The two football teams competing in tomorrow's Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl are not only on the opposite coasts, they also are about as far right and left of center politically as two universities can get.
It's a good thing they chose to play at a neutral site like Hawaii because Navy at Berkeley or Cal at Annapolis is a scary thought.
The two teams have played each other only four times in their storied histories with Cal winning the last game, 27-13, 32 years ago.
In fact, Navy hasn't played a team from the Pac-10 since losing at Washington in 1983, and Cal's only game this decade against a team from Navy's neighborhood was at Temple three years ago.
"That's what bowl games are supposed to be all about," Navy head coach Charlie Weatherbie said. "It's good having teams playing each other from across the country so your kids are exposed to different things.
"This has been a tremendous experience for our players. We've enjoyed getting to know some of the people from Cal and experiencing the different things Hawaii has to offer.
"But as we get closer to Christmas, you get the sense from our players and coaches that it's time to play a game. We've had a lot of fun, but we came here to win a football game."
The Bears feel the same way.
"I know the team has had a great week of practice," California quarterback Pat Barnes said. "We're really getting anxious to get back on the field.
"The coaching staff and the players are getting a little bit ornery with each other. The fun time with the islands is over, and now it's time to start getting ready for a game."
After a brilliant 5-0 start, Cal has gone into a tailspin that has first-year head coach Steve Mariucci free falling. He would like nothing better than to sink Navy and finish the season at a respectable 7-5.
At first glance, that would seem to be a given. For one, the Golden Bears are much bigger than the Midshipmen. They also have an explosive offense.
Cal set 18 school records in 1996, seven Pac-10 marks and one national record that reveals the ups and downs of this tale of two seasons.
Barnes and Arizona counterpart Keith Smith passed for a combined 1,005 yards during their November encounter, breaking the old national record of 960 held by Brigham Young's Ty Detmer and Oregon's Bill Musgrave.
On that night, Barnes threw for 503 yards and tossed eight touchdown passes in a game that went four overtimes before Cal secured the victory, its last of the season.
Injuries and turnovers have been the prime suspects, but the Golden Bears also have yielded a ton of yardage (460 a game), something that even Barnes couldn't counteract effectively.
While they finished sixth in the nation in passing, they also placed No. 105 in total defense and tied for 82nd in turnover margin, two areas that accounted for a three-game losing streak to Arizona State, Oregon and Stanford by a combined score of 117-51.
Those numbers give the smaller Navy team some hope. Granted, the Midshipmen's option offense will have a hard time matching the West Coast attack touchdown for touchdown, But if Navy can control the ball and dictate the pace of the game, then the nation's fifth-best rushing team could pose problems.
"Thank God we have several practices to prepare for that offense because in a normal game week it would be a real pain in the butt to get ready for it," Mariucci said.
The Bears must contend with Navy quarterback Chris McCoy and fullback Omar Nelson. The two combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns this season.
On the flip side, Navy defensive back Robert Green and linebacker Clint Bruce can't let Barnes, and the receiving corps of Na'il Benjamin, Steve Gonzalez and Bobby Shaw go wild.
Bruce said late last week that he wasn't great at dropping back into passing lanes, but that he'd better learn. Weatherbie is counting on Green and defensive back Gervy Alota to keep Navy in the game.
"We've got to control the football, first and foremost," Weatherbie said. "We have to limit Cal's offensive possessions and make sure they don't score on a majority of their drives.
"It's going to be a big challenge, but I feel our players are up to it. Yeah, we're smaller than they are and maybe we can't score as quickly as they can, but I believe in our football team. I can't wait to get out there and finally play a football game."
Records U.S. Naval Academy (8-3) vs. California (6-5)