BearTalk

Here’s a sampling of what was said at Sunday’s press conference and teleconference for the Poinsettia Bowl:

COACH JEFF TEDFORD

 On the matchup with Utah

We have a great deal of respect for Utah. They’re one of the finest teams in the country.

On Andy Ludwig’s history with Utah

Obviously, Andy is real familiar with it. He spent some quality time there. I know he has a great deal of respect for their program. We’ll definitely rely on Andy’s background a little bit.

On how Ludwig can help prepare for Utah’s defense

We really haven’t talked about it. Usually, there are situations like that may be familiar. We will be doing that in the near future, for sure.

 LEFT TACKLE MIKE TEPPER

 Reaction to the bowl announcement

The guys are excited. Going to a bowl is an amazing feeling, first. And second going to San Diego, it’s an awesome place. This is my third time going to San Diego in general. Being that it’s my third time, I’m sure we’ll make the most of it.

 On the mood of the team

The mood is kind of like the weather – very gloomy, the sun’s coming out a little, raining a little, couple of tears here and there. I got a little sick to my stomach yesterday. They were a good team, but we shot ourselves in the foot a lot of times. I had a couple of mistakes. Everyone took their turn. It was kind of disappointing – I thought that was behind us, in the first half of the season. And it came forth again, so we have to keep working.

 On getting another chance to play in a bowl game

I’m glad we have one more game. I remember in ’04 when we lost to Texas Tech, that offseason was one of the worst offseasons. It hangs on you pretty heavily, so being able to play one more game is definitely an amazing feeling

On not playing in a higher-profile bowl game against a higher profile opponent like Oklahoma

I don’t think the players look at it as a lower profile bowl. We look at it as a pretty cool location, an opportunity to play another game and make the most of it. I think our administrators and coaches worry about the prestige more than we do. Playing another game means more fun for us.

I would have loved to play Oklahoma – I’ve never played a Nebraska, Texas, Florida or that kind of team in my career here. I would have loved to do that, but we didn’t. But I’ve never had the opportunity to play a team like Utah, either. It’s cool. Nonconference games are a lot of fun.

 On what he knows about Utah

I don’t know anything about them. Red and white uniforms, they’re from the state of Utah, Ludwig came from there. I haven’t done any background.

RUNNING BACK SHANE VEREEN

 On a chance to play another game

We’re definitely fortunate to be going to a bowl game and have another chance to end our season on a good note, not with a sour taste in our mouth. It would have been a frustrating way to end the season. That was a frustrating game. It was very unfortunate we didn’t execute the way we wanted. But that game is behind us. We’re done with that. Now we have to concentrate on the bowl game coming up. Hopefully we get to end the season on a better note.

 On whether the bowl game is kind of like the beginning to next season

It’ll be the end of one season but the start of another season – kind of like last year, when we had a big win against Miami. That kind of boosted everyone’s morale in the offseason.

 On what he knows about Utah

Other than the fact Coach Ludwig was there last year, I really don’t know too much about them. I saw some of their game against Oregon, but I wasn’t watching them, I was watching Oregon. So I wasn’t really paying too much attention to Utah

 UTAH COACH KYLE WHITTINGHAM

 On the Andy Ludwig effect

It’s an interesting dynamic for the game, for sure. I think it probably works both ways. He knows our defensive schemes inside and out. Obviously, we’re very well-versed in his offense. That’s kind of the sidebar to the game. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 On the difference between Ludwig at Cal and Ludwig at Utah

I know the basic philosophy of what Coach Ludwig does on offense is very similar to what Coach Tedford was doing prior to him. They are both from the same school.

 On his reaction to Cal’s up-and-down season

Some of the scores are a little bit up and down. But I know they’ve had some quality wins this year and they’re explosive at times on offense.

 On Oregon, the teams’ common opponent

We went up there and lost a tough ballgame by a touchdown. I know Cal didn’t fare very well up there. But they are one of the upper tier Pac-10 teams and you can always count on those guys to have athleticsim. If you win eight ballgames with a Pac-10 schedule, you have to have some quality players.

 On playing a team from a BCS conference

We look at it as another challenge. WE don’t shy away from it. We’re always looking for the chance to play with the higher-profile teams and Cal-Berkley is certainly one of those teams.