By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
When Brandon Mebane seized the championship trophy and the microphone on the podium in Las Vegas last week, the California defensive lineman also seized the moment to make a bold prediction. "Next year, national championship!" Mebane yelled to the fans who cheered the Golden Bears' 35-28 victory over Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl on Thursday night. It was an audacious statement by one of the best players on a team that had just finished a somewhat disappointing season at 8-4, winning its final two games after losing four of five to fall out of the national rankings. But there's ample reason to believe the Bears will be among the West's best teams next year, with even a shot at reaching Mebane's goal. That's because many of Cal's most talented players will be back next season with a year of valuable experience and a newfound determination after the disappointments of 2005. "There's a lot of potential there," acknowledged coach Jeff Tedford, who has reached three straight bowl games in his four seasons at Cal. "There's no question we have skill. Spring is going to be very important for our young offensive line to mature ... Everything we did at the end of this season is hopefully a springboard to next spring and next fall." Cal finished off the Cougars with a pounding running game that could get even better next year. Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett both will return for their junior seasons, hoping to reprise their campaign as one of the nation's top rushing tandems. Lynch, the Las Vegas Bowl MVP with career highs of 194 yards rushing and three touchdowns, ran for 1,246 yards despite missing most of three games with a broken finger and a benching for fumbles. Forsett finished with 999 yards — averaging nearly 7.8 yards per attempt — and six touchdowns. That's not bad for an ostensible backup with just 11 carries before this season.
"This win really meant a lot to us to get ready for next season, but also to send our seniors out with a bowl victory," Lynch said in Las Vegas. "We've just got to continue to get better every day in the offseason." The receiving corps also should be strong, with standouts DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan returning along with Lavelle Hawkins. Jackson's freshman season was a thriller, culminating with six catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns against BYU. "I looked at this game as the start of my sophomore year," Jackson said. "A lot of players on this team had a bad taste in their mouths after last season, and we didn't want to go into this offseason with a negative." There should be a lively competition to decide just who will be throwing and handing off to these elite playmakers. Tedford will have all spring and summer to decide among longtime backup Steve Levy, who beat Stanford and BYU in his first two college starts; Nate Longshore, who won the starting job last fall before breaking his ankle in the season opener; Joe Ayoob, the junior-college transfer who lost the starting job to Levy after throwing 11 interceptions in his final four starts; and even Kyle Reed, the touted Oakland freshman who redshirted this season. The offensive line must be patched, with seniors Ryan O'Callaghan, Marvin Philip and Aaron Merz moving on to probable NFL careers. But Cal's lines have been strong annually under Tedford and coach Jim Michalczik, and several capable replacements got playing time this season when all five starters were briefly sidelined by injuries. Coordinator Bob Gregory's defense also looks strong around Mebane, another juco transfer who might have been an all-American with a few breaks. He had 6 1/2 sacks and was a disruptive run-stopper despite missing two games with injuries and drawing constant double-teams. Starting linemen Philip Mbakogu, Abu Ma'afala and Nu'u Tafisi all return, as do linebackers Desmond Bishop, Mickey Pimentel, Zack Follett and Anthony Felder. The secondary loses big hitter Donnie McCleskey, but should get back cornerbacks Tim Mixon and Daymeion Hughes.
With such a roster of returning talent, combined with what's expected to be another landmark recruiting class for Tedford and his aggressive assistant coaches, there seems to be no limit on the Bears' potential for next season. The players aren't shy to acknowledge their lofty goals, as Mebane proved on the podium. Cal should find out early whether its championship dreams are real: The Bears open the season Sept. 2 at Tennessee. "It's way early, but that's definitely our goal," Jackson said. "We think we can compete at the highest level next year. We know we're good enough to do that."
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