San Jose Mercury News: Cal's Forsett ready to carry running load

By Jonathan Okanes

Forget simply carrying the ball 20 times a game. Justin Forsett has bigger plans.  The senior takes over for Marshawn Lynch as Cal's starting running back this season, and some may question if he is big and strong enough to assume the heavier workload. Forsett, 5-foot-8, has excelled as a part-time player the past two seasons, but he averaged just 10 carries per game. Not only is Forsett ready to demonstrate he is an every-down back, he's also prepared to show he should be feared for more than just his quickness. "I want to be one of those power guys that can move the pile - that's one of the things I want to add to my game," he said. "I think that will help me be more productive. I think I'll be able to break more tackles." Forsett said he took three days off after spring practice and has been going at it ever since. His off-season workout program was designed to improve his strength and explosiveness.

Cal running-backs coach Ron Gould said Forsett has gained 12 to 15 pounds. He's listed at 196 but now is over the 200 mark. "I have a little four-pack now," Forsett said. "It's not a six-pack yet. The bottom ones are hard to get." Forsett's workouts also included Pilates, a series of exercises designed to improve core strength and flexibility. "I haven't been that flexible. I can't do any splits, by no means," he said. "(Pilates) definitely makes a difference, keeping your body healthy." This may be Forsett's first season as a full-time starter, but he is by no means an unknown commodity. Forsett leads the nation among active running backs in rushing average (6.39 yards per carry), and has had some memorable games.

Forsett saw extensive action in 2005 because of an injury to Lynch, and rushed for 999 yards. He added 600 more yards last season, and has 11 career touchdowns. And it's not as if starting is something totally new. Forsett started three games as a sophomore and one last season, and has six career 100-yard games. "I've always considered him a starter," Gould said. "When we've had some injuries in the backfield the last couple of years, he filled in just fine."

Included in Forsett's career highlights is a 235-yard effort against New Mexico State in 2005, the fourth-highest rushing total in Cal history. He also had 124 yards in just eight carries in the Bears' win over Texas A&M in last year's Holiday Bowl. Forsett is eager to have a big year, not so much because he is now a starter, but because it's his last year in Berkeley.

"I've been working hard every summer," he said. "This year, it's my last year, I want to do the best I can. Since I've been here, my goal has been to be productive, and that doesn't change now that I'm the starting running back. I just get more questions now." Forsett clearly is a different type of running back than Lynch, who has the blend of size and athleticism that makes him a special talent, one good enough to be drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the No. 12 pick overall. But Forsett, who already has proved he can be productive on the major college level, might be in line for a special year with his enhanced strength and explosiveness. "Justin is quick, he's fast, and he has some explosion, but it's not at the same level as Marshawn," Gould said. "Marshawn is gifted. What God has blessed him with is different. Justin is passionate, super-competitive. His work ethic is impeccable. Justin is so disciplined with his reads, we anticipate him making big runs with his eyes and his footwork."

 

SF Chronicle: Tennessee suspension newsworthy at Cal

Rusty Simmons

A day after Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer announced that the team's leading rusher, LaMarcus Coker, had been suspended indefinitely, Cal coach Jeff Tedford made sure his players knew about it.  "Really, when I tell the team about those sorts of things, it's not so much about the opponent," he said Wednesday. "It's about us continuing to make good decisions, so we don't put ourselves in those situations." Cal's opener is a home game against Tennessee on Sept. 1.  Coker led the Vols with 696 rushing yards even though he was sidelined for two games with an injured knee. He missed Tennessee's season-opening win against Cal, but Arian Foster and Montario Hardesty, who both return this year, combined for 125 yards. Fullmer did not say why Coker was suspended.  Sending a message: Highly-regarded redshirt freshman defensive tackle Derrick Hill missed his third consecutive day of practice with back spasms, and Tedford made it clear that he's getting fed up with the situation.

"That's what happens when you come into camp in poor shape," Tedford said. "Put that in the paper." Hill had X-rays on his back Tuesday, but Tedford said the results were negative.

The McClymonds High-Oakland graduate was a consensus prep All-American and played three games as a true freshman before being sidelined with a knee injury. He was expected to compete this season for a starting spot.

Tick, tick, tick: Tedford, who dissented vehemently about last year's rule changes regarding the game clock, is ecstatic that the NCAA has decided to go back to the way it was with a number of the rules.   This season, the clock won't start on possession changes, or until the receiving player touches the ball on kickoffs. The play clock has been switched from 25 to 15 seconds following media timeouts.  "They're taking the time out with all of the dead-ball stuff. You have to be on top of it with that, but it's much better," Tedford said. "I prefer this, since we get more plays and don't have to worry about the clock starting at odd times."

Briefly: Oregon and Boise State decisionmakers are reportedly discussing playing a game in China in the future, and Tedford was somewhat intrigued by the idea. "I could see how that would be a good experience for the kids," he said. ... The Bears played for the first time in shoulder pads, but it was cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson, who couldn't wear pads because he had missed a practice to attend a funeral, who provided the biggest hit of the day. "He plays at the same speed, regardless," Tedford said.

 

Sacramento Bee: Home Cookin': Montgomery steps up at Cal

By Joe Davidson

At Cal, the backup backs get the ball.  It's the Jeff Tedford way, and the coach's ploy helped accelerate the Bears into a national offensive machine and the careers of runners such as J.J. Arrington, Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett.  Cal's starting tailback for 2007, Forsett has 1,674 career yards and a 6.4 yards-per-carry average, a first-time starter with a wealth of experience. Now it's James Montgomery's turn. The Cordova High School graduate sparkled in spring ball in all but securing the No. 2 tailback spot, and the redshirt freshman has impressed in summer camp. What's not to marvel about Montgomery? He was a prep All-American, coveted by programs across the land to the point that Washington recruiters even cornered his father at a barber shop to preach their product. Montgomery became the prize player of Tedford's bumper recruiting crop in 2006, a blur with cutback ability and breakaway speed.

"James is going to be very good," Tedford said. "He's played tough, he's played dinged up. He's really smart. He's a young player who's ready to go. We have a lot of confidence in him. He'll get the ball."  And Forsett on Montgomery: "We call him 'Governor' because he's so distinguished. He's strong, he's fast, and he's a quick learner."  Montgomery was the latest great back in Lancers lore, a tradition that includes Rod Connors, Reggie Young, Kevin Willhite, Tracy Johnson, J.D. Davidson, Damon Boddie and Rudy Jones. Montgomery's 452 yards against Oak Ridge in 2005 set an area single-game record -- more than the 427 yards Shannon Spagner of McClatchy had against Sacramento and the 421 yards Albert Hollis of Christian Brothers had against Truckee, both achieved in 1999.  "We'll see what he can do here," Tedford said.

 

Fort Worth Star Telegram

TOP 25 COUNTDOWN

By WENDELL BARNHOUSE

Conference: Pacific-10

Coach: Jeff Tedford (43-20 in five seasons)

2006: 10-3 (7-2 in Pac-10, tied for first)

Bowl: Defeated Texas A&M 45-14 in Holiday Bowl

Starters returning: 8 on offense, 5 on defense

Key players: Junior QB Nate Longshore, senior RB Justin Forsett, junior WR DeSean Jackson, junior OT Mike Tepper, senior WR Robert Jordan, junior LB Zack Follett, sophomore CB Syd'Quan Thompson, senior FS Thomas DeCoud, junior SS Bernard Hicks

Overview

Why Cal is No. 11: Next to Southern Cal, the Golden Bears have developed into one of the Pac-10's most consistent programs. Jeff Tedford continues to raise the talent level.

Best-case scenario: Cal's offense continues to dazzle as Justin Forsett steps in as the top running back while the defense continues to improve.

Worst-case scenario: Cal stumbles in the season opener against Tennessee and then loses at Oregon in its first Pac-10 road game.

Bottom line: The Bears are poised to become a dark horse in the national title chase. The talent is there; the key will be sweeping the six home games, including USC on Nov. 10.

Story lines

1. Can Justin Forsett be as productive as a starting running back as he was as a backup?

2. In recent seasons, the Bears have received production from their reserve running back, but there's no proven player to back up Forsett.

3. Which players will become the playmakers and leaders for a defense that lost CB Daymeion Hughes and MLB Desmond Bishop?

Starting role

After three seasons as a productive part-time player, Justin Forsett is ready to become Cal's starting tailback. Forsett, who played at Arlington Grace Prep, has gained 1,674 yards on 262 carries in his career. He might match those numbers in his senior season.  Can he handle it? "It's about the 30th time I've answered that," Forsett told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Since I've been here, my goal has been to be productive. That doesn't change as the starting running back."

Forsett's 6.4 yards per carry average is the best among any back that will start the 2007 season. He had a team-high 124 yards on just eight carries in Cal's Holiday Bowl victory over Texas A&M. The 5-foot-8 Forsett has spent the off-season working out and has added 10 pounds. He weighs around 200 pounds.

