California Golden Bears football
Encyclopedia
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football
team of the University of California
. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium
, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park
in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to Memorial Stadium by the 2012 season. Memorial Stadium was built to honor Berkeley alumni, students, and other Californians who died in World War I
, and modeled after the Colosseum
in Rome, Memorial Stadium was named one of the 40 best college football stadiums by the Sporting News. The team also has produced two of the oddest and most memorable plays in college football: Roy "Wrong Way" Riegels
' fumble recovery and run toward the Cal goal line in the 1929 Rose Bowl, and The Play
in the 1982 Big Game
with the winning kickoff return after five laterals. The current head coach is Jeff Tedford
, who began his tenure in 2002.
. It was not until 1886 that American football
began play. Football was put on hiatus in 1906 when it was decided by the administration that American football was too dangerous a sport and rugby once again took over the scene. Football returned for good in 1915 and Cal has fielded a team in every year since.
went 50 straight games without a defeat from 1920 to 1925, with a record of 46 wins and 4 ties. As of 2010, this is the 3rd longest unbeaten (not to be confused with winning) streak in NCAA history. The 1920-1924 squads were so dominant that they were nicknamed "The Wonder Teams," and were coached by Andy Smith
. One of the stars during this era was Brick Muller and the University later established a freshman leadership group called the Brick Muller Society. Cal won four Pacific Coast Conference
championships and made three trips to the Rose Bowl
during this decade, in 1921
(28-0 win over Ohio State
), 1922
(0-0 tie with ), and 1929
(8-7 loss to ). One of the most famous (or infamous) moments in college football history occurred in the 1929 Rose Bowl Game. In the second quarter, Cal's defense forced a Georgia Tech fumble on their own 30 yard line, and the loose ball was scooped up by Cal center Roy Riegels
. He began to run towards the Georgia Tech end zone for a score, but then in trying to get around the Tech players he inexplicably turned around and headed in the other direction. Riegels advanced all the way to the Cal one yard line before teammate Benny Lom
was able to stop him, whereupon he was immediately tackled by what seemed like the entire Georgia Tech team. Cal elected to punt on the next play; the punt was blocked for a safety, giving the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 lead and what turned out to be the decisive points.
California football also achieved success in the 1930s, winning the PCC championship three times and appearing in the 1938 Rose Bowl
, where they defeated Alabama 13-0 with two touchdowns scored by Vic Bottari
. Because of its staunch defense, the 1937 squad
that went to the Rose Bowl was coined "The Thunder Team." In 11 games, Cal limited its opponents to only 33 points and 1,126 total yards.
The early 1940s witnessed average success, but 1947 saw a dramatic turnaround as Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf became the head coach. Known as "Pappy's Boys," the Cal teams of 1947-1950 won 33 consecutive regular season games, earning three PCC championships and three Rose Bowl
berths. However Cal lost all three Rose Bowls (20-14 to Northwestern
in 1949
, 17-14 to Ohio State
in 1950
, and 14–6 to Michigan
in 1951
). Pappy Waldorf left Cal after the 1956 season, having compiled a record of 67-32-4. Cal again earned a conference title in 1958 and subsequently played in the 1959 Rose Bowl
, where it lost to Iowa
38–12.
coached during the early 60's. Levy's best record during his four season tenure as head coach at Cal from 1960–1963 was 4–5–1. Cal had only one winning season (1968), although in that year after beating Syracuse Cal was ranked in the top 15. The coach during this era was Ray Willsey
. Craig Morton
, future Super Bowl
quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys
and Denver Broncos
, was an All-American in 1964.
In 1972, Mike White was hired. After two losing seasons, he brought home three winning seasons over the next four. In 1975, behind an NCAA leading offense anchored by All Americans Chuck Muncie
, Joe Roth
, Wesley Walker
, Steve Rivera
and Ted Albrecht
, the Golden Bears were co-Champions of the Pacific-8 Conference, but UCLA
went to the Rose Bowl
based on their head-to-head victory. Steve Bartkowski
('75) was another noted player who started for the Atlanta Falcons
at quarterback. However, White left in a storm of controversy over recruiting violations. Roger Theder
succeeded him and led the Bears to three winning seasons, but each was less successful than its predecessor. In 1979, Cal played in the Garden State Bowl
, losing to Temple
28–17 after a 6–5 regular season.
The 1980s saw a return to mediocrity, with Cal posting only one winning season in the entire decade. Joe Kapp
was the most famous coach in this period. Kapp had been the quarterback of the 1959 Rose Bowl team, and later led the Minnesota Vikings
to the Super Bowl
. Even so, he was not able to overcome the recruiting drag created by the off-field notoriety of the Berkeley campus. Of note, however, was the 1982 Big Game
versus Stanford
, which became famous for The Play
. After Stanford had taken the lead on a field goal with four seconds left, the Golden Bears used five lateral passes on the ensuing kickoff return to score the winning touchdown and turn defeat into a 25-20 victory. The Play has been named by numerous media organizations as one of the best football, and even American sports, moments.
arrived at Berkeley in 1987, and gradually turned the program around. He was able to recruit a number of outstanding players, such as Russell White, away from football powers such as USC and UCLA
. The reemergence of Cal football as a thriving program was signaled by the October 19, 1991 game against the future national co-champion Washington Huskies
. Cal lost 24–17 at home in a game that came down to the Bears' last possession deep in Husky territory and was probably the Huskies most difficult game that season. (The Oakland Fire erupted in the hills south of California Memorial Stadium
that same day.) Cal football had some success in the early 1990s, earning three postseason bowl berths and winning all three. Cal beat Wyoming
17–15 in the Copper Bowl of 1990, Clemson
37–13 in the 1992 Citrus Bowl
and Iowa 37-3 in the 1993 Alamo Bowl
. Snyder resigned before 1992 bowl game to take a position at Pac-10 rival Arizona State. The Golden Bears attempted to steal some of the Huskies' magic by hiring away assistant Keith Gilbertson
, but he delivered only one winning season in the next four.
After the loss of momentum, Cal hired Green Bay Packers
assistant Steve Mariucci
for the 1996 season. He led the Bears to a winning regular season (losing to Navy
in the Aloha Bowl
42–38), but the San Francisco 49ers
struck yet again (as with Waldorf) and hired away Mariucci as head coach for 1997, ending the promise of an early Cal revival. The rest the late 1990s saw little success, and the down period reached its nadir in 2001 when the Bears managed only one victory the entire season. The win came in the final game of the season in New Jersey against Rutgers
, which was a re-scheduled game due to the September 11, 2001 attacks
. Much-maligned coach Tom Holmoe
resigned in November of this season and was replaced with Jeff Tedford
, previously the offensive coordinator for the Oregon Ducks
. Worse yet, Cal lost seven straight games to archrival Stanford
.
The Jeff Tedford era began with a bang, as California defeated Baylor
70–22, and went on to finish 7–5, their first winning season since 1993. The 2002 team defeated three nationally ranked opponents on the road for the first time in school history including Cal's first win over conference foe Washington
in 26 years, and won the annual Big Game
against archrival Stanford for the first time in eight years.
In 2003 the Golden Bears posted an 8–6 record, highlighted by a dramatic 34-31 triple-overtime victory over No. 3 ranked and eventual national co-champion USC. This victory revived a long moribund rivalry with the Trojans, even as the Trojans reemerged as a national power under Pete Carroll
. In the Insight Bowl
, the Bears edged Virginia Tech
52–49 on a last-second field goal.
In 2004, the Bears posted a 10–2 record under Tedford and quarterback
Aaron Rodgers
, with their only regular season loss coming against the eventual national champion, USC. California finished the regular season ranked No. 4 according to polls, and appeared to have an excellent chance to receive an at-large BCS
bowl berth, most likely in the Rose Bowl. Under normal circumstances, the Bears, as Pac-10 runner-up, would have had first crack at a Rose Bowl berth since conference champion USC was playing for the national championship.
Nonetheless, in a controversial case, the Texas
coach Mack Brown
made impassioned pleas to media asking poll voters reconsider their final votes. 10-1 Cal was rated as low as 7th by some coaches, and Texas received an increase in votes in the last Coaches Poll of the season despite Cal's win in their final game, allowing the Longhorns to pass the Bears into the No. 4 spot in the BCS rankings and guaranteeing Texas the BCS berth. As a result of heavy lobbying from their reporters, the Associated Press
poll withdrew from the BCS
immediately afterward. However, the Longhorns went on to beat Michigan 38–37 in the Rose Bowl, while Cal was upset by No. 21 Texas Tech
45–31 in the Holiday Bowl
and finished the season ranked No. 9.
, who was chosen to succeed Aaron Rodgers, who had left for the NFL, sustained a season-ending injury in the season's first game against Sacramento State. He was succeeded by junior transfer Joe Ayoob
, who started nine games and went 5-4. Third string quarterback Steve Levy replaced Ayoob as the starter for the Big Game, leading the Bears to victory. Cal finished 8-4 and earned a berth in the 2005 Las Vegas Bowl
, beating BYU
35–28.
