Cal's longtime radio play-by-play man Joe Starkey will be honored during today's game by the National Football Foundation. Starkey, now in his 36th season behind the mike, is the 2010 recipient of the Chris Schenkel Award, given for distinguished service in college football broadcasting. NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell is in town to present the award to Joe. The formal ceremony will take place early next month at the NFF's Hall of Fame Dinner in New York. Congratulations, Joe!

When the California Marching Band first walked onto the field for its morning practice, a few members of the horn section burst into a little "Singin' in the Rain" - quite appropriate with steady precipitation falling on the turf. Now fully into practice, the full band is definitely getting into its rendition of Kook and the Gang's "Jungle Boogie."

Good morning and welcome once again to the final gameday of the 2010 regular season. The Bears have an opportunity to close out the year in style. Not only does today mark the final contest in Memorial Stadium before construction begins on the renovation and retrofit of the 87-year-old facility, but a victory would secure a bowl berth for an eighth consecutive year.

Here are links to a few local stories to help set the tone for the match-up with the Washington Huskies. As a reminder, kickoff is at 12:30 p.m.

San Francisco Chronicle - Bidding farewell - with hopes of an encore

Contra Costa Times - Bowl hopes are on the line against Washington

Contra Costa Times - Derrick Hill: Cal player's imprint left on and off field

Today's Big Game program cover features original artwork by Evan Kerr of Cal's Creative Services department. When Kerr, a Cal graduate, returned to campus to work for the department, he brought back a tradition of creating unique program covers for the Big Game programs. Today's cover shows Oski and the Stanford Tree within the uprights of Memorial Stadium.

Inside the program, you can find features on ...

* the 1937 Thunder Team that captured the '38 Rose Bowl

* memorable Big Game moments

* defensive back Chris Conte

* the men's basketball team

* Josh Daniels of the men's swimming swimming team

* Linebacker Keith Browner

Cal kicked off the weekend in style Friday night with the men's water polo Bears downing  Stanford in the Big Splash, 9-6, and the Cal volleyball team defeating the Cardinal, 3-1, in the Big Spike to earn a season sweep in the series for the first time in 31 years.

Water polo, ranked No. 1in the country and winner of 13 games in a row, next heads to the MSPF Championships as the top seed. Cal will also host the NCAA Championships in Spieker Aquatics Center Dec. 4-5.

The fourth-ranked volleyball team is 24-2 overall and 14-2 in the Pac-10. The Bears have already set a school record for most conference wins in a season and have the inside track for their first Pac-10 title. Cal hosts Arizona State at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Arizona at 12 noon Friday to close out the regular season.

Good morning and welcome to Big Game Saturday from Berkeley, where the sun is rising over the East Bay hills, there are a few breaks in the clouds and, perhaps most importantly, no rain is falling. With plenty of stories fulling the Bay Area newspapers today, here is a sample to help get you in the Big Game spirit.

San Francisco Chronicle - A golden challenge to Cardinal's high hopes
San Francisco Chronicle - Cal beat Jim Plunkett's Rose Bowl team in 1970
San Francisco Chronicle - Big Game won't settle Stanford's bowl fate
Contra Costa Times - Five keys for Cal
San Jose Mercury-News - Cal needs defense, receivers to deliver
ESPN.com - Q&A with Cal defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast

Not only is today's Cal-Oregon football game being televised nationally in HD by Versus, but the contest will be shown in 3D by the network. In addition, ESPN Radio has brought its Gameday program to Berkeley and is set up on Maxwell Family Field, where it will air live from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Of course, fans can still purchase tickets to this afternoon's 4:30 kickoff between the Bears and No. 1 Ducks, or listen on the IMG Sports/Cal Football Radio Network (locally on KGO AM 810).

The Versus 3D production truck in the TV compound

ESPN Radio set up on Maxwell Family FIeld

Defensive end Trevor Guyton is having the biggest game of his career for the Bears. With 10:41 left in the game, he has seven total tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks. As a team, the Bears have 5 sacks on the day.

Shane Vereen has moved up to ninth on Cal's all-time rushing list rush, passing John Olszewski, who had 2,504 yards from 1950-52. At the end of the third quarter, Vereen had 2,512 yards.

Wide receiver Jeremy Ross scored on a 27-yard end-around in the third quarter, his second rushing TD of the year. He also had a 19-yard effort against Arizona State.

Midway through the third quarter, Cameron Jordan already has set career highs for total tackles (11) and tackles for loss (4).

Brock Mansion's 28-yard run at the start of Cal's touchdown drive was the longest for a Cal quarterback since Aaron Rodgers had a 36-yard rush at Washington on Nov. 13, 2004.

Safety Sean Cattouse registered his first sack of the year (and of his career) on the first play from scrimmage for Washington State, resulting in a one-yard loss.

Check out a few photos from early warm-ups at Martin Stadium. All photos are courtesy of GoldenBearSports.com.

Tailback Shane Vereen

From left: wide receiver coach Kevin Daft, strength & conditioning coach John Krasinski, offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz

Quarterback Brock Mansion

Safety Sean Cattouse

Punter Bryan Anger

Good morning and welcome to today's gameday blog. We'll be providing notes and updates throughout the day from Martin Stadium in Pullman as the Golden Bears take on the host Washington State Cougars.

The team arrived from its hotel in Moscow, Idaho, around 10:30 and will soon be out on the field to start its warm-ups.

To get you up to speed on what to expect, here are links to a few previews from the Bay Area and Washington newspapers ...

San Francisco Chronicle - Mansion's first start is Cal's last chance for road win
Contra Costa Times - Cal football team ought to be aware of upset potential
Seattle Times - California enjoys its success running past Washington State
Spokane Spokesman Review - Cougars focus on Cal running game