Hey All,
It's time for the this part of our look at the schedules of the Power Five conferences with a look at the Pac 12 and a look at some very early season action. We will always miss you, Tom Kelly. We will think of you every time the Trojans are moving left to right across our radio dial.
Summaries (What? So, early? Yes, so early.)
California 51- Hawaii 31 (Sydney, Australia)
Texas Tech graduate transfer QB Davis Webb and the rest of the Golden Bears overcame a slow first quarter to turn this one into rout by halftime. Webb's 441 yard, four TD performance showed the Warriors and the rest of the college football world it is possible to have an offense in Berkeley after the departure of Jared Goff. Former walk-on WR Chad Hansen was Webb's best friend, catching 14 passes for 160 yards and a pair of scores. Cal's defense was pretty sloppy, but easily handled Hawaii's anemic offense after some early ragged play. UH's late TD makes this game seems closer than it actually was. Warrior RB Diocemy Saint Juste led all rushers with 118 yards on 14 carries and a TD.
Telling Stat: Out of hand in a hurry; In the final 4:00 of the first half, Cal scored 17 unanswered points to take control of the game and enter the half with a 34-14 lead.
Observations on this game
...He's still around; Joe Starkey is still the voice of the Golden Bears. His distinctive voice let's you know you're listening to Cal.
...Another brilliant move; Word is that the Pac 12 representatives including, Leisure Suit Larry Scott just loved this game in Sydney and will try to make it an annual event involving a Pac 12 team or maybe even making this an early conference game. SMH.
...He's sill around too; I listened to the Cal postgame show and Lee Grosscup is still talking football. Glad to see The Cupper still broadcasting.
...Follow the money; According to Joe Starkey, Cal got a million bucks to play this game.
...Rough life in paradise; Hawaii with any luck, will finish 2-10 this year.
...Thanks for the quote Coach; Many years ago, Iowa HC legend, Haden Fry proclaimed that his Hawkeyes, "Will have to outscore our opponents to win games this year." Looking at Cal's defense, I think Coach Fry is right about this team too.
Pacific 12 Conference
The makeup of the Pac 12 remains unchanged for 2016
Pac 12 North: California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington and Washington State
Pac 12 South: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado USC, UCLA, and Utah
Top Five non conference games in the Pac 12
9/3- Washington State at Boise State: This is a big game for the conference. With Washington getting all the attention this season, Wazzu needs to win this game to show the league that they are a team that needs to be taken seriously.
9/3- USC v. Alabama at the Death Star in Arlington: For the Trojans this is all about sending a message to the nation that USC has survived and will be a true force in the national picture again. Basically this happens if USC doesn't get trounced by the Tide. A close loss will still get that message across, but will not make Trojan fans happy as HC Clay Helton will be on a three-game losing streak after getting the permanent gig.
9/3- UCLA at Texas A&M: Aggieland is waiting for the bRuins. bRuin QB and Rotary Club of Pacoima Man of the Year Josh Rosen may find life with a new O-line and group of receivers a tough go against the Aggies. However, the bRuins do have nine returning starters on defense and they should be able to give UCLA a good shot to win this game.
9/10- California at San Diego State: This game carries quite an embarrassment factor for the Pac 12. The last time Cal played at SDSU, they were whipped 35-9 by Ted Tollner's Aztecs back in 1995. SDSU is loaded this year according to the Mountain West beat writers and could really embarrass the Golden Bears and the Pac 12 with a win. Stat to watch here is that the visiting team has lost every game in this series.
9/17- Oregon at Nebraska: I love Pac 12- Big Ten matchups and this is the best of the four between the conferences this year. The Ducks can really make the Big Ten looks bad if they go into Lincoln the way USC did a few years back and smash the Cornhuskers. However, with Mike Riley at the helm of the Big Red, this may be a lot closer game than folks might think.
Top Five conference games in the Pac 12
9/23- USC at Utah: Yes, the SC-Stanford game the week before is a big one, but this game on a Friday night in Salt Lake City is bigger. The Trojans and Utes need to win this game in order to control their own fate on the Pac 12 South.
9/30- Stanford at Washington: This is another Friday night special in the Pac 12. The Cardinal's last two trips to UW have both been decided by seven points or less. Also for Stanford, this game comes in the middle of their brutal five game stretch where they will already played USC and UCLA, then will face Wazzu and then Notre Dame. Stanford needs this win. As for UW, it's a little more simple. If they are what they have been hyped up to be, they need to beat Stanford to turn the hype into respect.
11/3- UCLA at Colorado: This a Thursday night tilt in the cold of Boulder. UCLA has won the last two games between these two by a total of seven points. Both teams also come off a bye week in to this game. For Colorado and their 18 returning starters, this is their chance to finally get a big big Pac 12 win. UCLA needs to be on upset alert here. Also, I would give CU a better chance at the upset if they had landed QB Davis Webb instead of losing him to Cal.
