Eastern Washington

Well, clearly the Bears should dominate Eastern Washington. But this is exactly the kind of game that can bite them in the ass. This is like a preseason game - you need to work on getting people involved, getting Mansion some reps, getting the second and third string guys some time. But for Eastern Washington, this is their Super Bowl. They are fired up and ready to go.

It just happened that today I was at the Concord Hilton at an event, when the Eastern Washington team showed up. I was planning on making a few phone calls tonight to get them ready for the game - at 4:00 am. But the I thought, 1) I do not want to be up at 4:00 AM, and 2) if the Bears can't handle them, they deserve to lose. But I have to say that those guys seemed fired up - there were Beat Cal banners, and guys high-fiving everyone. I was wearing my Cal tie, of course, the day before game day, so I did not stop to say hello. When they get out there tomorrow at game time, there will probably be only about 50K fans, and as is par for the course when playing a lesser team, not as vocal as, for example, when you are playing USC, or Tennessee. There can be an away team advantage for a team like EW, since they will be jacked to play against the biggest crown of their season. Just like the Cal players used to get jacked in JT first years to go and play Washington, or Arizona State, or even SC or UCLA. And when the crowd is not in it, and you are the home team, it seems like there is no life in the place, and you are a little disappointed.

That being said, the SEC teams load up on these type of games each year, only to run up the score. And they do it to "embrace their expectations." Since that is the Bears motto this year, we need to do the same, and keep the march up the rankings, by winning by 30 or so.

As far as it goes, it seems like this could be an interesting year for the BCS. Lots of folks are talking about Cal as a serious contendor for the National Championship, and I think that is legitimate. But think about it - Cal could be undefeated. I think there are a number of other teams who could be undefeated as well in the SEC and the Big 12. THis could be the year with more than two or even three undefeated teams. Boise, Utah or BYU, etc can be thrown into the mix. Even Notre Dame. I think that this is the year when there will be a bunch of people crying out for a playoff. WHich I think sucks for all of the reasons why some of the more sane college football people think playoffs suck.

As it is, though, this could shape up to be an interesting season for the Bears. Kevin Riley is getting pub on Sports Illustrated for making a comeback. Best is everywhere. The Bears are really national names, with lots of national figures listing them in the top 6 or 7 teams of the country. If the Bears go through USC undefeated, then there will be a huge amount of craziness over this year. We will probably be, by that time, a top three team.

That being said - it is possible that UCLA could come into that game in LA also undefeated. I doubt it - they have to play Tennessee tomorrow, and I have them picked to lose big, a la Cal 2006. But supposing miracles do happen. Can you imagine the hype for that game? i surely would have to fly down for that one. UCLA has to get through Oregon and Tennessee, both of which are kinda like wounded giants. But they could hit at the right time and come into that game on a roll. Stranger things have happened for the baby bears.

I know, I know - stop worrying about the future, and focus on this game. But Eastern Washington? Really?

GO BEARS!!