Joe Starkey, Troy Taylor to call action this fall.
July 28, 2005
BERKELEY - KGO Radio (AM 810) and ISP Sports, the multi-media rights holder for University of California Athletics, have signed a five-year contract extension that will keep Golden Bear football on the San Francisco-based station through the 2009 season.
This fall, Cal will be entering its 32nd consecutive season on KGO, the longest radio association in the Pacific-10 Conference and one of the longest relationships in college football. A 50,000-watt station, KGO has been the No. 1-rated radio station in the Bay Area for 27 years.
"To many of our fans, Cal football and KGO are almost synonymous, and this agreement extends that relationship for another five years," said Sandy Barbour, Cal's director of athletics. "We're very pleased to continue that tradition."
Added KGO president and general manager Mickey Luckoff: "While so many things change in business relationships and the world around us, we're delighted to be adding another five-year agreement to what is already one of the longest standing associations in college football."
In the booth, Joe Starkey returns for his 31st straight season calling all of the play-by-play action, while former Cal quarterback Troy Taylor joins him as an analyst this fall. The Bears' signal-caller from 1986-89, Taylor still holds the Bear record for career passing yards (8,126).
Each broadcast begins with a 30-minute pregame show prior to kickoff, with the postgame report including player interviews from the locker room. In addition, a new feature this year is the Fifth Quarter, a 30-minute postgame program that follows the game and will be hosted by Dave Rosselli and Lee Grosscup.
Joining KGO Radio on an expanded Cal football network this season are KKGO Radio (1260 AM, Los Angeles), KKGO Radio (540 AM, San Diego), KTKZ Radio (1380 AM, Sacramento), KESP Radio (970 AM, Modesto) and KNRO Radio (600 AM, Redding). Other affiliates may be added to the network prior to the season.
Friday, July 29, 2005
USC Writer Slams Cal Fans
Tom Daniels, the clown that writes for the USC page on scout.com, made the following comments:
"My two lumps of coal for this coming year are both found in the state of California and are the two things I look forward to least before every season: the Stanford Marching Band and playing any football game at Cal’s Strawberry Canyon. Both of these are chock full of some of the rudest people I’ve ever met and unfortunately this never seems to change.
Read the whole poorly-written article at: http://usc.scout.com/2/413375.html
"My two lumps of coal for this coming year are both found in the state of California and are the two things I look forward to least before every season: the Stanford Marching Band and playing any football game at Cal’s Strawberry Canyon. Both of these are chock full of some of the rudest people I’ve ever met and unfortunately this never seems to change.
Read the whole poorly-written article at: http://usc.scout.com/2/413375.html
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Pac-10 will play ACC in Emerald Bowl at SBC Park
Eric Young
SF Business Times
Organizers of San Francisco's Emerald Bowl announced a new deal Tuesday that will match a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference against a Pac-10 Conference team through 2009 starting next year.
The new deal with the ACC replaces an agreement with the Mountain West Conference that was in place since the game's inaugural contest in 2002. The ACC is considered a stronger football conference, featuring schools like Clemson University, Florida State University, University of Miami and Virginia Tech University.
The Pac-10 Conference will supply the other team in the Emerald Bowl. Bowl organizers enjoy the affiliation with the Pac-10 because fans of those schools likely will travel to San Francisco to watch their team.
The three-year-old Emerald Bowl is played in late December at SBC Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The Giants support the football game because of the rent it pays for use of the stadium.
Last year's Emerald Bowl was the most successful so far. The game, in which Naval Academy beat University of New Mexico, drew 30,563 fans, an increase of 19 percent from the year before. TV ratings jumped 65 percent to more than 4 million viewers.
This year's Emerald Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m. PST.
SF Business Times
Organizers of San Francisco's Emerald Bowl announced a new deal Tuesday that will match a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference against a Pac-10 Conference team through 2009 starting next year.
The new deal with the ACC replaces an agreement with the Mountain West Conference that was in place since the game's inaugural contest in 2002. The ACC is considered a stronger football conference, featuring schools like Clemson University, Florida State University, University of Miami and Virginia Tech University.
The Pac-10 Conference will supply the other team in the Emerald Bowl. Bowl organizers enjoy the affiliation with the Pac-10 because fans of those schools likely will travel to San Francisco to watch their team.
The three-year-old Emerald Bowl is played in late December at SBC Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The Giants support the football game because of the rent it pays for use of the stadium.
Last year's Emerald Bowl was the most successful so far. The game, in which Naval Academy beat University of New Mexico, drew 30,563 fans, an increase of 19 percent from the year before. TV ratings jumped 65 percent to more than 4 million viewers.
This year's Emerald Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m. PST.
One ex-quarterback replaces another at Cal
By Jonathan Okanes
Contra Costa Times
After one season in Cal football's radio booth, color analyst Mike Pawlawski has decided to leave the team to pursue other interests.
A Cal source said Pawlawski will be replaced by former Cal quarterback and quarterbacks coach Troy Taylor.
Pawlawski moved upstairs into the booth last year after serving as the team's sideline reporter. At the time, Cal wanted Pawlawski as its analyst because it viewed him as a blossoming broadcaster who could be lured away by network television. Pawlawski replaced Lee Grosscup, who was the Bears' color analyst for 15 seasons.
"I think he was outstanding," longtime Cal play-by-play announcer Joe Starkey said. "I'm sorry that he decided to move on. I just wonder if he won't get back into it doing something else. My feeling is he'd be able to do that."
Pawlawski runs his own video production company and hosts a fly fishing show on the Outdoor Channel called "Familiar Waters." He said he wants to continue to develop his company while still being able to spend time with his family, something that was becoming difficult to do with all of his obligations. He also was employed by Cal as a fund-raiser, a job he also has given up.
"It's kind of bittersweet," Pawlawski said. "But with everything on top of each other, I almost never saw my family. Unfortunately as much as I love Cal, it took a ton of time to do what I was doing."
Pawlawski plans on keeping his job doing Arena Football League games for Fox Sports Net and NBC and said he'll be around Cal as much as he can. Pawlawski is a former star quarterback for the Bears, leading them to the Citrus Bowl in 1991 when he was the Pac-10's Co-Offensive Player of the Year.
"I thought for a long time that I would do the Cal job my whole career," Pawlawski said. "But you work so hard in the broadcast business to try to finally get that job. I'd like my company to be a full production house someday, doing television, film and everything else."
Contra Costa Times
After one season in Cal football's radio booth, color analyst Mike Pawlawski has decided to leave the team to pursue other interests.
A Cal source said Pawlawski will be replaced by former Cal quarterback and quarterbacks coach Troy Taylor.
Pawlawski moved upstairs into the booth last year after serving as the team's sideline reporter. At the time, Cal wanted Pawlawski as its analyst because it viewed him as a blossoming broadcaster who could be lured away by network television. Pawlawski replaced Lee Grosscup, who was the Bears' color analyst for 15 seasons.
"I think he was outstanding," longtime Cal play-by-play announcer Joe Starkey said. "I'm sorry that he decided to move on. I just wonder if he won't get back into it doing something else. My feeling is he'd be able to do that."
Pawlawski runs his own video production company and hosts a fly fishing show on the Outdoor Channel called "Familiar Waters." He said he wants to continue to develop his company while still being able to spend time with his family, something that was becoming difficult to do with all of his obligations. He also was employed by Cal as a fund-raiser, a job he also has given up.
"It's kind of bittersweet," Pawlawski said. "But with everything on top of each other, I almost never saw my family. Unfortunately as much as I love Cal, it took a ton of time to do what I was doing."
Pawlawski plans on keeping his job doing Arena Football League games for Fox Sports Net and NBC and said he'll be around Cal as much as he can. Pawlawski is a former star quarterback for the Bears, leading them to the Citrus Bowl in 1991 when he was the Pac-10's Co-Offensive Player of the Year.
"I thought for a long time that I would do the Cal job my whole career," Pawlawski said. "But you work so hard in the broadcast business to try to finally get that job. I'd like my company to be a full production house someday, doing television, film and everything else."
Friday, July 22, 2005
Univeristy of Arizona football learning to RELAX
From Editor: Nice mention of Cal's Lavelle Hawkins and DeSean Jackson in this article.
WR Vickers can help UA offense by being himself
Anthony Gimino
Tucson Citizen
Jul. 22, 2005 12:00 AM
B.J. Vickers heard all the hype in the spring.
How he was the savior of the Arizona receiving corps. How he was going to be one of the Pacific-10 Conference's biggest-impact recruits.
"When I first got here, I was listening to all of it," Vickers said Monday after the Wildcats' voluntary workout on campus.
With the players' official reporting date just over two weeks away on Aug. 3, one of the areas in which Vickers, a transfer from Santa Monica (Calif.) Community College, said he has made the biggest strides from spring is being able to shut out all the outside adulation.
"In spring, I was like, 'Man, they are expecting big things out of me,' so, I was trying to make a big play every play," Vickers said. "Every time I messed up, I felt like, 'Oh, my world is over.' I had to stop listening to everything and just be myself."
One more thing: He had to get in better shape.
Vickers, the son of former UA tight end Ryan Vickers, is 6 feet 3, a powerfully built 215 pounds, and looks like he could run all day, but spring ball and the rigors of coach Mike Stoops' offseason program brought a different reality.
"The main thing was that I would get fatigued, and then I couldn't think right and then I was missing plays," Vickers said. "All of that came into play in the spring. It was a big transition."
The four-day-a-week offseason workouts - which include sprinting while attached to a 100-pound sled - have improved Vickers' conditioning, and film study with receivers coach Charlie Williams has sharpened his mental game, he said.
"Basically, a lot more learning, rather than relying just on skill," he said.
Vickers, a junior, ended up first string on the post-spring depth chart as the Wildcats look for more game-breakers.
Junior Syndric Steptoe is a slippery receiver who caught 30 passes, including three touchdowns, last season. But beyond that, there isn't much of a track record for the UA wideouts, although junior Mike Jefferson - 16 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns last season - has looked much improved in spring and summer workouts.
Speedster Bobby McCoy, a redshirt freshman, is another to watch, but it's still Vickers getting the hype.
With his combination of ability and opportunity, he could very well be one of the top additions in the Pac-10 this season. Rivals.com recently selected Vickers as one of the top five newcomers in the league.
He's had to deal with that kind of chatter for a while now, ever since he was one of the top receiving prospects in the West at Venice Senior High School in Los Angeles. Vickers originally signed with Louisville to play in coach Bobby Petrino's high-flying offense, but academics sent him to junior college instead.
Now, he just needs to not let all the praise affect his game.
"There were a lot of things I didn't know when I first got here. It was a big learning experience," Vickers said. "I know I have a long way to go. I am nowhere near where I can be."
Impact new receivers
Arizona's B.J. Vickers isn't the only new receiver expected to make a big impact in the Pac-10 this season. Here are four others:
• James Finley, Oregon: With a new spread offense under former BYU coach Gary Crowton, the Ducks can team Finley, who originally signed with Oregon State, with Demetrius Williams and Cameron Colvin.
• Lavelle Hawkins, Cal: Hawkins is a former LSU signee who ended up at powerhouse City College of San Francisco, where he caught passes from Joseph Ayoob, who also signed with the Bears last winter.
• DeSean Jackson, Cal: Almost ended up at USC, but the prospect of more immediate playing time lured this Parade All-American to Berkeley.
• Patrick Turner, USC: Just what the Trojans need: Another big-time target for Matt Leinart. Turner (6-5, 220) was arguably the nation's top high school receiver.
WR Vickers can help UA offense by being himself
Anthony Gimino
Tucson Citizen
Jul. 22, 2005 12:00 AM
B.J. Vickers heard all the hype in the spring.
How he was the savior of the Arizona receiving corps. How he was going to be one of the Pacific-10 Conference's biggest-impact recruits.
"When I first got here, I was listening to all of it," Vickers said Monday after the Wildcats' voluntary workout on campus.
With the players' official reporting date just over two weeks away on Aug. 3, one of the areas in which Vickers, a transfer from Santa Monica (Calif.) Community College, said he has made the biggest strides from spring is being able to shut out all the outside adulation.
"In spring, I was like, 'Man, they are expecting big things out of me,' so, I was trying to make a big play every play," Vickers said. "Every time I messed up, I felt like, 'Oh, my world is over.' I had to stop listening to everything and just be myself."
One more thing: He had to get in better shape.
Vickers, the son of former UA tight end Ryan Vickers, is 6 feet 3, a powerfully built 215 pounds, and looks like he could run all day, but spring ball and the rigors of coach Mike Stoops' offseason program brought a different reality.
"The main thing was that I would get fatigued, and then I couldn't think right and then I was missing plays," Vickers said. "All of that came into play in the spring. It was a big transition."
The four-day-a-week offseason workouts - which include sprinting while attached to a 100-pound sled - have improved Vickers' conditioning, and film study with receivers coach Charlie Williams has sharpened his mental game, he said.
"Basically, a lot more learning, rather than relying just on skill," he said.
