Pickin' Splinters » California Golden Bears

This Date in College Football Belt History – October 6

Casey — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:04:02 +0000

October 6, 1990

San Jose State at California

First-year coach Terry Shea brought the 3-1-1 San Jose State Spartans to Berkley to meet the 2-2 California Golden Bears of coach Bruce Snyder. California’s All-Pac 10 RB Russell White rushed for 162 yards with a touchdown & RB Anthony Wallace rushed for 143 yards with 2 touchdowns after newspapers quoted the San Jose State defensive players saying they would hold the Golden Bears to negative yards rushing. The Golden Bears still had to survive an unsuccessful 2-point conversion attempt to retain The Belt with a 35-34 victory over the Spartans. California scored just 56 seconds into the game after San Jose State’s P Eric Negrey fumbled the snap on a punt attempt. Wallace scored his first touchdown seconds later on a 2-yard run. The Spartans responded with their own scoring drive highlighted by a 65-yard pass from QB Ralph Martini to WR Bobby Blackmon. Martini finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to WR Maceo Barbosa to tie the game at 7-7. Late in the 1^st quarter, California got the lead back with a 31-yard touchdown pass from QB Mike Pawlawski to WR Mike Caldwell but the Spartans quickly tied the game at 14-14 when RB Sheldon Canley scored on a 4-yard run. Early in the 2^nd quarter, San Jose State took their only lead of the game with Martini throwing a 26-yard touchdown pass to WR David Blakes before Wallace scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run sending the teams to halftime tied at 21-21. In the 3^rd quarter, White scored on a 10-yard touchdown run & set-up another touchdown with a spectacular 27-yard run on which he reversed field after nearly being forced out of bounds. Pawlawski’s 5-yard touchdown pass to WR Brian Treggs put the Golden Bears up 35-21 entering the 4^th quarter. Wallace fumbled at the California 6-yard line & the Spartans scored on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Martini to Barbosa making the score California 35 San Jose State 28 with 4:27 left in the game. When the Spartans got the ball back, Martini hit Canley on a short pass over the middle that Canley turned into a 53-yard touchdown pass with 2:23 left to play. San Jose State chose to play for the win but the pass on the 2-point conversion attempt fell incomplete & the Golden Bears held on for the win. Pawlawski finished with 160 yard passing with 2 touchdowns as the Golden Bears held the ball for 37:07 of the game. Martini threw for 300 yards with 4 touchdowns; Canley rushed for 108 yards with his 2 scores, & Blackmon had 4 catches for 112 yards. California finished the season 7-4-1 while the Spartans finished 9-2-1 & Big West Champions. San Jose State would play for The Belt again in 1993.

The College Football Belt

College Hoops Countdown | #14 California

Casey — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:43:52 +0000

Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.

‘08 – ’09 Results: 22 – 11 (11 – 7 Pac 10) Lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Maryland, 84 – 71.

Coach Mike Montgomery: 22 -11 (1 year at Cal) 569 – 255 overall (27 seasons)

Key Returners:

Jamal Boykin – 9.6ppg, 6.4rpg

Harper Kamp – 3.8ppg, 3.2rpg

Theo Robertson – 13.1ppg, 3.9rpg

Patrick Christopher – 14.5ppg, 3.8rpg

Jerome Randle – 18.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 5.0apg

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/19 vs. Syracuse, 11/20 vs. North Carolina or Ohio State, 11/29 vs. Princeton, 12/5 vs. Iowa State, 12/22 at Kansas

Stat of Identity: 42.7% three-point field goal percentage – #1 in the country.

By Paul Gotham

The list of teams from major conferences starting four seniors and a junior is short. Add to that a coach who has taken a team to a Final Four, and the list gets even shorter. Yet that is the situation with the Golden Bears.

Tow years ago Cal finished 16-17 and watched the post-season action. Veteran coach, Mike Montgomery was signed, and the Golden Bears reversed their fortunes qualifying for last year’s NCAA tournament. With the pieces in place, California has a chance to make it through the first weekend of play in this year’s tournament.

Pre-season Naismith candidates, Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle lead a California squad which four starters and their top five scorers.

Those expecting the Golden Bears to play like Montgomery’s Stanford teams are in for a surprise. Under Montgomery, the Cardinal annually finished near the top of the rebounding margin stat. The Golden Bears light it up from the outside. Christopher connected on 36% (48-134), Randle hit 46% (82-177), and Theo Robertson dropped 49% (56-115).

