No-TV outrage for WSU gains steam

The outrage over missing television coverage for the Cal-WSU game this Saturday is beginning to go national. SI’s Stewart Mandel talks about it in his column, blasting the Pac-10’s leadership for its poor administration.

Why is Cal the only top 10 team that won’t be on TV this weekend when it plays Washington State? — Chris, Lincoln, Calif.

When I first saw this, I assumed Chris was complaining that Cal wasn’t on national TV. But no. Believe it or not, in an age of 700 cable channels, many of which are foaming at the mouth to show even the most obscure live sporting event, a college football game between two Pac-10 schools, one of them 5-1 and the other 4-2, will have not a single television camera present. And for that, Bears and Cougars fans can thank their fine conference leaders.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: As a sports entity, the Pac-10 is right up there with the Big Ten, SEC and everyone else. As businesses, however, the Big Ten and SEC are Wal-Mart and Target; the Pac-10 is the mom-and-pop shop down the street. The Pac-10’s bizarre loyalty to Fox Sports Net over ESPN (supposedly because of the better time slots) kills the conference’s exposure. This coming weekend, you’ll be able to watch as many as five Big Ten games from anywhere in the country. You’ll be able to watch three SEC games. You’ll even be able to watch Louisiana Monroe at Troy. Depending on your satellite package, you could theoretically watch 28 college football games. But you will not be able to watch the No. 10 team in the country play an important conference contest.

Props to Chris in Lincoln and Mandel for shining some light on the issue. Hopefully this kind of negative press will apply the pressure to the Pac-10 leadership to do a better job with these matters. Thanks to Ken over at Bear Territory for this tidbit.

Lynch to play Saturday at WSU

After sitting out most of the Oregon game last weekend due to injury, Marshawn Lynch is expected to be back in action this coming Saturday when the Bears travel to Washington State. Throughout the season, Lynch has been bothered by an ankle injury but has played through it. He re-injured it early in the second quarter following a 24-yard rush to the Oregon 2 yard line:

“He reirritated it during the game,” Tedford said Tuesday. “But he’s moving around fine. He’s just a little bit sore. I wouldn’t say he’s questionable. I would say he’ll play for sure.”

WSU game to go untelevised

Unfortunately, the Washington State game will not be televised on Saturday despite Cal’s best efforts to get it on air. Washington State was apparently unwilling to move their game an hour (it is their homecoming) to have Comcast broadcast it. Jon Wilner at the Mercury News has more details on his blog.

Looks like this will be another radio game. I believe this is also the second time this season that Cal is the only top 25 team game without any TV coverage. Thanks, Pac-10, for screwing up another one.

Nate Longshore now in Heisman Watch

With his injury this past weekend, it appears that Marshawn Lynch has been dropped from the public Heisman voting. However, due to outstanding performances the past five weeks and the blowout of #11 Oregon, Nate Longshore has found his way into the spotlight. He has been added into this week’s final slot for Heisman voting, so go here to cast your vote.

California love

Cal’s rout of Oregon has suddenly thrust the team back into the national spotlight, and the media is finally again giving the Bears some well-deserved recognition. DeSean Jackson covers SI.com’s college football home page with a link to this quick blurb:

Pete Carroll should be looking over his shoulder, because a rejuvenated Cal appears set to end USC’s Pac-10 domination. The Bears looked like top-10 imposters while being ripped by Tennessee in the season opener, but have rebounded by scoring 40-plus in five straight games, including a win over Oregon. This isn’t just Jeff Tedford‘s latest scoring machine; Cal can play D, holding Ducks RB Jonathan Stewart to 25 yards. Watch out Nov. 18, USC.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach (who attended the game in Berkeley) had only great things to say about Cal:

Q: Hey Mark, tell what you think of Cal football. Did you enjoy the atmosphere and the scenery?
A: I did very much. My first trip to [Berkeley] was well worth it. Stadium is old, but like the classic feel. Loved the hills overlooking the stadium. Traffic wasn’t too bad. People were nice. Crowd was louder than expected. Cal really surprised me with how well they’re playing, especially after I saw them play against Tennessee. Longshore playing very well. DeSean Jackson is very good. Defense better than expected.

Q: Mark, did you see DJax’ (Desean Jackson’s) punt return against [Oregon]? Wasn’t that amazing? Is he the fastest and most exciting player in CFB? If not, then who else and what do you think of Cal’s Rose Bowl/Natl title hopes?
A: he’s very, very fast. amazing cut back across the entire field. looked good on td catch, too.

Q: Cal has not won at Wash State since 1979, given how WSU played USC so tough at home two weeks ago, what are the chances for WSU over Cal this Sat?
A: Cal is playing very well right now. Was surprised how much Cougars struggled at Oregon State on Saturday night. Both teams play decent defense. Cal’s very, very good on offense right now. Would have to go with Bears.

Q: Why is DeSean Jackson’s name not being mentioned more when it comes to Heisman contention? He has scored more touchdowns than the other wide receivers that are being mentioned, and might be the most explosive player in the nation right now.
A: I’d say he’ll be a favorite next year if he keeps doing what he’s doing. Receivers have to return kicks to win the Heisman and he does it as well as anyone.

Marshawn Lynch and Nate Longshore also made Schlabach’s Top 5 lists at their respective positions.

Even ESPN’s Bruce Feldman is warming back up to the Bears after ripping them on September 3.

Cal lights up Oregon, rushing for 235 yards despite losing star TB Marshawn Lynch to injury…

Thinking about the Pac-10-SEC friction: I’ll buy that Arkansas clearly is a much better team with a healthy Darren McFadden than the one that got blasted by USC on opening night, but I think in the same spirit Cal is, too, now that QB Nate Longshore has settled into the offense…

Cal back in ESPN Power 16 rankings at #9

Cal has returned to ESPN’s Power 16, storming their rankings at #9. They write: “Remember the Bears? They’re back in the Power 16 after doing to the Ducks what the Vols did to them in Week 1.”