Vickers, a junior, ended up first string on the post-spring depth chart as the Wildcats look for more game-breakers.
Junior Syndric Steptoe is a slippery receiver who caught 30 passes, including three touchdowns, last season. But beyond that, there isn't much of a track record for the UA wideouts, although junior Mike Jefferson - 16 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns last season - has looked much improved in spring and summer workouts.
Speedster Bobby McCoy, a redshirt freshman, is another to watch, but it's still Vickers getting the hype.
With his combination of ability and opportunity, he could very well be one of the top additions in the Pac-10 this season. Rivals.com recently selected Vickers as one of the top five newcomers in the league.
He's had to deal with that kind of chatter for a while now, ever since he was one of the top receiving prospects in the West at Venice Senior High School in Los Angeles. Vickers originally signed with Louisville to play in coach Bobby Petrino's high-flying offense, but academics sent him to junior college instead.
Now, he just needs to not let all the praise affect his game.
"There were a lot of things I didn't know when I first got here. It was a big learning experience," Vickers said. "I know I have a long way to go. I am nowhere near where I can be."
Impact new receivers
Arizona's B.J. Vickers isn't the only new receiver expected to make a big impact in the Pac-10 this season. Here are four others:
• James Finley, Oregon: With a new spread offense under former BYU coach Gary Crowton, the Ducks can team Finley, who originally signed with Oregon State, with Demetrius Williams and Cameron Colvin.
• Lavelle Hawkins, Cal: Hawkins is a former LSU signee who ended up at powerhouse City College of San Francisco, where he caught passes from Joseph Ayoob, who also signed with the Bears last winter.
• DeSean Jackson, Cal: Almost ended up at USC, but the prospect of more immediate playing time lured this Parade All-American to Berkeley.
• Patrick Turner, USC: Just what the Trojans need: Another big-time target for Matt Leinart. Turner (6-5, 220) was arguably the nation's top high school receiver.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Fan Appreciation Day
This is a reminder that fan appreciation day is Saturday, August 27th. The time hasn't been announced yet, but it usually starts at 10:00 a.m. This is an excellent event for the kids, as well as for adults. I buy an autograph football at Sportsmart every year (all sides except one are white) along with a team roster. The "stars" are now lined up for easy access, but I like to have as much as the team as possible sign it, so I individually stalk each player for an autograph, and then cross the name off my roster. I've got numerous "team" balls, dating back to the 1988 team (I managed the Come Back In on Durant, where Steve Hendrickson was the bouncer...the players that drank signed my 1988 ball).
For those of you that haven't attended a fan appreciation day in the recent past, my how things have changed. Back in the 90's it was an intimate group of a couple hundred die hard fans on that field next to the stadium in front of Bowels (sp?) hall. Now it's inside the stadium, and they have numerous activities for the kids. It's also VERY crowded, so get there early. During Tedford's first year you could walk up to him and talk to him; now they have him sitting in a chair under a tent, and the line stretches several hundred people deep. I'm not bitching; I had the displeasure of attending games during Holmoe's final year, when I actually thought that it would be impossible to ever resurrect the football team or the fan base. I went by my fraternity during the 2001 home opener and there wasn't a single alumni, other than me. It was depressing. Thus I have no problem with the band wagon jumpers, as long as they don't disappear after the first loss. Go Bears! Beat SC!
For those of you that haven't attended a fan appreciation day in the recent past, my how things have changed. Back in the 90's it was an intimate group of a couple hundred die hard fans on that field next to the stadium in front of Bowels (sp?) hall. Now it's inside the stadium, and they have numerous activities for the kids. It's also VERY crowded, so get there early. During Tedford's first year you could walk up to him and talk to him; now they have him sitting in a chair under a tent, and the line stretches several hundred people deep. I'm not bitching; I had the displeasure of attending games during Holmoe's final year, when I actually thought that it would be impossible to ever resurrect the football team or the fan base. I went by my fraternity during the 2001 home opener and there wasn't a single alumni, other than me. It was depressing. Thus I have no problem with the band wagon jumpers, as long as they don't disappear after the first loss. Go Bears! Beat SC!
Terrell Williams Spotlighted by the Bear Insider
The Teammate
By Ted Lee Editor, The Bear InsiderDate: Jul 20, 2005
As the running backs jogged off the Memorial Stadium field after one spring practice, they were headed towards a small cluster of reporters. Usually the reporters want a word with head coach Jeff Tedford, or one of the quarterbacks contending for a starting position, either Joe Ayoob or Nate Longshore or running back Marshawn Lynch. See the whole story at: http://california.scout.com/2/397214.html
By Ted Lee Editor, The Bear InsiderDate: Jul 20, 2005
As the running backs jogged off the Memorial Stadium field after one spring practice, they were headed towards a small cluster of reporters. Usually the reporters want a word with head coach Jeff Tedford, or one of the quarterbacks contending for a starting position, either Joe Ayoob or Nate Longshore or running back Marshawn Lynch. See the whole story at: http://california.scout.com/2/397214.html
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Heat on college players to join summer workouts
Note From Editor: Nice quote from Coach Tedford
By Ray Glier, special for USA TODAY
ATHENS, Ga. — It's 8:22 a.m., and University of Georgia junior wide receiver Mario Raley already is bathed in sweat. He has just completed an 80-minute workout, including 22 minutes of running in the steamy morning heat.
Georgia football players run sprints on July 11. As many as 58 players have attended 'voluntary' workouts at the university.
Although the NCAA's rules say summer strength and conditioning programs are voluntary, he raises an eyebrow when he hears the word voluntary.
"It's mandatory to us," he said between gasps for air. "Camp is less than a month away.
"You work now or go home. If you want to be great, this is what you have to do."
Georgia is not unique in this commitment to a summer workout program. College football players at Division I schools across the country routinely stay on campus in the summer to train and practice for the coming season.
• Georgia Tech has all its scholarship players in Atlanta working out, senior defensive end Eric Henderson said. The Yellow Jackets set up four times during the day for players to work out, the first at 6 a.m.
• Georgia Southern, a I-AA powerhouse, had about 80 players participating in its summer workouts in June and July, athletic department spokesman Pat Osterman said. I-AA schools can offer 63 football scholarships, but some of those scholarships are split between two players.
• Yale, which like all Ivy League schools does not award athletic scholarships, has close to 30 players working out at school, strength and conditioning director Emil Johnson said. That number will edge toward 50 around Aug. 1, about three weeks before training camp begins, Johnson said.
• California, which ended last season ranked No. 9 in the nation — its highest ranking since 1991 — had all of its scholarship players on campus for summer conditioning, according to athletic department spokesman Herb Benenson.
• Michigan defensive tackle Mike Massey said the Wolverines were working out this summer with all their scholarship players.
Players have been staying at college in the summer for years, largely to take summer school classes. While coaches can't pinpoint a time the practice intensified, the numbers have grown since the early 1990s. When maybe 30 or 40 players stayed then, nearly everybody stays now. The Bulldogs have 101 players — veterans, incoming freshmen and walk-ons — participating in their summer workouts, which started June 6 and go through July, with players able to attend either of two sessions. On a recent day, 43 Georgia players participated in the morning workout and 58 in the afternoon.
Workouts carry risks
Summer workouts for college football players are considered "voluntary," but they are not to be taken lightly. At least three deaths have occurred at the Division I-A level since 2001. The latest was last week at Missouri, where linebacker Aaron O'Neal collapsed and died after a workout with the rest of the football team. His funeral was Monday.
In 2001, Northwestern football player Rashidi Wheeler collapsed and died during summer conditioning, though the school says Wheeler's death was caused by two banned diet supplements. Legal proceedings continue. Also in 2001, Florida freshman fullback Eraste Autin died six days after collapsing during a voluntary workout.
Following Wheeler's death, the NCAA passed legislation in 2003 that required medical personnel to be on hand for the summer workouts. Strength and conditioning coaches have been allowed to conduct workouts since 2000.
According to the NCAA manual, "strength and conditioning coaches conducting non-mandatory weight-training or conditioning activities shall be required to have cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and first-aid certification. In addition, a member of the institution's sports medicine staff must be present during all mandatory conditioning activities."
Less tragic, but serious, is the possibility of injury. Florida State defensive back Antonio Cromartie tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in workouts last week and is out for the season.
— By Ray Glier
Players establish the culture in the offseason and keep attendance.
"If somebody is not here," senior defensive lineman Kedric Golston said, "we'll know it by the end of the workout and see what's up. We'll make sure they are OK and not hurt, and then we'll talk."
"Everybody is committed to the other guys on the team," senior center Ryan Schnetzner said. "And if you're not here, somebody playing your position is here working to get better."
An offseason of getting ready
In Division I-A and Division I-AA, NCAA rules say football players can work out in a "non-mandatory" weight training and conditioning program in the summer with a strength coach for eight hours a week for eight weeks. Georgia's workouts are usually Monday through Thursday, with Fridays limited to running only.
The players bear down in the weight room with the steady beat of music. Dave Van Halanger, Georgia's strength and conditioning coach, is there for safety purposes but also to promote team-building and manage the process.
"We work, but we tease a lot, we try and keep it fun," Van Halanger said. "There are very, very few times where I have to get after these guys in here, because they want to be great."
The eight allowable hours a week during the summer do not include the players gathering to run plays in seven-on-seven drills with no pads. Coaches are not permitted to conduct or watch the scrimmages, which start at 4:30 p.m. at Georgia and can last two hours.
Senior quarterback D.J. Shockley is one of the players in charge of the afternoon workout, where the Bulldogs quarterbacks, running backs and receivers run the team's pass routes against the defense. Linemen, Shockley said, work on their own drills.
"This way, by the time we get to the fall camp, we're fine-tuning, guys know the plays, we have some timing together," Shockley said. "We're motioning, we're running underneath patterns, the defense is blitzing."
Reporters are not permitted to watch, though workouts are not officially sanctioned by the school.
And football players aren't alone on Georgia's campus in the summer. Rebecca Rowsey, a sophomore pre-med major on the women's basketball team, said all of the Lady Bulldogs were here in June lifting weights, playing pickup games and attending summer school.
"We would lift weights together three days a week, then we would do running and quickness and agility the other days of the week," said Rowsey, who was taking biochemistry in summer school. "We don't have to be here, but it is a good time to get some classes out of the way. And if we're at home, we don't get to talk to each other, and we get to be more laid-back when we're playing the pickup games. ... It's a great way to bond."
While the football players were on their practice field, members of Georgia's defending national champion gymnastics team were on the track running laps.
The 24/7 dilemma
In 1991, the NCAA's Division I schools — at the behest of a group of campus CEOs known as the Presidents Commission — passed a rule limiting college football players' participation in practice and film study to 20 hours a week during the school year.
By Michael A. Schwarz, USA TODAY
Will Thompson spots John DeGenova during a recent morning workout.
Thomas Hearn, president of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and former president of Wake Forest, was a member of the Presidents Commission in 1991. The idea behind time limits, he said, was to produce a more well-rounded student who was part of the overall student body.
The year-round devotion to a sport, Hearn said, is something that starts in high school and has become a "terrible" thing.
"What you need is a genuinely voluntary program," Hearn said of the summer strength and conditioning programs. "I'm sure there are people who do not want to be there and want to go on vacation with their families and want to do something else that will contribute to their growth and development."
But Georgia's Golston insisted he is chasing a dream and would be in a weight room somewhere if the Bulldogs training facility was padlocked. "When I was younger, I missed being home with my family in the summer, but right now this is my family."
Golston said the players gathered at the home of the offensive linemen for Game 6 of the NBA Finals. There were about 60 players, and they grilled steaks and hamburgers and watched the game on TV.
Golston said a crowd of players will also go bowling. "It's fun, but we're not very good," he said.
Georgia head coach Mark Richt insisted passionate players are doing what they want to fulfill a dream.
He also wonders what players would be doing with their free time if they were not working out.
"Would they be home playing video games all day? Vegging out on the couch?" Richt said. "We're not talking about an all-day workout here."
Georgia Tech's Henderson said he would be back home in New Orleans "getting in trouble."
California coach Jeff Tedford said his players are taking courses during the summer and can graduate early and move into graduate programs by the time they are starting their last season of eligibility. According to NCAA rules, if athletes are enrolled in summer school, they must take a minimum of six hours.
"They want to be together, they want to accomplish their goals, but it's not something they spend all day doing," Tedford said.
Besides taking classes, athletes hold part-time jobs. Shockley works the lunch hour during the week waiting tables at the restaurant at the university's conference center restaurant.
Part of the arms race
The voluntary summer camps for players seem as mandatory these days as the facilities arms race in college football. Keep up or fall behind is the mantra. If one school renovates its weight room, the next school renovates its weight room.
Georgia Tech's Henderson was told about the numbers of players at rival Georgia and said, "We're working just as hard as they are."
Hearn calls this relentlessness surrounding college athletics "unfortunate." He added that, without fear of reprisal, he could find players who would admit they do not want to participate in the voluntary workouts but feel pressured.
