FIRST SHIFT: AWESOME KILLER HELICOPTER BOWL, ETC.
Nursing a lingering hangover from the Independence Bowl, we present today’s liveblog, brought to you by LSUFreek’s very important message on the importance of proper safety procedures while blogging.

12:28: AAAIIIIIIIIIIGGGHHHH Dan Fouts in HD not good! Your set memes are Cal attempting to overcome a peanut-loaded sewer trout of a season, redemption, suspensions of players; Air Force to keep momentum from “surprisingly good” season.
And they have smooth luvah Jason Kidd introducing the Cal players! Don’t kill mommy, Cal! Please!
12:50: Air Force has a goddamn general introduce the lineups while flying a goddamn awesome F-18. The only thing cooler would be if he fired a missile into a T-54 at the end that was painted in Cal colors.
We credit this for Air Force’s dominating first drive.
1:10: Cal looks like they were playing along last night during the Independence Bowl Drinking game. They’re playing rock paper scissors and losing badly.
1:19: Cal looks like they’ve been replaced with the NPCs from a poorly rendered video game: the sort who stand around and wait for you to fire a rocket launcher into their balls in between repeating canned dialogue like “What was that?” and “I’m scared!”
Air Force 21, Cal 0. Wizard!
1:42: Kevin Riley comes in, and suddenly you can spell fecal without Cal. Where the hell has Riley been? Dan Fouts is singing “Centerfield,” one of the songs they play in our version of Robot Hell along with “Hotel California” and “Butterfly Kisses.” Stop, Hairface. Please stop. 21-14 and Cal’s awake.
2:12: Subtract Chan Gailey from the equation, and Tech’s allergy to points disappears! Up 7-0 thanks to beautiful pass by Taylor Bennett and yes we just typed that. Boise’s commercials look awesome, btw: all rock climbing, mountain biking, and various activities you really loved to do when you had free time and knees.
2:35: The Sun Bowl in El Paso really has the best setting: a cross between a desolate Halo map and Thunderdome. Oregon’s got early jazz here as they refuse to let USF’s offense do anything. They’re also giving Justin Roeper simple tasks at qb, and he’s doing splendidly thus far.
2:53: Air Force went to Les Miles’ Balls Emporium before the game, converting fourth down on an option play to keep catchfire Cal off the field. Chad Hall is 5′ 8″ of pure badass: he catches, he runs, he flies jets fifty feet off the ground. We need to walk to the liquor store–champagne must go with this campaign.
Ooohhhh…Carney’s knee just bent in an unholy, gorge-rise kind of way. He’s done for the day, year, whatever. Dan Fouts is telling us not to look and we’re still looking because we’re evil like that.
Goddamn, that is horrible.









1
Signal to Noise says:
Cal will just be throwing cookies at the Air Force defense in honor of the man introducing their lineups.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:40 pm
2
Skip says:
People loved trashing the service academies when Notre Dame beat them, now everyone is slurping them. Give me a break
December 31st, 2007 at 12:42 pm
3
oc phil says:
Skip: Why do you hate America?
December 31st, 2007 at 12:48 pm
4
Coop says:
Last night was a great deal of fun, made that much more fun by the disclosure that Peter did his part from his parents’ house.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:51 pm
5
Signal to Noise says:
Jesus, Cal is continuing in all kinds of suck. Cue all your Pac-10 jokes, because at best, this conference is going 2-3 in bowl games.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:55 pm
6
Boston Frog says:
Who won America’s Vote for this game? That’s the real contest here.
I still can’t believe that there’s a bowl game in TCU’s stadium. Of course, this is probably the biggest crowd the old lady has seen all year.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:56 pm
7
marcillac says:
The Golden Bears have quit. Think Nick Saban’s personal treainer.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:59 pm
8
marcillac says:
BTW Swindle, no trace of a hangover here, nil, nullo and etc…. You, sir, are a miserable failure as an inibriator.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:00 pm
9
I R A Darth Aggie says:
Huh…an F-18? must have been on loan from the Navy or Marines since the F-15 fleet’s been grounded…
December 31st, 2007 at 1:08 pm
10
Orson Swindle says:
IRA–it was one hundred percent American slaughter glory machine, whatever it was.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:12 pm
11
will says:
the big question here is whether or not Tedford has on those kick ass wristbands he wears now. Anyone?
