The Displaced Faithful Week 2: "I Believe in You"

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Photo Courtesy | www.richeisenshow.com/

Photo Courtesy | www.richeisenshow.com/

By Josh Hunsucker & Huss Al-Shibib | @jphunsucker @Halshibib

Don’t let me drift too far

Keep me where you are

Where I will always be renewed

And that which you’ve given me today

Is worth more than I could pay

And no matter what they say

I believe in you

There are always two ways to look at the same situation. Everything is the same, just seen from a different point of view. Take any inexplicable event and there are always two accounts of what occurred.

Remember in Pulp Fiction when Jules and Vincent are sitting in the diner, after getting cleaned up at Jimmy’s house, and they are discussing horrible aim of Marvin’s friend/divine intervention? Vincent chalks up the lack of extra holes in their bodies to a “freak occurrence” and Jules earnestly believes he witnessed a miracle. Same exact event, two different starkly different interpretations. Following last Monday’s win over the Vikings I was in more of the Jules “that was a f*%king miracle” camp.

All the doom, all the gloom leading into this season. A general feeling like everything was broken. Heading into Week 1 against the Vikings aka the NFL’s “sexy pick,” I figured the team would roll over like the 2014 team did in the second half of last season. Couple that with horrific BFBS unis and the stage was set for the Niners to wet the bed in Levis Stadium’s first Monday Night Football.

Regardless of how bad the first quarter was, one thing stood out, the 49ers offense not only looked productive, it looked like offensive coordinator Geep Cryst put some thought into the play calling. This trend would continue. Cryst called passing plays all night that put Colin Kaepernick in a position to highlight his strengths and minimize his weaknesses. They moved the pocket, gave him easy short range targets, and set up his drop standard NFL back passing with a strong run game.

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson

The new zone blocking scheme was also surprisingly effective and Carlos Hyde demonstrated that (a) he watched and learned closely from Saint Francis Gore last year and (b) he still remembered his Ohio State zone reads. Let's not forget the most important thing, the Niners got every play in on time (SQUAD GOALS) and only used one timeout when the play clock was running down!

On the defensive side of the ball, the team looked hungry and was flying around the field all night. Couple that with an effective blitz package by Eric Mangini and the Niners defense rolled all night. The special teams, on the other hand had a very rough start, see: Jarryd Hayne, a blocked field goal, a called back punt return for a TD but settled down in the second half.

All of this amounted to a relatively easy 20-3 win. Was this a miracle turn around after arguably the worst offseason in the history of the franchise or a standard example of parity in the NFL? 

Photo by Kelley L Cox

Photo by Kelley L Cox

After looking back on the game and discussing with other Faithful, I have come to a few conclusions:

1) The Vikings might be really really bad. Their offense was absolutely uninspired. They only gave the ball to Adrian Peterson three times in the first half and rarely used him in an effective manner. Their passing game lacked big play ability and their play calling appeared to be coming from Week 2 of the preseason. It was a perfect game for the defense to appear very strong. On the defensive side the Vikings looked inept at defending the Niners zone blocking scheme. Carlos Hyde was getting to the corner as if the 49ers were playing on Madden16’s amateur level.

2) Week 1's win might not have been a miracle but hardly looked like a “freak occurrence.” At a minimum, the Faithful should believe in the team. They might not have a football savant as a head coach, but they have a dip spitting, former no undershirt wearing, hard-nosed guy. They might not have Saint Patrick Willis and other familiar names on the defense but they still have some guys that can play. They might not have a top ten quarterback but it looks like they have a competent coordinator. They might not have Frank Gore but they have a guy who looks like he wants to be Frank Gore. This may be, dare I say, a likable team.

Looking ahead to next week, the Faithful’s belief will be tested. The Steelers' offense will be considerably better than the Vikings' and I would be willing to bet that the 49er secondary may get a little exposed this weekend. It will be interesting to see how well Mangini will attempt to tell Ben Roethlisberger that “no means no,” when it comes to putting the ball in the end zone.

Another significant factor is that the Niners will travel to the east coast for 10:00 a.m. PST kick-off. Will they be the road warriors of the first three years under Jim Harbaugh? Top all of that off with the Steelers coming off a Week 1 loss and having eleven days rest, and it looks like an up hill battle. 

Regardless of the outcome, Week 1 renewed my Faith, we may still finish middle of the pack, but I would gladly be proven wrong. I believe.

Predictions

Huss:  24-17 STEELERS

Josh: 31-21 STEELERS

This is some video footage from Dylan's 1980 gospel tour in which he sings "I Believe In You" Enjoy!

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Section925 Podcast Episode 68 - Former CAL Quarterback J Torchio

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Torchio at CAL in the early 80's

Back in 1980, J Torchio led the California Golden Bears to a Big Game victory over John Elway and the Stanford Cardinal. Today, he makes his first appearance inside the Section925 Podcenter to talk about the 2015 Bears. Torchio discusses CAL's hot start, Sonny Dykes' future in Strawberry Canyon, and his predictions for the PAC-12 football season.  

CAL WILL PLAY IN FRONT 100,000 PEOPLE AT DARRELL K. ROYAL TEXAS MEMORIAL STADIUM ON SATURDAY EVENING AT 4:30 PST

Displaced Faithful 2015-16 49ers Season Preview: Everything is Broken

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Black end zones? Everything is broken. Photo | Chris Creamer ‏@sportslogosnet

Black end zones? Everything is broken. Photo | Chris Creamer ‏@sportslogosnet

By l Josh Hunsucker @jphunsucker and Huss Al-Shibib @Halshibib

Broken idols, broken heads

People sleeping in broken beds

Ain’t no use jiving

Ain’t no use joking

Everything is broken

It all began to unravel on Thanksgiving night last year. After a 19-3 embarrassing home loss to the Seahawks, 49ers CEO Jed York tweeted an apology to the fan base. Shots fired at Coach Jim Harbaugh and the writing was on the wall for Harbaugh and the Niners “mutual” parting at the end of the season. 

