Conference Statistical Champions

Coming off an emotional exciting Big Game victory, typically Cal fans would be readying themselves for their upcoming bowl game at this point in the season. Not so this year. Cal squares off against a winless Husky team on Saturday to finish the season, potentially leaving a number of Cal fans wondering what to be excited about.

For most Cal fans, it should provide one of the few last opportunities to say goodbye to the beloved seniors, many being fan favorites. It’s also the last home game of the season, before college football fans head off to endure the nine months of baseball following bowl season. Also, depending on how the game goes, it might be allow a bit more game time for some of the players who have been all but forgotten this year (Tracy Slocum) or might be prominent players next year (Brock Mansion).

Still, the contest should do very little to affect Cal’s national ranking, or bowl picture (unless Cal should do the unthinkable and lose), and the whole “Every Game Counts” motto has to be interpreted in a few creative ways for some Cal fans to tune in to watch Cal potentially pound hapless Washington.

Fortunately, a handful of Cal players stand an excellent chance at taking the conference crowns in several statistical categories. Coach Tedford has obviously shown very little regard changing gameplan to help players achieve to individual records. Justin Forsett’s 999 yard season says “hello.”

Still some of these categories are interesting to keep in the back of one’s mind while watching the game this Saturday.

Conference Rushing Champion
Cal has had an outstanding history in recent of years of boasting some of the conference’s top rushers. In fact, a Cal rusher has finished in the top 3 in the conference in rushing yards for each of the four previous seasons.

2007: Justin Forsett finished second in the conference in rushing yards behind Jonathan Stewart, with 1546 yards on 305 carries, and a whopping 15 rushing TDs. Forsett averaged 118.92 yards a game.
2006: Marshawn Lynch led the conference with 1356 yards and 11 TDs.
2005: Marshawn Lynch finished 3rd the conference with 1246 yards and 10 TDs.
2004: JJ Arrington did what few in NCAA history had done in breaking the 2000 rushing mark, to lead the conference with 2,018 yards and 15 rushing TDs.

As it stands now, Jahvid Best would need 170 yards to take the Pac-10 conference rushing title. Jacquizz Rodgers currently holds the spot with 1253 rushing yards on the season. Best would need 53 yards to surpass Stanford’s Toby Gerhart to slide into the second place spot. “The Jet” currently ranks second in the conference in yards per game at 108.30.

Barring any sort of injury, Best will undoubtedly see success rushing the ball as Cal faces off against a Husky rush defense that surrenders 223.27 yards per game on the ground. The only question is how long Tedford will decide to keep Best in the game should Cal jump out to an early lead, given Best’s list of injuries this year.

Shane Vereen who has had a solid freshman debut season, would need 370 yards on the ground on Saturday to break the 1000 yard mark, having rushed for 630 yards on 124 carries on the season, as the conference’s 8th leading rusher.

All-Purpose Yards
Best also leads the conference in all purpose yards per game, averaging 170.7--nearly 7 yards better than Terrence Austin’s 163.8 yards a game. Pff 163.8? Weak sauce.

Secondary Statistic Leaders
Darian Hagan is second in the conferences in passes broken up with 15 on the year, behind Alterraun Verner from UCLA. Hagan can wrap of the conference crown in this category should the Huskies decide they want to pick on the redshirt sophomore, and the USC Trojans decide they want to embarrass Verner.

In other secondary statistical news, Syd’Quan Thompson is tied for second in the conference in interceptions with 4 on the season, but is just one away from tying Mike Nixon from ASU for the top spot. The Sun Devils also play on Saturday, so the race should be a close one.


Special Teams
Syd’Quan Thompson could also take another statistical conference crown in the punt return category. If Squid were to gain more than 64 yards in punt returns, he could theoretically surpass OSU’s Sammie Stroughter for most punt return yards this season. And if Thompson were to get a TD on one of those punt returns, he could get a two-fer an lead the conference in punt return TDs with 2. Booyakasha.

Again, Jahvid Best could take home another statistical crown, this time on special teams. Best currently sits atop the conference standings in average kickoff return yardage, averaging 29.8 yards per return. Best was removed from the return mix until recently due to injuries, so it’s hard to speculate where he would have been had he been able to consistently return kickoffs.

Freshman punter Bryan Anger is second in the conference in average punt yardage by the narrowest of margins. He currently averages 44.13 yards per return, while senior punter for UCLA Aaron Perez averages 44.47. Here’s hoping Anger punts one or two 70 yarders, and the Trojans scare Perez into shanking a few for 15 yards.

Tackles For Loss
Senior Linebacker Zack Follett looks to finish an outstanding career at Cal by appropriately leading the conference in tackles for a loss. “Ziger” is currently tied for second in the conference with 17 TFLs and would need at least 3 tackles in the back field to surpass Oregon’s DE Nick Reed who has 19.5 on the year.

Oh, and if the Pain Train can force a fumble, he could move into a tie for first that category as well, currently sitting with 3 on the year.

So Be On the Lookout…
That’s about it for the most part. While a number of Cal players have still done remarkably well this season, there’s very little chance that any other Cal players might break through to the top of any other lists by season’s end.

Noticeably absent are any contenders on the offensive side of the ball not named Jahvid Best. Cal’s passing game and subsequently their receiving game, has for the most part plummeted in terms of conference ranking this season, but should expect a nice return next year.

So there you have it. If not for your love of football, the Bears, or all that is good in the world, at least show up/tune in to see some Bears wrap up some conference statistical titles.