Saturday, November 26, 2011

California - 11/26/11

BERKELEY, Calif. - The Pioneers celebrated Thanksgiving with a 4-0 record, which certainly gave the players, coaches and fans plenty to be thankful for.

The team has a challenge in front of them today, heading to Haas Pavilion to take on Cal, which is ranked No. 18 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the AP Poll. This is just the second time that DU has faced a ranked opponent since returning to NCAA Division I in 1998-99. The Pioneers faced No. 10 Gonzaga on Nov. 24, 2003.

Today's game is especially exciting for a couple of senior from this area. Brian Stafford is from just up the road in Walnut Creek, Calif., and Alex Pickert grew up about 90 minutes southwest of here in Carmel, Calif.

Both players have a contingent coming, but Stafford's group of around 30 could be a little bit torn. Stafford's dad, Pete, was Cal's backup quarterback during the "Band Game," when the Golden Bears beat John Elway-led Stanford with the Cardinal's band on the field. Sally, his mother, was an All-American hurdler on the Cal track and field team. His grandfather, Dave, was a member of Cal's 1959 NCAA champion basketball team, which beat Jerry West and West Virginia in the title game.

When asked whether his family was cheering for the Pioneers today, Stafford just smiled sheepishly.

The team flew in Friday afternoon. It was an easy flight into Oakland, and everyone had a couple hours to relax before dinner across the street from the hotel.

There are a few significant differences from the usual routine when playing an afternoon game. The most noticeable today was that the team did not go to the gym to shoot around this morning, meaning the first time most of these players will ever put up a shot at Haas Pavilion will be when the team arrives around 12:30 p.m.

The other major difference is the pregame meal. Generally, the Pioneers dine on what former guard Kyle Lewis used to lovingly refer to as "Coach Scott's chicken and pasta," consisting of, surprisingly, chicken and pasta, about four hours before every game.

However, since today's pregame was midmorning, the players and coaches ate scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and potatoes.

About Cal - Obviously, Cal is pretty well know, whether it be as the top public university or fairly well known protests over the years.

As mentioned before, the Golden Bears won the 1959 national title in basketball under the guidance of legendary head coach Pete Newell.

Not surprisingly, this campus just north of Oakland has drawn a number of notable alumni. The basketball team has turned out a few standout point guards named Kevin Johnson (currently the mayor of Sacramento, Calif.) and Jason Kidd, as well as Tony Gonzalez, who is known better as an All-Pro tight end but also played just after Kidd on the Golden Bears basketball team.

Olympians Matt Biondi, Natalie Coughlin and Jonny Moseley were Golden Bears, as were authors Jack London and Beverly Cleary.

From the music industry, Police drummer Stewart Copeland, Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz and Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh all attended Cal.

Since we're in California, we can't ignore Hollywood. Cal can boast stars such as Gregory Peck, Jerry Mathers and Bill Bixby. Perhaps not as well known, but John Cho from Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle; Jeff Cohen, who played Chunk in Goonies; and American Idol contestant William Hung also went to Cal.

Yearly travel totals:       
Total Flights - 5

Total Mileage by Air  - 2,953

Total Mileage by Bus  - 157

Total Number of Hotels - 2

Total Number of Different Airports - 4

Total Number of Airline Delays - 1

Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0

Total Number of Bags Lost - 0

Total Number of Stafford and Pickert's Friends & Family at the Game - 40+





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