(Written by jsnell)

You can read the entire liveblog after the jump…
12:20 Jason:  Hi everyone, and welcome.

12:21 [Comment from katster:] Howdy!

12:21 Jason:  Ken’s in Tempe, and I’m on my couch in Mill Valley. We’ll be getting underway soon.

12:25 [Comment from Sue:] Got a kick out of the ASU Preview by Ken

12:26 Jason:  I think we all have those conflicting feelings of being rational versus being a fan

12:27 Jason:  Also, BOO! Happy Halloween, everyone.

12:27 Ken:  Some pregame info:Comfortably warm todayBears are in all white (Jason’s, ummm, “favorite”)Stands are emptier than you could possibly imagine. Maybe 5k here besides the students, but it seems there’s a lot of people flowing in right now.

12:27 Jason:  Oh, the marshmallows!

12:27 Jason:  Well, it is halloween. Cal is dressed up as marshmallows. Or Ghosts.

12:27 Ken:  Or Saints (to offset the Devils)

12:28 Jason:  For the record, my kids are being Baby Daisy (from Mario Bros.) and Jango Fett (from Star Wars: The Inferior Prequels) today.

12:28 Jason:  I thought saints wore gold and black, Ken.

12:29 Ken:  Ah, two good choices, Jason. I’ve got two dinosaurs and one UPS delivery boy. The UPS boy seems to be a big hit with other parents.

12:29 Ken:  Yeah, I never quite got that color scheme in New Orleans. But only in the home of Marti Gras the way it is done in New Orleans would be so bold as to call their team the Saints.

12:30 [Comment from Rick:] Bummer. I was hoping they would go white on yellow.

12:30 Jason:  And ABC is on the air!

12:32 Ken:  Temperature right now is 74 and 16% humidity (if I heard that very faint announcer voice correctly)

12:32 Ken:  Boy do they love their pregame fireworks in Arizona. Both schools use a ton of them.

12:34 Ken:  Sound system stinks right now in the pressbox but it appears ASU won the toss and deferred so Cal will receive the openning kickoff.

12:38 Jason:  Good first use of Best, on the screen, to let him run in space.

12:38 Ken:  Bad opening kickoff, good first play.

12:39 Jason:  Another Best first down. I like to see them using him, and gaining yards.

12:40 Jason:  Decent run by Riley, then he drops the ball on the ground. Terrible.

12:40 [Comment from katster:] …augh, Riley.

12:41 Jason:  ASU gives 15 yards back on bad behavior, but… helmet on ball, ball to ASU. Not a good omen.

12:41 Ken:  Hard to be too critical of Riley in a case like that even though it’s a real bad turnover.

12:42 Jason:  Typical classy Erickson team behavior.

12:42 Jason:  Yes, Ken, on the replay it’s clear that was a solid helmet-on-ball hit. Oh well.

12:43 Ken:  Maybe this will be the inverse of 2007 when Cal started off the game forcing a fumble out of Carpenter.

12:44 Jason:  And a turnover on downs gives it back to Cal.

12:44 [Comment from katster:] nice work, bears.

12:44 Ken:  Phew. No harm done. Good play by the defense.

12:44 Jason:  Some good defense, there. And interesting to note that Cattouse is starting in place of Ezeff. I like Cattouse a lot.

12:45 Ken:  I’m going to change my brokerage account to E-Trade. They think of my like a baby, albeit one that can talk.

12:46 Jason:  And we’re back.

12:47 Jason:  JEREMY ROSS.

12:47 Jason:  That guy can catch.

12:47 Jason:  Good throw by RIley.

12:47 Ken:  Great catch and run by Ross. Although I hate long plays that end at the 11 yard line. I think it’s the worst yard line on the field.

12:48 Jason:  I also dislike the 47.

12:48 Jason:  And the 22.

12:48 Jason:  The 22 is just shifty.

12:49 Jason:  Riley has thrown one away and thrown one wide, and now it’s 3rd and 10 from the cursed 11.

12:49 Ken:  I know when I’m being mocked… but I don’t care. Best is awesome.

12:49 Jason:  Touchdown Best!

12:49 [Comment from katster:] GO JAHVID.

12:49 Jason:  Great play. Short pass to Best and then let him see what he can do.

12:49 Jason:  When it doubt, just let Best run around.

12:50 Jason:  Speaking of the 22.

12:50 [Comment from katster:] for that just outside the redzone feel?

12:50 Jason:  Yes, the 22 thinks you like it. But you don’t. Because it’s not red. Only mildly pink.

12:51 Ken:  Hey, that should be our new strategy. We can’t get the kickoff to reach the endzone to save our lives. Let’s send Tavecchio and D’Amato to acting class to get some more personal fouls that are assessed on the kickoff.

