That will change Wednesday, when they venture into the city of Sydney as a team for the first time, though not all of the ‘Bows seemed ready to warmly embrace Australian culture.
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Heavy rainfall in Sydney over 12 hours into early Thursday morning forced changes to the practice schedules for California and Hawaii just two days away from their college football season-opener at the Olympic stadium. Cal should face little resistance against a Hawaii team that was picked to finish last in the West Division of the Mountain West but hopes to rebuild under new coach Nick Rolovich, who started at quarterback for the Rainbow Warriors in 2000-01.TV: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN. They have a first-year coach in Nick Rolovich and a starting quarterback, Ikaika Woolsey, with limited experience.
Organizers say Saturday’s midday game – prime time Friday night in the US – at Sydney’s Olympic stadium is expected to attract a crowd of more than 65,000.
Representatives from both teams gathered at the famed Sydney Opera House to talk about Saturday’s game, as well as the opportunity the trip to Australia presented for student-athletes. The 2016-17 campaign will be the 7th straight year Hawaii has opened against a Pac-12 opponent.
“It’s a great honor and a big deal to be named a team captain especially when it is voted on by your teammates”, head coach Sonny Dykes said. Jared Goff is now play in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, leaving Davis Webb to take the reigns on offense.
If the Golden Bears’ defense wasn’t ready for their game on Friday, facing off against one of the best running backs to ever suit up for Cal is certainly a way to do that.
After touching down in Sydney, the Bears held a quick practice that was attended by former Cal star Marshawn Lynch.
They return only eight starters overall, with former Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb taking over for Goff as a graduate transfer. Cal has played outside of the United States once previously at the Coca-Cola Classic in Tokyo, Japan, where the Golden Bears and Washington State played to a 17-17 tie on November 28, 1987.
Hawaii is 0-6 ATS in its last six games.
Cal had a seven-win turnaround from the past two seasons, going from 1-11 in 2013 to 8-5 previous year.
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Cal is 7-2 in season openers since 2007. The Rainbow Warriors are 2-4 in those contests.