It figures

4 Consecutive bowl trips for Cal, the first time that's been accomplished in school history.

16 Victories for Cal in the five seasons before Jeff Tedford's arrival.

34.1 Points per game for Cal in Tedford's 63 games as coach.

Extra points

Cal is one of five schools to be in the top 25 in scoring in Division I-A each of the past five seasons. The others are Boise State, Texas, Texas Tech and USC.... Junior DeSean Jackson has 16 career touchdowns on 97 receptions and five career TDs on 26 punt returns. That's an average of a touchdown for every 5.8 catch or return.... In Cal's three losses last season, Nate Longshore had two touchdown passes and six interceptions. In the Bears' 10 victories, he totaled 22 TD passes and seven interceptions.... Redshirt freshman TE Daniel Lofton is the son of former NFL wide receiver James Lofton, who attended Stanford.

Did you know?

DeSean Jackson returned four punts for touchdowns last season and has five for his career. The Division I-A record for career punt return TDs is eight, held by Wes Welker of Texas Tech and Antonio Perkins of Oklahoma. Welker had 152 career punt returns, Perkins had 113. Jackson's five TDs have come on 26 returns.

Newcomer(s) of note

James Montgomery and Tracy Slocum, redshirt freshmen, get first crack as reserve running backs behind Justin Forsett.

Previously...

"I think this is the strongest and the fastest team we've ever had. There are alot more 400-pound bench pressers than we've ever had, and we had a lot of guys in the sub-4.4 range [for the 40-yard dash]."

-Cal coach Jeff Tedford, who is entering his sixth season

Schedule

Date  Opponent 

Sept. 1  Tennessee 

Sept. 8  at Colorado St. 

Sept. 15  Louisiana Tech 

Sept. 22  Arizona* 

Sept. 29  at Oregon* 

Oct. 13  Oregon State* 

Oct. 20  at UCLA* 

Oct. 27  at Arizona State* 

Nov. 3  Washington St.* 

Nov. 10  USC* 

Nov. 17  at Washington* 

Dec. 1  at Stanford* 

*conference game 

If the Bears can avenge last season's opening loss at Tennessee, it could be a tone-setter. The first three conference road games -- Oregon, UCLA, Arizona State -- will be challenges. If Cal can win those three, it could be undefeated headed into its Nov. 10 home game with USC.

San Jose Mercury: Cal: Replacements key to roses

By Jonathan Okanes

Cal last season ranked second in the Pacific-10 in scoring defense, allowing less than 20 points per game. The year before, the Bears were the conference leader. Still, senior free safety Thomas DeCoud keeps hearing the same refrain as the 2007 season approaches:

Will the defense be good enough to keep Cal in the race for a Rose Bowl berth?

"I've been here going on five years now and we're up there in overall defense, but every year we hear, `How's Cal's defense?' " DeCoud said. "We're used to having question marks next to the defense. It puts a little more fire under us, makes us want to go out and show what we're all about."  Skeptics may be looking at the Bears' numbers from last year in total defense: They allowed 366.2 yards per game to finish eighth in the Pac-10. And they lost cornerback Daymeion Hughes, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and linebacker Desmond Bishop to the NFL.   That brings us to the three big questions Cal faces as training camp opens today:

Who will replace Daymeion Hughes?

Finding a lock-down cornerback does wonders for the rest of the defense, and although the Bears don't have many experienced candidates to take over, Coach Jeff Tedford believes the talent is there. The competition for the position figures to be the most heated in camp.  Robert Peele, a sophomore, emerged from spring practice as the guy, but that is far from a sure thing. Redshirt freshman Darian Hagan was a top recruit out of high school. Senior Brandon Hampton, sophomore Jesse Brooks and redshirt freshman Charles Amadi are in the mix as well.  "I don't think any one of them is out of the race," Tedford said.   Hampton would be the only player with any measure of experience. A converted running back, Hampton started every game last season at rover, a position expected to be held down this year by junior Bernard Hicks.  Peele got into nine games last season, in the secondary and on special teams, and had an interception against Washington. He was considered one of the top cornerback prospects in the country coming out of high school in Fresno and spurned an offer from USC.

Can Justin Forsett carry the load?

With Marshawn Lynch getting ready to begin his rookie season with the Buffalo Bills, Justin Forsett assumes the role as Cal's top running back. He excelled as Lynch's backup the past two seasons but now will be counted on to carry the ball 20 times a game.  Forsett is only 5-foot-8, and some question if he will be able to handle such a workload. Forsett said he put himself through relentless off-season workouts and has gained 10 pounds (he's listed at 196).  "Since I've been here my goal has been to be productive, and that doesn't change now that I'm the starting running back," Forsett said. "I just get more questions now."  There's no disputing Forsett's productivity as a part-time player: Among returning players, he leads the nation in rushing average (6.39 yards per game). When Lynch was injured, Forsett did the job, including a 163-yard effort last year against Oregon.  One corollary to this question: Who will emerge as the primary backup? As Forsett's production over the past two seasons illustrates, Tedford likes to make sure his No. 2 back gets substantial time to take some of the workload off the starter. Freshman James Montgomery is the leading candidate to fill the role.

Who will produce on the defensive line?

Cal will need to find players to replace Mebane, All-Pac-10 defensive end Nu'u Tafisi and defensive tackle Abu Ma'afala. Like at cornerback, there is uncertainty but potential. Matt Malele, the only returning starter, is penciled in at defensive tackle. Cody Jones, who started one game last season, is a good bet to start at one end. Tyson Alualu is listed as the other starting end on the depth chart after playing significantly last season as a freshman. Mika Kane is the other starter at tackle.  Other candidates for playing time include Derrick Hill, a big-time recruit who played in three games last season as a freshman before suffering a knee injury. He was redshirted and then had a strong spring. Michael Costanzo also had a knee injury last year and could be a factor. And Rulon Davis is raw but an intriguing option.  "The defensive line is a place where the learning curve needs to be accelerated a little bit," Tedford said. "There are some guys who are good players but just don't have a lot of experience. We're going to have to create that environment and that experience level through camp."

 

Modesto Bee: Memory serves Cal well

Jeff Tedford couldn't believe the line of questioning.   It was November, 2006, and his Cal Golden Bears had won eight straight games. They had rolled to wins over Pacific 10 Conference rivals Oregon and UCLA, obstacles that were sometimes too tall to clear in the past.  Still, Tedford heard the question week after week and win after win: What happened at Tennessee?  "I can't get over it," he muttered barely minutes after Cal's conquest of UCLA. "I've never seen a loss with this kind of shelf life." His Bears opened the 2006 season with a 35-18 humbling in Knoxville, a nationally-televised embarrassment on Labor Day weekend. The Volunteers all but chased their guests back home, such was their dominance. Only after season's end did Tedford watch the televised account of his team's long night.  And he finally understood. "I could see why," he said last week during a preseason press conference. "The commentary."

Mind you, Tedford doesn't blame network announcers who quickly labeled his team "overrated" and "not ready to play." Tedford no doubt blamed himself for his team's egg-laying in the deep South.  "We deserved everything that was said," Cal's sixth-year coach said. "I had forgotten we were down 35-0. I can't remember the last time we were down 35-0."

That's because it never had happened under Tedford's watch. His team, ranked ninth in preseason polls last year, simply wasn't competitive against a rank-and-file member of the powerful Southeastern Conference. It stung Cal, from trainer to Tedford, which figured its program had grown beyond such humiliation.  "After I watched it, it was an embarrassing moment and we deserved to have that stick with us for a while," he said. "We had a lot of ground to make up after that game."  That Cal recovered for a 10-3 season — finishing with a rout of Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl — says something about what Tedford and Company have built in Berkeley.  But as practice begins this week for the 2007 season, Tedford says there is much unfinished business about his program, his team, and a certain opponent dropping into Strawberry Canyon on Sept. 1. Tennessee.

Remember the distance Cal has traveled under Tedford. The five years before he arrived, the Bears went 12-43, a hapless run which lowered them to nearly the bottom of Division IA. With Tedford in tow the last five years, they're 43-20 with four bowl appearances (three wins), record-setting attendance and coast-to-coast recognition.  Cal, ranked 12th and picked to place second behind USC, again is expected to be formidable. For the first time in Tedford's tenure, the Bears return a quarterback (Nate Longshore) who started every game the previous season.  The Bears even claimed a share of their first Pac-10 championship in 28 years, though they backed into it courtesy of UCLA's shocking win over the Trojans. Still, the cover of Cal's media guide features the league co-title, proof that the Bears didn't exactly throw the trophy off the Campanile.

"But we're not satisfied by any means," Tedford said. "We're still very driven and motivated to win the conference championship outright and strive for a national championship." He could have thrown in the words "Rose Bowl," a place the Bears haven't visited on New Year's Day in nearly a half-century. Then again, that goal is a given.  I think Cal's upcoming date against the Volunteers falls into the same category. Credit the Bears for their bounceback in 2006, but they can't salve such a wound two years in a row. Tedford insisted he lost no sleep after the Tennessee loss because he simply knew his team had an off-night, and the rest of the season proved his point.  But another disappointment against the Vols, this one on home turf, will not be acceptable. This is not a routine season opener. Cal's new image as a major player in football will be measured. It's probably earned a mulligan, but it can't whiff this time. Each one of the Bears, from star receiver DeSean Jackson to linebacker/special teams standout Justin Moye (Central Catholic), knows they must be credible in the rematch. And so does Tedford.  "People ask about revenge," he said. "It's not revenge. It's redemption."