12:51 Jason:  In Jahvid we trust.

12:51 Jason:  They’re lucky they don’t put me in charge of what’s on money.

12:52 [Comment from katster:] god, a bunch of thugs. 😛

12:52 [Comment from katster:] Jason: You’d change it up to whatever player was currently the most awesome at Cal? 😉

12:52 Jason:  This $5 bill is old. It’s an Arrington!

12:53 Jason:  Who kicked that kickoff? Holy cow.

12:53 Ken:  But would you put a wig on Jahvid to make him seem more distinguished on our California currency (since we are going to get kicked out eventually by Bill O’Reilly).

12:54 Ken:  Well, that 15 yard personal foul makes the kickoff easier, Jason.

12:55 Jason:  Good point.

12:55 Jason:  So that was basically a kick to the 5.

12:55 Jason:  Thank goodness, normality restored.

12:55 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Arizona St looks terrible so far offensively

12:56 Ken:  Man, the boo-birds are out already in Tempe. I thought we were bad in Berkeley with Longshore.

12:57 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Riley looked good and bad on that first drive, two bad throws, two good throws.

12:57 [Comment from Tedfordium:] What do you guys think, Oklahoma St or Texas?

12:57 Jason:  I always vote against Mack Brown, and encourage everyone else to do the same.

12:57 Jason:  The quick screen to Best doesn’t work when nobody blocks. But that was a nice designed run for Riley.

12:58 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Do you guys have to approve the comments? They don’t seem to come in instantaneously

12:58 Jason:  Yes, we screen the comments.

12:58 Ken:  I agree Jason. Plus it goes with our historic theme of being on the wrong side of the rooting, because Texas is going to kill them.

12:58 Jason:  Oh, was Tedfordium asking who will win? I have no control over that. I can root against Texas, though. And I will.

12:58 [Comment from katster:] I’ve got a friend who’s a Texas alum. I told him I’d stop hating his team when either Cal gets to the Rose Bowl or beats them.

12:59 Jason:  Even the emergency shovel pass to Best gets 9 yards.

12:59 [Comment from katster:] Jahvid! Go Jahvid!

12:59 [Comment from Tedfordium:] You know, I actually think Mack Brown runs a great program. I know that he did what he had to do to get into the Rose Bowl and that prevented us from going, but I’d much rather have Texas win than Alabama, USC, Ohio St, and Oklahoma

12:59 Jason:  Well, sure, there’s always a tier of teams below Texas.

12:59 Jason:  I’m just not neutral on Texas anymore.

1:00 Jason:  The bottom of my barrel is USC, Notre Dame, Stanford. When any two of those teams play it’s hard to choose.

1:00 [Comment from Tedfordium:] His players always help the opponent up off the ground, they don’t seem to have many taunting penalties, they set the bar in recruiting

1:00 Jason:  Don’t you dare make me soften my feelings on Mack Brown, Tedfordium.

1:01 Ken:  That incompletion was all about Calvin. He read that horribly. He sped up, he slowed down, he sped up again and it was out of reach. He couldn’t judge it to save his life.

1:01 Jason:  I love the boos on that. HE HIT THE RECEIVER IN THE ARM. Like, wound up and slapped him. Because he was falling and desperate. That’s PI, guys.

1:03 Jason:  Ross made the wrong cut on that one.

1:03 [Comment from Tedfordium:] I thought he grabbed Calvin’s legs before the ball got there

1:03 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Ken, what’s the weather like?

1:03 Jason:  Weren’t these guys supposed to be good at defending the run?

1:03 Ken:  Weather is comfortable. Perhaps just a tad warmer than ideal with the complete lack of clouds in the sky, but pretty close to ideal football weather. There’s a nice breeze too.

1:04 Jason:  Riley to Jones, TD!

1:04 [Comment from katster:] augh, disciplining the cat caused me to miss that.

1:04 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Beautiful throw

1:05 Ken:  “Supposed to” is the key phrase. Most people who really knew what was going on knew that it was artificially inflated by poor opponents.

1:07 Jason:  Oooh, sound effects.

1:09 Jason:  Cal defense hasn’t had a single one of those classic soft D plays so far.

1:10 Ken:  Cattouse was just given the gift of his life and he said “nah, it’s not my birthday yet”

1:10 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Packers or Vikings tomorrow?

1:10 Jason:  I think Rodgers is going to ride the home field advantage to a win.

1:10 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Was that man coverage?

1:11 Ken:  Yes, but the safety was unassigned.

1:11 Jason:  Ken, looked kind of like it was tipped at the last moment and he couldn’t readjust.

