Following practice today, Cal head coach Justin Wilcox, tight end Mason Mini and outside linebacker TJ Bush discussed Cal's win over UNC and their upcoming game vs Virginia Tech.
The Bears have found a way to win a pair of games at the end that in recent years, they usually would come out on the wrong end uf. Wilcox was asked about the difference this season.
"(We've) found a way to win not playing our best football and that's a great quality when you find a way to win when it's not your best football," Wilcox said. "So the guys have done that and they continue to play hard. Case in point, that final drive. So they're competing really hard. Love the effort that we're bringing. We just need to play cleaner in all three phases and then we'll start to see better football and maybe our best football.
“Ultimately, the result is a function of the individual plays throughout the game. And we're making enough plays to win, and we can make more. That's where we are aiming to be. For the guys to continue to play, even after we caused the fumble, you’ve still got a four minute situation there to run the ball. And we did that. We were almost able to finish with the ball. That was a big series as well. So I think it's just finding a way. I think that's the number one thing I appreciate about the team, the practice energy, the energy in meetings has been good. I couldn't ask for more. So really looking forward to watching us improve.”
Mini agreed that the Bears haven’t hit their stride yet playing consistent football this season.
“Definitely, we haven’t played out best ball,” Mini said. “I think this week could be one of those games. Last week was one of those games I thought we’d have 50 points but it didn’t end up being that.
“I think we just need to focus all game, especially the offense. Just focus, focus, focus. That’s what we’ve been talking about a lot this week.”
Bush will be back in his home state, though Blacksburg is not particularly close to his home south of DC. Still, he’ll have plenty of family and friends at Friday night’s contest.
“We’ve definitely heard a lot of Enter Sandman, playing it a lot in practice,” Bush said of the Hokies’ use of the iconic song to enter the stadium and fire up their fans.
Bush has stepped into a bigger role in the Bears’ defense this year due to injuries and he’s embracing the opportunities it’s afforded him on the field.
“It’s definitely been an adjustment for me,” Bush said. “Having a guy like Ryan (McCulloch, before he was lost for the year to injury) was a big loss but I feel like the guys in the room have picked things up and are doing just fine, even though you never want to lose a guy like Ryan.”
