Friday, December 23, 2005

Contra Costa Times: Bears' '06 goal: national title

OPTIMISM FLOWING AFTER BOWL VICTORY

By Jay Heater

LAS VEGAS - Although Cal's football players were looking forward to celebrating on the Strip after their 35-28 victory over Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl on Thursday, they have a different destination in mind for next season. ``I think we will be competing for a national championship,'' said junior quarterback Steve Levy, who threw two touchdown passes against the Cougars. Levy's opinion was shared by most of the Bears, who talked about how they endured some rough times this season on their way to an 8-4 record. Included were close losses to UCLA, Oregon State and Oregon. ``We're just going to continue to get better,'' said tailback Marshawn Lynch, who was the game's most valuable player after gaining 194 yards rushing and scoring three touchdowns. ``Some teams have to go through what we went through this season. But I think we went through it and came out like champions.'' With playmakers like Lynch and wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who caught two touchdown passes against BYU, Cal is bound to get some serious attention as it heads into 2006. ``We have a lot of ability,'' Jackson said. ``And we want to get back into the national rankings.''

Cal senior offensive linemen Ryan O'Callaghan, Aaron Merz and Marvin Philip played in their final game. O'Callaghan played despite a sprained ankle that kept him out of practice all week. ``I can't put into words what these guys have meant to the program,'' Coach Jeff Tedford said. Philip walked toward Cal's team bus after the game saying, ``I'm done. I'm done. I'm done.''

• Tedford announced the signing of El Camino Community College center Mark Gray and Mt. San Antonio College defensive end Rulon Davis. Gray is a 6-foot-2, 280-pounder who was named All-California by jcfootball.com. Davis (6-5, 275) was rated the 21st-best junior college recruit in the nation by rivals.com. Both will enroll at Cal in January.

• Lynch rushed for 1,244 yards this season, third-best in Cal history. He recorded his seventh 100-yard rushing game against BYU. Cal narrowly missed having two 1,000-yard rushers. Sophomore Justin Forsett gained 37 yards Thursday to finish with 999.

No comments: