Rusty Simmons
When Randy Bundy turned in a 30-page paper Tuesday, his college class work was officially complete. The celebration will have to wait. "It was a relief, because it's been a long-time coming," the Cal senior cornerback said. "But I haven't had a party yet. I just got ready and went to practice."
That scenario encapsulates a special group of 13 Bears who this month will complete their course work or will be able to participate in graduation ceremonies because they are within a class of graduating. They've managed to keep things in perspective while juggling football and scholastic duties. "Being my first recruiting class, it will always have a special place in my heart," coach Jeff Tedford said. "They've set the foundation for this program." The number of players who graduated in 4 1/2 years is even more startling when you consider that students without the extra rigors of football responsibilities are increasingly taking five or more years to get degrees. "When we came in, this was a 1-10 program, so we weren't necessarily choosing a school based on football," said senior tight end Eric Beegun, who will take his last final Monday. "Of course, we wanted to help rebuild the program, but we knew that this was an academic institution that we were taking seriously." They've done both.
They've won 42 games in five seasons, they're the first senior class to earn berths in four consecutive bowl games, they got the school's first share of a conference title since 1975 and they find time to go to classes. The most recent graduation rates released by the NCAA reported that Cal's 1999-2000 football class graduated only 33 percent of its players. Admittedly, that number is flawed in a variety of ways, but as a comparison, 83 percent of Tedford's original 18-player recruiting class will be graduating within five years. "When we got here, the graduation rate was terrible," senior defensive lineman Steve Kelly said. "Guys were taking the full five years or longer or not graduating at all. The coaches have really changed the team's focus on academics." Tedford harps on studies and established the "Academic Game Plan," which allows players to meet regularly with coaches or counselors to review coursework and assignments. The message finally sinks in when players watch their teammates fail. "We've seen some people come and go that didn't finish," Bundy said. "That kept our group motivated to keep pushing toward our degrees." In the most recent Academic Progress Rate, which is released annually by the NCAA, Cal scored a 94.5 to rank second in the Pac-10, and during Tedford's tenure, 57 football players have earned conference All-Academic honors. Along with Bundy, Beegun and Kelly, the list of graduates includes three offensive linemen: left tackle Andrew Cameron, left guard Erik Robertson, right tackle Scott Smith.
Cameron had three surgeries in a 10-month span and has played this season on sheer guts. Robertson is a true Renaissance Man. Smith is the definition of a philanthropist with his commitment to charity projects. While waiting his turn to start, Storer earned two all-conference honors as a special-teams player. The skill-position grads are receiver David Gray, tailback Marcus O'Keith and cornerback Tim Mixon. Gray is an Oakland native who has been unlucky with a list of injuries. O'Keith has accepted his role as a backup to 1,000-yard back after 1,000-yard back instead of transferring. Despite his season-ending knee injury, Mixon helped Syd'Quan Thompson develop into a freshman All-American. Defensive line mainstays Matthew Malele and Abu Ma'afala, fullback Byron Storer and reserve punter Taylor Kunzi round out the storybook group. Beegun wraps up the thought process of the group with comments of appreciation. "This community has handed me everything, and I'd like to give something back," Beegun said. Before he heads to law school, however, he's got one more thing to accomplish. "You want to leave without that sour taste in your mouth," he said. "You never forget it if you lose your last game, and I don't want that to taint my memories here." Maybe Bundy's party is contingent on Cal beating Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28.
2 comments:
randy bundy did nothing but lie to you..he has been partying all 4.5 of his years here..nothing but playing women and propelling the stereotype of a womanizer cal football player to a whole new level. i know you will delete this comment, just thought you'd like to know that cal football players aren't the best.
Well all Cal Football Player may not be the best but as far as Randy Bundy is concerned his cheering family is behind him 100%. Randy did exactly what was expected of him during his time at Cal. Follow the rules of the University, Follow the rules of the team. Maintain your grades so you can graudate and last but not least enjoy your college career because it only happens once. He was not expected to settle down and start a family and continue to play the role of goodie toeshoes. He was expected to experience life to it's fullest while remembering and accomplishing his primary goals. One being to graduate from college which he appears to have been successful at doing which if I am not mistaken is not something that all of his starting football class can claim fame to. So if all he did was party and still was able to achieve what was most expected of him. Then I say "You Go Boy!
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