Pac Zen: The Way of Bay Football

Man, things couldn't get much worse for Stanford football fans. Not only did they lose to lowly San Jose State last weekend, 35-34, but the infamously irreverent Stanford band has been put on provisional status after a series of incidents culminating in vandalism of the 'Band Shak' last July. Meaning that the only horns blaring at Stanford Stadium this weekend will be playing for the Navy's Midshipmen. Don't be surprised if you see a maudlin Stanford Tree and Coach Walt Harris drowning their sorrows and talking about the good old days together at a campus bar after the game.

On the other hand, after applying a 42-point coat of shellack on the backs of Minnesota, Cal gained a place, and now sit at 21st in the national standings. Marshawn Lynch ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns, and quarterback Nate Longshore's 22-31 passing effort earned him Pac-10 offensive player of the week honors. They look to put weather sealant on another victory against Division I-AA Portland State of the Big Sky conference at Memorial Stadium.

Photo by Mark Gibson.