1:12 [Comment from Tedfordium:] I hope Rodgers puts his team in the drivers seat. He’s looking like one of the top 5 QB’s in the league

1:12 Jason:  Every time I watch the Packers I am reminded just how amazingly accurate a passer Rodgers is. And was at Cal, too.

1:12 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Maybe he was looking to lay the wood and anticipated the ball being caught, but the way that Sullivan is slinging it these guys should start playing the ball

1:12 Ken:  Ah, couldn’t see that from up here. Speaking of which, we’re WAY up here. From what I’m told this is the 3rd highest pressbox in the nation (as judged by height above the field).

1:13 Jason:  Yeah, the defender on the receiver tipped it before it got to Cattouse.

1:13 Jason:  And it fell down lower, so it hit before Cattouse could get his hands down.

1:13 [Comment from Tedfordium:] If Rodgers had stayed for that 2005 year…..

1:13 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Rodgers to Desean would have been incredible

1:13 Ken:  It’s 3rd down and all 20k fans are standing.

1:13 Jason:  Ah, the false start.

1:14 Ken:  But apparently Edwards was only prepared for the noise of 10k.

1:14 Jason:  So… punty punt punt.

1:15 Ken:  Riley, we’re up 14-0 and their offense is beyond struggling… I’ve got two words for you:1. Ball2. Security

1:17 Ken:  While I completely agree that it’s wiser not to have Best do it, I still miss him as a gunner. He’d have both been their earlier and made that tackle.

1:18 [Comment from Tedfordium:] At least Tedford is not just pounding the ball with the lead, I like that he has confidence in him right now

1:20 Jason:  Oh, great, personal foul after the first down, so it’s a nice 25-yard gain by the offense that has done nothing up to now.

1:22 [Comment from USAFGoldenBear:] Do you guys happen to know when the pass rush is going to start?

1:23 Jason:  Not much defense happening here.

1:23 [Comment from katster:] …uh, hey, defense, you were awesome the last few drives. What happened?

1:23 Jason:  I think it might be more appropriate to say the ASU offense was terrible the last few drives.

1:23 Ken:  ASU had 17 yards on 10 plays in the 1st quarter. Now they’re playing too soft.

1:24 Jason:  Ball out! Cal ball!

1:24 Ken:  Ouch for ASU.

1:24 Ken:  There’s a couple of more vocal than usual reporters who are ASU beat writers. They’re not happy about that one.

1:26 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Wow, Gregory’s bend-all-the-way-up-the-field-but-get-lucky-at-the-one-yard-line defense is working perfectly

1:26 [Comment from USAFGoldenBear:] I dont remember reading this, but is ASU’s o-line significantly improved from last year?

1:27 Ken:  Definitely USAF, they’re up from 19th in the Pac-10 in front of WSU up to 9th in the Pac-10 in front of WSU.

1:27 [Comment from USAFGoldenBear:] haha tedforium

1:28 Jason:  oh man, another fumble, and we gave it right back.

1:28 Ken:  Ah yes, the BATWUTFBGLATOYL, the less well known version of the BBDB.

1:29 Ken:  Riley, Riley Riley. How hard is it to remember two words?

1:29 Jason:  That one he just dropped. I

1:29 Jason:  Stupid.

1:29 Jason:  Touchdown ASU.

1:31 [Comment from USAFGoldenBear:] wow how does he go from being incredibly smart with the football to putting it on the turf, so often?

1:31 [Comment from Tedfordium:] That was terrible recognition, not necessarily a great offensive play call, because it looks like we were in a zone, but who in the hell was that defender?

1:31 Ken:  BTW, I don’t know if everyone noticed or if the TV announcers mentioned it, but that was a new QB for ASU.

1:32 [Comment from katster:] yeah, with commentary about hair matching first name.

1:32 Jason:  He almost fell down, but then he threw the TD pass.

1:33 Jason:  Hope someone has yelled at Riley about ball protection.

1:33 Ken:  So Szakacsy’s collegiate numbers: 1 pass, 3 yards, 1 TD.

1:34 Jason:  That’s a motion flag on Best, I assume.

1:34 Jason:  Huh. Teach me to be negative.

1:34 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Do you guys think that Oregon will be able to run the ball effectively against USC?

1:34 Ken:  Nope Tedfordium.

1:35 Jason:  

I assume after last week, USC’s defense this week will be much tighter. But hey, I picked Oregon. I’m going on a hope and a prayer.

1:35 [Comment from Tedfordium:] i just don’t see it happening

1:35 Ken:  Oregon needs Masoli to have a performance throwing the ball like he did against Cal, which, by the way, is still BY FAR Masoli’s best throwing game of the year.

1:35 Jason:  That’s Erickson-ball!

1:36 Jason:  Tight call, though. He didn’t let up out of bounds, but…

1:37 Ken:  This drive brought to you by the color yellow and the number 15.

