I know a lot of us feel somewhat deflated going into this game because of our modest prospects for victory, but let's get something straight: there is no other team in the country that we would be more excited to play. This was true four years ago and it's still true now. No other team in the land. Despite rarely playing each other (yes, that's on us), this matchup is classic.

I'm fucking excited for this game.

B.A. Bearacus;841948097 said:

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I know a lot of us feel somewhat deflated going into this game because of our modest prospects for victory, but let's get something straight: there is no other team in the country that we would be more excited to play. This was true four years ago and it's still true now. No other team in the land. Despite rarely playing each other (yes, that's on us), this matchup is classic.

I'm fucking excited for this game.

---

Not sure I agree, but these things are a matter of personal preference. I think you'll see this thread become a list of schools I'd be more excited to play, so I might as well start:

Michigan

I'd love to play bizzaro Cal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_University_of_Pennsylvania) where they're known as Cal U and their colors are Red and Black.

B.A. Bearacus;841948097 said:

---

I know a lot of us feel somewhat deflated going into this game because of our modest prospects for victory, but let's get something straight: there is no other team in the country that we would be more excited to play. This was true four years ago and it's still true now. No other team in the land. Despite rarely playing each other (yes, that's on us), this matchup is classic.

I'm fucking excited for this game.

---

I've been looking forward to this game for years. FOR YEARS!!!!!

I was hoping, praying that Tedford would spend the entirety of last season preparing for this game, especially quarterback-wise.

You don't know how disappointed I am right now.

Yet I'm still optimistic.

I just can't see us losing.

grandmastapoop;841948104 said:

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Not sure I agree, but these things are a matter of personal preference. I think you'll see this thread become a list of schools I'd be more excited to play, so I might as well start:

Michigan

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Michigan, of course, would be way up there for sure, but I think the easy tiebreakers are that Ohio State wears red (and not our exact same colors, more or less), UM has been somewhat crestfallen in the past several years, and that OSU provides more contrast as an institution.

B.A. Bearacus;841948097 said:

---

I know a lot of us feel somewhat deflated going into this game because of our modest prospects for victory, but let's get something straight: there is no other team in the country that we would be more excited to play. This was true four years ago and it's still true now. No other team in the land. Despite rarely playing each other (yes, that's on us), this matchup is classic.

I'm fucking excited for this game.

---

This might be your dream match up bromigo. I'll second Michigan.

B.A. Bearacus;841948097 said:

---

I know a lot of us feel somewhat deflated going into this game because of our modest prospects for victory, but let's get something straight: there is no other team in the country that we would be more excited to play. This was true four years ago and it's still true now. No other team in the land. Despite rarely playing each other (yes, that's on us), this matchup is classic.

I'm fucking excited for this game.

---

Not sure what you mean by this...

It's a great matchup in which I wish I liked our chances better. But assuming for the sake of comparison that we were in the type of form that we were 6-8 years ago (i.e. when we knew could at least go toe-to-toe with the very best and acquit ourselves well, had a better-than-average chance of winning against ranked teams, and had no worries about facing anyone of lesser talent), there are at least 10-12 non-rival teams that I would say would be as "big" of a game as facing Ohio St. And speaking for myself, the Buckeyes are near the bottom of that group in terms of the enthusiasm I'd feel to be facing them.

Ohio St. is a storied program, but I can't think of anything else that amps me up about playing them. They're just a bland, boring midwestern football factory with really no other discernable angle that holds extra meaning for us as Cal fans, IMO.

So I guess I disagree that they're our #1 OOC dream matchup...

B.A. Bearacus;841948097 said:

---

I know a lot of us feel somewhat deflated going into this game because of our modest prospects for victory, but let's get something straight: there is no other team in the country that we would be more excited to play. This was true four years ago and it's still true now. No other team in the land. Despite rarely playing each other (yes, that's on us), this matchup is classic.

I'm fucking excited for this game.

---

Ya I agree for the most part but I can't think of a worse time to play them. It's really disappointing that it worked out like this. Unless I am missing something, they will absolutely destroy us. Any other year we would have matched up well. But we picked a really shitty time to become a bad team.

okaydo;841948109 said:

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I've been looking forward to this game for years. FOR YEARS!!!!!

I was hoping, praying that Tedford would spend the entirety of last season preparing for this game, especially quarterback-wise.

You don't know how disappointed I am right now.

Yet I'm still optimistic.

I just can't see us losing.

---

Years ago, I marked this game as our statement game, a win that signals our arrivals as a heavy weight in college football.

Bridgford was suppose to be a seasoned vet, Bigelow was to shine this season, and our defensive front was to be elite. This team was suppose to have more buzz than the 07' team before the Oregon game, only this time we elevate to another level.

