Reflections on Hawaii-Cal game
Just watched the replay of the game from last night and feeling even more confident about how UM will do next Saturday against Hawaii. However, I was a bit impressed with their offense at times. If it wasn't for a bad stretch at the end of the first half, that game could have gone down to the wire. Obviously UM has a much better team on both sides of the ball, but if we had to play this game @ Hawaii, considering the travel effect on our team and them having time to prepare at home, I wouldn't be so sure of the outcome (probably still a win, but not a blowout). Hard to say how good we actually are without seeing a game yet this season, but I'm glad to have a front loaded number of home games this year.
That being said, let's rejoice in the return of football season (and to watching NDSU tonight):
August 27th, 2016 at 4:41 PM ^
August 27th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^
August 27th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^
August 27th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
August 27th, 2016 at 6:18 PM ^
We didn't score a lot of second half points vs Northwestern, BYU, or UNLV last year but that was more a lack of execution than Coach going conservative.
August 27th, 2016 at 6:37 PM ^
I think the heavy passing near the end of the ame against Florida was more for Jake's benefit - more footage and stats for his draft stock. Obviously it didn't hurt, but maybe pissed off UF a little (I think we can live with that).
August 27th, 2016 at 5:10 PM ^
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August 27th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^
August 27th, 2016 at 5:55 PM ^
We will pound the ball down their throats on the ground and eat up the clock. They will have the ball about 20 minutes offensively and do nothing with it. Their QB will find it difficult finding his receivers while looking out of the ear hole of his helmet. I'll call it 41-0 and I'm being kind.
August 27th, 2016 at 6:13 PM ^
did anyone notice how bad the announcers were? the first guys asked about the Big 12 strength of schedule, and the other guy talks about how OSU could get in with 2 losses. Then asks about the B1G West, and the second guy talks about MSU. Super dumb....
August 27th, 2016 at 10:49 PM ^
I tried watching the replay and passed out cold. 11 hours of sleep -- most I've slept in the past .... year?
August 28th, 2016 at 12:04 AM ^
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August 27th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
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August 27th, 2016 at 6:36 PM ^
A long time friend who went to Berzerkeley just came to town for a funeral of a mutual friend and I was most pleased that he had in his sport jacket pocket a little blue and gold teddy bear for our 8 month old daughter. He was acting a little embarrased as it was somewhat "right" colors, with "Cal" written on the front. Well, baby was happy either way, and at least it wasn't like the OSU gear another friend slipped into a bag of hand-me-downs - I won't mention what those items had printed on the front.
Of course, this has nothing to do with the thread, just thought it was a nice "little bear" story.
August 27th, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^
The thread can bear it.
August 29th, 2016 at 11:59 AM ^
I'm grinning at that one.
August 27th, 2016 at 10:40 PM ^
I'm just glad we get a cupcake for the first game this year. I think we would have rolled Utah hard if it had not been game #1.
Last year was a rollercoaster... The defense propping up most of the season while Rudock struggled a bit... By the end of the season, the lack of depth on defense almost cost us dearly... Luckily by then, Rudock was Harbaugh'd into being NFL level talent.
I think the reason there are so many people seemingly over-rating michigan is just because of those reasons. 2015 team was never functioning on all 8 cylinders, but still managed to eek out a 10 win season (we even lost a game because of a giant fluke from a punter that was mostly 100% perfect... I refuse to blame the game on him. If the team was playing 100% that punt would have been inconsequential... and he was consistent as can be at pinning other teams VERY DEEP all season)
Sparty game stung, but to get over it, all I have to do is watch the replay of Saban losing the Iron Bowl on a FG attempt .
This season seems like it will be disappointing if it doesn't come down to 1-2 games, albeit away games. That will just help with SOS.
I still HATE the divisions in the BIG... Having Mich, MSU, and OSU all in the same division when they are the top 3 teams in the BIG is fucking stupid. I am hoping it reaches some sort of parity in the coming years.... but even then -- durkin went to maryland. That just screams to me that we're going to see even more of an inbalance.... Nebraska hasn't been shit since joining the BIG,
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin.
How often do we play Wiscy these days? (I know we have this year) ... All of those other teams have seemed like possible threats in the past half-decade.. but I really don't see us losing to them much in upcoming years. Minny was showing signs of life under jerry kill... I honestly feel terrible about him having to hang it up. It seems like he was a person who could have made a good run at something if he had his health in order. Master of the "almost beat a really good team" (ohio state....)
NW and Iowa show signs of being "good," but are usually exposed in embarassing fashion... Purdue .... Sorry about the brown jug, but you won't be seeing it again in the next decade.... Illinois.. They were fun to watch richrod have 50-overtime shootouts with.
Wisconsin.. will they be able to do much? I haven't followed their recruiting this year, but they have been contenders in the BIG for a long time... though they have also seemed to have fallen off in recent times.
tl;dr : These divisions suck, and always have sucked since they started being used.
August 27th, 2016 at 10:48 PM ^
I guess my point being... last year we were "don't play utah first" and "don't have everything possible go wrong on a punt" away from having 2 more wins last year. I'm not big into "what if" scenarios, but it is very hard to ignore those two losses.
Ohio state last year was just a nightmare, but the bowl win was good enough to get me past it.
If we can keep that defense off the field a bit more this year, and they perform like they were at the peak last year.. this team has a great opportunity with great schedule timing. OSU is developing new people all year, disrespekt-ville is due for an oldschool ass whooping... Just win... especially win those two big road games.
Not the best year for home games, but all of the carry-overs that could result from what happens this year is well worth it.