1:37 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Terrible announcing, they need to play more disciplined

1:37 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Erickson’s teams are dirty

1:37 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Another facemask, they also didn’t call the horse collar against the defender when Ross caught the deep bal

1:37 Jason:  I love how they said Erickson was yelling at the guy.

1:37 Jason:  He was probably saying, “Don’t get caught.”

1:39 Jason:  Not sure I agree that you need to throw on 3rd and 4 when you have Best and Vereen.

1:39 Jason:  terrible kick.

1:40 [Comment from katster:] another missed kick

1:40 Ken:  The debate in the pressbox, should they have taken the penalty, nevermind, he missed it anyway.

1:43 Jason:  Unbelievable.

1:43 Jason:  Just like that.

1:43 Jason:  Is this the late second quarter, Ken?

1:44 Ken:  Ugh. how does Cal do this every week in the easy ones? It goes from 14-0 where we’re already talking about other games and there doesn’t seem like there’s any way the game will be anything but a blowout and then both the offense gets into a funk and the defense looks like the BBDB gone bad.

1:45 [Comment from Tedfordium:] wow, and just like that….

1:45 [Comment from katster:] AH, looks like we’re masters of the UW defense.

1:45 Ken:  That’s the longest pass of Sullivan’s career.

1:49 [Comment from USAFGoldenBear:] we have a habit of giving QBs their longest or best of their career

1:50 Ken:  That’s the offense I’m used to seeing.

1:50 [Comment from katster:] wow, the announcers have no idea who Waldo is. 😛

1:50 Jason:  At least they know where he is.

1:50 Jason:  That’s an awful lot of pressure on Riley.

1:50 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Ken loves the bunch formation for a first down

1:50 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Ken, did you see that Jahvid’s td run last week was out of the bunch formation too

1:51 Ken:  Yeah, you mentioned that. No, I didn’t catch that in the audio. Maybe I’ll have to loosen my stance on it.

1:52 Jason:  Oh, Cal, what are you doing? Tepper with the personal foul.

1:52 [Comment from Tedfordium:] we need to start running the ball a little bit, I prefer pass on first, run on 2nd

1:52 Jason:  Now at 2nd and 25 it’ll be pass pass punt…

1:53 Jason:  This is a pretty seriously flag-happy crew. 2nd and 30.

1:53 [Comment from Tedfordium:] I only know how effective it can be from playing Madden

1:53 [Comment from katster:] what was that about?

1:53 Ken:  And here we go again. More sloppy play. Boy they sure know how to get in a funk even when they start fast.

1:53 Jason:  Oh boy! 3rd and 27 now.

1:54 Jason:  I’d do a short pass to best and see if he can break one. Or even a hand-off.

1:54 Jason:  Okay… so it was penalty keeper pass punt.

1:54 [Comment from Tedfordium:] what’s the rule on artificial noise from radios?

1:54 [Comment from USAFGoldenBear:] Its probably cause its the last day of the month and the crew hasnt met their quota for penalties

1:54 [Comment from Tedfordium:] anger management

1:55 Jason:  I feel like I’ve seen this game before.

1:55 Jason:  Cal scores quick, then takes a nap and allows two TDs in the 2nd quarter.

1:55 Jason:  Wait, it may have been last week!

1:55 [Comment from Tedfordium:] wow

1:55 [Comment from Tedfordium:] What a punt

1:55 [Comment from Tedfordium:] we can get the ball back now with a couple stops

1:55 Jason:  Great punt by Anger.

1:55 Ken:  Great punt. Come on safety!

1:56 Jason:  The announcers don’t understand the BCS system.

1:56 Jason:  Well, I understand it. But then, I _am_ a Phi Beta Kappa.

1:56 Jason:  

And a shout out to Philip Michaels, currently not watching this game from London, England at 8:51 p.m. (I’ll just remind you I watched a half of Cal-Arizona last year from Stockholm, Sweden.)

1:56 Jason:  I watched the half where Cal was actually in it.

1:58 [Comment from Tedfordium:] we need a stop here

1:58 [Comment from Tedfordium:] why are they showing these announcers? i would much rather watch the sidelines

1:59 Jason:  The people who direct sporting events on TV seem to think that the people watching have tuned in accidentally and aren’t actually interested in the sporting event.

1:59 [Comment from Tedfordium:] cool stadium

1:59 Jason:  Finally fielded that deep ball!

1:59 Jason:  Big INT and return by Syd.

1:59 Ken:  Great defense and return by Syd. Looks like he gets to return a punt after all.

1:59 Jason:  I mean, if you’re ASU, you keep throwing that rainbow and getting TDs…

:00 Jason: Great centerfield catch there. Wille Mays like.