"The idea you need constant improvement to develop yourself and your team is a pretty standard idea," Hearn said. "The question is, is it voluntary?
"The difference between rules and the enforcement of rules is all the difference in the world. What coaches and athletic directors do with those rules is where the substance of the matter lies."
Steve Mallonee, a managing director for membership services in Division I, said complaints about the nature of the summer camps and whether athletes are forced to participate are rare.
By Ray Glier, special for USA TODAY
ATHENS, Ga. — It's 8:22 a.m., and University of Georgia junior wide receiver Mario Raley already is bathed in sweat. He has just completed an 80-minute workout, including 22 minutes of running in the steamy morning heat.
Georgia football players run sprints on July 11. As many as 58 players have attended 'voluntary' workouts at the university.
Although the NCAA's rules say summer strength and conditioning programs are voluntary, he raises an eyebrow when he hears the word voluntary.
"It's mandatory to us," he said between gasps for air. "Camp is less than a month away.
"You work now or go home. If you want to be great, this is what you have to do."
Georgia is not unique in this commitment to a summer workout program. College football players at Division I schools across the country routinely stay on campus in the summer to train and practice for the coming season.
• Georgia Tech has all its scholarship players in Atlanta working out, senior defensive end Eric Henderson said. The Yellow Jackets set up four times during the day for players to work out, the first at 6 a.m.
• Georgia Southern, a I-AA powerhouse, had about 80 players participating in its summer workouts in June and July, athletic department spokesman Pat Osterman said. I-AA schools can offer 63 football scholarships, but some of those scholarships are split between two players.
• Yale, which like all Ivy League schools does not award athletic scholarships, has close to 30 players working out at school, strength and conditioning director Emil Johnson said. That number will edge toward 50 around Aug. 1, about three weeks before training camp begins, Johnson said.
• California, which ended last season ranked No. 9 in the nation — its highest ranking since 1991 — had all of its scholarship players on campus for summer conditioning, according to athletic department spokesman Herb Benenson.
• Michigan defensive tackle Mike Massey said the Wolverines were working out this summer with all their scholarship players.
Players have been staying at college in the summer for years, largely to take summer school classes. While coaches can't pinpoint a time the practice intensified, the numbers have grown since the early 1990s. When maybe 30 or 40 players stayed then, nearly everybody stays now. The Bulldogs have 101 players — veterans, incoming freshmen and walk-ons — participating in their summer workouts, which started June 6 and go through July, with players able to attend either of two sessions. On a recent day, 43 Georgia players participated in the morning workout and 58 in the afternoon.
Workouts carry risks
Summer workouts for college football players are considered "voluntary," but they are not to be taken lightly. At least three deaths have occurred at the Division I-A level since 2001. The latest was last week at Missouri, where linebacker Aaron O'Neal collapsed and died after a workout with the rest of the football team. His funeral was Monday.
In 2001, Northwestern football player Rashidi Wheeler collapsed and died during summer conditioning, though the school says Wheeler's death was caused by two banned diet supplements. Legal proceedings continue. Also in 2001, Florida freshman fullback Eraste Autin died six days after collapsing during a voluntary workout.
Following Wheeler's death, the NCAA passed legislation in 2003 that required medical personnel to be on hand for the summer workouts. Strength and conditioning coaches have been allowed to conduct workouts since 2000.
According to the NCAA manual, "strength and conditioning coaches conducting non-mandatory weight-training or conditioning activities shall be required to have cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and first-aid certification. In addition, a member of the institution's sports medicine staff must be present during all mandatory conditioning activities."
Less tragic, but serious, is the possibility of injury. Florida State defensive back Antonio Cromartie tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in workouts last week and is out for the season.
— By Ray Glier
Players establish the culture in the offseason and keep attendance.
"If somebody is not here," senior defensive lineman Kedric Golston said, "we'll know it by the end of the workout and see what's up. We'll make sure they are OK and not hurt, and then we'll talk."
"Everybody is committed to the other guys on the team," senior center Ryan Schnetzner said. "And if you're not here, somebody playing your position is here working to get better."
An offseason of getting ready
In Division I-A and Division I-AA, NCAA rules say football players can work out in a "non-mandatory" weight training and conditioning program in the summer with a strength coach for eight hours a week for eight weeks. Georgia's workouts are usually Monday through Thursday, with Fridays limited to running only.
The players bear down in the weight room with the steady beat of music. Dave Van Halanger, Georgia's strength and conditioning coach, is there for safety purposes but also to promote team-building and manage the process.
"We work, but we tease a lot, we try and keep it fun," Van Halanger said. "There are very, very few times where I have to get after these guys in here, because they want to be great."
The eight allowable hours a week during the summer do not include the players gathering to run plays in seven-on-seven drills with no pads. Coaches are not permitted to conduct or watch the scrimmages, which start at 4:30 p.m. at Georgia and can last two hours.
Senior quarterback D.J. Shockley is one of the players in charge of the afternoon workout, where the Bulldogs quarterbacks, running backs and receivers run the team's pass routes against the defense. Linemen, Shockley said, work on their own drills.
"This way, by the time we get to the fall camp, we're fine-tuning, guys know the plays, we have some timing together," Shockley said. "We're motioning, we're running underneath patterns, the defense is blitzing."
Reporters are not permitted to watch, though workouts are not officially sanctioned by the school.
And football players aren't alone on Georgia's campus in the summer. Rebecca Rowsey, a sophomore pre-med major on the women's basketball team, said all of the Lady Bulldogs were here in June lifting weights, playing pickup games and attending summer school.
"We would lift weights together three days a week, then we would do running and quickness and agility the other days of the week," said Rowsey, who was taking biochemistry in summer school. "We don't have to be here, but it is a good time to get some classes out of the way. And if we're at home, we don't get to talk to each other, and we get to be more laid-back when we're playing the pickup games. ... It's a great way to bond."
While the football players were on their practice field, members of Georgia's defending national champion gymnastics team were on the track running laps.
The 24/7 dilemma
In 1991, the NCAA's Division I schools — at the behest of a group of campus CEOs known as the Presidents Commission — passed a rule limiting college football players' participation in practice and film study to 20 hours a week during the school year.
By Michael A. Schwarz, USA TODAY
Will Thompson spots John DeGenova during a recent morning workout.
Thomas Hearn, president of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and former president of Wake Forest, was a member of the Presidents Commission in 1991. The idea behind time limits, he said, was to produce a more well-rounded student who was part of the overall student body.
The year-round devotion to a sport, Hearn said, is something that starts in high school and has become a "terrible" thing.
"What you need is a genuinely voluntary program," Hearn said of the summer strength and conditioning programs. "I'm sure there are people who do not want to be there and want to go on vacation with their families and want to do something else that will contribute to their growth and development."
But Georgia's Golston insisted he is chasing a dream and would be in a weight room somewhere if the Bulldogs training facility was padlocked. "When I was younger, I missed being home with my family in the summer, but right now this is my family."
Golston said the players gathered at the home of the offensive linemen for Game 6 of the NBA Finals. There were about 60 players, and they grilled steaks and hamburgers and watched the game on TV.
Golston said a crowd of players will also go bowling. "It's fun, but we're not very good," he said.
Georgia head coach Mark Richt insisted passionate players are doing what they want to fulfill a dream.
He also wonders what players would be doing with their free time if they were not working out.
"Would they be home playing video games all day? Vegging out on the couch?" Richt said. "We're not talking about an all-day workout here."
Georgia Tech's Henderson said he would be back home in New Orleans "getting in trouble."
California coach Jeff Tedford said his players are taking courses during the summer and can graduate early and move into graduate programs by the time they are starting their last season of eligibility. According to NCAA rules, if athletes are enrolled in summer school, they must take a minimum of six hours.
"They want to be together, they want to accomplish their goals, but it's not something they spend all day doing," Tedford said.
Besides taking classes, athletes hold part-time jobs. Shockley works the lunch hour during the week waiting tables at the restaurant at the university's conference center restaurant.
Part of the arms race
The voluntary summer camps for players seem as mandatory these days as the facilities arms race in college football. Keep up or fall behind is the mantra. If one school renovates its weight room, the next school renovates its weight room.
Georgia Tech's Henderson was told about the numbers of players at rival Georgia and said, "We're working just as hard as they are."
Hearn calls this relentlessness surrounding college athletics "unfortunate." He added that, without fear of reprisal, he could find players who would admit they do not want to participate in the voluntary workouts but feel pressured.
"The idea you need constant improvement to develop yourself and your team is a pretty standard idea," Hearn said. "The question is, is it voluntary?
"The difference between rules and the enforcement of rules is all the difference in the world. What coaches and athletic directors do with those rules is where the substance of the matter lies."
Steve Mallonee, a managing director for membership services in Division I, said complaints about the nature of the summer camps and whether athletes are forced to participate are rare.
Cal's female fans bear their teeth
Tedford's second annual 'Football Huddle' will educate women on sport's nuances at Memorial Stadium
By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER
BERKELEY — It's not enough for some women to shout "Go Bears" and be Cal football fans. They want to know more about the game itself, and how coach Jeff Tedford transformed those onetime teddy bears into grizzlies.
And so the second annual Cal Women's Football Huddle is set for Aug. 5 at Memorial Stadium. Last year, 300 women signed up. Tedford wants to double that number this year.
Two women who can't wait to go back are Laurie Holland and Ellen Abbatecola.
"I thought it would be a kick," Holland said. "I knew a great deal about baseball, but I needed to learn more about football. I learned a lot about defense. You have the front guys, the middle guys, and the guys behind them who run around a lot. And I learned that the 50-yard line is a mark-off on the sideline, with the defense on one side and the offense on the other.
"The coaches make it fun. You get to kick a football, pass a football, learn how to hand it off. I can talk football a little better with my two sons. This year, I'm looking to understand the plays more."
Holland and Abbatecola attend Cal games, Abbatecola for 42 years.
"I never got to see Cal football like this before," she said. "Running out of the team tunnel like the team does on game days was such a thrill. The Cal band's music was pumped in, and coach Tedford led the charge to the field. That was an experience I will never forget.
"We got to see many parts of Memorial Stadium that I had never seen before — the weight room, the locker room, the training room, the coaches offices — it seemed like the coaches had as much fun as the participants."
Register by calling (800) GO-BEARS or go to http://www.calmarketplace.org. Early registration before July 29 is $25 for one person, $40 for two, $65 for three and $80 for four. After July 29, the cost is $35 per person.
By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER
BERKELEY — It's not enough for some women to shout "Go Bears" and be Cal football fans. They want to know more about the game itself, and how coach Jeff Tedford transformed those onetime teddy bears into grizzlies.
And so the second annual Cal Women's Football Huddle is set for Aug. 5 at Memorial Stadium. Last year, 300 women signed up. Tedford wants to double that number this year.
Two women who can't wait to go back are Laurie Holland and Ellen Abbatecola.
"I thought it would be a kick," Holland said. "I knew a great deal about baseball, but I needed to learn more about football. I learned a lot about defense. You have the front guys, the middle guys, and the guys behind them who run around a lot. And I learned that the 50-yard line is a mark-off on the sideline, with the defense on one side and the offense on the other.
"The coaches make it fun. You get to kick a football, pass a football, learn how to hand it off. I can talk football a little better with my two sons. This year, I'm looking to understand the plays more."
Holland and Abbatecola attend Cal games, Abbatecola for 42 years.
"I never got to see Cal football like this before," she said. "Running out of the team tunnel like the team does on game days was such a thrill. The Cal band's music was pumped in, and coach Tedford led the charge to the field. That was an experience I will never forget.
"We got to see many parts of Memorial Stadium that I had never seen before — the weight room, the locker room, the training room, the coaches offices — it seemed like the coaches had as much fun as the participants."
Register by calling (800) GO-BEARS or go to http://www.calmarketplace.org. Early registration before July 29 is $25 for one person, $40 for two, $65 for three and $80 for four. After July 29, the cost is $35 per person.
Monday, July 18, 2005
5 fearless predictions for the Pac 101
From CollegeFootballNews.com:
Pac 10 fans will once again be screaming for respect they probably won't receive. The league will be much, much better this year from top to bottom with Arizona and Stanford each having a puncher's chance to beat anyone in the league, and Washington sure to be better under Ty Willingham. Even so, get ready for a season of fans throwing out the "bias" tag when anyone suggests the SEC or Big Ten might be the nation's best conference.
2. USC will be more than just fine without Norm Chow. No offense to the great guru, but the Trojan offense is going to roll thanks to all the outstanding talent. Even if injuries strike, the Trojans have next-level talent waiting in the wings.
3. Stanford's passing attack will scare the heck out of everyone. Cardinal head coach Walt Harris coached several college superstar receivers at Pittsburgh. Mark Bradford, Gerren Crochet, Justin McCullum, and 6-7 Evan Moore aren't household names, but they're good enough to put up huge numbers no matter who's at quarterback.
4. Arizona's defense will scare the heck out of everyone. Mike Stoops has had a full year to work his magic and has eight starters returning. The secondary will be fantastic if safeties Darrell Brooks and Lamon Means and corner Antoine Cason can build on strong seasons.