Fast forward to retirements from Pat Willis, Chris Borland, Justin Smith, and Anthony Davis (ok fine, Bubba Ventrone); exits from Frank Gore, Andy Lee, Michael Crabtree, Mike Iupati, Chris Culliver, Parrish Cox, Dan Skuta, et al. via free agency and trades; Aldon Smith’s habitual line stepping leading to his release; and Niners fans were feeling like pre-Aspen road trip Lloyd Christmas.

Dumb and Dumber

 The offense is broken. 

The offense’s main focus coming into the new season is on getting the plays in on time. WOW! Reach for the stars. The Niners picked up Torrey Smith, which gives them a legitimate down field threat. However, the questions on offense remain and they surround Colin Kaepernick. Defenses have figured out how to hit his fastball and its time for Kap to start playing with his head instead of relying solely on his athleticism. Working with (the despised) Kurt Warner is a good sign, on the surface, that Kap will improve his quarterbacking in terms of making reads. But when the whistle blows, how realistic is it that Kaepernick's mental grasp of reading coverages, going through progressions, and ability to audible is on the level with bankrupt/homeless man's Peyton Manning or even a poor man's Kurt Warner? Probably not very.

Their offensive line is depleted and has been porous at best this preseason. Couple that with a new zone blocking scheme, Carlos Hyde's prospects to continue the Niners’ Frank Gore era tradition of success on the ground is only shaky at best. Which is a shame because Hyde appears poised for a breakout season after bell cow St. Francis Gore was let go in free agency. 

And what about Vernon Davis? What happened to VD last year? He was on the team last year, right? Will he show up in a contract year or will he show up in week one and fade into oblivion for the rest of the season?

Even the defense is broken.

Recent history allowed the Niners to rely on a top defense that can carry the slack for any volatile offensive performances week to week . . . but now that’s broken. You can barely even recognize the defense. Needless to say everyone was blindsided by St. Patty Willis stepping away from the game and equally dismayed by Borland’s early retirement, which coincidentally negates Navarro Bowman's return. Let's just skip over the thin defensive backfield and the inexperienced defensive line. Just buckle you seat belts and prepare to watch the Niners defense to get more exposed in passing situations then have in the past five years.

Everything is broken.

Even with all of the above I felt hopeful this offseason, despite all of the clear signs to the contrary. That ended when I saw this on the internet:

Photo | dailysnark.com

Photo | dailysnark.com

Black Uniforms? Last time I checked Black for Black's Sake (BFBS) uniforms were so 2001. Of all front office moves that were in error over the past year this one stung the worst on a personal level.

When the Niners were toiling in obscurity in the mid-oughts, I wrote to the 49ers at the end of every year, pleading with them to change their uniforms back to the classic 1980s look. After years of letters, they finally went 80% of the way back and finally dawned their current updated retro look. That is why BFBS uniforms are so insulting to the Faithful.

The #RGB uniforms only detract from the storied history of a great franchise and add nothing. Black has never been apart of the color scheme and not only looks bad, it is a microcosm of the Jed York led front office has been generally detached from all common sense, save three and one-half years of the Harbaugh era. I would honestly rather have an alternate uniform that featured a plaid jersey and denim bottoms that try but ultimately fail at looking like a gold rush era gold miner and in reality look more like a Silicon Valley tech hipster (I would honestly not rather have that but you get the idea). At least that would have been an exercise in forward thinking creativity. The BFBS uniforms just shows that everything is broken.

Mercifully, here are our week-by-week predictions...

Week 1 - Vikings: Huss (W) l Josh (L)

Week 2 - @Steelers: Huss (L) l Josh (L)

Week 3 - @Cardinals: Huss (L) l Josh (W)

Week 4 - Packers: Huss (L) l Josh (L)

Week 5 - @Giants: Huss (W) l Josh (L)

Week 6 - Ravens: Huss (W) l Josh (L)

Week 7 - Seahawks: Huss (L) l Josh (W)

Week 8 - @Rams: Huss (W) l Josh (L)

Week 9 - Falcons: Huss (L) l Josh (W)

Week 10 - BYE

Week 11 - @Seahawks: Huss (L) l Josh (L)

Week 12 - Cardinals: Huss (W) l Josh (L)

Week 13 - @Bears: Huss (W) l Josh (W)

Week 14 - @Browns: Huss (L) l Josh (W)

Week 15 - Bengals: Huss (W) l Josh (W)

Week 16 - @Lions: Huss (L) l Josh (L)

Week 17 - Rams: Huss (W) l Josh (W)

Totals: Huss 8-8 l Josh 7-9

8-8 and 7-9 may be a bit generous considering the team has arguably had the worst offseason in its history, between a dismantling of a top defense, firing a coach that took them to three NFC Championships in four years, having players retire like it was going out of style, and Aldon Smith’s general self-destruction. However, as a Faithful you have to give them benefit of the doubt, right?

Faith is the only thing that can get the Faithful from Sunday to Sunday. With everything broken, the 2015-16 campaign could easily finish 6-10 or worse but maybe the Niners will have a logic defying Scott Ostler-esque playoff run. Unless the 49ers pick up the pieces this year, it maybe the start of the second Jed York ice age and another decade long playoff drought.

At least we have Jarryd Hayne, that’s not broken…

The Complete Jarryd Hayne Super Hyped Preseason Highlights for 2015. Hayne finished with a game-high 58 rushing yards from 10 carries, also the highest average yardage, and made 17 yards from two punt returns. Yet what is truly extraordinary is Hayne's output over the whole four-game pre-season schedule - the first time he's ever played American football.

Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment Everything Is Broken · Bob Dylan / Bob Dylan Oh Mercy ℗ 1989 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment Released on: 1989-09-22 Associated Performer, Composer, Guitar, Harmonica, Lyricist, Vocal: Bob Dylan / Bob Dylan Dobro, Producer: Daniel Lanois Guitar: Brian Stoltz Percussion: Daryl Johnson Drums: Willie Green Tambourine: Malcolm Burn Bass: Tony Hall Auto-generated by YouTube.

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Section925 Podcast Episode 66 - Former Grambling State Running Back Charles Wood

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The world famous Grambling State University Marching Band performs at the Bayou Classic. Grambling will visit Berkeley this weekend. (photo by Chris Granger)

Former Grambling Tigers running back Charles Wood joins Connor in the Section925 Podcenter to discuss the kickoff of the 2015 College Football season. Wood shares his insight on his former team as they prepare to face off with Jared Goff and the CAL Bears this Saturday in Berkeley. He also shares stories about trying out for the legendary Doug Williams, spending time with Eddie G. Robinson, and suiting up for the Bayou Classic at the Superdome in New Orleans.

The San Jose SaberCats Win Arena Bowl XXVIII With 28 Unanswered 3rd Quarter Points

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By Josh Hunsucker | @jphunsucker

Leading up to Arena Bowl XXVIII, the San Jose SaberCats knew full well that Jacksonville Sharks wide receiver Joe Hills would be tough to stop. In fact, Clevan Thomas admitted that shutting down Hills would be the most important part of the SaberCats defensive game plan going into Saturday’s ‘Ship in Stockton, CA. For the first 30 minutes of the game it didn't work. With time winding down in the second quarter the SaberCats dropped an interception in the end zone and Hills made them pay, scoring for the fourth time in the first half. The SaberCats went into halftime trailing 33-27.

At the start of the third quarter the San Jose had yet to make one defensive stop of Hills and the Sharks, who finished the game with nine grabs for 133 yards. The SaberCats struck first in the third quarter when Erik Meyer hit DJ Stevens on a 26-yard strike. What everyone in the Stockton Arena after that touchdown didn’t know was that they were about to witness a scoring outburst, even by AFL standards.

On Jacksonville's next drive, a combination of penalties and a new SaberCats defensive look on the Sharks receiving corps forced a fourth and long. Tommy Grady's pass was deflected by San Jose and into the hands of David Hyland who raced into the end zone for a pick-six.

On the ensuing drive the SaberCats forced a Jacksonville fumble, which Clevan Thomas opportunistically jumped on. A few plays later, a Myers toss to Dariu Reynolds whipped the Stockton Arena crowd into a frenzy. Suddenly up 48-33, the crowd was delirious and deafening. An improbable 21-0 run had the screws holding down the arena ceiling rattling loose.

On the very next play the roof would come off and the game would, for all intents and purpose, be over. For those who don't know, in the AFL, kickoffs that rebound off of the nets and goal post supports are live balls. It is part of the game to routinely field kickoffs off the netting like an outfielder catching a ball off the outfield wall.

On Nich Pertuit's kickoff something crazy happened. The kick sailed perfectly onto the crossbar and bounced back about 15 yards right into the hands of the SaberCats David Hyland who had a clear path to waltz into the end zone. Prior to Arena Bowl XXVIII Pertuit admitted that he had only kicked the ball off of the crossbar three times in his life and the SaberCats had never recovered one of those kicks. Unreal play. Game over.

The SaberCats closed out the third quarter on a 28-0 run and traded blows with Jacksonville in the fourth quarter to seal the 68-47 victory and their fourth championship in franchise history.The ensuing champagne bath in the ‘Cats locker room was as raucous as one can imagine. Yet another championship has arrived on the shores of the San Francisco Bay. 

via YouTube Capture

via YouTube Capture

Uploaded by Section925 on 2015-08-31.

Section925 captures the SaberCats locker room champagne celebration in the wake of their 68-47 victory of the Jacksonville Sharks.

Clevan Thomas’ Long Strange Trip to Arena Football and Back Again

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 Photo courtesy of Jordan stepp

 Photo courtesy of Jordan stepp

By Josh Hunsucker | @jphunsucker

Life never takes you down the straight path. That couldn’t be truer for San Jose SaberCats defensive back Clevan Thomas. As he prepares for Arena Bowl XXVIII, one of Arena Football’s greatest players reflected on the winding path that brought him to the precipice of his fourth title in his ten-year career.

Some men would have given up the dream of football when faced with the same adversity that has looked Thomas straight in the eyes. And most men would not have grasped opportunity so tightly as Thomas did in moments where it reared its fleeting head. However, at each bend in the road, Thomas took solace in “God’s divine plan,” and marched on.

Clevan Thomas grew up in Miami, Florida in the late 80s and early 90s, a hot bed for some of the nation’s greatest college football players and teams. Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, and Emmitt Smith (to name a very few) played right is his back yard. Thomas was passionate about the game, but going into his junior year at Miami Senior High School he had not received a single offer from any of the big three Florida schools: Florida State, Miami, and Florida. That all changed when he ripped off a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown early in his junior year in front of some Division I scouts that had attended the game to recruit another player. By his senior year he had committed to the University of Miami and finished his senior season as a SuperPrep All-American. Then in December of 1995, of Miami got hit with a one-year postseason ban and probation for three years. Thomas wrestled with the decisions of de-committing. He wanted to stay in the “State of Miami,” but ultimately couldn’t let the chance of competing for a national title get away. Thomas decided to de-commit from hometown Miami and headed north to Tallahassee and Florida State.

After two years climbing up the depth chart, Thomas found himself on the verge of cracking the starting defensive backfield in 1999. Looking back on his years at Florida State, Thomas lauded the “leadership” and “greatness” of Bobby Bowden, who he credits with the instilling a focused determination on the 1999 team, which faced numerous off-field distractions on its way to an undefeated regular season. Thomas too stayed focused during that season, finishing second on the team in interceptions and earning a starting spot at cornerback during the Sugar Bowl where he helped Florida State win the National Championship.