In 2006, Cal went on to post a 10–3 (7–2 in Pac-10) record. Despite falling to the Tennessee Volunteers
in their first game of the season in Knoxville
, the team rebounded, winning eight straight games, including impressive victories over the 20th ranked Arizona State
and the 11th ranked Oregon
at home. Two losses followed with a November 11, upset 24–20 by Arizona
and a 23-9 defeat by USC
, which cost Cal its Rose Bowl
bid.
In the final game of the regular season on December 2, Cal defeated Stanford 26-17 in the 109th Big Game
for the fifth straight time. Coupled with UCLA's upset of reigning conference champion USC on the same day, the victory earned Cal its first share of the Pac-10 championship since 1975. Cal accepted an invitation to the 2006 Holiday Bowl
, its second appearance there in three years. Cal routed Texas A&M
45-10, the largest margin of victory for a bowl game in the 2006-2007 season, and finished with a No. 14 ranking, an improvement from the No. 20 spot that it started with at the beginning of the season.
45-31. The Bears rose in the polls following subsequent victories against Colorado State
, Louisiana Tech, and Arizona. Cal's defeat of then No. 11 Oregon in Eugene 31-24, combined with a series of losses from Oklahoma, Florida, and West Virginia, allowed Cal to break into the top five. Cal had a bye the following week, but as a result of Stanford's surprise upset of then No. 2 USC
on October 6, the Bears were ranked No. 2 in the country in the AP, Coaches, and Harris polls behind No. 1 LSU. This was the highest the team had been ranked since 1951.
With the Kentucky upset of LSU on October 13, the Bears had a shot at being the number one team in the nation along with Ohio State
, but an upset loss to unranked Oregon State
that same night dashed any hopes of a top ranking. The loss marked the beginning of a reversal in the second half of the season which saw the Bears winning only one game out of the next six and dropping out of the Top 25 entirely. The Bears lost to Washington
for the first time in five years and to Stanford
on the 25th anniversary of The Play, which resulted in the Cardinal regaining The Stanford Axe
for the first time in six years under first year head coach Jim Harbaugh
. Cal accepted an invitation to the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl
against Air Force
on December 31, where post a 42–36 victory to end the season 7-6. Before the season even ended, Tedford declared there would be open competition for all positions on the team in 2008 and reevaluate every aspect of Cal's football program. Tedford made several coaching changes, most notably relinquishing offensive coordinator duties and hiring Frank Cignetti
to playcall and take over quarterback coaching duties.
, Lavelle Hawkins
, Robert Jordan, Justin Forsett
and Craig Stevens
) graduated or declared for the NFL Draft. Thus the Bears started the season unranked for the first time since 2003. Their 2008 season would confirm this ranking, as they would finish the season undefeated at home but would only win one game on the road. The Bears won their opening game at home against Michigan State
38-31 and eviscerated Washington State
in Pullman 66–3, but fell to Maryland
35–27 in College Park. The Bears won two straight home games against Colorado State and Arizona State
but fell in the desert to Arizona
. Although the Bears still controlled their destiny in the Pac-10 after two more home wins against UCLA
and Oregon
, two close losses to Pac-10 champion contenders USC
and Oregon State
on the road put an end to those hopes. Cal reclaimed the Axe by beating Stanford 37–16 in the 111th Big Game and kept Washington's season winless with a 48-7 victory. Cal finished the regular season 8–4 as Tedford claimed his seventh consecutive winning season for the Golden Bears and third unbeaten home record in five years. The Bears accepted an invitation to take on the Miami Hurricanes
at the 2008 Emerald Bowl
, which they won 24–17.
, Eastern Washington
, and Minnesota
. However the team struggled with consistency, losing to Oregon
and USC
, then rebounding to defeat UCLA
, Washington State
, and Arizona State
. Following a loss to Oregon State
, Cal managed to upset Pac-10 title contender Arizona
. Cal also upset Stanford
in the Big Game. The season however ended on a low note with consecutive losses to Washington
to end the regular season and Utah
in the Poinsettia Bowl
. The loss to Utah snapped a four bowl game winning streak going back to 2004. The Bears also did not produce a 1,000 yard rusher for the first time since 2002. The end of the season saw some coaching changes. Cal hired Jeff Genyk
as special teams coach to replace the fired Pete Alamar, and Clancy Pendergast
as defensive coordinator to replace Bob Gregory, who departed for Boise State
.
to become the Cal head coach with the 2nd most career victories when the Bears blew out UC Davis
52-3 in the season opener. Despite early successes however, the team had an inconsistent season. After starting senior quarterback Kevin Riley
sustained a season-ending knee injury in a loss to Oregon State
, Cal had only one win in the final four games, edging out Washington State
for the team's sole road victory. The Bears finished the season on a three-game losing streak, getting edged out 15-13 by #1 Oregon
, losing the Stanford Axe to archrival #8 Stanford
in a 48-14 blowout, and sustaining a last second defeat by Washington
. The team finished 5-7, Tedford's first losing season and the team's first losing season since 2001, failing to become bowl-eligible for the first time during Tedford's tenure as head coach. Cal was ranked only once during the season with a No. 24 spot in the Coaches' Poll. One bright spot for the season was running back Shane Vereen
going over the 1,000 rushing yard mark, as he finished with 1,167 yards.
* From 1906 to 1914, rugby was played instead of football. Cal's 13th coach was Oscar Taylor from 1906-08. Cal's 14th coach, James Schaeffer
, coached rugby from 1909–14 and football in 1915.
, Walnut Creek, CA, November 18, 1999
Offense
Defense
Coach
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
team of the University of California
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium
California Memorial Stadium
California Memorial Stadium is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley. Commonly known as Memorial Stadium, it is the home field for the University of California Golden Bears of the Pacific-12 Conference...
, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to Memorial Stadium by the 2012 season. Memorial Stadium was built to honor Berkeley alumni, students, and other Californians who died in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and modeled after the Colosseum
Colosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
in Rome, Memorial Stadium was named one of the 40 best college football stadiums by the Sporting News. The team also has produced two of the oddest and most memorable plays in college football: Roy "Wrong Way" Riegels
Roy Riegels
Roy "Wrong Way" Riegels played for the University of California, Berkeley football team from 1927 to 1929...
' fumble recovery and run toward the Cal goal line in the 1929 Rose Bowl, and The Play
The Play
The Play refers to a last-second kickoff return during a college football game between the and the Stanford University Cardinal on Saturday, November 20, 1982...
in the 1982 Big Game
Big Game (football)
The Big Game is an American college football rivalry game played by the California Golden Bears football team of the University of California, Berkeley and the Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University. It is typically played in late November or early December...
with the winning kickoff return after five laterals. The current head coach is Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford is an American football coach and the current head coach of the California Golden Bears football team, a position he has held since 2002. As a first-time head coach, Tedford has won wide acclaim for revitalizing the Cal football program...
, who began his tenure in 2002.
History
Football was first played on the Berkeley campus in 1882, albeit in a form that resembled rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
. It was not until 1886 that American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
began play. Football was put on hiatus in 1906 when it was decided by the administration that American football was too dangerous a sport and rugby once again took over the scene. Football returned for good in 1915 and Cal has fielded a team in every year since.
1920s "Wonder Teams"
The 1920s saw the first golden age of California football, as the Golden BearsCalifornia Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
went 50 straight games without a defeat from 1920 to 1925, with a record of 46 wins and 4 ties. As of 2010, this is the 3rd longest unbeaten (not to be confused with winning) streak in NCAA history. The 1920-1924 squads were so dominant that they were nicknamed "The Wonder Teams," and were coached by Andy Smith
Andy Smith (coach)
Andrew Latham "Andy" Smith was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania , Purdue University , and the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career college football record of 116–32–13...
. One of the stars during this era was Brick Muller and the University later established a freshman leadership group called the Brick Muller Society. Cal won four Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
championships and made three trips to the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
during this decade, in 1921
1921 Rose Bowl
The 1921 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1921. In the game, the 7th Rose Bowl, the California Golden Bears defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 28-0. It was only the second time a Big Ten team had met a Pacific Coast Conference team. The first was the...
(28-0 win over Ohio State
1920 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1920 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1920-1921.They outscored opponents 150-20 in the regular season and beat Michigan, 14-7...
), 1922
1922 Rose Bowl
The 1922 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 1922, between Washington & Jefferson College and the University of California, Berkeley...
(0-0 tie with ), and 1929
1929 Rose Bowl
The 1929 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game and the 15th annual Rose Bowl Game. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeated the California Golden Bears by a score of 8-7. The game was notable for a play by California All-American Roy Riegels in which he scooped up a Georgia Tech fumble and ran...
(8-7 loss to ). One of the most famous (or infamous) moments in college football history occurred in the 1929 Rose Bowl Game. In the second quarter, Cal's defense forced a Georgia Tech fumble on their own 30 yard line, and the loose ball was scooped up by Cal center Roy Riegels
Roy Riegels
Roy "Wrong Way" Riegels played for the University of California, Berkeley football team from 1927 to 1929...
