KTVU.com: Drive-By Changes Graduation Plans At Oakland School

OAKLAND -- A top athlete at UC Berkeley returned to his high school alma mater in Oakland Wednesday afternoon, only to be caught in the middle of a wild shooting. The incident left no one injured, but forced the school to alter graduation plans out of safety concerns. Cal's starting running back Marshawn Lynch is a graduate of Oakland Tech and a potential candidate for college football's Heisman Trophy. Lynch was visiting his younger sister on her last day at Oakland Tech on Broadway at 42nd Street when suddenly bullets started flying. The shooting happened around noon. Witnesses say about five or six shots were fired toward a car near the campus. No one was hurt, but school officials still scrambled to lock down the campus. "They started locking the doors and the teachers started running down the hallways and started putting everyone in their classes," said Oakland Tech student Peter George.

"The car apparently had shots fired at it. It appears to be a case of mistaken identity, as no one in the car knew the shooter," said Kent Klintworth of the Cal athletic department. When asked if he felt Lynch was targeted, Klintworth confirmed the incident appeared to be completely random. The incident led Oakland Tech officials to move the graduation ceremony scheduled to take place at the school Wednesday evening to the Paramount Theater. About two hundred graduates of the school celebrated their commencement at the historic Art Deco theater. The shooting earlier in the day cast a pall over an otherwise festive occasion. Oakland police were on hand, virtually surrounding the location during the ceremony. Their presence was meant to help deter any possible violence after the incident. Some graduating students were disappointed that the threat of violence marred this momentous day in their young lives; others took the disruption in stride. "It happens around graduation time. It's one of those things you live with. That doesn't sound very good, …but it's just part of life as of now," said graduating senior Nora Larson. Outside the theater, Marshawn Lynch's mother said that her son was at the campus visiting friends and just wanted to wish his sister well on her last day of school. She also said a representative of the shooter went to her home to tell her that Marshawn was not the intended target of the shooting and to apologize. Exactly who the shooter was intending to go after isn't clear. Oakland police are continuing their investigation into the matter.

1982 Big Game: The Play

(Note from editor: the count down to the Cal-Tennessee game has begun, so here is something to get you fired up for the season)

 

Final Minutes of the 1982 Big Game - Video footage combined with Joe Starkey’s play by play:

 

http://www.sportsbusinesssims.com/cal-stanford-big-game-history.htm

 

 

Quotes from horse-toothed Elway:

“This was an insult to college football'' “It was just a farce. They (the officials) didn't have control of the whole game. They ruined my last game as a college football player.''

“I don't believe they can take something away like that. I don't believe they can take something like that away from this program.'' “Something has to be done about the referees, there's no doubt in my mind. Its all right to make a mistake, but somebody should be man enough to stand up and admit it.''  “It was a very bittersweet ending. I did not want it to end this way. It's something I'll have to live with the rest of my life.”

 

Oakland Tribune: Cal lineman gives football another shot

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER

BERKELEY — Sometimes the decision to give up something makes you discover how much you really need it. Andrew Cameron came to that realization just in time to save his Cal football career. Last December, Cameron was done with football mentally. After three surgeries in 10 months — two shoulders, one knee — and with his Cal offensive line buddies completing their eligibility, he felt it was the right time to walk away.  His plan was to graduate in the spring and then enter the business world with a Donald Trump-like zeal. But when spring came around, he found himself thinking about the fall.  "I realized that I had invested so much time in football," he said, "that there was no closure to my career."

So the first week of May, he met with Jeff Tedford, informing the Cal coach of his desire to play his last year of eligibility. Once Tedford was assured Cameron was serious, the coach welcomed Cameron back.  "I have a new perspective," Cameron said. "I realize what football means to me. It's an outlet for my soul."  Cameron's goal is to start at left tackle for the third consecutive season. And with Cal thinking Rose Bowl, more seriously than usual, he didn't want to miss out on that opportunity.

"The whole team has the expectation of winning (the Pac-10) this year," he said. "I look at our first game (Sept.2 at Tennessee) as a national championship (environment) with two top-10 teams."  Cal is ranked eighth in two preseason polls. But what happened to all those reasons that had Cameron ready to become an Old Blue at 23?  Well, his shoulders mended before the 2005 season. And his right knee, which had ACL surgery last fall, is 80 percent healed, and he expects it to be 100 percent after some intense personal training this summer. As for the loss of offensive line pals Marvin Philip, Andrew Merz and Ryan O'Callaghan, all NFL draftees, Cameron now thinks it will be fun to "build a new identity" with this year's line.

And Cameron's business career, filled with big ideas, is on hold — for he's now considering the NFL. Talk about a reversal!  "I'm probably more focused than I've ever been," he said of football. "The (knee) injury has been the best thing for me. I wasn't as focused last year."  Scott Smith started eight games at left tackle in 2005 as Cameron sat out two games with a concussion before injuring the knee Oct.1 against Arizona while setting up to block. Smith, now a senior, was moved to right tackle in the spring as sophomore Mike Tepper took over at left tackle.  There may be more shuffling with Cameron's return.  "If he didn't feel he could come back and be Andrew Cameron, he wouldn't do it," Tedford said. "He feels he can do that, and I have trust that he can."  The 6-foot-5 Cameron, from Healdsburg, will be significantly lighter this season, dropping from 330 pounds — his Cal high two years ago — to 291 currently. He hopes to play at 300 by the opener in Knoxville.  "Coach (Jim) Michalczik said I look trim and fit," he said of Cal's O-line coach. "I don't want to sit on the sideline or be a motivational speaker. I want to lead with my helmet.  "I miss hurting people."  He has provided himself another opportunity to inflict pain.

