Rock bottom: season Longshored

Cal loses the Axe and goes down 20-13 to Stanford. Unbelievable.

At least in 2005, the season was mitigated by Tedford’s late decision to pull Joe Ayoob for Steve Levy. The Big Game was secured and we found victory in the Las Vegas Bowl.

2007 has turned out much worse than 2005. Indeed, Nate Longshore has performed as poorly as Ayoob did, but he has not been replaced by a healthy and potentially superior backup quarterback waiting on the bench. Cal’s BCS opportunity this season was “Longshored” away by Tedford’s loyalty — as Tedford became loyal to a fault.

Tedford is still the savior of Cal Football. Nate is still a good kid and a Bear. However, there is NO justification for Longshore playing exclusively in the last six games, especially as he struggled mightily and threw game after game away. You could see that he lacked leadership, confidence, and heart, and the whole team followed — they quit and will continue to quit as long as Tedford stubbornly starts a bum quarterback with zero potential to win games.

Today, Cal accepted a bid to play Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, TX on December 31. If you see #9 under center, expect the Bears to lose.

If Tedford doesn’t make the QB position an open competition come Spring, expect another embarrassing disaster in 2008.

Big Game thread

The Bears must regroup, overcome injuries and inconsistency, and come on the field with inspired energy. I want to see the team determined to wreck havoc after a disappointing season. Blowout the Furd, please. Go Bears.

SF Chronicle: “Saving the season”

For Cal, this season’s version of the Big Game is about more than a 110-game, tradition-filled rivalry.

It’s about making a nationwide statement or the realization that there is no way to salvage a season that started with such promise and could end without a bowl berth. Seemingly, there’s no in-between, and there are starkly differing reactions coming out of the Cal camp this week. …

“We’ve got to clean up the offense and do something about it or the season is going to go to” pot, senior receiver Robert Jordan said. “Early in the season, we were exploding on people. We weren’t just playing to keep it close. We were trying to blow people out of the water. We’ve got to get back to doing that.”

Bruce Feldman: “Picks”

Cal 28, Stanford 10: Coach Jim Harbaugh’s crew is a scrappy bunch, but they don’t have enough athletes to cope with the kind of speed Cal will throw at them. Coach Jeff Tedford is 5-0 against the Cardinal. He’s also covered the spread in four of those five.

SJ Mercury: “These days, Big Game is anything but”

On the silver anniversary of “The Play,” the Big Game has become virtually irrelevant. Sure, it means something to fans of both schools, although not as much as it used to. But beyond its significance to some Old Blues and longtime Cardinal fans, it’s a fading blip on the rivalry radar. …

Basically, the Big Game is caught in rivalry hell: One team is always bad, the other good – but not good enough to have a major bowl bid on the line.

And is the Big Game really the game for Cal these days? My sense is that Old and Young Blues alike would much rather beat USC than Stanford. Stanford is more pest than worthy challenger. The Big Game has lost significance to Cardinal fans in recent years, too, largely because of their school’s awful on-field product.

SF Chronicle: “Big Game not just a passing fancy for QBs”

“I feel like a lot of the team’s disappointments are my fault and are very obvious,” Longshore said. “I feel responsible for the losses. I haven’t played nearly as well as I wanted. I haven’t played nearly as well as I’m capable. At the same time, I’m excited about getting better.” …

In some regards, Longshore has to repair what has transpired this season. After a 3,021-yard, 24-touchdown showing during a 10-win season in 2006, he’s gone for 2,292 yards and 15 scores during this 6-5 season.

Building up a 5-0 start, he completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 1,137 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions. After missing one game with a right ankle sprain, Longshore connected 57.2 percent of the time for 905 yards and five touchdowns with eight interceptions in his next five starts.

Recap

My apologies, but 1L is getting the best of me and the discouraging season hasn’t helped. Here’s a digest of what we’ve missed here in the past week.