 

San Jose Mercury: On Day 1 for Cal, hair stands out most

By Jonathan Okanes

Expectations for Cal's football team were about as high as it gets this summer, and that made for a long off-season for the players. So long that to pass the time some turned to their artistic side. A handful of Bears showed up Monday at the first day of training camp with a fashion statement atop their heads. Quarterback Nate Longshore led the charge with his hair dyed blue. Linebacker Zack Follett's hair is dyed like a tiger's stripes. Kicker Tom Schneider and offensive lineman Richard Fisher showed up with Mohawks.  "It's sea breeze in the front and indigo at the back," Longshore explained. "I wanted something light to dark. It's just something I did for camp, something for the guys to laugh at. It will be gone for the first game."  With most of its nucleus returning on offense and a young but talented defense, the Bears couldn't wait to get started after going 10-3 last season and sharing the Pacific-10 title with USC. Monday marked the first of 23 practices over the next three weeks.

"It's almost like we can exhale now," Longshore said. "We're just excited to get back out there and practice again."  The biggest issues in camp reside on defense, where Cal is searching to find a replacement at cornerback for Pac-10 defensive player of the year Daymeion Hughes. The Bears also need to fill three starting spots on the line.  During seven-on-seven drills at the end of practice, Cal used Cody Jones, Michael Costanzo, Mika Kane and Tyson Alualu as its first unit on the defensive line. Returning starter Matt Malele missed most of practice because of class, and redshirt freshman Derrick Hill practiced in limited fashion because of back spasms.  Syd'Quan Thompson, a returning starter at cornerback, missed the first practice to attend a funeral. Charles Amadi and Brandon Jones were the first-unit cornerbacks.  It was only one day of practice, but Coach Jeff Tedford said it's not too early to start paying attention to the position battles. "We keep an eye on everything, but there are a few positions that are absolutely open," Tedford said. "We definitely keep a sharp eye on that."  The offense looked rusty, not surprising for the first day. Longshore missed some receivers during drills but looked sharper in the seven-on-sevens. There were a few dropped passes, though senior Sean Young made a few nice catches. "At the beginning, the defense is always a little ahead of the offense," Longshore said. "The offense appreciates the challenge the defense gives us."  Monday marked the first time Tedford got to see his freshmen in practice. It was hard for him to draw any conclusions after one day, but he said safety D.J. Campbell and wide receiver Michael Calvin caught his eye.  "It's too early. Without helmets on, all you are seeing in guys moving in space," Tedford said. "(Campbell and Calvin) looked like they moved pretty well in space."

 

Arizona Republic: Pac-10 preview: California

Doug Haller

The Arizona Republic

California

Coach: Last year, Jeff Tedford led the Golden Bears to their fourth consecutive bowl for the first time in program history. He is 43-20 in five seasons.

Last year: After Tennessee thumped them in Week 1, the Bears won eight in a row to pull within BCS contention. But road losses to Arizona and Southern California altered their plans. A 45-10 win over Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl ended a 10-3 season, 7-2 in the Pac-10, which tied for first.

On offense: Seven starters return from a unit that scored a conference-best 32.8 points a game, topping 40 points six times. QB Nate Longshore (3,021 passing yards, 24 TDs) might be the Pac-10's best quarterback, but WR/PR DeSean Jackson might be its best player. Last year, Jackson averaged 18 yards per catch and led the nation in punt-return average and punt-return touchdowns. He had 21 TDs in 24 games. RB Justin Forsett isn't Marshawn Lynch, but he averaged 5.3 yards per carry last season. TE Craig Stevens is an all-conference talent, and C Alex Mack and OT Mike Gibson anchor the line. Jim Michalczik is the new offensive coordinator, but Tedford will call the plays.

On defense: The Bears lost six starters, including three all-conference performers. LB Zack Follett tied for the team lead in sacks. LB Worrell Williams gets to the ball quickly. DB Syd'Quan Thompson was honored as the team's most valuable freshman last season. Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. rates Thomas DeCoud as the No. 6 pro prospect at safety. The defensive line is thin.

Smelling roses? The defense has concerns, but the offense is explosive enough to overcome any shortcomings. Opening against Tennessee at home is a tough test. And five Pac-10 road games won't be easy. The biggest: Oct. 20 against UCLA in the Rose Bowl.

The word: "Marshawn Lynch was a special talent. He could block, he could catch, he could do it all, but we haven't taken a step back with Justin Forsett, I can tell you that." - Coach Jeff Tedford.

Prediction: 9-3 overall, 6-3 Pac-10.

Daily Cal: Longshore Trims Down, Bears Speeding Up

Tailback Justin Forsett Ready to Come Into His Own After Three Years in the Shadows

BY Shawn Liu

SAN FRANCISCO—Before putting on pads and hitting the field for training camp, senior Justin Forsett, the Cal football team’s new starting running back, had another job to do—put on a suit and tie and represent his teammates at the Bay Area College Football Media Luncheon in San Francisco on August 1.  “It’s cool. I have never done this before,” said Forsett, who had 626 rushing yards last year while backing up Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year Marshawn Lynch. “It’s a different role for me.”  Although Forsett is on the cover of the team’s 2007 media guide, he said he doesn’t think of himself as the team’s star. “When people think about our team, I don’t think they will think about me first,” Forsett said. “I don’t think I am the face of the franchise. We have so many guys here, like DeSean.” Junior wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who has the benefit of a Heisman Trophy marketing campaign, has one-upped Forsett’s cover appearance with his own Web site: www.the1towatch.com.

But while there has been uncertainty regarding whether Jackson will return for his senior season, there is no question that 2007 will be Forsett’s last at Cal. And he wants to make it count. In preparation for his final season, the 5-foot-8 Forsett put on 10 pounds of muscle in the off-season without losing an ounce of speed. He is currently listed at 198 pounds.

“I wanted to gain a couple of pounds in order to make the power moves I wanted to make,” Forsett said. “I didn’t set a number but ended up with 10 pounds. I want to be more physical.” Bears coach Jeff Tedford said the idea of Forsett gaining weight did not come from the coaching staff.

“It’s all through his hard work and dedication,” Tedford said. “He is heavier and faster. I won’t say he will be more durable, because he has been durable. But it will certainly help him being an every-down back.” Forsett came one yard short of 1,000 yards rushing in 2005 despite starting only three games. His 6.4 yards per carry career average gave Tedford plenty of reasons to expect no drop-off from Lynch to Forsett. “It’s not so much about separating himself from Marshawn,” Tedford said. “Justin does a lot of things as well as Marshawn. And that’s a high compliment because Marshawn is a great player.” Forsett is also confident that the transition to the starting role will be a smooth one. “I still want to be productive,” he said. “The big thing for me now is consistency, because I will not be in and out of the lineup.”

With the death of Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh just two days before the luncheon, both Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh and San Jose State coach Dick Tomey honored Walsh during their addresses to the media, and although Forsett was only three years old when Walsh won his last Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, he understands the impact of the Bay Area legend, especially to the running back position. “He is responsible for what football is today,” Forsett said. “We don’t know what it would be without him. It’s a sad loss of a football genius.” Riding a five-game winning streak against the Cardinal, with whom Walsh spent five years as head coach, Forsett and the Bears will meet Stanford in the regular season finale on Dec. 1 in the newly-remodeled Stanford Stadium for the first time. “I heard it’s nice,” Forsett said. “It’s always extra special playing against Stanford. It will be fun to play there.”   Another game Forsett looks forward to is the season-opener at home against Tennessee on Sept. 1. Cal had only 64 rushing yards in the 35-18 loss to the Volunteers last year at Neyland Stadium.  “It was a great experience for us playing there,” Forsett said. “There’s no place like it. It was our worst game of the season, but we bounced back and played well.”  Forsett said he is excited about playing Tennessee in front of the home crowd at Memorial Stadium.  “It is going to be huge,” Forsett said. “The crowd was great last year against Oregon. We want to see the same kind of spirit this year.”  As for his new season’s resolution, Forsett is eyeing a game far beyond the clash with Tennessee.   “My goal is to be in Louisiana as our starting running back at the national championship game,” he said.

SF Chronicle: It's all relative: Raiders' Russell bunks down with a Bear

Rusty Simmons, Chronicle Staff Writer

Quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the Oakland Raiders' unsigned No. 1 draft pick, made national news in the fall of 2005, when the former LSU star shared his apartment with legendary musician Fats Domino in the days following Hurricane Katrina. Now, he's the talk of Cal football practices, having bunked up at the house of Bears' senior receiver Robert Jordan.

"He took my room, but I can't complain," Jordan said. "He's a big dude." Russell, a 6-foot-6, 260-pounder, and Jordan realized they were cousins at the NFL combine. While visiting another cousin, former Bears running back Marshawn Lynch, Jordan saw a family member who was there with Russell and the friendship was sparked. "It's been nice, because we just found out that we're related," Jordan said. "We're having a lot of fun with it." Jordan traveled to Russell's home in Alabama and met a part of the family he hadn't previously known. The duo also has made a habit of playing catch. "He's got a cannon," Jordan said.