Forsett is Pac-10 offensive player of the week

Running back Justin Forsett, who filled in for injured Marshawn Lynch against Oregon, has been honored with the Pac-10 player of the week award.

Forsett, a junior from Arlington, Texas, took over for injured starter Marshawn Lynch and keyed California’s running game in the Golden Bears’ 45-21 win against No. 11-ranked Oregon. Forsett rushed 27 times for 163 yards (6.0-yard average) with a touchdown run of 23 yards. He added two receptions for 19 yards to account for 182 all-purpose yards. The Cal running game averaged 5.6 yards per carry in amassing 235 yards rushing against the Ducks.

Justin did a great job in Lynch’s place and showed again that he probably is the best second-string RB in the nation. Scouts, Inc.’s Todd McShay agrees:

Week 6 Stock Up
Forsett stepped in for the injured Marshawn Lynch on Saturday night and proved once again why he is considered the best backup running back in the country. The diminutive junior turned in one of his best career performances with 163 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries in a decisive victory over Pac-10 foe Oregon. Forsett is a perfect fit for Cal’s scheme, as he takes advantage of spread-out defensive fronts with his good vision, shifty moves and explosive burst. QB Nate Longshore is improving each week and with weapons like Lynch and Forsett, and wide receivers DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan, Cal has to be considered one of the most dangerous teams in college football right now. Mark Nov. 18 on your calendar, as Cal is a formidable threat to knock USC off its Pac-10 throne.

Washington (10/21) game picked up by FSN

Fox Sports Network has picked up the Washington at Cal game a week from Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 12:30pm.

The game at Washington State this Saturday has not yet been selected to be televised. Apparently, the teams are in talks with Comcast to get the game broadcasted and we’ll find out the verdict later today.

Cal re-enters AP Top 10, #11 in Coaches

Cal’s impressive performance yesterday has moved the team to #10 in the Associated Press poll and #11 in the Coaches poll.

Tennessee also had a big win over then-#10 Georgia, and they have moved up to #8/9 in the polls. This is great for the Bears’ strength of schedule (factored into BCS standings) and makes the season-opening loss look better for Cal.

Bears dominate Ducks 45-24 in blowout victory

Cal returned to national television last night in a statement game, showing audiences around the country the real Bears. Memorial Stadium was sold-out packed, emotions were high, and the crowd roared with deafening noise. Oregon’s powerful offense was crushed by the Bears’ defense, as they were shut down on the run and struggled in the air to avoid interceptions (quarterback Dennis Dixon was picked off three times).

Meanwhile, Cal dominated Oregon offensively and on special teams. Despite losing Marshawn Lynch to injury early in the game, the Bears had no trouble dismantling Oregon passing or on the ground with Justin Forsett. WR/PR DeSean Jackson returned another punt for a breathtaking touchdown. The 45-24 result is hardly representative of the whooping Oregon received, primarly due to Coach Jeff Tedford‘s class (he did not run up the score) but also some terrible officiating by the now-infamous Pac-10 referees.

A few recap articles:

• AP/ESPN: “Longshore continues to shine as Cal thumps No. 11 Ducks”
• Contra Costa Times: “Cal’s ‘O’ rolls: Injury to Lynch doesn’t stop Bears”
• Daily Cal: “What a Win! Bears Pound Oregon in Front of Packed House, Extend Winning Steak to Five”
• Los Angeles Times: “Cal Sets the Gold Standard”
• Sacramento Bee: “Bears quack some heads: Cal overpowers Ducks, rolls to fifth consecutive victory”
• San Francisco Chronicle: “Cal in a runaway: Only one offense shines despite predictions of a shootout”
• San Jose Mercury News: “Golden touch: Cal, dressed for success, routs Oregon 45-24”
• Scout.com: “Cal’s Convincing Win Over Oregon 45-24”

Cal’s impressive victory also has turned heads back to Berkeley, and the Bears are receiving some attention that was there during the preseason but lost after Tennessee.

Sporting News’ Tom Dienhart: “Cal could be nation’s No. 2 team”

And so it went on this night during a — What else? — thunderous 45-24 Cal victory over Oregon. It was a showdown that would determine who is the second-best team in the Pac-10. But, who am I kidding? Given another unimpressive USC win (this time over Washington), this was a showdown to determine who was the best team in the Pac-10.

And it wasn’t even close. It’s Cal…

How good is 5-1 Cal? More on that later. This much I know for sure: The team I saw whip Oregon has to be as good as any squad in the nation not named “Ohio State.” It has to be.

Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel: “Five Things We Learned This Weekend”

That the national title race is down to nine contenders. They are: Ohio State, USC, Michigan, Florida, West Virginia, Texas, Louisville, Tennessee and Cal. Why these nine? They are the only remaining teams (besides Boise State) that elicit enough confidence to suggest they could win the rest of their games. Obviously, most of them won’t (especially considering USC-Cal, Ohio State-Michigan and West Virginia-Louisville play each other), but if you had to bet your life savings on the matter, you’d be smart to stay within this pool.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: “Rejuvenated Bears dismantle Oregon”

The Bears were the team that everyone away from the Left Coast seemingly forgot. But they had won four consecutive games since losing to Tennessee, scoring 40 points or more…

Still, that winning streak wasn’t enough to erase the deflating loss at Tennessee… But by the time the sun had set Saturday night behind the picturesque hills that hover over this classic college football setting, it was clear Cal has something the Ducks — and possibly every other Pac-10 team besides USC — still lacks. Defense.

And the Bears sure have enough offense to go with it.