Cal in the news:

• Freshman RB Jahvid Best is probably out for the year with a hip injury.
• WR DeSean Jackson‘s bad thigh injury makes him probable to play but limited on Saturday. Also out: TE Cameron Morrah and DT Matt Malele.
• DE Rulon Davis will be back in action for Stanford.
• Coordinators Bob Gregory (defense) and Jim Michalczik (offense) are on the short list of candidates for WSU’s head coach. Gregory is near the top of the list.
• Everything is not OK with Coach Jeff Tedford.

Honors:

• East-West Shrine Game invitees: FS Thomas DeCoud, OT Mike Gibson, WR Lavelle Hawkins, RB Justin Forsett, and TE Craig Stevens
• Senior Bowl invitees: DeCoud, Forsett, and Hawkins

Cal-related:

• Former Cal QB Aaron Rodgers fills in magnificently for Brett Favre: 18-26, 201 yards, 1 TD, no picks.

Cal at Washington

It’s raining in Seattle.

The Huskies’ freshman quarterback Jake Locker is out, but Carl Bonnell is an adequate backup despite throwing 5 picks last season against the Bears. Meanwhile, Cal will be missing DE Rulon Davis, RB Jahvid Best, and DT Matt Malele. DB Marcus Ezeff may be back.

Cal has no business allowing Washington to stay close in this one, but we shall see how the team plays for pride. After Oregon’s loss to Arizona, hopes of 2 Pac-10 teams in BCS are gone. Emerald Bowl here we come.

EDIT: Here is a live video feed of the game from ESPN.

EDIT 2: Cal loses 37-23. Unbelievable.

The media on USC-Cal

ESPN: “Top 25 Overview”

Just a few weeks ago, this game was penciled in as a must-see meeting between a pair of top 3 teams. But with five combined losses over the last five weeks, the matchup has lost some luster. USC has won the last three meetings and is 21-0 in November under Pete Carroll.

CC Times’ Jon Okanes on Bear Talk:

There wasn’t a whole lot to report from Thursday’s practice, and maybe that’s the biggest news. It was hard to tell that it was USC week this week. That’s not to say the Bears didn’t have a good and spirited week of practice, it just didn’t seem that different than another week. And it certainly didn’t seem to have the buzz as Tennessee week or Oregon week. That being said, I know the players all regard this as a big game, despite the fact that the stakes aren’t as high as some may have anticipated before the season.

CC Times: “Little, but pride, rides on USC game”

It’s finally here. Nov. 10. USC vs. Cal. The Pacific-10 game everybody has been waiting for this season. The showdown for . . . third place?

A strange thing has happened since ABC chose this game for its “Saturday Night Football” package, since the game sold out before the season, since the Trojans and Bears were the preseason picks as the top two teams in the Pac-10.

The rest of the conference caught up. Now, instead of being a battle for Pac-10 supremacy with possible Bowl Championship Series implications, Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium simply will be a survival to stay relevant.

Daily Cal: “Remember, it’s still USC”

However, in the month of October, the now-No. 12 Trojans and the No. 24 Bears lost a combined five games, and what was supposed to be the game of the year is just not. But don’t tell Cal coach Jeff Tedford that the game has lost its importance.

“This is still a big conference game for us, maybe it doesn’t have the national attention or the weight,” Tedford said. “If we would have played it four weeks ago, it probably would have had a lot more weight of course but that’s the national thing. It still carries a lot of weight to us, and it still, I’m sure, it carries a lot of weight to USC.”

Both teams have fallen hard from their lofty rankings. The Bears (6-3, 3-3 in the Pac-10) ascended to No. 2 in national polls for the first time since 1951 before dropping three consecutive games—a first in Tedford’s career.

At the same time, the Trojans (7-2, 4-2) were the No. 1 team in the country. But unexpected losses to Oregon and—even more shocking­—Stanford dropped the Trojans off their perennial pedestal.