. He began to run towards the Georgia Tech end zone for a score, but then in trying to get around the Tech players he inexplicably turned around and headed in the other direction. Riegels advanced all the way to the Cal one yard line before teammate Benny Lom
Benny Lom
Benjamin "Benny" Lom was an American college football player who played for three seasons for the University of California, Berkeley Golden Bears, and was best known for his attempt to stop his own teammate Roy Riegels after Riegels ran the ball 69 yards in the wrong direction during the 1929 Rose...
was able to stop him, whereupon he was immediately tackled by what seemed like the entire Georgia Tech team. Cal elected to punt on the next play; the punt was blocked for a safety, giving the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 lead and what turned out to be the decisive points.
1938 Rose Bowl
The 1938 Rose Bowl was played on January 1, 1938, and was the 24th Rose Bowl. The game featured the California Golden Bears against the Alabama Crimson Tide, two of the top teams from the 1937 college football season...
, where they defeated Alabama 13-0 with two touchdowns scored by Vic Bottari
Vic Bottari
Vic Bottari was an American football player. Bottari, nicknamed "Vallejo Vic" attended the University of California, Berkeley and starred as a halfback, leading the Golden Bears to a win in the 1938 Rose Bowl where he was voted the most valuable player of the game...
. Because of its staunch defense, the 1937 squad
1937 California Golden Bears football team
The 1937 California Golden Bears football team, nicknamed the "Thunder Team", represented the University of California, Berkeley in National Collegiate Athletic Association intercollegiate competition. They were led by third-year head coach Leonard "Stub" Allison. The Bears compiled a 10–0–1...
that went to the Rose Bowl was coined "The Thunder Team." In 11 games, Cal limited its opponents to only 33 points and 1,126 total yards.
1940s and 50s: Pappy's Boys
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
berths. However Cal lost all three Rose Bowls (20-14 to Northwestern
1948 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 1948 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the 1948 college football season. The Wildcats won their first Rose Bowl in school history.-Season:...
in 1949
1949 Rose Bowl
The 1949 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game. It was the 35th Rose Bowl Game, and the third since the Big Nine Conference and Pacific Coast Conference agreed to an exclusive agreement to match their conference champions. The Northwestern Wildcats defeated the California Golden Bears 20-14...
, 17-14 to Ohio State
1949 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1949 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1949-1950. The Buckeyes compiled a 7–1–2 record, including the 1950 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they won 17–14 against the California Golden Bears....
in 1950
1950 Rose Bowl
The 1950 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played between Ohio State University and University of California at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The game was a rematch of the 1921 Rose Bowl where both Ohio State and Cal both played in the teams' first bowl game. Ohio State came out...
, and 14–6 to Michigan
1950 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1950 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bennie Oosterbaan, won the Big Ten Conference championship with a record of 6–3–1 and defeated the California Bears in the 1951 Rose Bowl, 14–6. The team had two All-Big 10 backs in Don Dufek and Chuck Ortmann and All-American tackle R. Allen...
in 1951
1951 Rose Bowl
The 1951 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1951. It was the 37th Rose Bowl Game. The Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, defeated the California Golden Bears, champions of the Pacific Coast Conference, 14–6. Michigan fullback Don Dufek was...
). Pappy Waldorf left Cal after the 1956 season, having compiled a record of 67-32-4. Cal again earned a conference title in 1958 and subsequently played in the 1959 Rose Bowl
1959 Rose Bowl
The 1959 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1959. It was the 45th Rose Bowl Game. The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the , 38–12. Bob Jeter, Iowa's star halfback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game...
, where it lost to Iowa
1958 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
The 1958 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1958 college football season. The team was coached by Forest Evashevski and captained by fullback John Nocera...
38–12.
1960s to 80s: Campus turmoil and football mediocrity
The 1960s was a period of particular mediocrity. Marv LevyMarv Levy
Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills...
coached during the early 60's. Levy's best record during his four season tenure as head coach at Cal from 1960–1963 was 4–5–1. Cal had only one winning season (1968), although in that year after beating Syracuse Cal was ranked in the top 15. The coach during this era was Ray Willsey
Ray Willsey
Ray Willsey was the head football coach at the University of California from 1964 to 1971. During his tenure he compiled a 40-42-1 record. He was inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame in 1993....
. Craig Morton
Craig Morton
Larry Craig Morton is a former professional football player. He played quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, 1965-82...
, future Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, was an All-American in 1964.
In 1972, Mike White was hired. After two losing seasons, he brought home three winning seasons over the next four. In 1975, behind an NCAA leading offense anchored by All Americans Chuck Muncie
Chuck Muncie
Harry Vance "Chuck" Muncie is a former American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984...
, Joe Roth
Joe Roth (American football)
Joe Roth was a college football player, an All-American quarterback at the University of California, Berkeley. Roth played the 1976 season with melanoma and died 3 months after his last regular season game , in February 1977...
, Wesley Walker
Wesley Walker
Wesley Darcel Walker is a former professional American football wide receiver for the New York Jets in 1977 - 1989....
, Steve Rivera
Steve Rivera
Steve Rivera is a former American football Wide Receiver from the University of California. He played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers.-High school years:...
and Ted Albrecht
Ted Albrecht
Theodore Carl Albrecht is a former professional American football player who played offensive tackle for five seasons for the Chicago Bears. Albrecht currently serves as an analyst for Northwestern University football broadcasts on WGN.-References:...
, the Golden Bears were co-Champions of the Pacific-8 Conference, but UCLA
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
went to the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
based on their head-to-head victory. Steve Bartkowski
Steve Bartkowski
Steven Joseph "Steve" Bartkowski is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Rams...
('75) was another noted player who started for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
at quarterback. However, White left in a storm of controversy over recruiting violations. Roger Theder
Roger Theder
-External links:...
succeeded him and led the Bears to three winning seasons, but each was less successful than its predecessor. In 1979, Cal played in the Garden State Bowl
Garden State Bowl
The Garden State Bowl was an annual post-season college football bowl game played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, from 1978 to 1981...
, losing to Temple
Temple Owls
Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a very long-running athletic program. The school's sports teams are called the Owls, originating from the university's early days as a night school. The current athletic director is Bill Bradshaw....
28–17 after a 6–5 regular season.
The 1980s saw a return to mediocrity, with Cal posting only one winning season in the entire decade. Joe Kapp
Joe Kapp
Joseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC Lions...
was the most famous coach in this period. Kapp had been the quarterback of the 1959 Rose Bowl team, and later led the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
. Even so, he was not able to overcome the recruiting drag created by the off-field notoriety of the Berkeley campus. Of note, however, was the 1982 Big Game
Big Game (football)
The Big Game is an American college football rivalry game played by the California Golden Bears football team of the University of California, Berkeley and the Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University. It is typically played in late November or early December...
versus Stanford
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
, which became famous for The Play
The Play
The Play refers to a last-second kickoff return during a college football game between the and the Stanford University Cardinal on Saturday, November 20, 1982...
. After Stanford had taken the lead on a field goal with four seconds left, the Golden Bears used five lateral passes on the ensuing kickoff return to score the winning touchdown and turn defeat into a 25-20 victory. The Play has been named by numerous media organizations as one of the best football, and even American sports, moments.
1990s: A brief return of football success
Bruce SnyderBruce Snyder
Bruce Snyder was an American football player and coach. After playing for Oregon in the early 1960s as a fullback, Snyder embarked on a coaching career...
arrived at Berkeley in 1987, and gradually turned the program around. He was able to recruit a number of outstanding players, such as Russell White, away from football powers such as USC and UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
. The reemergence of Cal football as a thriving program was signaled by the October 19, 1991 game against the future national co-champion Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
. Cal lost 24–17 at home in a game that came down to the Bears' last possession deep in Husky territory and was probably the Huskies most difficult game that season. (The Oakland Fire erupted in the hills south of California Memorial Stadium
California Memorial Stadium
California Memorial Stadium is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley. Commonly known as Memorial Stadium, it is the home field for the University of California Golden Bears of the Pacific-12 Conference...
that same day.) Cal football had some success in the early 1990s, earning three postseason bowl berths and winning all three. Cal beat Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
17–15 in the Copper Bowl of 1990, Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
37–13 in the 1992 Citrus Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
and Iowa 37-3 in the 1993 Alamo Bowl
Alamo Bowl
The Alamo Bowl is a major American college football bowl game played annually since 1993 in the 65,000-seat Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It matches the second choice team from the Pacific-12 Conference and the third choice team from the Big 12 Conference.Traditionally, the Alamo Bowl has been...
. Snyder resigned before 1992 bowl game to take a position at Pac-10 rival Arizona State. The Golden Bears attempted to steal some of the Huskies' magic by hiring away assistant Keith Gilbertson
Keith Gilbertson
Keith Gilbertson, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. He is currently a scout with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL...
, but he delivered only one winning season in the next four.
After the loss of momentum, Cal hired Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
assistant Steve Mariucci
Steve Mariucci
Stephen Ray "Steve" Mariucci is a former National Football League coach. He coached for the San Francisco 49ers and most recently for the Detroit Lions.-Early career:...
for the 1996 season. He led the Bears to a winning regular season (losing to Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
in the Aloha Bowl
Aloha Bowl
The Aloha Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game played in Honolulu, Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. With the exception of the 1983-86 playings, the Aloha Bowl was traditionally played on Christmas morning in Honolulu. For most of its...