In a sign of solidarity with his newly discovered family member, Jordan has switched from wearing jersey No. 11 to No. 2. "It was my number in high school, and it was JaMarcus' number last year at LSU," Jordan said. "It only made sense to wear it this year." Pad the numbers: A lot of times, a team doesn't appear big and physical until the first day the players start wearing pads, but the freshman class is already gaining notice. "It's the biggest class that we've ever had, and I didn't realize it until I was looking at a list of all of the signees," coach Jeff Tedford said. "The offensive and defensive linemen are big; I mean, even our punter is 6-3."

One of the biggest of the lot -- and certainly the player making the biggest impression -- is defensive end Cameron Jordan, a 6-4, 260-pounder from Chandler, Ariz. During conditioning drills, he sprinted 100 yards like a diminutive defensive back. "He's a big guy who has a lot of athleticism," Tedford said. "We're anxious to see him put the pads on and see if he can make the transition, but it's clear that he has all of the potential to be a great player."

Briefly: Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Derrick Hill (back spasms) sat out for the second consecutive practice, and Tedford said he will know more about the significance of the injury today. ... Senior left tackle Mike Gibson was sidelined with a hamstring strain, Tedford said. ... Junior Phillip Mbakogu, who sat out last season with a knee injury, won't play this year, either. "He's trying to evaluate his future. There's still a glimmer of hope there, but it doesn't look good," Tedford said.

Napa Valley Register: Practice Begins

For a second consecutive year, UC Berkeley is ranked No. 12 to begin the football season, according to the ESPN/USA Today Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 poll, which was released Friday.  This marks the fourth straight year under head coach Jeff Tedford that Cal has started a season ranked in the coaches’ top 25. Since taking over the program in 2002, Tedford has built the Bears into one of the top programs in the country, leading Cal to four straight bowl appearances and top 10 national rankings in each of the last three years. Cal’s 36 wins over the last four years are the most in any four-year stretch in over 50 years for the Bears.  Cal returns eight offensive starters, including tackle Mike Gibson, a Napa High graduate who also played at Solano Community College-Suisun. Gibson had an outstanding debut season for the Bears in 2006, earning All-Pac-10 Second-Team honors after moving into the starting lineup in the fourth game of the year. He played in all 13 games with nine starts and recorded 30.5 knockdown blocks.
Fall practices for the Bears began Monday at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.  “It’s nice to see the guys all together again,” Tedford said on the school’s athletic web site. “They worked hard and had a lot of energy. We have a lot of work to do, but they’re anxious to get it done. I’m excited to get back out here to get into the flow of practice and get the young guys acclimated to what goes on.”  All Cal football practices are closed to the public.

USA Today: Lynch steps into high expectations in Buffalo camp

By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills rookie Marshawn Lynch started the process of giving back before his NFL career began.  The running back held a camp for youngsters in his hometown of Oakland before reporting to his first training camp to assume the challenge of replacing Willis McGahee.  Lynch was that eager to serve as a role model. "I come from the 'hood. We didn't really get to see too many athletes who made it," Lynch says. "We saw ones who had the potential to make it and got caught up in something. Thank God I'm one who made it this far. I just want to show kids it's possible." Despite his standing as the 12th overall pick overall in the April draft and the second running back taken after the Minnesota Vikings chose Adrian Peterson seventh, the game has taught Lynch the value of humility.

"I'll never be a star," he says. "I'll still be the same old Marshawn." The Bills hope that selflessness comes with stellar production.  Anticipation is high that Lynch can eventually help Buffalo end a seven-year playoff drought. And coach Dick Jauron is not about to diminish those expectations. "Clearly, we thought he was really good to draft him where we drafted him," Jauron says. "I'm not certain he's not just a little better than what we thought. When you see him all the time in person, he's quick. Real quick."  Veteran wide receiver Lee Evans emphasizes that eye-opening practices need to turn into strong performances when Buffalo opens its season against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 9. He can easily envision Lynch emerging as a Rookie of the Year candidate. "He very well could be," Evans says. "He has that type of talent."

The 5-11, 215-pounder possesses quickness, balance and pass-catching ability that may allow long-suffering Bills fans to forget McGahee. Lynch carried 223 times for 1,356 yards and 11 touchdowns in his third and final season at the University of California to go with 34 receptions for 328 yards and four more scores. McGahee was dealt to the Baltimore Ravens after a season in which he finished with 990 yards (on 259 attempts) and six touchdowns. He was held to 18 catches for 156 yards as the Bills again missed the postseason at 7-9.

Buffalo is excited about the threat Lynch can represent coming out of the backfield, given his elusiveness and the good hands he's displayed in practice.  "Marshawn, he's different than Willis," Evans says. "He's a back who can come out of the backfield with good hands. He can go down the middle and catch the ball. He brings a different dimension to the passing game."  McGahee, who suffered a devastating knee injury in his final game at the University of Miami, never displayed the explosiveness the Bills were hoping for when they gambled on him in the opening round in 2003. They hope Lynch can develop into more of a long-ball threat. Lynch says the NFL's warp speed "is a great pace to play at." He views pass-blocking as his greatest challenge. "That's the difference," he says, "between a two-down back and an every-down back." While his sights are set on the latter, don't expect him to say that. His approach to football, and seemingly to everything else, is as unassuming as it gets. "I live my life one day at a time," he says without being asked.

SF Chronicle: Bears have the talent for BCS berth

Rusty Simmons, Chronicle Staff Writer

Cal coach Jeff Tedford tried to temper his excitement.  "This group has the potential to be the strongest and fastest we've ever had," he said Wednesday.  Within 15 seconds of that comment, he couldn't hold back any longer.  "I think this is the strongest and the fastest team we've ever had," Tedford said at the start of his sixth season at Cal. "There are a lot more 400-pound bench pressers than we've ever had, and we had a lot of guys in the sub-4.4 range (for the 40-yard dash)."  If the summer workout numbers translate to the gridiron, Cal has the makings of a team that could outmuscle and run past competition on its way into a Bowl Championship Series berth. The Bears' players and coaches, however, know the difference between weight-room scores and on-field points can be as wide as the margin between a top-10 and a top-25 finish.

"There is a definite buzz going around Cal," junior linebacker Zack Follett said. "But it doesn't mean anything yet. We're all excited to see what we can do on the field, because that's where we'll make it mean something."  The first look at the 2007 Bears will come this week. They report to training camp today and begin a 24-practice schedule (including five double-days) Monday. By then, Tedford admits he's going to have to put a rein on the eagerness.  "These guys have worked their tails off," he said. "They're dedicated to what they're doing, and they're real excited. We're going to have to slow them down the first couple of days because we won't have pads on yet."  When they do finally add pads to the regiment Saturday, the Bears are expected to showcase a load of talent - the kind of ability it took to post four consecutive bowl appearances and three straight top-25 finishes.  There are 14 returning starters on offense and defense and 31 players who have started at least a game. The group includes a receiving corps that is ranked No. 1 in the nation by a number of respected preseason publications.

DeSean Jackson is as legitimate a Heisman Trophy candidate as there can be at wide receiver, and Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan pooled for 1,276 yards and nine touchdowns last year. In his second season as the starting quarterback, Nate Longshore acts like a coach on the field and has the ability to spread the ball enough to keep all of his weapons happy.  "This is the first time, offensively, that we've had our quarterback back after starting every game the season before, so we're excited about that," Tedford said.  "All of the pieces are there," senior tailback Justin Forsett said. "It's just a matter of finding consistency."  If there are any questions about offensive consistency, they'll arise at running back and along the line. Forsett will be asked to produce similar numbers as the starter as he did as one of the nation's top backups, and the offensive line lost two starters.  Forsett has started to answer the questions about his ability to carry the load before the season even commences. He has added 10 pounds of muscle and managed to maintain the speed that allowed him to tally the best yards-per-carry average among returning players in the country.  Offensive line coach Jim Michalczik was promoted to offensive coordinator during the off-season, and with good reason. Working with an offensive line that had to replace three drafted players and starters for another eight games because of injuries, Cal still managed to allow only a sack a game last year.  Most of the preseason concerns come on the defense, which lost a first-day draft pick at each level.  The front seven has to replace almost three-quarters of the sacks from a year ago and the conference's leading tackler in middle linebacker Desmond Bishop. Also, Daymeion Hughes, the definition of a lockdown cornerback, is currently trying to intercept training camp passes from Peyton Manning.

"The corner spot is definitely a concern," senior safety Thomas DeCoud said. "Losing Daymeion was a big thing, but I'm confident in the young guys."  There is a laundry list of players who have the ability to step into the starting cornerback role alongside sophomore Syd'Quan Thompson, who rose from the ashes of a torched debut against Tennessee to earn Freshman All-America honors last year.  "Syd has gained that corner swagger," DeCoud said. "He's got that confidence you have to have to go up against Pac-10 receivers."