 

CSTV: Lynch, Mebane, Hughes on Player of the Year Preseason Watch Lists

Read the article here:

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/061306aaq.html

 

Excerpt:

Lynch up for Player of the Year, Mebane and Hughes for Defensive Player of the Year 

June 13, 2006

Three California football players have been named to preseason watch lists generated by the Maxwell Football Club, club president Ron Jaworski announced Tuesday. Junior running back Marshawn Lynch has been named to the 2006 Watch List for the 70th Maxwell Award for Collegiate Player of the Year, and seniors Brandon Mebane (DT) and Daymeion Hughes (CB) have been named to the 2006 Check Bednarik Award. The Bednarik Award is given annually to the Collegiate Defensive Player of the Year.

Lynch, a native of Oakland, Calif., has been named by Sports Illustrated's SI.com as the eighth best player in America. The 5-11, 223-pound runner is coming off the third-best rushing season in Cal history with 1,246 yards. Lynch's talent has also been recognized by The Sporting News, which named him a preseason All-American as well as the nation's second-best running back.

Mebane has been tabbed as a preseason first-team All-America by The Sporting News and Athlon magazines. The Los Angeles native is currently ranked as the second best defensive lineman in the country by The Sporting News. Mebane, a 6-3, 306-pound lineman, earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2005 after leading the Bears with seven quarterback sacks.

Hughes is another returning first-team all-conference selection for the Cal defense. A Los Angeles native, Hughes is a Playboy Magazine preseason All-America. The 6-2, 188-pound defensive back led the Pac-10 Conference with 17 passes defended in 2005, including 12 break-ups and five interceptions.

 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Gamecocks, Vols bear watching

By Carter Strickland

There are a couple of programs that will be interesting to watch this fall.

You have to figure Florida and Georgia will be steady in the East. But their bowl futures could depend on what type of teams show up for another two SEC East teams, Tennessee and South Carolina. South Carolina might just be a 9-3 or better team. It has every tough game, except Florida, at home. And there is no way Spurrier won’t have the Gamecocks ready to play in the Swamp.

Other than those games, South Carolina has Georgia (at night), Auburn (at night) and Tennessee, a team it beat a year ago, all coming to Columbia. I think they will go 2-1 in those games. As for who they beat, I would chalk one up against Tennessee and the other I’m leaning toward Georgia but the jury is still out on just what kind of offensive line the Bulldogs will have when it goes to Columbia. A 10-win Gamecock season could come down to the Clemson game, which is at Clemson.

Now as for Tennessee, it has a much more difficult schedule: Cal (at home non-conference), Florida (at home) Alabama (at home), LSU (at home) at Georgia, at South Carolina and at Arkansas. The game with the Hogs is late enough in the season that Mitch Mustain could be running the offense by then.

So of those seven games Tennessee could go 3-4 with loses to Florida, LSU, Georgia and either at South Carolina or at Arkansas. The Cal game could be trouble too. If Tennessee does lose to Cal to start the season, Tennessee could fall into the same rut it ended last year in. At least it should be Vanderbilt. But an 8-4 or 7-5 record will mean more questions about Phil Fulmer and his reported $4.3 million buyout.

 

Read the article at:

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs

/ajc/uga/entries/2006/06/12/gamecocks_vols.html

Orlando Sentinel: 12 Most Intriguing Non-conference Games of the Season

By Mike Huguenin

This dozen will be worth wait.

Last week, we took a look at what we consider the 12 worst games of the college football season, all involving Bowl Championship Series-league schools against I-AA programs. This week, we're looking at what we consider the 12 most intriguing non-conference games of the season not involving annual rivals (in other words, no Florida-Florida State or Notre Dame-USC on here).

Frankly, there were more games to choose from last week than this week -- mighty weak considering the addition of the 12th game. But as we pointed out last week, a lot of power-league schools used the opportunity to add another patsy to the schedule.

BCS-league schools are playing 87 non-conference games against other BCS-league schools or Notre Dame. That's out of a total of 260 non-conference games, meaning a bit more than a third of the BCS schools' non-conference games are against other BCS schools. The numbers for the five non-BCS leagues: 111 games against BCS-league schools or Notre Dame, out of 202 (that's 55 percent).

It's not surprising, of course, seeing as BCS-league schools generally like to load up on what they hope will be non-conference victories. But it is disheartening.

Anyway, here are those 12 most intriguing non-conference games:

 

<snip>

 

2. California at Tennessee, Sept. 2: Cal Coach Jeff Tedford takes his talented bunch across the country to open the season against the Vols, who may have been the nation's biggest underachievers last season. Look for Cal to rely on ultratalented TB Marshawn Lynch against the Vols' rebuilt defensive front seven.

 

Read the entire article at:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/local/orl-collinsider

1106jun11,0,2360686.column?coll=orl-sports-headlines

(You need to combine the above link in your browser)

CSTV: 2006 Football Schedule Planner - Week 4

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/060906aaq.html

 

Cal Excerpt:

Games to Watch

Sat. Sept 23 - Arizona State at California

If you want to see an offensive shootout, then this may just be the game to watch. We saw what Arizona State's offense was capable of last year, and we can expect more of the same from the Sun Devils in 2006. Meanwhile, expectations are high for the Cal Bears. Finishing with an 8-4 record last season and a No. 25 ranking, the Bears return 18 starters from last season. This includes the return of the nation's most productive running back duo in Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. While Lynch ran for 1,246 yards last season, Forsett recorded 999 rushing yards

OSU Daily: Rough at home, but not impossible

by Matt Boase

Oregon State football is either very lucky or very unlucky. It’s tough to say. The toughest teams in the Pac-10 are making the trip to Corvallis. The problem for OSU is that while it appears the team improved, most of the other teams in the Pac-10 have improved too. OSU’s home games won’t be easy, but they have a shot in every game.

The first home Pac-10 game is Sept. 30 against California. Despite USC’s recent dominance, I think Cal is going to be the team to walk away with the conference title. The backfield returns its two impressive running backs, Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett, and has two fairly good options at quarterback in Joe Ayoob and Nate Longshore.