11/19- USC at UCLA: It's always big, but could easily be the game that decides the Pac 12 South.
11/25- Washington at Washington State: A few years back this game decided who would end up winless for the year, now it could decide the Pac 12 North. It's good to see an Apple Cup that matters once again.
Observations on Pac 12 Schedules
...Slouching towards Provo; BYU opens the season with three Pac 12 teams on their slate. 9/3 v. UofA in Glendale, AZ, 9/10 at Utah for the Holy War and then 9/17 they host UCLA. The Cougars might end up with more Pac 12 wins than Oregon State this year.
...Non Pac 12 thought; Massachusetts left the MAC conference and will be an independent looking for another league. That won't be easy for a team that is 8-40 since making the jump to the FBS.
...Stanford's Big Five; The Cardinal's toughest part of their schedule is a five game block where they host USC, travel to UCLA and Washington, come home for Washington State and then go to Notre Dame. After that, it will only be October 16th.
...Trojan Toughness; USC's schedule is the toughest in the land according to many folks. The September portion of the schedule is well known, however the final four games are pretty tough too. The Trojans will host Oregon, travel to Washington and UCLA, then finish up with Notre Dame.
...Under the radar upset alert; On 9/16 ASU heads to UTSA for a cream puff road game. However, with the way the Roadrunners have thrown a scare into UofA the last two seasons, I'd keep an eye on that game.
...Thursdays and Fridays; What does Leisure Suit Larry have against Saturdays? The Pac 12 has so many games on days other than Saturdays you'd think you were looking at the MAC schedule.
...Pac 12's little brother; The Big Sky is the Pac 12's FCS conference of choice as the Sun Belt is for the SEC and the MAC is for the Big 10. Six Pac 12 teams will play Big Sky foes this season.
...Heading west again; For the second straight year Grambling is facing a Pac 12 foe. Last year was Cal, this year the Tigers play at UofA.
...Tough road double; Colorado plays at Michigan and Oregon in consecutive weeks.
...Feeling at home; Arizona doesn't leave the state for the month of September. They have a neutral site game in Glendale at the Big toaster, then three straight home games to finish the month,
...Toothless Beavers; Oregon State could go the entire season as an underdog in all their games.
...Two weeks to prove themselves; On 9/30 Washington hosts Stanford, then goes to Oregon the following week. If the Huskies want to really show they are a contender they have to at least go 1-1 in these two games.
...Home cookin'; Utah's only tough Pac 12 road game is at UCLA. The Utes get USC, Washington, and Oregon at home and they don't play Stanford.
...It's not the big game; With the Pac 12 scheduling model, Cal and Stanford don't play each other in the final week of the season. Stanford hosts Rice, while Cal travels to UCLA.
...They know each other well; Remember folks, when Utah hosts BYU on 9/10 will it not only be the 91st "Holy War", it will also be a rematch of the last year's Las Vegas Bowl.
Remembering Tom Kelly
Sadly, Tom Kelly passed away this past June. He was the Irishman who was the voice of the Trojans. He started along side Chick Hearn back in 1961 calling USC football games. Then, when Chick left to be the voice of that new team in Los Angeles, the Lakers, Kelly became the lead broadcaster for USC and he became one of those beloved voices of Los Angeles. Being a kid who grew up the '70s and '80s in Los Angeles, Kelly truly was a big part of the soundtrack of my life. I will truly miss the man as he was one the first people who helped me see a larger world.
Kelly's radio calls did make my world larger. Through his great descriptions, I was able to see what Memorial Stadium looked like in Berekeley. I was able to envision "The Farm" and see old Stanford Stadium with the dirt runway for the teams to enter the field. I could feel how hard the rain fell in Corvallis and Seattle, how Pullman was a far away outpost and how hot it could at night in the desert. I pictured what a perfect fall day was in South Bend, or how humid and sticky it was at Legion Field. He fostered my love for the game and helped me transform my backyard in the process. I now helped my Trojans win on the road too. I caught passes heading into to open end of Husky Stadium and stopped ND tailbacks on the goal line in the snow. Tom called a lot of SC games and the real Trojans didn't win them all, but in my backyard they did. Now that he is gone, I picture him getting to walk into Julie's again. As he enters Craig Fertig, John McKay, and Marv Goux are at table with an empty seat. Fertig then looks up and says, "Tom, where have you been? You're a couple of drinks behind."
Thank You, Tom Kelly.
This Week's Three Notes about nothing...
I had no idea how many shades of white paint there are in the world.
I miss Mel Allen and This Week in Baseball.
Navy amphibious carriers are pretty big.
Until next tim folks remember Dean Martin's great advice on drinking and driving this labor day weekend, "If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt."
-The Commissioner