42–38), but the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
struck yet again (as with Waldorf) and hired away Mariucci as head coach for 1997, ending the promise of an early Cal revival. The rest the late 1990s saw little success, and the down period reached its nadir in 2001 when the Bears managed only one victory the entire season. The win came in the final game of the season in New Jersey against Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play...
, which was a re-scheduled game due to the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. Much-maligned coach Tom Holmoe
Tom Holmoe
Thomas Allen Holmoe is the current athletic director at Brigham Young University. He is a former college and professional American football defensive back and coach.-College:...
resigned in November of this season and was replaced with Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford is an American football coach and the current head coach of the California Golden Bears football team, a position he has held since 2002. As a first-time head coach, Tedford has won wide acclaim for revitalizing the Cal football program...
, previously the offensive coordinator for the Oregon Ducks
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
. Worse yet, Cal lost seven straight games to archrival Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
.
Tedford Era
California began a renaissance under Tedford, who dramatically turned around the long-suffering program. Under Tedford the Golden Bears posted eight consecutive winning seasons, a feat that hadn't been accomplished since the days of Pappy Waldorf. After being ruled ineligible for a bowl game in 2002 due to academic infractions under the previous administration, Cal has also appeared in seven straight bowl games.The Jeff Tedford era began with a bang, as California defeated Baylor
Baylor Bears football
The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team plays its home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.-History:...
70–22, and went on to finish 7–5, their first winning season since 1993. The 2002 team defeated three nationally ranked opponents on the road for the first time in school history including Cal's first win over conference foe Washington
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
in 26 years, and won the annual Big Game
Big Game (football)
The Big Game is an American college football rivalry game played by the California Golden Bears football team of the University of California, Berkeley and the Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University. It is typically played in late November or early December...
against archrival Stanford for the first time in eight years.
In 2003 the Golden Bears posted an 8–6 record, highlighted by a dramatic 34-31 triple-overtime victory over No. 3 ranked and eventual national co-champion USC. This victory revived a long moribund rivalry with the Trojans, even as the Trojans reemerged as a national power under Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
. In the Insight Bowl
Insight Bowl
The Insight Bowl is an NCAA college football bowl game played in Arizona since 1989. From 1989 to 1999, the games were played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. The game moved to Phoenix in 2000 and was played at Chase Field until 2005. After the 2005 playing the Insight Bowl moved to Sun Devil Stadium...
, the Bears edged Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
52–49 on a last-second field goal.
2004 Bowl Championship Series controversy
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers...
, with their only regular season loss coming against the eventual national champion, USC. California finished the regular season ranked No. 4 according to polls, and appeared to have an excellent chance to receive an at-large BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
bowl berth, most likely in the Rose Bowl. Under normal circumstances, the Bears, as Pac-10 runner-up, would have had first crack at a Rose Bowl berth since conference champion USC was playing for the national championship.
Nonetheless, in a controversial case, the Texas
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
coach Mack Brown
Mack Brown
William Mack Brown is head coach of The University of Texas at Austin Longhorn football team.Prior to his head coach position at Texas, Brown was head coach at Appalachian State, Tulane, and North Carolina. Brown is credited with revitalizing the Texas and North Carolina football programs...
made impassioned pleas to media asking poll voters reconsider their final votes. 10-1 Cal was rated as low as 7th by some coaches, and Texas received an increase in votes in the last Coaches Poll of the season despite Cal's win in their final game, allowing the Longhorns to pass the Bears into the No. 4 spot in the BCS rankings and guaranteeing Texas the BCS berth. As a result of heavy lobbying from their reporters, the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
poll withdrew from the BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
immediately afterward. However, the Longhorns went on to beat Michigan 38–37 in the Rose Bowl, while Cal was upset by No. 21 Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
45–31 in the Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
and finished the season ranked No. 9.
2005
The next year saw inconsistent quarterback play and an overall inexperienced roster. Nate LongshoreNate Longshore
Nate Longshore is an arena football quarterback for the San Jose Sabercats of the Arena Football League. He played collegiately at California, where he was a three year starter and led the Golden Bears to a share of the Pac-10 title in 2006.-High school:Longshore graduated from Canyon High School...
, who was chosen to succeed Aaron Rodgers, who had left for the NFL, sustained a season-ending injury in the season's first game against Sacramento State. He was succeeded by junior transfer Joe Ayoob
Joe Ayoob
Joe Ayoob is an arena football Quarterback for the Tri-Cities Fever of af2. He was signed by the Central Valley Coyotes as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at California....
, who started nine games and went 5-4. Third string quarterback Steve Levy replaced Ayoob as the starter for the Big Game, leading the Bears to victory. Cal finished 8-4 and earned a berth in the 2005 Las Vegas Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl
The Maaco Bowl Las Vegas is an NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually at 40,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. since 1992. From 1992 to 1996, matchups featured the champion teams from the Big West and Mid-American...
, beating BYU
BYU Cougars
BYU Cougars is an American soccer team based in Provo, Utah, United States. The team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference....
35–28.
2006
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
in their first game of the season in Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, the team rebounded, winning eight straight games, including impressive victories over the 20th ranked Arizona State
2006 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2006 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the college football season of 2006-2007. The team's coach was Dirk Koetter who was fired after the season...
and the 11th ranked Oregon
2006 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2006 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in college football's 2006 season. The team was coached by Mike Bellotti and played their home games in Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, United States....
at home. Two losses followed with a November 11, upset 24–20 by Arizona
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
and a 23-9 defeat by USC
2006 USC Trojans football team
The 2006 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in college football season of 2006-2007, winning the Pacific-10 Conference and playing in the Rose Bowl...
, which cost Cal its Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
bid.
In the final game of the regular season on December 2, Cal defeated Stanford 26-17 in the 109th Big Game
Big Game (football)
The Big Game is an American college football rivalry game played by the California Golden Bears football team of the University of California, Berkeley and the Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University. It is typically played in late November or early December...
for the fifth straight time. Coupled with UCLA's upset of reigning conference champion USC on the same day, the victory earned Cal its first share of the Pac-10 championship since 1975. Cal accepted an invitation to the 2006 Holiday Bowl
2006 Holiday Bowl
The 2006 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 28, 2006 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season and one of 32 games in the 2006-2007 bowl season. It featured the Texas A&M Aggies representing the Big 12 against the...
, its second appearance there in three years. Cal routed Texas A&M
2006 Texas A&M Aggies football team
The 2006 Texas A&M Aggies football team completed the season with a 9-4 record. The Aggies had a regular season Big 12 record of 5-3.-Schedule:-Roster:-The Citadel:-Louisiana-Lafayette:-Army:-Louisiana Tech:...
45-10, the largest margin of victory for a bowl game in the 2006-2007 season, and finished with a No. 14 ranking, an improvement from the No. 20 spot that it started with at the beginning of the season.
2007
Cal began the 2007 season ranked 12th in both the AP/USA Today Polls. In a nationally televised game on September 1, the Bears defeated Tennessee2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the college football season of 2007–2008. They won the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference before falling to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game...
45-31. The Bears rose in the polls following subsequent victories against Colorado State
Colorado State Rams football
The Colorado State Rams football program, established in 1893, represents Colorado State University and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference under head coach Steve Fairchild...
, Louisiana Tech, and Arizona. Cal's defeat of then No. 11 Oregon in Eugene 31-24, combined with a series of losses from Oklahoma, Florida, and West Virginia, allowed Cal to break into the top five. Cal had a bye the following week, but as a result of Stanford's surprise upset of then No. 2 USC
2007 USC Trojans football team
The 2007 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning a share of the Pacific-10 Conference Championship and winning the 2008 Rose Bowl...
on October 6, the Bears were ranked No. 2 in the country in the AP, Coaches, and Harris polls behind No. 1 LSU. This was the highest the team had been ranked since 1951.
With the Kentucky upset of LSU on October 13, the Bears had a shot at being the number one team in the nation along with Ohio State
2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio...
, but an upset loss to unranked Oregon State
2007 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2007 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team's head coach is Mike Riley. Home games are played at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon.-Season notes:...
that same night dashed any hopes of a top ranking. The loss marked the beginning of a reversal in the second half of the season which saw the Bears winning only one game out of the next six and dropping out of the Top 25 entirely. The Bears lost to Washington
2007 Washington Huskies football team
The 2007 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team's head coach was Tyrone Willingham. It played its home games at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington, USA....
for the first time in five years and to Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
on the 25th anniversary of The Play, which resulted in the Cardinal regaining The Stanford Axe
The Stanford Axe
The Stanford Axe is a trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Big Game, a college football match-up between the University of California Golden Bears and the Stanford University Cardinal. The trophy consists of an axe-head mounted on a large wooden plaque, along with the scores of past Big Games...
for the first time in six years under first year head coach Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2011. Previously, he was the head coach at...
. Cal accepted an invitation to the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl
2007 Armed Forces Bowl
The 2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on December 31, 2007, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, USA...
against Air Force
Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons are a college football team from the United States Air Force Academy, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA Division I and the Mountain West Conference.-Style:...
on December 31, where post a 42–36 victory to end the season 7-6. Before the season even ended, Tedford declared there would be open competition for all positions on the team in 2008 and reevaluate every aspect of Cal's football program. Tedford made several coaching changes, most notably relinquishing offensive coordinator duties and hiring Frank Cignetti
Frank Cignetti (quarterbacks coach)
Frank Cignetti is an American football coach who is currently the offensive coordinator of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.- Career :...
to playcall and take over quarterback coaching duties.