Equally as impressive as the running backs are the receivers Cal boasts. DeSean Jackson is entering his second year and is capable of changing a game with his speed and playmaking.

Although the Golden Bears are a tough team, they are inexperienced on the offensive line. They have just one returning starter. It’s a safe bet OSU is going to try and attack that young group when the conference home opener rolls around.

Read the entire article at:

http://barometer.orst.edu

/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/06/08/4487c797334da

(Note: Link has been separated because when a link is too long, the index drops to the bottom of the web page. This is a google blogger problem)

AP: For now, Boller remains Ravens starting QB

(Note: Given the few Cal Football-related articles of late, I’m including this article on a notable alumn)

 

By DAVID GINSBURG, AP Sports Writer

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Until he hears otherwise, Kyle Boller will consider himself the Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback.  Boller knows all about the team's pursuit of Steve McNair, who has already worked out a prospective five-year deal with the Ravens. But McNair is still property of the Tennessee Titans, so Boller worked with Baltimore's first-team offense Tuesday during the first day of a three-day minicamp. "If Steve gets here, or when he gets , we'll handle it then. But as far as now, I'm just out here competing and trying to get this offense where it needs to be," Boller said. "I'm going about my business right now like I'm the starter. That's the only way I can think of it."

 

Read the entire article at:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-ravens-boller&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

Sports Illustrated: USC's Accused Quarterback Sanchez won't face sex assault rap

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Prosecutors decided Friday not to file charges against Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez, who had been accused of sexually assaulting another USC student. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Richard Tacklander, who reviewed the case, concluded there was "a lack of sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt." "From the outset of this investigation, I've been confident that the facts would come to light and that investigators would confirm that I was innocent of the allegations against me," Sanchez said in a statement issued by the university.

The 19-year-old Sanchez had been arrested for investigation of assaulting a 19-year-old woman at an apartment complex near the USC campus on April 26. Prosecutors said in a charge evaluation worksheet that a review of medical exams on both parties were inconclusive on the issue of force, making the case "essentially a `one-on-one' allegation." "I am grateful to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office and the LAPD detectives for their diligence in pursuing the truth and taking the time necessary to make the right decision," Sanchez said. "I look forward to continuing my education at USC and being a positive contributor to our school, student body and team."

Sanchez, listed as the backup quarterback to John David Booty on USC's depth chart, has been free on $200,000 bail since his arrest. He is expected to battle for the starting quarterback job this fall. Booty practiced only once this spring before he injured his back and had to undergo surgery. "I'm glad to hear that this is behind Mark and that he has been exonerated," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "Mark regretted that this situation reflected poorly on him, his family and his teammates. I know he'll work hard to put this behind him. He can now concentrate on his schoolwork and on preparing to compete for the quarterback job in the fall." Sanchez's arrest was the latest of several brushes with the law for USC players, dating back to last year. Cornerback Eric Wright was arrested in March 2005 at a campus apartment by officers investigating reports of an assault. The district attorney's office declined to press criminal charges against Wright because of insufficient evidence. Wright left USC amid possible disciplinary action by the school and transferred to UNLV.  Linebacker Rey Maualuga was arrested Nov. 1 for allegedly punching a man at an off-campus party, but no criminal charges were filed. He sat out the first half of the game against Stanford the following weekend as punishment.

 

CBS Sports: Tennessee suspends QB Cooter after DUI arrest

(Note: The QB's name really is Jim Bob Cooter)

CBS SportsLine.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee quarterback Jim Bob Cooter was suspended indefinitely Monday after campus police arrested him on a drunken-driving charge. Coach Philip Fulmer cited a violation of team rules. He said Cooter will miss the season opener Sept. 2 against California and undergo an alcohol evaluation before he can return. "Jim Bob has let the team down and embarrassed himself and his family by his actions," Fulmer said. "He has benefited greatly by being part of the Tennessee family, and with that comes great responsibility for his actions."

Read the entire article at:

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9480753

CSTV: Two More Cal Football Games Selected For National TV Coverage

Game Times Decided for the Contests against Minnesota and Stanford 

BERKELEY - Two more 2006 University of California football games have been selected for national television coverage, the Pacific-10 Conference has announced.  The Golden Bears will square off against Minnesota in their home opener on Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. (PST) with television coverage on TBS. The Big Game against Stanford will take place on Dec. 2 at noon. That game will be televised on Fox Sports Net.

In previously announced television plans, Cal is scheduled to have three contests televised on ABC, as part of the network's inaugural Saturday Night College Football package. Two home games will be part of the package, against Oregon (Oct. 7) and against UCLA (Nov. 4). The third game in ABC prime time will take place when the Bears travel to USC (Nov. 18). All three of the ABC games will begin at 5 p.m.  Remaining kickoff times and television plans will be announced at a later date by the Pac-10 Conference.

Cal is coming off an 8-4 season in 2005. It ended the campaign ranked 25th in the AP and USA Today polls. The Bears start the 2006 campaign on the road Sept. 2 at Tennessee.

 

California 2006 TV Schedule (as of June 2)

Date: Opponent, Kickoff (TV)

Sept. 9: Minnesota, 4 p.m. (TBS)

Oct. 7 : Oregon, 5 p.m. (ABC)

Oct. 14: UCLA, 5 p.m. (ABC)

Nov. 18: USC, 5 p.m. (ABC)

Dec. 2 : Stanford, 12 p.m. (FSN)

Atlanta Journal Constitution: 5 burning questions for summer

(Note: This article discusses the SEC, making a few passing references to Cal. Read the article here:

http://www.ajc.com/uga/content/sports

/uga/stories/

The five biggest questions about SEC football as we head into the summer:

<snip>

2. Can Tennessee improve on 5-6?

The Vols can, and the Vols will. New offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe has infused that unit with confidence and discipline, two things that were sorely lacking last season. The first three weeks of the season will tell a lot as Tennessee plays California and Florida at home.

