BearTalk

Here are some leftover quotes from assorted interviews this week:

CAL COACH JEFF TEDFORD:

On why strange things happen in rivalry games

I think it’s pretty typical when you have your rivalry game that there is so much anticipation, so much emotion involved. It really takes a lot of focus. Anything can happen. Stanford is a great football team and we have a strong football team. It’s going to be a great contest. We’re really looking forward to the competition.

 

On whether it’s possible to be too excited for the game

You really have to make sure you contain your emotions. You want to be fire dup and you want to be ready to go. But it all comes down to execution between the lines. You have to play within yourself and you have to play smart.

 

On whether last year’s Big Game win was sweeter because they had lost it the year before

The year we lost The Axe, that kind of left a pit in your stomach. So we had a burning desire to get the Axe back. Anytime you win, it’s good for the seniors. There’s just a lot of excitement around this game.

 

On putting a complete game together

It would be nice. That’s one of the things you always strive for, to make sure that all three phases of the game are played efficiently. There have been games where I don’t know that we’ve put it all together. I think we’re going to need to put it all together to be successful against Stanford.

 

On contending with Stanford’s offensive front

You just have to really try to hold point. You can’t get knocked off the ball. Fill all your gaps and make sure that you play fundamental football. It’s football. But they are big and physical and athletic and they come off the ball. If they create a seam, Gerhart is able to go through it and he runs through tackles.

 

On the possibility of Cal playing with four down linemen to counteract Stanford’s size up front

I’m sure we’ll have different personnel groups. Last week, I thought our guys played physical up front. We’re going to have to play that way this week for sure.

 

On whether it’s important to understand the history of the Big Game rivalry

I think it’s important. It’s a great rivalry. It’s a great tradition. Anytime you’re affiliated with it, you absolutely want to know what it’s all about. Each year, you try to pick something a little bit new, but in the eighth year, it might be harder to find something new. But we’ll definitely talk about it.

 

On the similarities between the two programs

One thing from the outside looking in on the Stanford program what I kind of see is he has them believing that they can win. They work hard. They’re a physical football team. They’re a blue collar football team. That’s what we’ve always been. When we first got here, that’s what we tried to make sure that we conveyed to our players. My perception is that’s how they are.

 

 

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR BOB GREGORY:

On new starting cornerback Bryant Nnabufie

He did a good job. He had his best game since he’s been here. He played the ball well. He supported the run. He executed his technique well. He had a good day. He played with energy. He did a nice job. He deserved the start, and he deserves to start again.

 

On how Nnabufie has improved

Energy is a big thing. There wasn’t always that energy that you like to have. He’s been practicing much harder and been playing much harder. That helps you make plays and be in the right position and execute your technique and all that.

 

On trying to stop Stanford’s Toby Gerhart

I don’t know that you can stop him. I think you just have to try to slow him down a little bit. If you can do that, maybe you have a chance. He’s very good and very physical. Right now, they’re rolling. They’re the best team in the conference right now.

 

On tackling Gerhart

You have to try to tackle him low and hold on, bring him to the ground and get a whole bunch of guys around him. He’s good. He’s the real deal.

 

On what makes Gerhart unique

He’s like a big old thoroughbred horse. He’s different because he’s so big and strong. He’s different than the other guys we’ve seen.

 

On gaining confidence from the Arizona game

Anytime you play a good game and you get a little confidence, it helps. But this is a different offense. You have to kind of turn the dial a little bit. We have to put our foot in the ground and stop the run. But anytime you feel like you’re playing well and you have confidence, it’s going to help you.

 

On how the defense has played this season

I think we’ve had moments. I think we played a little bit better early in the season but I don’t know if our opponents earlier in the season were as good as Arizona. I feel good about how those guys played. Hopefully, it will carry over to this week.

 

On why the defense suddenly played so much better last weekend

It’s working with young guys. I’m not sure. I wish I could bottle it and figure it out every week, that’s for sure. You’re always still growing, trying to find that right mix and all that kind of stuff. For whatever reason, it clicked on Saturday and hopefully it will keep clicking.

 

 

RUNNING BACK SHANE VEREEN:

On starting the Big Game

I guess it adds a little bit to it but I’m going into this game the same way I’m going into this game. The Big Game is big in itself whether you’re the starter or third string.

 

On what he remembers from the 2007 loss

I just remember being on the field and all their fans storming the field and yelling and going crazy. In a competitive sports like football, that’s the worst feeling you can have.

 

On the offense may needing to score a lot of points to win

I have complete confidence in our offense. If we need to score 40, we have confidence in ourselves that we can put that many points on the board. Their offense is rolling. You can’t take any credit away from them. They’re playing great right now. Going into the game, I’m sure we all have it in the back of our minds that we have to put up as many points as possible. Whatever they bring, we have to bring it back and match them score for score.