Next on the Cal Bears' hit list: The U

By Rob Calonge

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The Bears were already a lock for the Emerald Bowl when the UCLA Bruins lost to USC.  Through the backroom wheeling and dealing, it was already being etched in stone as the Bears were still busy putting an exclamation point on the end of Tyrone Willingham's Washington Huskies career.  It took a decision by the Champs Sports Bowl before the Bears would find out who their opponent would be. That opponent, as you may have already guessed will be the Miami Hurricanes.  The Hurricanes lost out to Florida State for a trip to Orlando, Florida, to take on Wisconsin.  Their consolation prize could be an even more difficult opponent on a cross-country road trip.  The Hurricanes are looking forward to the test.

It's been a few years since the Hurricanes sent nine defensive players to the first round of an NFL draft, but they haven't become an easy opponent either.  This season, they finished 7-5, 4-4 ACC, and have historically been a good team in big games.  The last time the Hurricanes played a bowl game in California, they won the Rose Bowl and the National Championship in Pasedena.

The Bears have faced Miami on three different occassions, the last time in 1990 at home.  In their first meeting back in 1964 in Miami, the Bears came out on top 9-7, but when the two teams played in 1989, again in Miami, the Bears were beaten handily 31-3.  The Hurricanes were ranked #2 in the nation at the time.  The following season, #10 Miami came to Berkeley and did more of the same in a 52-24 shellacking of the Bears.  Cal Bears MVP's named Follett, Jahvid Best, and Alex Mack were all named as team MVP's at the Golden Bears' team banquet Sunday night. Mack, named as the Pac-10 football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, an All-American center, and highly considered to be the best at his position coming into the 2009 NFL Draft, is a also a Rimington finalist for top center of 2008. Follett, the defensive captain, and all-world linebacker, is a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik award for top defensive player and a Lott IMPACT quarterfinalist.  He leads the Bears in tackles for loss (19.0) and sacks (8.5), and is rated as a 2nd-5th round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Best, in his first full year of action, has rushed for 1,394 yards, which is the fourth highest in Cal history.  He leads the Pac-10 in rushing and is ranked #2 in yards per game rushing at 183.45.