Bear Bits: All Pac-10 Selections, New Recruit, Team Awards and More

There’s a whole slew of info to get to. I’ll try and post my helmet stickers later in the day, before it gets too late in the week. But you guys probably already know where they’re going…

Emerald Bowl: Must Watch?
Rivals has the Emerald Bowl listed as the 16th best “must watch” bowl out of the 34 available. Not bad, about where I would place it. I think Cal vs. Miami is actually a darned good matchup, and one most fans would be drooling over had it been scheduled as a non-conference game to start the season. It’s a tad more interesting of a matchup than “Clemson vs. Nebraska” but I would agree in placing it behind some of the BCS Bowls.

By the way, who wants to make the road trip to catch Louisiana Tech take on Northern Illinois in the Independence Bowl? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Another Bear Backer
Cal picked up another big recruit over the weekend. Middle Linebacker Steve Fanua from Bay Area Milpitas, CA, committed to the Bears over the weekend, adding to the building linebacker corps. that figures to replenish the loss of three senior starters. Fanua is considered a bit undersized for the MLB position at 6’1, 200 lbs., but there is consideration that Fanua might redshirt right off the bat to spend time bulking up for the critical defensive position. Fanua is rated 3 stars and is considered the 18th best MLB by scout.com, and 37th best OLB by Rivals.com (he really plays both).

Check out the Bear Insider’s story here.

Welcome Steven!


End of the Year Awards
Cal handed out their End of the Year Awards at their annual banquet on Sunday evening: Jonathan Okanes has a full breakdown of all the awards here.

Here are some of the notable ones:
KEN COTTON AWARD (Most courageous player): Anthony Felder (defense), Nate Longshore (offense)
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Worrell Williams
LIFTER OF THE YEAR: Dominic Galas (freshman), Anthony Felder (senior)
SCOUT TEAM PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Beau Sweeney and Spencer Ladner (offense), Aaron Tipoti and Nick Rosato (defense) and Charles Satchell (special teams)

All Pac-10 Selections Made
The Pac-10 Selections were announced yesterday with a number of Bears making the list. RB Jahvid Best, Center Alex Mack, LB Zack “Pain Train” Follett and CB Syd’Quan Thompson made the first team.

DE Tyson Alualu, RG Noris Malele, and Punter Bryan Anger made the second team and linebackers Anthony Felder, Worrell Williams, Mike Mohamed, DE Cameron Jordan, and FB Will Ta’ufo’ou received honorable mentions.

The honors cap off some spectacular years for a number of the players. Mack was a near unanimous pick, and Best might have also received Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year had the voting not been completed prior to Saturday’s record setting game for the Jet.

A few players that I thought could have, and probably should have made the list:
Darian Hagan who had an absolutely spectacular season in his first as a starter, and in my mind, is one of the most improved players of the year in the conference. Hagan is second in the conference in passes defended and broken up, and has netted three interceptions on the year.
I also thought TE Cameron Morrah had a legitimate argument for second team honors at the Tight End Position, being just behind Ryan Moya in receiving yards but finding the endzone a ridiculous 8 times on the year, just two behind 1st team Gronkowski.

It’s exciting to see where a number of these players will be next year, with most (with the exception of the linebackers), returning.