[pefloresjr]

Gonna be restrained in interpreting the meaning of any game where the winner benefits from 7 turnovers + a one-yard punt, though ymmv.

I agree with this but I saw the same thing Outsider did.  Cal's zone was confounding Falk and he was tentative before making his decision to throw.  Once he had a few picked off he became more tentative.  Many of Cal's nine sacks were coverage sacks because Falk didn't know where to throw or was afraid to throw.  Falk had some sort of injury to his non-throwing hand because he came out with a glove on that hand late in the game.  I think that contributed to his fumbles.  Also, several (seemed like 4 or 5) of the interceptions were of the tipped pinball type where a Cal defender was able to grab it just before it hit the ground.  The defense gets credit for causing this of course, but there is an element of luck involved.  As for the Cal team's attitude, I don't think it is that different.  I was actually always impressed with the effort shown by Cal through the entire game under Dykes even when we were beating them handily.  The biggest difference now is that they do have better coaching and a scheme that is giving them some success on both sides of the ball.  Big Game is definitely back in play but I'm not ready to coronate Wilcox and his staff as one of the top coaching staffs yet.  They are really good and may get there, but I don't have that rooting interest level of hopeful enthusiasm or fear-filled dread that some others do.

Cheers,
Pete F.

[pefloresjr]

Gonna be restrained in interpreting the meaning of any game where the winner benefits from 7 turnovers + a one-yard punt, though ymmv.

I agree with this but I saw the same thing Outsider did.  Cal's zone was confounding Falk and he was tentative before making his decision to throw.  Once he had a few picked off he became more tentative.  Many of Cal's nine sacks were coverage sacks because Falk didn't know where to throw or was afraid to throw.  Falk had some sort of injury to his non-throwing hand because he came out with a glove on that hand late in the game.  I think that contributed to his fumbles.  Also, several (seemed like 4 or 5) of the interceptions were of the tipped pinball type where a Cal defender was able to grab it just before it hit the ground.  The defense gets credit for causing this of course, but there is an element of luck involved.  As for the Cal team's attitude, I don't think it is that different.  I was actually always impressed with the effort shown by Cal through the entire game under Dykes even when we were beating them handily.  The biggest difference now is that they do have better coaching and a scheme that is giving them some success on both sides of the ball.  Big Game is definitely back in play but I'm not ready to coronate Wilcox and his staff as one of the top coaching staffs yet.  They are really good and may get there, but I don't have that rooting interest level of hopeful enthusiasm or fear-filled dread that some others do.

Cheers,
Pete F.