CALIFORNIA BEARS
Every Game Counts for Cal Football in 2008

The Cal football team has continued one of the more improbable renaissances in college football history, going from five straight losing seasons from 1997-2001 to six straight winning seasons under the direction of head coach Jeff Tedford. With five successive bowl appearances and top-10 national rankings in each of the last four years, Cal is now recognized as an elite program in the Pac-10 and on the national stage. And the Golden Bears have a message to their fans: Every Game Counts!

With seven home games in 2008, fans throughout the Bay Area have golden opportunities to be a part of the continued success of the Bears. The campaign opens on Aug. 30 against Big Ten foe Michigan State. The always challenging Pac-10 slate includes powers such as Arizona State, UCLA and Oregon in Berkeley, while the 111th edition of the Big Game against Stanford also returns to Memorial Stadium.

Preseason camps promise to be extra exciting in Bear Territory as Tedford has made it clear that no position has been decided; every play in practice action will feature hard-nosed competition as the young Bears battle each other to earn coveted starting roles come Aug. 30. And though they're young, Tedford is excited about the prospects for his team in 2008.

A strength for the Golden Bears appears to be a veteran linebacking corps, led by hard-hitting senior Zack Follett, an All-American candidate who has led the team in sacks for two straight years. Fellow seniors Worrell Williams and Tony Felder are joined by rangy sophomore Mike Mohammed and Berkeley High product Eddie Young to give the Bears impressive experience in the middle of the field.

Junior cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson and junior defensive lineman Tyson Alualu are also potential stars on defense. Thompson has started every game in his first two years in Berkeley, while Alualu is developing into a potent force up front.

Cal's offensive line also will be a key in 2008. Center Alex Mack, who passed up a sure spot near the top of the NFL draft to return for his senior season, will be one of the top offensive linemen in the country, while big Mike Tepper, at 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds, slides to the crucial left tackle role.

The running game has always been a strength for the Bears under Tedford, and this season Cal will have a bevy of talented tailbacks to punish the opposition. Exciting speedster Jahvid Best from Vallejo sparkled as a true freshman in 2007 and is the lead candidate for the primary role in the backfield this year. However, sophomore Tracy Slocum and redshirt freshman Shane Vereen will give the Bears multiple options.

With three receivers departed, Cal will field a host of young wideouts in 2008, led by freshman Michael Calvin from San Lorenzo. Sacramento sophomore Jeremy Ross also expects to be a key contributor.

With another year of near-capacity attendance expected at Memorial Stadium, fans need to join the team in stressing that every run, every pass, every tackle and every play counts — for the Golden Bears and their fans in 2008, Every Game Counts.

Tickets to see the Golden Bears are available by calling 1-800-GO-BEARS or by visiting CalBears.com.