2:00 [Comment from Tedfordium:] HAHAHAHA, go Syd!

2:00 [Comment from katster:] SQUID!

2:00 [Comment from Tedfordium:] syd was awesome at Grant, he’s not moving well out there though

2:00 Jason:  How Not To Run The Screen Pass.

2:00 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Sometimes I really dislike being a Cal fan. And as I type that Syd comes up big!

2:01 Jason:  When in doubt, FLIP THE BALL TO BEST.

2:01 [Comment from Tedfordium:] i’m starting to like these little shuffle passes, jahvid just burned that LB

2:02 Jason:  Letting Best get the ball in space or while he’s already moving forward: good idea.

2:03 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Go for it!

2:03 Jason:  Lots of ASU pressure there. Oh boy, now a kick.

2:03 Jason:  Wince.

2:03 Jason:  Closes eyes.

2:03 Jason:  GOOD!

2:04 [Comment from Tedfordium:] nice

2:04 Ken:  You must have really closed your eyes, because you didn’t see that hold if you say “good”

2:04 Jason:  Hey, it counts.

2:04 Jason:  Kicks are better if you close your eyes, Ken.

2:05 Ken:  Alright happy, nice and easy. Don’t go too prevent with 1 minute left.

2:05 [Comment from katster:] and there’s three for us.

2:05 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Whew

2:06 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Even money asu comes away with a fg here.

2:06 [Comment from USAFGoldenBear:] I’m still impressed with riley’s rothlesburger(sp?) like escaping to complete the pass even though it wasnt enough for a first

2:07 [Comment from Tedfordium:] haha, i love that he just talked about neuheisel as a holder

2:08 [Comment from USAFGoldenBear:] LACES OUT NEUHEISEL

2:10 [Comment from Tedfordium:] after telling my girlfriend about Neuheisel at washington and colorado she now refers to him as NeuWeisel

2:11 Jason:  Guh. Another personal foul, but at this point it’s take a knee territory.

2:11 Ken:  Tedford needs to do something to get this team back on track at halftime. They’re playing a deadly combination of stupid and sloppy.

2:12 Ken:  And it’s not about play calling or schemes or anything like that. It’s about team effort and emotion.

2:12 Jason:  It’s gonna be 17-14 Cal at the half. And I’m gonna step a way for a moment, so if your comments don’t appear immediately, I’ll catch up in a bit.

2:32 Jason:  So at halftime it’s 17-14 Cal and it’s really anyone’s game. A great start for Cal followed by two quick second-quarter TDs by ASU.

2:34 Ken:  OK, we’re back in business. Some halftime notes:-Bears had 20 minutes time of possession to ASU’s 10. They also had 42 plays to ASU’s 27. Those factors will wear on the ASU defense later.-ASU only has 16 rushing yards-Cal was 3 of 4 in the redzone

2:35 Ken:  I don’t get the switch from Tavecchio to D’Amato on kickoffs. Tavecchio was doing great. Injury perhaps?

2:36 Ken:  I’d get it on the field goals, but not the kickoffs.

2:37 Jason:  Alu’alu pressure twice in a row… nice

2:37 Jason:  Finally some QB pressure.

2:37 [Comment from katster:] Ken: it did look like Tavecchio was the guy that stopped the ASU player on that last kickoff.

2:38 Jason:  And more pressure. Three plays in a row where Sullivan was chased. Good.

2:39 Ken:  Well, I just scanned the sideline and Tavecchio’s there in his pads walking around without any sign of injury. But I was thinking the same thing about that last kickoff.

2:39 [Comment from katster:] err, in the first half.

2:40 Jason:  If Best doesn’t make the play fake I think he gets the first down.

2:40 Jason:  oh, man, what a drop. Tucker had it on his hands.

2:41 Jason:  Terrible.

2:41 [Comment from katster:] Tucker…*sigh*

2:41 Ken:  OMG. What is going on. That was a first down, a touchdown and unbelievable. Those perfectly thrown balls can be touch to catch.

2:41 [Comment from Tedfordium:] way to keep 7 off the board tucker….

2:42 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Wow. That was bad.

2:42 [Comment from Tedfordium:] if that’s the worst play we make in this game, we’re in a good situation

2:42 Ken:  Sorry Tedfordium, that 80 yard TD given up was already a worse play.

2:42 Jason:  And I’ll second guess it from the other side. It was 3rd and 4. Perhaps getting the first down with something short would be the higher-percentage call there.

2:43 Jason:  But hey, Riley made the tough pass.

2:44 [Comment from Tedfordium:] I like the play call, you’ve just got to execute

2:44 Ken:  I don’t think that was Riley’s first read. There was probably something higher percentage that ASU took away by bringing the safety and leaving Tucker one-on-one with the corner.

