While we may not all be satisfied with the 7-6 record this year, is it unreasonable to expect a big improvement next year (~9 wins)? Let's take a look back and a look forward.
Ted Miller gives Cal its final report card of the season. While the Bears generally exceeded preseason expectations, it is tough not to feel some disappointment at the end of the year.
Overall:
We projected Cal ninth in the Pac-12 preseason power rankings, so a sixth-place finish means the Bears slightly exceeded our expectations. And, heading into the bowl season having won three of four -- the lone loss being a tight one against rival Stanford -- it seemed the Bears had pulled things together for a nice late-season surge. Then the Holiday Bowl happened, when the Bears got whipped by a mediocre Texas team 21-10, mostly because it lost the turnover battle 5-0. Just when it seemed like Cal had found its rhythm, it reminded everyone of its chronic inconsistency of the past few seasons. A win over Texas might have generated some momentum for a preseason top-25 ranking. Now that's not going to happen. The 2011 season produced reasons for hope in 2012. But it didn't do enough to change the general perception that coach Jeff Tedford will be on the hot seat in 2012.
Grade: C
Usually our voice of realism/pessimism for the football team, Jon Wilner expects the Bears to make an improvement next year. In fact, Wilner is optimistic enough to put the Bears in his preseason top-25.
23. Cal: Admittedly, I haven’t scrutinized the projected Pac-12 depth charts, but … If Zach Maynard continues to develop and the young defensive linemen live up to their billing, the Bears could be the third-best team in the Pac-12. (Utah, Stanford and Washington may have something to say about that.)
After the jump Lupoi rejects an offer from UW, both basketball teams beat Colorado, and Faraudo says Maynard will be academically eligible this year.
Football
- The Bears sit at 8th in ESPN's 2012 recruiting rankings.
- CBS ranked the Holiday Bowl as the 29th-best (out of 35) bowl game this season. Was it really that bad of a game?
- Ted Miller has his top-10 moments from the Pac-12 season. Cal was not mentioned in any, but it's an interesting list nonetheless.
- Uncle Ted posted the best and worst from the Pac-12 bowl games. Cal tied with UCLA for worst offensive performance, Mychal Kendricks had the best individual defensive performance, and the Bears had the best holiday spirit with 5 gifts for the Texas defense.
- Giorgio Tavecchio, Trevor Guyton, Mychal Kendricks, and Marc Anthony were named to Ted Miller's All-Bowl team.
- Faraudo reports that Maynard will be eligible next season.
- Tosh Lupoi turned down an offer to join UW. Huskies beat writer Bob Condotta has more details on UW's interest in Lupoi.
- Arik Armstead will announce on Monday. Because classes at Cal start on Tuesday, he must make a quick decision if he's joining the Bears.
- Bryan Anger will play in the East-West Shrine Game.
- Cal Poly kicker James Langford will transfer to Cal.
- Faraudo's game thread recaps the Bears' 57-50 win over Colorado. It was an ugly game for both teams, but Cal's offense was a little less ugly in the second half.
- Harper Kamp scored 14 in one of his better offensive games of the season.
- At the post-game press conference Monty said the team was lucky to win with an offensive performance like that.
- CalBears.com has a handful of photos from the game.
- Brandon Smith returned to practice on Tuesday.
- The women's team outscored Colorado by 25 points in the final 12 minutes to earn a 68-55 victory.
- Lindsay Gottlieb made her disappointment known at halftime and was pleased with how the team responded on offense and defense in the second half.