2nd place in the Pac-10 again... by PhantomBear

After the USC game, there was a bit of blame tossed around about Cal's poor execution.

PhantomBear responded with an impassioned rant:

Does anyone think that is REALLY a problem after 5 years? Tedford has "lost" something he had his first two years?

I have done my share of pretending like we somehow are doing worse every year, BUT, here are some of my little "facts"

FIRST and foremost, Tedford has improved by about a game a year (2004 was a fluke IMHO based on what has happened before and after). That means that this year is the first year we REALLY BELONG in the Holiday Bowl, so this is not "here we go again," it is, "how far we have come!" We can almost count on a better next year every year.

SECOND, PC at SC is a dynasty. They win and win a lot. It takes a fluke to beat them, or if you are lucky, your best day and their worst. thats the way it is. Thing is Dynasty's only last about 5 or 6 years before they burn out or the rest of the league advances to the new level (changing from old offense to new offense etc). In that time, teams like Texas, maybe Ohio St and maybe Cal one day, will their way to the top over unbeatable teams.

THIRD, It took Bowden 17 years to build a national championship team. he was second place a LOT in that time. Texas was KNOWN to choke against Oklahoma and come in second every year, and then one year they took that step. Most teams stay in second a while and then take the step. Tedford will naturally take the step one day.

FOURTH, Tedford changed from his misdirection/aggressive play calling, to a "we have to players to beat any team" mentality. Instead of out tricking the other guy with play calling, he has changed to out playing. THAT IS GOOD in the long run. Against PC he might need to change that for now, and maybe he has swung to far to fast, but coaches that have to trick their way through a season dont win many games (Dorrell tricked and lucked their way to 10 wins, fake punts and garbage...I don't want to be like that).

LAST, Tedford is a Cal Coach, not a coach. It seems like the 2 million is less important to him than the fans and players and the school. The man threw up after the Tennessee game. In Heaters blog or article he noted that Tedford came to make a mark and leave, and now he bleeds blue and gold. The way he gave the students a thumbs up after the game, and changed our team from a loser on the field and in the classroom(comparatively) to a winner in both places...That is amazing, and is what Tradition and legacy's are built with.

Basically I dont think Tedford has lost anything. The 10-2 season was out of the linier progress Tedford has brought, and spoiled us into thinking Championships are won in 5 years...

The biggest thing we forget is that national championship seasons take 2 seasons to build, Tedford needs back to back GREAT seasons for a true NC hunt. Going undefeated does not even guarantee a championship. League Championships are hard, even harder when your program is building at the same time that a dynasty is emerging, and we still don't have a good locker room! Yet Tedford STILL would have gone to the rose bowl any year between maybe 1993 and before 2004 with 2004's team, he just was unlucky to have that team in 04.

Bottom line is every year we can honestly look to the next year to be better. VERY few people are alive that can say that about Cal football at any other time.

Being a Cal fan has become very very very good.