Oregon crowd gets on Jahvid Best's nerves

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Jahvid Best spoke with reporters this evening, in person and by phone.  One of the major obstacles of traveling to Oregon to take on the Ducks is having to play in Autzen Stadium.

Former Cal Bear Nnamdi Asomugha can attest to that.  "It seems like everything is kinda' closed in, everything is kinda' packed in right there so it actually sounds that loud," the Pro Bowl cornerback said.  "It's like going to Fresno State where it might not be 100,000, but it's so close so you hear that, you know.  And that's when the offsides penalties happen, and the other team can catch you off guard."

Best, asked what he remembers of his visit to Oregon in 2007, remembers that he didn't get a carry, played special teams, recovered a fumble, and oh yeah--he remembers the crowd.

"The biggest thing I remember about that game is the crowd. Crowd noise is crazy in there," said Best.  "Honestly any other away game I don't really even hear the crowd. Oregon's the only place where it just really got on my nerves."

Best isn't alone in that feeling.  Former Stanford linebacker and current Oakland Raiders linebacker, Jon Alston, shares those same sentiments, but for more than just the crowd noise.  "You got the Supermanned-out duck, he rides a motorcycle onto the field, the crowd is there, it's a smaller stadium, but it's packed from side to side," he said.  "I hated playing in Autzen to be honest with you.  It was a great football experience, but for an away team it's very difficult to play there."

For starting quarterback Kevin Riley, it's a homecoming of sorts.  Being from Oregon, he'll have around 60 family and friends in the stands to see him play in his home state.  When asked about what he remembers about playing in Autzen in 2007, he remembers it being a nerve-racking experience.

"I think I had two handoffs. I remember it being loud," said Riley of his experience on Tuesday.  "I was a little nervous, for sure. It was fourth quarter, something like six minutes left, tied up. It was probably the loudest part of the game. I just remember yelling at the huddle and being a little nervous. I handed off twice. If I threw it deep, it probably would have gone 70 yards."

The only player that I've talked to that seems to like the crowd noise is Cal's starting left tackle, Mike Tepper, who told me, "I love it."  For Tepper, it's about having to focus more, which he says helps him play better.

Best was asked if the Minnesota game had prepared the Bears for what they are about to face.  "I definitely think it prepared us for this weekend," he said.  "But I think no matter what you go through, Oregon's going to be a little different."

He's not alone in thinking that.

For more of the highlights from Best's after practice interview, click here.

Cal released the Jahvid Best highlight video from the Minnesota game.  You can check that out below.