Cant be too high off such an emotional win last week. We’ve seen it time and time again (seemingly each year) where we have a massive letdown in the weeks after a big win. Im more worried about that than anything this week.
A loss here would really sting. Utah has a really good shot at starting 7-0 if they can pick up a win on the road here. It would set up for huge games against UCLA & UW following that.
The only upside to playing TDS, and this is weak, is that we can get experience of navigating the week following a potentially emotional win out of conference. Hopefully that first half at SJSU taught this team what it means if you fail to execute following an emotional win. I expect this team has a feel for how to handle itself. There’s enough guys who went from beating Cal to getting curb stomped by SC that they can keep the others in line. However there’s enough new blood at key positions the coaches may still have a lot of work to do to keep guys focused this week.
A classic trap game
enhanced-buzz-13292-1375176869-15 I GIVE UP. Can’t transfer pictures from my computer even though Tony told me how. I know there is a help (how to) section but I can’t seem to find that either.
I see what you are saying but I think that would be the case back in the Mtn West days.
We are in the Pac 12 now and every game is a huge game i would think.
I am hoping the Utes are past the highs and lows and come out to play every week at the same level.
I really think the players and coaches turned the corner last Friday and the Koolaid is good!
Utah and Cal have only played each other ten times, but there have been some real good ones. A few that spring to mind: 2003 (Alex Smith vs. Aaron Rodgers on national prime-time TV); 2009 (Jordan Wynn tears it up in the Poinsettia Bowl); and 2015 (#5 Utah vs. #23 Cal, ESPN Gameday). We are 4-1 against the Golden Bears since 2003; and we’re 2-1 against them since joining the Pac-12.
So in your opinion, how strong is the Utah-Cal rivalry on a scale from 0-5 (zero being Utah-San Jose-esque; five being Holy War-esque)?
Also, how would you characterize the Utah-Cal rivalry/series/relationship overall? Do you hate them? Respect them? Fear them? Love ’em? Too early to tell? Explain.
And finally–what is your favorite Utah-Cal memory? And why?
Here are my answers:
I’d rate the Utah-Cal rivalry as a two. We usually beat them when we were in the MWC, and we’ve done really well against them since joining the Pac-12. They’ve been a mid- to low-level Pac-12 team for the last 5 years, so I don’t take any special satisfaction when we beat them. I fully expect to beat them again this week and would be very disappointed if we lost.
My favorite Utah-Cal game was 2003. I believe it was the game where Urban gave out all those free tickets, thus making it the highest-attended game in RES at the time. It was close throughout, but Brandon Warfield scored the game winning TD in the final minutes. It’s the game we discovered we had something special in Alex Smith.
First of all, I can’t get on board with the rating system. A game against BYU a 5? Sorry, not for me. Anymore, playing them is like playing any other non-conference non-P5. It just doesn’t do anything for me like it did pre 2010. Games that rate a 5 for me are all conference games. We don’t have many winning records against Pac-12 teams since joining the conference so earning a 3-1 record against them is huge, then it’s bye-bye for two years. I think I’m going to put this in every post this week, “Saturday will be a pick and sack fest.”
A game against BYU a 5? Sorry, not for me. Anymore, playing them is like playing any other non-conference non-P5. It just doesn’t do anything for me like it did pre 2010.
I think that’s a very fair point. The BYU-Utah “rivalry”/Deseret Duel is currently experiencing an identity crisis, for sure. It’s definitely not what it once was.
But I’ll admit–in the latter end of the WAC years and all through the MWC years, it was a great rivalry. I guess that’s what I had in mind when I gave it a five rating.
I loved last year when the ball bounced off Boobie for the win.
I loved the 2003 game. Alex’s first start after that close aTm loss. We knew we had a beast in Brandon Warfield, and the stadium was rockin.
I don’t think there’s much of a rivalry. 1/5 They have the other California schools and I simply don’t think we’ve played enough or had enough good games or bad blood to feel a lot of passion. I think it’ll take time and a bit of luck for one to develop. We play them less often then other P12 north schools and so the probability of meaningful games in terms of P12 races is lower than our south rivals or even other northern division teams.
Eventually history will accumulate and there will be a healthy rivalry I think.
I honestly hope we develop good rivalries with everyone in the conference. Something like UNM and UNLV basketball rivalries were in the MWC days. I looked forward to those games because they were generally good and meaningful, but I didn’t have much to hate like TDS.
What I’d really like is for us to force USC and UCLA to see us as threats and therefore spur a decent rivalry. Winning a division title is the first step.
