Twelve Straight: J.J. Arrington's Tremendous 2004 Season

J.J. Arrington had the greatest season for a running back in California Golden Bear history in 2004. He set a school record for consecutive 100-yard games, recording 12 in his 2,000 plus yard season for the Bears. Among other things he set the record for most carries in a season (289), most total net yards (2,139), and most rushing touchdowns (15), which has been since tied up by Jahvid Best. 

While Arrington will not go down as the greatest running back in Golden Bear history, Arrington will be known by Golden Bear fans as having the greatest season from a running back in school history. His season was better than those of Marshawn Lynch, Jahvid Best, Russell White, and Chuck Muncie.

Here's a look at Arrington's 2004 season. 

Game 1: @ Air Force

The Bears opened their season on September 4, 2004 on the road against the Air Force Falcons. The Bears made short work of the Falcons, winning 56-14. 

Arrington had 16 carries for 181 yards, good for a 11.31 YPC (yards per carry) average, and three touchdowns. 

Game 2: New Mexico State

The Bears' home opener came on September 11, 2004, and Cal did not disappoint. Like Air Force, the Bears made quick work of New Mexico State, and Arrington again had a huge day. 

He had 16 carries for 177 yards, a 11.06 YPC average, and three touchdowns. 

Game 3: @ Oregon State

The Bears went back on the road this time to face the Oregon State Beavers in Corvallis. For the third straight game, the Bears did not have much of a challenge, winning 49-7. 

Arrington had a season-high 22 carries for 108 yards, a 4.91 yards per carry average, and a touchdown. 

Game 4: @ No. 1 University of Southern California

The toughest game of the season turned into a heart wrenching loss. Cal QB Aaron Rodgers carved the USC defense up, and it looked like he was going to engineer a tremendous gam- winning drive, but the Bears came up just short and lost 23-17. 

Arrington was effective carrying the ball for 21 times and 112 yards, which was good for a 5.33 yards per carry, and he did not find the end zone that day. 

Game 5: UCLA

Even though the loss to the Trojans was disappointing, the Bears did not let that affect their season and returned home to play the UCLA Bruins. The Bears won 45-28, and Arrington had a huge game running the football. 

He had a season-high 29 carries for 205 yards (7.07 yards per carry), and two touchdowns. 

Game 6: @ Arizona

Again the Bears were on the road, this time to face the Arizona Wildcats. Like the other road games, the Bears made quick work of the Wildcats and recorded a 38-0 shutout. 

Arrington had 24 carries for 135 yards, good for a 5.63 yards per carry average, and a touchdown. 

Game 7: No. 19 Arizona State

The Bears returned home to square off against the No. 19 Arizona State Sun Devils. Even though the Sun Devils were ranked, the Bears recorded their second-straight shutout, winning 27-0.

Arrington had a season-high 30 carries for 188 yards, a 6.27 yards per carry average, and a touchdown.  

Game 8: University of Oregon

For the first time in the 2004 season, the Bears were at home in consecutive weeks. Another shutout was not in the works, but a fantastic game against the Oregon Ducks took place with the Bears pulling out the 28-27 victory.

Arrington recorded 188 yards on 26 carries, which gave him a 7.23 yards per carry average, and he also scored a touchdown. 

Game 9: @ Washington

After the thrilling victory over Oregon in Berkeley, the Bears returned to the road to face the Washington Huskies. There was no letdown game for the Bears, and yet again the Bears throttled a road opponent, this time winning 42-16. 

Arrington had 22 carries for 121 yards, a 5.5 yards per carry average, and a touchdown. 

Game 10: Stanford

Against rival Stanford at home, the Bears again made quick work of an opponent with a 41-6 win.

Arrington had 27 carries for 169 yards, a 6.26 yards per carry average, and a touchdown. 

Game 11: Southern Mississippi University

This game was going to be earlier in the season for the Bears, but due to Hurricane Ivan the game date was moved to much later in the season. USM was a tough matchup for the Bears, but Cal came away with a 26-16 win. 

Arrington had a huge night, setting a season high in carries (31) and yards (261), for a 8.62 yards per carry average. He did not find the end zone. 

Game 12: No. 18 Texas Tech

The word letdown is what best describes the Bears' end of the season. This was the year that Mack Brown did his best to sell the University of Texas, so the Bears ended up not playing in one of the bigger bowl games and instead faced Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl. 

It was a disappointing end to the season, as the Bears lost for the second time all year, 45-31. Arrington had a great game with 25 carries and 173 yards, good for 6.92 yards per carry, and a touchdown. 

Notes on Arrington's Season

Arrington mixed with the other great running backs of late

Totals for Arrington: 289 carries, 2,018 yards, 6.98 yards per carry average, and 15 touchdowns. 

USC and Southern Mississippi were the only teams to keep Arrington out of the end zone. 

Scored three touchdowns against Air Force and New Mexico Stat.

Had two games of 30 plus carries, three games with 25 plus carries, four games with 20 plus carries, and only two games with less than 20 carries. 

Two games of over 200 yards

Six games of over 150 yards.

One game under 110 yards.

Zero games under 100 yards.