It's midnight on the west coast and Cal fans are likely storming the field while Ducks head to the BART station to wait an hour hoping for a train that is actually in service to arrive.
Brings back painful memories for horns fans, I know. Which is why I can't sleep before I put my reaction down in print.
The two teams combined for 1086 yards of offense, without Chad Hansen, but with a receiver named Bug who didn't record stats vs us and shockingly wasn't in the Know a Roster preview! The teams also combined for 279 yards of penalties, which included a defensive hold that preserved an Oregon drive that ended in a rare 2nd half punt, and in the second overtime, a cal 1st and goal from the 3 that turned into 2nd and goal from the 20 leading to a field goal and the ducks getting a chance for the win.
There were multiple exciting plays like this Cal TD, and the back and forth scoring was entertaining as the teams chased the record for all time over under and needed overtime to get it. Yet it was so unsatisfying defensively.
To Cal's credit, they actually managed clock well at the end of regulation to set up the field goal as time expired, but apparently Oregon successfully iced the kicker. The game ended on a pick in the second overtime, proof that defense exists! The game left me clicking highlight replays. It demonstrated how important it is to break serve and perform in a clutch situation. But it also felt like I had watched a 3 hour car race with constant lead changes that ended with a 10 car pileup and one car emerging to roll across the finish line. This was not Justin Tucker with all time scoreboard or VY past Frostee or Stony Clark catharsis!
It has been fun watching the Gilbert offense at Texas and hoping we'd have a solid defense to pair with it. I would love to retain Strong and Gilbert and achieve that holy grail. I like our chances at striking a balance better than TCU, Baylor, A&M, Clemson, Oregon... or the land thieves.
But if that isn't possible with Charlie, do we give up on the Gilbert offense with a new coach? Would Herman, Peterson, Shaw, Fisher, or whoever else is on the short list play a more game control style that can still work in the big 12 and exploit mismatches for Texas' athletes? Is that more enjoyable for fans? I'm hesitant to say yes. I can't wait to see UW and then Akina/Stanford vs. Cal for stylistic comparison this season, while hoping Texas finishes Strongly.
In case you aren't inspired to comment or rec this post, how about weighing in on this poll?!
