2006 California Golden Bears football team

Cal travelled to Tucson, Arizona Saturday to battle the Arizona Wildcats. The AP ranked #8 Golden Bears went into the game with an 8-1 record, and 6-0 in Pac-10. The Wildcats were 4-5, 2-4 in the Pac-10, coming off of an upset of the then-ranked Washington State Cougars at Pullman the week before. Quarterback Willie Tuitama missed two previous games due to a concussion, and went back in against the Cougars, passing for 159 yards. Junior running back Chris Henry had perhaps the biggest day, running for 94 yards and two touchdowns on a school-record 35 carries. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap;_ylt=AheDt5GIqFWCiqQ_rtUBYK0v1LYF?gid=200611040066] , retrieved on November 8, 2006] Cal has blanked the Wildcats in their last two meetings, 28-0 last year in Berkeley and in 2004 at Tucson, 38-0. Despite a looming, much-anticipated showdown against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18 that will probably decide the Pac-10 championship, Cal quarterback Nate Longshore insisted that they were solely focused on the Wildcats this week. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/preview;_ylt=Aiua4YwSSYdhNjEGXSLUqQNH1LYF?gid=200611110057] , retrieved on November 8, 2006]

A 48-yard punt return by DeSean Jackson was the first score, putting the Bears up 7-0. Arizona got a field goal next, putting them on the board 7-3. Midway through the first quarter, Marshawn Lynch's 79-yard touchdown run was erased by a block-in-the-back call on Lavelle Hawkins, and the Bears had to settle for a field goal. In the middle of the second quarter, Longshore hit Jackson with a 72-yard touchdown pass to put the Bears up 17-3 at the half.

Arizona would drive the clock down on two drives in the second half and get a touchdown on both drives to tie the game at 17. Within the span of three plays on the second of these drives, Cal had two interceptions by Bernard Hicks and Daymeion Hughes nullified by two separate penalties. Hughes later argued that his case should not have given him a pass interference call, as he was just reaching for the ball. On Cal's next drive, with the score now tied, Longshore threw and the ball was intercepted by Arizona's Antione Cason for another score, putting the Wildcats up 24-17.

The Bears would respond in their next series with a long pass to Lavelle Hawkins, but he would trip inside the 5 yard line before reaching the goal. Cal could not capitalize, having to put up a field goal, earning them a four-point deficit 24-20. A stop on the Arizona defense gave the Bears the ball again. Longshore apparently hit Jackson for a 63-yard score with just over two minutes left, but a video review ruled his foot out at the 41-yard line. A few plays later, Longshore's pass was batted and intercepted with less than two minutes to clinch the game for Arizona. The student section wildly rushed the field as Cal was taken out of the national title picture for the season.

While Cal out gained the Wildcats in yardage 356 to 262, and though Longshore passed for 250 yards, his three interceptions turned quite costly, as did all of Cal's penalties on crucial plays. Despite their 17-3 mid-third quarter lead, the Bears just made too many mistakes. Hughes later reflected on the loss, "The whole game was like plays going their way." [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263150012&confId=9] , retrieved on November 11, 2006]

Cal fell to 8-2, 6-1 in the Pac-10 after this loss, and fell nine spots to #17 in the AP Poll, and eight spots in the Coaches Poll to #17. Their BCS ranking decreased seven spots to #15. Despite the upset, they still had a chance to clinch their Rose Bowl bid with a win against the conference leading USC Trojans the next week.

Arizona would finish 6-6, 4-5 in the Pac-10, but despite being eligible, would not be picked for a bowl game. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/schedule?teamId=12&year=2006 2006 Arizona Wildcats results] ]

:"For more information, see Arizona Wildcats"

USC Trojans

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Golden Bears
R1=2
R2=7
R3=0
R4=0
RT=9
Home=Trojans
H1=3
H2=3
H3=3
H4=14
HT=23

berth since 1959.

USC had higher aspirations; they were aiming for their third strip to the BCS National Championship Game, and with Michigan's loss to Ohio State earlier, a sweep of their final three games would guarantee them the #2 seed and a date with the Buckeyes. A win against Cal would at the very least clinch the Rose Bowl.

