 "Photo: Tyler Cobb")
A look at Cal
The California Golden Bears came into 2009 with high hopes of a Pac-10 Championship and more. Cal was ranked in the preseason Top 10 before falling on the road to Oregon in week four. Following the Oregon loss, Cal slipped up for the second straight week when it fell to USC at home. Cal then rattled off three straight wins before an injury that possibly changed its season—star running back and preseason Heisman candidate Jahvid Best suffered his second concussion. He was taken off the field to a nearby hospital and was released the next day.
Best has missed Cal’s past three games, including its regular-season finale, where the Bears got pummeled by Washington in Seattle, 42-10. It remains to be seen if Best will be ready to go Dec. 23.
Despite missing the past three games, Best is still Cal’s leading rusher and led the Golden Bears in all major rushing categories during the regular season. Leading Cal from the quarterback position is Kevin Riley, who is in his junior season. He started all 12 games for Cal this season and finished the season with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions on his way to completing 54 percent of his passes. Cal’s offense has averaged 29.2 points a game, and opponents have averaged 24.5 against the Bears.
Ludwig’s road to Berkeley
Andy Ludwig was hired as Utah’s offensive coordinator in 2005 when Kyle Whittingham took over as head coach. Ludwig experienced four years of success at Utah, completed by a win at the 2009 Sugar Bowl. After coaching in the bowl game, Ludwig left the U to take the offensive coordinator job at Kansas State, but his start was short-lived. Two months into his career at Kansas State, Ludwig had a change of heart. He left and headed to Berkeley to work under Cal head coach Jeff Tedford.
Kansas State officials had no comment when Ludwig left the program, but at this point, Ludwig has guided the Cal offense to becoming the fourth-ranked offense in the Pac-10 this season.
Utah’s last trip to San Diego
Two years ago, the Utes were accepted to their first Poinsettia Bowl, where they took on the Naval Academy. Utah won in a closely contested match, edging the Midshipmen 35-32. Utah quarterback Brian Johnson and strong safety Joe Dale won offensive and defensive MVPs, respectively, thanks to second-half performances that kept Utah in the game. Johnson finished the game passing for 226 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to go along with a 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The win was sealed when Dale recorded the first interception of his career after Navy recovered an on-side kick in the closing moments of the fourth quarter. Dale finished the night with 10 tackles to go along with his lone interception. Paul Kruger also finished the game with 10 tackles, one of which was a sack.
b.chouinard@chronicle.utah.edu
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