Nothing to see here, move along

Yes, many are reporting that there are allegations and a restraining order out there against Marshawn Lynch. But these are exactly that — allegations. Is it suspiciously near Lynch’s NFL payday? Absolutely. So, I feel no need to give some ex-girlfriend’s accusations the exposure she wants before the facts are known. As serious as this is, I couldn’t help but have a song called “Gold Digger” stuck in my head since I’ve heard about this.

I think Lynch needs to respond to these claims quickly and get this all sorted out. If he really is guilty of these accusations, he deserves to be punished. But for now, he has the benefit of the doubt from me. Updates will be posted as more news is released.

Hughes, Mebane standouts in Senior Bowl

Cal seniors Daymeion Hughes (cornerback) and Brandon Mebane (defensive tackle) are getting noticed in the Senior Bowl. Scouts, Inc/ESPN’s Todd McShay has a lot of good things to say in “Monday’s Buzz”:

The defensive player that impressed us the most was Cal cornerback Daymeion Hughes. The 5-10, 192 pounder displayed outstanding agility and instincts throughout practice. There wasn’t a receiver on the team, including standouts such as Jason Hill (Washington State), Rhema McKnight (Notre Dame) and David Clowney (Virginia Tech), who could shake Hughes in one-on-one drills. While it’s important to put everything into perspective this week, I think it’s safe to say that Hughes showed better man-to-man cover skills this afternoon than Michigan’s Leon Hall, who is widely considered the top cornerback prospect and a potential top-15 pick in this year’s class.

There’s more about Hughes and Mebane in the Tuesday article:

Cal CB Daymeion Hughes continues to stand out in practice. He has good size with wide shoulders and a natural feel for making plays and getting his hands on the football. He is fluid and closes suddenly. His lack of pure speed is a clear drawback, however, and he will not be able to keep up with the faster receivers in the NFL if left alone deep downfield in man-to-man coverage. Therefore, we think Hughes has the looks of a starting Cover 2 cornerback to best use his skill set — which is impressive if utilized correctly. …

Cal’s Brandon Mebane and Louisville’s Amobi Okoye aren’t doing a great job of holding their ground when they get reached. However, both defensive tackles are showing good quickness and getting into the backfield.

McShay also talks highly of Hughes in a TV segment on SportsCenter. You can watch the video segment here. Meanwihle, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers also have an article expressing how impressed they are with Mebane:

Cal DT Brandon Mebane (left) surprised Bucs coaches with his quickness off the ball …

California’s Brandon Mebane, a 6-1, 304-pound defensive tackle who might measure out as a bit undersized but who showed off impressive power during a lengthy one-on-one session with the North’s offensive linemen. … At one point, Mebane went head-to-head with the left guard and left him on the ground as he simply bulled over him.

“[He has] a bunch of power,” said the coach, who was essentially in his first day on the job with Tampa Bay. “He’s got a great center of gravity, gets his hips under him and he understands pass rushing. He understands how to use his hips. I’m shocked by him and how quick he is off the ball. He showed great intensity.”

It’s great to see our Cal players raise their draft status and get noticed for the next level of play. I think we’ll be seeing both Hughes and Mebane taken high in the upcoming NFL draft.

OC Dunbar leaves for Minnesota

Offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar is leaving Cal to take the same position at Minnesota after spending one year in Berkeley. This is not an entirely surprising move, as he contributed some spread elements to Cal’s offensive scheme but Cal never adopted the spread completely.

The Contra Costa Times’ Jay Heater has an article about the move to shine some light on the situation.

“Mike was more comfortable running the spread solely,” Tedford said from Dallas on Wednesday. “There were professional opportunities for him in Minnesota, and I think he is going to be more comfortable there.”

Tedford was asked if it was a mistake to bring Dunbar to Cal. “No,” he said. “He brought some new ideas and concepts. Our goal was to meld those together. It’s not that it didn’t work. We were fine.

“But our goal was to meld the two concepts and not to be solely a spread team. I think he is of the mind to be 100 percent in the spread. He has had a lot of success doing that.”

The article goes on to state that Cal will continue to use some spread elements but never use it completely. It also mentions that Coach Jeff Tedford will “take his time” in choosing a replacement.

Recruiting news: good and bad

First, the good: wide receiver Nyan Boateng has transferred to Cal from Florida to have 2 years of eligibility starting in the 2008 season (transfers must sit out one season according to NCAA rules). Boateng was rated as a 5-star prospect in high school, and was selected for the Army All-American Bowl along with our own DeSean Jackson. However, injuries prevented him from making an impact at Florida. Boateng is a tall and athletic receiver listed at 6″2’/205 lbs/4.45 forty and a 42″ vertical. He is definitely a welcome addition since the receiver core will lose Lavelle Hawkins, Robert Jordan, and possibly Jackson to the NFL after the 2007 season.

