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Football: Sunday night update
By Jonathan Okanes
Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 8:06 pm in Football, Mid-week.
By the time I arrived in San Diego today, the Bears had already taken their team trip to the San Diego Zoo. Players and coaches weren’t required to attend, but by all accounts it was a well-attended event. Linebacker Mike Mohamed, who grew up two hours in Brawley, has been to the zoo before but still said he “had a blast.” Wide receiver Jeremy Ross said he attended, but fellow receiver Marvin Jones caught up on some sleep instead. Jeff Tedford also passed. “You’ve seen one elephant, you’ve seen them all,” he joked.
The Bears then made the short drive out to the University of San Diego for practice. As is the rule in San Diego, the weather cooperated. It was a warm evening for this time of year.
USD has natural grass, which is helping the Bears prepare for Wednesday’s Poinsettia Bowl because that will be on natural grass as well at Qualcomm Stadium. The Bears actually practiced slightly earlier in the day then originally scheduled because the field becomes slicker when nightfall comes. “A lot of guys were slipping yesterday,” Tedford said. “But it’s been good to be on grass to simulate the surface we’re going to play on Wednesday.”
I reported in a post earlier that left guard Matt Summers-Gavin has been ruled out for Wednesday. Cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson rested his balky ankle today, but Tedford said Thompson will still play.
One topic of conversation today was the last time Cal faced Utah. It came in September, 2003. One thing I didn’t realize is that was the first game for Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith. I remember Rodgers replacing Reggie Robertson, but I didn’t realize Smith also made his first career start in that game because No. 1 quarterback Brett Elliott suffered a broken wrist a week earlier. Of course, the two quarterbacks have been forever linked since the NFL draft.
The Bears will practice in the late morning Monday and then attend a function at a local speedway where players and coaches will take part in go-kart races. Later tomorrow night, bands from both schools will march through the gaslamp district of downtown and then have a “Battle of the Bands.”
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December 20th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Great update JO, I’m sure it’s a real chore to have to
work in beautiful San Diego.
December 20th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Why have Cal’s results been so unpredictable? Nobody seems to have a magic answer. Tedford says the Bears simply ran into some hot opponents that out-executed them in their four losses. But for a team that began the season ranked 12th in the nation and was regarded as a Pac-10 contender, the idea that they could be outplayed so badly in some games is simply hard for some to accept.
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Bingo!!!!! Daddy said the same thing.
December 20th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Hey Moron, word is that nut jobs get to the Nut Bowl free this year. Go support your team baby!
p.s. Joe McKnight, your Land Rover is parked in a tow-away zone…RUN before they catch you!
December 20th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
JO probably wishes that we ended up in the Hawaii bowl.
December 20th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Moren actually makes a good point, since the United States China Trojans are obviously not very good anymore. Cal certainly should have beat them as soundly in football as we do in most other sports, not to mention academics.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:43 am
I just got my tickets. If anyone wants to stop by and chat in person, view section 35. Just call out for covinared. Let’s hope the good Bears show up! I believe they will. I am most concerned about the loss of MSG.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Since I know how infatuated this board is with all things USC, I thought I would beat you to the punch and post first. It won’t be long before some envious fan of a wannabe program will post this material. Have at it and enjoy vicariously what you cannot accomplish on the field against us.
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Tight end Anthony McCoy, offensive tackle Tyron Smith and defensive lineman Averell Spicer have been ruled academically ineligible for the Emerald Bowl on Saturday, Coach Pete Carroll announced this morning.
“We’re really disappointed these guys didn’t come through,” Carroll said. “They had all the help in the world to get it done and they didn’t do it.”
December 21st, 2009 at 2:36 pm
They can get a ride from McKight to the game.
December 21st, 2009 at 3:41 pm
How is it even possible to be academically ineligible at that ‘school’? Are they that bad at ballroom dancing?
December 21st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Oh, Senora Ross must be on probation
December 21st, 2009 at 8:51 pm
“It won’t be long before some envious fan of a wannabe program will post this material. Have at it and enjoy vicariously what you cannot accomplish on the field against us.”
Wannabe program? I don’t think we want the Emerald Bowl.
Clearly the United States China Trojan football program is in a stage of decline, and Moren was kind enough to provide us with the latest evidence that this is so.
Fortunately for the University of California, football is one facet of life at an institution which, even in the midst of a state budget crisis, consistently achieves excellence in a diverse set of arenas. This is an interesting contrast with USC, whose national reputation is largely one dimensional and does not extend far beyond the realm of college football.