Posts one can expect today
(Written by kencraw)
First an important public service announcement: Me and my Trident are NOT happy.
In any case, it perhaps looks as though after yesterday’s tragedy that ExcuseMeForMyVoice.com has gone into hibernation. Fear not friends! One can expect the following posts throughout the day (Sunday):
- Just how disgusted I am
- Podcast posting (already recorded)… aka Just how disgusted I am, part II
- Who’s leaving? just what makes a good Cal fan
- Game analysis/review
- Reasons to hope despite all evidence to the contrary
Got to finish on a high note…
October 21st, 2007 at 9:25 am
Tragedy is a good work for yesterday, Ken. Being outcoached by one of the worst coaches in the Pac 10 is certaintly tragic. Having your O and D lines completely dominated all day is tragic. And realizing that this year will simply be another in a very long line of years where Cal fails to make the Rose Bowl is tragic.
This ’07 team has broken my heart like few other Cal teams have, and that is saying a lot. I really bought into them after that Oregon game and believed they were going to do something very special. Now, as my heart lies torn, beaten, and broken in Pasadena (yes, I had the disctint misfortune of watching this game in person) I realize that this year will be no more special than last or the year before that and so on. Yes, it could be worse. But it could be so much better. This team gave me a taste of just how much better it could be. I have been a diehard Cal fan for over 25 years I will never stop being a Cal fan, ever, but for sanity’s sake I will stop believing that a Cal team will ever really take it to the next level. I just can’t stand the heartbreak anymore.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:27 am
And by tragic I mean as tragic as a sporting event can be. I am fully aware that a sporting event really doesn’t mean that much when compared to the real tragedies that happen every day all over the world.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:47 am
It’s never been easy to be a Cal fan and never will be… but, gosh, wasn’t it sweet for a week or two? Being a Cal fan is like being in a long term dysfunctional and occassionally abusive relationship.
October 21st, 2007 at 12:27 pm
I think it’s a question of enjoying the big one-off victories when they happen–like USC in ’03 or Tenn & Oregon this year. As a Cal fan I have to live for those moments because that’s all they will ever give me. But I will never again hold out any hope that this team will ever make the Rose Bowl. It will be great if they do, but I just don’t have the heart to wish and pray for it to happen. Next year might be even worse than this year: we could be losing all of our receivers and our starting RB. But it’s not like having the best receiving core in the nation has done us much good this year.
Anyway, the Rose Bowl probably won’t be around in 10 years.
My sportsfan heart is broken, but it’s not like anything is going to change. I will still keep going to section EE like I have for the past 25 years and hopefully the next 25
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:30 am
Let’s face it CAL was over hyped this year. They were not out coached just out played. UCLA has better players on defense, and it shows in the recruiting They just are so poorly coached that they made it look close.
I watched the Auburn-LSU game after the UCLA fiasco. Both of those teams make CAL’S defense look like a high school team. They come out and hit. Our defensive backs won’t hit, won’t gang tackle. But I guess when you weigh 150 lbs. you don’t want to get hurt. Cal is letting USC,UCLA, Oregon and now probably Ariz. State out recruit them on the defensive side of the ball.
The coaching at CAL is ok they just need better players on defense. It’s not just about speed it’s about hitting too. Who’s #15 on CAL’s defense? Was something wrong with him? He never wanted to tackle.
The CAL coach’s have to be looking at the film. It’s time to start calling out the manhood on some of these players. This ain’t touch football.
Why can’t we get a tall receiver someone 6’4″ or over. I watched some of the Indiana-Penn St. game. IU has a 6’7″ receiver who runs the 40 in 4.4. IU is not a football school.
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:40 am
Must agree with bar20 on many things. This team was over-hyped and real fans that can recognize a team’s strengths and weaknesses could see that. To win league championships you must rely on defense. Sure, the offense is fun to watch, but if you get into shootouts every week,(Most Pac-10 games) you are going to come out on the short end once in a while.
The recruiting needs to focus on defense. The offensive reputation is built and should keep good skill players coming. However, Tedford and staff need to use the tight end. The most under-utilized player in the game. The offensive line also needs to continue to be a focal point. M. Lynch is sorely missed. Justin F. just isn’t big enough to take the pounding. Not sure J. Best is either?
Hopefully, Cal can improve facilities which would help recruiting. However, everyone in the PAC-10 excluding Arizona and WSU are improving. I’ll be surprised if anyone ever runs the table in this confrence.
Colorado Cal fan
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:11 am
bar20 and Don H., not to be too blunt but you guys don’t know what you’re talking about. Cal has been getting great defensive recruits as is shown by the number of young guys playing. Perhaps you can be critical of how many young guys are on the field, but such is life when you’re building a program. The recruits lined up for next year are stronger on the defensive side and we’re reaching into states (Arizona, Texas, etc.) that traditionally Cal has had a hard time recruiting in.
Oh and bar20, #15 is Anthony Felder… who just happened to be the leading tackler on the team in the UCLA game.
I’m sorry giving up 23 points is NOT a shootout or something to be harping on as ridiculous. Are there improvements to be made? Yes. But the criticisms of what needs to improve should be intelligent.
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Oh please! Do you watch any high school recruiting shows. How many of the top 150 defensive players in the country has CAL got a verbal on? Most of the best players in California come from the southern part of the state. The majority go to USC and UCLA. USC gets the pick of the recruits on the West Coast. The ones in SOCAL that don’t go to USC usually go to UCLA and stay close to home. Let’s see how the recriuting wars in the PAC 10 end up after the season is over. I am betting CAL is fourth behind USC,UCLA, Oregon and Arizonia St. Maybe even OSU.
Please don’t tell me that I don’t know what I am talking about, you may disagree with my assesments but the facts are there my friend, that CAL is losing the defensive side of the recruiting wars. Why do you think they have to rely on so many on JC players.
Every time I saw Felder on the screen he was getting beat. Leading in taclkles on Saturday isn’t saying much, it’s kind of like the blind leading the blind.
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:10 pm
bar20, first of all… relax. I wasn’t trying to insult you with the “don’t know what you’re talking about”… we all are speaking with less than a complete picture, not being on the team and all.
Nevertheless, we can state our opinions all day long and not prove anything. However, did you happen to notice that I write for Rivals? I’ve got a little bit more inside information than the TV shows. Yeah, I don’t cover the recruiting, but I talk frequently with the guys who do and know the stories they are working on. I knew Conte was abandoning UCLA a week before it was in any publication last year and I know about a number of current recruiting battles that haven’t yet hit the presses. Point being, I feel I can speak with some authority on what is actually happening and really do know what I’m talking about here.
Using all of the might that authority grants me (note a bit of humor/sarcasm here): Cal’s defensive recruiting has been getting stronger, will be very strong for the 2008 class and there’s every reason to believe will continue to be strong into the future.