ESPN: “USC-Cal has diminished intrigue, but still has bowl implications”

[USC’s] star-laden defense, however, has ranged from good to outstanding, though it too has suffered through numerous injuries. It turned in its most dominant performance of the season against the Beavers, piling up nine sacks. That’s probably why Cal coach Jeff Tedford isn’t buying projections that USC’s tumble from the nation’s elite is at hand. …

When Longshore is healthy — i.e., not appearing to favor his right ankle when he throws — Cal’s offense is second only to Oregon’s in the conference. … But when Longshore will be 100 percent is still in doubt. Perhaps in response, Tedford has been more conservative in his play calling of late, which has provoked muted irritation from a fan base that mostly still believes he walks on water.

In the workmanlike 20-17 victory over the Cougars, the Bears produced long drives –17, 20 and 11 plays — but their longest pass went for just 19 yards. Forsett had a 44-yard touchdown run, but gained only 88 yards on his other 31 carries. Moreover, the Bears must contend with this: USC is 21-0 in November under Carroll, though that perfect mark conveniently leaves out last season’s Dec. 2 loss to UCLA that knocked the Trojans out of the national title game.

OC Register: “USC looks to play more aggressive against Cal”

The USC defense … piling up nine sacks and holding the Beavers to fewer than 200 total yards and no touchdowns. But will an aggressive style work against a more intricate Cal offense, with the Pac-10’s best receiving corps and an offensive line that has allowed just eight sacks in nine games?

Somewhat surprisingly, the Trojans have spent a lot of time in aggressive, man-to-man defensive schemes in practice this week. The players seem to love it. …

After praising Cal’s receivers and pass protection, Carroll said, “I’m as confident in our ability to handle these guys as I’ve ever been based on how we’ve played this season.”

Daily Trojan: “Bears not in the position they expected to be when facing USC”

[Longshore] is still not fully recovered but plans to play Saturday against the Trojans. “We’ve been fairly banged up through the season here, and [Longshore] has been a little bit hobbled,” Tedford said. “He’s able to do more things now so he was very efficient last week.”

Despite all of the Golden Bears’ struggles, USC coach Pete Carroll said he still sees the team as dangerous as ever because of Tedford. “He’s done a fantastic job with their program,” Carroll said. “He’s turned the program around and given them a consistency that they haven’t had.”

The hype has died down for what was supposed to be a game that would determine the Pac-10 winner and possibly a trip to the national championship. And no one could be happier with the diminished attention than Tedford, whose team is taking baby steps on its way back to becoming a national power after snapping its three-game losing streak. “I think we have learned one thing – that winning does not come easy,” Tedford said. “We really need to appreciate it when we do get them.”

ESPN’s Mel Kiper: “5 to watch”

The best one-on-one matchup this week might very well take place in Berkeley between USC DT Sedrick Ellis (No. 5 on my Top 25 Big Board) and California center Alex Mack. Ellis is the fourth on the team in tackles, including 10½ stops behind the line of scrimmage and 7½ sacks. Mack is a junior but he might be the best pivot man in all of college football this [season].

Three other players to keep an eye for the Trojans are: Rey Maualuga, who leads has 7½ tackles for loss from the linebacker position; and cornerbacks Terrell Thomas and Cary Harris. Both will be extremely busy trying to keep tabs on Cal’s wide receiver duo of DeSean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins.

SJ Mercury’s Jon Wilner: “Pac-10 picks of the week: What to make of Cal-USC”

USC (minus-4) AT CAL: Cal struggled to score against quality defenses of Oregon State and UCLA, and the Trojans’ D is at least as good. Will DeSean Jackson play big (like he did against Tennessee and Oregon) or disappear (like he did last year against USC)? Look for the Trojans to run the ball until Cal proves it can stop Washington/Johnson/McKnight. The Bears will have to be aggressive to get pressure on John David Booty, which means play-action could work wonders for the Trojans, especially play action to tight end Fred Davis, a nightmare matchup for everyone in the conference. If USC limits turnovers, it’s hard to see Cal winning. GIMME: USC.