    Photo Courtesy of Fanbase.com

    Photo Courtesy of Fanbase.com

The following year, Thomas started for the Seminoles at cornerback, including a second start in a National Championship game, one Florida State would go onto lose. As Thomas saw his collegiate career come to an end, he had his sites set on the NFL until a failed drug test at the NFL combine forced him out of football for the next year. Struggling to keep his football dream alive, his agent floated his name to long-time and current SaberCats coach Darren Arbet. Knowing that this was his likely his last chance to get back into football, Thomas never looked back. In his rookie year he was named Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-Arena and took home his first of three Arena League championships.

By 2008, Thomas had made a name for himself in Arena football as one of the games premiere shutdown defensive backs, racked up numerous awards and accolades, and three titles, then as Thomas recalls, life gave him a “reality check.” Days before the Arena Bowl in 2008, then Arena Football League commissioner David Baker resigned setting a series of events in motion that ultimately led to the cancelation of the 2009 season.

Thomas found himself out of work and with the added responsibility of being a “full-time husband with three kids.” Thomas moved back to Florida and began applying for jobs. After initially coaching high school football, Thomas found employment as a correctional officer, working the graveyard shift. With the dream of football slowly fading into the past, Thomas braved the daily danger of interacting with inmates. During the nearly three years he served as a correction officer, Thomas made a concerted effort to learn about and humanize the inmates who he found to be “normal people that made a mistake in their lives, which they usually felt bad about.”

After four years out of football, the Arena Football League informed Thomas that he had been selected for induction into the Arena Football Hall of Fame and had also been named the 24th greatest player in the history of the league by the Arena Football Silver Anniversary Committee. After receiving the news, Thomas took a long look in the mirror and debated whether he would best serve his family by giving football another shot.

 photo courtesy of CSN Bay Area

 photo courtesy of CSN Bay Area

Ultimately, Thomas returned to the SaberCats, foregoing his place in the Hall of Fame until he wrote the next chapter of his Arena Football career. Interestingly, Thomas “doesn’t really think about” being selected to the Hall of Fame. Quick to point out teammates and coaches, whom he attributes his success, Thomas says he was more focused on the getting back to the game and helping the SaberCats succeed when he decided to return to football.

After ending his retirement in 2013, as a 34-year old father of three, Thomas re-embraced the roll of locker room leader with a new and more mature perspective. The immediate results spoke for themselves: a career high 15 interceptions (6 for TDs) and being named AFL Defensive Player of the Year. It was almost like Thomas never left, and to think, but for a few simple twists of fate, he may never have even made it that point. On the eve of Arena Bowl XXVIII, a mature and seasoned Clevan Thomas is prepared to take the next step of his journey and seize this next opportunity. Maybe for once the path on Saturday with lead straight to victory.

 

The Stockton Arena will host Arena Bowl XXVIII, which will air Saturday, August 29th at 4:00 p.m. PST on ESPN, check it out.

Section925 Podcast Episode 65 - The Filmmakers of "Don't Quit: The Joe Roth Story"

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Documentary filmmakers Phil Schaff and Bob Rider, the force behind “Don’t Quit: The Joe Roth Story” sit down with @Tripperino to talk about the powerful, yet little-known story of the life and untimely death of former CAL football quarterback Joe Roth. Both heartbreaking and inspirational, Schaff and Rider discuss Joe’s story, how he impacted the lives of those who appeared in the film, including Dick Vermeil, Tony Dungy, Mike White, Chuck Muncie, Wesley Walker and everyone else with whom he came into contact. The film is available now on iTunes and at JoeRothFilm.com.

Section925 Podcast Episode 64 - Matt Cermak on the PGA Championship

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Former PAC-12 golfer and Fresno native, Kevin Chappell, will try to contend at Whistling Straits in this weekend's PGA Championship.

Former Missouri State University Golfer Matt Cermak stops by the Section925 Podcenter on the eve of the PGA Championship. The last of the four majors, the PGA will take place on a challenging course off Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. Jordan Spieth is looking to capture the "U.S. Slam" while Rory McIlory is returning from a serious ankle injury.

"Wide Open West Coast Football" - A PAC-12 Football Primer

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The scene at last season's Rose Bowl. Who will rep the Pac in Pasadena in 2016? (photo by Kevork Djansezian)

By Charlie Wheary (925 Native, Oregon Alum)

epic

[ep-ik]

noun

1.

a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation.

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That ladies and gentlemen perfectly summarizes what we are about to see this year in the Pacific 12 Conference. It'll be a sports representation of the movie, Mad Max: Fury Road.  An endless barrage of action, violence, and yelling, with Oregon possibly sporting chrome mouthguards.

I should start by saying that if you are looking for a preview that just lists your rank of order, players to watch, coaches on the hot seat, etc., just pick up a Sports Illustrated or the Chronicle. You'll get your vanilla ice cream, but not much else. I'm just here to deliver that apple pie. In my preview we'll look at the teams you didn't see winning it all, mascots that define and undermine, and most importantly I'm going to outline some Vegas odds in detail.

First off, I need to repeat, this season in the Pacific 12 Conference will be beyond epic.

I don't think you people are taking me seriously though? 

Fine. Let's roll...

 

How will they finish:

AP / SI / ESPN Consensus:  Oregon, USC, Stanford, UCLA, Arizona St., Arizona, Utah, Cal, Washington, Washington St., Colorado, Oregon St.

Some takeaways: 

1. The Pac-12 South is going to be an absolute bloodbath. 5 of the top 7 teams are down south, and Colorado is by no means a gimmie on any given Saturday. One of the conundrums of the Pac-12 is it essentially cannibalizes itself week after week, and this year may be no exception.