5. Matt Leinart will win his second Heisman leading the Trojans to the Rose Bowl. Road trips to Oregon and Arizona State will be nightmares, but USC will navigate its way through led by next year's top draft pick. Leinart will win the top college football individual prize going away.
5 non-conference games that Pac 10 teams had better take very, very seriously
1. UCLA at San Diego State, Sept. 3 - In the season opener, the Bruins will have to face Lynell Hamilton and a pumped up Aztec team looking to get off to a big start. If the Bruin run defense hasn't improved from last season, there could be an upset.
2. Northwestern at Arizona State, Sept. 10 - Will the Sun Devils be down after the likely loss at LSU? Northwestern has the offense to make things very interesting.
3. Fresno State at Oregon, Sept. 17 - With the showdown with USC the following week, the Ducks won't be 100% focused on a Bulldog team looking for a big-time win that'll get a ton of national attention.
4. Washington State at Nevada, Sept. 10 - Nevada's new "pistol" offense will be tough at home. At the very least, the Wolf Pack will give the Cougars a great run.
5. Cal at New Mexico State, Sept. 24 - Will the Hal Mumme passing attack really be as scary as expected? The Bears didn't handle the Texas Tech aerial assault well in the Holiday Bowl.
5 best Pac 10 pro prospects
1. USC RB Matt Leinart, Sr. - With his decision to return for a senior season rather than become the first pick in the 2005 NFL draft, Leinart has put himself in a position to be considered the greatest college quarterback of all-time. If USC wins another national title, that'll be three championships under his guidance and he'll be all but assured of being at least a Heisman finalist. The 2004 Heisman winner might not be spectacular, but he's a calm, cool leader who doesn't make the big mistake. He is scary accurate when he gets on a roll and has a good enough arm to make all the deep throws. While not a runner, he's not immobile able to throw well on the run.
2. USC RB Reggie Bush, Jr. - It's easy to focus on the tremendous speed and quickness, but don't forget about the power. Bush is 6-0 and 200 pounds with a game-changing burst in the open field. The Heisman finalist finished second in rushing with 903 yards and six touchdowns averaging 6.3 yards per carry and was second in receiving with 43 catches for 509 yards and seven scores. He averaged 15.7 yards per punt and kickoff returns.
3. UCLA TE Marcedes Lewis, Sr. - The senior was a Mackey Award finalists catching 32 passes for 402 yards and seven touchdowns as Drew Olson's favorite target when a big catch was needed. While still an average-at-best blocker, he provides a nightmare of a matchup problem with his physical play in traffic and the speed to get by most safeties.
4. Oregon DT Haloti Ngata, Jr. - At 6-5 and 338 pounds, Ngata is a giant with tremendous athleticism. He's one of the fastest linemen on the team and has great balance. When he gets leverage, it's over. He could have one of the more dominating years in recent Duck history as an inside pass rusher if he can stay healthy.
5. USC S Darnell Bing, Jr. - One of the nation's best defensive backs and a top pro prospect, the 220-pound junior is one of the fastest players on the defense and should be even better now that the injured shoulder that bothered him all of last year has healed.
5 biggest Pac 10 shoes to fill
1. California RB Marshawn Lynch for J.J. Arrington - Lynch had a tremendous first season backing up J.J. Arrington rushing for 628 yards and eight touchdowns averaging a whopping 8.8 yards per carry. He also showed great hands catching 18 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He's a good-sized, 200-pound back with speed and excellent vision. He can stop and start on a dime, and he's devastating when he gets a sliver of daylight. Now he has to prove he can carry the workload like Arrington did rushing 289 times.
2. Arizona State QB Sam Keller for Andrew Walter - Keller was thrown into the mix in the final game of the regular season when Walter went down. All Keller did was rally the Sun Devils to within a dropped catch of beating the Wildcats before coming up with a tremendous performance (370 yards and three touchdowns) and a breathtaking game-winning drive to beat Purdue 27-23 in the Sun Bowl. He's a big quarterback with a strong arm and the attitude that makes the offense believe he can get the job done. He should be able to come close to matching Andrew Walter's 30 touchdown passes.
3. USC LB Oscar Lua for Lofa Tatupu - Lua will be in a battle with Thomas Williams and Ryan Powdrell for the starting spot in the middle. While he doesn't have the talent of the other two, he's a tough run defender who will, at the least, be a regular in the rotation.
4. California QB Joseph Ayoob for Aaron Rodgers - It's hardly a done deal with Nathan Longshore getting every shot at the starting job, but Ayoob appears to have a few more skills and should end up being the starter against Sacramento State. Maybe. The 6-3, 215-pound JUCO transfer isn't just a strong, accurate passer, he can run with tremendous speed rushing for nine touchdowns over the last two years.
5. Oregon State DE Jeff Van Orsow for Bill Swancutt - Expected to be a top pass rusher, Van Orsow has the quickness to get around the edge and the size, at 6-4 and 253 pounds, to be a solid run defender. He'll take over on the right side where he'll see plenty of single blocking with Alvin Smith getting double teamed.
5 Pac 10 breakout players
1. California RB Marshawn Lynch2. California LB Desmond Bishop, Jr. - The star JUCO transfer from City College of San Francisco is 6-2, 240 pounds and more than good enough to earn All-Pac 10 honors in the middle. He's very, very fast heat seeking missile with fantastic closing ability when locked on to a ball carrier. Expect him to be a sideline-to-sideline force right off the bat.
3. USC WR Whitney Lewis, Soph. - Last season was going to be a breakout campaign for Lewis, but he had troubles with the books and was ineligible. He's 6-1, 225 pounds and very, very fast. After spending time early in his career as a running back and fullback, look for him to quickly become the team's number three receiver.
4. Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart, Fr. - The most heralded recruit in Oregon history, the pressure will be on him from the first day of summer practice. Stewart has already said he wants to be 2005's Adrian Peterson, but he has two solid backs in front of him on the depth chart that he'll have to move past. Conditioning could be a problem early, since he rarely played more than a half game in high school even though he finished with 2,301 yards and 32 scores his final year.
5. UCLA FS Chris Horton, Soph. - It'll be Horton's job to take over Ben Emanuel's spot trying to replace his 76 tackles. Horton was a great backup last year and was all over the field against the run and pass in practices. Big things are expected out of him right away.
Pac 10 fans will once again be screaming for respect they probably won't receive. The league will be much, much better this year from top to bottom with Arizona and Stanford each having a puncher's chance to beat anyone in the league, and Washington sure to be better under Ty Willingham. Even so, get ready for a season of fans throwing out the "bias" tag when anyone suggests the SEC or Big Ten might be the nation's best conference.
2. USC will be more than just fine without Norm Chow. No offense to the great guru, but the Trojan offense is going to roll thanks to all the outstanding talent. Even if injuries strike, the Trojans have next-level talent waiting in the wings.
3. Stanford's passing attack will scare the heck out of everyone. Cardinal head coach Walt Harris coached several college superstar receivers at Pittsburgh. Mark Bradford, Gerren Crochet, Justin McCullum, and 6-7 Evan Moore aren't household names, but they're good enough to put up huge numbers no matter who's at quarterback.
4. Arizona's defense will scare the heck out of everyone. Mike Stoops has had a full year to work his magic and has eight starters returning. The secondary will be fantastic if safeties Darrell Brooks and Lamon Means and corner Antoine Cason can build on strong seasons.
5. Matt Leinart will win his second Heisman leading the Trojans to the Rose Bowl. Road trips to Oregon and Arizona State will be nightmares, but USC will navigate its way through led by next year's top draft pick. Leinart will win the top college football individual prize going away.
5 non-conference games that Pac 10 teams had better take very, very seriously
1. UCLA at San Diego State, Sept. 3 - In the season opener, the Bruins will have to face Lynell Hamilton and a pumped up Aztec team looking to get off to a big start. If the Bruin run defense hasn't improved from last season, there could be an upset.
2. Northwestern at Arizona State, Sept. 10 - Will the Sun Devils be down after the likely loss at LSU? Northwestern has the offense to make things very interesting.
3. Fresno State at Oregon, Sept. 17 - With the showdown with USC the following week, the Ducks won't be 100% focused on a Bulldog team looking for a big-time win that'll get a ton of national attention.
4. Washington State at Nevada, Sept. 10 - Nevada's new "pistol" offense will be tough at home. At the very least, the Wolf Pack will give the Cougars a great run.
5. Cal at New Mexico State, Sept. 24 - Will the Hal Mumme passing attack really be as scary as expected? The Bears didn't handle the Texas Tech aerial assault well in the Holiday Bowl.
5 best Pac 10 pro prospects
1. USC RB Matt Leinart, Sr. - With his decision to return for a senior season rather than become the first pick in the 2005 NFL draft, Leinart has put himself in a position to be considered the greatest college quarterback of all-time. If USC wins another national title, that'll be three championships under his guidance and he'll be all but assured of being at least a Heisman finalist. The 2004 Heisman winner might not be spectacular, but he's a calm, cool leader who doesn't make the big mistake. He is scary accurate when he gets on a roll and has a good enough arm to make all the deep throws. While not a runner, he's not immobile able to throw well on the run.
2. USC RB Reggie Bush, Jr. - It's easy to focus on the tremendous speed and quickness, but don't forget about the power. Bush is 6-0 and 200 pounds with a game-changing burst in the open field. The Heisman finalist finished second in rushing with 903 yards and six touchdowns averaging 6.3 yards per carry and was second in receiving with 43 catches for 509 yards and seven scores. He averaged 15.7 yards per punt and kickoff returns.
3. UCLA TE Marcedes Lewis, Sr. - The senior was a Mackey Award finalists catching 32 passes for 402 yards and seven touchdowns as Drew Olson's favorite target when a big catch was needed. While still an average-at-best blocker, he provides a nightmare of a matchup problem with his physical play in traffic and the speed to get by most safeties.
4. Oregon DT Haloti Ngata, Jr. - At 6-5 and 338 pounds, Ngata is a giant with tremendous athleticism. He's one of the fastest linemen on the team and has great balance. When he gets leverage, it's over. He could have one of the more dominating years in recent Duck history as an inside pass rusher if he can stay healthy.
5. USC S Darnell Bing, Jr. - One of the nation's best defensive backs and a top pro prospect, the 220-pound junior is one of the fastest players on the defense and should be even better now that the injured shoulder that bothered him all of last year has healed.
5 biggest Pac 10 shoes to fill
1. California RB Marshawn Lynch for J.J. Arrington - Lynch had a tremendous first season backing up J.J. Arrington rushing for 628 yards and eight touchdowns averaging a whopping 8.8 yards per carry. He also showed great hands catching 18 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He's a good-sized, 200-pound back with speed and excellent vision. He can stop and start on a dime, and he's devastating when he gets a sliver of daylight. Now he has to prove he can carry the workload like Arrington did rushing 289 times.
2. Arizona State QB Sam Keller for Andrew Walter - Keller was thrown into the mix in the final game of the regular season when Walter went down. All Keller did was rally the Sun Devils to within a dropped catch of beating the Wildcats before coming up with a tremendous performance (370 yards and three touchdowns) and a breathtaking game-winning drive to beat Purdue 27-23 in the Sun Bowl. He's a big quarterback with a strong arm and the attitude that makes the offense believe he can get the job done. He should be able to come close to matching Andrew Walter's 30 touchdown passes.
3. USC LB Oscar Lua for Lofa Tatupu - Lua will be in a battle with Thomas Williams and Ryan Powdrell for the starting spot in the middle. While he doesn't have the talent of the other two, he's a tough run defender who will, at the least, be a regular in the rotation.
4. California QB Joseph Ayoob for Aaron Rodgers - It's hardly a done deal with Nathan Longshore getting every shot at the starting job, but Ayoob appears to have a few more skills and should end up being the starter against Sacramento State. Maybe. The 6-3, 215-pound JUCO transfer isn't just a strong, accurate passer, he can run with tremendous speed rushing for nine touchdowns over the last two years.
5. Oregon State DE Jeff Van Orsow for Bill Swancutt - Expected to be a top pass rusher, Van Orsow has the quickness to get around the edge and the size, at 6-4 and 253 pounds, to be a solid run defender. He'll take over on the right side where he'll see plenty of single blocking with Alvin Smith getting double teamed.
5 Pac 10 breakout players
1. California RB Marshawn Lynch2. California LB Desmond Bishop, Jr. - The star JUCO transfer from City College of San Francisco is 6-2, 240 pounds and more than good enough to earn All-Pac 10 honors in the middle. He's very, very fast heat seeking missile with fantastic closing ability when locked on to a ball carrier. Expect him to be a sideline-to-sideline force right off the bat.
3. USC WR Whitney Lewis, Soph. - Last season was going to be a breakout campaign for Lewis, but he had troubles with the books and was ineligible. He's 6-1, 225 pounds and very, very fast. After spending time early in his career as a running back and fullback, look for him to quickly become the team's number three receiver.
4. Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart, Fr. - The most heralded recruit in Oregon history, the pressure will be on him from the first day of summer practice. Stewart has already said he wants to be 2005's Adrian Peterson, but he has two solid backs in front of him on the depth chart that he'll have to move past. Conditioning could be a problem early, since he rarely played more than a half game in high school even though he finished with 2,301 yards and 32 scores his final year.
5. UCLA FS Chris Horton, Soph. - It'll be Horton's job to take over Ben Emanuel's spot trying to replace his 76 tackles. Horton was a great backup last year and was all over the field against the run and pass in practices. Big things are expected out of him right away.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Who's set to explode in 2005?
Editor: Nice Mention of Desean Jackson:
Eric Moneypenny / FOXSports.com We already know about college football's most dangerous game breakers. Players like USC's Reggie Bush, Ohio State's Ted Ginn, Jr., Miami's Devin Hester and LSU's Sklyer Green. But what other names are set to explode onto the national scene as one of 2005's dangerous game breakers?
WR Dorien Bryant, Purdue, So.
Bryant burst onto the national scene by getting brutally whacked by Michigan's Ernest Shazor in one of the most famous hits of last season. Bryant lost the ball, but not the title as one of the new generation of college football game breakers. Last season, Bryant caught 38 passes for 584 yards, numbers that should jump a great deal with star WR Taylor Stubblefield's departure. Bryant is a blazer that has reportedly clocked 4.3 and faster forty-yard times in high school, and should help QB Brandon Kirsch and the 2005 Boilermaker offense hum.
RB Michael Johnson, Virginia, Jr.
With Virginia's do-it-all back Alvin Pearman now in the NFL, it opens up a ton of touches for Michael Johnson, one of the ACC's speediest. As Pearman and Wali Lundy combined for more than 1,900 yards rushing, it was Johnson who made the most of his 63 carries, going for 381 yards (a 6.0 avg). It wouldn't be a shocker to see Johnson making some big plays in the return game either, as he averaged 23.6 yards per kick return last year, a number that should improve with a year's experience.
WR A.J. Bryant, Georgia, So.
Much like D.J. Shockley, Bryant came to Georgia as one of the nation's most highly touted and explosive high school quarterbacks (4.3 speed). Graduating high school early to participate in spring workouts with the Dawgs last season, Coach Richt moved Bryant to receiver where he battled injuries for most of his freshman season, finishing with a modest three catches for 58 yards (19.3 avg). However, with WRs Fred Gibson and Reggie Brown cashing NFL paychecks instead of catching passes for UGA, the stage is set for Bryant to have a much bigger season.
RB Tyler Ebell, UTEP, Sr.
Most college football fans are aware of Ebell after he rushed for almost 1,500 yards in his first two seasons at UCLA, as well as nearly 4,500 yards in his senior year of high school, (a U.S. high school all-time season record). Now, he's set to finish out his college career with a productive season in UTEP's wide-open offense, giving coach Mike Price and QB Jordan Palmer a huge weapon to replace 1,000-yard rusher Howard Jackson.
RB Antone Smith, Florida State, Fr.
Regarded by many as the top high school back last season, Smith sports 4.3-speed. However, with other former prep wunderkinds Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker already in the fold down in Tallahassee, Bobby Bowden can afford to redshirt Smith. On video, the 5-foot-8, 190-pounder runs the ball a lot like Warrick Dunn, with that same great balance and cutting ability, and possibly a little more quickness. If Smith plays as a frosh, watch for him to make big plays in the return game and in and out of the backfield.
RB Marlon Lucky, Nebraska, Fr.
Last season, Bill Callahan brought the West Coast offense to Lincoln. This season, he may have his first great West Coast back in true freshman Marlon Lucky from North Hollywood, California. The 5-11, 210-pound back, who was believed to be right with Antone Smith and Jonathan Stewart as one of the nation's top backs, has looked tremendous on tape and in this year's U.S. Army H.S. All-American Bowl. Lucky played in a spread offense in high school, which gave him the opportunity to display his receiving skills out of the backfield, something that will help bring that Husker offense to the next level in the coming couple years.
RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon, Fr.
Upon signing with the Ducks, Mike Bellotti absolutely raved about Stewart, one of the most high-profile recruits to ever arrive in Eugene. With former BYU coach Gary Crowton running the offense, look for the 5-11, 220-pound back to get the ball all sorts of ways. He's more of a straight ahead runner than Lucky or Antone Smith, but on video he displayed some sick Chuck Foreman spin moves in traffic. As a pure running back, Stewart may classify the least as a "game breaker" compared to the other two freshman backs I've mentioned. But he's the most likely candidate of the three for Freshman All-America.
WR DeSean Jackson, California, Fr.
A 6-0, 175-pound, 4.4 blazer from storied Long Beach Poly High School., Jackson dominated the best high school players in the country in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this January, hauling in seven passes for 141 yards and taking home the game MVP honor (an award given to Ted Ginn the previous season). Jackson made a smart decision (no surprise from a guy with a 1280 SAT) by heading to Cal, where he can step in right away for the departed Geoff MacArthur in Coach Jeff Tedford's explosive passing attack. Look for Jackson and JUCO all-star Lavelle Hawkins to make huge plays and help break in Tedford's new prized pupil QB, Joe Ayoob.
Eric Moneypenny / FOXSports.com We already know about college football's most dangerous game breakers. Players like USC's Reggie Bush, Ohio State's Ted Ginn, Jr., Miami's Devin Hester and LSU's Sklyer Green. But what other names are set to explode onto the national scene as one of 2005's dangerous game breakers?
WR Dorien Bryant, Purdue, So.
Bryant burst onto the national scene by getting brutally whacked by Michigan's Ernest Shazor in one of the most famous hits of last season. Bryant lost the ball, but not the title as one of the new generation of college football game breakers. Last season, Bryant caught 38 passes for 584 yards, numbers that should jump a great deal with star WR Taylor Stubblefield's departure. Bryant is a blazer that has reportedly clocked 4.3 and faster forty-yard times in high school, and should help QB Brandon Kirsch and the 2005 Boilermaker offense hum.
RB Michael Johnson, Virginia, Jr.
With Virginia's do-it-all back Alvin Pearman now in the NFL, it opens up a ton of touches for Michael Johnson, one of the ACC's speediest. As Pearman and Wali Lundy combined for more than 1,900 yards rushing, it was Johnson who made the most of his 63 carries, going for 381 yards (a 6.0 avg). It wouldn't be a shocker to see Johnson making some big plays in the return game either, as he averaged 23.6 yards per kick return last year, a number that should improve with a year's experience.
WR A.J. Bryant, Georgia, So.
Much like D.J. Shockley, Bryant came to Georgia as one of the nation's most highly touted and explosive high school quarterbacks (4.3 speed). Graduating high school early to participate in spring workouts with the Dawgs last season, Coach Richt moved Bryant to receiver where he battled injuries for most of his freshman season, finishing with a modest three catches for 58 yards (19.3 avg). However, with WRs Fred Gibson and Reggie Brown cashing NFL paychecks instead of catching passes for UGA, the stage is set for Bryant to have a much bigger season.
RB Tyler Ebell, UTEP, Sr.
Most college football fans are aware of Ebell after he rushed for almost 1,500 yards in his first two seasons at UCLA, as well as nearly 4,500 yards in his senior year of high school, (a U.S. high school all-time season record). Now, he's set to finish out his college career with a productive season in UTEP's wide-open offense, giving coach Mike Price and QB Jordan Palmer a huge weapon to replace 1,000-yard rusher Howard Jackson.
RB Antone Smith, Florida State, Fr.
Regarded by many as the top high school back last season, Smith sports 4.3-speed. However, with other former prep wunderkinds Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker already in the fold down in Tallahassee, Bobby Bowden can afford to redshirt Smith. On video, the 5-foot-8, 190-pounder runs the ball a lot like Warrick Dunn, with that same great balance and cutting ability, and possibly a little more quickness. If Smith plays as a frosh, watch for him to make big plays in the return game and in and out of the backfield.
RB Marlon Lucky, Nebraska, Fr.
Last season, Bill Callahan brought the West Coast offense to Lincoln. This season, he may have his first great West Coast back in true freshman Marlon Lucky from North Hollywood, California. The 5-11, 210-pound back, who was believed to be right with Antone Smith and Jonathan Stewart as one of the nation's top backs, has looked tremendous on tape and in this year's U.S. Army H.S. All-American Bowl. Lucky played in a spread offense in high school, which gave him the opportunity to display his receiving skills out of the backfield, something that will help bring that Husker offense to the next level in the coming couple years.
RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon, Fr.
Upon signing with the Ducks, Mike Bellotti absolutely raved about Stewart, one of the most high-profile recruits to ever arrive in Eugene. With former BYU coach Gary Crowton running the offense, look for the 5-11, 220-pound back to get the ball all sorts of ways. He's more of a straight ahead runner than Lucky or Antone Smith, but on video he displayed some sick Chuck Foreman spin moves in traffic. As a pure running back, Stewart may classify the least as a "game breaker" compared to the other two freshman backs I've mentioned. But he's the most likely candidate of the three for Freshman All-America.
WR DeSean Jackson, California, Fr.
A 6-0, 175-pound, 4.4 blazer from storied Long Beach Poly High School., Jackson dominated the best high school players in the country in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this January, hauling in seven passes for 141 yards and taking home the game MVP honor (an award given to Ted Ginn the previous season). Jackson made a smart decision (no surprise from a guy with a 1280 SAT) by heading to Cal, where he can step in right away for the departed Geoff MacArthur in Coach Jeff Tedford's explosive passing attack. Look for Jackson and JUCO all-star Lavelle Hawkins to make huge plays and help break in Tedford's new prized pupil QB, Joe Ayoob.
Friday, July 15, 2005
More offensive stars arrive in Pac-10
Andrew SkwaraRivals.com Staff Writer
Quarterbacks regularly throwing more than 40 passes a game. Huge offensive playbooks filled with the shotgun and formations that often include four and sometimes five wide receivers. Running backs who are known for their hands and route running ability.
Read the whole story at: http://www.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=433357
Quarterbacks regularly throwing more than 40 passes a game. Huge offensive playbooks filled with the shotgun and formations that often include four and sometimes five wide receivers. Running backs who are known for their hands and route running ability.
Read the whole story at: http://www.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=433357
Thursday, July 14, 2005
QB Kevin Riley to Cal
The Cal Bears' growing list of early commits increased by one today as Beaverton (OR) High School quarterback Kevin Riley notified Cal Head Coach Jeff Tedford of his commitment to Cal.
Read the whole story and see a photo at : http://california.scout.com/2/395579.html
Read the whole story and see a photo at : http://california.scout.com/2/395579.html
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Cal Football Sees Surge in Ticket Sales
By Erin Cooper Daily Californian
Berkeley, CA (U-WIRE) -- After Cal's record-breaking 2004 football season, the Cal Athletic Office is experiencing a substantial rise in ticket sales and has predicted an even greater influx of football fans for the upcoming season. After several months of season ticket sales, single-game tickets will go on sale at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday at Calbears.com.
Last season, Cal broke records in game attendance, with more than 33,000 season tickets sold and an average of 64,000 in attendance per game, nearly doubling the average of 38,000 for the 2003 season.
"It was the biggest one-year increase in Division I football from the last 12 years of any college in the nation" said Matt Terwilliger, Cal director of ticket sales and advertising.
Officials are currently investigating whether last year's attendance was the biggest one-year increase in the history of college football.
Season ticket sales have already passed the 27,000 mark and are expected to reach 40,000. Over 700 season tickets have been sold in the few days before single tickets go on sale, as last-minute takers try to buy before incoming freshman are able to purchase their tickets next month.
The University of Southern California game, hosted by Cal this season, is the most popular and is expected to sell out within a week, officials said.
"That game's going to sell out way before the start of the season," Terwilliger said. The Big Game against Stanford University could also sell out, with only 4,300 student tickets available, Terwilliger said.
Much of the volume of ticket sales can be attributed to alumni, who receive a 20 percent discount on season ticket sales. There are 65,000 alumni in the greater Bay Area and their attendance in the last few years has jumped from around 400 to between 2,500 and 3,000.
Games are especially popular with former students who have graduated within the past 10 years.
Berkeley, CA (U-WIRE) -- After Cal's record-breaking 2004 football season, the Cal Athletic Office is experiencing a substantial rise in ticket sales and has predicted an even greater influx of football fans for the upcoming season. After several months of season ticket sales, single-game tickets will go on sale at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday at Calbears.com.
Last season, Cal broke records in game attendance, with more than 33,000 season tickets sold and an average of 64,000 in attendance per game, nearly doubling the average of 38,000 for the 2003 season.
"It was the biggest one-year increase in Division I football from the last 12 years of any college in the nation" said Matt Terwilliger, Cal director of ticket sales and advertising.
Officials are currently investigating whether last year's attendance was the biggest one-year increase in the history of college football.
Season ticket sales have already passed the 27,000 mark and are expected to reach 40,000. Over 700 season tickets have been sold in the few days before single tickets go on sale, as last-minute takers try to buy before incoming freshman are able to purchase their tickets next month.