2008
Cal's 2008 campaign was marked with diminished expectations, as all of Cal's offensive stars at their skill positions (DeSean JacksonDeSean Jackson
Going to the 2008 NFL Draft Jackson was considered one of the top ten wide receivers available in a draft class littered with talented wide outs. The only knock on Jackson was his small frame, being measured at 5'9¾ " and just over 170 pounds. During the pre-draft period, Hall of Fame wide receiver...
, Lavelle Hawkins
Lavelle Hawkins
Lavelle Hawkins is an American football wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Titans in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, Robert Jordan, Justin Forsett
Justin Forsett
Justin Forsett is an American football running back and punt returner for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-Early years:Forsett was born in Lakeland, Florida...
and Craig Stevens
Craig Stevens (American football)
Craig Chase Stevens is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Titans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at California....
) graduated or declared for the NFL Draft. Thus the Bears started the season unranked for the first time since 2003. Their 2008 season would confirm this ranking, as they would finish the season undefeated at home but would only win one game on the road. The Bears won their opening game at home against Michigan State
2008 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 2008 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2008–2009 college football season. The team's head coach was Mark Dantonio. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan...
38-31 and eviscerated Washington State
2008 Washington State Cougars football team
The 2008 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University in the college football season of 2008-2009. The team's head coach was Paul Wulff. It played its home games at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington...
in Pullman 66–3, but fell to Maryland
2008 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season...
35–27 in College Park. The Bears won two straight home games against Colorado State and Arizona State
2008 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2008 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represents Arizona State University in the college football season of 2008-2009. It plays its home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona....
but fell in the desert to Arizona
2008 Arizona Wildcats football team
The 2008 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team's head coach is Mike Stoops, in his fifth year at Arizona. They play their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona and compete in the Pacific-10 Conference...
. Although the Bears still controlled their destiny in the Pac-10 after two more home wins against UCLA
2008 UCLA Bruins football team
The UCLA Bruins football team opened the 2008 campaign by playing its first game at home against Tennessee under new head coach Rick Neuheisel, at 5:00 p.m. at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. The Bruins played six of the Top 25 teams in the 2007 final Associated Press rankings,...
and Oregon
2008 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2008 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2008. This was the final season for Mike Bellotti as the Ducks' head coach; he was promoted to become the school's athletic director after the season. The Ducks played their home games at...
, two close losses to Pac-10 champion contenders USC
2008 USC Trojans football team
The 2008 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2008–2009...
and Oregon State
2008 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2008 Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in the college football season of 2008-2009. The team's head coach is Mike Riley...
on the road put an end to those hopes. Cal reclaimed the Axe by beating Stanford 37–16 in the 111th Big Game and kept Washington's season winless with a 48-7 victory. Cal finished the regular season 8–4 as Tedford claimed his seventh consecutive winning season for the Golden Bears and third unbeaten home record in five years. The Bears accepted an invitation to take on the Miami Hurricanes
2008 Miami Hurricanes football team
-Roster changes:University of Miami safety Kenny Phillips and defensive end Calais Campbell made the decision to forgo their senior years and declare for the NFL Draft. Phillips was drafted in the first round, No. 31 overall by the New York Giants. Campbell was drafted in the second round, No. 50...
at the 2008 Emerald Bowl
2008 Emerald Bowl
The 2008 Emerald Bowl, part of the 2008-09 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 27, 2008 at AT&T Park, the home field of the Giants in San Francisco, California...
, which they won 24–17.
2009
Cal began the 2009 season with early wins over Maryland2009 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2009 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terrapins played in the Atlantic Division of the conference, and competed against all five divisional opponents, two Coastal Division opponents on a...
, Eastern Washington
2009 Eastern Washington Eagles football team
The 2009 Eastern Washington Eagles football team represented Eastern Washington University in the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football season. They played their home games at Woodward Field in Cheney, Washington...
, and Minnesota
2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was the third under head coach Tim Brewster. They began play on September 5, 2009, at Syracuse, a member of the Big East Conference. On September 12, the Minnesota opened the new TCF Bank Stadium with a 20–13 win against Air Force, moving from the...
. However the team struggled with consistency, losing to Oregon
2009 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2009 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2009. The team was led by head coach Chip Kelly in his first season as a head coach at the Division I FBS level. Kelly was only the third Ducks head coach since 1977 and led the Ducks to a...
and USC
2009 USC Trojans football team
The 2009 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2009–2010. The team played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and was coached by Pete Carroll, who was in his ninth and final...
, then rebounding to defeat UCLA
2009 UCLA Bruins football team
The 2009 UCLA Bruins football team , under second year head coach Rick Neuheisel, opened the season at the Rose Bowl on September 5 against San Diego State. One scheduling change was that the last game of the season against USC was moved from the "Championship Saturday" weekend of December...
, Washington State
2009 Washington State Cougars football team
The 2009 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University in the college football season of 2009. The team's head coach was Paul Wulff. It played its home games at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, USA...
, and Arizona State
2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Sun Devils were coached by third-year coach Dennis Erickson and played their home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona...
. Following a loss to Oregon State
2009 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2009 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the college football 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach, in his second stint with the Beavers, was Mike Riley who was in his seventh straight season and ninth overall with the football...
, Cal managed to upset Pac-10 title contender Arizona
2009 Arizona Wildcats football team
The 2009 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Wildcats, led by sixth-year head coach Mike Stoops, played their home games at Arizona Stadium....
. Cal also upset Stanford
2009 Stanford Cardinal football team
The 2009 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinal was coached by third-year coach Jim Harbaugh and played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California....
in the Big Game. The season however ended on a low note with consecutive losses to Washington
2009 Washington Huskies football team
The 2009 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the college football season of 2009-2010. The team's head coach was Steve Sarkisian. The Huskies played their home games at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington...
to end the regular season and Utah
2009 Utah Utes football team
The 2009 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team, coached by 5th year head football coach Kyle Whittingham, played its home games in Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah....
in the Poinsettia Bowl
2009 Poinsettia Bowl
The 2009 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl was the fifth edition of the college football bowl game and was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game started at 5 PM US PST on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 on ESPN. The Utah Utes defeated the California Golden Bears...
. The loss to Utah snapped a four bowl game winning streak going back to 2004. The Bears also did not produce a 1,000 yard rusher for the first time since 2002. The end of the season saw some coaching changes. Cal hired Jeff Genyk
Jeff Genyk
Jeff Genyk is currently the Special Teams Coordinator and Tight End Coach for The University of California. He was also a television analyst for Atlantic Coast Conference College Football for ESPN during the 2009 season and is the former head college football coach at Eastern Michigan...
as special teams coach to replace the fired Pete Alamar, and Clancy Pendergast
Clancy Pendergast
Clancy Pendergast is the current defensive coordinator for the University of California Golden Bears and the former defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs...
as defensive coordinator to replace Bob Gregory, who departed for Boise State
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
.
2010
Tedford surpassed the legendary Pappy WaldorfPappy Waldorf
Lynn Osbert "Pappy" Waldorf was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, , Kansas State University , Northwestern University , and the University of California, Berkeley ,...
to become the Cal head coach with the 2nd most career victories when the Bears blew out UC Davis
UC Davis Aggies
The UC Davis Aggies compete in NCAA Division I sports in the Big West Conference. For football, the Aggies compete in Division I FCS , and are members of the Great West Conference, granting UC Davis the distinction of being one of only three UC campuses to field a football team...
52-3 in the season opener. Despite early successes however, the team had an inconsistent season. After starting senior quarterback Kevin Riley
Kevin Riley
Kevin Riley is a former American football quarterback for the California Golden Bears. He played for California from 2007-2010.-High school:...
sustained a season-ending knee injury in a loss to Oregon State
2010 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2010 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach, in his second stint with the Beavers, was Mike Riley who was in his seventh straight season and ninth overall. Home games were played at Reser...
, Cal had only one win in the final four games, edging out Washington State
2010 Washington State Cougars football team
The 2010 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University in the college football season of 2010. The team's head coach was Paul Wulff and they were members of the Pacific 10 Conference...
for the team's sole road victory. The Bears finished the season on a three-game losing streak, getting edged out 15-13 by #1 Oregon
2010 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2010 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the 2010 college football season. The team was led by Chip Kelly in his second season as a head coach. The Ducks played their home games at Autzen Stadium for the 44th straight year....
, losing the Stanford Axe to archrival #8 Stanford
2010 Stanford Cardinal football team
The 2010 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Cardinal were led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was in his 4th and final season before leaving to become head coach of the San Francisco 49ers...
in a 48-14 blowout, and sustaining a last second defeat by Washington
2010 Washington Huskies football team
The 2010 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Steve Sarkisian. The Huskies played their home games at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington, and were members of the Pacific 10 Conference...
