California Golden Bears to Face Maryland Terrapins in 2009 Football Opener

The 2009 football schedule for the California Golden Bears is available now on the university's website. So start making your plans to attend the home-opening football game in Berkeley at 7:00 pm on Sept. 5 against the Maryland Terrapins.

The first game of the season is always crucial because it tests the mettle of the Cal Bears football players and their coaches. A strong win builds momentum while a loss, even a close loss, is a downer that is hard to get over. When the game is at home, it is even more important to have a good showing.

Rule number one in football is to never underestimate your opponent. Do not ever seek to just do well against an opponent. The goal should always be to be dominant in every capacity possible. Crush the opponent into the ground and never look back.

Maryland Terrapins

Do not take the Terrapins lightly. Just twelve months ago the Bears lost to the Terps at Maryland by a score of 35-27, according to Wikipedia. Sure, it was a close, road game for California but it was still a loss that needs to be avenged.

Will be the Terrapins be better in 2009? Their offensive and defensive lines are questionable, according to Bleacher Report, though they will have an experienced quarterback with senior Chris Turner.

One possible indication of weakness on the Terps is that their 2009 football schedule shows that their first five games include four at home with their first game, the only road game of these five games, being at California. Having so many early games at home could be interpreted as a sign that the coaches feel that they want the best chance to win games early on and, of course, playing at home normally increases the odds of winning.

A strong, robust team may schedule more of a balance of road or home games and not stack too many home games in a row. For example, the Bears have at most two games on the road and then a game or two at home, or vice versa.

The California Golden Bears need your support. For more information on their 2009 schedule or their players and coaches, make sure to visit the Cal Bears website. The University of Berkeley sports department also has a special section of their website for purchasing game tickets.

Public Transit to Memorial Stadium

Please try to take public transportation to the games. More information on public transit is available at this website. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is available from all over the San Francisco Bay Area and all you have to do is take a train to the Downtown Berkeley Station and from there a free shuttle will take you to Memorial Stadium.

Television Broadcasts

If you can't make it to the game, then definitely watch the game on television and cheer for the Bears as loud as you can. As of June 24, six of the twelve football games already have received confirmation that they will be televised live, per a press release by the university's sports department. It is likely that all of the games will end up being televised.

Sources

Cal Bears 2009 Football Schedule, CalBears.com.

Cal Bears Football, CalBears.com

Maryland Terrapins Football Schedule, UMTerps.com

2009 Maryland Terrapins College Football Predictions, Bleacherreport.com, June 19, 2009.

2008 Maryland Terrapins football team, Wikipedia.com

"Three additional telecasts announced for 2009 Cal football," CalBears.com, June 24, 2009.