December 31st, 2007 at 1:13 pm
12
bitterhorn says:
Is there any other kind of general but a goddamned one?
December 31st, 2007 at 1:14 pm
13
kleph says:
that’ll beat the shit out of rock, that’s for sure.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:14 pm
14
Jolly 21 says:
It was an F-22… Go Falcons, they’ve had no answer for Carney.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:15 pm
15
Boston Frog says:
By the way, Amon G. Carter Stadium was built in 1929 and updated in…1929.
Actually, that’s not entirely true–the upper deck was added in the ’50s, I think. But much of ACS still has that Roaring ’20s feel. There’s even a speakeasy behind one of the end zones
December 31st, 2007 at 1:16 pm
16
J.J. says:
Cal, as in Berkeley, attracts the polar opposite type of student than that of the Air Force Academy. The Student Body and Faculty at Cal- Berkeley are America hating, sandal wearing, dope smoking, democrat voting, taliban supporting, Pelosi admiring, Obama blowing pieces of doo doo. The university has even tried BANNING our nation’s military recruiters from stepping onto their campus. While the Cal football players are probably a higher caliber American than other campus cretins there, I hope that the Patriotic Flyboys kick that liberal institution’s metaphoric ass so hard that the usual sodomy practiced there is more painful than usual. Oh yeah, Happy New Year!
December 31st, 2007 at 1:18 pm
17
will says:
wow, Cal is playing paper, rock, suspend Desean while AF is conducting “military exercises”.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:18 pm
18
Jerkwheat says:
THIS WILL TEACH YOU TO HATE OUR FREEDOM, HIPPIES!!
December 31st, 2007 at 1:22 pm
19
Signal to Noise says:
The Academy is treating Cal worse than it does some of its female recruits in the Springs.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
20
Blackertai says:
I don’t know so much about that J.J. If this were Navy or Army, I might give you the benefit of the doubt, but there have been so many shady things happening at the Air Force Academy in the last couple of years related to people seemingly trying to train our own national Jesus Camp full of F-22 flying crazies. Don’t know how crazy I am about that.
But, Cal-Berkeley can’t be too much better.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
21
marcillac says:
Riley in. A couple of months too late but let us hope.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
22
marcillac says:
Riley in. A couple of months too late but let us hope.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
23
Boston Frog says:
If Air Force wins, the MWC will be 5-0 in bowls and will have established itself as absolutely, unquestionably the best conference in college football.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
24
poguemahone says:
Did THIS Cal team beat the SEC runner-up by two touchdowns?
December 31st, 2007 at 1:26 pm
25
Stacy Keibler Luvs Me says:
Cal Correction J.J:
#16: It is the town of Berkeley that is effed up, with their heads stuck in the 60’s. The students, believe it or not, tend to be just like other top college students. Doing enough rabble rousing stuff, but not risking admission to a top blankety-blank graduate school.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
26
Jolly 21 says:
Blackertai, don’t believe everything you read in the papers… the whole situation was blown WAY out of proportion and taken to rather silly extremes IMO… but then I’m not the easily offended type either.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
27
VandyJ says:
The last man on Earth….has finally realized who should be at QB for the Bears.
Jeff Tedford stars in “I AM DUMBASS.”
Nate, have you considered discharging your obligation to the church? You don’t want to wait too long for that 2-year mission, you know…
December 31st, 2007 at 1:33 pm
28
Signal to Noise says:
Dan Fouts regales us with his rendition of John Fogerty’s “Centerfield.”
December 31st, 2007 at 1:39 pm
29
Skip says:
That is pretty.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:41 pm
30
marcillac says:
Stacey you beat me to it. Moreover, many of the America haters at Cal – TD Hawkins – also hate the football team.
Consider also that the “Hey Hey Heve Ho, Western Civ has got to go” chant was very popular at Cal in felicitous juxtoposition to Cal’s European History faculty and program being among the 2 best (Princeton) in the U.S. for over 100 years.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:43 pm
31
marcillac says:
Nice resiliance for Riley – as well as movbility. Much more impressive than Tony Romo’s comeback from his screwup last year.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:44 pm
32
marcillac says:
DeCoud, BTW, along with Forsett, Jordan and Hawkins were among the few who did not quit during the later part of the year.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:46 pm
33
Boston Frog says:
Air Force now looks both white and slow.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:49 pm
34
Skip says:
Look at that awesome Tedford clock management. Or maybe just blame Riley?
