Media on Tennessee

#15 Tennessee vs. #12 Cal

ESPN’s Top 25 Overview:

This is easily the marquee game of opening weekend and Cal will have revenge on its mind. Last season, the Vols jumped out to a 35-0 lead in routing the Bears. This time Cal is at home, returning a veteran offense.

SI: “Bring on the Vols”

On Saturday, [Nate Longshore] from Canyon Country, Calif., will lead the 12th-ranked Bears against No. 15 Tennessee — the only matchup between ranked teams in Week 1. …

After getting blown out in Knoxville, Cal had a terrific season, winning 10 games and dominating Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl. But, in discussing the Bears season, says Tedford, people seldom failed to mention the debacle that began it. Despite that low moment — indeed, because of it — the Cal guys I talked to are fired up to get another crack at the Vols.

USA Today: “Cal-Tennessee stands out in weekend of mismatches”

With the kickoff to the college football season full of mismatches… the one game to watch should be No. 12 California against No. 15 Tennessee in Berkeley (Saturday, 8 p.m., ET, ABC).

Cal coach Jeff Tedford says last year’s 35-18 loss at Tennessee was the worst game his team has ever played but Saturday’s game isn’t about revenge. “It’s redemption,” he says.

The stigma of last year’s blowout and the stereotypes perpetuated about West Coast football as a result, lingered the entire season, Tedford says.

Though a league’s strength can’t be judged on one game — Cal-Tennessee is the only match between a Southeastern Conference and Pacific-10 school in the regular season — a Bears win would be sweet for the Pac-10, especially after LSU coach Les Miles jokingly took a swipe at the league.

AP: “Cal aims for better start vs. Vols this time”

The Golden Bears have 16 starters back from last season, including eight on offense. The unit is led by junior quarterback Nate Longshore, who threw for 3,021 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore.

“This is the first time that we’ve had a returning quarterback that played the previous season come back and start for us in our five years,” Tedford said. “Nate is a student of the game, he has experience now and really in all environments. Starting out last year at Tennessee was as tough a look as you’re going to get.” …

Both teams are picked to finish second in their respective conferences, Tennessee behind defending national champion Florida in the SEC East and Cal behind the top-ranked Trojans. … Tennessee is 2-6-1 all-time in the state of California, where it hasn’t played since a 30-24 win at UCLA on Sept. 6, 1997. The Golden Bears went 8-0 at home last year.

Yahoo/Rivals: “For openers, Cal-Tennessee tops list”

1. Tennessee at California
The only first week matchup of top 25 teams – Cal is 12th, Tennessee is 15th - is also a rematch of a beat-down from last season. Tennessee physically overwhelmed Cal 35-18 (it wasn’t that close) in Knoxville last season. This time, Cal gets its chance for redemption in front of its home crowd. Both teams feel they have legitimate championship aspirations, but the Bears must prove they’re tough enough up front to avoid another embarrasment. Meanwhile, Tennessee is unsettled in the secondary, which is especially worrisome when facing Cal’s explosive receiver DeSean Jackson.

ESPN: “Rematch with Vols has Cal fired up”

“We’re not out to make a statement for the Pac-10,” Tedford said. “We’re out to play our best that we can play. … If we had played our best and gotten beat like that, you can make that statement. We didn’t even come close to how we play.”

Tennessee comes to Berkeley with a question mark surrounding Ainge, who broke the little finger on his throwing hand… None of that matters to the Cal players or their fans, 50,000 of whom will be armed with megaphones on Saturday, courtesy of the athletic department. If the Bears beat the Vols, it will taste sweet no matter who wears the white uniforms with orange numbers. Even Tedford admitted as much.

“If we’re successful in this game, it will just validate that we’re a good football team,” Tedford said.

SI.com: “Cal’s sharp offense will prove too much for Tennessee”

Cal 34, Tennessee 28. The Bears actually do have bigger problems than hippies in their oak trees; namely, the fact that their defensive front seven only has two returning starters. But they’ll also be able to score enough points this year — powered by a trio of Longshore TD passes, and a solid outing from new No. 1 runner Justin Forsett — to overcome whatever offensive assault Ainge and Cutcliffe can muster.

NY Post: “Golden Opportunity’

Listen, Cal won’t be confused with Southern Cal anytime soon, especially on the depth chart, but the Bears’ starting offensive skill is comparable to the No. 1 Trojans’, and the defense isn’t bad either. Just ask Texas A&M, which was blasted by the Bears, 45-10, in the Holiday Bowl.

Tennessee, picked preseason No. 2 in the SEC East, is in line for a good season. But with Cal, Southern Miss and Florida on the slate the first three weeks, it could be a rocky start on Rocky Top.

Cal (-6) is the pick.