Saturday, September 09, 2006

Oakland Tribune: Cal can't afford to lose today

Column by Carl Steward

- OK, we'll give Cal a mulligan on that first one. But that makes today's  4 p.m. home opener against Minnesota all the more crucial. It's no walkover, either: The Golden Gophers have won 17 straight regular-season non-conference games, the best Tennessee hangover cure that can be pinned on a bulletin board.

- Keys to victory: Run it, run it, then run it again. If Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett combine for 150 yards rushing, Cal restores at least some of its credibility.

- He didn't produce any points — largely because of dropped balls — but Nate Longshore showed enough poise against Tennessee to indicate he's the right man to start at QB for Cal, even though Old Blues are already clamoring for Steve Levy. If Longshore gets it done, let's hope the controversy ends.

- No. 22: At least at this stage of the season, that's a ranking that sounds a lot more accurate for Cal.

- Forgotten in the somber aftermath: Cal's great fan turnout in Knoxville, replete with the takeover of Calhoun's, a large and popular nightspot on the Tennessee River, the night before the game. A great atmosphere, and let's hope the opening whipping hasn't subdued that fan energy and excitement today.

- Perspective Dept.: A Cal game falling on the week of 9/11 will always usher up thoughts and memories of former Golden Bears football and baseball player Brent Woodall, who died in the World Trade Center tragedy five years ago helping others out of the South Tower, where the class of 1993 grad worked as a stock trader.

 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Well, they won. 42-17. THRILLED FOR MY HUSBAND. He is in Iraq, and he loves Cal. I guess most everyone that graduates from Berkeley does. Go Bears!