2019 California Golden Bears football team
| 2019 California Golden Bears football | |
|---|---|
 | |
Redbox Bowl champion | |
Redbox Bowl, W 35–20 vs. Illinois | |
| Conference | Pac-12 Conference |
| North Division | |
| Record | 8–5 (4–5 Pac-12) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Beau Baldwin (3rd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Tim DeRuyter (3rd season) |
| Base defense | 3–4 |
| Captains | |
| Home stadium | California Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 62,467) |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5 Oregon x$ | 8 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| California | 4 | – | 5 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington | 4 | – | 5 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oregon State | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington State | 3 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stanford | 3 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 16 Utah x | 8 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USC | 7 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona State | 4 | – | 5 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UCLA | 4 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado | 3 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona | 2 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Oregon 37, Utah 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2019 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They competed as members of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference. In their third year under head coach Justin Wilcox, the Bears improved to an 8–5 record for only the second time since 2009, finishing 2nd in the Pac-12 North.
The Bears started off the season strong, achieving a No. 15 AP ranking (their highest since 2009) after a 4–0 start, including a 20–19 upset win against No. 14 ranked Washington.[1] However, after injury to quarterback Chase Garbers during the Arizona State game, the Bears proceeded to lose the next four games.[2]
With the return of Garbers, Cal notably defeated Stanford in the Big Game for the first time since 2009. This win clinched bowl eligibility for the Bears while making the Cardinal ineligible for the post-season for the first time in ten years.[3][4] The Bears went to the Redbox Bowl, where they defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 35–20,[5] their first bowl win since 2015.
Senior linebacker Evan Weaver was the standout player of the season after leading the nation with a school-record and Pac-12 record 182 tackles, earning him the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and becoming the first consensus All-American from Cal since 2006.[6][7]
Previous season
In 2018, the Bears went 7–6 under second-year head coach Justin Wilcox. After the Bears upset #15 Washington 12–10[8] and defeated USC 15–14 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles to snap a 14-year losing streak to the Trojans,[9] the Bears lost 10–7 in overtime to TCU in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl. The Bears’ offensive efficiency ranked as the second worst among all Power Five teams.[10]
Preseason
Coaching changes
On February 26, 2019, defensive line coach Tony Tuioti left the Golden Bears to become the new defensive line coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers under Scott Frost.[11] Andrew Browning was named the Bears' new defensive line coach on February 27, 2019.[12] Browning is the third defensive line coach in three years under Justin Wilcox after Jerry Azzinaro's departure in 2017.[13]
Pac-12 media days
Pac-12 media poll
In the 2019 Pac-12 preseason media poll, California was voted to finish in fifth place in the North Division.[14]
| Media poll (North Division) | ||
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | 190 (17) |
| 2 | Washington | 189 (17) |
| 3 | Stanford | 129 |
| 4 | Washington State | 108 (1) |
| 5 | California | 81 |
| 6 | Oregon State | 38 |
Schedule
Three of California first four games were non-conference games, starting on August 31 against UC Davis of the Big Sky Conference. The Golden Bears then played their conference opener against Washington. Rounding out the non-conference slate was a home game against North Texas of Conference USA and a road game against Ole Miss of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In Pac-12 Conference play, Cal played the other members of the North Division and faced Arizona State, UCLA, USC, and Utah from the South Division. They did not play Arizona and Colorado.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 5 (FCS) UC Davis* | P12N | W 27–13 | 44,168 | ||
| September 7 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 14 Washington | FS1 | W 20–19 | 66,327 | ||
| September 14 | 1:15 p.m. | North Texas* |
| P12N | W 23–17 | 35,268 | |
| September 21 | 9:00 a.m. | at Ole Miss* | No. 23 | ESPNU | W 28–20 | 46,850 | |
| September 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Arizona State | No. 15 |
| ESPN | L 17–24 | 47,532 |
| October 5 | 5:00 p.m. | at No. 13 Oregon | FOX | L 7–17 | 54,766 | ||
| October 19 | 11:30 a.m. | Oregon State |
| P12N | L 17–21 | 42,064 | |
| October 26 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 12 Utah | FS1 | L 0–35 | 46,626 | ||
| November 9 | 4:00 p.m. | Washington State |
| P12N | W 33–20 | 39,168 | |
| November 16 | 8:00 p.m. | USC |
| FS1 | L 17–41 | 46,397 | |
| November 23 | 1:00 p.m. | at Stanford | P12N | W 24–20 | 48,904 | ||
| November 30 | 7:30 p.m. | at UCLA | FS1 | W 28–18 | 38,102 | ||
| December 30 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. Illinois* | FOX | W 35–20 | 34,177 | ||
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Source:[15]
Game summaries
* Home games are in dark blue
UC Davis
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 5 (FCS) Aggies | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Golden Bears | 0 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
at Washington
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bears | 0 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 20 |
| No. 14 Huskies | 0 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
The game started at 7:30 pm, but was paused at the end of first quarter due to a lightning storm; the pause lasted for approximately two and a half hours. By the time of the restart - 10 pm, there was only approximately 16,000 of the original approximately 60,000 fans left at the venue.[16] Relying on rushing of running backs Christopher Brown Jr. (80 yards), and Marcel Dancy (72 yards, 2 touchdowns) and quarterback Chase Garbers (42 yards), Cal won on a last minute field goal by Greg Thomas.[17] This was the Golden Bears second straight win against the Huskies. In the 2018 home game Cal upset No. 15 Washington 12 to 10.