This was suppose to be the game, this was suppose to be the year!

Oh well, there's always next year.

socaliganbear;841948112 said:

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This might be your dream match up bromigo. I'll second Michigan.

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Eh, let's get even with Texass, but not with this year's team lol.

BobbyGBear;841948121 said:

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Ya I agree for the most part but I can't think of a worse time to play them. It's really disappointing that it worked out like this. Unless I am missing something, they will absolutely destroy us. Any other year we would have matched up well. But we picked a really shitty time to become a bad team.

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You have it backwards.

We may or may not be a bad team. I can't tell. We certainly have been sloppy. I think we're probably middling, and about as good as we've been on average for the last 5 years or so.

Luckily for us, Ohio State was as bad last year as it's been for 20 (more?) years, and it remains to be seen how good they are this season. They are beatable (doesn't mean we will beat them). I'm more worried about next season - they will be in Year 2 under Urban Meyer and should be humming. We will need to make a big leap in the next 12 months in order to not get run off the field. But this year... there's a shot.

StillNoStanfurdium;841948107 said:

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I'd love to play bizzaro Cal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_University_of_Pennsylvania) where they're known as Cal U and their colors are Red and Black.

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If we have to occasionally play the Presbyterians of the world, we might as well play Cal U!

California that makes sense vs. California that doesn't make sense

Blue vs. Red

Cool script vs. ugly script



Normal world vs. Bizarro world

[SIZE="1"]

BlueOskiCult;841948117 said:

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Not sure what you mean by this...

It's a great matchup in which I wish I liked our chances better. But assuming for the sake of comparison that we were in the type of form that we were 6-8 years ago (i.e. when we knew could at least go toe-to-toe with the very best and acquit ourselves well, had a better-than-average chance of winning against ranked teams, and had no worries about facing anyone of lesser talent), there are at least 10-12 non-rival teams that I would say would be as "big" of a game as facing Ohio St. And speaking for myself, the Buckeyes are near the bottom of that group in terms of the enthusiasm I'd feel to be facing them.

Ohio St. is a storied program, but I can't think of anything else that amps me up about playing them. They're just a bland, boring midwestern football factory with really no other discernable angle that holds extra meaning for us as Cal fans, IMO.

So I guess I disagree that they're our #1 OOC dream matchup...

---

[/SIZE]
It might just boil down on some subliminal level to the fact that this matchup of schools feels Rose Bowl-y. When we reach the mountain top and get to the Rose Bowl we will, of course, be happy to play whatever team we're matched up against (even TCU, I suppose), but if that matchup was OSU (or UM) it would be a bit more epic than, say, Minnesota, Illinois, or even Wisconsin, imo.

Yeah, Ohio State is a dream matchup if you relish getting the crap beaten out of you.

I'd be more excited to play: Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, and Nebraska.

I guess I'm just not as enamored with the Buckeyes as many folks are.

I'm with Bearacus. When I was a kid, the parents had no rooting interest in college football, so I formed my impressions by what was on TV. So as a kid, college football to me was Michigan (Bo), Ohio State (Woody), Alabama, Notre Dame, USC, and UCLA.

Notre Dame has completely lost its mystique. Alabama is unbeatable for underachieving squads like Cal. So yeah, the "dream" matchups for me would be Michigan and Ohio State, and as Bearacus says, there's more contrast with Ohio State. Next year having Ohio State at Memorial Stadium will be very cool. I just hope Cal will be able to put up a fight. We used to have a home field advantage, but it doesn't seem to exist right now.

Ohio State is a great opportunity. Texas and LSU would be others in top 3.

Columbia.

Sarah Lawrence

I was born in Columbus and both my parents went to Ohio State. I grew up watching them play every Saturday and loved the Buckeyes. I'd cry if they lost to Michigan. My fondest memories of childhood were laying on the sofa with my Dad and watching him be crazy during the games.

I went to Cal in '82. That first season I was shocked how I created my own identity and found a love for the Bears that exceeded my love for the Buckeyes. My Dad came to visit me for the first time for Big Game. We watched The Play live in Memorial and he was impressed. It was a delirious weekend where I both bonded with my Dad as an adult and split with him and expressed my own individual personality. I think he was delighted to see me as passionate about Cal as he was tOSU. From then I have been more obsessed than any sane person should reasonably be--surpassing my father's own craziness.

The years that followed we would kid each other each Sunday depending on how each team did and we preyed for a Rose Bowl match up. Then about ten years ago Cal and Ohio State agreed to this home and home. We couldn't believe it. We could hardly wait for the games. It was going to be our special trip together.