The bad news: safety Terry Mixon (brother of Tim Mixon) who previously made a verbal commitment to the Bears as a junior college transfer, has changed his commitment to Washington State. While he would have been an excellent addition to this class, we wish him the best of luck up in Pullman. In related news, there is still no decision about Tim’s petition for a sixth year of eligibility.

Confirmed (AP): Tedford 4-year contract extension

In an Associated Press report, it has been confirmed that Coach Jeff Tedford‘s contract has been extended for 4 years, through 2013. This great news comes in an article celebrating Tedford’s success and the emergence of the program as an annual contender, giving Cal some more exposure and recognition nationally. Some excerpts:

Tedford is 43-20 in five seasons, leading the Bears’ longest sustained period of excellence in a half-century. He led Cal to a 10-3 record, a Pac-10 co-championship and a victory over Texas A&M …

Tedford annually appears on the coaching wish lists of big-school athletic directors and NFL general managers. This winter alone, he was linked him with openings at Alabama and with the Atlanta Falcons. …

But Tedford seems comfortable at Cal, where he has transformed a once-struggling program into a West Coast power with burgeoning fan support and new facilities on the way. …

The Bears have reached the top 10 in three straight seasons while appearing in four consecutive bowl games — winning three — for the first time in school history. Cal’s share of the Pac-10 crown this season was its first conference title since 1975, and Tedford also has beaten archrival Stanford five straight times.

This also grants the Cal program additional stability and quashes any rumors of Tedford looking to bolt to other programs or NFL positions. This stability is crucial for Tedford’s continual success in recruiting top-tier talent. Plus, Tedford until 2013 and world-class facilities underway… it can’t get better than this.

EDIT: The Contra Costa Times has an article about the contract extension with some quotes from Tedford:

“I’ve never had a hidden agenda of moving anywhere else. We have been fortunate to have had some success here and I believe we have put ourselves in the national spotlight. I’m very excited about the future of this program, and I feel it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”

Tedford said his biggest desire in landing a contract extension was having job security. “I know that Cal can’t compete (with the NFL) in money,” he said.

Barbour acted quickly and Tedford said he never met personally with an NFL team. He said he also has received several calls from universities interested in luring him away from Cal and that he isn’t interested.

“I have a lot invested in this program,” he said. “There has been a lot of work done by a lot of people. I don’t want to take a step backward.”

Breaking news: Tedford contract extension

According to KGO’s Ken Dito, Coach Jeff Tedford will be receiving more money and a contract extension. This is unconfirmed but I will post details as they are released…

Cal makes preliminary 2007 preseason lists

With the end of the 2006 season, Cal is already near the top of some preliminary preseason lists ranking college football teams for 2007.

Cal takes the #10 spot in ESPN’s rankings (Schlabach):

Why: Despite losing Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year Marshawn Lynch, the Bears return a plethora of skill players on offense. DeSean Jackson is a big-play threat at receiver and punt returner. Quarterback Nate Longshore was much-improved in his first season as a starter, and Justin Forsett and freshman James Montgomery are in line to replace Lynch.

Why not: For starters, the Bears open the 2007 season against Tennessee and must fare better than in the ’06 opener. Cal must replace all its key parts on defense — tackle Brandon Mebane, linebacker Desmond Bishop and cornerback Daymeion Hughes. The transition will be easier if the NCAA grants another year of eligibility to cornerback Tim Mixon, who missed all of 2006 with a knee injury.

The Bears also take the #7 spot in the New York Times:

Loaded and experienced at skill positions, and opening its season against Tennessee. Expect DeSean Jackson to become a household name.

Army All-American Summers-Gavin commits

4-star offensive lineman Matt Summers-Gavin, rated the #14 guard in the nation by Scout and #11 tackle by Rivals, has made his commitment to the Bears. This addition of this 6’5″/280 lbs US Army All-American gives Cal “one of the nation’s best offensive line classes” (Rivals). Summers-Gavin is local, from St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco. Cal’s offensive line recruiting class now consists of Summers-Gavin, 4-star tackle Sam DeMartinis, 4-star guard Justin Cheadle, and 3-star guards Mitchell Schwartz and Todd Huber. In the last week or so, Cal has also added commitments from Schwartz and 3-star safety/athlete Sean Cattouse (Chicago, IL).

Lynch declares for the NFL draft

Junior running back Marshawn Lynch has decided to forgo his last season of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft. He said:

“I also want to thank all of my teammates and the Cal staff and all the mentors that have taken time to come and talk to me as well as all of the Cal Bear fans. My time at Cal has been great; I really enjoyed the chance to play with my cousins and all the friendships I made with the coaches and players. I will always consider myself a Golden Bear.”

This move is not surprising to Cal fans, as Marshawn has been projected by many experts as a first-round draft pick and either the first or second running back taken. With running backs having the shortest careers in the NFL, moving on to the NFL makes sense for Marshawn and his family.

