The Tedford Article

#1
Chattownsfinest

Chattownsfinest

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#1
Not sure who wrote it, Freak I guess right. Gotta admit man, not your best work. Where to start...

First and foremost you don't judge how good a football team is going to be that season by what that team has accomplished in the last 25 years. You say that Cal hasn't won a Pac-10 champion since 1975, what exactly does that have to do with this year’s Cal team or Jeff Tedford who has been the coach for 4 years? You want to talk about the Cal program or it's history feel free, but since Tedford had never even been associated with the Cal program until 2002, it has absolutely nothing to do with him. You say Tedford hasn't won a PAC-10 championship in 4 years. Fulmer didn't win a conference championship until his 6th year after inheriting a team that was coming off four consecutive 9+ win seasons two of which were consecutive SEC championships in 89 and 90.

This brings me to my next point. Tedford inherited a team that went 1-10 the previous season, the worst record in Cal history. The previous coach had a 5 year record of 16-39. Before Tedford was named head coach Cal had been to 4 bowls in 22 years.

In his first season with Cal in 2002 Tedford posted a 7-5 record which was Cal’s first winning season since 1993. It was also the biggest turnaround in the nation and Tedford was named the Pac-10 coach of the year. I

n 2003 with the fewest returning starters in the country Tedford had an 8-6 record that included a bowl win over Virginia Tech. Also included was a win over a Southern Cal team ranked #3 in the nation that would then go on a 34 game win streak until losing an opportunity to win a 3rd straight national championship after falling by 3 to Texas in the 05 Rose Bowl.

In 2004 Tedford posted a 10-2 record, the best at Cal since 1950. Cal’s only loss of the regular season was a 6 point heartbreaker at Southern Cal. In that game Cal had a first and goal at the 9 with less than two minutes left but failed to reach the end zone after a sack and 3 incomplete passes by Aaron Rodgers who before that was 29-31 for 267 yards and had tied an NCAA record by completing his first 23 passes. If Cal had converted that first and goal instead of coming up short, they would’ve been in the Orange Bowl to play for the national championship. Instead they were relegated to the Holiday Bowl. A dejected and disrespected Cal team would lose to Texas Tech 45-31.

In 2005 Cal would win their first 5 games before ultimately finishing 8-4 with a bowl win over BYU.

The guy deserves all the praise he gets, he is one of the best head coaches in the country.
 
#3
#3
Ummm... missing the point?

Why can't we have a little fun at his expense. And more importantly, why do you care?

I thought the article was hilarious.
 
#4
#4
Aaron Rodgers who before that was 29-31 for 267 yards and had tied an NCAA record by completing his first 23 passes.

And what UTee QB held this record that Rodgers tied?
 
#5
#5
Pull the stick out, get a sense of humor and enjoy it for what is is. It is a good piece but not to be taken as gospel. I guess the Chuck Norris-type references were missed huh?
 
#6
#6
Chattownsfinest said:
Not sure who wrote it, Freak I guess right. Gotta admit man, not your best work. Where to start...

First and foremost you don't judge how good a football team is going to be that season by what that team has accomplished in the last 25 years. You say that Cal hasn't won a Pac-10 champion since 1975, what exactly does that have to do with this year’s Cal team or Jeff Tedford who has been the coach for 4 years? You want to talk about the Cal program or it's history feel free, but since Tedford had never even been associated with the Cal program until 2002, it has absolutely nothing to do with him. You say Tedford hasn't won a PAC-10 championship in 4 years. Fulmer didn't win a conference championship until his 6th year after inheriting a team that was coming off four consecutive 9+ win seasons two of which were consecutive SEC championships in 89 and 90.

This brings me to my next point. Tedford inherited a team that went 1-10 the previous season, the worst record in Cal history. The previous coach had a 5 year record of 16-39. Before Tedford was named head coach Cal had been to 4 bowls in 22 years.

In his first season with Cal in 2002 Tedford posted a 7-5 record which was Cal’s first winning season since 1993. It was also the biggest turnaround in the nation and Tedford was named the Pac-10 coach of the year. I

n 2003 with the fewest returning starters in the country Tedford had an 8-6 record that included a bowl win over Virginia Tech. Also included was a win over a Southern Cal team ranked #3 in the nation that would then go on a 34 game win streak until losing an opportunity to win a 3rd straight national championship after falling by 3 to Texas in the 05 Rose Bowl.

In 2004 Tedford posted a 10-2 record, the best at Cal since 1950 and was once again named Pac-10 coach of the year. Cal’s only loss of the regular season was a 6 point heartbreaker at Southern Cal. In that game Cal had a first and goal at the 9 with less than two minutes left but failed to reach the end zone after a sack and 3 incomplete passes by Aaron Rodgers who before that was 29-31 for 267 yards and had tied an NCAA record by completing his first 23 passes. If Cal had converted that first and goal instead of coming up short, they would’ve been in the Orange Bowl to play for the national championship. Instead they were relegated to the Holiday Bowl. A dejected and disrespected Cal team would lose to Texas Tech 45-31.

In 2005 Cal would win their first 5 games before ultimately finishing 8-4 with a bowl win over BYU.

The guy deserves all the praise he gets, he is one of the best head coaches in the country.
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Not my best work because you don't agree? Is there an error in my statistics somewhere?