. The team finished 5-7, Tedford's first losing season and the team's first losing season since 2001, failing to become bowl-eligible for the first time during Tedford's tenure as head coach. Cal was ranked only once during the season with a No. 24 spot in the Coaches' Poll. One bright spot for the season was running back Shane Vereen
Shane Vereen
Shane Patrick-Henry Vereen is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted 56th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-Early years:...
going over the 1,000 rushing yard mark, as he finished with 1,167 yards.
Season-by-season records
National Championships
The NCAA's website states that "the NCAA does not conduct a national championship in Division I-A football and is not involved in the selection process." It goes on to say that "a number of polling organizations provide a final ranking of Division I-A football teams at the end of each season." California recognizes 5 national championships as recognized by other major polling entities.
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Coaching history
| No. | Coach | Tenure | Seasons | Win | Loss | Tie | Pct. | Bowls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | O. S. Howard | 1886 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .722 | 0 |
| 1.5 | No coach | 1887–1892 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 0 | .818 | 0 |
| 2 | Thomas McClung | 1892 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .625 | 0 |
| 3 | W. W. Heffelfinger | 1893 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | .786 | 0 |
| 4 | Charles O. Gill Charles O. Gill Charles Otis Gill was an American Congregationalist clergyman and author, with Gifford Pinchot, of two influential books on the state of rural churches in the US.... |
1894 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .333 | 0 |
| 5 | Frank Butterworth Frank Butterworth -External links:... |
1895-96 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | .700 | 0 |
| 6 | Charles P. Nott | 1897 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | .200 | 0 |
| 7 | Garrett Cochran Garrett Cochran -External links:... |
1898-99 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 3 | .868 | 0 |
| 8 | Addison Kelly Addison Kelly Addison W. Kelly was an American football player and coach who played college football for Princeton University and was the head coach of the University of California college football program in 1900. In 1896, he was selected as one of the backs on the College Football All-America Team.-Head... |
1900 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | .643 | 0 |
| 9 | Frank Simpson | 1901 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | .950 | 0 |
| 10 | James Whipple James Whipple -References:... |
1902-03 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 2 | .882 | 0 |
| 11 | James Hopper James Hopper James Hopper was an early college football coach, serving single seasons at the helm for both the Nevada State University Sagebrushers James Hopper was an early college football coach, serving single seasons at the helm for both the Nevada State University Sagebrushers James Hopper was an early... |
1904 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | .813 | 0 |
| 12 | J. W. Knibbs | 1905 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | .714 | 0 |
| 14* | James Schaeffer James Schaeffer James Garfield "Jimmie" Schaeffer was an American college football coach. He served as the University of California head football coach from 1909 to 1915 and amassed a 73–16–8 record. From 1909 to 1914, California played football according to the rugby code, rather than the American code... |
1915 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | 0 |
| 15 | Andy Smith Andy Smith (coach) Andrew Latham "Andy" Smith was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania , Purdue University , and the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career college football record of 116–32–13... |
1916-25 | 10 | 74 | 16 | 7 | .799 | 2 |
| 16 | Nibs Price Nibs Price -External links:* at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com... |
1926-30 | 5 | 27 | 17 | 3 | .606 | 1 |
| 17 | Bill Ingram Bill Ingram William A. "Bill" Ingram was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at The College of William & Mary , Indiana University , the United States Naval Academy , and the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career record of 75–42–9... |
1931-34 | 4 | 27 | 14 | 4 | .644 | 0 |
| 18 | Stub Allison | 1935-44 | 10 | 58 | 42 | 2 | .578 | 1 |
| 19 | Buck Shaw Buck Shaw Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach for Santa Clara University, the University of California, Berkeley, the San Francisco 49ers, the United States Air Force Academy, and the Philadelphia Eagles... |
1945 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | 0 |
| 20 | Frank Wickhorst Frank Wickhorst Frank H. "Wick" Wickhorst was an American football player and coach. He played college football as a tackle at the United States Naval Academy and was selected as an All-American in 1926. Wickhorst served as the head football coach at the University of California, Berkeley in 1946, compiling a... |
1946 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 0 |
| 21 | Pappy Waldorf Pappy Waldorf Lynn Osbert "Pappy" Waldorf was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, , Kansas State University , Northwestern University , and the University of California, Berkeley ,... |
1947-56 | 10 | 67 | 32 | 4 | .650 | 3 |
| 22 | Pete Elliott Pete Elliott -External links:... |
1957-59 | 3 | 10 | 21 | 0 | .323 | 1 |
| 23 | Marv Levy Marv Levy Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills... |
1960-63 | 4 | 8 | 29 | 3 | .238 | 0 |
| 24 | Ray Willsey Ray Willsey Ray Willsey was the head football coach at the University of California from 1964 to 1971. During his tenure he compiled a 40-42-1 record. He was inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.... |
1964-71 | 8 | 40 | 42 | 1 | .488 | 0 |
| 25 | Mike White | 1972-77 | 6 | 35 | 30 | 1 | .538 | 0 |
| 26 | Roger Theder Roger Theder -External links:... |
1978-81 | 4 | 18 | 27 | 0 | .400 | 1 |
| 27 | Joe Kapp Joe Kapp Joseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC Lions... |
1982-86 | 5 | 20 | 34 | 1 | .373 | 0 |
| 28 | Bruce Snyder Bruce Snyder Bruce Snyder was an American football player and coach. After playing for Oregon in the early 1960s as a fullback, Snyder embarked on a coaching career... |
1987-91 | 5 | 29 | 24 | 4 | .544 | 2 |
| 29 | Keith Gilbertson Keith Gilbertson Keith Gilbertson, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. He is currently a scout with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL... |
1992-95 | 4 | 20 | 26 | 0 | .435 | 1 |
| 30 | Steve Mariucci Steve Mariucci Stephen Ray "Steve" Mariucci is a former National Football League coach. He coached for the San Francisco 49ers and most recently for the Detroit Lions.-Early career:... |
1996 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 1 |
| 31 | Tom Holmoe Tom Holmoe Thomas Allen Holmoe is the current athletic director at Brigham Young University. He is a former college and professional American football defensive back and coach.-College:... |
1997–2001 | 5 | 12 | 43 | 0 | .218 | 0 |
| 32 | Jeff Tedford Jeff Tedford Jeff Tedford is an American football coach and the current head coach of the California Golden Bears football team, a position he has held since 2002. As a first-time head coach, Tedford has won wide acclaim for revitalizing the Cal football program... |
2002–present | 9th | 72 | 42 | 0 | .632 | 7 |
| Totals | 1886–present | 115 | 629 | 483 | 51 | .563 | 19 |
* From 1906 to 1914, rugby was played instead of football. Cal's 13th coach was Oscar Taylor from 1906-08. Cal's 14th coach, James Schaeffer
James Schaeffer
James Garfield "Jimmie" Schaeffer was an American college football coach. He served as the University of California head football coach from 1909 to 1915 and amassed a 73–16–8 record. From 1909 to 1914, California played football according to the rugby code, rather than the American code...
, coached rugby from 1909–14 and football in 1915.