2:44 Jason:  You have to take some shots downfield, it’s true. And hey, the play was there.

2:44 [Comment from Tedfordium:] one of tedford’s criticisms is that he gets too conservative with the lead, i like that he’s doing what worked in the first half

2:45 [Comment from Tedfordium:] we haven’t been able to run the ball very well today either

2:45 Ken:  I agree Tedfordium, It was a good call, just bad execution.

2:45 Jason:  Well, there’s a space between a deep ball and a handoff.

2:45 Jason:  But of course, everyone executed right except Tucker.

2:46 Ken:  WOW! What an interception. You’ll see that on ESPN’s top 10 plays.

2:46 Jason:  Wow, bad play turned good play turned possibly great play. Though I think maybe #9 was out of bounds.

2:47 Jason:  Not that it matters now!

2:48 Jason:  Crappy block there, Jahvid.

2:49 Jason:  Again, not thrilled with the deep pass on 2nd and 5, but good pass across the middle to move the chains.

2:49 Jason:  Roll on you Bears. 🙂

2:49 Jason:  ABC completely missed that play. What happened, Ken?

2:50 Ken:  Hard to tell. Variant of the fumble-rooskie it seems.

2:50 Ken:  We were all confused too.

2:50 Jason:  Yeah, even on replay it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Sofele picked it up to the left, I guess.

2:51 Jason:  Well, this drive has fallen apart.

2:52 [Comment from Joshiemac:] You cannot allow a delay there. Come on Riley.

2:52 Jason:  FG Good! Shocking again. 51 yards from Tavecchio.

2:52 [Comment from katster:] Wait, what, we made a 51 yard field goal?

2:53 Ken:  Maybe we need to do things like that more often, you know, purposely push the ball back 10 yards so that we stretch Tavecchio. These easy 35 yarders just don’t interest him.

2:53 benmalone1908: Kevin Riley is obviously Nate Longshore for Halloween this year. #calfb

2:54 Ken:  I don’ t know that Ben’s at all right, but it’s still funny.

2:56 Jason:  I’m pulling in some selected Twitter items about Cal Football.

2:56 Jason:  Just in case you were wondering.

2:56 [Comment from katster:] i see you guys have tweets being picked up. %)

:01 [Comment from katster:] Heh, you know, Cattouse is pretty good with the timing moves. See the hit he put on Decker in the MN game and that one.

3:01 [Comment from Joshiemac:] And here I thought cal was sloppy.

3:01 benmalone1908: I wonder if Dennis Erickson has a bonus clause in his contract for personal fouls by the Sun Devils. #calfb

3:02 [Comment from katster:] okay, that was funny. %)

3:03 Jason:  Deep ball on first and 10, that one I can get behind every now and then.

3:03 Ken:  Is it wounded duck hunting season already?

3:04 Jason:  I think these officials are the ones getting paid by the flag.

3:05 Ken:  Yeah, either this is the sloppiest game in history or the Pac-10 has a new bonus program for the refs.

3:05 Jason:  That one was a live duck, Ken.

3:05 Ken:  Although maybe it’s the opposite after that suspension for not calling the facemask in the Beaver-Trojan game.

3:05 Jason:  Oh man, Riley.

3:06 Jason:  Thought he was Joe Montana there.

3:07 Jason:  But Dwight Clark wasn’t anywhere to be found.

3:08 Jason:  And all of a sudden the ASU offense is perked up again.

3:09 Ken:  Yeah, this 5 yards a run thing is troubling.

3:09 Jason:  I am getting a bad feeling. Missed opportunities and now some porous defense.

3:09 Jason:  Along with that one running play where Cal just couldn’t stop the guy.

3:10 Jason:  Note: If you want to praise Dennis Erickson, whatever you do, don’t mention the NFL.

3:10 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Is it just me or is this one of the weakest offensive lines of the tedford era?

3:11 Ken:  Last year was probably worse overall Joshiemac.

3:12 Jason:  Another GREAT hit to stop the catch by Cattouse.

3:12 Jason:  By the way, in Corvallis, it’s OSU 16, UCLA 3 toward the end of the third quarter.

3:13 Jason:  Ken, we mentioned in a podcast recently about how Notre Dame is scheduling largely home games these days. It turns out one of the reasons is, they have now added “home” games that are not at home. Like tonight against WSU, in San Antonio.

3:15 Ken:  Yeah, it’s more like a tour of where there are lots of Catholics even when there’s no team to play there.

3:15 Ken:  So it’s a virtual home game

3:16 Jason:  Let’s see them play in Rome.

3:16 Ken:  I’d go.

3:17 Jason:  More ineptitude from the offense. Is it big plays or nothing today?