After those three, the numbers drop off from long range, but Jamal Boykin, Jorge Gutierrez, and Harper Kamp are capable of finishing when needed.

The Pac 10 could be in for a transformation with California and Washington battling it out for the top spot.

This Date in College Football Belt History – October 9

Casey — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:26:54 +0000

The top-ranked, 4-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach Pete Carroll welcomed the 7^th ranked, 3-0 California Golden Bears of coach Jeff Tedford to the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Golden Bears were 2-time Belt champions & were the last team to defeat the Trojans, winning 34-31 in triple-overtime the previous season. The Trojans were riding a 13-game winning streak & had beat California in their two previous Belt match-ups. Southern Cal survived an outstanding defense performance by the Golden Bears & furious final drive led by All-Pac 10 QB Aaron Rodgers for a 23-17 victory. California saw their opening drive come to a quick end when Southern Cal’s RB Desmond Reed tackled Golden Bears’ P David Lonie after the punter mishandled a low snap giving the Trojans the ball at the Cal 31-yard line. Southern Cal’s Heisman Trophy winning, All-American QB Matt Leinart went to work hitting 5 of 7 passes on the 9-play scoring drive. Leinart hit RB LenDale White on the 5-yard touchdown pass as Southern Cal took a 7-0 lead. Cal’s next drive was stopped on by a 4^th down fumble by Rodgers that was recovered by Trojans’ All-Pac 10 DT Mike Patterson. Seven plays later, Southern Cal had a 10-0 lead after the 31-yard field goal from PK Ryan Killeen. The Golden Bears were finally able to hold on to the ball long enough to get a 39-yard field goal from PK Tom Schneider. Things got even worse for California when CB Tim Mixon fumbled a punt & Trojans’ CB Eric Wright recovered for Southern Cal at the Cal 16-yard line. The Trojans could not move the ball & settled for a 33-yard field goal from Killeen giving them a 13-3 advantage. Rodgers finally got the Golden Bears offense rolling with a 9-play, 80-yard drive resulting in a 20-yard touchdown pass to All-Pac 10 WR Geoff McArthur. With 1:37 left in the half, Leinart was still able to drive the Trojans to the Cal 24-yard line setting up a 42-yard field goal from Killeen as Southern Cal took a 16-10 lead to the locker room. To open the 2^nd half, Leinart hit 3 of 4 passes with WR Dwayne Jarrett making the catch on the 16-yard touchdown pass for a 23-10 Southern Cal lead. The Golden Bears seemed to settle down at halftime & Rodgers directed a 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by RB Marshawn Lynch scoring on a 2-yard run. Trojans’ All-Pac 10 RB Reggie Bush returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards to the California 16-yard line but Golden Bears’ CB Harrison Smith intercepted a Leinart pass at the goal line keeping the Trojans from adding to their lead. On the first play of the 4^th quarter, Rodgers’ second fumble of the game gave the ball back to Southern Cal but their failed 4^th down conversion kept the Golden Bears’ hopes alive. California then drove 52 yards but Schneider’s 36-yard field goal attempt was wide right. The Golden Bears’ defense forced a punt & Rodgers had 4:31 to travel 65 yards for the go-ahead score. Rodgers scrambled for 14 yards to open the drive & completed his next pass to WR Burl Toler for a 2-yard gain. Rodgers hit McArthur for an 11-yard gain & a first down at the Southern Cal 49-yard line. California’s All-American RB J.J. Arrington got 11 yards on the next snap for another first down & his 1-yard run gave the Golden Bears a 2 & 9 at the Southern Cal 26-yard line. Rodgers then hit McArthur for 17 yards as the Golden Bears now had the ball at the Southern Cal 9-yard line with 1:47 to play. After an incomplete pass, Trojans’ DT Manuel Wright sacked Rodgers for a 5-yard loss. Facing 3^rd & goal from the Southern Cal 14-yard line, Rodgers’ pass for McArthur fell incomplete & the Golden Bears called their final timeout with 1:21 to play. On 4^th & goal from the 14-yard line Rodgers tried again to hit McArthur but as the receiver made his cut, he appeared to slip slightly & the pass missed his outstretched hands. Southern Cal had the 23-17 win to extend their win streak as well as their Belt reign. The Cal defense had held the explosive Trojans offense to 41 yards rushing & 164 yards passing while the offense used 37:11 time of possession to dominate the box score in all aspects except points. Leinart finished with 164 yards passing with his 2 touchdowns but he did throw an interception & was sacked 4 times. Rodgers finished completing 29 of 34 passes for 267 yards with a touchdown but he was sacked 5 times & fumbled twice. Arrington had 112 yards rushing & McArthur added 7 catches for 101 yards to his score. Southern Cal finished the season 13-0; Pac 10 Champions & National Champions while the Golden Bears finished 10-2 & ranked 9^th nationally. California would play for The Belt again in 2005.