2. I like Utah, a lot. I like Johnny Utah in Point Break. I like Park City. I like the Red Iguana on North Temple in Salt Lake (Seriously check it out). I like the Salt Flats. And what I really like are the Utes. I'm not saying they'll win it all, but they could come pretty darn close. An early date with Michigan, then it's off to Eugene and L.A. But they make it through that grind, and you could very well see Cinderella slippers on Kyle Whittingham's feet.

3. Oregon State will be torpedoing teams all year. The Beavers LOVE to be picked to finish last, they almost cherish that title. You know what they do when that happens? They go out and beat the crap out of USC. It's happened so many times I've lost count. So keep a very close eye on the underdogs in Corvallis.

4. Oregon has a brutal, brutal schedule, and could be floored in week 2 when they visit East Lansing. Michigan State is a very good team, and that coupled with the sheer brutality of conference play has a lot of people concerned the Ducks may be overrated.

5. Washington and Cal will surprise a lot of people. Overall, their schedule is by no means easy, but Cal has a manageable non-conference slate and also gets USC and Arizona State at home. Jared Goff has his eye on the first round of the NFL draft, and there's no better platform then conference play this year for him to show off his wares. 

Jared Goff of California (photo by Ezra Shaw)

Players to watch:

Again, I'm not here to tell you about how awesome Cody Kessler is, although that is my Heisman frontrunner right now. Instead, I'm here to give you a couple names to watch that may be flying slightly under the radar.

D.J. Foster, WR, Arizona State:  The Sun Devils lost their most prolific receiver in years with Jaelen Strong taking off to the League.  So they just moved their best all-purpose player to the wing, and he is going to do some real damage. Foster is my pick for offensive player of the year, and it's going to happen. 

Nick Wilson, RB, Arizona: Wilson's only a sophomore coming off a frosh season where he tallied 1375 yards with 16 touches. Nick caught fire late in the season too, which only makes you wonder how quick he will be out of the gate. The little guy from Tucson is ready, trust me.

Byron Marshall, WR Oregon:  A lot of people may be talking about Marshall, but it's all warranted. Rushing for 1000 yards as a sophomore before moving to wide receiver where he also went over 1000 yards, he's got his mind on the draft. You'll get comfortable with him on Sundays, but this is his year for the Ducks.

Jared Goff, QB California: Under no circumstance is this guy flying under the radar, especially not after his trip inside the Section925 Podcenter, but with all the Cody Kessler pre-season pub, he's not getting his due in my humble opinion. Most impressive stat: 35 touchdowns with only 7 interceptions last year. This guy is allergic to bad reads and sloppy passes. I saw him in person last year just torch USC for 279 yards and 3 touches, without a pick. He's my Cinderella Heisman pick.

D.J. Foster of Arizona State (photo by Steve Dykes)

 

Mascots on the Hot Seat:

Oskie, California: I grew up idolizing that silly bear, but Cal is quickly emerging back on the national scene, and word coming out of Berkeley is that the students don't worship him like they used to. With the birth of the Capital One Mascot Challenge, the Bears may be switching gears in Strawberry Canyon.

UCLA:  Do the Bruins even have a mascot?! I love Westwood, I love Wooden, I love the Rose Bowl. As far as a mascot is concerned though, they got none.  I guess when you rip off the school colors, fight song, and mascot from your neighbor up north, this should be expected. Sorry UCLA fans.

 

Mascots NOT on the Hot Seat:

Puddles, Oregon: Best mascot in the United States of America. Period.

 

Best Fight Song:

Tie: Big "C", Cal. Fight for California, Cal.

Two ridiculously amazing fight songs right there!!! I'm an Oregon alumnus and if I'm watching a Cal/Oregon game at Autzen I actually work my way towards the Cal Band to soak it in. How you work a 'GRRR Rah' into a song is beyond me, but it works every time. Big 'C' and Fight for California still give me chills.  Bar none, best band in the conference. And they're classy, sorry Stanford.

 

Best Band:

California Marching Band. (Reference comments above.)

 

Worst Band:

Stanford. But you already knew that.

 

Game of the Year:

USC at Oregon, November 21:  It'll be chilly in Eugene, and I can only imagine they'll make this a night game. So just pop a bird in the oven, work out the kinks ahead of Turkey Day, and enjoy what is going to be a testament to the Pac-12.

 

The Action:

Now I live by 3 simple rules when it comes to sports gambling:

1.  Never ever bet what you don't have.  So if you're living with Mom and Dad still, stop reading. Kick the parents a few bones you would otherwise be laying on the line.

2. Never bet what you don't have.

3. Never go on tilt.  If you lose big early on Saturday, the Gods have sent you a message. Take a walk and we can get after it next week.

Cody Kessler and Adoree' Jackson of USC (photo by Harry How)

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I'll check in on Section925 from time to time to let you know when to bet the farm, the cows, and maybe your significant other. But for now, I'm going to establish betting trends to get some green in your pocket early and often.

First, when it comes to the Pacific 12 Conference, I love the over. The over is the combined points scored by both teams, usually set in .5 increments. So if both teams combine to score more points then the predetermined amount, you win. Also, most Vegas nubes just bet the line, so the over doesn't see the swings you'll see when, say Ohio State fans steamroll the Bellagio and all bet the Bucks to win outright. I can see I'm already confusing you, so I'll slow down.

I'll say it again, bet the over in Pac-12 conference games in the early portion of the season, and do it often.  But please write this next part down, DO NOT BET NON-CONFERENCE PATSY GAMES EVER!!!  When Oregon plays Eastern Washington in week 1, I'll be watching of course, but my cash will be safely stowed in the overhead compartment as far away from Vegas as possible.  Oregon could cover what looks like a 30+ point spread in the first quarter, or let up the breaks and win by 20. Just don't do it. However, when USC plays Arizona State on September 26th, I'm betting my car (and yours if you'd let me) on the Trojans and Sun Devils popping off at least 40 apiece. So unless the over is 80+, bet that game. It's in the desert, the SC defensive line is a huge question mark, and ASU has their entire offense back after a terrific year.  The best part is, no bookmaker in Vegas wants to set a 80+ line, only to see the two teams rattle off 40 points total. So our friends in Sin City typically set over/under lines very conservatively allowing you, the now seasoned gambler, to hit often, especially in an offensively offensive conference like the Pac-12. You're welcome.