Among linebackers, the Bears lost 190 tackles, 25 stops for losses and 7.5 sacks in Bishop and Mickey Pimentel, but, surprisingly, the unit may be just as strong this year. The group consists of two 2006 Freshmen All-Americans (Follett and Anthony Felder), Worrell Williams, who has all of the talent to follow his brother D.J. to the NFL and Justin Moye and Greg Van Hoesen, who are as smart as they are skilled.  Coaches say the battles for defensive line positions are pretty wide open. Somehow, Cal has to find more than the nine sacks it got out of its starting defensive ends last year, and it also has to replace Brandon Mebane, who drew at least a double team on nearly every play.  "That's what we've got to answer," Tedford said. "It may come down to finding a freshman or two who are ready to play."  Even the questions appear to excite Tedford.  "Oh, we've got the guys," he said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Five questions

1. Will anyone be ready to make his starting cornerback debut against Tennessee? There is little question that Darian Hagan, Brandon Jones and Charles Amadi have the ability to play at the Division I-A level, but the trio has combined to play zero snaps thus far. Robert Peele, Brandon Hampton and Thomas DeCoud, all of whom have taken the majority of their repetitions at safety, could enter the starting cornerback battle if the three redshirt freshmen don't come through.

 

2. What players and combinations will make the Bears solid up front on offense and defense? The offensive line returns two all-conference players and a third starter, and offensive coordinator Jim Michalczik appears to have enough talented players to fill the holes (something he's been able to do with less ability in the past). The defensive line has to replace three-quarters of its starters, and coaches say it may take a true freshman or two in the rotation.

 

3. Who will emerge as the vocal leader of the defense? Middle linebacker Desmond Bishop became the heartbeat of the defense on and off the field last year. There are a number of players with similar physical ability, but the vocal leadership will have to be added during the dog days of training camp.

 

4. Which players will provide depth in the offensive backfield? Coaches feel great about starting quarterback Nate Longshore and running back Justin Forsett, but their backups are unproven. Kyle Reed and Kevin Riley will fight it out for the No. 2 QB spot, and redshirt freshman James Montgomery, who shined during spring ball, has the lead in the reserve tailback battle.

 

5. Are any of the true freshmen ready to make an impact? Defensive lineman Tyson Alualu was the only true freshman to see action last year, and even that is misleading (he signed in 2005 but didn't enroll until 2006). As many as seven from a stacked 2007 class are expected to compete for playing time this year.

 

LA Times: UCLA's Olson is a Man on a Mission

Here’s the link.

 

Cal related quote: Even California quarterback Nate Longshore has evolved. He was a sophomore at Canyon Country Canyon when Olson had his coronation as a senior at nearby Thousand Oaks. Now both are college juniors, except Longshore has a Pac-10 co-championship on his resume.  "I just remember this huge entourage of media that followed him every time he came to a summer passing league," Longshore said. "I remember hearing how good he was, watching him, being in awe of him and everybody around him."

Arizona Republic:: Cason seeks bowl game

Doug Haller

TUCSON - Nate Longshore doesn't recall the details, just the result that pretty much deflated his hopes for a BCS bowl berth.  "I just remember throwing it and realizing who was out there," the University of California quarterback said from Berkeley. "I said to myself, 'Oh, this isn't going to be good.' . . . He's one of the best cornerbacks in the country."

Antoine Cason intercepted the pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown, the winning points in last season's biggest win for the University of Arizona.

Read the rest of the story here.

Contra Costa Times: Tedford not bad for a second choice

Perfect fit for Cal

By Jonathan Okanes

BERKELEY -- Pretend, for a moment, that a time machine has turned the calendar back to December 2001. Make believe that Marvin Lewis, then the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, had decided to board his scheduled flight for the Bay Area. Imagine that while he was here, Lewis accepted Cal's offer to become its new football coach.

Then ask the question: Would the Bears be in the same position they are now?  It's a question Cal fans are thankful they'll never have to answer.  Lewis decided not to get on that plane on that Wednesday in December, forcing Cal athletic director Steve Gladstone to turn his attention to an offensive coordinator at Oregon named Jeff Tedford.  The rest isn't just history. The rest made history.  Tedford accepted the job Lewis turned down and proceeded to write a handbook on building a national power. The Bears went 1-10 the season before Tedford arrived. By his third season, they were in contention for the national championship and finished the regular season ranked fourth in the country.

Tedford opens his sixth training camp at Cal on Monday and has the Bears entrenched as a national power. The Bears are ranked No. 12 in the USA Today preseason top-25 poll and are considered a legitimate threat to qualify for their first berth in a Bowl Championship Series game. Cal shared the Pac-10 title with USC last season and easily handled Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl, 45-10, finishing No. 14 in both major national polls.

Tedford comes to town

"In retrospect, isn't it great?" said Gladstone, who stepped down as athletic director in 2004 but remains the school's crew coach. "It's no knock on Marvin. Marvin is a good man, but he was headed to the pros. That's when the hand of God came in and helped us make the right choice."  Lewis called Gladstone just before he was scheduled to fly to the Bay Area to tell him he was no longer interested in the job. He became the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals 13 months later. Gladstone had a handful of other candidates to choose from after Lewis begged out, but he said it was Tedford all the way. "I wanted Jeff," he said. "It's absolutely perfect, just the way it is."  College football insiders had admired Tedford and the acumen he had demonstrated as the offensive coordinator at Fresno State and Oregon, but nobody could have predicted the construction job he's forged in Berkeley. At the time of his hiring, he had just turned 40, coached in a major conference for just four years and never been a head coach.

Tedford led Cal to a 7-5 record in his first year and hasn't experienced a losing season. After their breakout season of 2004, the Bears slipped a tad to 8-4 the following year but still finished No. 25 nationally. If the Bears have the type of season most experts anticipate in 2007, they could have double-digit wins three times during a four-year span.

Miracle workers

"When I heard Jeff got the job, my initial reaction was 'Cal is about to get it going now'" ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said. "But as much as I loved Jeff as the offensive coordinator at Oregon, I didn't know he was going to be this good this quickly. There are certain guys in this business, when you meet them, your first impression is they really have that 'it' quality. I always felt that way with him."  There have been other dramatic turnarounds in college football, but it's hard to find many in which a program that was in such shambles became so good, so quickly.   Bill Snyder is widely recognized as engineering the greatest turnaround in the history of the game. He took over the helm at Kansas State in 1988 after the Wildcats had gone 2-30-1 during the previous three seasons. In Snyder's 17 years, Kansas State had 11 winning seasons and finished ranked in the top 10 nationally six times. The Wildcats had five winning seasons during the previous 54 years. Still, it took Snyder a while to get it going. While the Bears knocked on the door of a BCS game in Tedford's third year, Kansas State was just 4-7. "I can't sit here and tell you I thought he was going to go 10-2," Gladstone said. "But I felt confident he would be an outstanding coach when we hired him." Current athletic director Sandy Barbour held the same position at Tulane when she hired Tommy Bowden to take over the football program in 1997. In his first year, Bowden led the Green Wave to its first winning season in 16 years. The following season, Tulane went 12-0 and finished ranked No. 7 in the country. Still, Barbour says the job Tedford has done at Cal is unparalleled.  "It's probably the most impressive turnaround that I know of," said Barbour, who signed Tedford to a new five-year, $10 million contract shortly after arriving in Berkeley. "What Jeff has done has far exceeded anything I've seen."

Entering an elite class

Tedford built Cal's program with almost immediate recruiting successes. His 2003 recruiting class was ranked No. 23 nationally by scout.com, and that was before the Bears had really reached the national elite. The 2004 season provided a further boost to recruiting and Cal's 2005 class was ranked ninth in the country. That group was highlighted by All-American wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who was considered one of the top prospects in the nation at Long Beach Poly High School. The fact that Jackson chose the Bears over USC was yet another sign of the football empire Tedford was building.  "Everybody from (Southern California) was expecting me to go to USC," Jackson said. "Coming to Cal was a big step for me, and coach Tedford had a lot to do with that. I'd say a good 85 percent of the reason is because of coach Tedford. You could see the program was changing around."  Gladstone said Tedford was able to recruit top prospects even before the program became a national power because he is a "direct and honest person. I'm guessing when he comes to a house and sits with an athlete and his family, that's a breath of fresh air." "Honesty is the best way to go about it," Tedford said. "I think to have a rapport with them and honesty is something we will never get away from." Of course, it's a little easier for Tedford to recruit now that prospects consider Cal on the same national level as USC, Florida and Michigan. It's what got the program to that level that keeps observers marveling at Tedford's accomplishments. "He had some experience being around a winning program as a coordinator, so he knew what it took," Herbstreit said. "He gets it. Forget all the Xs and Os and how much he excels on the offensive side of the ball. I'm talking about his leadership qualities. He's just a genuine man. He has that personality that you just look at him and believe in him."

 

WVLT: Video of the Vols' First Practice

Click here to access the video.

 

Lightning and heavy rains forced the Vols indoors to the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center after a hot and muggy start at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The same thing happened exactly one year ago, but there were good vibes all around despite the weather as UT took its initial steps of the fall campaign.  "I was really pleased with the first day of practice and the way the kids went about it and the coaches went about it," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I think the effort certainly was there and there are some young guys that look like they are going to push themselves pretty quickly into the mix." Nineteen freshman signees joined three junior-college transfers making their UT practice debuts. "We got a lot of looks, a lot of fundamental work done," Fulmer said. "As I always say after this practice, football is a game that is played in pads. We've got to get into pads and see where we are."  The Vols hold their annual Media Day on Saturday morning before returning to the practice field for a second day in just helmets and shorts. Sunday's practice is the first of two dates in shoulder pads, with Tuesday scheduled as the first day in full pads.