The University of Southern California game, hosted by Cal this season, is the most popular and is expected to sell out within a week, officials said.
"That game's going to sell out way before the start of the season," Terwilliger said. The Big Game against Stanford University could also sell out, with only 4,300 student tickets available, Terwilliger said.
Much of the volume of ticket sales can be attributed to alumni, who receive a 20 percent discount on season ticket sales. There are 65,000 alumni in the greater Bay Area and their attendance in the last few years has jumped from around 400 to between 2,500 and 3,000.
Games are especially popular with former students who have graduated within the past 10 years.
Monday, July 11, 2005
BCS's new poll won't start until after season begins
By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP Sports Writer
July 11, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Bowl Championship Series has created a new college football poll with a unique twist -- games will be played before ballots are cast.
Called the Harris Interactive College Football Poll, it will rank the top 25 teams on a weekly basis, starting Sept. 25 -- four weeks into the season. Plans call for 114 voters. The panel will be comprised of former coaches, players and administrators, plus media members.
The BCS has said it would like to see the elimination of preseason polls, which some believe give highly touted teams an unfair headstart in the rankings.
``This allows for some games to be played in the current season rather than allow teams to be ranked purely on preseason expectations,'' BCS coordinator and Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg said Monday during a conference call.
The season's first BCS standings will be released Oct. 17.
The new poll replaces The Associated Press poll, which the BCS had used in its formula for ranking teams since 1998. Last season, however, the AP told the BCS it could no longer use its media poll.
In addition to the new poll, the BCS will continue to use the USA Today coaches' poll and a compilation of six computer rankings -- each counting for one-third of a team's grade. The coaches will continue with a preseason ballot.
Recently, ESPN pulled out of participating in the coaches poll.
The coaches agreed to have their final ballots made public for the first time this season. The new Harris poll will take the same approach, releasing only the final ballots.
When Texas made up late ground on California in the BCS standings last season and grabbed a spot in the Rose Bowl, Cal and Pac-10 officials called for the coaches' votes to be made public.
The AP poll never provided a secret ballot for its voters.
``We thought it was important for there to be consistency with the two human polls,'' Weiberg said. ``To make the ballots public on a weekly basis during the season, we feel the focus would be on who voted for whom and detract from the games being playing.''
Last season, the BCS standings emphasized the polls more than ever and AP voters' ballots were scrutinized as three unbeaten teams competed for the top two spots.
Weiberg said voters in the new poll will be allowed to make their votes public at any point in the season if they choose.
``We've made very good progress in terms of people responding affirmatively to wanting to be part of the poll,'' he said.
The AP preseason poll will be released Aug. 20, with the first regular-season poll Sept. 6. The AP national champion will be crowned after the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4.
Last season, Southern California and Oklahoma held the top two spots in both the AP and coaches' polls in the preseason and kept those positions throughout undefeated regular seasons.
Auburn, which began the season ranked in the teens in the polls, went unbeaten but never could pass the Trojans or Sooners in the polls. USC finished No. 1 in the final BCS standings and Oklahoma was No. 2, mostly on the strength of their top-ranked computer score.
All three teams finished the regular season unbeaten and USC and Oklahoma played for the national title in the Orange Bowl. Auburn went to the Sugar Bowl, finished the season 13-0 and had to settle for a final ranking of No. 2 in the polls behind national champion USC.
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said the preseason rankings put his team at a disadvantage because they had too much ground to make up in the BCS standings before games were even played.
Harris Interactive Inc., a marketing company hired by the BCS last month to coordinate the new poll, is in the process of compiling a panel from 300 possible participants. Voters' names will be made public and all 11 Division I-A conferences and independent teams will be represented in the panel.
Each conference nominated 27 people to be placed into a pool of possible poll voters, and each conference will have 10 of its nominees in the panel.
July 11, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Bowl Championship Series has created a new college football poll with a unique twist -- games will be played before ballots are cast.
Called the Harris Interactive College Football Poll, it will rank the top 25 teams on a weekly basis, starting Sept. 25 -- four weeks into the season. Plans call for 114 voters. The panel will be comprised of former coaches, players and administrators, plus media members.
The BCS has said it would like to see the elimination of preseason polls, which some believe give highly touted teams an unfair headstart in the rankings.
``This allows for some games to be played in the current season rather than allow teams to be ranked purely on preseason expectations,'' BCS coordinator and Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg said Monday during a conference call.
The season's first BCS standings will be released Oct. 17.
The new poll replaces The Associated Press poll, which the BCS had used in its formula for ranking teams since 1998. Last season, however, the AP told the BCS it could no longer use its media poll.
In addition to the new poll, the BCS will continue to use the USA Today coaches' poll and a compilation of six computer rankings -- each counting for one-third of a team's grade. The coaches will continue with a preseason ballot.
Recently, ESPN pulled out of participating in the coaches poll.
The coaches agreed to have their final ballots made public for the first time this season. The new Harris poll will take the same approach, releasing only the final ballots.
When Texas made up late ground on California in the BCS standings last season and grabbed a spot in the Rose Bowl, Cal and Pac-10 officials called for the coaches' votes to be made public.
The AP poll never provided a secret ballot for its voters.
``We thought it was important for there to be consistency with the two human polls,'' Weiberg said. ``To make the ballots public on a weekly basis during the season, we feel the focus would be on who voted for whom and detract from the games being playing.''
Last season, the BCS standings emphasized the polls more than ever and AP voters' ballots were scrutinized as three unbeaten teams competed for the top two spots.
Weiberg said voters in the new poll will be allowed to make their votes public at any point in the season if they choose.
``We've made very good progress in terms of people responding affirmatively to wanting to be part of the poll,'' he said.
The AP preseason poll will be released Aug. 20, with the first regular-season poll Sept. 6. The AP national champion will be crowned after the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4.
Last season, Southern California and Oklahoma held the top two spots in both the AP and coaches' polls in the preseason and kept those positions throughout undefeated regular seasons.
Auburn, which began the season ranked in the teens in the polls, went unbeaten but never could pass the Trojans or Sooners in the polls. USC finished No. 1 in the final BCS standings and Oklahoma was No. 2, mostly on the strength of their top-ranked computer score.
All three teams finished the regular season unbeaten and USC and Oklahoma played for the national title in the Orange Bowl. Auburn went to the Sugar Bowl, finished the season 13-0 and had to settle for a final ranking of No. 2 in the polls behind national champion USC.
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said the preseason rankings put his team at a disadvantage because they had too much ground to make up in the BCS standings before games were even played.
Harris Interactive Inc., a marketing company hired by the BCS last month to coordinate the new poll, is in the process of compiling a panel from 300 possible participants. Voters' names will be made public and all 11 Division I-A conferences and independent teams will be represented in the panel.
Each conference nominated 27 people to be placed into a pool of possible poll voters, and each conference will have 10 of its nominees in the panel.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Orlando Sentinal Lists Cal as one of the Top 10 Teams with QB Troubles
10 top teams with QB problems
By Mike Huguenin Sentinel Staff Writer Posted July 7, 2005
FSU isn't the only school with designs on a top-10 finish sweating out its quarterback situation. Here are some others.
Auburn: Jason Campbell is gone. The new guy should be sophomore Brandon Cox, a lefty who has attempted 34 career passes. He has solid receivers and will be protected by a good line, but the running game is a question, too.
California: Aaron Rodgers is gone. That means Coach Jeff Tedford will go into his lab and come out with another star player. The battle likely will continue into September, with touted JC transfer Joseph Ayoob and redshirt freshman Nathan Longshore the candidates. Everything else appears to be in place for a potent offense.
Georgia: David Greene, who seemingly was the starter for a decade, is gone. Fifth-year senior D.J. Shockley finally is the man. He has all the physical tools, and is helped by a great stable of tailbacks and a good offensive line. Still, there remains a question about how proficient a passer Shockley can be (50.4 percent completion rate in his career).
LSU: Marcus Randall is gone. New Coach Les Miles inherits a ton of talent -- he might have the most talented team in the SEC and one of the two or three most-talented teams in the nation -- but does he have a quarterback he can count on? Sophomore JaMarcus Russell looks as if he's the guy, but he was wildly inconsistent last season, meaning true freshman Ryan Perrilloux could get a chance to win the job.
Miami: Brock Berlin is gone. Sophomore Kyle Wright, who was less than stellar in the spring, heads into the season as the starter. He threw nine passes last season. There's only one other scholarship quarterback on the roster, redshirt freshman Kirby Freeman.
Oklahoma: Jason White is gone. While the Sooners have loved to throw the ball the past few seasons, this should be TB Adrian Peterson's team now. Junior Paul Thompson, who didn't play last season and has 47 career passing attempts, heads into fall practice as the starting QB. But redshirt freshman Rhett Bomar is said to be too good to keep on the bench.
Virginia Tech: Bryan Randall is gone. The Hokies will turn to Marcus Vick, who has a ton of talent but also has been in a ton of trouble off the field. Tech is a legit contender for the national title if Vick plays well.
By Mike Huguenin Sentinel Staff Writer Posted July 7, 2005
FSU isn't the only school with designs on a top-10 finish sweating out its quarterback situation. Here are some others.
Auburn: Jason Campbell is gone. The new guy should be sophomore Brandon Cox, a lefty who has attempted 34 career passes. He has solid receivers and will be protected by a good line, but the running game is a question, too.
California: Aaron Rodgers is gone. That means Coach Jeff Tedford will go into his lab and come out with another star player. The battle likely will continue into September, with touted JC transfer Joseph Ayoob and redshirt freshman Nathan Longshore the candidates. Everything else appears to be in place for a potent offense.
Georgia: David Greene, who seemingly was the starter for a decade, is gone. Fifth-year senior D.J. Shockley finally is the man. He has all the physical tools, and is helped by a great stable of tailbacks and a good offensive line. Still, there remains a question about how proficient a passer Shockley can be (50.4 percent completion rate in his career).
LSU: Marcus Randall is gone. New Coach Les Miles inherits a ton of talent -- he might have the most talented team in the SEC and one of the two or three most-talented teams in the nation -- but does he have a quarterback he can count on? Sophomore JaMarcus Russell looks as if he's the guy, but he was wildly inconsistent last season, meaning true freshman Ryan Perrilloux could get a chance to win the job.
Miami: Brock Berlin is gone. Sophomore Kyle Wright, who was less than stellar in the spring, heads into the season as the starter. He threw nine passes last season. There's only one other scholarship quarterback on the roster, redshirt freshman Kirby Freeman.
Oklahoma: Jason White is gone. While the Sooners have loved to throw the ball the past few seasons, this should be TB Adrian Peterson's team now. Junior Paul Thompson, who didn't play last season and has 47 career passing attempts, heads into fall practice as the starting QB. But redshirt freshman Rhett Bomar is said to be too good to keep on the bench.
Virginia Tech: Bryan Randall is gone. The Hokies will turn to Marcus Vick, who has a ton of talent but also has been in a ton of trouble off the field. Tech is a legit contender for the national title if Vick plays well.
Pyramid Alehouse Tedford Tour Returns
From calbears.collegesports.com:
Registration for season-ticket holder event starts July 8.
July 7, 2005
BERKELEY - Back by popular demand, the 2005 Tedford Tour returns this summer to Pyramid Alehouse locations in Sacramento, Walnut Creek and Berkeley.
Head coach Jeff Tedford and his coaching staff will be featured at three evening events open exclusively to season-ticket holders and their guests. Each season-ticket holder may bring up to four guests to the event.
Fans must register in advance in order to be admitted. Registration is free and is available on a space-available basis. Event registration will be available on-line at the Cal Marketplace starting Friday, July 8.
At each event, Tedford will give fans a preview of the 2005 season. There will also be a question and answer session with coaches, autographs and photo opportunities, as well as fan prize giveaways awarded throughout the evening.
The Golden Bears finished ninth in the nation last year and head into 2005 ranked in the Top 20 in many preseason college football polls.
"Over 2,000 fans attended last year's Tedford Tour, and we expect to see this tradition grow every year," said Sue Woodward, Cal's event marketing manager. "Pyramid Alehouse has been an extremely supportive partner, and we look forward to continuing this relationship."
For more information, call (800) GO BEARS.
2005 Pyramid Alehouse Tedford Tour
Tuesday, Aug. 2 - Sacramento (1029 K St.)
Wednesday, Aug. 3 - Walnut Creek (1410 Locust St.)
Thursday, Aug. 4 - Berkeley (901 Gilman St.)
All events run from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Registration for season-ticket holder event starts July 8.
July 7, 2005
BERKELEY - Back by popular demand, the 2005 Tedford Tour returns this summer to Pyramid Alehouse locations in Sacramento, Walnut Creek and Berkeley.
Head coach Jeff Tedford and his coaching staff will be featured at three evening events open exclusively to season-ticket holders and their guests. Each season-ticket holder may bring up to four guests to the event.