Bowl history
| Bowl and Date | Winning team | Losing team | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 Rose Bowl 1921 Rose Bowl The 1921 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1921. In the game, the 7th Rose Bowl, the California Golden Bears defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 28-0. It was only the second time a Big Ten team had met a Pacific Coast Conference team. The first was the... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
28 | Ohio State Ohio State University The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States... |
0 | Won |
| 1922 Rose Bowl 1922 Rose Bowl The 1922 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 1922, between Washington & Jefferson College and the University of California, Berkeley... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
0 | Washington & Jefferson Washington & Jefferson Presidents football The Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team represents Washington & Jefferson College in collegiate level football. The team competes in NCAA Division III and is affiliated with the Presidents' Athletic Conference... |
0 | Tie |
| 1929 Rose Bowl 1929 Rose Bowl The 1929 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game and the 15th annual Rose Bowl Game. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeated the California Golden Bears by a score of 8-7. The game was notable for a play by California All-American Roy Riegels in which he scooped up a Georgia Tech fumble and ran... |
Georgia Tech Georgia Institute of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States... |
8 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
7 | Lost |
| 1938 Rose Bowl 1938 Rose Bowl The 1938 Rose Bowl was played on January 1, 1938, and was the 24th Rose Bowl. The game featured the California Golden Bears against the Alabama Crimson Tide, two of the top teams from the 1937 college football season... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
13 | Alabama University of Alabama The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... |
0 | Won |
| 1949 Rose Bowl 1949 Rose Bowl The 1949 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game. It was the 35th Rose Bowl Game, and the third since the Big Nine Conference and Pacific Coast Conference agreed to an exclusive agreement to match their conference champions. The Northwestern Wildcats defeated the California Golden Bears 20-14... |
Northwestern Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees.... |
20 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
14 | Lost |
| 1950 Rose Bowl 1950 Rose Bowl The 1950 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played between Ohio State University and University of California at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The game was a rematch of the 1921 Rose Bowl where both Ohio State and Cal both played in the teams' first bowl game. Ohio State came out... |
Ohio State Ohio State University The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States... |
17 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
14 | Lost |
| 1951 Rose Bowl 1951 Rose Bowl The 1951 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1951. It was the 37th Rose Bowl Game. The Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, defeated the California Golden Bears, champions of the Pacific Coast Conference, 14–6. Michigan fullback Don Dufek was... |
Michigan University of Michigan The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan... |
14 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
6 | Lost |
| 1959 Rose Bowl 1959 Rose Bowl The 1959 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1959. It was the 45th Rose Bowl Game. The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the , 38–12. Bob Jeter, Iowa's star halfback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game... |
Iowa University of Iowa The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees... |
38 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
12 | Lost |
| 1979 Garden State Bowl 1979 Garden State Bowl The 1979 Garden State Bowl, played on December 15, 1979, was the 2nd edition of the Garden State Bowl. The game featured the California Golden Bears, and the Temple Owls. The Owls beat the Golden Bears, 28-17, in their first bowl appearance since the 1935 Sugar Bowl... |
Temple Temple University Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional... |
28 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
17 | Lost |
| 1990 Copper Bowl 1990 Copper Bowl The 1990 edition to the Copper Bowl featured the , and the Wyoming Cowboys.After a scoreless first quarer, Cal quarterback Mike Pawlawski threw a 25 yard touchdown pass to Brian Treggs giving Cal a 7-0 lead. A 26 yard Wyoming field goal cut the margin to 7-3 at halftime. In the third quarter, Cal... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
17 | Wyoming University of Wyoming The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university... |
15 | Won |
| Citrus Bowl Citrus Bowl The Florida Citrus Bowl is a stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA, built for football, which currently seats around 70,000 people.... Jan 1, 1992 |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
37 | Clemson Clemson University Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States.... |
13 | Won |
| 1993 Alamo Bowl 1993 Alamo Bowl The 1993 edition to the Alamo Bowl featured the , and the Iowa Hawkeyes. One of the bowl's invites was expected to be a school from the Texas-based Southwest Conference . However, only 2 of the SWC's eight teams reached the necessary 6 wins for bowl eligibility and those teams were committed to... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
37 | Iowa University of Iowa The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees... |
3 | Won |
| 1996 Aloha Bowl 1996 Aloha Bowl The 1996 Aloha Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 25, 1996 in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was part of the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the , and the .... |
Navy United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States... |
42 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
38 | Lost |
| 2003 Insight Bowl 2003 Insight Bowl The 2003 Insight Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the and the at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona on December 26, 2003. The game was the final contest of the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 52–49 victory for California... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
52 | Virginia Tech Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in... |
49 | Won |
| 2004 Holiday Bowl 2004 Holiday Bowl The 2004 Holiday Bowl was the third bowl game played of the 2004-2005 bowl season on December 30, 2004. The game was held at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, pitting the Pac-10's and the Big 12's Texas Tech Red Raiders... |
Texas Tech Texas Tech University Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the... |
45 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
31 | Lost |
| 2005 Las Vegas Bowl 2005 Las Vegas Bowl The 2005 edition to the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl was the 14th edition of that annual game. It featured the California Golden Bears, and the .... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
35 | BYU Brigham Young University Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students... |
28 | Won |
| 2006 Holiday Bowl 2006 Holiday Bowl The 2006 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 28, 2006 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season and one of 32 games in the 2006-2007 bowl season. It featured the Texas A&M Aggies representing the Big 12 against the... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
45 | Texas A&M Texas A&M University Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school... |
10 | Won |
| 2007 Armed Forces Bowl 2007 Armed Forces Bowl The 2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on December 31, 2007, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, USA... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
42 | Air Force United States Air Force Academy The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States... |
36 | Won |
| 2008 Emerald Bowl 2008 Emerald Bowl The 2008 Emerald Bowl, part of the 2008-09 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 27, 2008 at AT&T Park, the home field of the Giants in San Francisco, California... |
California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
24 | Miami University of Miami The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12... |
17 | Won |
| 2009 Poinsettia Bowl 2009 Poinsettia Bowl The 2009 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl was the fifth edition of the college football bowl game and was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game started at 5 PM US PST on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 on ESPN. The Utah Utes defeated the California Golden Bears... |
Utah University of Utah The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest... |
37 | California University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
27 | Lost |
Cal's All-Century Football Team
chosen by Contra Costa TimesContra Costa Times
The Contra Costa Times is a daily newspaper based in Walnut Creek, California, U.S.. The paper serves Contra Costa and eastern Alameda counties, in the eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area...
, Walnut Creek, CA, November 18, 1999
Offense
- QB: Steve BartkowskiSteve BartkowskiSteven Joseph "Steve" Bartkowski is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Rams...
(1972-74) Edges another NFL first-round pick in Craig Morton (Cowboys). Consensus All-American in 1974 was first player taken in NFL draft, by Atlanta. - RB: Chuck MuncieChuck MuncieHarry Vance "Chuck" Muncie is a former American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984...
(1973-75) Gained 1,460 yards rushing in 1975, leading Cal to 8-3 record and share of Pac-8 title with UCLA. Rushed for 100 yards or more 15 times in career. - RB: Russell WhiteRussell WhiteRussell Lamar White is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played for two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers....
(1990-92) Bears' career rushing leader with 3,367 yards only Cal player to rush for at least 1,000 yards in three straight seasons. - TE: Tony Gonzalez (1994-96) First-round pick of Kansas City Chiefs in 1997 also played three years of basketball at Cal.
- WR: Sean DawkinsSean DawkinsSean Russell Dawkins is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars from 1993 to 2001....
(1990-92) Cal's all-time leader with 14 receiving touchdowns in 1992 was first-round pick by Indianapolis Colts. - WR: Wesley WalkerWesley WalkerWesley Darcel Walker is a former professional American football wide receiver for the New York Jets in 1977 - 1989....
(1973-76) Had eight catches for 289 yards against San Jose State in 1976. - OL: Todd SteussieTodd SteussieTodd Edward Steussie was an American football guard and tackle for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings 19th overall in the 1994 NFL Draft...
(1990-93) Two-time All-Pac-10 tackle was first-round choice of Minnesota Vikings in 1994. - OL: Dan McMillanDan McMillanDan McMillan was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971....
(1920-21) Bears were 18-0-1 during McMillan's two years as an offensive tackle, including a 127-0 demolishing of St. Mary's on Oct. 9, 1920. - OL: Rod FranzRod FranzRodney T. Franz was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977....
(1946-49) Guard was only three-time All-American in Cal history and helped Bears post unbeaten regular seasons (10-0) in 1948 and '49. - OL: Les RichterLes RichterLeslie Alan Richter was a Los Angeles Rams National Football League football player, former head of operations for NASCAR and president of the Riverside International Raceway. He played in 8 Pro Bowls as a linebacker. Richter was born in Fresno, California...
(1949-51) Consensus All-America guard in 1950 and '51 was just as good at linebacker. - OL: Bob HerwigBob HerwigBob Herwig was an American football center. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1964....
(1935-37) Offensive center was narrow choice over fellow Cal Hall of Famer member Babe Horrell. Also played basketball for the Bears. - PK: Doug BrienDoug BrienDouglas Robert Zachariah Brien is a former American football placekicker. He played twelve seasons for seven teams in the National Football League:...
(1991-93) Bears' all-time leading scorer (288 points) secured job by beating Arizona, UCLA with fourth-quarter field goals on back-to-back weeks in 1991.
Defense
- DL: Brick Muller (1920-22) Two-time All-American led ferocious defense and threw 50-yard touchdown pass in 28-0 win over Ohio State on Jan. 1, 1921, Cal's first Rose Bowl win.
- DL: Stan BarnesStan BarnesStan Barnes was an American football player, judge and assistant attorney general of the United States.Born in Wisconsin, Barnes played high school football at San Diego High for Clarence "Nibs" Price who encouraged his brightest players, starting with Barnes, to follow his path to Berkeley to...
(1918-21) Another Wonder Team member gets narrow nod over Pittsburg High School's Regan Upshaw. - DL: Ed White (1966-68) One of best NFL offensive linemen ever was four-time Pro Bowler and played in four Super Bowls with Vikings.
- DL: Sherman WhiteSherman White (American football)Sherman Eugene White is a retired American football defensive lineman who played in the National Football League between 1972 and 1983. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft out of the University of California, Berkeley....
(1969-71) Didn't play in high school football, but was all-conference pick in 1970 and '71, and was first-round pick of Cincinnati Bengals in 1972. - LB: Ron RiveraRon RiveraRonald Eugene Rivera is the head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Rivera was a linebacker on the 1985 Chicago Bears, who won Super Bowl XX. Rivera was the defensive coordinator for the 2006 Chicago Bears, who won the National Football Conference championship and competed in Super Bowl XLI...
(1980-83) Consensus All-American in 1983 holds Cal single-season records for tackles for loss (26.5) and sacks (13). - LB: Sekou Sanyika (1996-1999) Hercules resident is Cal's all-time leader in tackles for loss and is expected to be first-round NFL draft pick next spring.
- LB: Matt HazeltineMatt HazeltineMatthew Emory Hazeltine, Jr. was a professional American football linebacker who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants....
(1951-54) Two-time All-American played with 49ers from 1955-68. - DB: Carl Van Heuit (1949-50) Gifted athlete averaged 11.1 yards per punt return while helping Cal go to back-to-back Rose Bowls in 1950 and '51. Was All-American in 1950.