Now it's extremely hard to forecast picks in the first week of August, but I just gave you a prime example of when to run and when to gun. Here's a couple more to keep in your back pocket to stay flush in the upcoming fall months:

1. Bet the over when USC is playing on the road: The biggest question mark of the year is how well the USC defensive line will stand up. I'm afraid opposing quarterbacks may have time to read Tolstoy in the pocket versus the Men of Troy this season  Also, while Cody Kessler likes to throw it often and sucessfully, he tends to get a litte nervous on the road for some reason. I think he's the Taylor Swift of the Pac-12, he's always performing, but sometimes you just shake your head and say, "What the f**k was that?" In other words, the Trojans will be in a lot of dogfights this year. Expect some typical 63-56 scores that define the Pac-12 out of these guys.

2. Keep an eye on the Bears:  I'm projecting a Las Vegas Bowl bid this year, but if Goff can put up numbers like last year, and if that defense holds, skies the limit. The Golden Bears ran the seventh most plays in the FBS last year, which means loads of offense. I already know I'm betting the over in weeks 3 and 4 when they head to Austin and Seattle. The book will put the over on the low side because of the lack of offense on the home teams, so Cal could take the over by themselves. You heard it here first.

...And remember, don't bet what you don't have!

That's all I got for now, but whatever happens, we are in for a phenomenal year of college football out west.

WITNESS!!!

"The Sunday Section" - Selected Stories From Around The Bay

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Section925's SportsCentury Top 100 Bay Area Athletes of All-Time (#99 Eric Carrie)

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The famed McKeon Pavilion in Moraga California. Site of many Section925 SportsCentury defining moments. 

Welcome to Section925’s SportsCentury Top 100 Bay Area Athletes of All-Time. In this exclusive series, we will be counting down the best amateur athletes in Bay Area history from 100 to 1. We will be exploring the careers and achievements of high school and college athletes from around the area to come up with Section925’s Top 100 list. To nominate your favorite athlete, make sure to leave us a comment or send us an e-mail and have your opinion heard!

# 99: Eric Carrie

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

Coming in at #99 on Section925’s SportsCentury Top 100 Athletes of All-Time is Eric Carrie. Carrie did not attend Orinda Intermediate School, but was attracted to the rolling hills and bright lights of Miramonte High School by the time he reached his later teen years. By the time he graduated, he was known as one of the all-time greats in the area.

Carrie figured he could throw his career into high gear by signing on to play for legendary coach Floyd Burnsed and boy was he ever correct. Traditionally a pass first offense, Carrie quickly provided a new dynamic to the Matadors from the running back position, turning in dominant performances virtually every Friday night in Contra Costa County.

At 5’11”, 190, Carrie was built like a bull and played with reckless abandon on both sides of the ball. Regardless of what type of game plans opposing defenses came up with, Carrie consistently thrashed them. His motor never stopped and he had an uncanny energy for the game that rubbed off on his teammates. To put it bluntly, Eric Carrie was already playing in “Beast Mode,” years before Marshawn Lynch coined the term on the other side of the tunnel at Oakland Technical High.

Carrie’s dominant performance during his senior year in 2001 was good enough to earn him the Diablo Foothill Athletic League player of the year award, not to mention a spot on the Contra Costa Times prestigious “Cream of the Crop” list.   

Although Carrie did not play in the NFL, his college career at New Mexico State was an impressive one. Playing the safety position for the Aggies, Carrie routinely squared of with some of the best offenses in the nation including the Hawaii Warriors and California Golden Bears in the early 2000’s. In sum, Eric Carrie loved football, and we loved watching him play it. 

# 100: Nick Enzweiler 

Enzo soaking in an A's game in Oakland

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

Nick Enzweiler from Campolindo High School in Moraga kicks off our SportsCentury list at number one hundred. Standing 6’6’’ and 200lbs, Enzweiler was a force to be reckoned with in the late 90’s in the East Bay high school basketball scene. His game was extremely dynamic, as he was able to score from just about anywhere on the floor. “Enzo” as he was known in the Lamorinda area, was equally capable with his back to the basket banging with bigs as he was casting corner 3’s from beyond the arc.

As a senior at Campolindo, Enzo adopted a shoot-first, pass-second philosophy. Very similar, in fact, to that of Allen Iverson at Georgetown. It paid off, at least in some regard, as Enzweiler was named the San Francisco Chronicle’s Metro Player of the Year in the year 2000.

Enzweiler makes this list not just because of his jaw dropping high school statistics, but also because of his polarizing, often entertaining personality on and off the court. Enzo seemed to fully embrace the role of the villain, especially inside hostile road gymnasiums on the Tri-County Athletic League circuit. Similar to Reggie Miller at Madison Square Garden, Enzo was not afraid to engage in vicious trash talk with opposing players and fans. In the end, it made for great theater for everyone involved.  

Enzweiler also dabbled as a wide receiver on the Cougars football team (similar to LeBron James), but ultimately accepted a scholarship to play basketball for the University of Texas-El Paso. Ultimately, Enzo would return to California to play out his career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The highlight of which was a Mustangs triumph over the CAL Bears at Haas Pavilion in front of friends, family and East Bay adversaries.

Today, Enzweiler resides in the East Bay and is cutting out a career in wealth management. He still owns various records at Campolindo High School.

# 98: (Coming soon...)

Section925 Podcast Episode 63 - CAL Football's Jared Goff & Griffin Piatt

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Piatt, Goff, and Tripper look back at their days playing youth football in the Bay Area and look ahead to the pending PAC-12 season in Berkeley.

