T1B

Van wrote: I want ND to join the Big 10, yes, but purely for selfish reasons, as I want them to do better and become a national title type program again.

ND can do that without joining the Big Ten. And conversely, joining the Big Ten does little, if anything, to help ND in that regard.

Get better on the field. The rest will take care of itself.

USC's valleys remain higher than Cal's peaks. In USC's worst period in our lifetime they still went to six Rose Bowls, which is six more than Cal has been to since you've been alive.

One of those Pac-10 championships came in 1984, while Ted Tollner also was busy losing to Gerry Faust. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/di ... ?year=1980

Pac-10 must have been really, really, REALLY down that year.

Van wrote:m2, you think Cal will do the unthinkable, something which hasn't happened in eight years, and you think this at least in part because of a fluff piece you read on a Cal blog??

All the points were valid.

And if you need me to I'll post yet another non-biased article from someone that doesn't have a Cal blog. What is this the 5th person that happens to be experts on the PAC 10 saying the exact thing I've saying for months.





The Top Five Reasons Why Cal Will Win The Pac-10 Football Title in 2009





http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2046 ... /show_full





1. Defense wins championships in the Pac-10

Even with the loss of Zack Follett, Worrell Williams, and Anthony Felder, the Cal Bears defensive unit has all the makings of a very special unit in 2009.

"The Bears defense, dare we say it, in a conference lorded over by USC, might actually end up as the Pac-10’s best unit."
-ESPN's Ted Miller

The Bears "Bend but don't break" defensive philosophy shows in the fact that while the unit finished fourth in yards given up per game, the Bears gave up less than 20 points per game in 2008 (second only to USC). Cal finished ahead of USC in Red Zone defensive statistics. Cal returns eight starters from it's defensive unit of last year.

Cal's defensive front is rock solid and their secondary is completely intact from last season, with likely All-American Syd'Quan Thompson as the units leader.

As stated earlier. Defense wins championships in the Pac-10. Look for the Bears to finish number one in defense next season.



2. Jeff Tedford and Andy Ludwig will be on the same page on offense

When Tedford left Fresno State for Oregon, Ludwig replaced Tedford at Offensive Coordinator for the Bulldogs. Ludwig later replaced Tedford at Oregon as Offensive Coordinator when Tedford left for Cal.

Now the two are back together again and the offense will be in sync and powerful.

Last season with Utah, Ludwig helped coach the Utes to a 15th ranked offense in the nation with an average of 37.4 points per game. The Utes quarterback, Brian Johnson, earned Mountain West Player of the Year honors.

Look for the Bears to strike quick and often next season under Ludwig who looks like he he might be in line for a head coaching position in the not too distant future.

Ludwig has followed in Tedford's footsteps for the past several years now. Could Tedford and Ludwig be Cal's version of Oregon's Mike Bellotti and Chip Kelly, where Kelly replaced Bellotti, who ascended to the position of Athletic Director? Only time will tell.

One thing is certain. These two coaches will be on the same page when it comes to leading the Bears to the Pac-10 title next season and a BCS Bowl Game.



3. Cal has the best one-two running back combo in the conference

Jahvid Best finished number one in rushing yards in the Pac-10. Cal's Shane Vereen, a true freshman last season, finished number 10 in rushing in the conference. Only Oregon has two top-10 rushers returning this season, but one of those is their quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.

Both Best and Vereen are sprinters on Cal's track team. Combined, Best and Vereen ran for nearly 2300 yards averaging 7.1 yards per carry as a team.

Jahvid Best is a legitimate contender for the Heisman Trophy next season if he can top last seasons stellar performance.



4. USC talent attrition was too great this past year to prevent their falling a notch

I know, I know. USC football players are like teeth in a great white shark's mouth. One falls out to the NFL draft and two grow back in its place.

No offense to past USC recruiting efforts but a team does not lose 11 starting players including their quarterback and not skip a beat the following season. Throw in the loss of assistant head coach Steve Sarkisian who is now the head coach of the Washington Huskies and you have a near mass exodus of talent at USC.

USC will be good, real good, but they will lose at least two Pac-10 conference games this season. From my vantage point, it looks like the Trojans may be "Holiday Bowling" next post season. If USC does indeed win it all again. Pete Caroll has my vote already for Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors.



5. Cal's schedule is favorable

How can a Pac-10 conference opening road trip against the Ducks in Autzen stadium followed by USC at home the very next week possibly be favorable you ask?

Beat Oregon on the road, and come home to beat USC with a rabid crowd behind you and you have instant swagger and confidence to ride rest of the Pac-10 season. Even if Cal were to lose to the Ducks, a bounce back and HUGE win against arch rival USC would quickly erase any sting from a Ducks loss.