3:17 Ken:  And the battle of the punters continues.

3:17 Jason:  I really don’t like punting the ball away in the 4th quarter with a six-point lead.

3:18 [Comment from katster:] Anger outkicked the coverage there?

3:18 Ken:  The coverage got hung up. I didn’t see why, but they were effectively blocked.

3:21 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Not feeling good at all.

3:21 Jason:  Here goes the lead.

3:21 [Comment from katster:] no, not really.

3:22 Ken:  Key 3rd and 3.

3:23 Jason:  We’ve got them right where they want us to have them.

3:23 Jason:  Free first down from the flag-happy refs.

3:23 Ken:  That’s a bogus penalty.

3:23 Ken:  They both have a right to run to the ball.

3:24 Jason:  Tummy rumblings.

3:24 Ken:  Key 3rd and 2.

3:25 Jason:  SQUADHIT

3:25 Jason:  SQUADHIT

3:25 Ken:  That was NOT the key.

3:25 Jason:  There’s the Squad Hit of old.

3:25 Jason:  Touchdown Sparky. 21-20 ASU, first lead of the game at 10:21 to play.

3:26 Jason:  Yuck.

3:26 [Comment from katster:] we’re capable of creating pressure with our front seven? What planet are you on? And there goes the lead.

3:26 Ken:  Well, here’s the good news: 10:21 left.

3:26 Ken:  But this is sure feeling a lot like 2007 where their run game took over the 2nd half and the Cal offense completely sputtered.

3:27 Ken:  This is a key drive, even if not for a score.

3:27 Ken:  This defense needs a rest and a quick 3 and out isn’t going to cut it.

3:28 [Comment from katster:] here, have some nice whale pictures to cheer yourself up.

3:28 Ken:  It’s just ridiculous that the offense that moved the ball SO easily in the 1st quarter is SO impotent since then.

3:29

3:29 

3:29 Jason:  Virtual bag head.

3:31 Ken:  Just killing themselves with penalties. I”m not sure how much of it is the refs and how much is the players, but it’s not just the refs. Lots of sloppy play.

3:32 Jason:  Nice run by Vereen. And complete rip-off job by refs.

3:32 Jason:  I’m gonna say it, this is a ridiculously officiated game. On all sides.

3:32 Jason:  Let the guys play.

3:32 Jason:  200 yards of penalties.

3:33 Jason:  Key 3rd and 8, Ken. 🙂

3:34 Ken:  HA! Maybe you need to say it from now on. It’s not working for me.

3:34 Jason:  ROLL ON YOU BEARS. Clutch throw and catch by Miller, then good job making sure they didn’t hold him up and strip him.

3:34 [Comment from katster:] nice play by MILLER.

3:35 Jason:  What a great catch. How’d Best get that foot in?

3:35 Jason:  Still worried about terrible protection from the O-Line.

3:35 Ken:  OK Jason, you’re on.

3:35 Jason:  Key 3rd and short.

3:35 Jason:  So key, Riley’s going to take a time out.

3:35 Ken:  Wow, even Riley heard you on that one!

3:38 Jason:  Key 3rd and 2, Ken.

3:39 Jason:  Once again, some lame blocking back there.

3:39 Ken:  Hmmm… that didn’t work either. Maybe it’s the team?

3:39 Jason:  Yeah, I think perhaps it is.

3:39 [Comment from katster:] yeah, not so much.

3:39 Jason:  No, Giorgio.

3:39 [Comment from katster:] #&(*@&#@(&$@(*&$(@*&(*$#&@(*&#(@&$(*@$##@(*&

3:39 Ken:  Ugh… that might just have seal the game.

3:39 Jason:  Way to go by the ABC cameramen, too, who completely missed the ball on the FG attempt.

3:40 Ken:  OK, headed to the field. Still 5:46 left. Have hope!

3:40 Jason:  Yeah, this is probably a loss now.

3:40 Jason:  Thanks, Ken.

3:40 [Comment from Tedfordium:] Still plenty of time Jason

3:41 Jason:  It just feels like a loss. Not saying it is, but: defense not defending, offense not offending…

3:41 Jason:  A shame, given how promising that first quarter was.

3:42 Jason:  First play of ASU drive: 6 yards. 5:20 to go.

3:43 Jason:  Second play of ASU drive: 1-yard rush. 4:20 to go.

3:43 Jason:  Key 3rd and 3 here. 🙂

3:43 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Hey, here’s an idea: RECRUIT A KICKER

3:43 [Comment from rollonubears:] this team is a bunch of headcases.

3:43 Jason:  Terrible spot.

3:44 Jason:  Dear announcers, “burn” is not a suitable synonym for “use” when it comes to time outs.