CAL's Jared Goff and Griffin Piatt sit down with Tripper inside the Section925 Mobile Podcenter to talk football. Both born and raised in the Bay Area, Goff and Piatt discuss their days growing up playing youth football, their high school careers at Marin Catholic and Campolindo, life at UC Berkeley, and the upcoming PAC-12 season.

"The Sunday Section" - Selected Stories From Around The Bay

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The Bay Bridge Series – Oakland Looks to Stop a Surging San Francisco

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Billy Burns has been a bright spot for the A's this season. Filling in for the injured Coco Crisp, Burns is hitting a team best .310 on the year. (photo by Jason O. Watson)

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

As Josh Donaldson trotted demonstratively around the Coliseum bases on Thursday afternoon, you could almost feel the last bit of air seeping out of the 2015 Oakland Athletics’ worn tires. His moonshot in the fifth inning easily cleared the extended wall in right-center, and Donaldson seemed to enjoy every second of his journey around the bases. Head bobbing, arms up to the sky, visible grin, etc. He wasn’t shy about it.

This week was Donaldson’s first trip to Oakland after being traded to Canada by Billy Beane, following what most believe was a contentious relationship between the star third baseman and the decorated GM. By the time Donaldson arrived at his post-homer dugout and went into his series of secret handshakes and forearm “bashes” with Jose Reyes, Billy Beane most assuredly shut off the TV from his in-game workout room and turned up the speed on his exercise bike.   

A’s fans know the deal all too well. Real estate magnet and team owner Lew Wolff has billions of dollars in his bank account (literally), but is not a fan of spending it on baseball players. His GM Billy Beane does his best with a limited cash flow and is not afraid to pull the trigger on any decision, no matter how unpopular. Every year, by the time July rolls around and the trade deadline looms, Billy takes stock and decides if the A’s are buyers or sellers. Last year the A’s were buyers, and unfortunately, they flamed out in the playoffs. This year, they are sellers and as always, it’s tough to watch.

Scott Kazmir was scheduled to be on the mound on Thursday against Donaldson and the Blue Jays, but Beane had other ideas, sending Kazmir to the contending Houston Astros for two minor league prospects. With Kazmir’s departure, that leaves only Sean Doolittle on the roster from last year’s list of A’s All-Stars. Norris, Moss, Samardzija, Cespedes, Donaldson, they’re all gone too.   

After Beane put down his white flag, he emerged for a brief press conference on Thursday and reminded A’s fans what we already knew but still didn’t like. Billy did his annual A’s accounting calculation and decided that at 44-53 the A’s were behind the 8-ball and needed to sell. The market is only hot for so long he explained. Now was the time.  

Fortunately, among the many things A’s fans are good at; looking at the glass half full is one of them. The Athletics are still in Oakland, the weather is still Sonny, the tickets are still cheap, the parking lot still has plenty of tailgating real estate, and the Dubs won the whole goddamn thing.

Oakland also has a pretty good squad still in tact with more than a few players worth rooting for. They do find themselves 11 back of the first place Angels, but stranger things have happened. If nothing else, it is time for the A’s to play spoiler across the bay.

Hector Sanchez stops to admire his grand slam on Tuesday night in San Diego. The pose caused benches to clear at Petco Park. (photo by Denis Poroy)

The San Francisco Giants, with three World Series titles in the last five years, have lots to feel good about coming into the 2015 version of the Battle of the Bay. SF is winners of eight of their last nine games including two of three in San Diego this week.

The Giants will feature a healthy and rested Hunter Pence in right field, along with a middle infield who played together in the All-Star Game. Seeing the Giants double-play combo in the Midsummer Classic was more than just Bruce Bochy looking out for the Orange and Black, it appears. Brandon Crawford already has 14 homers to compliment his steady defense, while fresh-faced Joe Panik’s .316 average is good for 10th place in all of the Majors. All of this is a nice compliment to Buster Posey’s typical stellar offensive output and Matt Duffy’s out-of-nowhere performance at third base to make the masses rid themselves of Panda Hats.

Even with Timmy Lincecum on the DL, the pitching matchups in this series surely favor the Giants, especially when you consider that Sonny Gray will be watching from the dugout all three games. Meanwhile, the A’s lineup will be tasked with World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner on Saturday.

Pitching matchups aside, it is probably best to just “throw out the record books” when these crosstown clubs come together for a three game set. But do me a favor, pick a side, and don’t get caught dead wearing one of these hats. My bold prediction: A’s win 2 out of 3…

"The Sunday Section" - Selected Stories From Around The Bay

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"Just Win Baby" - The Raiders Head to Camp With Optimism in Air

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Derek Carr reminds some East bay fans of another #4, Brett Favre. (photo by Brian Bahr)

By Merlin Edwards III I @Trey_Me

Finally, for maybe the first time since the Rich Gannon era, the Oakland Raiders are heading into preseason camp with the legitimate ability to compete in the AFC West. In recent memory, there haven't been many years where fans in Oakland believed great things were to come. Now with an experienced coach at the helm and a talented QB behind center, the idea of holding playoff hopes is looking more and more reasonable for the Silver and Black and their fans.

The offseason was a success, as the coaching staff was revamped, as well as the offensive and defensive lines. There are new players everywhere you look, and for most teams, that is a terrible thing. For the Oakland Raiders, however, having a team with just a few returning players, is a blessing. As a Raiders fan myself, it has been hard trudging for the better part of a decade. The Raiders have been the butt of many jokes, and there has been little fans can say to rebut the negativity. When Reggie Mackenzie took over as general manager, after the great Al Davis passed, things have started to ascend from rock bottom. Thank god.