"I'm expecting us to pick up where we left off in spring practice and I think we took a step in that direction today," Fulmer said. "We're throwing a lot at them and it's hard for the freshmen. I congratulated them on making it through their first college football practice and said, "This is easy." They all kind of dropped their head a little bit but we're ahead of the game." Tennessee has 22 more practice sessions, including three official scrimmages, slated through Aug. 25 before heading into game week preparations. UT opens its 2007 playing season Sept. 1 at California.

Daily Times: Back in orange: Vols ready to hit Neyland's green

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee opened the 2007 football season by taking shelter in the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center on Friday afternoon. Avoiding a quickly-moving thunderstorm, the Vols worked out for about three hours in the warm and humid echo chamber, giving head coach Phillip Fulmer cause for optimism.  “I was really pleased with the first day of practice and with how the players went about it and coaches went about it,” Fulmer said. “I think the effort was certainly there, and there’s some young guys who are going to push themselves pretty quickly into the mix.” Fulmer said he didn’t know who those young guys are but soon singled out newcomers Eric Berry, a freshman from Fairburn, Ga., and junior college transfer Nevin McKenzie for their work in the secondary. Former Maryville High standout and Tennessee Mr. Football Tyler Maples and former Fulton running back Dennis Rogan both worked at defensive back in the practice. As for the veterans, Fulmer said he was comfortable with the retention from spring practice and with the level of experience on the team.

“We have the third fewest number of returning lettermen in this conference, but we have a lot of guys who’ve played a lot of football,” Fulmer said. “I’m expecting to pick up where we left off in spring practice, and I think we took a step in that direction.  “We’re off to a good start. We got a lot of good looks and fundamentals done. Now we’ve got to get into pads and see where we are.” Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe wasn’t quite as sunny, saying he has pleased with the retention rate from spring but not happy with how his quarterbacks handled the football or with the uneven effort of his unit. “I didn’t think we took good enough care of the ball at quarterback. That disappointed me,” Cutcliffe said. “I don’t think we understand start-to-finish as an offensive unit. I thought there was excitement in the newcomers. There’s some speed. I like seeing that. It was good to see that.  “For everybody here, the first thing I want to see is if they understand effort. You guys know what I expect effort to be. I don’t think we understand that, but we’re going to find it out.”

Over the next six days, the Vols will get everything thrown at them, Cutcliffe said, and then the coaching staff will back off and evaluate the players. “We’re going to pile things on over a six-day period and then back off,” he said. “For the next six days, we’ll challenge them mentally as well as physically.  “We’ve got about two weeks to see who wants to play and then we’re going to have to make some decisions. We’re in shorts right now guys, so we don’t know anything yet. When it gets real, we’ll find out. About next Tuesday after practice, we’ll know a little bit more.” Fulmer said the normal shakedown period will probably last through the second preseason scrimmage, at which point the coaches will begin working with players who show the potential to contribute in the first three games of the season. “It will take a scrimmage or two. They’ve got to tackle and get out there and play the game,” Fulmer said. “There’s some natural athleticism. You can see that. There’s a mental part of getting accountable for their assignments. I give us after the first scrimmage and maybe the second.  “We’ll get nine or 10 (newcomers) ready for the first two or three games, and as we go along, we hope the others will develop and get to play. That’s where we are.” He added that the coaching staff is nearly always willing to simplify things to allow some of the more talented younger players to contribute. “We’ll menu a little bit if we have to do that to get some of their skills on the field,” Fulmer said. “We simplified the passing game last year to give younger guys a chance to play.”

STRONG LEG: Redshirt freshman placekicker Daniel Lincoln got off to a good start by having a better day than Britton Colquitt, Fulmer said. Colquitt, who was assigned the placekicking as well as punting duties for this season following the graduation of James Wilhoit, had a solid spring, but Fulmer was impressed with how steady Lincoln has become.

“Daniel kicked better than Britton today. Daniel’s got a great leg,” Fulmer said. “Maybe we’ll have a long and a short guy. I don’t know how it’s going to work out. Daniel kicked very well.”

MEDIA SUPPORT: The Vols will host media this morning at Neyland Stadium for photo and interview opportunities and will hold another practice session this afternoon.

Cal Hosts Contra Costa Times Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 25

Meet the Cal football team at annual season-opening event

BERKELEY - With football season fast approaching, the California football team kicks off the season with Contra Costa Times Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, August 25th at Memorial Stadium. The day will include a chance for fans to interact with players and coaches from the Cal football team. The Golden Bears are ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation in preseason magazines and junior DeSean Jackson is a top Heisman Trophy candidate.

Festivities will run from 12-2 p.m., with a pre-event starting at 11 a.m. by the North Tunnel. Fans should enter Memorial Stadium through the North Tunnel. Due to a concert at the Greek Theatre, parking will be very limited and public transportation is recommended.

In addition to photo opportunities with the players, the members of the team and coaching staff will be available for autographs. We ask all fans to respect the "one autograph per player or coach" guideline this year. The dance team, the Cal Marching Band and Oski, Cal's lovable mascot, will also be on site to greet fans and pose for pictures. The California Victory Cannon, which debuted at the 1964 Big Game, will also be on display and available for pictures.

The official 2007 game day shirt, media guides, Cal merchandise and season tickets will be for sale. Free burritos will be available to the first 1,000 fans courtesy of Baja Fresh and soft drinks and other samplings will be served, compliments of Baja Fresh and Coca-Cola.

Berkeley Daily Planet: UC Gym Lawsuit Raises Legal Tensions

By Richard Brenneman

As the date for the courtroom showdown over UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium gym draws closer, a paperwork blizzard has begun to blow.   Along with a slew of filings in advance of the Sept. 19-20 hearing scheduled by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Barbara J. Miller, the university has spawned a little storm of its own.  UC Berkeley planner Jennifer McDougall stole a march on the City of Berkeley with a July 19 Freedom of Information Act and California Public Records Act request that produced letters from the U.S. and California geological surveys to Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz.  Those documents, based on reviews of reports by a university-hired geological consultant, bolster the school’s claim that the site of the Student Athlete High Performance Center may lie outside a crucial earthquake hazard zone.

Read the entire article here.

USA Today Coaches' Poll Released

USA Today Poll

 1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481

 2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372

 3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278

 4. Texas 0-0 1,231

 5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218

 6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205

 7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114

 8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026

 9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005

10. Ohio State 0-0 919

11. Louisville 0-0 836

12. California 0-0 763

13. Georgia 0-0 604

14. Auburn 0-0 595

15. Tennessee 0-0 583

16. Rutgers 0-0 466

17. UCLA 0-0 454

18. Penn State 0-0 440

19. Nebraska 0-0 388

20. Arkansas 0-0 360

21. Florida State 0-0 301

22. TCU 0-0 233

23. Boise State 0-0 222

24. Hawaii 0-0 214

25. Texas A&M 0-0 209

San Jose Mercury: Optimism bubbling up in Bay Area college football

Cal was picked second in the Pacific-10 Conference's preseason media poll behind USC, but that isn't good enough for the guy who is replacing tailback Marshawn Lynch in the Bears' backfield.  "This is the biggest, strongest, fastest team I've been around my whole four years here," Justin Forsett said Wednesday. "I think we can do some great things, and anything is possible. Our goals are high." How high? "National championship," Forsett said. There was an optimistic tone among the Bay Area's three Division I-A college football teams during their annual media-day pilgrimage to San Francisco. Cal Coach Jeff Tedford noted this is the first time during his six seasons in Berkeley that he has a quarterback (Nate Longshore) who started every game the previous year.

San Jose State Coach Dick Tomey rattled off all the names of his returning All-Western Athletic Conference players, including All-America cornerback Dwight Lowery.  Even Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh, who has inherited a 1-11 team, brought a cheery attitude, saying senior receivers Mark Bradford and Evan Moore provide the Cardinal with "two of the finest in the country at that position." Harbaugh might have the hardest job of the area's three coaches, but expectations are much higher at Cal and San Jose State. The Bears are coming off a season in which they won 10 games, routed Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl, tied USC for first place in the Pac-10 and finished 14th in the final Associated Press poll.  San Jose State, meanwhile, won nine games in 2006 and ended a 16-year postseason drought with a victory over New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl.

Both the Bears and Spartans are looking for much more this fall. Cal returns 13 starters, including DeSean Jackson, whom the Sporting News rates as the No. 1 receiver in the nation. The Bears lost one of their all-time great playmakers in Lynch - who went 12th overall to Buffalo in the NFL draft - but Forsett has rushed for more than 1,600 yards the past two seasons. "I definitely have to fill some big shoes," Forsett said, naming off a handful of recent Cal running backs. "But I'm ready, though. My goal is to be productive. The only thing different is now I have to do it more often." Like last season, Cal will find out right away whether a national championship is in the cards. The Bears open the season at home Sept. 1 against Tennessee, a team that routed them 35-18 in Knoxville to start last year. "We definitely want to show we can play with them," Forsett said.