<snip>

Our five must-see SEC games list:

Game, date Why it's big

<snip>

2. Florida at Tennessee, Sept. 16: If Vols lose opener to Cal, this one's huge for Fulmer

<snip>

SEC PROJECTIONS

One man's early projections on how the SEC races will play out:

EAST

<snip>

3. Tennessee: Tough opener with California

The Tennessean: Fulmer: Our expectations haven't changed - Vols look to return to winning ways

DESTIN, Fla. - As Phillip Fulmer approaches his 14th full season in a profession and a league that chews up and spits out football coaches, he understands as well as anyone the need to produce. "I don't know that I feel pressure," said Fulmer, the dean of Southeastern Conference coaches. "Obviously, I'm highly in tune right now to what having a poor year last season has meant for all of us. "But our expectations really haven't changed, and they don't change. We expect to go and compete for the championship and have a great season."

Nobody who counts at Tennessee has labeled this as a championship-or-bust season for Fulmer, who's won 77.6 percent of his games, two SEC championships and one national championship. By the same token, the reality is that he's not likely to survive another six-loss season coming off last year's 5-6 disaster despite his gaudy $4.3 million buyout.

And for that matter, losing to all of the so-called teams who count - Georgia, Florida, Alabama and now South Carolina - would place athletics director Mike Hamilton in the kind of lurch he has no interest in even thinking about at this point. "I don't deal in the hypothetical," Hamilton said. "What I will say is that the mission is clear, and we all understand that last year was not something that was acceptable for any of us - administrators, coaches, staff, fans, anybody.

"We're working toward correcting that, and I've seen that in the offseason. Now, I'd like to see that play out in the season itself." Fulmer, in Destin this week for the SEC spring meetings, said he's as motivated as he's ever been to start the season. He said it's a motivation driven more by a deep sense of responsibility to steer the Vols back to the forefront of the SEC than it is feeling any kind of pressure that he might lose his job. "You have to look at our history of what we've been able to do while we've been here," said Fulmer, who enters his 32nd season at Tennessee as either a player, assistant coach or head coach. "From a loyalty and passion standpoint, there's not anybody out there any more interested in getting it done here than I've been because I'm a Tennessean, a guy that loves the program in every way."

He remains miffed over last season and all the distractions that led up to the Vols' first losing season in 17 years. He blames himself for many of the things that went wrong, especially the whole quarterback shuffle that divided the team. And for the first time publicly, he admitted that he waited too long to make changes on his offensive staff. Fulmer brought David Cutcliffe back in to be his offensive coordinator after Randy Sanders resigned last season. Fulmer also fired receivers coach Pat Washington and offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens. "Sometimes change is good," Fulmer said. "A couple of them should have been made a couple years before that, but that's hard because you're just coming off an Eastern Division championship and some good years. "But getting to where we got to, we were patching it in some ways and should have made some changes before that. I was talked out of it, actually. But ultimately, it's all my responsibility."

 

Orlando Sentinel: SEC considers fight of transfer rule

(Note: This article discusses recently passed NCAA legislation regarding athletes who have received undergraduate degrees and then transfer schools to finish their athletic eligibility. The rule, adopted by the NCAA Management Council on April 27 allows a student-athlete who has graduated and has athletic eligibility to transfer to another institution, enroll in graduate school and immediately retain their athletic eligibility.)

 

CAL FOOTBALL RELATED QUOTE:

“At least two Division I-A football players already have taken advantage. Duke offensive lineman Tyler Krieg bailed for Cal, and Arizona quarterback Richard Kovalcheck now is at Vanderbilt. Both will be eligible this fall.”

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/local/orl-secmeetings0106jun01,0,6494052.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines

 

ESPN mentions Jeff Tedford

(Note from editor: ESPN’s DJ Gallo notes that while Indiana’s basketball coach has been barred from making off-campus visits or calling recruits for an entire year, he is allowed to text message them.  In an attempt at humor, Mr. Gallo then scripts some possible text messages)

 

Jeff Tedford: "I can make u in2 an nfl qb! A terrible nfl qb, but that's better than not making it at all, right?"

 

Read the whole article here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/060601

 

 

 

L.A. Times: NCAA to Allow Replay Challenge

The NCAA will allow a football coach to challenge one ruling a game by officials and have it reviewed by replay, provided his team has an available timeout.  Under a proposal approved Tuesday by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, if a coach's challenge is successful, no timeout will be charged.  "This revised proposal achieves the intended result of the rules committee to incorporate a challenge into the video replay system," panel chairman John Cochrane said.

The NCAA allowed the use of video replays at all schools and conferences last season, and nine of the 11 Division I-A conferences used some form of replay. The revision to include the challenge by coaches was proposed by the Football Rules Committee.  Before adjusting the rule, only the replay official could request to review plays, often leading to coaches calling a timeout in an attempt to get a play reviewed. Plays involving a sideline, goal line, end zone or end line are reviewable. So are those involving whether a fumble occurred, a pass was completed or the ball broke the plane of the goal line.

Judgment calls such as holding and pass interference are not reviewable. "I've never been a proponent of the whole instant replay thing," USC Coach Pete Carroll said. "This is just another try at getting it right. We'll make the best of it." The panel also approved a revision of the rule on the length of halftime in football. The recommended time is 20 minutes, but it may be lengthened or shortened with the consent of both schools.  Among basketball proposals, approval was given to a rule that would bar a player from calling a timeout while falling out of bounds or into the backcourt.

Cal vs. Tennessee

Note from Blog Editor:

 

Per the Cal ticket office, tickets for the Cal-Tennessee game will go on sale via telephone on July 11^th at 8:30 a.m.  Tickets are limited, with priority seating going to donors (and, I’m assuming, former lead singers of the Counting Crows).  Otherwise it’s on a first-come first-served basis.