North Texas
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Green | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Golden Bears | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
at Ole Miss
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 23 Golden Bears | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Rebels | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
Arizona State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Devils | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| No. 15 Golden Bears | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
In the final drive of the first half, quarterback Chase Garbers was injured, breaking his right collarbone. Gabrers would not be cleared to play again until he started against USC.
at Oregon
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bears | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| No. 13 Ducks | 0 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 17 |
Oregon State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beavers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Golden Bears | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
at Utah
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 12 Utes | 7 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
This defeat was the first shutout of a California team since a 1999 defeat to No. 5 Nebraska. Starting quarterback Chase Garbers and backup Devon Modster were injured for the game.
Washington State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cougars | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 20 |
| Golden Bears | 6 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 33 |
USC
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trojans | 10 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 41 |
| Golden Bears | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Stanford
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bears | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Cardinal | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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With this victory, Cal ended Stanford's nine-year win streak in the Big Game. The win also ensured the Bears' qualification to a bowl game for the second consecutive year, the first time this has happened in ten years. Likewise, the loss put Stanford at 4–7 for the season, ending its hopes of making its tenth consecutive bowl game.
at UCLA
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bears | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Bruins | 7 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 18 |
vs. Illinois (Redbox Bowl)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bears | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Fighting Illini | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
Personnel
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Seasons at Cal | Before Cal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Wilcox | Head Coach | 3rd as Head Coach (LB Coach, 2003–2005) |
Wisconsin — Defensive Coordinator (2016) |
| Beau Baldwin | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 3rd year | Eastern Washington — Head Coach (2008–16) |
| Tim DeRuyter | Defensive Coordinator / Outside Linebackers Coach | 3rd year | Fresno State — Head Coach (2012–16) |
| Gerald Alexander | Defensive Backs Coach | 3rd year | Montana State — Defensive Backs Coach (2016) |
| Andrew Browning | Defensive Line Coach | 2nd year | UTEP – Defensive Line Coach (2013–17) |
| Nicholas Edwards | Wide Receivers Coach | 3rd year | Eastern Washington — Wide Receivers Coach (2014–16) |
| Steve Greatwood | Offensive Line Coach | 3rd year | Oregon — Offensive Line / Defensive Line Coach (2000–16) |
| Charlie Ragle | Special Teams Coordinator | 3rd year | Arizona — Special Teams Coordinator (2013–17) |
| Peter Sirmon | Co-Defensive Coordinator / Associate Head Coach / Inside Linebackers | 2nd year | Louisville – Defensive Coordinator / Outside Linebackers Coach (2017) |
| Burl Toler III | Wide Receivers Coach | 2nd as Asst. Coach (WR, 2001–2004) |
UC Davis – Wide Receivers Coach (2016) |
| Marques Tuiasosopo | Tight Ends Coach | 3rd year | UCLA — Quarterbacks Coach / Passing Game Coordinator (2016) |
| Reference: [18] | |||
Roster
| 2019 California Golden Bears Football | ||||||||||
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Quarterback
Running Back
Wide Receiver
Tight End
Placekicker
Punter
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Offensive Lineman
Defensive End
Nose Guard
Outside Linebacker
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Inside Linebacker
Cornerback
Defensive Line
Safety
Long Snapper
Nickelback
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Source and player details:[19] | ||||||||||
Rankings
| Week | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | — | — | RV | 23 | 15 | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV |
| Coaches | — | — | RV | 23 | 16 | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV |
| CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released | ||||||||
Media affiliates
Radio
- KGO 810 AM - Joe Starkey, Mike Pawlawski, Todd McKim, Hal Ramey
- KALX 90.7 FM
TV
Players drafted into the NFL
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 68 | Ashtyn Davis | S | New York Jets |
| 4 | 134 | Jaylinn Hawkins | S | Atlanta Falcons |
| 6 | 202 | Evan Weaver | LB | Arizona Cardinals |
References
- ^ Curtis, Jake (2019-09-23). "Cal: No. 15 ranking 'just noise' as it chases 5-0 start to season". SF Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
- ^ Curtis, Jake (2019-11-11). "Cal Football: Chase Garbers Cleared to Play, Might Start Vs. USC". CalMaven. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
- ^ Ohman, Emily (2019-11-25). "The Axe is back: Cal beats Stanford for 1st time in decade". The Daily Californian. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- ^ "California vs. Stanford - Game Summary - November 23, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- ^ Rusty Simmons (30 December 2019). "Cal beats Illinois in Redbox Bowl, first bowl win since 2015". SF Chronicle. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football All-Conference honors announced". pac-12.com. Pac-12. December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ "Bears Overwhelm Illinois To Win Redbox Bowl". calbears.com. Cal Athletics. December 30, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ Simmons, Rusty (October 28, 2018). "Cal stuns No. 15 Washington with a 12-10 upset". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ "Defensive Cal snaps 14-game skid vs USC with 15-14 victory". Associated Press. ESPN.com. November 10, 2018.
- ^ Wild, Andrew (5 December 2018). "Is a coaching change the answer for Cal's offense?". DailyCal.org. The Daily Californian.
- ^ "Cal's Tony Tuioti hired as Nebraska's defensive line coach". espn.com. Associated Press. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "Andrew Browning Named Defensive Line Coach". calbears.com. Cal Athletics. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "DL Coach Azzinaro to become UCLA's DC". California Golden Blogs. 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Utah picked as Pac-12 favorite in preseason media poll". pac-12.com. July 24, 2019.
- ^ "2019 California Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
- ^ Calkins, Matt (2019-09-08). "Lightning strikes twice as Huskies suffer stunning loss to Cal … again". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
- ^ "California vs. Washington - Box Score - September 7, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
- ^ "Football Coaching Staff". CalBears.com.
- ^ "Football Roster". CalBears.com.