While Cal has to face Oregon and Arizona State on the road, they get to face their toughest opponents—USC, Oregon State, and Arizona within the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium.





So, Vannie...

Do you think all these writers called "the truth" 'and asked what my opinion is so they can write an article ???












the truth

I'm digging the fact Cal is some sort of "favorite" in this game (in your eyes). That'll make your meltdown sooooo much sweeter.

M2, well....

Cal may do this and they may do that, sure. Let's take a look however at what we KNOW they did, and what we KNOW USC did, and always seems to do....

USC can't lose 11 people to the NFL, plus an assistant coach, without skipping a beat?

Hmmm. Following the 2007 season they lost 10 players to the NFL draft, including four first rounders, three of whom were on defense. 10 players. Three first rounders on D, and four total. They led the nation, in both categories. Lane Kiffin, their OC, he also bailed.

What'd they do in 2008? They had a better record, going 12-1, and they sported what many people consider to be the best D in the history of college football. Certainly, it was the best D in the nation last season, by a wide margin. They led the nation in most every meaningful category, and their point differential was simply unheard of. Until they gave up some meaningless garbage time points in the Rose Bowl they owned every meaningful defensive category.

Dude, seriously. Every year under Pete Carroll USC sees a mass exodus of early defections to the NFL, a complete gutting of their roster to the NFL, and some assistant coach or three bolts for a head coaching gig somewhere.

Somehow, they keep coming back the following year and beating the dogshit out of everyone, including Cal.

Also, nearly every source out there is picking USC to win the Pac 10 again this year. Not Cal. USC.

Are they necessarily picking USC to beat Cal? Dunno. They don't say.

Doesn't matter. Besides the fact that by predicting USC to win the conference they're probably also predicting that USC will win the game the simple fact remains that regardless of the outcome of that game the only thing anyone will remember is who won the conference. If Cal beats USC but USC wins the conference, it's just another choke job by Cal. What would be remembered is USC winning again, and Cal vanishing again.

Oh, and you're also forgetting about a couple other things. See, last year, it was everyone's assumption that USC would have probably their second best D ever under Pete, behind only the '04 sqaud. That D then went out and proved everyone correct, and then some.

This year? Everyone's agreeing that Pete will have his best O line ever, and they return every skill player but Sanchez and one WR.

If this does in fact turn out to be USC's best O line then you can go ahead and forget about beating USC if you're Cal. Cal is not going to beat an NFL O line, and that's what they're projecting, with the entire line going to the NFL.

Similarly, Cal's offense is going to have to figure out a way to better their, ahem, 165 total yards and 0 legitimate points, and USC isn't exactly going to show up in Stawberry Canyon lacking defensive weapons.

In fact, if Cal's offense doesn't give up a score to USC's D, consider yourself fortunate.

You have two chances at winning this game...

-USC's QB just plays horribly, handing the game to Cal with TO's, the way JDB did when he got injured and then proceeded in the second half to hand the game to Stanford by throwing four picks.

-Jahvid Best goes apeshit.

Good luck with that. Cal's best player, Alex Mack, is gone. He anchored their O line, and now they have to replace a four year starter at center. A team is hanging their hopes on running the ball down USC's throat, when they couldn't do it with Alex Mack and Jahvid Best last year...and now Mack is gone?

Uhhh...

:chuckle:

Turnovers, skippy. You'd best win the TO battle, big time. Your D had better put points on the board, because if you're forced to engage in an even slugfest in the trenches against the strength of USC, it's over.

No matter what, when all is said and done, Cal will not beat USC by 14 points. Nobody but you has predicted that, and you're borderline insane.

Pssst.... Alex Mack wasn't a 4 year starter and the guy he played behind is an NFL center,

Cal has lead the PAC 10 in rushing for the last 7 years.... and they have had the best O-line class of any team in the Nation the last 2 years. Cal will be fine.

As far as Cal's front 7.... it's the strength of the team... and just to put it in perspective.... Cal has the best defensive backfield in the country.


Pssst.... "the father of the 3-4 defense" and the guy that has made the Steelers who they are today is a huge Cal fan and has been working with Tedford.



On learning the 3-4 from Dick LeBeau and what they like about the defense:

I expressed surprise that LeBeau was so nice about it. He said LeBeau is not only a first class guy, but also that LeBeau had sort of loosely followed the program the past few years, had more than a casual knowledge of the team, and had enjoyed watching them. Since then, they've spoken and met again, and LeBeau has taken an interest in the team, watched them on TV when he gets a chance. Basically he said LeBeau's was more than happy to help and is a quality guy.