Athlon Sports: Outlook is Rosey for California

No. 8 California

If USC has a serious challenger in the Pac-10, it’s these guys. California returns players who accounted for 98 percent of its rushing yards, 99 percent of its passing yards, 92 percent of its receiving yards, 46 of 49 offensive touchdowns, 27 of its 32 sacks and 12 of its 15 interceptions from last season.   Coach Jeff Tedford will turn back to Nate Longshore as his quarterback. Longshore, a 2003 Parade All-American who redshirted in 2004, opened last season as the starter before an ankle injury in Game 1 finished him for the year. Joe Ayoob, who started most of the way, and Steve Levy, who took over just before the end of the season and led the Bears to victory in both his starts, also return. Redshirt freshman Kyle Reed is in the mix, as well.

Read the rest of the article at:

http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/8617/outlook-is-rosey-for-california

 

Yahoo Sports: Plenty of backfield talent left in Pac-10

Excerpt from

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=rivals-28973&prov=rivals&type=lgns

 

California came 1 yard shy of producing two 1,000-yard rushers in 2005. Marshawn Lynch ran for 1,246 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry, and Justin Forsett ran for 999 yards and 7.6 yards per carry. Despite moving to a spread offense under new offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar, the Bears figure to stick with what worked in recent years.

 

The most important thing: Spread offense installed, taking hold.

A.W. Prince of BearTerritory.net: "Despite an offense that ranked in the top 30 nationally the past two seasons, California coach Jeff Tedford showed in the offseason he was open to integrating some of the principles from the spread offense. With All-American running back candidate Marshawn Lynch still expected to get 250-plus touches, it will be interesting to see how much of the scheme the Bears use. Cal ranked in the top 10 nationally in rush offense the last two seasons, so abandoning what has worked so well is not likely."

Player to watch: Offensive guard Erik Robertson

Prince: "Robertson, a senior, will be the only returning starter on the offensive line. Three of the four departed players were drafted and all were All-Pac-10 at some point. The Bears have ranked in the top 10 in rushing offense the last two seasons thanks to Robertson and the other linemen."

Bear Insider: Has Cal Arrived?

May 22, 2006

Scout.com

As we eagerly await the start of the 2006 football season and the opportunity to try out our recently-acquired Top-10 preseason rankings against the storied Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, let's look at whether Cal football is deserving of the attention it's getting. 

Read the entire article at:

http://california.scout.com/2/533360.html

 

Vallejo Times Herald: CFL-bound Cal grad finds temporary home in Benicia

Confusing road for standout DB finally leads to Calgary

By RICHARD FREEDMAN, Times-Herald staff writer

Because the Chicago Bears allegedly pulled a fast one, Donnie McCleskey's mother-in-law in Benicia is one miffed woman.   McCleskey, a standout defensive back this past season for the University of California at Berkeley, was apparently promised a job by the Bears after it was learned the San Diego Chargers were getting ready to sign the undrafted 5-foot-10, 190-pounder.   After McCleskey canceled his San Diego trip, he flew to Chicago where he was told the team had changed its mind and filled its roster with other free agents.

"Chicago assured him" he had a job, said Jamie Ligot. "Then they called Tuesday and said, ŒYou know what, we're full and we're not going to sign you.' "  Because all teams have completed their 53-man minicamp rosters, the undrafted McCleskey was left scrambling. So he called Cal coach Ted Tedford and said, "Find me a job. I have a family to support," Ligot said.

McCleskey, recently married to Ligot's daughter, Sierra, and with a 5-week-old son, needed to sign. Quickly.  Tedford called his former team in Canada, the Calgary Stampeders, who immediately trusted Tedford's faith in the athlete and signed McCleskey to a one-year contract with a two-year option. He can also negate the deal if he eventually signs with the NFL.  Apparently offered a nice chunk of change more than a rookie would get in Chicago, McCleskey and the rest of the family are happy, Ligot said.  "At this point, he said, ŒAs long as I get paid to play football,' " Ligot said.  Since Tai Benjamin was born, McCleskey has lived with Ligot and her husband, neurologist Benjie Ligot.  The rookie Stampeder didn't 

have much time to celebrate. After graduating from Cal on Friday, he was off to training camp. Calgary starts its two-game exhibition schedule June 2, opens the season at home against Edmonton June 17, and finishes its 18-game season Oct. 21.  McCleskey, 22, played a pivotal role in the Golden Bears' last season with 73 tackles, putting him eighth on the all-time list at Cal. It was somewhat surprising, his mother-in-law said, that his name was not called during the pro draft.

"The New York Giants kept calling him, saying, ‘We're going to draft you,' " Ligot said. "Then drafting came and went, and nothing."  McCleskey could do far worse than ending up in Calgary, said Ligot.  "He could have ended up in Detroit or Cleveland, somewhere really lousy," she said. "And Calgary is only 2 12 hours by plane. It would be six hours to Chicago."

If nothing else, Ligot said she and her son-in-law have learned the basic law of pro sports: "If nothing's on a contract, it don't mean squat," she said.  Though McCleskey's son is only five weeks, grandma said the child has athletic potential.  "You should see the size of his hands and feet. It's frightening," she said. "He's a moose."  Since his dad is heading to Canada, that's appropriate.

 

Stockton Record: Cal to Lose to Tennessee

(This was published in the Stockton Record’s “Two Minute Drill” Column on May 17^th):

 

Attention Cal football fans, only 108 days until you get it handed to you in that season opener at Tennessee. Unless Joe Ayoob has transformed into Willie Tuitama, better get used to it.

CSTV.Com: Cal Ranked 8th by Athlon Sports & Sports Illustrated

BERKELEY - The California Golden Bears continue to garner preseason awards with the 2006 football opener still more than three months away. Cal is ranked No. 8 by Athlon Sports in the magazine's season preview edition, the publication revealed Thursday. The Athlon poll is the second to rank the Bears eighth nationally, joining Sports Illustrated's SI.com. That web site placed the Bears No. 8 in America in its post-spring rankings.   Individually, Athlon named defensive tackle Brandon Mebane as a first-team All-American with running back Marshawn Lynch listed as a second-team All-American.