SJ Mercury’s Jon Wilner: “Cal could get thumped”

Been pondering the Cal-USC game for a few days, and I can’t escape the feeling that the Bears are gonna get thumped.

I’m not talking about a four-touchdown differential or anything like that. I’m talking about a no-frills beat down … Cal makes a few big plays early, maybe even grabs the lead, but USC grinds away, takes control and wins by 10 or 14 points. Cal fans leave Memorial Stadium feeling like the Bears were never really in the game in the second half — never really had a legit chance to win.

I’m not sure why I feel that way, don’t have a great reason for thinking that: The Bears haven’t played well lately, but neither has USC — until last weekend, which it torched Oregon State.

Live blogging for Wash. St

Well, here we go. The Bears host Washington State (3-5, 1-4 Pac-10) tonight with an opportunity to get back on track after a three-game skid.

Cal should definitely win this one, but given the shaky state of the Bears the Cougars are not a team to be overlooked. They’re coming off a big 27-7 victory over UCLA. However, while they’re 3-1 at home, they have not won on the road this season. They also have an excellent QB in Alex Brink but they’ll be missing starting running back Dwight Tardy.

6:44p: Sidenote, ASU taking a shellacking from Oregon right now. It’s 35-16 and the Ducks don’t look like they’re slowing down at all.

7:15p: Ducks win 35-23 while #2 BC trails 7-0 to FSU. We may be seeing Oregon in the National Championship game come January.

7:21p: Nate Longshore is the quarterback and he looks fine for now. Not sure what’s up with the coverage, but the game just switched on a few minutes into the first quarter. The Bears are sporting the gold jerseys and the offense is moving down the field pretty well.

7:27p: Whoops, FB Brian Holley just dropped a touchdown pass. Still, it looks like the offense is clicking right now, especially the ground game. Justin Forsett and Jahvid Best just made some great runs.

7:31p: QB sneak with Longshore already busted up? Bad idea. The announcers are skeptical about it too. But Forsett takes in the touchdown and the Bears have a successful, efficient opening drive. Bears lead, 7-0. Now… the defense goes to work.

7:38p: I’ll say cautiously that the defense looks alright… Zach Follett makes a big hit, Thomas DeCoud makes a great play breaking up a long pass. Luckily, Brink overthrows a wide-open receiver — whoever was covering him fell down.

7:42p: As usual, Longshore botches the long ball and throws an interception. Lavelle Hawkins appeared to be in perfect position but Longshore simply could not get the ball to him. Luckily, the defense subsequently holds the Cougs to a three-and-out, but let’s see if Longshore can overcome the last setback and lead the Bears down the field from inside the 5 yard line.

7:47p: Forsett and the ground game are tearing up the Cougs right now. However, I feel like I’ll be holding my breath whenever Longshore delivers the ball.

7:56p: Longshore attempts the long ball and is ALMOST PICKED AGAIN on a crucial 3rd and 2! His throws look absolutely terrible right now. The announcers can’t stop talking about his form which is obviously hampered by the ankle injury — they highlight his footwork and repeat “he is really struggling with his feet.” Will we see Kevin Riley soon?

***

EDIT 11/4: Sadly, the internet went out at my apartment complex at this point, effectively killing my live blogging efforts.

The Bears’ drive kept going with a long march down the field. However, with only runs attempted inside the 10 yard line, Cal unsurprisingly settled for a field goal. The first half finished uneventfully besides a nice interception capped with a 37-yard run by Syd’Quan Thompson. Cal totally dominated the time of possession of the first half but only ended up with 10 points to show for it.

In the third quarter, defenses on both squads looked pretty decent — or, the offenses couldn’t execute. There were a few field goals, but nothing too spectacular. 13-6.

