Cal is playing 7,500 miles from home, and is eligible to play despite the season officially beginning September 1, as both programs signed a waiver from the NCAA to make the worldwide stage a reality. For the Golden Bears to contend in the Pac-12, they’ll need improved results from a defense that has to replace safety Damariay Drew (season-ending knee injury) and linebacker Hardy Nickerson, who transferred to IL after leading the team in tackles last season. He tossed four touchdowns and ran for another.
Advertisement
The game is a Saturday nooner in Sydney, but stateside we’ll get to watch tonight at 7:00pm PDT on ESPN.
University of Hawai’i: SYDNEY, Australia (August 27, 2016) – In a historic matchup Down Under, the University of Hawai’i football team fell to the University of California, 51-31, in the opening game of the 2016 college football season at ANZ Stadium. Cal came into the contest without their top six leading wide receivers form a year ago, but appear to have found a weapon in junior Chad Hansen who made a big impact in the contest with 14 receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
“I had to get him his visa”, Hubbard said. “I’m excited for what we can do this season”.
Their defense, a constant source of concern in recent seasons, was porous early but solid late.
They gave up two long touchdown drives Friday in the first quarter. By that time, the Bears were comfortably ahead. Webb played in 23 games with 14 starts at Texas Tech and had career totals of 5,557 yards and 46 touchdowns.
A special teams penalty by Hawaii allowed the Bears to extend the drive. Given the second chance, the Bears moved across midfield and produced a field goal by Matt Anderson for a 20-14 lead.
UH then fumbled the ensuing kickoff.
The Golden Bears rolled up 347 first-half yards and scored 17 points over the final four minutes of the first half to take a 34-14 lead and essentially put the game away.
College football season is finally back, and MI fans have a reason to stay up late Friday and soak it all in.
While Cal’s offense looked like it picked up where it left off last season, unfortunately so did the defense.
Advertisement
While Cal boasts plenty of experience at offensive line and running back, the Golden Bears are replacing their top six receivers from last season, when they won their first five games but finished 8-5. The Golden Bears will head home and get some rest as they don’t play next weekend, but travel south to face San Diego State on September 11.
