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The first matchup this season isn't one of glamour (is it ever in an 8-9 battle?), but it does feature two hard workers, one on the hardwood, one on the gridiron. Neither played on great teams, neither had remarkable pro careers, but both played great during their times as Bears. One was the leading scorer in Cal basketball history before Randle surpassed him this season's past; the other was arguably Cal's most accomplished receiver. In terms of resumes, hard to beat Lampley and Shaw.
Take your pick. You know the drill. Winner goes onto face Aaron Rodgers. Polls for all ballots close next Friday at noon.
Arguments for both after the jump.
From last year's nomination of Sean Lampley:
For Lampley, as Ohio Bear, said, 4 years at Cal and a Pac-10 POTY. The second leading scorer in Cal history, whose career was mirrored almost to a key by the new scoring leader in Randle. He was balling in Melbourne, Australia, last I checked (well, before he spent much of this season with front row tickets at Haas nervously watching Jerome break his scoring record. He didn't seem too bummed about it though.). Also him and Dennis Gates were best buds.
Andrew Bogut would be impressed by the turnout.
Twist: It was so many years ago, I struggle to remember, but I feel reasonably confident that I attended the game where Lampley broke the Cal scoring record. I remember nothing about it. I just have this feeling. Man, I'm probably making it all up. But if I was there (I was, dammit!) I saw Cal beat WSU and march towards the first NCAA bid in many years.
It was a move that Sean Lampley had made a zillion times in his four years at Cal.
Receiving the ball on the right block, the senior forward spun around his defender and banked a quick shot from the edge of the lane.
But this basket was far from ordinary. With 10:03 left in the game and the noise-level at Haas Pavilion approaching unbearable, Lampley's bucket pushed his career-point total to 1,689-one more than Lamond Murray's 1,688-and gave Lampley the prestigious honor of being Cal's all-time leading scorer.
Yes, Sean Lampley, who would have a rough career in the NBA before going to the Australian Basketball Association. But at Cal, he's still the best. Note this from his Wikipedia page: Lampley ended his career as the only player in school history to rank in the top 10 in points (1,776, 1st), rebounds (889, 4th) and assists (295, 10th).
Shaw did not come in during the greatest stretch of Cal football. But no doubt he left Strawberry Canyon one of its most heralded receivers. The late great blog Tightwad Hill ranked him the 39th greatest Cal football player ever.
Bobby Shaw left Cal as the school's all-time leader in receptions with 180 catches for 2,731 yards and 27 touchdowns, and was the brightest offensive light during some rough years for Cal fans.
After a sophomore year in which he shared starting duties, Shaw emerged as a force in 1996. Steve Mariucci became Cal's head coach that year, and his passing offense was well-suited to a playmaker like Shaw who was renowned for his ability to run after the catch. He immediately prospered, turning in great performances against UCLA (12 catches for 168 yards) and in a memorable 48-42 triple-overtime win over Oregon State, when he scored three touchdowns. In the Aloha Bowl following that season, Shaw scored twice more on passes from Pat Barnes in Cal's 42-38 loss to the Navy. Bobby was named first-team All-Pac 10 for his performance that year.
In 1997, Shaw stepped up to captain Tom Holmoe's first team and elevate his game to a higher level. He set single-season records with 74 receptions for 1,093 yards and 11 touchdowns, despite receiving near-constant double-coverage. It was a tough year for Cal, but Shaw helped deliver one of the Bears' three wins with 158 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 40-36 win over Oklahoma. He was again voted to the All-Pac 10 first team, and also became the third Cal wide receiver to win first-team All-America honors (from Sporting News).
CruzinBears also mentions that he was the first Cal player to be mentioned in a song by a Bay Area rapper (Marshawn and Powe came later). Street cred y'all.
Here's the only game footage I could find of Shaw at Cal, from the thrilling 1997 victory over Oklahoma. Check Shaw's plays at 1:50, 2:20, 3:34, and 8:15. Look around this vid and you'll find examples of how hamstrung poor Bobby was with Justin Vedder throwing to him. Holy cripes does he throw some of those balls out there. (Bonus: Shots of Tom Holmoe looking stunned. I'm sure that wasn't the only time and this wasn't the only game he looked like that.)
Vote now.