Forsett made a bad fumble in the fourth quarter in the Cougar red zone and ended a nice, methodical drive. After exchanging three-and-outs and Washington State registering another field goal, Forsett broke out for a much-needed 44-yard touchdown run opened up by center Alex Mack. 20-9.

Down by two scores, the Cougs made a desperation drive and managed to score a touchdown with a very close two-point conversion. However, the Hawk comes up with the onside kick attempt — game over, Cal wins it 20-17.

This game was much too close for comfort, but I’m pleased that the losing “streak” is over. Longshore performed adequately and looked good with short passes — meanwhile, his long passes continue to terrify me. Overall, the offense is missing something intangible… things really need to come together or there’s no way the Bears take down USC next week.

Despite the clear need for improvement, I can’t help but feel good about the much-needed win last night. Go Bears.

Personnel updates, QB controversy?

WR Robert Jordan practiced yesterday and “he will play as long as he doesn’t suffer any ill effects on his shoulder.” He appeared to re-injure his hurt shoulder while laying out for a catch last week at Arizona State. FB Will Ta’ufo’ou is also practicing “without limitation” after missing last week due to recurring knee problems.

Sadly, DE Rulon Davis may be out for awhile with a sprained MCL. He returned from a foot injury and immediately made an impact on the pass rush in the Arizona State game. He’ll be sorely missed for the next few weeks.

What about the quarterback situation? Earlier, the CC Times’ J. Okanes observed:

After Nate Longshore took every first team rep at practice Tuesday, Kevin Riley took every first team rep on Wednesday. Longshore still got in some work, but coach Jeff Tedford said that Longshore needed a day of rest.

After Thursday’s practice, Okanes now thinks that QB Nate Longshore is clearly the starter. However, things might be a little murky:

Coach Jeff Tedford once again said it will be a gametime decision. …

Based on what I saw Thursday, it seemed fairly clear that Longshore is the starter. But based on Tedford’s comments, I’m not so sure… saying simply that he is going to continue to monitor Longshore’s condition until Saturday makes me think there might be a better chance of Riley playing than you might expect. …

For the record, Longshore seemed to be moving pretty well. The fact that he was able to practice fully on Tuesday after aggravating his ankle sprain Saturday made me think that he was in pretty good condition.

Yikes, this sounds familiar. Longshore may look normal now, but his ankle has a habit of breaking down as games go on. TBIOOF makes a good point here:

[T]he issue has not been Longshore’s ability to practice or play, but rather his ability to play an entire game. In both the UCLA and Arizona State games, he has started incredibly well, with the passing game leading the Bears. But he has faded to mediocrity in the third quarter, and has been outright awful in the fourth quarter – two interceptions against UCLA, two more against ASU, and the horrible final series against the Sun Devils.

Despite Tedford’s insistence to the contrary, Longshore’s mechanics have melted down as the game’s have gone on. He clearly has both been dropping to side-armed throws (a good indication of a bad leg) and throwing without using his legs at all.

So, the question is…if Longshore is still hampered, why would he be the starter?

We’ll probably see Longshore in the starting lineup tomorrow, but I hope that Tedford is willing to make a change if things fall apart — otherwise, we might be watching in pain as recent history repeats itself.

Season over

Cal 20, Arizona State 31.

Is this 2005? Coach Jeff Tedford stubbornly sticks with a quarterback, despite terrible play and a more than adequate replacement waiting on the bench.

What a disgrace. Tedford begins the game telling us QB Nate Longshore is “65%”. What was he still doing in the game? The three-and-outs, the blown throws, the two interceptions… his ankle was still clearly injured.

This game was hopeless for the Bears the moment Longshore hobbled onto the field in the second half. He didn’t step into throws. His timing was way off. We can’t expect a quarterback to bring us to victory over the #4 team in the nation on one leg. Tedford needs to rethink his philosophy on changing personnel (read: the quarterback) when our players are unable to perform.