I'd be surprised if $C scores more than 10 points on this D... with a qb that has never started a game in D-1 play.

By the way.... Riley will be in his 4th year in Tedford's system and won't have Longhsore and Tedford's man-love for him breathing down his back.

There's a reason... Cheaty Petey had a meltdown during the news conference where Sanchez said he was going PRO and Cheaty told Sanchez he wouldn't go in the top 2 rounds of the NFL draft... and basically lambasted him for entering the NFL draft early (by the way he went in the first few picks and is making bank).

Cheaty.... knows that it takes an experienced qb in the PAC 10 to win the conference.

Cal is head to toe more talented in every position on Defense and Offense. This is a no-brainier for those that know "College Football".

Oh yeah, this is the most talented team Cal has ever had during the Tedford era.



Squid







the truth is $

Blueblood wrote:Cal has lead the PAC 10 in rushing for the last 7 years....

So, how's that been workin' out for ya'?

Cal has sucked balls the last 7 years.

and they have had the best O-line class of any team in the Nation the last 2 years.

Sure they do, m2, sure they do.

Cal will be fine.

By Cal standards, sure. As long as you never need to win a damn thing any year is fine.

As far as Cal's front 7.... it's the strength of the team...

It would be a weakness, for many other teams. Being the strength of a Cal team is like being the spelling bee champ of the maternity ward at Compton County General.

and just to put it in perspective.... Cal has the best defensive backfield in the country.

That's what you said about your LBs last year, too, and just like last year Cal's defensive backfield won't even be the best in the state of California. Taylor Mays is better by himself than your entire backfield. Syd'Quan is the only guy on your entire D who might be able to crack the starting line-up at USC.

Pssst.... "the father of the 3-4 defense" and the guy that has made the Steelers who they are today is a huge Cal fan and has been working with Tedford.

Yeah? George Foreman likes eggs. What about it?

On learning the 3-4 from Dick LeBeau and what they like about the defense:

I expressed surprise that LeBeau was so nice about it. He said LeBeau is not only a first class guy, but also that LeBeau had sort of loosely followed the program the past few years, had more than a casual knowledge of the team, and had enjoyed watching them. Since then, they've spoken and met again, and LeBeau has taken an interest in the team, watched them on TV when he gets a chance. Basically he said LeBeau's was more than happy to help and is a quality guy.

Just say it, and say it without a hint of irony:

You Dick.

I'd be surprised if $C scores more than 10 points on this D... with a qb that has never started a game in D-1 play.

You were also surprised to see Cal get ruined by Maryland, and you were surprised to see Cal get shut out last year by USC, and you were surprised to see Cal never go to a BCS bowl game in your life.

When you're a Cal fan, life is like a box of stale, moldy chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get, but you know it'll always suck.

By the way.... Riley will be in his 4th year in Tedford's system and won't have Longhsore and Tedford's man-love for him breathing down his back.

Great. Maybe he'll even go 6-16, this time.

Dude, he's Kevin Riley. He's the guy who fucked you out of a #1 ranking, for the only time in your life. You spent all of five minutes at #2, until Kevin Riley remembered he played for Cal.

The best you can hope for there is that he doesn't completely lose the game for you.

After all, he's Kevin Riley.

Cheaty.... knows that it takes an experienced qb in the PAC 10 to win the conference.

Really, you fucking cinderblock?

Matt Leinart? First year at QB. Conference title, and a national title.

JDB? First year at QB. Conference title, and damn close to a national title.

Mark Sanchez? First year at QB. Conference title, and damn close to a national title.

Fact is, Pete has never failed to win the Pac 10 with a completely inexperienced QB. He's had three, and they all won big, right out of the gate.

You not smart.

Cal is head to toe more talented in every position on Defense and Offense. This is a no-brainier for those that know "College Football".

More talented than last year's Cal team, maybe. They did lose their best player though, so maybe not.

Oh yeah, this is the most talented team Cal has ever had during the Tedford era.

Which would make them the least talented USC team, maybe ever, and certainly under Pete Carroll. Cal only has a couple guys who would start for USC, and under Pete's preferred method of RB By Committee I don't even know if Jahvid Best starts.

There isn't a single player on Cal's offense who would start for USC, other than maybe Jahvid. On D, there's only Syd'Quan. Every other player on Cal?

"Grab some pine, meat!"

Vannie, is in panic mode... and rightfully so.

The wheels have changed in the PAC 10... and Cal will run the roost for the next 10 to 20 years after the facility is built..

Cal students are smart enough to know there is life after football.

