One Last Game Night At The Bay
Oregon State makes probably its last trip to the Bay Area (if you don't count San Jose as the Bay Area) this week. Certainly the last to Berkeley or Palo Alto for the foreseeable future.
And there is a distinct possibility that there will be nearly as many Beaver backers as there will be Oski Disciples in Memorial Stadium. It probably won't even vaguely resemble the Game Day/Night environment we have seen so far this season. And that has contributed to trap games in Berkeley, as recently as the last trip, a 39-25 debacle of non-preparedness against a losing Cal program. Although it did serve a purpose, finally pushing Oregon State to the long overdue brink of the end of the Tim Tibesar flawed defense era. And the move to the Trent Bray version of the defense, which we enjoyed the fruits of just last week in the shutdown of then 10th ranked Utah.
But therein lies the beauty of Game Day. The Beavers can bury that disaster (and the ones in 2017, 2015, & 2011) with a statement effort, which has been a big problem 4 of the last 6 tries. But the Coach Smith Beavers have won 3 of the last 4 games against Cal, and it included the relatively rare win over an actually superior Bear bunch in 2019 in Berkeley. That was fun.
It would be a classic Saturday, except there is virtually no place to tailgate in Berkeley (one of many causes of their spotty support, and in turn, their mediocre results). But it can be Reser south, at least for an evening.
And one last time. What better chance to make it a memorable Game Night. (Pac-12 long after dark will not die!) Until recent region-wide college football mismanagement reached the breaking point, who would have ever thought the idea of not going to Cal would be something we miss?
Go (to Berkeley) Beaves!
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com