I’m at a loss for words… more will come later.

Today: Arizona State

The Bears are “hungry” for a win after two tough losses, aiming to return to form as they face #4 Arizona State tonight.

A win over the Sun Devils means that the Rose Bowl is still possible. Am I too optimistic? Probably. But today, I see the Bears looking sharp and ready to play. With new motivation and without the national championship pressures, I am making the homer prediction of Cal pulling the upset in Tempe 31-24.

Injury and personnel updates:

• DE Rulon Davis will be back after missing the past few games with a sprained foot. It was previously uncertain whether he would make the trip to Tempe. The pass rush has missed him badly.
• CB Brandon Hampton will be filling at the rover position for Marcus Ezeff, who is still out with a quad injury which appears to be worsening. The question is: who will see at cornerback? We’ll probably see more of true freshman Chris Conte and possibly RS freshman Darian Hagan.
• WR Robert Jordan (about to beat the record for consecutive games with at least one reception) will play today, and TE Cameron Morrah should also.
• Safety Robert Peele still out (ankle).
• OG Noris Malele is losing some first team reps to RS freshman Mark Boskovich.

Here are the media rounds for the game:

ESPN: “Top 25 Overview”

Arizona State hopes to continue its push into the BCS title game picture as it hosts Cal. Once title-game contenders themselves, the Golden Bears hope to right the ship after a two-game losing streak.

AP: “No. 18 Cal Looking To End Slide Against No. 7 ASU”

Back-to-back losses have dropped the Bears to No. 17 from No. 2. Meanwhile, Arizona State has leaped from No. 18 to No. 7 and inherited all of Cal’s national ambitions. Two programs headed in opposite directions collide in the desert on Saturday night. …

ASU hopes to avoid a repeat of last season, when a loss to Cal all but wrecked its season. The Sun Devils won their first three games before walking into a buzz saw in Strawberry Canyon. The 49-21 whipping by Cal started a three-game losing streak, and the Sun Devils never recovered, finishing 7-6.

“For me, I didn’t play too well at Cal last year and they beat us pretty good,” Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter said. “This is a game I’ve been looking forward to, a little over a year now, waiting to get a second chance at them.”

Bruce Feldman: “Week 9 picks”

Cal 38, Arizona State 34: The Sun Devils have been quite good on defense, but they have yet to face an offense like they’ll see in Cal. Last season Ryan Torain ran all over Cal for a career-best 191 yards. He will be missed. I think the Bears make it five in a row in this series.

Minneapolis Star Tribune: “Saturday’s games to watch”

Cal RB Justin Forsett is second in the Pac-10 in rushing (116 yards per game) and has had a rushing touchdown in seven of his past eight games. … The Golden Bears are first in the Pac-10 in sacks against (eight), and third in scoring offense (35.1 points per game). … The Sun Devils have had an interception in nine consecutive games. … Arizona State is second in the Pac-10 in total offense (437.3 yards per game), scoring offense (37.7 points per game), total defense (304.3 yards per game) and passing defense (214.1 yards per game).

The stat: Arizona State is fourth in the nation in scoring defense (15 points per game). Line: Arizona State by 3.

ESPN: “California-Arizona St. Preview”

“We have stumbled two weeks in a row now,” Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. “We just have to regroup. We are not going to just pack it in. There is so much parity in this conference.”

Although the Bears have been sliding, the Sun Devils have had no success against them lately, dropping four straight meetings — none have been decided by fewer than 17 points — since a 30-10 home win on Oct. 7, 2000. …

Leading rusher Ryan Torain suffered a season-ending toe injury in the first quarter of the win over Washington. Cal has been susceptible to the run lately, allowing an average of 175.7 rushing yards in its last three games. …

Longshore had one of his best career games against the Sun Devils last season as he threw for 270 yards, four TDs and one interception. The Bears have not lost three straight games since losing the first 10 games of their 1-10 season in 2001.

