Excuse Me For My Absence
(Written by jsnell)
Well, I picked the right time to flee the country, didn’t I? Missed a lackluster win, a rainy loss to USC (which I tuned in via the magic of satellite-based Internet while floating somewhere near Costa Rica), and then was at 30,000 feet during the UW debacle.
So, Big Game week! Love it. At least there’s something on the line for Cal.
Unlike Ken, I’m in the upper deck, row L or something, for the Big Game. So I’ll have a nice view from far away and at an angle. The new Stanford Stadium, for those Cal fans who are going for the first time, is gorgeous. I went there for a match of the other kind of football and it’s shocking how much better it is than the old stadium was. Until Memorial gets rebuilt, we can’t claim slightly-less-crappy-stadium bragging rights over the ‘Furd.
Saw an interesting item on the Golden Bear Football News site, with a 2008 schedule. It appears to be the same one as is posted at CalBears.com. If it’s true, the Big Game next year returns to the pre-Thanksgiving slot, which is good. That’s when the game should be played, in my opinion. This December Big Game stuff? I don’t approve. You want to play football in December, you’ve got two choices: play in a bowl game or schedule a game at Hawaii. Your choice.
Interesting schedule, though. Home game versus Michigan State at the end of August, then an early trip to the Polouse (best weather Cal’s ever had there, I’m guessing), and a road trip all the way to Maryland, followed by a bye week. Three consecutive home games in late September/early October, including the late out-of-conference Colorado State visit. Then one road game, two more home games in late October/early November, two November road games, and the final home game with Stanford.
November 8, 2007 at USC, then November 15, 2007 at Oregon State. Maybe I should firm up my international travel plans now.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:31 am
I kind of like the December Big Game, for 2 reasons.
1) This year at least, it allows us to have a bye. Two, in fact. Otherwise, we’re like the Big 10, and we play 12 straight weeks without rest. Next year, fortunately, there are 15 Saturdays between Labor Day weekend and the first weekend in December, so Cal can finish before Thanksgiving and still get a bye.
2) I think the Big 10 is somewhat hurt by finishing their season 2 weeks before everyone else. Lack of exposure and such. Of course, it’s a lot easier to play a game in the Bay Area in December than it is to play in Michigan or Illinois or wherever.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Jason, I’m sure that’s the “official unofficial” 2008 schedule at this point but nothing is official until the Pac-10 announces the full Pac-10 slate in the early spring.
While I completely agree with you that the Big Game should be a pre-thanksgiving affair (so if nothing else we know what to be thankful for), I’ll bet you a beer that next year’s Big Game will move to December again. (That’s what happened for 2007 anyway and I think that’s the way the Pac-10 commish wants it.)
November 27th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Assuming this schedule is valid (I’m not sure it is based on Ken’s comment and the fact that there are no scheduled byes) this would mark another year that we play USC relatively late in the season. I would prefer having them earlier in the season. USC’s record in November is a good as it gets. I can’t say the same about Cal’s.
November 27th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
After last year, I pretty much assume that these schedules will all get torn up in the spring. But I’m still against December Big Games.
There _is_ a bye on the schedule, though. It’s September 20.
November 27th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Oops, I missed that open date on 9/20.
I’m with you on December Big Games. I much prefer the pre-Thanksgiving version. That being said, I like the new round robin aspect of Pac 10 play, and I’m not so sure I would want Cal to play on Thanksgiving weekend. So in that case, there isn’t another option except a December Big Game.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
At this point, the biggest thing to look forward to is better luck next season. However, short of that, I’m looking forward to the Bears spanking the ‘Furd so hard they’ll WISH they were losing to UC Davis again.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (you didn’t think I would say the Farm, did you?), a great pre-Big Game Top 10 list, was posted today. Check it out:
http://sportsbythebay.com/blog/2007/11/30/i-hate-stanford/
GO BEARS!!!
December 1st, 2007 at 8:53 pm
AAARRRRRRRRGGGG!!!!!!
That was the worst football game I have ever had the misfortune to watch. WE LOST TO THE FURD!!!!!!!
I hope Tedford weeps and pleads for forgiveness (then I hope he goes to Michigan)…Longshore, go on your mission you pathetic excuse for a quarterback, Smith is leading you to Africa, go save the heathens
Man, I am angry