All-America spurning brings out Irish in Cal's top Pac-10 lineman
By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER
BERKELEY — Ryan O'Callaghan is annoyed and confused, which only makes him angry. And given his size, that's a whole lot of anger. O'Callaghan, Cal's 6-foot-7, 345-pound senior, was recently named the winner of the Morris Trophy as the Pac-10's best offensive lineman. Shortly after that honor was bestowed, The Associated Press announced its All-America first, second and third teams. O'Callaghan was passed over on all three, while USC offensive linemen Taitusi Lufui and Sam Baker were named to the second and third teams, respectively. O'Callaghan, a two-time All-Pac 10 player, also noticed three Texas offensive linemen were chosen by AP — Jonathan Scott on the first team, and Justin Blalock and Will Allen on the third. Could that be because USC and Texas are ranked 1-2 in the BCS, while Cal didn't make the Top 25? "I don't care," O'Callaghan said Thursday with a smirk. "They can think what they want to think."
Oh, he does care. All five linemen on the first AP team are seniors. There are three senior linemen on the second and third teams. "I'd just like to see these names on (NFL) draft day," he said. "Best of luck to all of them." USC led the nation in rushing yards per carry at 6.33, followed by Texas at 5.89 and Cal at 5.87. And AP failed to recognize O'Callaghan. Was he hurt personally by his omission? "Um, yeah," he said. "I've watched a lot of film. I don't see how these people think they're better than me. They're not. But that's the AP's opinion." O'Callaghan missed one game, Washington State, because of a concussion. Perhaps that played into his being overlooked. "I expected to be, at least, on the second team," he said. "I had a better year than last year. I've finished plays better. I didn't give up a sack all year. I gave up one hurry, but that wasn't until the (Nov. 5) Oregon game. It's not like we played against terrible people." Oregon (10-1) is No.5 in the final BCS standings. Against No.1 USC (12-0), O'Callaghan said he had no problem blocking the Trojans' defensive ends. He feels the NFL scouts will bear out his ability. "My goal is to go in the first round," he said. "I know I can start right away in the NFL. I just have to convince the coaches of that. It's being big, being strong, having a good mind basically."
He also has a nasty disposition. Cal coach Jeff Tedford rates O'Callaghan as the best offensive lineman he has ever been around. O'Callaghan doesn't need being overlooked as an All-America team to motivate him for Thursday's Las Vegas Bowl against BYU. "I don't need that garbage," he said of false motivation. "(BYU's defensive line) isn't USC athletic, but they're bigger, and they can still move. They're more physical, not guys who go around you." Last year, Cal finished the regular season 10-1 and No.5 in the BCS. Three Bears — running back J.J. Arrington, center Marvin Philip and defensive end Ryan Riddle — received first-team All-America recognition. This year, Cal is 7-4 (4-4 Pac-10). And no AP All-Americans.
"That says it right there," Cal linebacker Ryan Foltz said. "If we're 9-2, (O'Callaghan) is a legitimate first-team All-American." Well, there's always All-Pro.
BEAR TRACKS: Las Vegas is a gambling mecca open to anybody over 21, including football players, said Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen. "There's no law that says you can't go into a casino and play blackjack and the slot machines," Hansen said Friday. "The NCAA says its athletes can't wager on sports, college or pro, through a bookmaker, parlay card or any other method of organized gambling." Some Cal players said this week that they plan to play blackjack in Las Vegas. A team spokesman said Friday that the players have been advised about "proper conduct."
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