Golden Nuggets: Best Will Miss the Poinsettia Bowl

by Berkelium97 on Dec 16, 2009 7:00 PM PST in Golden Nuggets

You're all familiar with the sections on the left of the page, right? Some of you aren't? Well, they are a handy way to look at posts according to various topics. You can sort posts by "football," "recruiting," "basketball," and so forth. Now there is a section called "Golden Nuggets" where the GN posts will be stored. If you need to catch up on several day's worth of news just click that section and you'll see all the most recent posts.

Tedford has announced that Jahvid Best will miss the Poinsettia Bowl. He said he is progressing well, but that it would be too soon for him to play in the bowl game. I'll post more details when they're made available.

Here's what Daily Cal had to say:

Tedford said that Best is "doing excellent" in rehabbing from the head and back pain that have kept him out of football since he suffered a scary concussion on the field during the Bears' loss to Oregon State on Nov. 7. But with Cal returning to practice Wednesday just a week away from its bowl game against Utah, the team didn't feel that Best would have enough time to get himself back into game shape before Dec. 23.

"He's been out a long time, and since this game is so early, to get him back in game-ready form -- we don't feel like that's something that we can get done to him ready to play," Tedford said.

Best might have been available to play had the Bears gone to a post-Christmas bowl, Tedford said. That possibility was erased when Cal closed out its regular season with a 42-10 loss at Washington.

Tedford said that the decision was made "over the last couple of days." The Bears' practice Wednesday was their first since Sunday, as players are in the midst of finals week.

Best will make the trip to San Diego to watch Cal play Utah in San Diego.

"He wishes he could be out there with us," Vereen said. "But at the same time he understands that he needs to get better and healthy."

After the jump I have quotes from Chris Martin as well as more stories on his commitment to Cal, previews of the Cal-Utah matchup, more bowl information, bracketology, and info on how you can do your holiday shopping with Randle, PC, Zhang, and Boykin this Saturday.

Cal Football

JO talks about Chris Martin's commitment to Cal. The 2nd-rated defensive end is set to become a pass rushing LB at Cal and should immediately compete for playing time. JO also has some quotes from his phone conversation with Martin. Martin thinks he and this year's recruiting class are some of the final pieces of the puzzle necessary to get Cal to a Rose Bowl or beyond. Additionally, he's looking forward to being close to home and playing in front of friends and family.
On the heels of Chris Martin's commitment, RB Tajuan Briggs decommitted from USC to give a commitment to Cal. His most recent visit to Cal led him to reconsider his commitment to USC, which he made to keep his family happy, as he'd be closer to home. Ted Miller briefly recaps the current crop of Pac-10 commits and anticipates Cal will bring in a top-25 recruiting class.
ESPN posted its scouting report for the Cal-Utah matchup. It gives Cal the advantage at QB, RB, LB, and D-line, and gives Utah the advantage at O-line, WR, secondary, special teams, and coaching. Utah ultimately gets the nod, as they predict a 23-17 win for the Utes.
Cal has posted its program for the bowl. I wonder if they'll have these available to the media or if they'll just provide stapled, black-and-white copies like they did at the Pac-10 media day.
Despite struggling with it during the season, Utah remains committed to its wildcat scheme.
Utah's experienced trio of senior linebackers is looking to notch its 40th career win.
Shane Vereen is Cal's pick for Ted Miller's underrated players of the year.
Syd was named to Sporting News' third-team All-American squad.
Syd, Alualu, Tepper, and Tucker have been invited to the annual East-West Shrine Game. It is held January 23rd and will begin at 12pm PST.
Utah safety Robert Johnson does great work both on and off the field.
Tedford comes in 7th in Wilner's year-end coaching rankings.

Cal Basketball

ESPN's latest bracketology has Cal as a 9th seed, opening the tournament against Mississippi St.
Have some holiday shopping left to do? Head to Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton on Saturday, where Randle, PC, Boykin, and Zhang will be signing autographs from 4:30 until 6:30.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

As always, your work compiling the Golden Nuggets is much appreciated.

by sec119 on Dec 16, 2009 7:14 PM PST reply actions

Best out, via Okanes

LAME

In communist Russia, Sanchez declares YOU!

by HOUSE66 on Dec 16, 2009 7:15 PM PST reply actions

link

http://www.ibabuzz.com/beartalk/2009/12/16/football-best-out-2/

In communist Russia, Sanchez declares YOU!

by HOUSE66 on Dec 16, 2009 7:16 PM PST reply actions

Another link

To YO’s updated entry

In other less than good news, Matt Summers-Gavin still has not practiced. His status for the bowl game is uncertain.