December 31st, 2007 at 1:53 pm
35
Orson Swindle says:
The next person to accuse anyone of hating America will get shot with the 2nd Amendment Protected EDSBS Irresponsible Meaningless Rhetoric Gun.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:53 pm
36
VandyJ says:
Lavelle Hawkins is hands-down the season MVP – he put this team on his back down the stretch when half of them had quit. If there’s one big rap on Tedford’s time at Cal, it’s that he has done a poor job motivating the team in times of adversity – the standout exception being last year after the UT loss, but it helped to get a nice steady diet of cupcakes for a while afterward.
Seriously. It’s a different team with Riley out there. WTF?
December 31st, 2007 at 1:54 pm
37
Signal to Noise says:
#34 – totally on Tedford. When Riley is the only quarterback to show up and play, you don’t blame him for not calling time out — especially because they should have started calling them when the Bears were on defense.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:00 pm
38
marcillac says:
Vandy,
Tetford has worked miracles at Cal but there is no question that his capacity as a motivator has been somewhat suspect and never more blatantly exposed tad deficient than this year. His insistance on sticking with Longshore also cannot be said to redound to his credit.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:03 pm
39
Signal to Noise says:
Time for Pat Hill’s Mustache Riders to take on the Rambling Wreck.
Also, I feel underwhelmed by Lou Holtz’s pep talk to Illinois.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:06 pm
40
Chg says:
34- Associating love of the Second Amendment with meaningless rhetoric?
Orson, why do you detest America?
December 31st, 2007 at 2:07 pm
41
VandyJ says:
marcillac – concur in every particular (my wife still has PTSD from our attending the Holiday Bowl in ‘04). My advice is to get RallyCom to train a real mean dog to sit on the sideline and bite Longshore if he puts his helmet on…
December 31st, 2007 at 2:07 pm
42
Orson Swindle says:
Chg–It’s ON.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:09 pm
43
marcillac says:
Sufice it to say that Duncan Huneer’s chances of winning a straw poll among the faculty and student body of Cal (where there is, to be sure, much more diversity than some might care to admit) is roughly comprable to Nick Saban’s of beating David Petreus in in the marathon or pushups.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:14 pm
44
marcillac says:
that should be “Hunter”, of course
December 31st, 2007 at 2:17 pm
45
marcillac says:
Speaking of Petreus…
Sorry for all the posting, I’m just so giddy at seeing Cal put forth a modicum of effort that I can barely restrain myself from poping some of the stray champagne lying around a few hour early. Maybe if they keep it up.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:21 pm
46
TIGERinATL says:
Last year Tech subracted Reggie Ball and they looked really good, does the de-Chan-ing complete the exorcism?
December 31st, 2007 at 2:24 pm
47
ClwFlGator says:
The announcer at the Sun Bowl just called USF the “Bulldogs.”
December 31st, 2007 at 2:27 pm
48
kleph says:
come now, orson, you must agree that the best way to neuter the rah-rah rhetoric is via overuse which drains it of any meaning whatsoever.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:40 pm
49
Jerkwheat says:
Orson,
All of this talk of advanced weaponry and freedom hating reminds me…
WHEN THE FUCK IS MERCS 2 FINALLY COMING OUT?
December 31st, 2007 at 2:47 pm
50
ehrenb2 says:
Roady’s just informed me that their truck stops will change my life. Woo.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:50 pm
51
Jim-bo says:
That Roady’s commercial was terrible I hope they didnt pay more than 30 bucks for it
December 31st, 2007 at 2:51 pm
52
Jerkwheat says:
Carney’s knee has caused me to curl up like a baby
December 31st, 2007 at 2:57 pm
53
Jolly 21 says:
That was not pretty at all
December 31st, 2007 at 2:58 pm
54
Jerkwheat says:
I was advised against watching my own knee injury on the game film when I was a sophomore and choose to ignore said warnings – ones foot should never be at a 90 degree angle from the rest of one’s leg.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:01 pm
55
brougham says:
Pat Hill will be in your commercial anytime, anyplace.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:02 pm
56
socalirish says:
And now Cal, unfortunately, is going to house AF.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:02 pm
57
Brian says:
Can I get some love for the people at work listening to their bowl on internet radio?
December 31st, 2007 at 3:09 pm
58
Stacy Keibler Luvs Me says:
Brian: I actually came to work today, instead of staying home looking at a few meaningless college football games. All of the bowl games suck and mean nothing. This year in college football must be the worst bowl season evah.