Seven years ago my Dad died in a horse riding accident and I have come to dread this day, because of its emotional significance. I am flying to Columbus with my brother. I'm going to sit with him and my Dad's brother. I'll say a prayer to my Dad and hope the Bears make a respectable showing. Can't believe the day is here and that I will actually see the Blue & Gold smashing into the Scarlet & Gray. It's going to be unreal.

GB54;841948167 said:

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Sarah Lawrence

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Yeah, but I think we could actually beat Columbia and I could go to the game easily. 😜

BobbyGBear;841948121 said:

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Ya I agree for the most part but I can't think of a worse time to play them. It's really disappointing that it worked out like this. Unless I am missing something, they will absolutely destroy us. Any other year we would have matched up well. But we picked a really shitty time to become a bad team.

---

Eh... are there GOOD times to become a bad team?

There are NO good times to become a bad team... and I'd rather lose to Ohio State than Stanford even one more year!

Blungld, thanks for sharing this deeply personal angle to Saturday's game. I hope you have a wonderful trip.

NYCGOBEARS;841948170 said:

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Yeah, but I think we could actually beat Columbia and I could go to the game easily. 😜

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I would go with Yeshiva just to be safe

blungld;841948168 said:

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I was born in Columbus and both my parents went to Ohio State. I grew up watching them play every Saturday and loved the Buckeyes. I'd cry if they lost to Michigan. My fondest memories of childhood were laying on the sofa with my Dad and watching him be crazy during the games.

I went to Cal in '82. That first season I was shocked how I created my own identity and found a love for the Bears that exceeded my love for the Buckeyes. My Dad came to visit me for the first time for Big Game. We watched The Play live in Memorial and he was impressed. It was a delirious weekend where I both bonded with my Dad as an adult and split with him and expressed my own individual personality. I think he was delighted to see me as passionate about Cal as he was tOSU. From then I have been more obsessed than any sane person should reasonably be--surpassing my father's own craziness.

The years that followed we would kid each other each Sunday depending on how each team did and we preyed for a Rose Bowl match up. Then about ten years ago Cal and Ohio State agreed to this home and home. We couldn't believe it. We could hardly wait for the games. It was going to be our special trip together.

Seven years ago my Dad died in a horse riding accident and I have come to dread this day, because of its emotional significance. I am flying to Columbus with my brother. I'm going to sit with him and my Dad's brother. I'll say a prayer to my Dad and hope the Bears make a respectable showing. Can't believe the day is here and that I will actually see the Blue & Gold smashing into the Scarlet & Gray. It's going to be unreal.

---

Great story, blungld. I wish you well on what is sure to be an emotional trip!

I don't have any story that interesting, but I grew up a Michigan fan, as both of my parents attended UofM. Several years after graduating from Cal, I went back to Michigan to attend graduate school. So I've been a Michigan fan my whole life, and that bond was strengthened by attending school there. If Cal were to play Michigan, of course, I would root for Cal. (For a brief time it looked like that would happen at the 2005 Rose Bowl...sigh.)

Still, I'm not sure I ever want to see Cal play Michigan...it would be very strange for me to be rooting against Michigan. Of course, if that were to happen at a Rose Bowl, I'm sure I'd get over it.

This weekend, the interests of Cal fans and Michigan fans are perfectly aligned...one group wants to see Cal win and one wants to see tOSU lose.

GO BEARS!

B.A. Bearacus;841948097 said:

---

I know a lot of us feel somewhat deflated going into this game because of our modest prospects for victory, but let's get something straight: there is no other team in the country that we would be more excited to play. This was true four years ago and it's still true now. No other team in the land. Despite rarely playing each other (yes, that's on us), this matchup is classic.

I'm fucking excited for this game.

---

Why are you excited to play a team that is likely to blow us out?
I can only find so much enjoyment from watching the other team execute successful plays. At a certain point it just becomes downright depressing.

If you're excited because you think we've got a decent chance to win then I feel sorry for you. The emotional letdown come this Saturday will be fierce. Tedford + Road game + ranked team = disaster.

Bowdoin polar bears!

blungld;841948168 said:

---

I was born in Columbus and both my parents went to Ohio State. I grew up watching them play every Saturday and loved the Buckeyes. I'd cry if they lost to Michigan. My fondest memories of childhood were laying on the sofa with my Dad and watching him be crazy during the games.

I went to Cal in '82. That first season I was shocked how I created my own identity and found a love for the Bears that exceeded my love for the Buckeyes. My Dad came to visit me for the first time for Big Game. We watched The Play live in Memorial and he was impressed. It was a delirious weekend where I both bonded with my Dad as an adult and split with him and expressed my own individual personality. I think he was delighted to see me as passionate about Cal as he was tOSU. From then I have been more obsessed than any sane person should reasonably be--surpassing my father's own craziness.

