October 07, 2005
Shutout (Cal 28, Arizona 0)
I’ve been busy this week, and I’m finding it hard to find a lot to say about Saturday’s 28-0 Cal victory over Arizona.
It was a beautiful sunny day at Memorial Stadium, and for the first time this year I didn’t get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I watched Cal play. The team actually felt pretty good to me, and shutting out a Pac-10 opponent is a pretty impressive accomplishment.
The running game was unstoppable, and Ayoob’s throws are getting better, although he still horribly missed several open receivers on deep passes. Ayoob’s a heck of a scrambler, though. I think that if Cal’s going to be a success this year — one win away from bowl eligibility, kids! — it’s going to be on the ground.
All year I’ve thought that the UCLA game would be a test, but now I’m not so sure. UCLA almost lost to terrible, terrible Washington. Then again, USC almost lost to Stanford last year, so aberrations can happen. UCLA will be the toughest test yet for Cal, and if Cal loses it I think we’ll have a pretty good idea of where this team is headed. If Cal wins, we really will have no idea until the two November games against Oregon and USC.
After all those years of losing and last year’s BCS screwing, I think Cal fans are shell-shocked. The team is 5-0 and yet we’re all a bit numb. I have a sneaking suspicion that this team is 5-0 sheerly out of Tedford’s skill as a coach (and Gregory’s skill, too) — but now the new players have picked up a lot of experience, so perhaps the team is going to transform.
In this space I usually complain about officiating, and so I will again. The Cal-Arizona game feature more horrid officiating on both sides of the ball, including an Arizona reception right in front of us, at the 40-yard-line, that was ruled incomplete. Even the highly partisan fans behind me (hi Ogar family!) howled at the call. Can something be done? The Pac-10 needs to try.
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Comments
Are they bowl eligible with one more win? I thought the Sacramento State game didn't count, under the weird calculus used by the men in the garrish sports coats.
Actually, as of the 2005 season, one win against a I-AA opponent can count toward bowl eligibility. (In past years it was one win in a four year period, but the NCAA changed this rule last year.)
Well, no wonder the Stanford Cardinal loaded up on an easy opponent like UC Dav...
Oh.
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