Year of the Golden Bear?

Since the dawning of the Tedford era in 2002, Cal football has enjoyed a new level of success never before experienced by the program. Despite not being accustomed to having a consistent bowl-bound team, there are plenty of reasons to be proud of the program over the last seven years. Recruiting has taken off, as suddenly some of the nation’s best talent want to become Golden Bears, the coach who could easily take an NFL offer is committed to the program, individuals on the team receive All-America honors each season, the school is underway on a project to enhance the stadium, and people are walking around Telegraph Avenue decked out in Cal attire. The Tedford era has revolutionized an athletic program at a school known more for its Nobel Prize winners and hippie past… err hippies… than athletic prowess.

Now when college football faithful bring up a discussion of top contenders, Cal is inevitably thrown into the mix. Just ask ESPN analyst Lee Corso – he picked the Golden Bears to win it all last season. That being said, Cal has yet to cross the chasm, to get over the hump and reach the “elite” status of college football powerhouses like USC or Ohio State. Over the last several years, Cal has been good, no doubt. But great? No. Cal has yet to make it to a BCS game, which begs the question, is this the year Cal breaks through and proves it truly belongs to be considered as an upper echelon team? Is this the season “Cal” is uttered in January in the same breath as “Florida,” “Oklahoma,” and “Texas”?

It’s about this time each year that Cal fans start getting excited about the upcoming season. Oregon is week 4, USC week 5, and Stanford just before Thanksgiving. The relative success Cal sees each year builds even greater expectations for the following season - this year is no exception. There is good reason to believe in this year’s team: it’s ranked #12 in the Coaches’ poll and 17 starters return from a 2008 team that went 9-4, including running back Jahvid Best, who’s on uber-Heisman watch.

Why does this all sound a little too familiar though? Where have we seen this formula before? Oh right, the Golden Bears of the past few years – all highly touted heading into the season and soon suffering from internal combustion, only to salvage the season with a mediocre Vegas or underwhelming Holiday Bowl and then high hopes again for the next season. The playlist seems to be on repeat…

In 2005, Cal started 5-0, and then lost to UCLA in a wild game, launching a streak where they dropped 4 of 5 games. Cal recovered from a devastating opener at Tennessee in 2006 to win their next 8 straight, but somehow overlooked USC and fell to… Arizona (and then USC), thus dashing any thoughts of BCS. A huge Holiday Bowl victory showed promise for a strong 2007, but again, after starting 5-0 (and ranked #2 this time), the Bears lost at home to a mediocre Oregon State squad at the last second, sending them into a downward spiral, as they lost 5 of their next 6 games. Finally, plagued by a quarterback controversy and inability to win on the road, 2008 was full of ups and downs. In many of the big games in the past several seasons, Cal has fallen into the habit of playing conservatively. They’ll jump out to a lead, watch it dwindle, soon fall behind and then run out of time playing catch up.

For years now, Cal has been on the brink of becoming a championship-caliber team, but has never seemed to pull it all together. Is this season going to be any different?

Well, maybe. Cal generally has a potent offense. Names like Aaron Rodgers, JJ Arrington, Marshawn Lynch, DeSean Jackson, and Jahvid Best litter the Cal roster year in and year out. Offensive talent isn’t the question; it’s proven to be a matter of putting it all together. Quarterback Kevin Riley is well experienced at this point. Gone are the days of sliding inside the redzone down by 3 with 12 seconds left on the clock and no timeouts (see OSU game 2007). Even though there is a quarterback “competition,” it’s Riley’s job to lose. Cal does not need a flashy, All-American quarterback who throws bombs every other play to carry the team – it needs a solid passer who will be consistent and can convert on third down. Aaron Rodgers earned his stripes by being consistent. Be the rock. Cal history has shown that it's when quarterbacks start losing it that the season goes downhill (see Joe Ayoob in 2005 and Nate Longshore in 2007, 2008 – both lost their jobs... too little too late).

This season, Cal also has a core of young receivers that now have a full year of experience under their belts. Let’s not forget Jahvid Best, the nation’s leading returning rusher (1,580 yards), who averaged 8.1 yards/carry last season while playing half of it hurt. He’s not just a running back; he’s a playmaker, a game changer a la Reggie Bush. In Cal’s recent tradition of a 1-2 punch at the running back position, Best’s backup, Shane Vereen, isn’t too shabby either.

The defense is predicted to be one of the best in the country, particularly the secondary, led by Syd’Quan Thompson. Yes, that same guy that Tennessee picked on as a freshman in 2006 when senior Tim Mixon was hurt a few days prior to the game. He’s all grown up now and receiving national attention. The defensive line has some great returning pass rushers, and despite losing all three starting linebackers from a year ago, Cal is loaded at this position. This season’s guys all flourished last year as second-string options.

So I guess, just like in recent years, this season’s team looks promising. Dare I say Rose Bowl, BCS, whatever you want to call it – bound? The difference between the Emerald Bowl and the BCS is a matter of how it all comes together. Will this be the season Cal realizes its potential and pulls it all together? Solid play from the quarterback, maintain an aggressive edge from start to finish, and avoid the meltdowns, and you’re golden… Bears.