[candlejack]

Joe Ayoob, QB for the Cal Bears, should be at the helm this year. After a rocky start last year, he pulled it together and had a decent season. Now, with some experience at Division 1A ball, I see him a serious threat to laed the Golden Bears deep into the season. Along with RB Lynch, no one should look past CAL this year at all.

[Burlington Bears]

I think that the guy that should be at the helm this year should be Nate Longshore, not Joe Ayoob. Lets not forget that Longshore won the job from Ayoob in preseason last year and I have no reason to believe that he won't do it again this year. Ayoob was good at the beginning of the year but that was against the likes of New Mexico State. When he got to conference play, he was maddeningly inconsistent. That pick he threw towards the end of the UCLA game was devastating.

[Lefty Noob]

Longshore is the projected starter according to Street & Smiths, but they're quick to add: "Ayoob looke more comfortable with Tedford's offense than he did last fall... Don't be surprised if Ayoob overtakes Longshore, but chances are that both will see significant action during the season... Longshore is bigger and has a slightly better arm, but Ayoob is more mobile, and that should serve him well in Cal's system." So basically, the job is Longshore's for now, but the mag writers think its only a matter of time before Ayoob takes over. What do you think?

[OrangeFuzzyVols]

WOW! I wanted to check out what some Cal fans were expecting this season. I noticed there isn't a lot going on here. I'm assuming Football isn't as big a deal when you have a beach.
Is Ayoob pretty mobile? The Vols lost a lot on defense last season, but trust that Tennessee's Defense will still be extremely quick! If we're going to win this game, it'll be due to a pass rush that causes mistakes IMO. Everyone keeps talking about home field advantage, but the Vols have been much better on the road lately. I don’t see that being a big factor. Why? I don’t know. What do you guys think? Does Tennessee have a chance of winning the opener?

[candlejack]

Originally Posted by OrangeFuzzyVols

WOW! I wanted to check out what some Cal fans were expecting this season. I noticed there isn't a lot going on here. I'm assuming Football isn't as big a deal when you have a beach.
Is Ayoob pretty mobile? The Vols lost a lot on defense last season, but trust that Tennessee's Defense will still be extremely quick! If we're going to win this game, it'll be due to a pass rush that causes mistakes IMO. Everyone keeps talking about home field advantage, but the Vols have been much better on the road lately. I don’t see that being a big factor. Why? I don’t know. What do you guys think? Does Tennessee have a chance of winning the opener?

Thanks for the comment Orange! I have to admit that the Vols will provide a big, early test for the Bears this year. You say that the Vols have been better on the road, does this mean that you don't like how they do at home? This game is in TN. Do you think that this will go against the Vols?

[Burlington Bears]

Originally Posted by OrangeFuzzyVols

WOW! I wanted to check out what some Cal fans were expecting this season. I noticed there isn't a lot going on here. I'm assuming Football isn't as big a deal when you have a beach.
Is Ayoob pretty mobile? The Vols lost a lot on defense last season, but trust that Tennessee's Defense will still be extremely quick! If we're going to win this game, it'll be due to a pass rush that causes mistakes IMO. Everyone keeps talking about home field advantage, but the Vols have been much better on the road lately. I don’t see that being a big factor. Why? I don’t know. What do you guys think? Does Tennessee have a chance of winning the opener?

Well, Tennesee really struggled last year especially
at the end of the season and they lost some guys to
the NFL but you know that Tennesee will always recruit
well, have speed and at the beginning of the season,
Fulmer will have put together a pretty good team.
Ayoob is a mobile quarterback but he is not a runner.
He has a good arm and fits well with this offense but
he is inconsistent and throws too many picks. In terms
of home field advantage, Tennesee may have been better
lately on the road but you have to remember that this
is Cal. They play in the Pac-10 and they have not
played in one of these hostile environments that they
have in the SEC in a while. It should be a great
game, definitely the best of the opening weekend.

[OrangeFuzzyVols]

Originally Posted by candlejack

Thanks for the comment Orange! I have to admit that the Vols will provide a big, early test for the Bears this year. You say that the Vols have been better on the road, does this mean that you don't like how they do at home? This game is in TN. Do you think that this will go against the Vols?

It sure seems that way. I’m not sure why, but UT hasn’t been a home team at all lately. Personally, I think it has some to do with spoiled fans. We have +104K at every home game; it looks like we could shake up some visitors. The players just don’t seem to be inspired at home, maybe because they’re favored? We do seem to rise to the occasion when we’re the underdo. Show our boys no respect, and you’ll have a fight on your hands! It’s why I hope that in a week from now, Lee Corso tells the world that Tennessee doesn’t have a chance!
It’s weird, and I don’t understand it myself, but my money is always on Tennessee when no one else’s is! I’m leaning that way anyway based on two examples of what I just talked about. They have to earn respect back after last season and they’re ranked 23rd and not 3rd this year.