Athlon also selected Cal's defensive linemen as the best unit in the country when considering individual talent and depth. The California running backs corps is listed No. 2 as a group and the Bears' secondary was voted the 10th best defensive back unit in the country.   Mebane has now been named a preseason All-America by two publications with The Sporting News also placing the Los Angeles senior on its first-team All-America list. Lynch was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News and Playboy Magazine earlier announced that defensive back Daymeion Hughes had been selected a first-team All-American by that publication.

Two of California' first four opponents in 2006 have also made the Athlon preseason Top 25. California opens the season Sept. 2 at Tennessee and the Volunteers check in at No. 20 and Arizona State, which visits Berkeley on Sept. 23, is ranked No. 23 by Athlon.  The Bears are coming off an 8-4 season that included a win in the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl. California ended the 2005 season ranked No. 25 in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls.

 

Sacramento Bee: Tedford at Biletnikoff Classic

The second annual Fred Biletnikoff Celebrity Classic & Auction is Sunday and Monday at Catta Verdera Country Club in Lincoln. Among the celebrities expected to participate are former Raiders Ken Stabler, Ted Hendricks, Daryle Lamonica, Tim Brown, Phil Villapiano, Jack Tatum, Otis Sistrunk and Doug Gabriel, former 49er Bob St. Clair and Cal football coach Jeff Tedford. For fees and information, call (925) 556-2525.

Update: I phoned the Biletnikoff foundation and was informed that the golf tournament is not open to the public, although you can pay to participate. There is a party on Saturday night, costing $100, where you can meet the participants. The party is at Mark and Monica's (wine bar) in Rocklin (right off of Interstate 80). Call (925) 556-2525 for details.

Tri-Valley Herald: 3 Cal Football Games to be Nationally Televised

(Note: the following are excerpts from today’s column by Dave Del Grande)

Full article: http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_3836228

 

NO LESS AN authority than the great Art Spander claims Barry Bonds is "the last Bay Area superstar." It's simply not true.  Jeff Tedford already has achieved John Madden status among coaches, having turned Cal football into the Bay Area's most entertaining sports product. And the best appears yet to come.

 

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DATELINE: Under the lights. Old Blues have opposed the idea, but I applaud ABC for taking regular-season college football into prime time, even if it means night games at Memorial Stadium.  The fact ABC immediately recognized Cal's home games against Oregon and UCLA and the Bears' visit to USC as worthy of national coverage is a sign Tedford truly has created a big-time program.  That'll help Cal land better bowl games and recruit top talent nationally simply by using each telecast as three-plus hours of free advertisement. I love the 5 p.m. start. It gives Cal fans the comfort of late-afternoon weather while at the same time giving the East Coast audience a reasonable time at which to tune in and see some very enjoyable football.  Keep the date open: Saturday, Oct.7 ... A's and Red Sox in Game 4 of the American League Divisional Series at the Mac, 1 p.m., followed by Cal and Oregon for early Pac-10 supremacy at Memorial Stadium, 5 p.m.  What a day.

 

Nashville City Paper: Fulmer wants to see balanced coverage

(Note: Cal’s first opponent this year is Tennessee, so I’m including limited coverage on the Vols.)

 

By Nate Rau, Sports Correspondent

Media coverage of all things wrong with college athletics is at an all-time high. With the Duke lacrosse scandal ruling front page headlines and national television newscasts, people want to know, ‘What’s wrong with college athletics?’   On the heels of dismissing one player and suspending another indefinitely, Phillip Fulmer is all too familiar with the topic of conversation. The Tennessee football coach was in town on Tuesday as the Big Orange Caravan made its way through Nashville.

 

Fulmer’s program has been under scrutiny over the course of the past 18 months as nine players have been arrested or given citations. But Volunteer players have managed to stay out of trouble for the better part of a year, until starting middle linebacker Marvin Mitchell was arrested for disorderly conduct and consequently suspended indefinitely by Fulmer earlier this month. “My job, and we did it very well for a long time and then we had an off year last year with too many distractions in our program, is to support and give advice to young men who want to be in our program,” Fulmer said. “To be in our program is not a right, it’s a privilege and more of the kids need to understand that.”

 

Fulmer said the media scrutiny of his and every other major athletic program has never been more intense. Although he doesn’t feel the attention paid to the legal troubles of Volunteer players have been unfair, Fulmer did say he thought the media coverage was uneven. He pointed to the lack of coverage given to former Vol offensive linemen Michael Munoz after he won the prestigious Vincent dePaul Draddy Award – given to the top scholar-athlete in the entire nation.

 

“I don’t think anybody’s been unfactual, it’s just trying to find the balance,” Fulmer said. “Munoz wins the… academic equivalent of the Heisman trophy and it’s on the sixth page in very small print. Now if one of the guys turn right on red and gets stopped, it would have been the front page headline, so that’s screwy.” Given the team’s share of negative headlines and the sub-par 2005 campaign, in which UT failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in almost 20 years, Fulmer was grateful for the strong-as-ever support from the Big Orange faithful. UT supporters gathered for a banquet featuring Fulmer, men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl and women’s coach Pat Summitt at the Governor’s Club in Brentwood.  “It’s more than anything a way to say, ‘Thank you’ for all the support,” Fulmer said of the caravan.

LA Times: Football Showcase Is Place to See and Be Seen

Eric Sondheimer

May 16, 2006

PALO ALTO — It's a gorgeous, cloudless morning, and 230 college football coaches have converged on Stanford's practice field to observe close to 500 high school players dressed in shorts and gray shirts with numbers painted on their legs and plastered on their backs. Pete Carroll of USC is shaking hands with Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh and future Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice. Coach Charlie Weis of Notre Dame is huddled with five of his assistants. Coaches Jeff Tedford of California, Mike Riley of Oregon State, Walt Harris of Stanford and Karl Dorrell of UCLA are wandering nearby.  "Anybody you want to see, they're here," Tedford said of the mini-coaches convention the day before Mother's Day. The Nike-sponsored training camp is football's version of a buffet. Coaches are given the rare opportunity to scout hundreds of prospects in a single setting.

