OSU had a stretch where they'd have a similar season most years. They'd suck early, with an inexplicable OOC loss and/or a huge blowout OOC loss. And they'd get better and hit their stride halfway thru the season (which is fairly early in the conference season). We were bad against Nevada. We were bad against Southern Utah for 3 quarters. We played pretty well against OSU, especially in the 2nd half.

People have long complained that we don't get better during a season. It might be happening. Or we might lose by 30 this Saturday and the game in Columbus was an aberration.

I'm happy with the team heading into conference play. We have things to work on but things are looking up.

Free today's press conference, we are on the verge of getting some oline back with MSG practicing and galas nearing playing again. Hopefully moose gets back soon too.

It's certainly possible we go on an upward trajectory and I expect all PAC 12 teams to get beat up through conference play this year, could be a close wild finish.

Furd went to the Rose bowl with a team that lost to Texas by 156,007 or something, IIRC. (score may have been more lopsided)

I don't know. We could go either way. Seems like a close loss on the road that was winnable can deflate us. We should have beaten No. 14 Arizona in Tuscon in 2010. We could have beaten UW in Seattle early on last year. Neither game was a spring board to anything special. I think the problem now is that we matched up well athletically v. tOSU but our matchup athletically with $C is horrible. I don't have a good feeling about this, esp. now that Lane is going to actually be focused.

Interesting comparison. Unfortunately it means we have to lose the last game of the season with the Rose Bowl on the line to... Oregon State.

OOC games don't count for the conference crown. Anything can happen, and it probably will this season. As always, it's pretty simple - win as many games as possible, but more so in conference.

beelzebear;841953610 said:

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OOC games don't count for the conference crown. Anything can happen, and it probably will this season. As always, it's pretty simple - win as many games as possible, but more so in conference.

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I'll believe anything can happen the rest of the season if we beat $C on Saturday. I have my doubts about Sat. though because 1) $C is more athletic than us and therefore a bad matchup (tOSU is a better matchup, and Furd's physical play is a bad matchup for $C); 2) $C will be pissed and Lane will not be as distracted. I hope and pray the wheels start to come off the Trojan chariot, but how many times have we thought we were looking good going into the $C game only to be met with a big fat slice of beat down?

We are more than likely out of it for the national title (sorry for stating the obvious) but the funny thing is that most bear fans want to go to the Rose Bowl (myself included) more than anything else.

We are NOT out of the Rose Bowl race so I say that quest begins his Saturday (and every weekend from here on through).

GO BEARS!!!!

We've lost to them 8 times in a row, right? It's about time we win one.

SurvivorOf1and10fkaLEA;841953702 said:

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We've lost to them 8 times in a row, right? It's about time we win one.

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You mean like, uh, we're due to make a FG from 42 from the left hash?

boredom;841953536 said:

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OSU had a stretch where they'd have a similar season most years. They'd suck early, with an inexplicable OOC loss and/or a huge blowout OOC loss. And they'd get better and hit their stride halfway thru the season (which is fairly early in the conference season). We were bad against Nevada. We were bad against Southern Utah for 3 quarters. We played pretty well against OSU, especially in the 2nd half.

People have long complained that we don't get better during a season. It might be happening. Or we might lose by 30 this Saturday and the game in Columbus was an aberration.

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Unfortunately, we might have a season like Oregon State of last year (3-9) and then [U]next[/U] season with Kline and the rest of the CalGang, we beat Ohio State @ CMS like Oregon State beat Wisconsin last week and we go on to a better season....in 2013.

But, looking at the bright side for 2012, if you're asking about the possibility of a "Cold Start followed by a Hot Roll" like the Beavers seem to do every year, yeah why not? However, it would take a much better effort from both Coaches (more daring) and Players (better execution) though.