CGB Hall of Fame: (1) Jahvid Best vs. (16) Bob Calonico

(1) Jahvid Best

Here are some thoughts from the CGB Remembering the Seniors post:

Best seems to always have one mode: Fast. He ran fast. He cut fast. He caught fast. He leapt fast. He even interviewed fast. He's the prototypical Internet-generation athlete!

He was a one man instrument of warfare, like that sniper in Saving Private Ryan. In a blink of an eye, he took teams out of games. We can count the games, the names, the teams he left burning on the turf in his wake. CSU '08. Wazzu '08. Furd '08. Washington '08. Miami '08. Maryland '09. Minnesota '09. UCLA '09. Opposing fans probably felt a little helpless once the Jet found the seams and broke loose--it was hardly a fair fight once Xs and Os crumbled into the 100 m dash.

I don't think I've ever seen a football player take over a football game by himself the way Jahvid did with the liabilities he had to nurse from everyone. He was hampered with a generally weak offensive line (especially in the interior) and a terribly hamstrung quarterback situation. Even Desean had a fairly accurate Longshore throwing to him much of his career. Best had to win many games on his own (and when I say on his own, he generated around 70 to 80% of their meaningful offense, sometimes even more). The only Bear who had to burden that much of the load in modern times was probably Deltha, and those teams still stunk. One player can't make a team great; it's to Jahvid's credit that he kept the offense running alright with minimal help (Ta'ufo'ou, Mack and Malele in '08, and mmmaybe Summers-Gavin in '09).

After a short but often-electric stint in the National Football League with the Detroit Lions...

...Best joined the California coaching staff as a student assistant, while finishing his degree, in January 2014.

(16) Bob Calonico

Cal football really wouldn't be Cal football, without this:

Calonico served as Student Director of the California Marching Band in 1976, and has been devoted to the Band and to music in general ever since then. Whether you were in the Band, or were just a fan of Cal Football, the pregame and halftime shows have been a common thread for multiple seasons and even generations. Very few universities, especially in the Bay Area, can lay claim to that sort of shared heritage.

Calonico's love for music extends beyond just a professional venture; his music is active in the charities and benefits scene as well.

Director of the @CalBand Bob Calonico plays some sultry tunes on Tenor Sax at the #NorCalBenefit pic.twitter.com/nIUV1QR0lZ

— Cal Band Alumni (@CalBandAlumni) November 9, 2014