San Jose State wants to show it can do even better than it did last season. The Spartans return six starters on offense and seven on defense from a team that tied for third in the WAC and came within an eyelash of defeating conference and Fiesta Bowl champion Boise State. Picked by the media and coaches to finish fifth in the WAC this fall, the Spartans have their sights on a much bigger prize. "Another level means WAC championship," quarterback Adam Tafralis said. "It means an undefeated season. That's what your goals are. That's what you work all summer for. That was a great place last year, but we want better things. "We're sitting here (at media day) with Cal right now. We want to be a team like Cal, and to be sitting preseason like they are." For Stanford, it can't possibly get more bleak than last year. The Cardinal's worst season in 46 years cost Coach Walt Harris his job and set the wheels in motion for the Harbaugh era.

T.C. Ostrander returns at quarterback and, in addition to Bradford and Moore, Richard Sherman gives the Cardinal talent at receiver. But can Stanford, which was picked last in the Pac-10 media poll, stay healthy? Harbaugh noted Wednesday that starting safety Bo McNally could miss the opener Sept. 1 against UCLA after recently breaking a bone in his hand while trying to block a punt. "He's saying it's a three-week injury, but we'll see," Harbaugh said. As for Harbaugh's expectations for the season, the coach said, "I am really not honestly thinking past today. We are trying to get better every single day. That's where our focus is."

 

SF Chronicle: How much practice is too much practice?

The opening of training camps is like an alarm clock, telling interested parties it's time to start paying attention again. Most teams begin practicing next week, and each brings its own set of issues. -- There is always the question of how hard a coach should work his players to get them physically and mentally ready. Teams are limited to 29 practice sessions, some of which can be two-a-days, and most coaches use all 29 (and probably would use more if allowed).

<snip>

Cal coach Jeff Tedford uses all 29 practice sessions, but plays it by ear. If the players seem to be dragging, he may have the team in shorts and helmets instead of full pads and concentrate only on special-teams play….  It was widely assumed that Tedford would not be at Cal long after his early success, but this will be his sixth season in Berkeley, a mark none of the previous six Bears coaches reached. Jim Harbaugh is Stanford's third coach since Tedford was hired…. Cal opens against Tennessee this season, and plays Michigan State and Maryland next year.

-- Tedford said he was not aware of the disparaging comments made by LSU coach Les Miles until last week, but, like it or not, he probably will be reminded of them many times between now and the Sept. 1 game against Tennessee. Miles made scheduling an issue earlier this summer when he claimed USC, as a member of the Pac-10, had a much easier road to the national championship game than did members of the SEC. Cal was mentioned as one of the Pac-10 teams that Miles sarcastically called a "juggernaut."

Mississippi South Herald: Volunteers, Fulmer face crossroads season

By JIM MASHEK

Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer was embarrassed by the Volunteers' 5-6 record in 2005. So when the Vols bounced back with nine victories last season, it seemed they might be back on their way to prominence.  Then came Tennessee's 20-10 loss to Penn State in the Outback Bowl. And restlessness in Vol Nation set in again. Tennessee has not won an SEC title since its national championship season in 1998.  "We laid an egg in the (bowl) game," Fulmer said. "I think we were the better team. Obviously, the better team doesn't always win. Three fumbles will do that to you sometimes.  "It was disappointing. If we'd had 10 wins, we'd all have been happy about a 'turnaround season.' Somebody asked me if there's a magic number every year. Yeah, win 'em all. That's the magic number to make everybody happy in Knoxville." Tennessee returns 12 starters, including senior quarterback Eric Ainge, from last year's 9-4 squad. The Volunteers should again be a factor in the SEC East, however, and will know where they stand after their mid-September trip to play Florida.  Former Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe returned to UT last year to become the offensive coordinator, and Ainge responded with his best season to date. The 6-foot-6 quarterback passed for 2,989 yards and 19 touchdowns last year with nine interceptions. The Vols also found a keeper at tailback in LaMarcus Coker, who rushed for 696 yards as a freshman.

Tennessee must replace All-SEC left tackle Arron Sears, but the Vols have plenty of experience up front. The big question on offense will be replacing wide receivers Robert Meachem and Jayson Swain. Meachem was the New Orleans Saints' first-round draft pick in the spring. Fulmer is looking for Ainge to set the example during the transition period.

"I expect big things from Erik," Fulmer said. "He has all the tangibles and intangibles. He's been through the gauntlet now of the Southeastern Conference. He's had great success when nobody expected him to. "From a maturity standpoint, his skin ought to be pretty thick and he ought to be able to handle anything." Former Long Beach High School standout Xavier Mitchell is one of the Vols' proven performers on the defensive line. Defensive coordinator John Chavis has moved junior linebacker Jerod Mayo from the outside to the middle, where he'll get a chance to make plays from sideline to sideline. The Vols have just one returning starter in the secondary in senior free safety Jonathan Hefney.

"Our goals are to build off last year," Mayo said, "and get ready to compete this year." The Vols will be tested early. They open the season on the road against California, which went 10-3 last year and crushed Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl. Then they'll play host to Southern Miss, which is still looking for its first victory at 102,000-seat Neyland Stadium, followed by the road trip to Florida.  "As far as managing expectations, it's a lot about scheduling," Fulmer said. "This is just the truth. It's a lot about scheduling. It's a lot about staying healthy. It's about making plays that win the game." Fulmer is the SEC's longest tenured coach and has compiled a 137-41 record in 15 years at Tennessee. "Year in and year out," Fulmer said, "this is the toughest league of any in the country. I don't think that's going to change anytime soon."

 

ESPN: Tedford Makes QBs Seem Better than they are

This was buried in an article about the Eagles:

Passers who have played for current University of California coach Jeff Tedford, even back when he was a highly celebrated coordinator, have struggled so mightily in the NFL that his offense is now viewed by some as one that inflates numbers and makes passers seem better than they really are. A partial list of Tedford-tutored flops includes first-round failures such as Akili Smith, Joey Harrington and Kyle Boller.

SF Chronicle: Cal's Forsett grows into role as top running back

Three days.  Between the end of spring camp April 14 and reporting day for training camp Sunday, Cal's new starting tailback Justin Forsett has taken off only three days, and the benefits of his work ethic were obvious at a Bay Area college football media event Wednesday in San Francisco.  The 5-foot-8 senior has added 10 pounds of muscle to jump above the 200-pound mark. Meanwhile, he's managed to maintain his 4.4-seconds speed in the 40-yard dash and added flexibility with Pilates classes.  "He's been around every day this summer," junior linebacker Zack Follett said. "Some of things he's doing right now make it impossible not to be excited."

In the shadow of eventual NFL runners Adimchinobe Echemandu, J.J. Arrington and Marshawn Lynch, Forsett established himself as one of the top backups in the nation. He ranks No. 1 in the country among returning players with a 6.39-yards-a-carry average, but the lingering question has been whether or not he can sustain that pace while handling the bulk of the team's carries.  "It's about the 30th time I've answered that," Forsett said with a laugh. "Since I've been here, my goal has been to be productive. That doesn't change as the starting running back. I just get more questions that aren't about Marshawn or J.J. now."  Early RSVP: Cal senior safety Thomas DeCoud has already received interest from the East-West Shrine Game. An envelope from the game's representatives arrived in coach Jeff Tedford's office last week.  "I was like, 'Wow,' " DeCoud said. "I remember being in high school and waking up after a Friday night game to watch the Shrine Game on TV."  DeCoud made an early impact with six blocked kicks before emerging in the secondary last year. He is listed as the fourth-best pro safety prospect in the 2008 draft class by NFL Draft Scout.

"I've Googled my name once or twice," he said. "I'm aware of it, but I know none of it is written in stone because we have a whole season to play."  

 

Briefly: Cal linebacker Greg Van Hoesen painted black tiger stripes into the bleached blonde hair of Follett. "Since I chopped the mop off, I had to come up with some kind of status symbol," Follett said. ... After a spring of playing all along the offensive line, Cal's Alex Mack will be back at center, Tedford said. "He's a vital cog in the wheel that we cannot afford to take out of there. His experience, knowledge and communication make him a dominating player, and we feel there are other players who very capable at other positions along the line."

 

Crimson White: SEC East Ready for Football Season

Here’s the link.

 

Tennessee

 

After a 5-6 season in 2005, the Tennessee Volunteers rebounded last season for a 9-4 improvement, and they certainly hope to keep it up in 2007, especially with returning veteran quarterback Erik Ainge.   "When you have a veteran quarterback, you hope to be able to build your offense around him, particularly when he's got the ability of an Erik," head coach Phil Fulmer said. "I mentioned the no huddle a ... Erik ran it as a freshman actually. But his experience, his ability, his ability to get the ball out quickly and on time, understand where it needs to go, will give us a head start on being a good offensive football team."  Tennessee will have to open their season on the West Coast against California. Linebacker Jerod Mayo says his team is working hard to prepare for the first game.  "I'm real excited. I have never been to the West Coast," Mayo said. "Cal has a great lineup, and they have a great atmosphere. Their guys are playmakers. Nate Longshore is a great back, Ben Olsen at quarterback. At the same time, our coaches will have a great scheme in place to stop them. We just have to take on the role."

Decauter Daily: Vols favored in tough East

Fulmer pushing team to run better

Here’s the link.

