Here are a few early game notes while the Bears battle the Wildcats in Tucson ...

*Mychal Kendricks recovered the fourth fumble of his career on the final play of the first quarter, setting up Giorgio Tavecchio's 25-yard field goal and giving the Bears 48 points off opponent turnovers this season.

*Cal led, 6-0, at the half, the third time this season the Bears have shut out an opponent in the first half. The last time Cal shut out a Pac-10 foe in the first half was during a 48-7 win over Washington on Dec. 6, 2008.

*Chris Conte's interception in the end zone was the second INT of his career.

*TB Shane Vereen passed the 2,000-yard level in rushing for his career.

*WR Marvin Jones also moved over 1,000 yards receivving for his career.

*TE Spencer Ladner had his first career catch.

This week's Cal Coaches Corner features four guests from the Golden Bears -- football coach Jeff Tedford, women's tennis coach Amanda Augustus, women's soccer coach Neil McGuire and senior defensive end Cameron Jordan.

The show airs from 6-7 p.m. each Monday on KNEW Radio (910 AM) live from the Paragon in the Claremont Hotel. Fans are welcome to listen in person at the Claremont, while those who want to submit questions to Coach Tedford can do so by logging on at CalBears.com/fanquestion.

Cal football, off to a 2-1 start, remains on the road this week when the Bears visit Arizona Saturday at 7 p.m. PT. Last season, Cal upended the then-18th-ranked Wildcats, 24-16, behind 159 yards on the ground from Shane Vereen.

Augustus and her squad host the Nike Invitational Friday-Sunday. Junior Jana Juricova is the No. 1-ranked singles player in the country and she teams with senior Mari Andersson to form the No. 1 doubles tandem.

McGuire's 18th-ranked Cal team is 5-0-3 on the year and hosts Portland at 3 p.m. Thursday in a pivotal non-conference match at Edwards Stadium.

 

The last time Cal and Colorado faced each other was on Sept. 11, 1982 in Boulder when the Bears came away with a 31-17 victory. Other recent games on 9/11 for Cal include a 45-25 victory over a Marshall Faulk-led San Diego State team in 1993 and a 41-14 win over New Mexico State in 2004.

Today's Cal Kickoff game program with Chris Guarnero on the cover includes a feature on the Golden Bear center who says he thrives on competition in the trenches. Other features are on the women's soccer team, an interview with head coach Jeff Tedford, who passed Pappy Waldorf on Cal's all-time wins list last week, and Cal's annual National Championship Week.

All of Cal's 2009-10 national champions will be introduced on the field at halftime today. Last year, the Bears won a team title in rugby, captured the varsity 8 crown in men's rowing, and won a combined 8 championships in swimming - 3 individual men's titles, 1 individual women's title and 4 men's relays. Golden Bears have won at least one national championship each of the last 37 years.

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, and Cal is recognizing the occasion with Spirit of America Day. A large U.S. flag will be unfurled on the field during the National Anthem, which will be followed by a flyover by a U.S. Air Force C-5 aircraft.

As we remember all those who died on 9/11, we also pause to recall former Golden Bear tight end Brent Woodall, who was working as a stock trader on the 89th floor of the South Tower at the World Trade Center when the building was hit. As a player, Woodall lettered from 1988-91 and was a key member of the 1991 squad that finished 10-2 with a Citrus Bowl victory over Clemson. He completed his Cal career with 55 receptions for 646 yards and 4 TDs.

A scholarship fund was established in Woodall's memory, and current TE Anthony Miller was the recipient in 2009-10. Fans wanting to donate to the scholarship fund can send a check payable to UC Regents with Brent Woodall Scholarship on the memo line to Cal Athletic Development, 195 Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Good morning from Memorial Stadium as we post our first blog entry before this afternoon's Cal-Colorado match-up. On a perfectly clear day with the sun just rising over the East Bay hills, the Cal alumni and marching bands are reviewing their routines and forming the script California on the field.

To help get you ready for the 12:30 tilt between future conference opponents, here is a little morning reading about the Bears and Buffaloes.

In the SF Chronicle, John Crumpacker writes about the options that WR Keenan Allen gives offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig.

Jonathan Okanes' story in the Contra Costa Times focuses on the stiffer test the Bears will get this week against a Big 12 foe.

And in the Denver Post, a feature on offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau, who served as Cal's wide receivers coach under Jeff Tedford from 2002-05.

Each home Saturday, the Cal pregame show on the Cal/ISP Sports Radio Network (locally on KGO AM 810) broadcasts live from Maxwell Family Field starting one-hour before kickoff. This week's program prior to the 12:30 p.m. Cal-Colorado game will include a live interview with former Golden Bear quarterback Dave Barr, who directed the Cal offense from 1992-94, as well as a taped feature on current wide receiver Marvin Jones.

Todd McKim and Troy Taylor host the first 30 minutes from Maxwell Field, before tossing the program up to Joe Starkey in the broadcast booth.

Former Golden Bear star Magdalena Lewy Boulet captured the women's title at the USA 20-kilometer Championships Monday in New Haven, Conn., cruising home in a time of 1:07.41 for a 45-second win over Stephanie Rothstein.

 

Boulet took charge of the lead pack early. After seven miles, she steadily pulled away from the field, capturing her first U.S. title of 2010.

 

Check out runnerspace.com for video highlights or visit USA Track & Field for more information on the race.

 

Cal led 35-0 at the half, the first time the Bears have shut out an opponent in the first half since they led Arizona, 14-0, on Oct. 1, 2005. Cal eventually won, 28-0.

The Bears' 35-point lead was their largest at halftime since holding a 42-3 advantage at Washington State in 2008.

Some halftime notes to ponder ...

 

Shane Veeren's two touchdowns in the first half give him 16 rushing TDs in his career, tying him for ninth on Cal's all-time list with Joe Igber and John Tuggle.

 

Kevin Riley completed his first nine passes and threw two touchdowns to give him 39 in his career, one behind Mike Pawlawski, who had 40 during his career.

 

Marvin Jones caught a career-long 51-yard pass from Riley.

 

Mike Mohamed registered six tackles and one pass breakup in the first half.

 

Cal is outgaining UC Davis, 332-31 yards, over the first 30 minutes of the game.

Kevin Riley connected on a 23-yard pass to a wide open Shane Vereen for a touchdown for Cal's first points of the season and a 7-0 lead at the 4:11 mark of the first quarter. The Bears covered 80 yards in seven plays, which included a 17-yard run by Isi Sofele and a 17-yard pass to freshman Keenan Allen.

The TD was Riley's 38-th career scoring pass - most among active Pac-10 quarterbacks. Riley has started the game 5-for-5 for 64 yards.

It's 1:07 and the 2010 season is underway. Tavecchio's kickoff reaches the goal line and UC Davis will set up on its own 23. A gorgeious day for football in Berkeley - clear skies and 67 degrees.

   When you get to the stadium, make sure you pick up a copy of today's game program. The  cover feature is on quaterback Kevin Riley and his preparation for his senior season. Other stories include a feature on wide receiver Marvin Jones, season outlooks for the Golden Bear field hockey and men's soccer teams, and an update on construction activities related to the retrofit and renovation of Memorial Stadium.

You'll also be able to read four pages of game notes, rosters, depth charts and much more!

Each week this season will also feature a Golden Moment in Golden Bear History, looking back on notable performances in Memorial Stadium since it opened in 1923. On page 4 today, you can find series of photos reliving David Gray's 71-yard scoring catch against Baylor on Aug. 31, 2002 - the first play Jeff Tedford called as Cal's head coach. The Bears of Berkeley went on to crush the Bears from Waco, 70-22.

It's not even 8 o'clock yet and kick off is more than 5 hours away, but the first fans have set up shop on Tightwad Hill overlooking Memorial Stadium. From here in the press box, it appears they've already unfolded their chairs and spread out a blanket to settle in for the day.

Meanwhile, the band is coming through the tunnel during for a dress rehearsal for its pregame show. The drum major came running right behind and jumped over the band member at the lead position. No toss of the baton, though. That will have to wait for the game.

Here's some morning reading to get you ready for today's Cal-UC Davis match-up.

 

Both the San Francisco Chronicle and the Bay Area News Group take a look at the financial incentives for school's such as UC Davis to play Cal.

 

 

College football mismatches often about cashing in

San Francisco Chronicle

 

Golden Bears happy to provide UC Davis much-needed football payday

Contra Costa Times

 

Bay Area News Group columnist Cam Inman writes about the art of quarterbacks using their eyes to deceive defenses.

 

Playing eye-spy with Stanford, Cal quarterbacks

Contra Costa Times

 

And in case you missed it, Dave Newhouse wrote a column a couple of days ago relating a conversation between a cancer patient and head coach Jeff Tedford.

 

The coach with a (blue and) gold heart

San Jose Mercury News

 

 

No,,we aren't seeing a re-enactment of the The Play from 1982. It's 7:30 a.m. and the Cal Marching Band has begun practicing its routine for this afternoon's season opener. All the instruments are on the sidelines as the band members review their steps to the cadence of a a lone drummer.

Good morning from Memorial Stadium! It's about 6:25 and the stadium is starting to wake up. The TV crew from CSN California has just reported to start setting its cameras, pulling cable and setting up the broadcast booth. About the only light is coming off the scoreboards and the press box.

Fog still hovers over the top of the stadium, but it's supposed to clear by game time with a comfortable 69 degrees expected by the 1 p.m. kickoff.

Check back throughout the day for other updates as Cal and UC Davis begin the 2010 football season this afternoon.