The lowest gpa of a Cal player has been 3.4 and we'll get them in on a hardship.


$C doesn't have a single player with more than a 3.4 on their team.





Cal just has a different standard.






"I don't really know what was going on, they were just pounding us," MSU senior safety Otis Wiley said.






m2 is the truth

Look, you're a golf guy.... nobody here is expecting much from you as far as football.

I'll just disregard you as being yourself. I'll also disregard the 10 years I spent coaching the likes of kids like Russell White, and the 4 years of broadcasting I've done.

You can't be this stupid. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a counter trap and a counter top.

Blueblood wrote:
The lowest gpa of a Cal player has been 3.4 and we'll get them in on a hardship.


$C doesn't have a single player with more than a 3.4 on their team.

Cal just has a different standard.

1. maybe USC is just a lot harder than Cal.
2. let's see those stats documented. i personally do not believe all 100+ players on Cal's roster had a 3.4 or better average. I call BS on that. In fact, i bet the team average isn't 3.4 or probably even close. you're just blowing yourself with that, that's not even a remotely plausible claim. prove it or stf up.
3. as i've mentioned before, and posted links, in addition to the "special admissions categories" Cal has available to them to admit athletes Neuheisel claims Cal gets players in that UCLA can't. so, sounds like the "different standard" goes the other way. Everyone of the special admissions players (which is a large % of the team) has better than a 3.4? I don't buy it...or maybe Cal is a diploma mill for the athletes?

m2 wrote:Cal just has a different standard.

True. USC's standard is excellence. They expect to win, every year, in everything they do.

Cal's standard is mediocrity. Academically, they expect to be Stanford's and UCLA's annoying little brother, and they merely hope to be competitive in football, or any other sport.

Very different standards. You're right, Cal will be fine. At Cal 9-3 or even 8-4 is reason for a parade.

Blueblood wrote:
"I don't really know what was going on, they were just pounding us," MSU senior safety Otis Wiley said.

Hey, look at that. A 20 year old with a little bit of humility. You're in your 40s? and still haven't learned a shred of it.

well, this was easy:

http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/s ... 05aad.html

there's 1 Cal player above 3.4, 1 at 3.4, and 2 less than 3.4 on the all Pac All-Academic Team. We can assume the rest of the team is below the All-Academic Team.

Cal academic banquet: invitees were those with a GPA of 3.25 or better. no where does it say the entire football team attended.

http://www.calbears.com/genrel/051105aac.html

Blueblood wrote:
"I don't really know what was going on, they were just pounding us," MSU senior safety Otis Wiley said.

Were the Cal players having sex with the MSU players?

mFool wrote:I have a picture of his entrance

Just one? Multiple close-ups probably. Clear views from google maps definitely.

Vannie, is in panic mode...

When are you going to learn to correctly use written English, foolio? You're pushing 50 and it still eludes you?

m2 is pushing 50? God I hope not......

Who the fuck talks like a child on an internet message board in their 40's???

Geez.......I'm 28 and the little I post on here still is all the message board posting I do anymore and I doubt if I'm still here more than a year or 2 from now. Who knows. God damn m2's got to have lived one sad and pathetic life. Loser.

Sicc 'em, JON. RIP that board bitch!!

TheJON wrote:I'm 28 and the little I post on here still is all the message board posting I do anymore and I doubt if I'm still here more than a year or 2 from now.

From your lips, to God's ears....

Sudden Sam wrote:

SoCalTrjn wrote:Meyer has been trashing Pete Carroll every chance he can get to recruits as well. Ronald Johnson said that after he went on his USC trip, Meyer was waiting with his mom for him when he got home and had been bashing Carroll and USC to her the whole time. It was the negative recruiting from meyer that lead RoJo to go to USC. There was also a story about how a OL recruit who had been a verbal to USC the whole fall, but lived in Florida with his mom, was thrown out of his moms house by his mom at Meyers prodding. The kids dad lived in LA and Meyer had convinced the kids mom that the kid would join gangs and no longer help her out once he got to USC.
Seems Meyer is a total douche who if he cant get a kid to choose Florida he goes after the kids mom

I guess that would explain Emmanuel Moody's transferrring to UF from USC.

Meyer hired a coach at a pretty big High School here in Southern california, one that has long been a USC pipeline. That coach was hired to be a director of operations for floridas program but continued to live in Southern California and through contact with one of his previous players, who was Moodys room mate at USC, got in to Emanuels and another USC player named Shareece Wrights ear. Before anyone at USC knew what Starr was doing Moody had transfered, Holland had asked for a transfer to the same school and wright was waivering. Carroll had already signed off on Moodys transfer to Florida not suspecting any foul play, when Hollands transfer tot he same school came to his desk he looked in to it and saw what had happened, they called Wright in to the office and he explained what Troy Starr had been saying and promising. Hollands transfer to Florida was blocked and wright decided to stay at USC. After Starr was banned from going to USC practices and contacting current USC players he was let go from Florida as their director of football operations. apparently Meyer things the operations director is in charge of poaching other programs players. i think holland is at Oregon now.