By Ross Dellenger

What to watch: Tennessee usually has a stellar running game, but last season the ground attack was abysmal. Last year’s offense earned 71 percent of its yards through the passing game, the highest percentage since 1997 when Peyton Manning was quarterback.  “I’ve challenged our team to be a better running football team,” coach Phillip Fulmer said.  Last season, the Vols averaged 108 rushing yards a game, the lowest since 1964. Tennessee will lean on sophomore running back LaMarcus Coker, who averaged 6.4 yards a carry last season but missed two games because of injury. With the top three receivers gone, the Vols must solidify a running attack to take some pressure off of quarterback Eric Ainge.

Who to watch: Quarterback Ainge.  With loads of experience and a powerful, accurate arm, Ainge seems to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league if not the nation. He completed a school record 67 percent of his passes last season and threw only nine interceptions to 19 touchdowns.  But Ainge loses his three top receivers, two to graduation and one to the NFL.  It will be interesting to see how a new receiving corps progresses through the season.

Quotable: It’s been two years since Tennessee ended that tumultuous season, but Fulmer still hears about it.  The 2005 season, in which the Vols went 5-6, was his worst in 15 seasons at Tennessee. It was the first losing season for a Tennessee team since 1988.  “ ’05 was a shocking football season to me as a head football coach and to our program,” Fulmer said. “To our credit, the selfishness that had creeped in, the distractions that had come up, we have eliminated those things.”  UT went 9-4 last season.

Prediction: An SEC East crown.  If Ainge can stay healthy, the Vols will be back in Atlanta for the first time since 2004 with a shot at a Bowl Championship Series game on the line.

 

SportsMemo: Tennessee over Cal

Here’s the link.

Tennessee +4.5

Revenge this, revenge that.  Cal couldn’t compete with the big boys from the SEC last year.  Don’t be fooled by the 345-18 final score of that whipping – it was 35-3 after three quarters, complete and utter domination.  I’m not convinced that things are going to be much better for the Bears this time around.  The Bears are just 4-6 ATS as a home favorite over the last two years.  Their defense was susceptible to power rushing games all year – Washington, UCLA, Texas A+M and yes, these same Volunteers all enjoyed success on the ground against their vulnerable front seven.  The front seven looks worse, not better, heading into 2007, and they lost their best cornerback to the NFL (Daymeion Hughes), leaving a redshirt frosh his projected replacement.

 

Tennessee has a senior quarterback in Erik Ainge.  They went 4-1 on the road last year, and have road wins over LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama and Miami-FL over the last few seasons; 8-3 ATS in their last eleven tries as underdogs.  While I’ve had my share of concerns about Phil Fulmer’s coaching acumen in recent seasons, the talent level in Knoxville hasn’t dropped off one iota.  A good (not great) team from the SEC shouldn’t be catching this many points against a good (not great) team from the PAC-10 – there is a class difference between these two conferences for every team except USC.  Let’s not forget that Fulmer gets his team prepared – Tennessee has won twelve consecutive openers.  First Lean: Tennessee +

City of Berkeley Stubbornly Ignores the Facts

Note from Blog Editor: Despite findings by the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Geological Survey that the proposed athletic center won’t be constructed on top of the Hayward fault, the City of Berkeley, through ultra-leftist PR spokesgirl Mary Kay Clunies-Ross, continues to assert that “there is strong evidence that this is not a safe place for the training center."

I’m sure that Mary Kay would love to hear from all Cal fans. Here’s her contact information:

Mary Kay Clunies-Ross

Public Information Officer

(510) 981-7008

mclunies-ross@ci.berkeley.ca.us

(If you get voicemail, leave a message; she’s probably sitting up in one of the “old growth” oak trees with accused felon Zackary Running Wolf, or she could be out helping mayor Tom Bates destroy unflattering Daily Cal issues).

SF Chronicle: City says UC wants facility to please football coach

Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer

UC Berkeley's plan to build an athletic training facility next to Memorial Stadium is unsafe, illegal and is going forward only to please football coach Jeff Tedford, according to a city of Berkeley court brief released Tuesday.  The city also told the court in papers filed Monday that it is unswayed by the university's most recent seismic tests, which show that the training facility is not on an earthquake fault.  "There is strong evidence that this is not a safe place for the training center," said city spokeswoman Mary Kay Clunies-Ross. "We're still very confident about our lawsuit."  UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor Nathan Brostrom denied Berkeley's allegation, saying stadium improvement plans were in the works long before head football coach Jeff Tedford came to Berkeley in 2001.  The city, stadium neighbors and oak tree advocates have all filed suit against the university over its plans to build a $120 million athletic training facility next to Memorial Stadium. The city and Panoramic Hill neighborhood association both claim the facility would be too close to the Hayward Fault, endangering thousands who live, work and visit the area for football games, and the California Oak Foundation is protesting the removal of several dozen trees, including 26 coast live oaks.  The suit will be tried in Alameda County Superior Court Sept. 19, about three weeks after the No. 11-ranked Cal football team's home opener against No. 24 Tennessee. The game has been sold out for weeks and will be televised nationally.  As the trial date nears, tensions are rising on both sides. The city and university are trading accusations, trying to win the public relations battle as football season and the trial date loom.  Meanwhile, about half a dozen protesters remain perched in the oak and redwood trees next to the stadium, where they've been since Dec. 1. The group recently came under fire from the university for lopping limbs off some of the trees to expand their tree houses. The protesters said they were removing dead branches to improve the trees' health.

The university offered informally to settle the suit last month by halving the size of a proposed 900-space parking garage and planting two young trees and one mature tree for every one that's removed.  The university said it wanted to settle because it was confident that its latest seismic tests prove the new facility is not on the Hayward Fault. The city argued that the tests are irrelevant because the fault is less than 50 feet away and the facility is an addition to the stadium, which is on the fault.  The U.S. Geological Survey gave the latest seismic report a positive review, but when the city said the report was irrelevant, the university filed a state Public Records Act request for documents related to the report, the USGS review and the city's response.  The report, which the university is not submitting in the lawsuit, was completed in the spring, after the environmental impact report was finished and after the university's regents approved the project.  The new training facility would provide offices, locker rooms and training rooms for football and 13 other sports. The long-range plan calls for all employees, athletes and coaches who currently use 83-year-old Memorial Stadium on a daily basis to relocate to the new facility while the stadium is retrofitted. Some would move back to the stadium.  "The truth is, the football team will be going from mediocre, sub-standard facilities to excellent facilities," said Brostrom. "But many teams, like women's softball, will be going from no facilities to excellent facilities."  The women's softball team, which four years ago won a national championship, has no lockers. Players change in their cars, he said. Ultimately the issue could affect the university's compliance with Title IX, a federal law that says women's sports must have resources comparable to those of men's sports, he said.  Delays due to the lawsuits have cost the University $6 million to $8 million in rising construction costs, he said. If the court rules in UC Berkeley's favor, construction on the new facility would begin in mid-November, following Cal's final home game.

 

Contra Costa Times:Cal training facility land not on fault, geologists say

State and federal geologists' conclusion that the site is not atop the Hayward fault may not affect Berkeley lawsuit

By Kristin Bender

BERKELEY -- The U.S. Geological Survey and the California Geological Survey have confirmed earlier conclusions that UC Berkeley's proposed athletic center would not be constructed on top of the Hayward fault, according to letters from the agencies released Tuesday by the university.  But that new information may not matter to a judge deciding a city lawsuit against the university because it is not part of the official court record. The lawsuit is headed to trial in Alameda County Superior Court in Hayward on Sept. 19. The city of Berkeley in December sued the University of California Board of Regents in an attempt to halt the plan to build a $125 million sports training complex because it says the site is on the Hayward fault. The USGS has said the Hayward fault has a 25 percent chance of triggering a major quake by 2030. The release of the letters comes just days after the city filed its opening brief in the lawsuit to stop the building of the student training center.  The brief argues that the university did not adequately analyze the environmental and safety aspects of the project or give adequate consideration to alternatives or mitigation measures.  It also argues that UC's approval of the center violates the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act, a state law that bans construction of public buildings near active earthquake faults. But an analysis by Oakland-based Geomatrix Consultants Inc. -- hired by the university -- found no traces of the fault under the sports training center construction site, which is about 100 yards west of Memorial Stadium.

Still, the city wanted the USGS and the California Geological Survey to review the reports and weigh in.  After review, government geologists suggested additional tests before issuing a ruling. Geomatrix completed a second study or "addendum" in May.  Although that addendum is not part of the official record for the court case, the university says the study is further proof that the area is earthquake safe.  "We've made the results of the second Geomatrix study to the court only because they affirm all of the findings in the original environmental impact report, which was what the UC Regents relied upon when they approved the project," campus spokesman Dan Mogulof said.  But the city's interpretation of the findings and the university's interpretation differ. City of Berkeley spokeswoman Mary Kay Clunies-Ross said it is still for the court to decide.  "It is still for the courts to weigh and measure as part of the lawsuit,'' she said. "We are still very confident in the lawsuit.''  Retrofitting the stadium and building the sports training facility give the university more leverage in keeping head football coach Jeff Tedford in Berkeley.  The multimillion-dollar, 142,000-square-foot underground training facility would be used by 13 athletic teams. The university is also planning to retrofit 84-year-old seismically unsound Memorial Stadium, which straddles the fault.