The years that followed we would kid each other each Sunday depending on how each team did and we preyed for a Rose Bowl match up. Then about ten years ago Cal and Ohio State agreed to this home and home. We couldn't believe it. We could hardly wait for the games. It was going to be our special trip together.

Seven years ago my Dad died in a horse riding accident and I have come to dread this day, because of its emotional significance. I am flying to Columbus with my brother. I'm going to sit with him and my Dad's brother. I'll say a prayer to my Dad and hope the Bears make a respectable showing. Can't believe the day is here and that I will actually see the Blue & Gold smashing into the Scarlet & Gray. It's going to be unreal.

---

Good story and hope the Bears reward you for taking the trip. Go Bears!

NYCGOBEARS;841948161 said:

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Columbia.

---

You're just a lazy bear. Though I have seem them play. It's basically an Intramural league for future Goldman jocks.

blungld;841948168 said:

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I was born in Columbus and both my parents went to Ohio State. I grew up watching them play every Saturday and loved the Buckeyes. I'd cry if they lost to Michigan. My fondest memories of childhood were laying on the sofa with my Dad and watching him be crazy during the games.

I went to Cal in '82. That first season I was shocked how I created my own identity and found a love for the Bears that exceeded my love for the Buckeyes. My Dad came to visit me for the first time for Big Game. We watched The Play live in Memorial and he was impressed. It was a delirious weekend where I both bonded with my Dad as an adult and split with him and expressed my own individual personality. I think he was delighted to see me as passionate about Cal as he was tOSU. From then I have been more obsessed than any sane person should reasonably be--surpassing my father's own craziness.

The years that followed we would kid each other each Sunday depending on how each team did and we preyed for a Rose Bowl match up. Then about ten years ago Cal and Ohio State agreed to this home and home. We couldn't believe it. We could hardly wait for the games. It was going to be our special trip together.

Seven years ago my Dad died in a horse riding accident and I have come to dread this day, because of its emotional significance. I am flying to Columbus with my brother. I'm going to sit with him and my Dad's brother. I'll say a prayer to my Dad and hope the Bears make a respectable showing. Can't believe the day is here and that I will actually see the Blue & Gold smashing into the Scarlet & Gray. It's going to be unreal.

---

What a story! I really enjoyed reading this and am very sorry for your loss. I too pray the Bears make a respectable showing so that this amazing life event won't be tarnished by a miserable game. Go Bears!

socaliganbear;841948187 said:

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You're just a lazy bear. Though I have seem them play. It's basically an Intramural league for future Goldman jocks.

---

How about Army? Michie Stadium would be fun.

blungld;841948168 said:

---

I was born in Columbus and both my parents went to Ohio State. I grew up watching them play every Saturday and loved the Buckeyes. I'd cry if they lost to Michigan. My fondest memories of childhood were laying on the sofa with my Dad and watching him be crazy during the games.

I went to Cal in '82. That first season I was shocked how I created my own identity and found a love for the Bears that exceeded my love for the Buckeyes. My Dad came to visit me for the first time for Big Game. We watched The Play live in Memorial and he was impressed. It was a delirious weekend where I both bonded with my Dad as an adult and split with him and expressed my own individual personality. I think he was delighted to see me as passionate about Cal as he was tOSU. From then I have been more obsessed than any sane person should reasonably be--surpassing my father's own craziness.

The years that followed we would kid each other each Sunday depending on how each team did and we preyed for a Rose Bowl match up. Then about ten years ago Cal and Ohio State agreed to this home and home. We couldn't believe it. We could hardly wait for the games. It was going to be our special trip together.

Seven years ago my Dad died in a horse riding accident and I have come to dread this day, because of its emotional significance. I am flying to Columbus with my brother. I'm going to sit with him and my Dad's brother. I'll say a prayer to my Dad and hope the Bears make a respectable showing. Can't believe the day is here and that I will actually see the Blue & Gold smashing into the Scarlet & Gray. It's going to be unreal.

---

Let's do a toast to your father at the Varsity Club before the game.

:beer:

socaliganbear;841948187 said:

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You're just a lazy bear. Though I have seem them play. It's basically an Intramural league for future Goldman jocks.

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We should schedule them then. Sounds a lot like Presbyterian.

BearGeorge;841948205 said:

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We should schedule them then. Sounds a lot like Presbyterian.

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Presbyterian is a WHOLE LOT better.

NYCGOBEARS;841948191 said:

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How about Army? Michie Stadium would be fun.

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You know what, if we're going to play all these directional FCS schools and what not, I'd rather go take a field trip to Cambridge and play Harvard. I think that would draw an interesting and large crowd.