You make some good points. Obviously the article was meant to be somewhat funny (see the Chuck Norris references) but I will standby the fact that I believe Tedford is overrated. That's my opinion plain and simple.

In bringing up Conference titles I was merely pointing out that Cal has never won anything. I first pointed out that Tedford, as much praise as he gets, has never won a championship. Just pointing out that fact. By mentioning 1975, I was just drawing a picture of the program itself and their tradition. Again just bringing up some facts. Why do I bring up their history? I just think it's unlikely that a team that has never won anything should be picked to win the national title. Notice I didn't say impossible. I just don't see anything in this teams past, especially last season, that makes me think they can run the table. We all know from 99 that returning a good bunch of starters doesn't guarantee anything.

You mention Fulmer and I'm not sure why. He has absolutely nothing to do with my article. I did not mention him and I am not comparing the two in any way. Regardless, Fulmer has never gotten the media love nationally that Tedford has.

As for Tedford's resume, you don't need to rehash it for me. I am familar with it and I am not as impressed as you obviously are. 2004 was a good year, I mentioned that. 2005 was not that great.

Look, I am obviously in the minority here as everybody loves the guy. That was part of my point. He's a solid coach and he's done a good job at a mid level program but there are guys out there who have accompished more. In time, Tedford may be worthy of this praise, but not yet, not from me. You go ahead hop on the bandwagon, I'm going to wait until I have more to go on than what they "almost" did.

With that said, thanks for reading. Your comments are always welcome. Maybe this will be their year to win big and you can dig this up and say "I told you so". :)
 
#8
#8
Haven't read it... But if it has Chuck Norris references, I'm sure it is great.

Just a few points if we're going to debate it anyways...

1. I believe Tedford is a very good coach. I've already stated why, particularly the quarterbacks he has made, the offensive numbers he produced at Oregon, and the turnaround at Cal which was nothing short of miraculous. It was literally on the level of making Vandy a bowling team.

And most of all, I don't believe championships are the only way to say a coach is great. If one coach took a cupcake to a bowl game, and another got to a BCS game with a loaded team, which would you be more impressed with?
 
#9
#9
milohimself said:
Haven't read it... But if it has Chuck Norris references, I'm sure it is great.

Just a few points if we're going to debate it anyways...

1. I believe Tedford is a very good coach. I've already stated why, particularly the quarterbacks he has made, the offensive numbers he produced at Oregon, and the turnaround at Cal which was nothing short of miraculous. It was literally on the level of making Vandy a bowling team.

And most of all, I don't believe championships are the only way to say a coach is great. If one coach took a cupcake to a bowl game, and another got to a BCS game with a loaded team, which would you be more impressed with?
Click to expand...

So he's a good coach who has taken program that was previously in the toilet and had some good years and has a good resume developing QBs. Is it just me, or does he sound like a west coast version of David Cutcliffe?
 
#10
#10
I guess. We'll see if he can elevate Cal first.

Either way, I think Cutcliffe is a pretty great coach as well. He also got some help by getting Archie's boys.
 
#11
#11
milohimself said:
I guess. We'll see if he can elevate Cal first.

Either way, I think Cutcliffe is a pretty great coach as well. He also got some help by getting Archie's boys.
Click to expand...

He also developed Heath Shuler and Tee Martin and won games at Ole Miss.

I'm not really saying Cutcliffe is Bill Walsh, just that his accomplishments sound similar to Tedford's.
 
#12
#12
I thought it was a pretty entertaining article myself. But someone said it's not gospel??? I'm confused...
 
#16
#16
the way i look at it, tedford took a pretty bad program and turned them into a mediocre one, face it, he's a decent coach but nowhere near one of the best, i think everyone on this board could name at least ten off the top of their head. if cal wins the pac 10 this year, then does it again next year, i will give him props, but for now, carroll (along with a lot of others) owns his punk arse.
 
#17
#17
More food for thought. Tedford is the only active Pac-10 coach with more than one Coach Of The Year honor. I forget who votes for that... But still, think about it.
 
#19
#19
milohimself said:
More food for thought. Tedford is the only active Pac-10 coach with more than one Coach Of The Year honor. I forget who votes for that... But still, think about it.
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Sounds to me like more proof that he is overrated. :p
 
#23
#23
milohimself said:
Hell naw. Vols all the way.
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let me be the voice of reasoning. Even if Tedford is the best coach in The Pac-10, he is going to need more then that to beat us on Saturday. First time coming in an enviroment like that of Tennessee, that team is going to be craping its pants. ITs almost game time, I can feel the win coming boys and girls, I can feel it....
 
#24
#24
Chill Pill is needed by "Chatttowns"

I for one found it good writing, and good humor. I guess some folks from this town, just can't drill down to what something is all about. Anyway, Nice article.

:good!:
 
#25
#25
It was an exceptional article. Funny and factual.

Tedford did a very good job. He lifted one of the worst teams in the country up to respectability. But lets be realistic. He had one fluke win against an overconfident USC team and his next best win was against a very down year Va Tech team. He's posted good records against relatively poor competition.

His team may be a NC contender this year. They may even be as good as their hype. But that hype isn't based on what they've done against high level competition. They played exactly 3 teams that finished with a winning record last year. UT played 5 teams that played in January Bowls.

Thankfully. The waiting is almost over. The masks will be taken off on Sat afternoon and we'll know who the pretenders are.
 
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