@Abe – last time I checked, this is a blog. It’s a good forum for reporters to step outside the rigidity of objective reporting and provide some color/commentary. I thought Joe calling out JT’s coach speak (BS) was hilarious.

I see I did not clearly articulate my point…in a number of very lengthly posts over the past couple of weeks, I have painstakenly reviewed each year during Tedford tenure as head coach. What I highlighted was that between 2005 and 2010, Tedford’s teams always lost at least 2 games to opponents where Cal was a solid favorite. During this same period, Cal rarely won any games when Cal was an underdog (actually have a 2-16 record as an underdog). I was concluding that despite records of 9-4, 10-3 and 8-5, (between 2005 – 2010) that Cal actually had “underachieved” despite having strong winning percentages.

I actually believe that Tedford has been a rather weak gameday coach despite his winning record. I was one of the folks arguing when Cal was going to the Humanitarian, Las Vegas and Insight Bowl games that these Bowl games did NOT signify a successful season. I kept stating that Tedford team have consistently UNDERACHIEVED each year between 2005-2010.

So, when I say that 2011 appears to be one of Tedford better seasons, I make that statement, based on pre-season projections and largely because the team did NOT lose very many games in which Cal was favored to win. Since Tedford has rarely had any victories when Cal was an underdog…not having any of those type victories in 2011 is consistent with his past years. So, again, I conclude that 2011 is one of Tedford better jobs as a gameday coach.

Another point of clarification: as I review Tedford’s performance season by season…I am focusing only on the onfield performance relative to the expectations. What I am NOT reviewing is Tedford and his staff’s ability recruit top talent. What is undisputable, is Tedford ability to recruit top talent to Cal like no other coach over the past 50 years. Cal’s pipeline of players to the NFL is an indication of his success in that area as a college football coach.

If I had to rank each since Tedford has been head coach I would rank them as follows (from best to worst)

2004: 10-2…dominated USC statsistically except on scoreboard and won every game in which they were favored during the regular season. Only bad game was in Bowl game vs. Texas Tech.

2003: 8-6…beat USC and Va Tech in Bowl game. Overall, had 4 upset wins.

2002: 7-5…Engineered 4 upset victories over Mighigan St., UW, UCLA and ASU. Singlehandedly saved Kyle Boller’s career.

2011: 6-4 to date….only 1 bad loss…no notable victories…blow out losses to top teams in conference.

2008: 9-4….No notable wins. Loss to Maryland was a national embarassment. Cal’s 2nd upset loss was when they were only slight favorites to Arizona.

2005: 8-4…No notable wins. Upset losses to OSU and UCLA…at least Cal was only a slight favorite to UCLA.

2006: 10-3…Cal was strongly favored in 12 of its 13 games. Loss to Tennessee was another national embarrassment and loss to Arizona cost the Bears a Rose Bowl bid.

2010: 5-7…no notable wins…but 2 losses as a favorite.

2009: 8-5…4 losses when Cal was a solid favorite…but Cal did have 1 victory as an underdog…against Stanford.

2007: 7-6…A great win (arguably best in Tedford’s career vs Oregon on the road)…but team melted down with 5 losses when Cal was a strong favorite. This team had the talent to win a national championship. One of the worst coaching jobs on a national level over the past 10 years!

From Ted Miller (ESPN Blog)

“Oregon defeated a top five team on the road for the first time in school history at Stanford on Saturday, but road warriors are few and far between in the Pac-12.

Two teams are a perfect 5-0 at home: Oregon and Arizona State. Can you guess what differentiates the elite team from the one that is crumbling?

The Sun Devils are 1-4 on the road, one of eight conference teams that have won one or zero road games this season.

That’s terrible. And it’s the reason the conference has become so top-heavy. Stanford, Oregon and USC are a combined 12-2 on the road. Everyone else is 9-34, with three of those wins coming from Utah — two in nonconference play.

Playing on the road is always tough, but this is sort of ridiculous.”

Go Bears!