A Very Cal Thanksgiving

In the spirit of the holiday season -- and especially with football winding down -- we here at Cal Rivals thought we might try to dispel some of the lingering frustration and negativity around last week's Big Game, and do so by listing out a few things we're thankful for.

Nam:

This year, I'm thankful for --

- Mike Williams - for gutting up and firing Sonny Dykes early. He opened the door for Wilcox, and the infinitely more hopeful era to come. The Bears, as we all know, look re-energized, prepared, and consistently competitive. Thanks, Mike.

- My receipt boys - for allowing me to remember, at least for most of the season, that I am not completely a moron at this writing thing. Just usually. (Devante Downs, Kanawai Noa, Cam Goode, etc.)

- The Washington State game - for letting me feel something I rarely have since I began my serious fandom: a big win against a genuinely good team.

- My other son, Jared - I am sorry I had some small doubts you would be a success after last year.

- Malik McMorris - for the highlights, the dirty work, and the story. You have had to play a bigger role than normal without Hudson, and you've done excellently.

Trace:

This season, I’ve been thankful for a lot of things about this team, mostly in the way that they’ve helped me learn more about the game of football. This year I’m thankful for:

- Tim DeRuyter and Justin Wilcox, for teaching the 3-4 and 4-2-5, demonstrating that you can actually be a successful defense running a 4-2-5. I had doubts early, and most of them have cleared.

- For common sense, which I can see playing out in almost every decision on the football field. Everything makes sense, from their being a clear goal in recruiting (to get more size on both lines and to recruit northern California better among other goals), to when they go for it on fourth down.

- For Kanawai Noa, who I wrote about back at the beginning of fall camp as Cal’s best kept secret on the offense. He’s not so secret any more, as teams key on him and open things up for the run and other receivers.

- For the tight end position, one that’s back in Berkeley. I’m a bit biased here because it’s the position that I played, and it’s being used in a number of different ways that I hadn’t expected.

- For Patrick Laird, his book reading celebration, and the fact that he came out of nowhere to be a success this year. He’s proven himself to be more than just the usual designations of sneaky athletic, or having a high football IQ. He’s a talented football player, full stop.

- For Malik McMorris (Yeah I know Nam said him too)- He’s probably the unsung hero of the offense, opening up a number of things in the pass and run games. His block on a 4th and 1 against Ole Miss was a thing of beauty, where I’m fairly certain he turned a guy into an accordion.

- Football games that don’t go four hours. After four years of Sonny, games almost seem too short now, but it’s a little easier on the body, the heart, and the soul this way

- Every player and coach that I’ve interviewed this year. I’ve asked some dumb questions at times. They’ve mostly looked the other way on those, so thank you for that.