Fans must register in advance in order to be admitted. Registration is free and is available on a space-available basis. Event registration will be available on-line at the Cal Marketplace starting Friday, July 8.
At each event, Tedford will give fans a preview of the 2005 season. There will also be a question and answer session with coaches, autographs and photo opportunities, as well as fan prize giveaways awarded throughout the evening.
The Golden Bears finished ninth in the nation last year and head into 2005 ranked in the Top 20 in many preseason college football polls.
"Over 2,000 fans attended last year's Tedford Tour, and we expect to see this tradition grow every year," said Sue Woodward, Cal's event marketing manager. "Pyramid Alehouse has been an extremely supportive partner, and we look forward to continuing this relationship."
For more information, call (800) GO BEARS.
2005 Pyramid Alehouse Tedford Tour
Tuesday, Aug. 2 - Sacramento (1029 K St.)
Wednesday, Aug. 3 - Walnut Creek (1410 Locust St.)
Thursday, Aug. 4 - Berkeley (901 Gilman St.)
All events run from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Barbour steps into challenging job at Cal
From the Napa Valley Register Newspaper:
Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Sandy Barbour, the University of California athletic director, was attending an alumni association event before the Golden Bears' football game against Oregon State last fall when she got a reminder of just how popular and respected Jeff Tedford is on the Berkeley campus.It came in the form of a note that was given to her by Oski, the school's official mascot."Oski had these little playing cards that he was handing out," Barbour recalled. "So, I said, 'Oski will you autograph it for me?' He nods yes. He brings it back and hands it to me, and it says, 'Keep Jeff. Love Oski.'"I certainly knew what one of the tasks at hand was."Barbour, the special guest of a Napa Valley Cal Alumni Club lunch last week at Napa Valley Country Club, is proud of the work Tedford is doing as the head football coach. But she is also proud of the fact that Cal finished the 2004-05 school year ranked 15th in the country for the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings, which measures the best overall sports programs in the country and awards points based on final national standings."Being an athletic director at an institution with the prestige and notoriety of a Cal is just a dream come true," said Barbour. "It really is. It's a fabulous place with very, very passionate people in a wonderful community."But it's a very challenging job. You've got a lot of balls in the air and we've got a lot going on from fund-raising to facing the challenges of keeping the great coaches that we have, recruiting the best student-athletes not only in the country, but in the world. There's a lot going on."Tedford is obviously one of the best at Cal. He was voted as the Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons and led the Bears last year to a 10-2 record, which included a second-place Pac-10 finish. They lost to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl but still finished ninth in the country in the final polls and were ranked as high as fourth during the season."There is so much positive going on with our football program right now," said Barbour. "Jeff Tedford and his staff have just done a fabulous job of building the program and restoring the excellence. We certainly have high, high hopes for the 2005 season."Cal had a record eight players who were named First-Team All-Pac-10 and tailback J.J. Arrington, who rushed for 2,018 yards, was a consensus First-Team All-American.One of the biggest projects for Barbour, the former deputy director of athletics at Notre Dame and a former athletic director at Tulane University, is the renovation of Cal's Memorial Stadium. No timetable has been set on when work will begin."This is not a five-day-a-week, 9-to-5 job," said Barbour, who was named as Cal's AD on Sept. 15, 2004. "It really can be all consuming, and for the most part that's a great thing. It's a passion."We were able to take care of the furthering of moving the Memorial Stadium project down the line with the support of Chancellor (Robert) Birgeneau. That's starting to come together. We've got a long ways to go. We've got a lot of money to raise. But the project is becoming a reality, which is very exciting and very gratifying."Barbour, who oversees Cal's 27 intercollegiate sports programs, said her job is rewarding and challenging all at the same time."High-quality places attract high-quality people, so I'm very, very fortunate to get to work in and amongst and with just fabulous people," she said. "You have to be very, very passionate about the cause, about the mission of the institution and the mission of your department. You have to be dedicated."Barbour's appearance was organized by Saanen Kerson, the president of the Napa Valley Cal Alumni Club who set the state record for most wins in a season during her junior year of softball at Vintage High School. Kerson, unfortunately, suffered a career-ending overuse injury to her pitching shoulder while playing at Cal. Kerson coached two years of softball at Vintage (2000 and 2001) and was named as the Monticello Empire League Coach of the Year while directing the Crushers to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.There are 1,650 Cal alums in Napa County. The Napa Valley Cal Alumni Club, a social club, is planning events later this year ranging from a bus trip to the Big Game at Stanford and a pre-game luncheon jointly with Stanford's local alumni club."It's been a real thrill for me to represent the university and to work toward really achieving some things for us athletically," said Barbour, who has over 22 years of experience in intercollegiate athletic administration. "I look forward to keeping after it."Barbour, who was Notre Dame's senior athletic administrator, added: "There's still an awful lot that I need to learn about Cal and I need to learn about our community and our institution. But also I recognize that people need to get to know me."I think the wonderful thing for the chancellor and I for our first fall on campus was to see the power of what a highly successful athletic program can be. That was a rallying point for the entire institution."
Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Sandy Barbour, the University of California athletic director, was attending an alumni association event before the Golden Bears' football game against Oregon State last fall when she got a reminder of just how popular and respected Jeff Tedford is on the Berkeley campus.It came in the form of a note that was given to her by Oski, the school's official mascot."Oski had these little playing cards that he was handing out," Barbour recalled. "So, I said, 'Oski will you autograph it for me?' He nods yes. He brings it back and hands it to me, and it says, 'Keep Jeff. Love Oski.'"I certainly knew what one of the tasks at hand was."Barbour, the special guest of a Napa Valley Cal Alumni Club lunch last week at Napa Valley Country Club, is proud of the work Tedford is doing as the head football coach. But she is also proud of the fact that Cal finished the 2004-05 school year ranked 15th in the country for the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings, which measures the best overall sports programs in the country and awards points based on final national standings."Being an athletic director at an institution with the prestige and notoriety of a Cal is just a dream come true," said Barbour. "It really is. It's a fabulous place with very, very passionate people in a wonderful community."But it's a very challenging job. You've got a lot of balls in the air and we've got a lot going on from fund-raising to facing the challenges of keeping the great coaches that we have, recruiting the best student-athletes not only in the country, but in the world. There's a lot going on."Tedford is obviously one of the best at Cal. He was voted as the Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons and led the Bears last year to a 10-2 record, which included a second-place Pac-10 finish. They lost to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl but still finished ninth in the country in the final polls and were ranked as high as fourth during the season."There is so much positive going on with our football program right now," said Barbour. "Jeff Tedford and his staff have just done a fabulous job of building the program and restoring the excellence. We certainly have high, high hopes for the 2005 season."Cal had a record eight players who were named First-Team All-Pac-10 and tailback J.J. Arrington, who rushed for 2,018 yards, was a consensus First-Team All-American.One of the biggest projects for Barbour, the former deputy director of athletics at Notre Dame and a former athletic director at Tulane University, is the renovation of Cal's Memorial Stadium. No timetable has been set on when work will begin."This is not a five-day-a-week, 9-to-5 job," said Barbour, who was named as Cal's AD on Sept. 15, 2004. "It really can be all consuming, and for the most part that's a great thing. It's a passion."We were able to take care of the furthering of moving the Memorial Stadium project down the line with the support of Chancellor (Robert) Birgeneau. That's starting to come together. We've got a long ways to go. We've got a lot of money to raise. But the project is becoming a reality, which is very exciting and very gratifying."Barbour, who oversees Cal's 27 intercollegiate sports programs, said her job is rewarding and challenging all at the same time."High-quality places attract high-quality people, so I'm very, very fortunate to get to work in and amongst and with just fabulous people," she said. "You have to be very, very passionate about the cause, about the mission of the institution and the mission of your department. You have to be dedicated."Barbour's appearance was organized by Saanen Kerson, the president of the Napa Valley Cal Alumni Club who set the state record for most wins in a season during her junior year of softball at Vintage High School. Kerson, unfortunately, suffered a career-ending overuse injury to her pitching shoulder while playing at Cal. Kerson coached two years of softball at Vintage (2000 and 2001) and was named as the Monticello Empire League Coach of the Year while directing the Crushers to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.There are 1,650 Cal alums in Napa County. The Napa Valley Cal Alumni Club, a social club, is planning events later this year ranging from a bus trip to the Big Game at Stanford and a pre-game luncheon jointly with Stanford's local alumni club."It's been a real thrill for me to represent the university and to work toward really achieving some things for us athletically," said Barbour, who has over 22 years of experience in intercollegiate athletic administration. "I look forward to keeping after it."Barbour, who was Notre Dame's senior athletic administrator, added: "There's still an awful lot that I need to learn about Cal and I need to learn about our community and our institution. But also I recognize that people need to get to know me."I think the wonderful thing for the chancellor and I for our first fall on campus was to see the power of what a highly successful athletic program can be. That was a rallying point for the entire institution."
Fox Ranks Cal #17
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/3732190
17. CaliforniaThe program pulled off a huge coup keeping JeffTedford, one of football's hottest coaches, inBerkeley leading the way to one of the school's bestrecruiting hauls ever with several great JUCO playerswho'll be among the Pac 10's top stars. Marshawn Lynchis considered by some to be an even better back thanJ.J. Arrington, the offensive line will be among thebest in the country, and there's more than enough teamspeed to hang stride for stride with anyone on theslate including that group down in L.A.Relative strength: Offensive line RelativeWeakness: LinebackerStar of the team: RB Marshawn Lynch, Soph. Keygame: November 12th vs. USC
(Thanks to Cal Super Fan Tom "Holmoe" Businger for this tip!)
17. CaliforniaThe program pulled off a huge coup keeping JeffTedford, one of football's hottest coaches, inBerkeley leading the way to one of the school's bestrecruiting hauls ever with several great JUCO playerswho'll be among the Pac 10's top stars. Marshawn Lynchis considered by some to be an even better back thanJ.J. Arrington, the offensive line will be among thebest in the country, and there's more than enough teamspeed to hang stride for stride with anyone on theslate including that group down in L.A.Relative strength: Offensive line RelativeWeakness: LinebackerStar of the team: RB Marshawn Lynch, Soph. Keygame: November 12th vs. USC
(Thanks to Cal Super Fan Tom "Holmoe" Businger for this tip!)
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Today's Daily Cal Article on Tepper
Cal Athletes Run Over After Car Occupants Harass Victim
By JENNIFER JAMALLContributing WriterTuesday, July 5, 2005
Two Cal athletes were run over by a car on Telegraph Avenue last week, severely injuring Cal football offensive lineman Mike Tepper and taking him out for next season.
Three of the passengers in the car were arrested after police said the driver intentionally backed into Tepper and former Cal volleyball player Camille Leffall near the corner of Dwight Way at Telegraph Avenue at 1:15 a.m. on June 26.
Tepper sustained injuries to his right leg, including a broken fibula and a dislocated tibia. Leffall sustained minor injuries, including cuts on her knees, a cut on the inside of her foot and a back injury.
Tepper and Leffall were walking north on Telegraph when a dark sedan pulled up alongside them. The passengers began making lewd comments to Leffall, said Berkeley police Officer Joe Okies.
“They were saying things like ‘Hey baby’ and ‘Lemme have your number,’” Tepper, 19, said. “Camille blew them off, told them she wasn’t interested, and we kept on walking.”
As the pair was crossing the street, the car pulled in front of them, blocking their path, Tepper said. The men in the car continued to harass Leffall, 22, at which point Tepper stepped in and told them to leave, Leffall said.
The driver then backed the car into Leffall, Tepper said. Tepper pushed her out of the way as she was being struck but was then hit himself.
As Tepper fell to the ground, his foot was caught in the tire. The car then pulled forward, running over his ankle a second time, Leffall said.
A Berkeley police officer who witnessed the incident called for assistance after the car sped away eastbound on Dwight Way, Okies said.
“There were two cops there within 10 seconds of us hitting the concrete,” Tepper said. “I was bleeding pretty profusely. There was blood everywhere.”
Police chased the car, which fled and collided with a parked car on Parker Street near College Avenue, Okies said. Three of the four occupants in the car ran away but were caught after a brief chase, he said.
Police arrested Johnny Smith, 33, who was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, fleeing the scene of a noninjury accident, obstructing a public officer in the course of duty and a parole violation. Calvin Kelley, 29, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and a probation violation. Scott Slaughter, 28, was arrested and charged with obstructing a public officer in the course of duty.
The fourth occupant in the car was not charged because he is a minor and did not resist arrest, Okies said. He could not say which man was the driver.
Tepper said he was told by police that the men in the car were not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“That really shocks me, that they were completely sober and fine,” Tepper said. “I don’t know who in their right mind would purposely run over somebody.”
An ambulance took Tepper to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center shortly after the incident. Before they arrived, police had to make a tourniquet on Tepper’s leg for the deep cut on his ankle.
“The EMTs and doctors at the hospital were pretty amazing,” Tepper said. “They pumped like triple the amount of morphine into me than for a normal person. I’m not the smallest guy.”
It took doctors at the hospital more than an hour to stop the bleeding because the cut hit an artery that led directly to his heart, Tepper said.
