Dec. 4, 2011

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Holiday Bowl Central | Bowl Game Ticket Information | 2011 Season Highlights

(BERKELEY) - Cal (7-5) has accepted a bid to play in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl against Texas (7-5) of the Big 12 Conference at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The game will be televised live nationally by ESPN and kick off at 5 p.m. PT.

"We're very excited about the opportunity to play in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl," said Cal head coach Jeff Tedford, who is 79-47 (.627) in his 10th season at Cal. "They do a great job of putting on a first-class event both for our players and fans. We look forward to playing a university with a great tradition such as Texas."

"The future of the Cal football program is bright and stable under the leadership of Jeff Tedford," Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour said. "I have confidence that coach Tedford and his staff have our program headed in the right direction. The way we finished the regular season to improve our bowl prospects and earn a Holiday Bowl selection reflects that."

Cal won three of its final four games, including a 47-38 victory over Arizona State in the regular-season finale to post a 7-5 overall mark and a 4-5 record in Pac-12 action. Texas is also 7-5 overall and finished 4-5 in Big 12 contests.

The Golden Bears have been bowl eligible nine of the last 10 seasons and been selected for a bowl in eight of the past nine campaigns. Cal owns a 5-2 postseason record in seven previous bowl appearances under Tedford, including a school-record string of four consecutive bowl victories from 2005-08. One of those wins came the last time the Bears played in the Holiday Bowl in 2006 when Cal defeated Texas A&M, 45-10. Cal suffered a 45-31 loss to Texas Tech the only other time the Bears played in the Holiday Bowl in 2004.

"The University of California is thrilled to be participating in the Holiday Bowl once again," Barbour continued. "The bowl organizers do a fantastic job, and we have had a wonderful experience every time we have turned San Diego into Bear Territory."

Cal has an all-time bowl record of 10-9-1 dating back to its first game, a 28-0 victory over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1921. In addition to their two previous Holiday Bowl appearances, Cal also played in San Diego in its most recent bowl contest in 2009, falling 37-27 to Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Texas holds an all-time series lead of 4-0, and was ranked in the nation's top 10 in each previous meeting, including the last matchup in 1970 in Austin when the Longhorns prevailed, 56-15. UT also took the first matchup in 1959 in Austin, 33-0, while the other games were contested in Berkeley - 28-3 in 1961 and 17-0 in 1969.

Cal and Texas have scheduled a home-and-home series for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, with the Bears visiting Austin on Sept. 12, 2015, and UT making a return trip to Berkeley on Sept. 10, 2016.

This year, the Longhorns boast a strong defense that leads the Big 12 in total defense (315.33 ypg), rushing defense (103.67 ypg) and passing defense (211.67 ypg) while allowing 23.25 ppg. On offense, Texas averages 210.42 ypg on the ground and is scoring at a 28.67 ppg clip.

The 2011 Holiday Bowl will be the 34th annual occurrence of an event that began in 1978.

"We feel so fortunate to have secured two of America's most storied college football programs for this year's game," 2011 . "We cannot wait to roll out the red carpet for these two teams and their throngs of fans. It will be quite a show at Qualcomm Stadium on December 28th."

For more information, visit alumni.berkeley.edu/athletics or holidaybowl.com.

Holiday Bowl Ticket Information
The only way to reserve seats in the Cal rooting sections is to purchase tickets through the Cal Athletic Ticket Office. Cal's ticket allotment is located on the north side of Qualcomm Stadium, and prices are $60 in the Field, Plaza, Loge and View levels.

All donors at the $100 and above giving level (gifts received 7/1/10 - 6/30/11), as well as all 2011 Cal football season-ticket holders, receive priority for tickets through Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. and can log onto CalBears.com/bowl to request bowl game tickets.

Cal student season-pass holders and student Cal Bear Backers may buy tickets beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, while the general student ticket on-sale begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Any remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public starting at 9 a.m. Monday (Dec. 12) through the tickets link at CalBears.com or at the Cal Athletics Ticket Office (800-GO BEARS, 2223 Fulton St.).

