The Cal Football Fan

“WOODSHED BEATDOWN”

Yesterday’s Holiday Bowl was one for the ages and a defining moment of the Tedford Era at Cal. The Bears defied all critics and came together to form the juggernaut that the Cal faithful knew would show up to play, dominating all phases of the game and routing Texas A&M 45-10.

Here are the media rounds. Go Bears, and note you can’t spell shellacking without CAL.

AP: “Lynch runs for 111 yards, 2 TDs; Cal routs Texas A&M”

Cal (10-3) put an emphatic final touch to its second 10-win season in three years. …

“Cal played a great game,” [Aggies coach Dennis] Franchione said. “We were not up to the task. They controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.” … While the Golden Bears moved up and down the field, their defense came up big, too.

ESPN: “Bears’ Holiday Bowl win exorcises some demons”

The Bears pounded Texas A&M, outhitting the Aggies from the opening kickoff en route to an impressive and very emotional 45-10 victory … But Thursday’s performance was more about this team making a statement, proving — perhaps to themselves as much as the rest of the college football world — that they had the grit to go with all the glitz. … numbers don’t accurately show Cal’s dominance. …

The rout also provided a needed boost for Pac-10 pride, which really has taken a beating in the last week … beating the No. 21 Aggies won’t answer all the critics, but it sure was a great way to jump into the offseason.

San Diego Union-Tribune: “Grizzly bears”

Not only did Cal prove it could take a punch, it delivered a haymaker. …Whereas No. 21 Texas A&M (9-4) had been identified as the intimidator in this affair, boasting a bruising running game that ranked seventh-best in the country, it was Cal that assumed the role of tormentor. The Bears finished with 476 total yards and ran roughshod over a defense that just last month limited then-No. 11 Texas to seven points in the Aggies’ regular-season finale.

San Diego Union-Tribune: “Cal’s defense shows who’s boss”

The Cal Golden Bears were the ones playing the part of the physical opponent, bottling up the Aggies’ option game with blood-letting assignment defense in a 45-10 victory.

LA Times: “Cal makes point for Pac-10, beating Texas A&M 45-10″

It wasn’t the Rose Bowl, but it was a start. The No. 20 California Golden Bears, whose chance to get to Pasadena had veered off course in two of the past three seasons, made the most of their postseason opportunity…

SF Chronicle: “Lasting impression”

It was, in short, their most dominant postseason game ever, and one that will provide rebuttal for those whose minds still go back to the losses at Arizona and USC that sent them here.

SF Chronicle: “Win both convincing and entertaining”

Marshawn Lynch’s 111 yards and two touchdowns looked like classic Chuck Muncie. Justin Forsett’s 124 yards and a score on eight carries looked a lot like Lynch. Nate Longshore’s 235 yards on 19-of-24 passing looked like Pat Barnes circa 1996. DeSean Jackson was the spitting image of Geoff MacArthur in 2003.

Contra Costa Times: “Cal puts in extra hard work on this holiday”

After stumbling at the end of the regular season with only three offensive touchdowns in their final three games, Cal erupted for 476 yards of offense, including 241 rushing yards. …

“I’ve never seen a game where we outhit somebody so hard,” said Bears linebacker Zack Follett, who had two tackles for loss. “When you put this kind of beat-down on a great team like Texas A&M, it’s going to look good. Our future is awesome.”

Houston Chronicle: “Cal turns out the lights on A&M in Holiday Bowl”

The Bears punished A&M physically, hammering quarterback Stephen McGee on at least two occasions and then knocking running back Mike Goodson out of the game late with what appeared to be a knee injury. Cal dominated the Aggies’ offensive line, swarming to the ball to cut off running lanes. A&M couldn’t return the favor. … The Bears’ speed riddled A&M zones, with Nate Longshore having plenty of time to find open receivers in soft spots. …

The Bears outscored A&M 31-0 in the second half to break open a close game.

Dallas Morning News: “Holiday off: Cal routs A&M, 45-10″

Texas A&M’s porous pass defense, its downfall last year, resurfaced to haunt the Aggies Thursday night in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. The Aggies’ inconsistent passing offense, which they overcame much of this season, finally cost them against No. 20 Cal. No. 21 A&M suffered its first blowout loss of 2006, ending an encouraging year with a disappointing 45-10 defeat in front of a pro-Golden Bears crowd of 62,395 at Qualcomm Stadium.

San Antonio Express: “California smashes Texas A&M”

The Aggies upset Texas 12-7 on Nov. 24 in Austin, but Franchione’s first victory over A&M’s chief rival now seems a distant memory following Thursday’s shellacking against the Bears (10-3), the Pac-10 co-champions.