Tepper underwent surgery for the injury Tuesday morning, leaving him with a plate and nine screws in his right leg and rendering him immobile for eight weeks.
Tepper was instructed by doctors not to jog until at least November and will be sidelined for this football season after months of rigorous summer training.
“That’s the biggest thing that’s bugging me, that I’m losing a year of playing time,” Tepper said. “It hurts when you push for a goal, you’re almost there, and then it gets taken away.”
Cal football coach Jeff Tedford said in a statement, “We are proud of the courage Mike showed Saturday night ... He is a quality young man and we expect him to make solid contributions for us in the future.”
Hundreds of messages quickly sprang up on the Bear Insider, a Web site for Cal fans, wishing him a speedy recovery. One post from Tepper’s father, Gus Tepper, assured fans that he will heal quickly.
By JENNIFER JAMALLContributing WriterTuesday, July 5, 2005
Two Cal athletes were run over by a car on Telegraph Avenue last week, severely injuring Cal football offensive lineman Mike Tepper and taking him out for next season.
Three of the passengers in the car were arrested after police said the driver intentionally backed into Tepper and former Cal volleyball player Camille Leffall near the corner of Dwight Way at Telegraph Avenue at 1:15 a.m. on June 26.
Tepper sustained injuries to his right leg, including a broken fibula and a dislocated tibia. Leffall sustained minor injuries, including cuts on her knees, a cut on the inside of her foot and a back injury.
Tepper and Leffall were walking north on Telegraph when a dark sedan pulled up alongside them. The passengers began making lewd comments to Leffall, said Berkeley police Officer Joe Okies.
“They were saying things like ‘Hey baby’ and ‘Lemme have your number,’” Tepper, 19, said. “Camille blew them off, told them she wasn’t interested, and we kept on walking.”
As the pair was crossing the street, the car pulled in front of them, blocking their path, Tepper said. The men in the car continued to harass Leffall, 22, at which point Tepper stepped in and told them to leave, Leffall said.
The driver then backed the car into Leffall, Tepper said. Tepper pushed her out of the way as she was being struck but was then hit himself.
As Tepper fell to the ground, his foot was caught in the tire. The car then pulled forward, running over his ankle a second time, Leffall said.
A Berkeley police officer who witnessed the incident called for assistance after the car sped away eastbound on Dwight Way, Okies said.
“There were two cops there within 10 seconds of us hitting the concrete,” Tepper said. “I was bleeding pretty profusely. There was blood everywhere.”
Police chased the car, which fled and collided with a parked car on Parker Street near College Avenue, Okies said. Three of the four occupants in the car ran away but were caught after a brief chase, he said.
Police arrested Johnny Smith, 33, who was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, fleeing the scene of a noninjury accident, obstructing a public officer in the course of duty and a parole violation. Calvin Kelley, 29, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and a probation violation. Scott Slaughter, 28, was arrested and charged with obstructing a public officer in the course of duty.
The fourth occupant in the car was not charged because he is a minor and did not resist arrest, Okies said. He could not say which man was the driver.
Tepper said he was told by police that the men in the car were not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“That really shocks me, that they were completely sober and fine,” Tepper said. “I don’t know who in their right mind would purposely run over somebody.”
An ambulance took Tepper to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center shortly after the incident. Before they arrived, police had to make a tourniquet on Tepper’s leg for the deep cut on his ankle.
“The EMTs and doctors at the hospital were pretty amazing,” Tepper said. “They pumped like triple the amount of morphine into me than for a normal person. I’m not the smallest guy.”
It took doctors at the hospital more than an hour to stop the bleeding because the cut hit an artery that led directly to his heart, Tepper said.
Tepper underwent surgery for the injury Tuesday morning, leaving him with a plate and nine screws in his right leg and rendering him immobile for eight weeks.
Tepper was instructed by doctors not to jog until at least November and will be sidelined for this football season after months of rigorous summer training.
“That’s the biggest thing that’s bugging me, that I’m losing a year of playing time,” Tepper said. “It hurts when you push for a goal, you’re almost there, and then it gets taken away.”
Cal football coach Jeff Tedford said in a statement, “We are proud of the courage Mike showed Saturday night ... He is a quality young man and we expect him to make solid contributions for us in the future.”
Hundreds of messages quickly sprang up on the Bear Insider, a Web site for Cal fans, wishing him a speedy recovery. One post from Tepper’s father, Gus Tepper, assured fans that he will heal quickly.
Football Places in Top 20 in Several Preseason Polls
From the Daily Cal:
After falling flat on its face in last year's Holiday Bowl and losing star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the NFL Draft, the Cal football team had no reason to expect much recognition in the polls this summer.
Nevertheless, the resounding defeat against Texas Tech has certainly not tarnished the Bears' reputation coming into this year's campaign.
After rolling through last season with a 10-2 record and a top-10 ranking, the Cal football program learned that it is ranked as high as 15th in national preseason rankings.
Phil Steele's College Football Preview and Street & Smith's College Football Yearbook both rank Cal at No. 20 in the country while the Sporting News puts it at No. 15.
In addition to the team's ranking, several members of the squad picked up individual preseason honors.
Senior Marvin Philip has received the most notice, as the Sporting News ranked him as the nation's top center. He also pocketed All-American honors from various other publications.
Sophomore tailback Marshawn Lynch, who was the backup to J.J. Arrington last season, was rated as the No. 7 running back in the nation by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview.
After falling flat on its face in last year's Holiday Bowl and losing star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the NFL Draft, the Cal football team had no reason to expect much recognition in the polls this summer.
Nevertheless, the resounding defeat against Texas Tech has certainly not tarnished the Bears' reputation coming into this year's campaign.
After rolling through last season with a 10-2 record and a top-10 ranking, the Cal football program learned that it is ranked as high as 15th in national preseason rankings.
Phil Steele's College Football Preview and Street & Smith's College Football Yearbook both rank Cal at No. 20 in the country while the Sporting News puts it at No. 15.
In addition to the team's ranking, several members of the squad picked up individual preseason honors.
Senior Marvin Philip has received the most notice, as the Sporting News ranked him as the nation's top center. He also pocketed All-American honors from various other publications.
Sophomore tailback Marshawn Lynch, who was the backup to J.J. Arrington last season, was rated as the No. 7 running back in the nation by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview.
Cal Ranked As High As 15th in Preseason
From the Cal website:
Bears receive national honors from preseason magazines.
BERKELEY - Coming off a 10-2 season and a Top 10 ranking last fall, California has maintained its place in the national rankings in several of the preseason magazines heading into the 2005 campaign.
The Sporting News places the Golden Bears 15th in its ratings, while Street & Smith's College Football Yearbook and Phil Steele's College Football Preview both rank Cal 20th in the country.
In addition, several members of the squad have been tabbed for preseason national and Pac-10 honors.
Senior center Marvin Philip has received the most notice, ranking as high as the No. 1 center in the country by The Sporting News. TSN, Street & Smith's and Athlon all name him a first team All-American, while he is a consensus first team All-Pac-10 selection.
Senior offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan also received third team All-America accolades from Street & Smith's and Athlon.
Sophomore tailback Marshawn Lynch, who has yet to start a college football game, was chosen first team All-Pac-10 by Street & Smith's and Lindy's, while Phil Steele's College Football Preview rates him the No. 7 running back in the nation.
Below is a list of many of the preseason honors bestowed upon the Golden Bears this summer.
Cal in the Top 2515th - The Sporting News20th - Street & Smith's College Football Yearbook20th - Phil Steele's College Football Preview
Individual HonorsThe Sporting News TB Marshawn Lynch -- #13 running back in the countryROV Donnie McCleskey -- #8 strong safety in the countryC Marvin Philip - 1st team All-American, #1 center in the country
Street & Smith'sOT Andrew Cameron - honorable mention All-American CB Daymeion Hughes - honorable mention All-American TB Marshawn Lynch - honorable mention All-American, 1st team All-Pac-10 ROV Donnie McCleskey - honorable mention All-American DT Brandon Mebane - honorable mention All-American OG Aaron Merz - honorable mention All-American OT Ryan O'Callaghan - 3rd team All-American , 1st team All-Pac-10 C Marvin Philip - 1st team All-American , 1st team All-Pac-10 CB Harrison Smith - honorable mention All-American
Lindy'sOT Andrew Cameron - 2nd team All-Pac-10TB Marshawn Lynch - 1st team All-Pac-10, #12 running back in the nationROV Donnie McCleskey - 1st team All-Pac-10DT Brandon Mebane - 2nd team All-Pac-10OG Aaron Merz - 2nd team All-Pac-10OT Ryan O'Callaghan - 1st team All-Pac-10, #8 offensive tackle in the nationC Marvin Philip - 1st team All-Pac-10, #3 center in the nation
Phil Steele's College Football PreviewCB Daymeion Hughes - 2nd team All-Pac-10TB Marshawn Lynch - 2nd team All-Pac-10, #7 running back in the nationOT Ryan O'Callaghan - 1st team All-Pac-10, #7 offensive tackle in the nationC Marvin Philip - 1st team All-Pac-10CB Harrison Smith - 1st team All-Pac-10
AthlonOT Andrew Cameron - 2nd team All-Pac-10TB Marshawn Lynch - 2nd team All-Pac-10ROV Donnie McCleskey - 2nd team All-Pac-10OG Aaron Merz - 2nd team All-Pac-10OT Ryan O'Callaghan - 3rd team All-American, 1st team All-Pac-10C Marvin Philip - 1st team All-American, 1st team All-Pac-10Offensive Line - 2nd best in the nation
Bears receive national honors from preseason magazines.
BERKELEY - Coming off a 10-2 season and a Top 10 ranking last fall, California has maintained its place in the national rankings in several of the preseason magazines heading into the 2005 campaign.
The Sporting News places the Golden Bears 15th in its ratings, while Street & Smith's College Football Yearbook and Phil Steele's College Football Preview both rank Cal 20th in the country.
In addition, several members of the squad have been tabbed for preseason national and Pac-10 honors.
Senior center Marvin Philip has received the most notice, ranking as high as the No. 1 center in the country by The Sporting News. TSN, Street & Smith's and Athlon all name him a first team All-American, while he is a consensus first team All-Pac-10 selection.
Senior offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan also received third team All-America accolades from Street & Smith's and Athlon.
Sophomore tailback Marshawn Lynch, who has yet to start a college football game, was chosen first team All-Pac-10 by Street & Smith's and Lindy's, while Phil Steele's College Football Preview rates him the No. 7 running back in the nation.
Below is a list of many of the preseason honors bestowed upon the Golden Bears this summer.
Cal in the Top 2515th - The Sporting News20th - Street & Smith's College Football Yearbook20th - Phil Steele's College Football Preview
Individual HonorsThe Sporting News TB Marshawn Lynch -- #13 running back in the countryROV Donnie McCleskey -- #8 strong safety in the countryC Marvin Philip - 1st team All-American, #1 center in the country
Street & Smith'sOT Andrew Cameron - honorable mention All-American CB Daymeion Hughes - honorable mention All-American TB Marshawn Lynch - honorable mention All-American, 1st team All-Pac-10 ROV Donnie McCleskey - honorable mention All-American DT Brandon Mebane - honorable mention All-American OG Aaron Merz - honorable mention All-American OT Ryan O'Callaghan - 3rd team All-American , 1st team All-Pac-10 C Marvin Philip - 1st team All-American , 1st team All-Pac-10 CB Harrison Smith - honorable mention All-American
Lindy'sOT Andrew Cameron - 2nd team All-Pac-10TB Marshawn Lynch - 1st team All-Pac-10, #12 running back in the nationROV Donnie McCleskey - 1st team All-Pac-10DT Brandon Mebane - 2nd team All-Pac-10OG Aaron Merz - 2nd team All-Pac-10OT Ryan O'Callaghan - 1st team All-Pac-10, #8 offensive tackle in the nationC Marvin Philip - 1st team All-Pac-10, #3 center in the nation
Phil Steele's College Football PreviewCB Daymeion Hughes - 2nd team All-Pac-10TB Marshawn Lynch - 2nd team All-Pac-10, #7 running back in the nationOT Ryan O'Callaghan - 1st team All-Pac-10, #7 offensive tackle in the nationC Marvin Philip - 1st team All-Pac-10CB Harrison Smith - 1st team All-Pac-10
AthlonOT Andrew Cameron - 2nd team All-Pac-10TB Marshawn Lynch - 2nd team All-Pac-10ROV Donnie McCleskey - 2nd team All-Pac-10OG Aaron Merz - 2nd team All-Pac-10OT Ryan O'Callaghan - 3rd team All-American, 1st team All-Pac-10C Marvin Philip - 1st team All-American, 1st team All-Pac-10Offensive Line - 2nd best in the nation
Monday, July 04, 2005
Scouting the Pac 10: California
See this link for a nice discussion of Cal players that could be NFL prospects:
http://nfldraft.scout.com/2/392623.html
http://nfldraft.scout.com/2/392623.html
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