Holiday Bowl Travel Packages
Special fan travel packages to the Holiday Bowl are available through GET Travel Sports, the official fan travel partner of Cal Athletics. For more information, visit gettravel.com/cal or call 888-877-4445. The Cal Alumni Association will provide a list of Cal alumni activities in San Diego at alumni.berkeley.edu/athletics.

Cal's Bowl History
Date - Bowl - Result - Cal Head Coach
Jan. 1, 1921 - Rose Bowl - Cal 28, Ohio State 0 - Andy Smith
Jan. 1, 1922 - Rose Bowl - Cal 0, Washington & Jefferson 0 - Andy Smith
Jan. 1, 1929 - Rose Bowl - Georgia Tech 8, Cal 7 - Nibs Price
Jan. 1, 1938 - Rose Bowl - Cal 13, Alabama 0 - Stub Allison
Jan. 1, 1949 - Rose Bowl - Northwestern 20, Cal 14 - Pappy Waldorf
Jan. 2, 1950 - Rose Bowl - Ohio State 17, Cal 14 - Pappy Waldorf
Jan. 1, 1951 - Rose Bowl - Michigan 14, Cal 6 - Pappy Waldorf
Jan. 1, 1959 - Rose Bowl - Iowa 38, Cal 12 - Pete Elliott
Dec. 15, 1979 - Garden State Bowl - Temple 28, Cal 17 - Roger Theder
Dec. 31, 1990 - Copper Bowl - Cal 17, Wyoming 15 - Bruce Snyder
Jan. 1, 1992 - Citrus Bowl - Cal 37, Clemson 13 - Bruce Snyder
Dec. 31, 1993 - Alamo Bowl - Cal 37, Iowa 3 - Keith Gilbertson
Dec. 25, 1996 - Aloha Bowl - Navy 42, Cal 38 - Steve Mariucci
Dec. 26, 2003 - Insight Bowl - Cal 52, Virginia Tech 49 - Jeff Tedford
Dec. 30, 2004 - Holiday Bowl - Texas Tech 45, Cal 31 - Jeff Tedford
Dec. 22, 2005 - Las Vegas Bowl - Cal 35, BYU 28 - Jeff Tedford
Dec. 28, 2006 - Holiday Bowl - Cal 45, Texas A&M 10 - Jeff Tedford
Dec. 31, 2007 - Armed Forces Bowl - Cal 42, Air Force 36 - Jeff Tedford
Dec. 27, 2008 - Emerald Bowl - Cal 24, Miami, Fla. 17 - Jeff Tedford
Dec. 23, 2009 - Poinsettia Bowl - Utah 37, Cal 27 - Jeff Tedford
Dec. 28, 2011 - Holiday Bowl - Cal vs. Texas - Jeff Tedford

HEAD COACH JEFF TEDFORD QUOTES
Below are comments from Cal head coach Jeff Tedford on Sunday regarding Cal's upcoming contest against Texas in the 2011 Bridgepoint Holiday Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 28 (5 p.m. PT).

On his reaction about being selected for the Holiday Bowl and playing Texas
"We're very excited about the opportunity to play in the Holiday Bowl. They do a great job of putting on a first-class event both for our players and fans. We look forward to playing a university with a great tradition such as Texas."

On what he knows about Texas at this point in time
"Not much. I haven't had a chance to see much of them yet this year, but obviously we'll get to know them a lot in the upcoming weeks of film study. I know they're always very athletic, very physical and well-coached. I'm anxious to start watching the tape and learning about them."

On Texas head coach Mack Brown
"I've gotten to know Mack over the years. We've had chances to visit and hang out. I would call Mack a friend and somebody in the college profession whom I have visited with and spent time with."

On if he sees any similarities with Cal and Texas considering both schools were 5-7 in 2010
"I do. Uncharacteristically, we missed out on bowls last year. I don't know what Texas' run had been, but I know it was pretty extensive. I know we had been bowl eligible every year that we've been here. So now, we've been bowl eligible for nine of the last 10 years. It's great to be back and to be able to practice and compete against such a great team like Texas."