The College Football Belt

This Date in College Football Belt History – October 6

Casey — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:24:05 +0000

The College Football Belt

Performance Of The Week 9/14-9/20

Casey — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:09:48 +0000

AP Photo/Paul Battaglia

Some records are made to be broken. Others are meant to be tied. At least that was the case yesterday at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Jahvid Best led the Calfornia Golden Bears to a road victory over the Minnesota Gophers, 35-21. Best’s effort earns my POTW.

Best rushed for 131 yards on 26 carries – an average of 5 yards per carry. But that doesn’t earn the POTW. Best crossed the goal line five times Saturday afternoon tying a school record established in 1921 by Duke Morrison.

The Vallejo, California native scored on runs of 33, 27, and a trio of 2-yard runs.

Thus far, the 5’10″ Best has eight touchdowns along with 412 yards on 53 rushes.

Who gets your POTW?

This Date in College Football Belt History – September 4

Casey — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:08:34 +0000

The UCLA Bruins of coach Terry Donahue opened the season against the California Golden Bears of coach Keith Gilbertson. California’s QB Dave Barr threw 3 touchdown passes but it was two failed 2-point conversion attempts by UCLA that spelled the difference in a 27-25 Golden Bear victory to claim The Belt. The win gave the Golden Bears The Belt for the second time & first since 1990. The Golden Bears got on the board after S Matt Clizbe returned a Bruins’ punt 33 yards to the UCLA 38-yard line &, 2 plays later, Barr found WR Mike Caldwell open for a 40-yard touchdown pass. On Clizbe’s next punt return he fumbled with UCLA’s S Travis Collier recovering at the California 24-yard line. The turnover set-up a 36-yard field goal by All-American PK Bjorn Merten but the Bruins still trailed 7-3. The Golden Bears then put together a 6-play, 63-yard drive with Barr connecting with Caldwell from 36 yards for a 14-3 advantage heading into the 2^nd quarter. Another field goal by Merten, this on from 30 yards, opened the 2^nd quarter but California countered with a 27-yard field goal from PK Doug Brien for a 17-6 lead. The Bruins finally got into the end zone on their next drive, an 8-play, 76-yard effort with RB Daron Washington scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run with just 2:26 left in the half. California was not done as they drove 76 yards in 2:14 with Barr hitting TE Brian Remington for a 6-yard touchdown giving the Golden Bears a 24-13 lead at intermission. The only points of the 3^rd quarter came with just 0:20 left when UCLA’s QB Wayne Cook threw to All-American WR J.J. Stokes for a 5-yard touchdown pass on a drive helped by an excessive celebration penalty against California when the defense thought they had stopped a third down play. The Bruins tried for a 2-point conversion after the touchdown but, in spite of a diving attempt, Stokes was unable to hold on to Cook’s pass & UCLA still trailed 24-19. Brien’s 23-yard field goal pushed the California lead back to 8 points at 27-19 with 5:48 left in the game but kept the Bruins with hopes of a tie. UCLA drove 80 yards in 7 plays with RB Skip Hicks breaking loose on his second carry as a collegian for a 40-yard touchdown run. Again, the Bruins tried for the 2-point conversion but Cook’s pass to Stokes this time was over his head & the Golden Bears led 27-25 with 3:05 to play. UCLA had a last chance with the ball at their own 17-yard line with 1:36 to play & no timeouts. The Bruins drove to the California 20-yard line before the Golden Bears’ All-Pac 10 S Eric Zomalt intercepted a Cook pass with just 0:15 left. Barr finished with 213 yards passing with 3 touchdowns while RB Lindsey Chapman added 160 yards rushing. For UCLA, Cook threw for 230 yards with a touchdown while Stokes had 7 catches for 106 yards with his touchdown. The Bruins finished the season 8-4; Pac 10 Co-Champs, ranked 18^th nationally while the Golden Bears finished 9-4 & ranked 25^th nationally. UCLA would play for The Belt again in 6 weeks.

The College Football Belt