Today: Colorado State

#10 Cal at Colorado State

Many in the media are warning of the dangers of Colorado State as a “trap game,” but I feel somewhat confident that the Bears will show up today with a dominant win over the Rams. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing some of Cal’s depth of talented backups if they pull out to a big lead and the reserves get on the field.

Here are the media rounds for today’s match-up.

SF Chronicle: “No. 10 Cal faces bear trap at CSU”

During Saturday’s ABC broadcast of Cal’s 45-31 win over Tennessee, [Brent Musburger] called this week’s date at Colorado State a potential “trap game.”

As clear as it was last week that the Bears sought “redemption” against the Vols, it’s just as unmistakable that the Rams seek “respect” this week. The “trap” portion will enter the scenario if Colorado State proves to have the players and coaching to match its goals against the players and coaching that Cal used last week to make its national statement. …

The Rams have 20 returning starters, more than any other team under Lubick, and they played toe-to-toe with Colorado in a 31-28 overtime loss in Week 1.

ESPN: “Top 25 Overview”

After scoring a revenge win at home against Tennessee last week, Cal hits the road to face Colorado State. The Rams, who won the only other meeting between the schools in 2003, look to rebound after a loss to rival Colorado.

AP: “No. 10 Cal intent on avoiding letdown in trip to Colorado State”

Tedford won’t have to go far back in Bears history to find an example of the perils in this trip. Just last season, their eight-game winning streak ended with a loss to lowly Arizona, preventing Cal from winning the Pac-10 outright and making its first Rose Bowl appearance.

That 24-20 defeat occurred one week before Cal’s trip to USC, and some of the Bears acknowledged they might have been looking ahead. Their trip to Colorado State raises the danger of looking behind, but the Bears say they’ll be more careful this time.

Fort Collins Coloradoan: “Rams face tough test against 10th-ranked Bears”

The Rams went to Berkeley, Calif., [a September day in 2003] and put together one of the more memorable wins of the 15-year Sonny Lubick era, rallying for a 23-21 victory. It was the type of win – tough defense, gritty offense, solid special teams – the Rams became known for during the first 10 season’s of Lubick’s tenure. …

CSU, meanwhile, has gone 20-27 since that day. The Rams have gone three consecutive seasons without a winning record and, thanks to a frustrating 31-28 overtime loss last week to the University of Colorado, enter bearing the ever-increasing weight of an eight-game losing streak.

Greely Tribune: “Colorado State vs. Cal key matchups”

[Last week, Caleb] Hanie passed for 229 yards before an interception ended the Rams’ chances in overtime. Kory Sperry was excellent as well, leading the receivers with eight catches — three for touchdowns — and 103 yards. Co-offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said the Rams also had several near misses on big gains in the passing game. …

[The] Rams’ rushing game showed big improvement, but they would like to see another positive jump. Kyle Bell shouldered the load, taking the ball 40 times for 135 yards. The running game allowed them to hold the ball for more than 37 minutes, and that ball control could be crucial against explosive Cal. …

The Rams expect to be improved on their coverage teams, which allowed Colorado to seize critical field position at the end of the first and second halves. Those long returns allowed the Buffaloes to score field goals with time running out. … The Rams have said they don’t intend to punt to Jackson, but if he gets his hands on a ball, he could have his seventh return for a touchdown in no time at all.

AP: “Grind-it-out Rams hope to slow down speedy California”

“When you have a national championship on your mind, you have to compete and win every week,” Cal safety Brandon Hampton said. “Saturday was great, and we were happy about that, but now we have to prepare for the Rams …. We have a new task at hand.” …

Tedford really doesn’t have to preach to his players about the dangers of overlooking the Rams, who upset Cal 23-21 in their only previous meeting in 2003 on Jeff Babcock’s 32-yard field goal with 1:57 left. … “We’ve already had that talk about what’s going to be the biggest question. I asked everybody on the team, ‘Guys, what do you think the big question is going to be exactly?’ They all said, ‘Letdown.’

“There’s enough leadership that this team understands last week’s over and this is a whole new week. Colorado State is a football team that came here and beat us a few years ago on our home field. So, they’re a good football team and we’re going to have to play our best to be successful.”