On the Holiday Bowl
"They've done a great job there. There is a great tradition of exciting games, and the city of San Diego does a great job of putting the games on. They run a first-class operation; they're very hospitable and great to our fans."

On playing Texas after the BCS Rose Bowl selection in 2004
"2004 is a long time ago. I don't remember much about it except for feeling like there was a great opportunity there. We all felt like we were going to the Rose Bowl. However it unfolded, we were left scratching our heads as to how that happened. But that was a long time ago. I felt bad for our team because I really felt like we deserved to be in the Rose Bowl that year, but we're in 2011 now and it is a whole different situation."

On the Cal fan support at the Holiday Bowl
"The game being played in the state of California makes it accessible to our fans. It's great that there will be a lot of energy and excitement surrounding the game. Our fans have typically traveled very well down there. It's been a first-class bowl experience, and we've had good success there. I'm sure our fans will do the same. I encourage our fans to come out and support the team and make it a great bowl experience."

On how much the team has accomplished in the last month of the season
"I'm really proud of the strong finish of our team. It shows a lot of character to fight through some adversity earlier in the year to play well down the stretch. That's the mark of a quality football team, one that continues to improve and get better. I think this team did that. We will continue to grow through the preparation for the bowl game and have one more opportunity to play together as the 2011 Cal football team. I know we'll be excited to play. We'll prepare well and go out and give it our best effort."

2011 CAL OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Cal's offensive unit showed tremendous improvement in 2011, increasing its total production from 334.00 yards per game and a No. 90 national ranking in 2010 to 418.67 yards per game and a No. 37 national showing this season. The passing game led the way for the improvement, moving in the national rankings from No. 94 (175.08) to No. 38 (251.50 ypg). The running game was also slightly better, going from 158.92 yards per contest (No. 52) to 167.17 (No. 48).

Much of the damage on offense was done by Keenan Allen, a first-team All-Pac-12 and third-team midseason All-American choice as well as a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist. Allen is second in the conference in receptions (7.42) and third in receiving yards (105.08) per game, as well as tied for 12th and 12th nationally in those categories. He is also second on Cal's all-time single-season lists in both receptions (89) and receiving yards (1,261), respectively. Allen has added a team-high six touchdown catches that is only one outside of the school's all-time top-10 single seasons. In addition, Allen has a team-high 1,340 all-purpose yards and an average of 111.67 that is 11th in the Pac-12. During the season, Allen equaled DeSean Jackson as the fastest Cal player to reach both 1,000 receiving yards (16th game) and 100 receptions (18th game) in his career. He has 135 receptions and 1751 receiving yards in his first 23 games at Cal, both just outside the school's top 10, with at least one catch in all 23. His 11 receiving touchdowns already rank tied for eighth all-time at Cal.

Allen's wide receiver sidekick Marvin Jones, who led Cal in receptions and receiving yards in both 2009 and '10, was second on the team to Allen in both categories in 2011, posting career highs of 55 catches and 762 receiving yards.

First-year starting quarterback Zach Maynard primarily delivered the ball to Allen and Jones, completing 213-of-373 passes for 2,806 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a 129.44 quarterback rating. Maynard is currently sixth on Cal's all-time single-season list for passing yards and needs only 194 yards in the air in the team's bowl game to become only the third Cal passer to ever throw for 3,000 yards in a season. He is only another 21 yards shy of Nate Longshore's 3,021-yard season in 2006 that is the second-most in Cal history. Pat Barnes holds the school's single-season record with 3,499 passing yards in 1996.

Maynard came on strong at the end of the campaign as evidenced by the dramatic rise in his completion percentage, touchdown to interception ratio and quarterback rating. Over the last four games, he completed 68.5 percent of passes, threw for five touchdowns to one interception and posted a 154.27 rating. Over his first eight contests, he hit on 53.4 percent of his passes, had nearly as many interceptions (10) as touchdowns (12), and a rating of 121.31.

Isi Sofele led the team's rushing game, ranking fourth in the Pac-12 and 20th nationally in rushing yards per game (105.83). Sofele has a total of 1,266 yards on the ground that is the sixth-highest single season in Cal history and gives the Bears their ninth 1,000-yard rusher in the last 10 campaigns.