In Mackenzie's first season, he did not have a great draft, picking Tony Bergstrom and Miles Burris as his first two picks. Neither of which are still on the team. Mackenzie, however, did not have much to work with, since he did not have a pick until the 3rd round. In his next two seasons, he has been nothing short of fantastic. Since the 2013 draft, he has hand picked DJ Hayden, Menelik Watson, Sio Moore, Latavius Murray, Mychal Rivera, Justin "Jelly" Ellis, Gabe Jakson, TJ Carrie, Kahlil Mack, and Derek Carr. All of which have turned out to be starters. It may say something about the poor talent the Raiders have had in recent past, but to draft twelve starters in basically 2 years, is an amazing accomplishment.

The two of that group with the most potential to initiate change, are Kahlil Mack and Derek Carr. Ideally, Reggie could not have asked for anything better than drafting two potential game changers, who happen to play two of the most important positions, on each sides of the football. Going forward, there are lofty expectations for Derek and Kahlil.

The great part about them having high expectations, however, is that they are both supremely humble people, while also embracing, and even enjoying the pressure that comes along with being truly great. When watching and listening to press conferences and interviews with the two young studs, they exude an aura about them, and clearly have the "it" factor. Confidence seems to ooze from their mouths and body language. I expect his to translate to even more success on the field in 2015.

Of course, a lot of that confidence comes from preparation, and a willingness to be great. Kahlil Mack has added 15 pounds of muscle, which bodes well for his ability to not only hurry the quarterback this upcoming season, but bring him down as well. Mack's 40 quarterback hurries last season were second to only the Broncos' Von Miller (47).

Quarterback Derek Carr, despite being sidelined by a finger injury early in the offseason, is back and ready to build a rapport with his many new targets. Carr must truly outshine everyone, in order for the Raiders to start winning. As good as Mack can be, all football fans know that in order to play at an elite level, teams need a franchise quarterback behind center. I believe Carr can be that franchise guy.

The NFL has seen many a promising quarterback come and go, in short periods of time, because of a lack of a nurturing environment. Oakland's new coaching staff must make it a number one priority to make sure that Derek is getting everything he needs, in order to help him turn into the special player he can be. Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper have been brought in, as well as OTA stand out rookie, Clive Walford. Add those new weapons to second year player Mychael Rivera, an expectedly resurgent Rod Streater, and "match up nightmare" Marcell Reese, and it certainly seems as if optimism is warranted.

As a season ticket holder, all I want is for a team that is competitive. If I can go to a game at the Coliseum and be entertained by good football, I am okay with that, win or lose. The Raiders are my team, more than any other in my fandom, and for the first time since I was about 10 years old, we have a group of players with a potential and a drive to be great, and finally, turn this thing around.

One Nation. Raider Nation. Just Win Baby. 

Section925 Podcast Episode 62 - Nate Weidner

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21-YEAR-OLd Jordan Spieth  WILL TACKLE "THE OLD COURSE" IN SAINT ANDREWS THIS WEEKEND IN HIS QUEST TO CAPTURE THE GRAND SLAM. (PHOTO BY MATTHEW LEWIS)

Former Cal State Hayward golfer and current Niners season ticket holder Nate Weidner (@nate_weidner) returns to the podcast to talk with Connor. Nate offers his take on baseball at midseason, summer hoops, and the 49ers' outlook. Nate also dives into his thoughts on the world of golf and gives insight on the 144th Open Championship in Scotland.

"The Sunday Section" - Selected Stories From Around The Bay

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“Snake made Johnny Manziel look like a Buddhist monk. Snake was more fun to watch than Chinese acrobats. Snake could ride shotgun in any car I was driving because, well, Snake, might be carrying a shotgun. Snake was a thrill ride, a roller coaster all by himself, and those Raiders of the ’70s happily, gratefully, took a seat behind him.”
“Duffy, who never hit above .266 in college, with no power, goes into the break batting .293, with eight homers. Playing a position he took up late in spring training, he is fielding well above average.”

Thoughts on the Women’s World Cup - Shades of Brandi Chastain

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Tobin Heath celebrates her second half goal in the U.S.A's World Cup Final victory. (photo by Kevin C. Cox)

By Kate McGuire
 

Back in 1999, not many American viewers were watching the Women’s World Cup. Sure, everyone claims to have seen the infamous penalty kick by Brandi Chastain (and her subsequent shirtless celebration), but how many people watched the semifinal match in ’99? Not many.

I remember I had to invite a guy friend, who liked sports but not particularly soccer, over to my house to watch it with me. And just the fact that Mia Hamm was playing wasn’t enough. I had to add in the incentive of food and drink to actually get him over.

Flash-forward to 2015 and the huge crowds ESPN was showing in Chicago and Kansas City and countless other soccer crazed cities across America. Apparently more than 26 million watched over the course of the tournament. With every win along the way leading to Sunday’s exciting 5-2 U.S. win over Japan, I kept reminding my friends: don’t forget to watch Women’s World Cup!

Just weeks before, my little group of “sportees” had zeroed in on the Golden State Warriors games that kept us all on the edges of our seats. After that experience, I kept trying to pump them up for the World Cup and by the end of the game yesterday, those that had never watched women’s soccer before were glued to the game.

The last time the U.S. women won the World Cup, a joyous Brandi Chastain ripped off her jersey—to the shock (gasp) of viewers—to celebrate in her black sports bra! There she was, kneeling and then parading her bare, sweat-soaked midriff around the field! Oh, the horror! It was talked about in the media for weeks, can you imagine?

This time, at the end of the game, everyone kept their shirts on, but there was still some notable PDA for soccer fans to appreciate. Abby Wambach, the teams veteran star, celebrated her long awaited victory by kissing her wife on live TV. Wambach married her partner in Hawaii in 2013, but of course, now women like her can tie the knot in any state they please. The USA wins, love wins, soccer wins. See you in France in 2019...

Abby Wambach kisses her wife following the the World Cup Final vs. Japan (photo by Kevin C. Cox)