Like Meursault in Camus’ The Stranger, Cal fans are currently asking themselves, “What’s the point?”
With the embarrassingly lackluster effort against FCS opponent Southern Utah University on Saturday that saw the Thunderbirds within three heading into the fourth quarter, spirits are about as low as they’ve ever been in the Tedford era.
The Bears currently sit at 1-1 with two games against top-20 teams looming on the not-so-distant horizon.
Any preseason optimism has rapidly evaporated, and Bears fans are now struggling to find any reason to keep tuning in to root for a team that looks increasingly like a bottom dweller in a relatively weak Pac-12.
The offensive line collects flags like they’re vintage stamps. Kickoffs and punts never cease to be adventures. The secondary plays as if it feels guilty for getting too close to a receiver.
Giant, glaring holes have emerged out of almost every facet of this Cal team, and the scariest part is that the holes were exposed by a Mountain West team and an FCS team.
If the Bears are making Brad Sorenson look like Matt Barkley, what’s going to happen when Matt Barkley actually takes the field against Cal in two weeks?
Firing Jeff Tedford looks more and more realistic, and the season is starting to look like a lost one.
So, once again, what’s the point?
Well, maybe there isn’t one. Depending on who you ask.
For the casual Bears fan, the season may as well already be over. The fair-weather bandwagon jumpers want a 10-win season and a Rose Bowl berth, which obviously is not in the cards for this year.
But for the passionate Cal fan, there are myriad reasons why giving up on this team would be a mistake. And almost all of them have to do with the wide receiving corps.
Bryce Treggs and Chris Harper are two of these reasons. The freshman wideouts have impressed mightily in consecutive games. Treggs is incredibly polished for a young wide receiver, displaying sharp route-running ability and reliable hands in both games.
Harper has shown a knack for picking up big chunks of yardage on screens and short passes into the flats. Tedford and quarterback Zach Maynard heaped praise on the young wideout in the post-game press conference on Saturday, noting his surprising level of contribution.
The quality play from the rookies lends to grand visions of future Bears’ offenses, especially with highly touted quarterback recruit Zach Kline lurking in the wings.
Future NFLer and likely first round pick Keenan Allen never fails to amaze the crowd at least once a game. Against Nevada, such an instance was the shifty juke-heavy reverse touchdown run. His punt return against Southern Utah was nothing short of magic.
After initially muffing the punt, Allen scooped the ball up and ran through the entire punt defense, making a couple of Thunderbird defenders look downright silly on his romp down the sideline.
Watching the development of Treggs and Harper will remain an intriguing storyline regardless of how many points Oregon and USC hang on the inconsistent Cal defense.
Allen is a unique talent, probably one of a handful of Bears from the past 10 or 15 years that has legitimate superstar potential. Like Desean Jackson, Marshawn Lynch and Jahvid Best before him, his mere presence on the field evokes excitement.
So maybe Tedford gets fired at the end of the season and the program has to implode and start from scratch. Maybe the Bears will struggle to qualify for postseason play. But worry not, true Bears fans: hope is imminent. And the most positive signs for this will be on the field every Saturday, juking cornerbacks and instilling awe every time they touch the ball.
Michael Rosen covers football. Contact him at [email protected].
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The PAC is not weak. It’s looking like a very strong # 2. Last minute editing might help.
All your comments are valid except Pac-12 being a weak conference. Look at what Arizona did to Oklahoma State, ASU destroying University of Illinois and UCLA beating Nebraska. The only embarrassment in Pac-12 have been Cal and the two expansion teams (Colorado and Utah). Washington losing to LSU was also expected.
One thing that we should pay attention to is that a great coach can make a world of difference. Case-in-point the new guy at UCLA. Lets hope Tedford gets fired and Cal goes after a well-known coach who might be able to rekindle the excitement back in Berkeley.
On the contrary, giving up hope for anything OTHER than the firing of Tedford at its end is the MAIN reason for paying attention to this season. Expecting for this team to get its drawers blown off in (just about) every game from now on has its advantages: No disappointment, for one thing; a pleasant surprise in the unlikely event such does not happen for another. PLUS there is the expectancy that each inevitable horrible down — each boneheaded penalty, fumble, interception, big play allowed on D — brings us one step closer to getting rid of Tedford and finally ushering in a brighter future.
See, there is EVERY reason to continue attending, viewing, and listening. You just have to adjust your mindset.
On the contrary, giving up hope for anything OTHER than the firing of Tedford at its end is the MAIN reason for paying attention to this season. Expecting for this team to get its drawers blown off in (just about) every game from now on has its advantages: No disappointment, for one thing; a pleasant surprise in the unlikely event such does not happen for another. PLUS there is the expectancy that each inevitable horrible down — each boneheaded penalty, fumble, interception, big play allowed on D — brings us one step closer to getting rid of Tedford and finally ushering in a brighter future.
See, there is EVERY reason to continue attending, viewing, and listening. You just have to adjust your mindset.
Your statements are true and on target. Also came across an article, questioning the wisdom of spending the lavish amount of money ($312 million) on retrofitting the Memorial Stadium, that doesn’t provide any parking?
Ask the city of Berkeley about that one.