Killian wrote:

TheJON wrote:I'm 28 and the little I post on here still is all the message board posting I do anymore and I doubt if I'm still here more than a year or 2 from now.

From your lips, to God's ears....

There's a reasonably good chance that TheNOJ is AP's alleged pantyluring hottie.

1. I want to see a clear cut #1 RB emerge from the 47 possible candidates vying for the job.
2. I want to see an improved O-Line.
3. I want the receivers to actually catch the ball.
4. I want to see the playbook opened up.
5. I don't really care if Nichol or Cousins start at QB, I just want them to stick with one guy (which I think will happen), unless a change is absolutely necessary. If I had to choose, I'm leaning ever so slightly toward Cousins.
6. I want to see wins over ND, Michigan, and Penn St the most, though I realize no game is more important than the next game.
7. I want to see OSU lose two conference games in order to give MSU a puncher's chance at winning the conference.
8. I want to see how well Iowa travels to E. Lansing, and if they'll even consider that a home game for MSU.
9. I want to see not just a January bowl appearance, but a January bowl victory.
10. I got nothin', so I'm just gonna put some filler in for this one so I can make this list an even 10. How's it goin? Good? Good to hear. Well, later man.

After finally winning a BCS bowl game (albeit against Cincinnati), I would like to see whether or not Tyrod is a legitimate QB or just a glorified RB. He shows glimpses of being able to throw the ball, but 2 passing TDs (7 rushing) is unacceptable.

I hope the RBs that I keep reading about are as good as advertised. Darren Evans will be the man. Ryan Williams has apparently blown people away in spring practice. David Wilson buttfucked the rest of the world in the mouth by rushing 33 carries, 414 yards, and 8 TDs in 3 games at the Junior World Championships (MVP).

The Oline had better have finally learned how to block defenders this year. I am fucking sick of the Hokies having an offense ranked somewhere in the 100s every year. Stinespring had better get his shit together.

I would like to see Bud Foster made head coach in waiting. I rarely worry about the defense. The only weakness I see this year is the inexperience of the secondary.

I am excited to see a relatively competitive schedule with minimal creampuffs. Bama, Nebraska, and even ECU are not a bad OOC lineup. Marshall is horrible.

I will ignore the VT homers and just say I would like to see another ACC championship and a BCS bowl win against a chump Big East team. Unfortunately, I see a loss to a shit school like Marshall or NC State; plus a loss to Bama and BC or Miami; then a nail-biter against the pillow-biters at UVA. Hokie football breeds pessimism.

8. I want to see how well Iowa travels to E. Lansing, and if they'll even consider that a home game for MSU.

You guys sell too many tickets for us to take over your stadium. Indiana, Minnesota, and Northwestern are home games for Iowa regardless of where we play them.

Minnesota may change now that they actually have a home stadium.

Yeah, Minny has already sold out all their home games.

I will no longer be attending Iowa-Minnesota games up there. The Metrodump was a horrible stadium but at least it's indoors. No way am I watching football in mid-November up in Minneapolis outdoors. Fuck that shit!

Pussy. Let it be 20 below for all I care. I love that shit.

Scored some free tickets to the MSU/Minnesota game up there on Halloween night. Looking forward to it.

Screw_Michigan wrote:

TheJON wrote:I will no longer be attending Iowa-Minnesota games up there. The Metrodump was a horrible stadium but at least it's indoors. No way am I watching football in mid-November up in Minneapolis outdoors. Fuck that shit!

With that attitude, no wonder you're cool with your team mailing it in at the end of seasons "with nothing to play for."

Had we gone to a bowl game I would have had to watch a bunch of thugs play another game with no emotion and no care. It spared me having to do that. So thank you Western Michigan.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Pussy. Let it be 20 below for all I care. I love that shit.

Scored some free tickets to the MSU/Minnesota game up there on Halloween night. Looking forward to it.

Yeah, I'm a pussy when it comes to the cold. I'm a misplaced Floridian! The same people that call me a puss when it's cold out won't go out and play ball with me when it's 90 degrees because "it's too hot". Fuck the cold. I love the dead heat.

Screw_Michigan wrote:How does it feel to be WMU's bitch?

Embarrassing????