Aug. 18, 2007
BERKELEY - The University of California is ranked No. 12 in the 2007 Associated Press Preseason College Football Poll which was released on Saturday morning. It is Cal's fourth straight ranking in the preseason poll and it matches the Golden Bears' No. 12 ranking in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Golden Bears are scheduled for two practices on Saturday, their third double-session of preseason camp. In the morning practice, the team focused on red-zone situations, both offensively and defensively. Highlights for the red-zone defense were big goal-line stops by seniors Thomas DeCoud and Greg Van Hoesen. The offense continued to click, especially the first-team as junior Nate Longshore delivered more crisp passes to his talented receiving crops. However, cornerbacks Syd'Quan Thompson and Brandon Hampton both snagged interceptions - Hampton's a running one-handed stab.
California opens the 2007 season on Saturday, Sept. 1, hosting Tennessee at Memorial Stadium in a 5 p.m. contest. The only way to purchase tickets to the Tennessee (Sept. 1) and USC (Nov. 10) games currently is through a season ticket purchase. Single-game tickets are available for all games except Tennessee, USC and Stanford. Ticket information is available by visiting www.CalBears.com or by calling 1-800-GO-BEARS.
Cal opponents listed in the preseason Top 25 are USC (No. 1), UCLA (No. 14) and Tennessee (No. 15).
The No. 12 ranking matches the fourth-highest preseason ranking for Cal. In 1951, Pappy Waldorf's Golden Bears were ranked No. 5 while in both 1952 and last year, the Bears checked in with a No. 9 preseason touting. This season marks just the 11th year that Cal has held a preseason ranking from the AP, including the current stretch of four straight years. From 1955 to 2003, the Bears appeared just twice in the poll. Under head coach Jeff Tedford, California has been ranked No. 13 (2004), No. 19 (2005), No. 9 (2006) and now No. 12 in AP Preseason Polls.
Cal in Preseason AP Poll
1950: No. 14
1951: No. 5
1952: No. 8
1953: No. 14
1954: No. 12
1976: No. 15
1992: No. 20
2004: No. 13
2005: No. 19
2006: No. 9
2007: No. 12
Cal Preseason Watch List Selections
Zack Follett - Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bednarik Award
Nate Longshore - Manning Award
Alex Mack - Outland Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award, Rimington Trophy
Craig Stevens - Mackey Award
