Cal Bears Football Off To a Good Start
OK…so the critics said “they will finish behind the Trojans”. I ask, will they? This is a real good Cal Bears Football team. I was at the Maryland game, and the score didn’t really tell the story, as Cal dominated from the first quarter on. This past week versus Eastern Washington, another repeat dominating performance. This is a good team. On October 3rd we will be in for a “showdown” game against USC at Memorial Stadium, and if you do not have your tickets, forget it. Sold Out!
So what kind of a team is this year’s version of Cal Bears Football? First, they are very, very fast as a team, and the quickness shows up on both offense and defense. Their offensive line moves to the defensive line almost before the defense is set. Then, this group of quick backs, led by Jahvid Best, a legitimate Heisman trophy candidate, is through the line and into the linebackers and secondary before the defense can react. Really quick.
The defensive unit is equally as fast, and again, almost running to the ball as fast as the offensive running backs. In fact, on one sweep, the Maryland backs, and they were good, could not outrun the linebackers. These guys are quick and will prove difficult for every offensive line they will face this year.
The pass receivers for Cal were all over the place. Using multiple formations, it is almost as if the defense doesn’t know where they are going to come at them. Again, very quick and really hard to cover. QB Riley is greatly improved from last year, and he can choose between any one of the four receivers on most plays, and one of those fast wideouts seems to get open on almost every pass play. It is really fun to watch, for the receivers run as if they are “wound up”, with the corners chasing hopelessly, it seems. To stop these swift receivers is going to require a very fast secondary. Slow defensive backs will allow a lot of points, especially if Riley is on target.
Where is the team weak, is a good question. Probably in the defensive line, as they are not the “giants” that some of the Big 10 teams will field. If the opposing team is a big and strong running team, the Bears may be at a disadvantage. Hopefully they can make up for the size issue with speed, which they have done in both of the opening games.
Well, the season really kicks off this week with Pac 10 competition beginning, and in the next few weeks we will see just how good this Bears team is against good competition. My sense is that if they can keep healthy; keep the speedy guys in there; and avoid the injuries, this can be a championship contending team. And, they are really a fun team to watch, with a great variety of plays and sets…just a good football team. Go Bears!
Ron Largent
September 16, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
PAC 10 Report...Cal vs. Maryland Sept 5th
PAC 10 Report
Cal Bears Plays Maryland for the Season Opener
Ron Largent Sept 1, 2009
California will kick off its 114th season of football at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Maryland at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. The contest will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
The Golden Bears begin a promising 2009 campaign looking to extend current streaks of seven straight winning seasons, six consecutive post-season appearances and four bowl victories in a row - the latter two school records.
In the first seven seasons under head coach Jeff Tedford, the Bears' 59-30 record is their best seven-year stretch in nearly a century since a seven-year run under legendary head coach Andy Smith when the Wonder Teams posted a 57-4-5 mark from 1918-24. The team's 59 wins over the past seven seasons are also the second most in the Pac-10 behind USC.
Enthusiasm for the 2009 season is high in Berkeley with the Golden Bears featuring one of the nation's top Heisman Trophy candidates in junior tailback Jahvid Best and an experienced starting quarterback in junior Kevin Riley. A total of four players have earned preseason All-American honors and been named to national watch lists: Best, senior defensive lineman Tyson Alualu, sophomore punter Bryan Anger and senior defensive back Syd'Quan Thompson.
The team's defense returns eight of 11 starters, including its entire defensive line and defensive backfield, from a year ago. All told, Cal has 17 starters back with seven on offense and two specialists accompanying the eight on defense.
Cal Ranked No. 12 Nationally
Cal heads into the 2009 campaign ranked No. 12 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' preseason polls. Since Jeff Tedford took over as head coach in 2002, the only time the Bears were rated higher in the preseason by AP came in 2006 when Cal was listed at No. 9. The Bears were also ranked 12th by AP in 2007, while they were voted 12th by the coaches twice previously, before the 2003 and 2006 campaigns.
For Openers
Cal has an all-time record of 70-39-4 in season-openers and has won its first contest of the season in four of the last five years. Jeff Tedford is 5-2 in season-openers as the Bears' head coach and has never lost a season-opener at home, sporting a 4-0 mark in those contests - 2002 (70-22 vs. Baylor), 2005 (41-3 vs. Sacramento State), 2007 (45-31 vs. Tennessee) and 2008 (38-31 vs. Michigan State).
Cal-Maryland Series Notes
Cal and Maryland met for the first time last year when the Terps came up with a 35-27 victory on Sept. 13, 2008, in College Park, Maryland. The loss was the first of the campaign for Cal after it had opened the season with two victories. Kevin Riley's 423 yards in the air were the fourth-most ever by a Cal player, while his 58 attempts (33 completions) set a school record.
2009 Training Camp A Success
California conducted 24 practice sessions over 23 days during a successful 2009 training camp that culminated with approximately 5,000 fans attending Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 29. The line to get an autograph from junior tailback Jahvid Best extended nearly 140 yards at its peak.