- DB: Ken Wiedemann (1967-69) School's all-time interception leader with 16.
- DB: Deltha O'NealDeltha O'NealDeltha Lee O'Neal, III is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round as the 15th pick overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, after playing college football at California.A two-time Pro Bowl selection, O'Neal has also been a member...
(1996-[1999]) Four interceptions returned for touchdowns this season set NCAA record. - DB: Jackie JensenJackie JensenJack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...
(1946-48) First Cal player in history to rush for more than 100 yards in a game. Had five carries for 109 yards in 47-14 rout of Washington State on Nov. 2, 1946. - P: Nick HarrisNick HarrisNicholas John Harris is an American football punter for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
(1997-[2000]) Averaging 42.6 yards per punt despite many pooches. Sure NFL player. - UTL: Walter GordonWalter A. GordonWalter Arthur Gordon was the first African American to receive a doctorate of law from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall law school. He had an extremely long and varied career where he served as a police officer, lawyer, assistant football coach, member of the California Adult Authority, Governor of the...
(1916-18) Could play any position on the field better than anyone else.
Coach
- Andy SmithAndy Smith (coach)Andrew Latham "Andy" Smith was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania , Purdue University , and the University of California, Berkeley , compiling a career college football record of 116–32–13...
(1916–25) Never had losing season while going 74-16-7 in 10 seasons at Cal. Record included 7-0-1 mark against USC and 6-1-1 ledger in Big Game. Beat USC 12-0 on Oct. 28, 1922, in first game played at the Rose Bowl.
Current NFL Players
| Player | Position | NFL Team | NFL Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo Alexander Lorenzo Alexander Lorenzo John Alexander is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at California.-High school career:... |
Defensive Tackle | Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
2006 |
| Tyson Alualu Tyson Alualu -Jacksonville Jaguars:On August 2, 2010, Alualu signed a five-year deal with the Jaguars. The contract includes $17.5 million guaranteed and a total value of roughly $28 million.-2010 season:... |
Defensive Tackle | Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2010 2010 NFL Draft The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm... |
| Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha is an American cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and played college football for the Golden Bears at the University of California, Berkeley... |
Cornerback Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2003 2003 NFL Draft The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at... |
| Tully Banta-Cain Tully Banta-Cain Tully Banta-Cain is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.Banta-Cain earned two Super Bowl rings during his first stint with the Patriots... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
2003 2003 NFL Draft The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at... |
| Jahvid Best Jahvid Best Jahvid Andre Best is a running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was selected by the Lions with the 30th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. In college, he played for the California Golden Bears, setting several records, including most all-purpose yards in a single season and... |
Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
2010 2010 NFL Draft The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm... |
| David Binn David Binn David Aaron Binn is an American football long snapper who is currently a free agent.He played college football for the University of California, Berkeley. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 1994.... |
Long Snapper Long snapper In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible.... |
San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
1994 |
| Desmond Bishop Desmond Bishop Desmond Lamont Bishop is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
2007 2007 NFL Draft The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so... |
| Kyle Boller Kyle Boller Kyle Bryan Boller is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at The University of California.Boller has also played for the St... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2003 2003 NFL Draft The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at... |
| Andre Carter Andre Carter Rubin Andre Carter is an American football defensive end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League... |
Defensive End Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
2001 2001 NFL Draft The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the... |
| Chris Conte Chris Conte Chris Conte is an American football safety. He was drafted in the third round of the NFL 2011 draft by the Chicago Bears. He played college football at California.... |
Safety | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2011 2011 NFL Draft The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players... |
| Brian De La Puente Brian De La Puente Brian de la Puente is an American football Center for the New Orleans Saints. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. De la Puente has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks.-Early life:De la Puente is Jewish on his... |
Offensive Guard | Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
2008 |
| Thomas DeCoud Thomas DeCoud Thomas DeCoud is a safety for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He played college football for the California Golden Bears... |
Safety | Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2008 2008 NFL Draft The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so... |
| Justin Forsett Justin Forsett Justin Forsett is an American football running back and punt returner for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-Early years:Forsett was born in Lakeland, Florida... |
Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
2008 2008 NFL Draft The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so... |
| Scott Fujita Scott Fujita Scott Anthony Fujita is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2002 2002 NFL Draft The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at... |
| Mike Gibson Mike Gibson (American football) Mike Gibson is an American football guard for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft... |
Offensive Guard | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
2008 2008 NFL Draft The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so... |
| Matt Giordano Matt Giordano Matthew Victor Giordano is an American football safety for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.Giordano earned a Super Bowl ring with the Colts in Super... |
Safety | Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2005 2005 NFL Draft The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after... |
| Tony Gonzalez | Tight End Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
1997 1997 NFL Draft The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that... |
| Nick Harris Nick Harris Nicholas John Harris is an American football punter for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft... |
Punter Punter (football position) A punter in American or Canadian football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a... |
Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
2001 2001 NFL Draft The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the... |
| Lavelle Hawkins Lavelle Hawkins Lavelle Hawkins is an American football wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Titans in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft... |
Wide Receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
2008 2008 NFL Draft The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so... |
| Dante Hughes Dante Hughes Daymeion Dante Hughes is an American football cornerback who currently plays for the San Diego Chargers of the NFL.He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft... |
Cornerback Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2007 2007 NFL Draft The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so... |
| DeSean Jackson DeSean Jackson Going to the 2008 NFL Draft Jackson was considered one of the top ten wide receivers available in a draft class littered with talented wide outs. The only knock on Jackson was his small frame, being measured at 5'9¾ " and just over 170 pounds. During the pre-draft period, Hall of Fame wide receiver... |
Wide Receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2008 2008 NFL Draft The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so... |
| Cameron Jordan Cameron Jordan -New Orleans Saints:Jordan was selected as the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.On August 2, 2011, Jordan signed a four year, $7.7 million deal with the Saints.-Personal:... |
Defensive End Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
2011 2011 NFL Draft The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players... |
| L.P. Ladouceur L.P. Ladouceur Louis-Philippe Ladouceur is a Canadian-born American football player. He played college football for the California Golden Bears, where he was a career backup defensive lineman as well as their regular long snapper... |
Long Snapper Long snapper In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible.... |
Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
2005 |
| Ryan Longwell Ryan Longwell Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise... |
Kicker Placekicker Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points... |
Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
1997 |
| Marshawn Lynch Marshawn Lynch Marshawn Terrell Lynch is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In his rookie year, Lynch became the Bills' first 1,000-yard rookie rusher since Greg Bell in 1984... |
Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
2007 2007 NFL Draft The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so... |
| Alex Mack Alex Mack Alex Mack is an American football player for the Cleveland Browns. He was drafted as the 21st selection in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft... |
Center Center (American football) Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... |
Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2009 2009 NFL Draft The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00... |
| Brandon Mebane Brandon Mebane Brandon Mebane is a defensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks. He attended Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles. He played college football at California.-College career:... |
Defensive Tackle | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
2007 2007 NFL Draft The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so... |
| Mike Mohamed Mike Mohamed -Denver Broncos:Mohamed was drafted with the 24th pick of the 6th round, 189th overall, by the Denver Broncos in the 2011 NFL draft. He was released by the Denver Broncos on September 22, 2011, but was signed to the practice squad the next day.-External links:*... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2011 2011 NFL Draft The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players... |
| Cameron Morrah Cameron Morrah Cameron Morrah is a tight end for the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, by the Seattle Seahawks. He played collegiately at California, where he led the Golden Bears in touchdown receptions in the 2008-2009 season with 8... |
Tight End Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
2009 2009 NFL Draft The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00... |
| Ryan O'Callaghan Ryan O'Callaghan Ryan O'Callaghan is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft... |
Offensive Tackle | Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a... |
2006 2006 NFL Draft The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by... |
| Jeremy Ross | Wide Receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
2011 |
| Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
2005 2005 NFL Draft The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after... |
| Craig Stevens Craig Stevens (American football) Craig Chase Stevens is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Titans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.... |
Tight End Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
2008 2008 NFL Draft The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so... |
| Nick Sundberg Nick Sundberg Nick Sundberg is an American football long snapper in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of California, Berkeley.-Early life:... |
Long Snapper Long snapper In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible.... |
Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
2009 |
| Will Ta'ufo'ou Will Ta'ufo'ou Will Ta'ufo'ou is an American football fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2009... |
Fullback Fullback (American football) A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... |
Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2009 |
| Mike Tepper | Offensive Tackle | Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
2010 |
| Syd'Quan Thompson Syd'Quan Thompson Syd'Quan Thompson is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos. Thompson was drafted by the Broncos as the 225th overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-Early life:... |
Cornerback Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2010 2010 NFL Draft The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm... |
| Nyan Boateng Nyan Boateng Nyan Boateng, is an American football wide receiver currently a member of the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010... |
Wide Receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2010 |
| Shane Vereen Shane Vereen Shane Patrick-Henry Vereen is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted 56th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-Early years:... |
Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
2011 2011 NFL Draft The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players... |
| Langston Walker Langston Walker Langston Branden Walker is an American football offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Raiders in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at California... |
Offensive Tackle | Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2002 2002 NFL Draft The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at... |