Tuesday Report: Wilcox Welcomes Adverse Weather at WSU

Talk about seeing the glass half full. 

Cal plays Washington State in Pullman Saturday night at 7:30. The sun will have set in the Palouse three and half hours earlier and the weather forecast calls for temperatures somewhere below 30 degrees. The chance of snow is 50 percent.

Any teeth you hear chattering do not belong to Justin Wilcox.

The Cal head coach spent much of his Tuesday Zoom media session sounding as if the Bears were actually looking forward to those conditions. 

“We’re not talking minus ten,” he said. “Mid-30s would be beautiful. Maybe we’ll bring some long sleeves, maybe an extra pair of socks. It’ll be great. ...There is some equipment that most teams carry and we’ll have that available on the sidelines.

“There have been a lot of games played in a lot colder temperatures than the 30s. We’ll make the most of it. It will be a great experience for us.   Whether it’s 23 or 33, clear or snowing or somewhere in between, it’s another chance for us to play in a great environment. I know our guys will be excited.”

He did say that extra measures will be taken to ensure the comfort of those who throw, catch and carry the ball. 

“Guys that handle the ball, keeping their hands warm . . . there are different ways to do that and we’ll have all that ready for them,” Wilcox said. “That’s one of the beauties of our game, a chance to play in a lot of different environments.”

As Wilcox noted, given football’s place in the calendar, weather can become a factor, especially in places like Pullman. 

“We’ve all watched the old NFL films of the games that are played in the mud and the snow, back when they actually played on grass. It’ll be a great opportunity to experience something like that,” Wilcox said.“Some of us have been involved in games played in elements like this. Whether it’s at different schools or teams. Some of our coaches have been in the NFL and played in Buffalo or Green Bay. The players, some of them have some of them haven’t.”

Like his coach, quarterback Chase Garbers is eagerly anticipating the elements. “I have never played in snow,” he said, “But we’re looking forward to it. Anytime there are outrageous weather conditions it will be a fun game. I know the O-linemem will be out there making snow angels.”

And Garbers said the Cal offensive game plan will take the elements into account, but will not limit itself severely. “Right now our game plan is focused around preparing for the worst weather conditions we face up there,” Garbers said. “Our game plan will still be attack, whatever the weather is.”

Wilcox said he was last involved in such a game a few years ago when he was an assistant coach at Wisconsin. The personal discomfort was minimal. 

“I was in the press box drinking hot chocolate,” he said. 

Injury update: Wilcox said that both offensive lineman Valentino Daltoso and defensive lineman Stanley McKenzie were progressing and he hoped to have both back on the field Saturday night.

Related:

Deng Named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week