[OrangeFuzzyVols]

Originally Posted by Burlington Bears

Well, Tennesee really struggled last year especially
at the end of the season and they lost some guys to
the NFL but you know that Tennesee will always recruit
well, have speed and at the beginning of the season,
Fulmer will have put together a pretty good team.
Ayoob is a mobile quarterback but he is not a runner.
He has a good arm and fits well with this offense but
he is inconsistent and throws too many picks. In terms
of home field advantage, Tennesee may have been better
lately on the road but you have to remember that this
is Cal. They play in the Pac-10 and they have not
played in one of these hostile environments that they
have in the SEC in a while. It should be a great
game, definitely the best of the opening weekend.

True. Cal could be overwhelmed by the masses but I’m sure the Cal coaches have been preparing hard for just that. Tennessee will be inspired more for this game than any opener I can remember. They have something to prove. It’s why I’m beginning to feel better about this game as it draws near. The chip on the Vol’s shoulder has to be getting pretty heavy. That’s a good thing for us. On the other hand, there is so much youth up front on defense, it’s concerning. I can’t forget about our wide-eyed QB either. I just don’t know. I guess that’s why they play the game huh? Maybe our DBs will fetch a couple more INTs than yours will that could be the difference.

[candlejack]

Originally Posted by Burlington Bears

Well, Tennesee really struggled last year especially
at the end of the season and they lost some guys to
the NFL but you know that Tennesee will always recruit
well, have speed and at the beginning of the season,
Fulmer will have put together a pretty good team.
Ayoob is a mobile quarterback but he is not a runner.
He has a good arm and fits well with this offense but
he is inconsistent and throws too many picks. In terms
of home field advantage, Tennesee may have been better
lately on the road but you have to remember that this
is Cal. They play in the Pac-10 and they have not
played in one of these hostile environments that they
have in the SEC in a while. It should be a great
game, definitely the best of the opening weekend.

Hmmm...playing in a hostile enviroment? How does playing at USC not denote hostility? That is definately one of the most hostile enviroments that Cal plays in every other year. Lately, Cal manages to scare the beejesus out of USC. Cal should have won that game last year. Cal should be used to playing in a hostile enviroment. Even Stanford doesn't have much of a team, but it is very hostile to play there.

[Burlington Bears]

Originally Posted by candlejack

Hmmm...playing in a hostile enviroment? How does playing at USC not denote hostility? That is definately one of the most hostile enviroments that Cal plays in every other year. Lately, Cal manages to scare the beejesus out of USC. Cal should have won that game last year. Cal should be used to playing in a hostile enviroment. Even Stanford doesn't have much of a team, but it is very hostile to play there.

first of all, USC killed Cal last year and that was in Berkely. True USC is a relatively hostile environment but it is a whole different ball game when you get to the SEC. Besides, most of these players on this team have never played there or have only played there once. Stanford doesn't even compare to Tennessee in terms of a hostile environment. I think that to say that home field advantage will not be a factor is ludacris.

[Burlington Bears]

Originally Posted by OrangeFuzzyVols

True. Cal could be overwhelmed by the masses but I’m sure the Cal coaches have been preparing hard for just that. Tennessee will be inspired more for this game than any opener I can remember. They have something to prove. It’s why I’m beginning to feel better about this game as it draws near. The chip on the Vol’s shoulder has to be getting pretty heavy. That’s a good thing for us. On the other hand, there is so much youth up front on defense, it’s concerning. I can’t forget about our wide-eyed QB either. I just don’t know. I guess that’s why they play the game huh? Maybe our DBs will fetch a couple more INTs than yours will that could be the difference.

Well I'm not so sure about that. The Bear's secondary is pretty good with hughes and Mixon.

[candlejack]

Originally Posted by Burlington Bears

first of all, USC killed Cal last year and that was in Berkely. True USC is a relatively hostile environment but it is a whole different ball game when you get to the SEC. Besides, most of these players on this team have never played there or have only played there once. Stanford doesn't even compare to Tennessee in terms of a hostile environment. I think that to say that home field advantage will not be a factor is ludacris.

I yeild about the USC game last year, I was thinking of the year before. I do realize that the SEC if a whole different ball of wax than the PAC-10. It's just that I see that Cal has played in some pressure-cooker type games and has come out allright. It will be close. I'm calling this game to be 27-24 in favor of Cal!

[OrangeFuzzyVols]

I have no opinion on the hostile environment comments. I know what the SEC is like, but I have no clue about the Pac-10. If there’s a glaring advantage in Knoxville, it could be the heat and humidity. Cal’s been practicing in 70 degree weather; it’ll be a transition for sure. Coupled with 100,000 fans singing ‘Rocky Top’, it could create some additional opposition for the bears.

[Burlington Bears]

Originally Posted by candlejack

I yeild about the USC game last year, I was thinking of the year before. I do realize that the SEC if a whole different ball of wax than the PAC-10. It's just that I see that Cal has played in some pressure-cooker type games and has come out allright. It will be close. I'm calling this game to be 27-24 in favor of Cal!

Well that would be just fine with me! I agree with you, I think that Cal wins a close one.

[checkerboard_charly]

Vol fan here. From what i have read Ayoob will be starting against us. He will get killed by our defense. Yall better hope Longshore will be ready to come in. good luck