The Trojans and Bears would struggle to a standstill for three quarters. The Golden Bears would take a 9-6 lead into halftime thanks to a safety by Brandon Mebane and a TD throw from Nate Longshore to Lavelle Hawkins, although the margin could have been bigger if not for two turnovers in USC territory. The Trojans would score one field goal in each of the three quarters to tie the game at 9.

In the fourth quarter, USC would break the game open. Two touchdown passes on two consecutive drives from John David Booty to Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith respectively provided the game's final scoring. Just as critical was USC's defense shutting down Cal's offense in the second half, allowing only four first downs. USC clinched its fifth consecutive Pac-10 title and at least a trip to the Rose Bowl. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/playbyplay?gameId=263220030&period=0 USC-Cal Play-by-Play] ]

Booty struggled in the first half, but went 13 for 19 for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns in the second. Jarrett and Smith combined for 11 catches and 154 yards and the aforementioned two scores. For Cal, Marshawn Lynch was held to 88 yards on 20 carries, and Longshore went 17-38, throwing for 1 touchdown but also 2 interceptions. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263220030 USC-Cal 2006 Recap] ] . The Bears would go into Thanksgiving weekend (their traditional bye week) needing to win The Big Game to wrap up their second Holiday Bowl bid in three years. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/preview;_ylt=AtxnA_.hUQVuFCbsdxW66IbjvbYF?gid=200612020059&prov=ap Cal-Stanford 2006 Preview] ]

Despite the victory, the Trojans would be upset by UCLA in the last week of the season to ruin their BCS title aspirations. This opened the door for the Florida Gators, who beat the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2006 SEC Championship Game to claim a spot in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game against Ohio State. USC would go onto the Rose Bowl, where they would defeat Big Ten runnerup and BCS-ranked #3 Michigan 32-18. The Trojans would finish the season 11-2 and 7-2 in the Pac-10, ranked 4th in both the AP and Coaches Polls.

:"For more information, see 2006 USC Trojans football team"

tanford Cardinal

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cardinal
R1=0
R2=10
R3=7
R4=0
RT=17
Home=Golden Bears
H1=3
H2=10
H3=10
H4=3
HT=26

After being defeated by USC two weeks previous, Cal looked to try and rebound from its two-game losing streak by facing their rivals, the Stanford Cardinal in the 109th Big Game. It was not a particularly strong performance from the Bears, who only managed one offensive touchdown. Nate Longshore threw for 217 yards and one score against a Cardinal defense that had tried their best to stop the California offense. Both Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett were held under 100 yards against a defense that was once the worst in the entire NCAA that season.

However, Tom Schneider kicked four field goals (including tying a school record with a 55 yarder) and Syd'Quan Thompson picked up a fumble recovery for a late first half score, and that was just enough for the Bears to stave off a strong performance from T.J. Ostrander and the hapless one win Cardinal squad. [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/stats/byteam?cat1=defense&conference=I-A_PAC10&year=2006 Pac-10 defense stats]

Since Cal defeated Stanford, and USC was defeated by UCLA the same day, Cal got its first share of the Pac-10 Title since 1975, with Cal and USC both atop the Pac-10 in the final standings. Because USC beat Cal though, the Trojans would be heading to the Rose Bowl while the Golden Bears had to settle for San Diego and the Holiday Bowl. [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap;_ylt=Au8Rh4im82JF87Bam0rOBrBH1LYF?gid=200612020059]

Stanford finished 1-11, 1-8 in the conference and fired their head coach Walt Harris after the season was over. He was replaced by Jim Harbaugh, who would break Cal's dominance over Stanford in the 110th Big Game a year later with a 20-13 Cardinal victory. :"For more information, see Stanford Cardinal"

Texas A&M Aggies

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Aggies
R1=7
R2=3
R3=0
R4=0
RT=10
Home=Golden Bears
H1=7
H2=7
H3=14
H4=17
HT=45

Lynch rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns while the Golden Bear defense was able to hold the Aggie offense to a scoreless second half. Longshore threw for a Touchdown, rushed for one, but also threw an interception while passing for 231 yards in the Golden Bear win. Justin Forsett also ran for 125 yards and scored once himself.

