I would like to announce my intention to root for the Green and Gold this weekend.
That’s right. Let’s go Oakland!
Maybe this is the year the A’s can finally break through in the first round. Beating Johan Santana in the first round was a start, but I’ll be holding my breath until the final out is recorded.
Speaking of holding my breath, I’ll be doing just that for about three hours Saturday evening about 10 miles north of McAfee Coliseum. After all, it’s Oregon against Cal. It’s Tedford vs. Bellotti. It’s those space-age, uniform-wearing invaders from the north.
Eight out of the last nine times the Ducks and Bears have squared off against one another, Cal has felt the sting of defeat.
Forgive me for feeling a little nervous.
It’s always something with Oregon. The lights can go off. Kellen Clemens can be benched and return to lead a game-winning drive. There can be a recruiting controversy. Joe Ayoob can mistake tight end David Gray for Yao Ming and throw the ball 10 feet over his head.
If it weren’t for Keith Allen’s hands (or lack thereof), the Ducks would be to the Bears what being on the cover of Madden is to any NFL player – a curse. Also, Allen’s drop was in 2004, when then-No. 4 Cal had its sights set on the Rose Bowl and Oregon finished 5-6.
In other words, even in the best of circumstances, away from the tremendous home-field advantage offered by Autzen Stadium, the Ducks were one dropped pass away from derailing the Bears’ best season in over 50 years.
If Allen hadn’t choked, Oregon would be shooting for 10 straight Saturday.
Of course, this week’s game has nothing to do with history, who used to coach where or who dropped what ball. Both teams clearly have weapons. The winner will be the front-runner to challenge USC for the conference title. The loser will be staring at a trip to El Paso over the holidays.
Now, Oregon fans, I am not going to sit here and insult your intelligence by explaining the importance of Marshawn Lynch, Nate Longshore and DeSean Jackson in this game. I am sure those guys, along with Dennis Dixon, Jaison Williams and Jonathan Stewart will make plays. That is what they do.
But in close games (the first three Tedford-Bellotti meetings have been decided by a combined 12 points), the performance of role players can prove to be just as important or more than the play of the stars.
Here are four Cal players that you may not have heard of that will likely impact the game, either in a positive or negative way.
Andrew Larson: Larson, a junior transfer from Saddleback Community College, has averaged nearly 44 yards per punt. In close games, the field position battle means everything. It is also an area where Oregon struggled last week in Tempe.
Syd’Quan Thompson: Cal’s redshirt freshman cornerback has settled down nicely after being burnt by Tennessee’s Robert Meachem for two long touchdowns in the opener in Knoxville. But the Ducks’ wideouts will present Syd the Kid with arguably his toughest challenge yet.
Zack Follett: He doesn’t start at linebacker, but Follett has recorded 2.5 sacks in the last two games and could be a key in keeping Dixon from running and creating problems for the Bears defense outside of the pocket.
Justin Forsett: Lynch’s diminutive backup has failed to put up the same type of gaudy numbers he amassed in 2005. Forsett’s speed on the edge might prove to be an important factor, especially on third down.
Of course, we are talking about Cal and Oregon here. The true X-factor might be someone or something entirely different. Only game time will tell. Until then, I’ll be holding my breath.