Thoughts at 5-2: “There’s still a chance”

CC Times’ Jon Okanes: “Bears down but not out after slide”

Now that Cal’s players apparently have talked themselves off the ledge following their crushing 30-21 road loss to UCLA on Saturday, it seems they’ve regained some perspective on the rest of the season. No, the Bears aren’t going to win the national title this season, but they haven’t been relegated to spoilers, either. The Rose Bowl may seem like a long shot, but it’s still a possibility. And finishing with a two-loss season would make them a factor on the national scene no matter how the rest of the Pac-10 standings shake down.

“Everybody has to know that it’s not over,” Cal wide receiver Robert Jordan said. “That’s the motivation that will keep us in it, knowing we still have a chance at the Pac-10 title and to get in the Rose Bowl. Everybody just has to relax. The way the college football season has been going, a lot of people can still lose. You never know what’s going to happen.” …

“Everybody had their heads down and everything,” Jordan said. “We just can’t give up on the season like this. There’s still a chance. It’s not too late for us to compete for the Pac-10 championship. Everything will be all right, and we’ll beat Arizona State.”

Oakland Trib’s Gary Peterson: “Tedford dwelling on his play-calling, like Cal fans”

“Trust me, I’ve been awake a lot the past couple days,” [Jeff Tedford] said Tuesday at his weekly media confessional. “As a play-caller after every game, I go back and think, should we have done this, should we have done that? I’m not going to call the perfect play every time.” …

At the top of Tedford’s To-Review list this week were the two running plays he called near the end of Saturday’s loss to UCLA. Cal, trailing by two points, had a first down at the UCLA 35-yard line with 2:40 to play. The Bears needed 20 yards to reach the outer limits of the chip shot zone. …

“We’ve won a lot of games around here doing things the way we’ve done them,” he said. “I’m not sure we should change anything. I don’t think it’s time to hit the panic button.” …

One of the things that won’t change is Cal’s commitment to the run. For starters, Forsett is second in the Pac-10 at 116 rushing yards per game.

SJ Mercury’s Jon Wilner: “How did Cal implode so quickly?”

In eight stunning, perplexing days, Cal plunged from the brink of No. 1 in the nation to fifth in the conference. From a national title contender to the outskirts of the Bowl Championship Series standings. From a Rose Bowl favorite to a Sun Bowl wannabe. And from 5-0 to . . . a three-game losing streak? …The reasons for Cal’s plunge are numerous and somewhat unsatisfying. …

Year after year, the Bears have headed to Los Angeles with a lot on the line, and year after year, they’ve come up short. … During Cal’s six winless years in Los Angeles, UCLA has been beaten at home seven times and USC has been toppled in the Coliseum by Stanford. You’d think that Cal, which has had arguably the second-best program in the league over that span, would have broken through once – if for no other reason than chance. …

And yet, despite their October plunge, the Bears (5-2, 2-2) are not out of the Rose Bowl race.

It has been all of 10 months since a team made the Rose Bowl with two losses in conference play (USC), but the climb to the top of the standings will require help. The Bears need Oregon to lose again, they need ASU to falter, and they need UCLA to stumble at least twice. Oh, and they need to regroup emotionally, get Longshore healthy, find some answers on defense, hold onto the ball and run the table.

SF Examiner’s Glenn Dickey: “Cal alums should see bigger picture”

FACT NO. 1: Cal is two botched plays from a perfect season. …

FACT NO. 2: Jeff Tedford is the most successful Cal coach since the early Pappy Waldorf years, when the Bears went to the Rose Bowl three straight years — 1948-50. Waldorf’s last winning season was 1952, exactly half a century before Tedford’s first season at Cal. …

FACT. NO. 3: Since Tedford has been at Cal, the graduation rate of football players, which had been below 50 percent, has risen dramatically.