3:44 Jason:  Burning implies wasting.

3:44 Jason:  Like burning money.

3:46 Jason:  Oh boy, another penalty!

3:46 [Comment from katster:] grr, bears.

3:46 Jason:  3:16 left to go.

3:47 Jason:  Basically, if Cal can drive down and score, the Bears win.

3:47 Jason:  Not the worst scenario in the world, but…

3:47 Jason:  Great over the middle pass to Miller.

3:47 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Come on bears!

3:47 Jason:  First close game Cal has played all year, by the way!

3:48 Jason:  Nice pass to Tucker near the first down.

3:49 Jason:  Facemask on Jones downfield!

3:50 Jason:  238 yards in total penalties in this game.

3:50 Jason:  Quick first-down pass to Marvin Jones to get it right back!

3:50 Jason:  2:08 left.

3:50 Jason:  First down on the next play to Lagemann! 1:58 left. They’re at the 20.

3:50 Jason:  Don’t count on the field goal here, folks.

3:51 Jason:  PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE FIELD GOAL FOR GRANTED.

3:51 Jason:  First down again, inside the 10! Tucker. This is crazy.

3:51 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Please go for the end zone.

3:51 fantomplanet: What the duce? This Pac-10 officiating crew is horrible! #calfb

3:52 Jason:  At this point they are so close that I’m okay with the running.

3:52 Jason:  With Best and Vereen you are going for the end zone with handoffs.

3:52 Jason:  That was a terrible, terrible call.

3:52 Jason:  Vereen with a pass? That stops the clock and possibly is intercepted?

3:53 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Ok, maybe trying for a fg is the right move 🙂

3:53 [Comment from katster:] Okay, here it goes.

3:53 Jason:  I don’t agree with the trick pass in that situation. I will say this: you can’t call that playcalling conservative.

3:53 Jason:  That was the opposite. Reckless. Would have been awesome if Vereen could throw.

3:53 Jason:  The receiver was open, briefly, on a harder-thrown ball.

3:54 Jason:  Now the entire game is on the shoulders of Giorgio Tavecchio.

3:54 Jason:  I wouldn’t call my feelings here as confident.

3:54 Jason:  But… it’s good!

3:54 Jason:  I was waiting for the block there.

3:54 Jason:  Now, 21 seconds left and ASU with a timeout left, all because of that 2nd down pass that should have just been another run.

3:55 Jason:  If it had been a run, at worst it would be 21 seconds with no ASU timeouts.

3:55 [Comment from katster:] IT’S GOOD!

3:55 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Ok, we need a good ko here.

3:55 [Comment from katster:] c’mon bears. c’mon bears.

3:55 Jason:  Oh, god, we have to rely on a kickoff?

3:56 Jason:  So, here it is. The kickoff. Squib kick. They’ll get it at the 33 with 16 seconds left.

3:56 [Comment from katster:] so far, so good.

3:56 Jason:  Defense, come on, time to come through.

3:57 Jason:  Complete for ASU to the 42 yard line

3:57 Jason:  5 seconds left

3:57 Jason:  Basically nothing to do but try a 60 yard FG or chuck it into the end zone and hope for a miracle or a… penalty

3:57 Jason:  I’d play for the penalty

3:57 Jason:  SACK, but flag down

3:57 Jason:  of course

3:57 Jason:  Clock at :00

3:57 Jason:  Probably holding.

3:58 [Comment from katster:] please bears

3:58 [Comment from katster:] c’mon.

3:58 [Comment from katster:] …

3:58 Jason:  HOLDING AND INTENTIONAL GROUNDING.

3:58 Jason:  Cannon: BOOM

3:58 [Comment from katster:] WE WIN WE WIN WE WIN

3:58 Jason:  Cal 23, ASU 21.

3:58 Jason:  That’s one of those games where you say, some games you don’t play well… if you can still win them, that’s a great thing.

3:59 Jason:  If I were an ASU fan I’d be scratching my head about how they allowed Cal’s offense to march down the field on that last drive after keeping them quiet most of the day

3:59 Jason:  But: full credit to Riley for making a bunch of good throws on a must-win drive.

3:59 Jason:  Tedfordium, I bow to the master optimist 🙂

3:59 [Comment from Joshiemac:] Yes! Oh wow. I lost 2 years off my life with this game

3:59 [Comment from katster:] Tavecchio made the field goal, we didn’t eff up the kickoff, and we sacked the QB when we needed it.

3:59 [Comment from Joshiemac:] 6-2.

4:00 Jason:  I’ll take it!

4:00 [Comment from katster:] we’re bowl eligible.

4:02 [Comment from katster:] I’m just so happy.

4:03 Jason:  Thanks to everyone for tuning in.