Blueout
Fans are encouraged to "Be True, Wear Blue" for the Blue Out of the season-opener against Maryland at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5. For more information, visit CalBears.com/blueout.
Cal Picked Second In Pac-10 Preseason Media Poll
California has been picked to finish second in the 2009 Pac-10 preseason poll of media members who regularly cover the league for the fifth time in the last six years. USC was the media's preseason choice to win the conference title for an eighth consecutive season (Cal shared the conference crown in 2006). The Trojans were listed in the top spot by 28 of the 32 voters participating in the poll, while Cal claimed three of the four other first-place votes. Oregon (one first-place vote) was picked third and followed by Oregon State, Arizona State, Stanford, UCLA, Arizona, Washington and Washington State.
Preseason Honors
Cal players have received multiple honors prior to the 2009 season. The first-team preseason All-American selections of Bryan Anger, Jahvid Best and Syd'Quan Thompson highlight the list, while Tyson Alualu was an honorable mention preseason All-American choice. All four are also on preseason watch lists for various awards. A list of compiled 2009 honors is in the box on this page.
All of the above is from various internet sources, with no guarantee of its correctness, validity, or accurateness.
Cal Bears Plays Maryland for the Season Opener
Ron Largent Sept 1, 2009
California will kick off its 114th season of football at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Maryland at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. The contest will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
The Golden Bears begin a promising 2009 campaign looking to extend current streaks of seven straight winning seasons, six consecutive post-season appearances and four bowl victories in a row - the latter two school records.
In the first seven seasons under head coach Jeff Tedford, the Bears' 59-30 record is their best seven-year stretch in nearly a century since a seven-year run under legendary head coach Andy Smith when the Wonder Teams posted a 57-4-5 mark from 1918-24. The team's 59 wins over the past seven seasons are also the second most in the Pac-10 behind USC.
Enthusiasm for the 2009 season is high in Berkeley with the Golden Bears featuring one of the nation's top Heisman Trophy candidates in junior tailback Jahvid Best and an experienced starting quarterback in junior Kevin Riley. A total of four players have earned preseason All-American honors and been named to national watch lists: Best, senior defensive lineman Tyson Alualu, sophomore punter Bryan Anger and senior defensive back Syd'Quan Thompson.
The team's defense returns eight of 11 starters, including its entire defensive line and defensive backfield, from a year ago. All told, Cal has 17 starters back with seven on offense and two specialists accompanying the eight on defense.
Cal Ranked No. 12 Nationally
Cal heads into the 2009 campaign ranked No. 12 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' preseason polls. Since Jeff Tedford took over as head coach in 2002, the only time the Bears were rated higher in the preseason by AP came in 2006 when Cal was listed at No. 9. The Bears were also ranked 12th by AP in 2007, while they were voted 12th by the coaches twice previously, before the 2003 and 2006 campaigns.
For Openers
Cal has an all-time record of 70-39-4 in season-openers and has won its first contest of the season in four of the last five years. Jeff Tedford is 5-2 in season-openers as the Bears' head coach and has never lost a season-opener at home, sporting a 4-0 mark in those contests - 2002 (70-22 vs. Baylor), 2005 (41-3 vs. Sacramento State), 2007 (45-31 vs. Tennessee) and 2008 (38-31 vs. Michigan State).
Cal-Maryland Series Notes
Cal and Maryland met for the first time last year when the Terps came up with a 35-27 victory on Sept. 13, 2008, in College Park, Maryland. The loss was the first of the campaign for Cal after it had opened the season with two victories. Kevin Riley's 423 yards in the air were the fourth-most ever by a Cal player, while his 58 attempts (33 completions) set a school record.
2009 Training Camp A Success
California conducted 24 practice sessions over 23 days during a successful 2009 training camp that culminated with approximately 5,000 fans attending Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 29. The line to get an autograph from junior tailback Jahvid Best extended nearly 140 yards at its peak.
Blueout
Fans are encouraged to "Be True, Wear Blue" for the Blue Out of the season-opener against Maryland at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5. For more information, visit CalBears.com/blueout.
Cal Picked Second In Pac-10 Preseason Media Poll
California has been picked to finish second in the 2009 Pac-10 preseason poll of media members who regularly cover the league for the fifth time in the last six years. USC was the media's preseason choice to win the conference title for an eighth consecutive season (Cal shared the conference crown in 2006). The Trojans were listed in the top spot by 28 of the 32 voters participating in the poll, while Cal claimed three of the four other first-place votes. Oregon (one first-place vote) was picked third and followed by Oregon State, Arizona State, Stanford, UCLA, Arizona, Washington and Washington State.
Preseason Honors
Cal players have received multiple honors prior to the 2009 season. The first-team preseason All-American selections of Bryan Anger, Jahvid Best and Syd'Quan Thompson highlight the list, while Tyson Alualu was an honorable mention preseason All-American choice. All four are also on preseason watch lists for various awards. A list of compiled 2009 honors is in the box on this page.
All of the above is from various internet sources, with no guarantee of its correctness, validity, or accurateness.
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