We appreciate Marshawn for his contribution to Cal football and his positive impact on the program. He has one-of-a-kind talent and playmaking ability, and he will be remembered as one of Cal’s greats. Marshawn will be sorely missed next year but a fresh crop of talented running backs, led by Justin Forsett, are lined up to take his place.

“WOODSHED BEATDOWN”

Yesterday’s Holiday Bowl was one for the ages and a defining moment of the Tedford Era at Cal. The Bears defied all critics and came together to form the juggernaut that the Cal faithful knew would show up to play, dominating all phases of the game and routing Texas A&M 45-10.

Here are the media rounds. Go Bears, and note you can’t spell shellacking without CAL.

AP: “Lynch runs for 111 yards, 2 TDs; Cal routs Texas A&M”

Cal (10-3) put an emphatic final touch to its second 10-win season in three years. …

“Cal played a great game,” [Aggies coach Dennis] Franchione said. “We were not up to the task. They controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.” … While the Golden Bears moved up and down the field, their defense came up big, too.

ESPN: “Bears’ Holiday Bowl win exorcises some demons”

The Bears pounded Texas A&M, outhitting the Aggies from the opening kickoff en route to an impressive and very emotional 45-10 victory … But Thursday’s performance was more about this team making a statement, proving — perhaps to themselves as much as the rest of the college football world — that they had the grit to go with all the glitz. … numbers don’t accurately show Cal’s dominance. …

The rout also provided a needed boost for Pac-10 pride, which really has taken a beating in the last week … beating the No. 21 Aggies won’t answer all the critics, but it sure was a great way to jump into the offseason.

San Diego Union-Tribune: “Grizzly bears”

Not only did Cal prove it could take a punch, it delivered a haymaker. …Whereas No. 21 Texas A&M (9-4) had been identified as the intimidator in this affair, boasting a bruising running game that ranked seventh-best in the country, it was Cal that assumed the role of tormentor. The Bears finished with 476 total yards and ran roughshod over a defense that just last month limited then-No. 11 Texas to seven points in the Aggies’ regular-season finale.

San Diego Union-Tribune: “Cal’s defense shows who’s boss”

The Cal Golden Bears were the ones playing the part of the physical opponent, bottling up the Aggies’ option game with blood-letting assignment defense in a 45-10 victory.

LA Times: “Cal makes point for Pac-10, beating Texas A&M 45-10”

It wasn’t the Rose Bowl, but it was a start. The No. 20 California Golden Bears, whose chance to get to Pasadena had veered off course in two of the past three seasons, made the most of their postseason opportunity…

SF Chronicle: “Lasting impression”

It was, in short, their most dominant postseason game ever, and one that will provide rebuttal for those whose minds still go back to the losses at Arizona and USC that sent them here.

SF Chronicle: “Win both convincing and entertaining”

Marshawn Lynch’s 111 yards and two touchdowns looked like classic Chuck Muncie. Justin Forsett’s 124 yards and a score on eight carries looked a lot like Lynch. Nate Longshore’s 235 yards on 19-of-24 passing looked like Pat Barnes circa 1996. DeSean Jackson was the spitting image of Geoff MacArthur in 2003.

Contra Costa Times: “Cal puts in extra hard work on this holiday”

After stumbling at the end of the regular season with only three offensive touchdowns in their final three games, Cal erupted for 476 yards of offense, including 241 rushing yards. …

“I’ve never seen a game where we outhit somebody so hard,” said Bears linebacker Zack Follett, who had two tackles for loss. “When you put this kind of beat-down on a great team like Texas A&M, it’s going to look good. Our future is awesome.”

Houston Chronicle: “Cal turns out the lights on A&M in Holiday Bowl”

The Bears punished A&M physically, hammering quarterback Stephen McGee on at least two occasions and then knocking running back Mike Goodson out of the game late with what appeared to be a knee injury. Cal dominated the Aggies’ offensive line, swarming to the ball to cut off running lanes. A&M couldn’t return the favor. … The Bears’ speed riddled A&M zones, with Nate Longshore having plenty of time to find open receivers in soft spots. …

The Bears outscored A&M 31-0 in the second half to break open a close game.

Dallas Morning News: “Holiday off: Cal routs A&M, 45-10”

Texas A&M’s porous pass defense, its downfall last year, resurfaced to haunt the Aggies Thursday night in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. The Aggies’ inconsistent passing offense, which they overcame much of this season, finally cost them against No. 20 Cal. No. 21 A&M suffered its first blowout loss of 2006, ending an encouraging year with a disappointing 45-10 defeat in front of a pro-Golden Bears crowd of 62,395 at Qualcomm Stadium.

San Antonio Express: “California smashes Texas A&M”

The Aggies upset Texas 12-7 on Nov. 24 in Austin, but Franchione’s first victory over A&M’s chief rival now seems a distant memory following Thursday’s shellacking against the Bears (10-3), the Pac-10 co-champions.