Many of Sofele's holes were opened by Mitchell Schwartz, a first-team All-Pac-12 left tackle that is the only Golden Bear to have started all 50 games over the last four seasons and two starts shy of the school record of 52 established by Syd'Quan Thompson (2006-09).

Giorgio Tavecchio has made 19-of-22 field goal attempts for a Pac-12 high 86.4 percentage and also leads the conference in field goals per game (1.58), ranking tied for 11th nationally in the latter category. Tavecchio paces Cal in scoring with 92 points and has moved into fifth place on the school's all-time scoring list with 252 career points. He is the first Cal player to lead the Pac-12 in field goals made since Doug Brien led the conference and the nation in 1991 with an average of 1.73 per game.

Jones, Sofele and Tavecchio were honorable mention All-Pac-12 choices. Offensive linemen Justin Cheadle and Matt Summers-Gavin, and tight end Anthony Miller were also honorable mention picks on offense.

2011 CAL DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Cal featured the Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Year in Mychal Kendricks. The linebacker led a defense that paced the Pac-12 in pass defense (209.08 ypg, No. 43 NCAA) and tackles for loss (7.67 tflpg, No. 5 NCAA), while ranking second in total defense (339.42 ypg, No. 26 NCAA).

Kendricks, the Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Year and a fourth-team midseason All-American, has per-game averages that are fourth in the Pac-12 in tackles (8.00) and tied for third in tackles for loss (1.08), while leading the team in both categories with totals of a career-high 96 tackles and 13.0 tackles for loss (team-high -56 yards). He also co-leads the squad with a pair of interceptions that he has returned for a team-high 62 yards, while adding 3.0 sacks (team-high -30 yards), two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries that he has returned for a team-high 33 yards. Kendricks posted four double-digit tackle games in 2011, including a career-high-tying and team season-high 15 stops at Washington. He also had 13 tackles at Stanford along with a season-high-tying 2.5 tackles for loss (career-high -18 yards) and his first full sack of the season when he dropped Heisman Trophy candidate Andrew Luck for a 14-yard loss.

Kendricks is Cal's active career leader in tackles (248), tackles for loss (35.0), sacks (13.5) and fumble recoveries (7). He has added four interceptions, a forced fumble, five pass breakups and one blocked kick. He has played in all 50 games possible over the past four seasons with 28 starts.

Kendricks becomes the seventh Cal player to earn Pac-10/12 Player of the Year honors. Previous selections include Chuck Muncie (1975), Ron Rivera (1983, Co-Defensive), Mike Pawlawski (1991, Co-Offensive), Deltha O'Neal (1999, Defensive), Daymeion Hughes (2006, Defensive) and Marshawn Lynch (2006, Offensive).

Trevor Guyton earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors while co-leading Cal with 4.5 sacks (-23 yards) and ranking third on the club with his 10.0 tackles for loss (-36 yards), with his per-game averages of .88 tackles for loss and .38 sacks ranking tied for eighth and tied for 15th in the Pac-12. He also co-leads the squad in forced fumbles and fumble recoveries with two each, with his .17 fumble recoveries per game tied for sixth in the Pac-12. Guyton's 42 tackles are first among Cal's defensive linemen.

Four other Cal defensive players - defensive backs D.J. Campbell and Sean Cattouse, linebacker D.J. Holt, and defensive lineman Aaron Tipoti - were also honorable mention All-Pac-12 picks.

Holt (81), Cattouse (71) and Campbell (63) ranked second through fourth behind Kendricks on the team's tackle list. Holt also added 10.5 tackles for loss to rank second on the team, while safeties Campbell and Cattouse were team co-leaders in both interceptions and fumble recoveries with two of each. Tipoti spent most of the season clogging up the middle at nose guard, recording 21 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Notably Bryan Anger became the fourth player in Cal history to be named first-team all-conference for third consecutive year in 2011 as he is having another strong season in 2011, with a 44.57 yards per punt average that is fifth on Cal's all-time single season list and has improved his career average to 43.54 yards per punt, second on Cal's all-time list.