This is a first: the NY Post has today's featured story.
"I just want to show teams that I've made a drastic improvement in my life," Boateng told The Post yesterday.
Boateng has a lot to atone for, on and off the field.
His odyssey began in 2006 when, after a promising freshman season with the Gators, he was stabbed by an angry ex-girlfriend in his dorm room in Gainesville, Fla. To Boateng's dismay, Florida coach Urban Meyer, sensitive to the tide of arrest reports involving UF players, suspended him -- even though Boateng was, by all accounts, an innocent victim.
When Meyer compounded that by going back on what Boateng said was the coach's promise to let him play both football and basketball for the Gators, Boateng decided to transfer cross-country to Cal.
But before Boateng could play a down in the Pac-10, he was arrested in Gainesville for burglary, battery and criminal mischief after a disagreement with another ex. Boateng said it was a misunderstanding and the charges eventually were dismissed.
Boateng stayed clean at Cal, thanks largely to a books-first culture he said was the polar opposite of Florida's football-crazy hothouse, but the off-field troubles have been a big topic in his interviews with scouts.
Unfortunately for Boateng, he broke his foot early in 2009, missing two games as a result, and ended up with just 12 receptions for 166 yards and two scores in nine contests.
"He's got some skills, but the legal stuff is a concern and there are a lot better receivers [in this year's draft]," an NFC scout told The Post. "He's probably looking at trying to make it as [an undrafted] free agent."
After what Boateng has been through already, a chance is all he wants.
Also I wish a very happy birthday to Shane Vereen, Mikhail Gorbachev, and...hmm...I thought there was someone else too...Anyway, after the jump Cal is movin' on up in the bracketology, the Chargers may be interested in Best, and more.
Cal Football
- ESPN looks at who might replace LaDanian Tomlinson for the San Diego Chargers. Best is first among the names they chose to fill in at RB for the Bolts.
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Nick Daschel looks at the state of Pac-10 quarterbacks. Kevin Riley is among the "questionable" QBs.
- Lunardi's bracketology forecasts Cal as a 9-seed opening against Texas in Salt Lake City. Jerry Palm of CollegeRPI still anticipates Cal will open the NCAAs in Spokane against 5th-seeded Wisconsin. Cal moved up to 21st in the NCAA's RPI rankings. Cal is at 30th in the Sagarin ratings. Once again, Cal received a pair of votes in the coaches' poll.
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Coach Kuchen is thrilled with his former team's success and looks forward to their performance in the tourney. He believes their experience against teams like Ohio State, Syracuse, and New Mexico will have them well prepared for the stiff competition.
- Wilner assesses where Monty fits among the greatest college hoops coaches of all time.