Idiots Write About Sports

Another week, another 42-17 game. No, wait, 16! Damn that inconsistent Portland State kicker!

This was a beautiful day, sunny with clear skies. The game was never really in doubt, even when Portland State picked off a pass early and ended up inside the 10. Curious play-calling at that point for a I-AA team known for their passing: run up the middle, run up the middle, run up the middle, field goal.

In our Undisclosed Location behind the visitor’s bench, we got to see just how much smaller most of the Portland State players were than your run of the mill Pac-10 player. It’s noticeable. And of course, that showed up on the field, especially when Cal rapidly sent out both the first-string and second-string Portland State QBs with injuries. (At one point Portland State moved their third QB to wideout and put wideout Tremayne Kirkland back at QB, and ran the option. It was actually pretty cool — and Kirkland ended up tossing a touchdown pass on a trick play later.)

It was fun going to the game with a Portland State alum, the gentlemanly Curt Poff, and his lovely wife Ann. Curt seemed resigned to the outcome and several times repeated a version of the old Cal refrain: Maintain dignity, keep it close.

As for the Bears, who can say? They played listlessly in the second half, but the outcome was already taken care of and many of the starters had been subbed out. Longshore looked okay. Marcus O’Keith, in a performance similar to what he did against Washington last year, showed that he’s easily the best third-string running back in the nation. And of course, Lynch’s 71-yard touchdown run might as well have had a big, neon sign blinking HIGHLIGHT REEL on it. He just refuses to go down, and against Portland State’s overmatched defense, he was able to kick outside and run forever.

Next week, perhaps, we’ll meet a team that’s somewhere around Cal’s level. Above or below, who can say? But based on these three games I’m pretty sure we can’t tell just how good Cal really is.

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