Along those lines I expect the Colorad9 game to carry some weight and make that game matter for the first time since 2011.
If we manage to play and beat Stanford in the CCG I think they will start to see us as a consistent threat and we’ll have a great environment for that game next year.
At first I actually felt a bit down in the P12 because I had become so accustomed to our MWC foes. I feel like the last 3 years have changed that a lot. Games against us have mattered to everyone because we mattered in the hunt for the division.
Utah-Cal rivalry in my opinion overall is a 2. We just don’t play often enough to make much of a rivalry. I live between Sacramento and San Francisco and get to rib some of my friends so for me personally it may raise to a 3.
My favorite “rivalry’ memory:
This is my favorite block ever. Bolles though is a close second.
Would you rather play Washington or Stanford int he Pac-12 championship game.
Keep in mind we don’t play Stanford in the regular season.
Stanford. Washington has our number.
Washington. Stanford just knows how to get it done in big games like that. Besides–they’re due to finally beat us.
Stanford. My best friend from high school is an alum and games against them help us reconnect. Also we don’t play them in the regular season. I wouldn’t hate a UW re-match though. Honestly I’d be thrilled just to be there.
I’m going to go with Stanford.
I’m not super confident we can beat Washington at home this year. I still have it as a loss for Utah. Not sure playing them twice and at a neutral field will help with that.
I haven’t been overly impressed with Stanford so far this year. I think last years edition was stronger. They may not even win the North this year. For whatever reason Utah matches up very well with Stanford. I would like our chances.
This upcoming game will tell us a lot about both teams.
Really think Washington is better this year. Browning is the real deal and Stanfords Qb(s) dont scare me at all. Think UW defense is better
Gotta slow down Cal’s offense first…
Stanford- My son’s first Utah game was the slaying of a giant at RES. My daughter was on national TV cheering for the Utes in the game at the Farm as Kaelin Clay handed the ball to the ref after his first TD post his infamous drop. I would love to have another special family memory as we watch Utah beat Stanford for Utah’s first PAC-12 Championship.
I know it is a long way off but that would be my dream.
Actually, the Utah Utes have only played in Berkeley once since 1964 — In the Year 2000.
The Utah-Cal series is tied at 5-5.
Here’s the series history, courtesy of Winsipedia:
1920: Cal defeats Utah in Berkeley, 63-0
1958: Cal defeats Utah in Berkeley, 36-21
1963: Cal defeats Utah in Salt Lake City, 35-22
1964: Utah defeats Cal in Berkeley, 14-0
2000: Cal defeats Utah in Berkeley, 24-21
2003: Utah defeats Cal in Salt Lake City, 31-24
2009: Utah defeats Cal in San Diego, 37-2
2011: Cal defeats Utah in San Francisco, 34-10
2012: Utah defeats Cal in Salt Lake City, 49-27
2015: Utah defeats Cal in Salt Lake City, 30-24
I did not realize we played back to back game in SLC.
That’s how the conference games against Cal/Stanford go Away/Home/Home/Away or Home/Away/Away/Home – I expect we will play Furd at their place in 2017. But I could be talking with my anal sphincter.
Best comment from that board :
“Cal has only beaten Utah once in Berkeley since 1958”
How about we are 5-2 against them since 1964. Why do people come up with stupid stats like this…
We are undefeated at home against Cal, since 1963. We’ve never lost to Cal in a bowl game.
We’ve not lost to Cal since we joined the Pac12.
Blah, blah, blah….
Wow, didn’t realize this is our first game in Berkeley since joining the PAC.
Btw, that game against Cal in the Giants stadium was the absolute worst.
Cal defeated Utah in 2011. The game was a home game for Cal, but was played at AT&T Park as Cal was renovating their stadium that year.
So, yes, Utah has not lost to Cal in Berkeley since joining the PAC12. But, Utah has lost a road game to Cal.
Mea Culpa, I saw San Francisco and figured it wasn’t a Cal home game.
I can admit my mistake. BTW I was at the Cal game last year. What a great game.
I’m looking forward to the Colorado game this November. I’ll be there, been to all three Utah @ Colorado games since we joined the Pac12.
I was going to day Tedford, but Cal Memorial was being rebuilt at the time.
That means the coach was probably Tom Holmoe in 2003.
Is that correct?
Nice job. It was Tom Holmoe in 2000.
Where did e play them in 2003? Was that a home game?
Yeah–2003 was at RES.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/1c599a4d-8952-3f11-8bf6-585a57cb929e/ss_ty-montgomery-finds-nfl.html
Haha, wow… Nice!
Will there be a 2020 college football season?
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