Praise be to Tedford!

by Ohio Bear on Dec 16, 2009 10:23 PM PST up reply actions

Did Briggs sign his LOI by today's deadline?

According to the story:

At this stage, nothing’s official and it technically won’t be until Briggs signs his National Letter of Intent as an early entrant on December 16th, but he knows what his heart is telling him.

The compensation provided under [Jeff Tedford's] contract is funded exclusively from athletic department revenues and private fundraising and no State or general campus funds are used in this arrangement.

by dballisloose on Dec 16, 2009 7:58 PM PST reply actions

very sad news…I certainly can’t knock Jahvid if he decides to go pro, I would just love him to see him in a Cal uniform one last time so his last play is not the injury

by First and Ten on Dec 16, 2009 8:02 PM PST reply actions

He really is something special. If it is going to be his last game experience at Cal, I hope he at least wears his Cal jersey on the sideline during the bowl game.

by dballisloose on Dec 16, 2009 8:09 PM PST up reply actions

In more pathetic Pac-10 basketball news

Oregon St. was defeated 63-61today by Illinois Chicago, ranked #294 by kenpom. I think that would qualify as another ‘bad loss’ for Rag’s last basketball breakdown.

Furd is down 6 early against a mediocre Oklahoma St. team

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Dec 16, 2009 8:35 PM PST reply actions

ugh, that is a horrible loss, even on the road. Even KenPom’s own rating system only gave Ill-Chicago a 10% chance of winning.

So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!

by ragnarok on Dec 16, 2009 10:05 PM PST up reply actions

Sheesh. We better not get swept by these guys again.

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash Kunnath on Dec 16, 2009 10:29 PM PST up reply actions

I heard that !!!!

Going to that OSU game last year SUCKED !!!

I'd like to smell the Roses before I die.

by BTown85 on Dec 16, 2009 11:25 PM PST up reply actions

i blame obama

by atomsareenough on Dec 17, 2009 4:17 PM PST up reply actions

Sucks about Best. They make it sound like he’d be “ready” to play if it weren’t just for game fitness, but I think our coaching staff handled the situation well. They let him heal at his own pace.

by Mister Pie on Dec 17, 2009 7:10 AM PST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Golden Bears Football Schedule

Fresno St.	Sat 09/03	W 36 - 21
@ Colorado The Ralphie Report	Sat 09/10	W 36 - 33
Presbyterian	Sat 09/17	W 63 - 12
@ Washington UW Dawg Pound	Sat 09/24	L 23 - 31
@ Oregon Addicted To Quack	Thu 10/06	L 15 - 43
USC Conquest Chronicles	Thu 10/13	L 9 - 30
Utah Block U	Sat 10/22	W 34 - 10
@ UCLA Bruins Nation	Sat 10/29	L 14 - 31
Washington St. CougCenter	Sat 11/05	W 30 - 7
Oregon St. Building The Dam	Sat 11/12	W 23 - 6
@ Stanford Rule Of Tree	Sat 11/19	L 28 - 31
@ Arizona St. House Of Sparky	Fri 11/25	W 47 - 38
@ Texas Burnt Orange Nation	Wed 12/28	L 10 - 21

Pacific-12 Conference Standings

(updated 1.2.2012 at 11:12 PM PST)

North	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
Oregon Ducks Addicted To Quack	8	1	12	2
Stanford Cardinal Rule Of Tree	8	1	11	2
Washington Huskies UW Dawg Pound	5	4	7	6
California Golden Bears California Golden Blogs	4	5	7	6
Oregon St. Beavers Building The Dam	3	6	3	9
Washington St. Cougars CougCenter	2	7	4	8

South	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
USC Trojans Conquest Chronicles	7	2	10	2
UCLA Bruins Bruins Nation	5	4	6	8
Utah Utes Block U	4	5	8	5
Arizona St. Sun Devils House Of Sparky	4	5	6	7
Arizona Wildcats Arizona Desert Swarm	2	7	4	8
Colorado Buffaloes The Ralphie Report	2	7	3	10