August 26th, 2016 at 3:13 PM ^
Is this the open thread already?? It's going to be buried under a pile of OT in like an hour.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:46 PM ^
Oh, there are ways to fix that and make sure it reappears at game time, but of course, by then it will be one of about four game threads going, knowing how football-starved this place is about now. I fully expect some pretty in-depth posting tonight for an otherwise relatively inconsequential opening matchup that is really only relevant to the blog because it features our first opponent.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:18 PM ^
I'm all over Hawaii +20
August 26th, 2016 at 4:16 PM ^
but Over or Under 66?
August 26th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^
Hawaii's defense sucks and Sonny Dykes likes to play pitch and catch.
August 26th, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^
Under. Both defenses are awful, but with Paul Harris churning clock and Cal replacing its QB + Top 6 WRs, it will stay below 66. Barely.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
Hawaii with the upset!
Not that we needed it, but giving Harbaugh and Co. a game film for our week 1 game is not very fair to Hawaii. Poor Hawaii.
August 26th, 2016 at 6:08 PM ^
Um. No. Cal will eat their lunch.
ROLL ON YOU BEARS!
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August 26th, 2016 at 3:23 PM ^
this will be a long week but def worth the wait!
August 26th, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^
I'm very excited to watch 5 minutes of this and change the channel. This is no better than nfl preseason
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August 26th, 2016 at 3:26 PM ^
Unless you're a college football fan.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:33 PM ^
Normally, I'd agree. But I'll watch more of this game only because it involves a future opponent.
I still think playing games on the other side of the world is stupid.
August 26th, 2016 at 10:39 PM ^
I think it makes perfect sense. Grow the game, attract recruits, allow overseas alumni a chance to reconnect. Would love to see 1 Michigan game a year in Asia, Europe, or South America.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^
This is not only the very first college football game of the entire season, but our first opponent.
If this was, say, the 8th week of college football and we already played Hawaii, i totally agree with you. But it's not.
August 26th, 2016 at 4:07 PM ^
Presumably teams will attempt to win this evening so not NFL preseason at all.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:30 PM ^
Football season is finally starting!!!!!!!
August 26th, 2016 at 3:33 PM ^
Who are you calling "By?"
August 26th, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^
He meant his bisexual friends. Clearly they are excited for players who play both sides.
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August 26th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^
I wonder if the Aussie audience will look at the punters and scoff.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:37 PM ^
Probably won't be a great game, but I don't even care a little bit. The most beautiful sport that mankind has ever invented is back, and that's all I need to know.
That said, wouldn't it be a nice idea to try to come up with some sort of "kick-off classic" designed to start each season with a marquee match-up? Would be tricky w/ how college scheduling works I suppose, but it would be nice to put a good game right up front.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:41 PM ^
There used to be one at the old Meadowlands every August/Sept. It was actually called the kickoff classic.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:46 PM ^
I get that it's not a marquee matchup for most of the US college football audience. (Idiot Paul Finebaum even said on ESPN today that it's not a match up people want to see and suggested (very surprisingly) that Alabama and USC would be a more interesting game. What a novel thought Paul). That's not the point though. It's in Australia and meant to expand the sport there. What two US states do you think Australians are most familiar with or likely to have visited? Hint, hint, the two whose shores also meet the Pacific Ocean.. Hawaii and California.
August 26th, 2016 at 4:04 PM ^
Fair enough, and I'm not saying that they shouldn't play the game, or even that I'm not going to watch. I have it set to DVR in case my plans for earlier in the evening run late, so clearly I'm not too worked up about it.
Just seems to me that having some sort of power-5 match-up as the season lidlifter would be fun. 1-AA football seems to have this figured out, as they have gotten into the habit of having a big game a week before the rest of the season starts. Last year's Montana/NDSU clash was great viewing.
August 26th, 2016 at 3:53 PM ^
I'm rooting for Hawaii.
August 26th, 2016 at 6:09 PM ^
I'm glad you will be upset. Go Cal.
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August 26th, 2016 at 3:53 PM ^
Glad to see CFB return!
August 26th, 2016 at 4:13 PM ^
This time next week I will be on I 69/94 heading to AA!!!!
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August 26th, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^
Stalk your prey before you kill it.
August 26th, 2016 at 4:22 PM ^
It's interesting to see what a big deal this is in Sydney. It's a very big deal. Here's a story from the Sydney Morning Herald:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/college-football-california-golden-bears-ha…
Loved this line:
"American College football is one of the world's best-supported sports, and the Golden Bears are one of its biggest teams."
Um...
August 26th, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^
He forgot to add "biggest teams in the Bay Area."
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August 26th, 2016 at 4:24 PM ^
Did we send someone there to scout the game in person? Because I would have gone.
August 26th, 2016 at 4:28 PM ^
Have to wonder if Hawaii will even have legs under them when the get here.
August 26th, 2016 at 4:40 PM ^
Don't care who is playing, but I need to see a competitive game. It's been 228 days since the last college football game.
August 26th, 2016 at 4:45 PM ^
I got up at 3:00 this morning for my shift at the plant. I'm staying up and drinking to celebrate this wondrous occasion. CFB is back! This is fantastic
August 26th, 2016 at 5:20 PM ^
I just happen to be in Sydney and i'll be attending the game. Anyone else going? I've got my Jordan Skinny M Coaches hat ready...
August 26th, 2016 at 5:52 PM ^
GoBears!!!
Really looking forward to seeing all the replacement parts for 6 WRs, RB and #1 Overall on offense. Defense looks to stack up even worse than last year...if that's even possible!
August 26th, 2016 at 6:14 PM ^
Hell yea!! ROLL ON YOU BEARS!!!!
On our rugged eastern foothills
Stands our symbol clear and bold
Big C means to fight and strive
And win for Blue and Gold
Golden Bear is ever watching
Day by day he prowls
And when he hears the tread
Of lowly Stanfurd red
From his lair he fiercely growls
Grr-ah! Grr-ah! Grrrrr—ah!
We are sons of California
Fighting for the Gold and Blue
Palms of glory we will win
For Alma Mater true
Stanfurd's men will soon be routed
By our dazzling "C"
And when we serpentine
Their red will turn to green
In our hour of victory!
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August 26th, 2016 at 8:48 PM ^
Trained at UCSF and been here 30 years and don't know a single line. "sing to the colors" however you never forget.( HAIL !)
August 26th, 2016 at 7:12 PM ^
10pm. Too late.
Get off my lawn.
August 26th, 2016 at 8:34 PM ^
You're right it is too late I'm gonna put toothpics under my eyelids and pray for a Hawaii win. I'll guard your lawn while you sleep & pee in your Depends.
August 26th, 2016 at 7:19 PM ^
COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK!!! Next Saturday can't come soon enough! I wish so badly I was going to be there. Hard to get back and forth from Cali. But bringing my two oldest girls to the Homecoming game against Illinois. Gonna be so much fun for them. We went to UNLV game last year. Now annual tradition! GO BLUE!!
August 26th, 2016 at 8:19 PM ^
I'll be watching hoping the Rainbow Warriors put it to the Bears! They have a chance maybe? Cal has a new QB I think but I don't know a damn thing about them! They were decent last year
August 26th, 2016 at 8:50 PM ^
They get to the point of "decent" then return to the awful mean soon enough. Hell the Hayward fault runs right through their stadium
August 26th, 2016 at 8:22 PM ^
High school football kicking off tonight here in Iowa, and now some CFB. Long live the gridiron!