July 26, 2007

Los Angeles - For the fourth consecutive season the University of California football team was picked to finish second in the Pac-10 Media Poll released on Thursday afternoon.

Four-time defending Pac-10 champion USC was a unanimous selection to win the conference title as voted by West Coast media members who regularly cover the league. It marks the fifth consecutive year the Trojans have been the choice to win the title. The Trojans captured all 39 first-place votes.

The Golden Bears garnered 323 points, while third-place pick, UCLA, collected 305 points, followed by Arizona State (242), Oregon State (237), Oregon (226), Arizona (162), Washington State (115), Washington (98) and Stanford (47).

Since taking over the Cal program in 2002, head coach Jeff Tedford has built the Bears into one of the top programs in the nation, leading California to four straight bowl appearances and top-10 national rankings in each of the last three years. Cal's 36 wins over the last four years are the most in any four-year stretch in over 50 years for the Bears.

Cal returns eight offensive starters, including junior quarterback Nate Longshore and arguably the best wide receiving corps in the nation - junior DeSean Jackson and seniors Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears have five starters returning, including sophomore Syd'Quan Thompson, who started in all 13 games last season.

The 2007 season features six home games at Memorial Stadium, including the season opener against Tennessee on Sept. 1 and a battle with Pac-10 rival USC on Nov. 10. This year's Big Game, the 110th edition of the storied contest, will be played on Dec. 1 at Stanford Stadium.

Quotes from Media Day in Los Angeles

Cal Head Coach Jeff Tedford General Remarks: "We are very excited about the upcoming season and to report to camp on the fifth of August. The players' commitment has been great through the summer. We have a lot of experience and I feel that the investment has been made to compete for a championship. We have great leadership, DeSean [Jackson] being one of them and a big part of what we do. Having to replace Daymeion Hughes and Marshawn Lynch, both Players of the Year, will be a challenge. We feel Justin Forsett can move right in and take over and we'll have some young guys competing at corner. We had a rough game at Tennessee last year, and we need redemption. It's not about revenge, we just need to focus on ourselves. This Conference is very balanced so we have to bring our "A" game. I have great confidence in our players and our staff to be prepared each and every week."

On Nate Longshore: "Nate is a student of the game. Starting out last year at Tennessee was about as tough of a look as he's gonna get. But having Nate at quarterback is like having another coach on our field. I'm excited to see how he comes into the season."

On the Conference having two BCS teams: "Well we'll find out. Any given year we are worthy of it, but it depends on how we play. We have to stay healthy and be productive each and every week. You have got to bring your "A" game. We also knock each other off a lot in this Conference. There are so many quality teams, quality coaches and talent. But we have the potential to have two BCS teams every year."

CALIFORNIA WR-PR DeSean Jackson General Remarks:"All summer we've been at Cal working out, one-on-ones, seven-on-sevens, team drills, etc. We have a solid group of receivers and we are all trying to get each other ready for the season. Nate [Longshore] and I have been working all summer on our timing. We are just working to get on the same page."

On coach Tedford as a play caller: "I honestly don't think too much has changed, he has always been calling some plays. I'm just going to stay used to what he does. He will do it the right way and I'll just be in the right position for us to win games."

2007 Pac-10 Football Media Poll

1.	USC
2.	California
3.	UCLA
4.	Arizona State
5.	Oregon State
6.	Oregon
7.	Arizona
8.	Washington State
9.	Washington
10.	Stanford