It's a spectacle watching highly paid and highly visible coaches devote so much scrutiny to teenagers who aren't even wearing shoulder pads. "If you think of the process of recruiting, you don't get to visualize enough," Riley said. "This is a little bit of a zoo because of the numbers, but there's a lot of benefits. You get to watch them move, watch them run, see if they're really 6-3, 215 pounds." There are lots of high school coaches who think the combines and training camps are a waste of effort. That's what I thought until Saturday.  The chance to be seen by so many influential college coaches and to compete against the best is too valuable to bypass. The players are tested in the early sessions while coaches stand in a roped-off area mostly talking with each other. Others are paying attention to players running 40-yard sprints, throwing and jumping. Pat Ruel, USC's offensive line coach, has brought along binoculars so he can get an up-close view of the linemen.

Later, players take part in position drills, and the coaches are allowed to freely roam the field. The coaches want the players to know they are there. Each one is wearing either a hat or shirt with an insignia identifying their school, and the players notice. Kenny Rowe, a highly recruited defensive end from Long Beach Poly, is moving from drill to drill, but he's asked if he sees any particular schools represented. He starts rattling off, "USC, UCLA, Mississippi, Oregon, Washington … " Some schools have brought as many as six coaches to the event so that each can evaluate players at respective positions. "This is great for kids," said Rice, who gave a pep talk to the players. "These guys have an opportunity of a lifetime. You get a chance to showcase what you can do." But scholarships are more likely to be offered based on a performance at a specific college training camp during the summer than this one in May because there are too many players to evaluate and the coaches aren't working with the players individually.

"All this doesn't mean anything unless you can put on the pads," linebacker Jordan Campbell of Norco said. "A guy can run a 4.4 40, but can he take a hit?" There are 12 Nike training camps held throughout the country, and there is uncertainty whether coaches will be allowed to attend future camps. An NCAA rule adopted last month will ban coaches from attending combines that are devoted exclusively to testing for agility, speed and strength. What elements must be included in a training camp that would allow college coaches to attend is still be to interpreted, said Erik Price, an assistant commissioner for the Pacific 10 Conference. Many camp participants already had scholarship offers but wanted to test themselves against other top prospects. Chris Forcier, a quarterback from San Diego St. Augustine, has committed to UCLA. He said he was interested in trying to convince others that he's one of the best in the nation. Most of the coaches already knew before the camp who they wanted to see, and it's a chance for them to confirm their initial impressions or discover something they didn't notice on video.

There are risks involved for the athletes, such as letting everyone know they aren't as tall as listed on their high school roster. And those who might have been involved in other sports would have been wise to skip the camp because it's a grueling, competitive event for which you should train. "It's a necessary thing because you need some kind of standardized test to gauge an athlete," said James Mitchell, the strength coach at Harbor City Narbonne, who escorted running back Eveian Grigsby to the camp. "It's good because once you get ranked, it ups your credibility." It helps to have consulted with someone who already went through the recruiting process, and that was the luxury for quarterback Ben Longshore of Canyon Country Canyon. His brother, Nate, a quarterback at California, drove 45 minutes from Berkeley to support Ben and give advice.

"I'm the comic relief," Nate said. "I keep him relaxed. I think he has one of the best arms out here, and that's one of the most important things. I'm sure he'll excite some people. He can hum it. I told him to let it loose and show what his arm is all about. If you can be relaxed in a setting like this, the coaches will know you have a comfort level and confidence in your ability." In the end, the coaches with their designer sunglasses and state-of-the-art cellphones couldn't have been happier. Said San Diego State assistant Jonathan Himebauch: "I think Nike is trying to help lower gas prices by getting everyone in one spot, so we have to get off the freeways."

Stockton Record: Camp attracts area's talent

Michael Sudhalter

Record Staff Writer

St. Mary's junior quarterback Pete Murdaca has been preparing for today's Nike Camp at Stanford University for the past two years. "It's definitely a big weekend for me," Murdaca said. "It's not pressure. I'm real confident, but there's real intimidation when you see those other guys. I'd say it's an important day, but not make or break. Make or break comes Sept. 10 when we play Jesuit in the season opener." Murdaca, who led the Rams to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals, is one of 300 underclassmen to attend the Stanford Nike Camp, one of 12 Nike Camps and the top one on the West Coast. The camp runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Stanford campus.

Most of the players attending the camp are prep stars from Northern California, but others have come from as far away as Wisconsin and Virginia. Other attendees will be Lincoln's Curtis Shaw, Montrel Richardson and Stanley Arukwe of West , Escalon's Jaremy Puthoff and St. Mary's Gerome Surrell. With the exception of Surrell, all of the players will be seniors in the fall. The camp is free, but it's by invitation only. Prep coaches send in recommendations of their top returning players although preference is usually given to juniors. Football players can also send highlight tapes in hope of getting invited to the camp. Although Nike is the title sponsor, Student Sports runs the annual camp, which is attended by head college coaches and their staffs.