Roster

Awards

ALL-AMERICAN

First Team

Daymeion Hughes, CB: AP, AFCA, ESPN.com, Rivals.com, SI.com, Scout.com

DeSean Jackson, PR: AP, FWAA, ESPN.com, Rivals.com, SI.com, Scout.com

Marshawn Lynch, RB: AFCA

Second Team

Marshawn Lynch, RB: Rivals.com

Third Team

Desmond Bishop, LB: Rivals.com

Brandon Mebane, DT: Rivals.com

Honorable Mention

DeSean Jackson, WR: SI.com

Marshawn Lynch, RB: SI.com

PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Daymeion Hughes, DB: Defensive

Marshawn Lynch, RB: Offensive

LOTT TROPHY RECIPIENT(Nation's best defensive player who also exhibits good character, leadership and community involvement)

Daymeion Hughes, DB

RANDY MOSS AWARD WINNER(Nation's top return man)

DeSean Jackson, PR

ALL-PAC-10

First Team

Daymeion Hughes, DB

DeSean Jackson, WR/PR

Marshawn Lynch, RB

Alex Mack, OL

Second Team

Mike Gibson, OL

Andrew Larson, P

Craig Stevens, TE

Byron Storer, ST

Nu'u Tafisi, DL

Honorable Mention

Andrew Cameron, OL

Zack Follett, LB

Lavelle Hawkins, WR

Robert Jordan, WR

Nate Longshore, QB

Mickey Pimentel, LB

Erik Robertson, OL

ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT

Alex Mack, OL

Byron Storer, RB

PAC-10 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

First Team

Randy Bundy, DB

Byron Storer, RB

Second Team

John Allen, DL

Alex Mack, C

Greg Van Hoesen, LB

Honorable Mention

Noris Malele, OL

Erik Robertson, OL

Scott Smith, OL

PAC-10 ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

Syd'Quan Thompson, DB (Sporting News, Scout.com)

PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Nate Longshore (offense), 9/11

Nate Longshore (offense), 9/27

Tom Schneider (special teams), 10/2

Justin Forsett (offense), 10/9

Marshawn Lynch (offense), 10/23

Nate Longshore (offense), 11/6

DeSean Jackson (special teams), 11/6

Tom Schneider (special teams), 12/4

USA TODAY NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Nate Longshore, 9/25

CALIFORNIA TEAM AWARDS

Bear Backer Award (Most Vaulable Player - voted on by the team): Marshawn Lynch (offense); Daymeion Hughes (defense)

Dink Artal Award (Player Best Exemplifying Cal Spirit): Byron Storer/Mickey Pimentel

Ken Harvey Award (Academic Commitment & Improvement): Marcus O'Keith

Frank J. Schlessinger Coaches Award (Athletic, Academic, Community): Scott Smith

Ken Cotton Award (Most Courageous Player): Andrew Cameron/Steve Kelly

Everett Merriman Award (Community Service): Eric Beegun

Stub Allison Award (Most Inspirational Player): Desmond Bishop

Joe Roth Award (Courage, Attitude & Sportsmanship): Nu'u Tafisi

Andy Smith Award (Most Big C Playing Time): Daymeion Hughes

Senior Lifter of the Year: Byron Storer

Freshman Lifter of the Year: James Montgomery

Scout Team Player of Year: Chris Guarnero, Jeremy Ross (co-offense), Charles Amadi, Kyle Kirst (co-defense), Brian Holley (special teams)

Berkeley Breakfast Club Award (Outstanding Big Game Player): Tom Schneider

Bob Tessier Award (Most Improved Lineman): Alex Mack (offense); Abu Ma'afala (defense)

Most Improved Player: Thomas DeCoud

Bob Simmons Award (Most Valuable Freshman): Syd'Quan Thompson

Most Valuable Back: Marshawn Lynch (running back); Daymeion Hughes (defensive back)

J. Scott Duncan Award (Most Valuable Special Teams Player): DeSean Jackson/Byron Storer

Cal Coaches Award : Tim Mixon

Brick Muller Award (Most Valuable Lineman): Brandon Mebane (defense); Erik Robertson (offense)

Cort Majors Captains Award (Team Captains): Craig Stevens (offense); Desmond Bishop (defense)

Notes