Cam Inman
Cal coach Jeff Tedford and his 12th-ranked Bears claim tonight's season opener is about "redemption" rather than "revenge." They plagiarized that message from two years ago, when Cal, also ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press' preseason poll, opened with a home win over Tennessee. That's enough talk about what later evolved into Cal's 2007 Great Depression. A new season begins tonight with various rallying cries: Redemption. Revenge. Regurgitation (see: Jahvid Best, 2008 loss at Maryland).
Cal cannot afford a hiccup in its debut against the Terps, who won 35-27 in last season's early-kickoff, Bloody Mary-land game. Winning the rematch will set the tone for Cal's very promising season. Rumor has it the tree-sitters even returned and are perched atop a giant replica of this season's schedule, refusing to come down until the Bears reach the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
Beating Maryland is a vital first step. Ignoring a 21-point spread (in Cal's generous favor) is a must. This starts within the Bears' locker room, and it can end up with a coast-to-coast message. Cal already has nationwide notoriety because of Best's Heisman-caliber presence. The underlying element, however, is the program Tedford has built as he enters his eighth season. He is not under attack by the NCAA or boosters like Michigan's Rich Rodriguez, Notre Dame's Charlie Weis or Al Davis' good buddy Lane Kiffin at
the University of Tennessee.
Tedford is not the Bay Area coach washing up in a new, $50,000 personal bathroom. He does not have to worry about his running back being diabolical enough to throw a postgame punch (see: Oregon's LeGarrette Blount's appalling act Thursday). Tedford did not have to debate whether his quarterback should be (a) one with a cracked fibula, (b) a true freshman, or, (c) Will Ferrell. No, all is calm at the Tedford Tea Party.
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