Student Sports editor Mark Tennis estimates that 25 to 50 head coaches will be in the crowd with notables like Cal's Jeff Tedford and USC's Pete Carroll present. According to Tennis, the athletes get their height and weight taken, and perform bench press and vertical leaps. The second set of tests involves a 40-yard dash and a 20-yard shuttle. After breaking up into groups for drills, the athletes are given position-specific instructions by camp coaches, and the camp concludes with one-on-one sessions in which players go up against each other. Tennis' magazine and Web site publish the testing results to its subscribers, creating a lot of interest among coaches and recruiting-obsessed fans. But some prep coaches are skeptical about the camp's importance. Said St. Mary's coach Tony Franks, "They don't put enough stock into what really matters, and that's how they play football. The (college) coaches start socializing and it's tough to focus in on one or two kids. If you do something eye-popping, it's good. There's only a couple of guys that can do that." One of those guys is Franks' former starting quarterback, Willie Tuitama, who started last fall as a true freshman for Arizona. "That's where our quarterbacks coach (Mike Canales) found me," said Tuitama, who will attend this year's camp and help Canales evaluate talent. "Going into the camp, some people knew me, some people didn't. It was just a good chance to showcase what I had."

 

ESPN: Three Things To Watch For in The SEC This Fall

<snip>

2.  Phil Fulmer (Tennessee’s coach) and Houston Nutt (Arkansas’ Coach), you're on the clock. Two coaches who have been hailed at various times as the best in their respective divisions will be under legitimate pressure to win this year. Toward that end, both have shaken up their offensive staffs, with longtime QB guru David Cutcliffe back on Rocky Top and former high school coach Gus Malzahn taking over as coordinator in Fayetteville. The pressure will be on immediately, with Tennessee opening against California and Arkansas hosting USC.

Tennessean: Fulmer Blasts Team After Player's Arrest

KNOXVILLE — An infuriated Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer unloaded on his team during an emotional meeting Monday night following the arrest of fifth-year senior linebacker Marvin Mitchell. "It's embarrassing to all of us," Fulmer said. "I made it very clear that we're not going down this road again. If they don't represent us in the right way, then they're not going to be here. It's that simple." Mitchell, the Vols' starting middle linebacker, has been indefinitely suspended from the team by Fulmer. Mitchell's suspension comes after being arrested by UT police and charged with disorderly conduct following an incident at approximately 3:15 on Monday morning at the Rocky Top Market on the Cumberland Avenue strip.

It's the first arrest of a Vol football player since a rash of off-the-field problems last spring. Since January 2005, nine players have either been arrested or issued citations, but Fulmer said there had been no issues in nearly a year until Mitchell's arrest. "That's what makes me so angry," Fulmer said. "We hadn't had anything. Now we have one guy who's embarrassed us all. It's not fair, but that's the way it is." Police said when they arrived to disperse a disruptive crowd early Monday morning at the market, they heard Mitchell shouting and swearing at another customer near the front door. According to the UT police report, Mitchell threatened to "knock the customer out."  Sensing that an altercation was about to occur, police told Mitchell to leave and noticed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.  Mitchell initially left, according to police, but came back into the store and began swearing at someone else.

When police again told Mitchell to leave the area, he told one of the officers to "chill the (bleep) out," according to the police report. While police were escorting Mitchell out of the store, the report stated that he became verbally abusive and continued to swear. Police said while trying to establish control of Mitchell that he pulled away from them three times and was uncooperative during the completion of the arrest report. Mitchell was booked into the Knox County Detention Center and released on $500 bond. His arraignment has been scheduled for May 8. Fulmer noted that this was Mitchell's first discipline issue in four-plus years in the program. Also, Fulmer said he's told his players to stay away from the Rocky Top Market, where several UT athletes in past years have run into trouble with the law.  In announcing Mitchell's suspension yesterday, UT took the rare step of including comments from other players. "Coach Fulmer laid down the law at our meeting," junior quarterback Erik Ainge said in a statement. "He made it very clear that we had not had problems in a long time, and he would not tolerate problems in the future. Marvin is a good kid and hasn't been in trouble since he's been here, but he made a mistake." N Senior defensive tackle Turk McBride added, "Coach Fulmer has made it very clear what is expected of us. He was very angry and very emotional at our meeting (Monday) night. I think the guys understand that he's not going to tolerate problems."

Contra Costa Times: Bay Area's top spectator experience might surprise you

By Neil Hayes

ANNOUNCERS MAKE IT sound as if the event they're covering is all-important, regardless of whether it's one baseball game out of 162 or Game 7 of a playoff series. That's when the idea uncoils itself and strikes like a snake. What is the best spectator sporting experience in the Bay Area?

It's a big question. It depends on your taste in sports: baseball or football, basketball or hockey, pro or college. Then there's the matter of which team you prefer: A's or Giants? 49ers or Raiders? Cal or Stanford? There's also a timeliness factor. The 49ers and Raiders would rank higher, for example, if for the past three years they hadn't played a brand of football that makes eyeballs fall out and roll down stadium steps, trying to escape. The real magic of spectator sports happens in those moments just before kickoff, faceoff, tipoff or first pitch when so much electricity surges through the crowd that you swear you can see sparks. Or maybe it's during a tense timeout late in a game that it hits you: There's no place I'd rather be. What follows is subjective. Ask 10 people to name the best sporting experience in the Bay Area, and they will come up with 10 different but equally plausible lists. As of May 4, 2006, here is mine:

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3. Before Jeff Tedford came to Berkeley, the idea of putting Cal football ahead of the 49ers and Raiders was preposterous. Not anymore. Strawberry Canyon is one of the most spectacular settings in college football, and Cal finally has a coach and a program worthy of it. Stroll across campus on a fall afternoon and the house parties and alumni barbecues create a festive scene. You can hear the band playing as you approach Memorial Stadium. Once inside, students are up to their old card tricks. Spending fall afternoons in Berkeley is tough to beat with Cal playing such an entertaining brand of football. The Bears' 34-31 triple-overtime win over eventual national champion USC in 2003 was a game for the ages.

When the long-overdue stadium renovations are complete, it will be better still, just as the soon-to-be-completed Stanford Stadium, along with an improved team, could launch the Cardinal into this debate as soon as next season.

Cal Bear's 2006 Depth Chart

Nice job by the Bear Insider on compiling this.

 

http://bearinsider.com/roster/06/2006_Depth_Charts.xls