By Jeff Call
Deseret Morning News
PROVO — BYU had to wait two weeks to find out its opponent in the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl. As it turns out, it was the opponent the Cougars were hoping for — California. For BYU, it was worth the wait. "To play a great team like Cal that's a Pac-10 team, it's who I wanted to play," said junior linebacker Cameron Jensen. "I'm glad we got them. It's definitely motivation to know you're playing a Pac-10 team." "I'm excited. I think it's a great matchup for this bowl game," said BYU wide receiver Todd Watkins. "I'm sure it's going to be a huge crowd. Geographically, it's really close to both Cal and us. I'm glad it's a Pac-10 team, too. The level of competition in the Pac-10 is been really tough this year." "To measure ourselves against a quality Pac-10 opponent makes it that more gratifying," said coach Bronco Mendenhall. "A team that has exposure like Cal does, that has a reputation in recent history like Cal does, but also for it to be coming from the Pac-10 serves as a very strong tool for us. Not only in terms of motivation for our players but also as a gauge for our program." The Cougars (6-5) and Golden Bears (7-4) will meet on Dec. 22 (6 p.m.) at Sam Boyd Stadium. Cal became available to the Las Vegas Bowl Sunday when the Bowl Championship Series did not select Oregon. BYU running back Curtis Brown has some level of affinity for Cal. "It's funny because a couple of years ago, (BYU equipment manager) Mick (Hill) threw a Cal helmet in the trash," he said. "I thought, 'I'm from California. I can appreciate this.' I actually have that Cal helmet sitting on top of my entertainment center. They're a team that highly respected in California and around the country."
BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe served as Cal's head coach from 1997-2001 and he recruited Brown during his time in Berkeley. "It's ironic, I think," he said of facing the program he used to lead. "I have great feelings about that school. There's still a few players left that I helped recruit that are there. I don't have any hard feelings. It's a good opportunity for our team to take another step forward. It's fun for me personally to be able to see some old friends." "The team is very excited about the opportunity to go to Las Vegas and play in the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl," said Cal coach Jeff Tedford, who replaced Holmoe. "We get to match up against one of the top teams in the Mountain West Conference. BYU has such a great tradition." "We look forward to two high-scoring teams with great fan followings battling it out," said the bowl's executive director, Tina Kunzer-Murphy. The Golden Bears started the season 5-0 before dropping four of their final six games. Two of those losses came against teams ranked in the top 10 — Oregon and No. 1 Southern California. Cal fell to the Ducks in overtime and suffered a tough setback to the Trojans. The Bears concluded the regular season with a 27-3 triumph over arch-rival Stanford. BYU and Cal have played twice before, in 1999 and 2001, with BYU winning both games. Holmoe was the Bears' coach for both contests. Mendenhall has watched two of Cal's 2005 games already on film — its loss to USC and its win over Stanford. The Cougars won't begin preparing in earnest for the Golden Bears until Friday, he said. "They have been strong in the Pac-10 the past two years," Mendenhall said. "I know they're well-coached by coach Tedford and they're the last one to beat USC (in 2003). They're talented." Cal has won four of its last six bowl games, including a 52-49 victory over Virginia Tech in the 2003 Insight.com Bowl. A year ago, the Bears fell to Texas Tech, 45-32, at the Holiday Bowl. BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae was the Texas Tech offensive line coach in that game. Mendenhall said that senior defensive lineman Manaia Brown is questionable for the bowl game due to a neck injury.
No comments:
Post a Comment