Heck, I saw the Patriots-Jints game on Sat instead of another meaningless bowl game that was on at that time. Except for USC-name-redacted jokers, I will try to skip the rest, and for the first time in years, focus more on the no fun league. Bah humbug!
December 31st, 2007 at 3:31 pm
59
jamiedawg says:
just turned on the Sun Bowl and the score is 11–11….are we playing baseball or something? What the hell kind of score is that?
December 31st, 2007 at 3:47 pm
60
DC Trojan says:
Brian @ 57: I’d almost rather be at work listening on-line, since using my last floating day means that my other choice is mediating three and five year olds’ fights about everything and mopping up the collateral damage.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:52 pm
61
ClwFlGator says:
jamiedawg @ 59: Oregon went for and got the 2 pt conversion after their opening touchdown. USF did the same later, with some FGs in between.
As someone who lives in Tampa, I thought that USF would mop up Oregon without Dixon, but they are actually looking pretty good.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:57 pm
62
Doug says:
#43: Duncan Hunter’s chances of winning a straw poll ANYWHERE are about the same as the chances of the Miami Dolphins hiring Nick Saban to replace Randy Mueller as GM.
Anyways, I was pretty shocked to see Cal bounce back the way they did. I figured they packed it in right around the time of the UCLA game.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:01 pm
63
Mr Pelican Pants says:
I think Air Force just fubbed up my perfect bowl pick em season. Dammit. Let this be a lesson to Fla. on running your QB every down…..Get a running back…Tim Tebow will end up like this guy, although Tebow will simply regenerate new ligaments overnite, his down time will be enough to cost you a game
I think in the Clemson/Auburn game, its safe to say the Tigers will win.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:05 pm
64
marcillac says:
QB controversy? Hm. One would think Riley would start with a significant lead and Longshore would have a lot of work to do to get his job back. We’ll see.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:05 pm
65
jamiedawg says:
#61–thanks for the explanation…I felt like I was doing an algebra problem…even though OR came to play…I switched to the Kentucky-FSU game to see how many players are actually playing for FSU….
December 31st, 2007 at 4:09 pm
66
gerry dorsey says:
the sun bowl presents: baby bash!!!!
just wow.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:11 pm
67
marcillac says:
Stacy@58
Can’t agree with you entirely but in general this bowl season is fairly meh while there are some decent matchups among the No Funners. The Pats-Jints game was in prospect and in fact somewhat dramatically more exciting than the post-Fran/Jo Pa snooze fest at the Alamo.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:21 pm
68
Stacy Keibler Luvs Me says:
Baby Bash?! Man, I am really missing out on the bowl season this year. Well, I would rather see this cornball Baby Bash video, with plenty of babes, than the Sun Bowl footbaw game!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQiXZr744qQ
December 31st, 2007 at 4:28 pm
69
Mr Pelican Pants says:
#66
Isnt baby bashing a crime? Better yet, isnt it a crime to know who Baby Bash is? Dunno which is worse…..a Lil Jon music rip off at best..is there an artist that Akon/ T-Pain hadnt collaborated with?
December 31st, 2007 at 4:35 pm
70
Mr Pelican Pants says:
Here is some info on the artist formely know as Baby Bash:
“Bash had aspiration of becoming a professional basketball player, but he now works as a songwriter and rapper. He had planned to play field hockey for the junior college he attended in California during the mid-1990s[2]. After his first year, however, he began selling crystal meth and dropped out after discovering that he was more likely to make fast money through dealing…”
Thats the work ethic I’m talkin bout……Never get high off ya own supply….
December 31st, 2007 at 4:39 pm
71
Stacy Keibler Luvs Me says:
#69: It is a crime to know who is Baby Bash! (I think both of his parents were in jail growing up and he was raised by relatives, or something like that.) But, if it is a crime knowing who Baby Bash is, what the !@#@ is having ‘Suga Suga’ on the IPOD? Elves put the song on the Ipod, and I need to get it out, one of these days…
December 31st, 2007 at 4:52 pm
72
Brian O'Blivion says:
Cue all your Pac-10 jokes, because at best, this conference is going 2-3 in bowl games.
What a difference a couple of hours makes. The PAC 10, barring a huge [name redacted] upset, going to go 4-2 in bowl games.
December 31st, 2007 at 5:58 pm