. They will bring a very athletic front 7 and we'll need to deal with that somehow.

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If they are smart, they will do exactly what Texas did and blitz from the offensive left side constantly to stop Maynard's rollouts.

94,000 disappointed fans?

Interesting that none of the top teams in the conference get a mention. I have a sinking feeling people are going to cap on the Pac-12 next year based on some of these seemingly one-sided matchups.

C6Bear;736349 said:

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If they are smart, they will do exactly what Texas did and blitz from the offensive left side constantly to stop Maynard's rollouts.

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What are realistic counters to this?

cyrusthebear;736276 said:

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You're crazy man.

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You're crazy, man.

Remember also that Tedford owns the Big 10: 6-0.

Odds are that perfect mark is gone in September, but stranger things have happened.
:tedford

510Bear;736382 said:

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Remember also that Tedford owns the Big 10: 6-0.

Odds are that perfect mark is gone in September, but stranger things have happened.
:tedford

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Wow that's an interesting fact.

Michigan St. 2X
Minn. 2X
Illinois 1X (AR's first start)

We didn't beat Illinois twice did we? What is the 6th game?

KoreAmBear;736387 said:

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Wow that's an interesting fact.

Michigan St. 2X
Minn. 2X
Illinois 1X (AR's first start)

We didn't beat Illinois twice did we? What is the 6th game?

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http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=2311&year=2005

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=2311&year=2003

We beat Illinois twice according to this. I have no recollection of Joe Ayoob blowing out Illinois. Is this correct?

Guess it wasn't a blowout. More like a comeback for Cal despite Ayoob. Sorry Joe.

TouchedTheAxeIn82;736274 said:

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For those who may not get the reference, here ya go:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQd24fq8hBE#t=28s

:cheer

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watching those highlights and remember the baylor game, it is amazing how many more risks tedford was willing to take in his first season as coach then now.

C6Bear;736349 said:

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If they are smart, they will do exactly what Texas did and blitz from the offensive left side constantly to stop Maynard's rollouts.

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burritos;736363 said:

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What are realistic counters to this?

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[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4]If do right, no can defense![/SIZE][/FONT]

Nasal Mucus Goldenbear;736403 said:

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[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4]If do right, no can defense![/SIZE][/FONT]

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What's preventing every team we face from employing this strategy?

When was the last time Cal beat a team they weren't supposed to beat? A win in Columbus would definitely get me on the bandwagon again.

burritos;736391 said:

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http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=2311&year=2005

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=2311&year=2003

We beat Illinois twice according to this. I have no recollection of Joe Ayoob blowing out Illinois. Is this correct?

Guess it wasn't a blowout. More like a comeback for Cal despite Ayoob. Sorry Joe.

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I have no recollection of us "beating" USC that same year despite them outscoring us 35 to 10, but there it is. Oh SNAP!