Getting To Know Oregon's 2013 "Blue Chip" Thomas Tyner

 by:Nick Niemiec - Redzone Recruits

            Alot has been said about Oregon's 2012 class, arguably the best in school's history.  Today we take one step closer into meeting the prized verbal commit of 2013 and arguably the top Running back in the class, Thomas Tyner. 

With signing day over, we feel it necessary to check in with Tyner and see what he has to say about recent events around signing day, and his status with the ducks....along with some fun as well.

(Redzone) : First off, you know I've got to ask Thomas, you've been an Oregon commit for a very long time.  How were you able to solo Oregon out as the place for you and when did you really see yourself THERE as a member of the ducks?  (I'm guessing your speed in that offense had something to do with it? hah)

Tyner:   Because I really wanted to stay close to my family. They have a great journalism program (which I want to do), and also a great track/ football program. I'm still very open with my college decision. I want to take visits out to schools in California. 

(Redzone) :  You're known for your speed, but you've also gotten a lot of credit for being able to bounce off defenders or break tackles.  People don't seem to expect this too much from running backs dubbed "Speed backs." Do you think that your style of running is similar to what Oregon lost this year in LaMichael James?  

Tyner:  I don't compare myself to LJ. He uses more quickness and change of direction than I do. Im more of straight ahead runner. I will need improvement before I compare myself to anyone. 

(Redzone) :  In your mind, how close to wavering away from Oregon (if at all), were you with the entire Chip Kelley to Tampa Bay situation?  Did that seem to bother you or set you further away from the program in your mind? 

Tyner:  When I heard of Chip leaving, I was in shock. Just that he didn't even tell me he was considering leaving when I committed. The thought of him leaving still worries me. I've heard people say, "I don't expect him to stay much longer." I've always wanted to go to a program that I can trust, and will stay loyal..

(Redzone) :  You were recruited by the highly touted RB Coach for the Ducks, Gary Campbell, how has your relationship been with Coach Campbell and was he the one who kind of locked you in as far as your commitment with the program?

Tyner:  Campbell and I were able to have a very fun and humorous relationship the first time we met. I love that guy as a coach and as a person. 

(RedZone) :  Sounds great, have heard only but the best about Coach Campbell.  Let's move on to some lighter stuff!

In the house of Thomas Tyner, what is currently in your fridge?

Tyner:  You'll find nothing but healthy food in my fridge now. I changed my ways from McDonalds to healthier foods...Surprisingly. 

(RedZone) :  In your down time, what do you do to unwind or to set aside from all of the serious aspects of your life right now?

 Tyner:  I like to play piano, go to church, and just watch movies with friends. Im a pretty chill and outgoing person, so im always down for an adventure. 

(RedZone) :  How pumped are you to wear 1 billion different uniform combinations?  Do you honestly think that plays into recruits minds for Duck recruiting (maybe not you but for others?)

Tyner:  Its very exciting! Uniforms shouldnt be what makes a recruit choose the school though. Chip said that himself at Junior Day.

(RedZone) :  If you were to pick a celebrity crush, who would that be (We all know everyone has one if they think about it lol)

Tyner:   Lol well my favorite artist now is Chris Brown, but probably Hayden Panettiere

(RedZone) :  What is one thing that the public does not yet know about Thomas Tyner?  Can be something small, and nothing significant...or maybe something you enjoy to do, or a hidden talent...etc

Tyner:   Probably playing piano

(RedZone) :   Finally Thomas, What Camps or plans do you have for this upcoming summer?

Tyner:  I dont go to fb camps over the summer, I travel for USATF JR Olympics 

          Not only does Tyner travel, but he shines.  Thomas set the Oregon state record for the 100m in 2011 on three separate occasions.  By most accounts, he is the fastest athlete to ever step foot in the state of Oregon.  Something a lot of people don't know about Tyner, who officially committed verbally (per rivals) on November 20th  2011, for the class of 2013 is that he was not always only interested in the Ducks.  Oregon State was actually the first to offer Tyner and he has been slated as always feeling something for the beavers, the first to show him mainstream attention.  However, with Oregon State losing to Sacramento State at home, and Tyner in attendance and leaving at halftime, all seemed to be lost as far as Mike Rileys hopes to snatch this top Running back from right out of their own backyard before anybody else woke up.  Waking up is exactly what the University of Oregon did with the 6 foot 200 pound junior running back, who rushed for 1,136 yards and 12 touchdowns while missing 6 games due to injury.  Looking at film he looks like he has the straight away speed similar to De'Anthony "Black Mamba" Thomas, with ability to take on contact and get yards after carry.  We will have to wait and see how this youngster pans out for the Ducks, or if a team swoops in and poaches him last minute right out of Oregon's hands.  One thing is for sure however, Oregon offense + Tyner Speed=Bad news for PAC opponents in 2013-14.

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Could Robert Nkemdiche Be Overrated?

I believe sometimes we get over joyed at the size of kid and tend to overlook their capabilities. When I look at a kid like Rob Nkemdiche and think to myself, I can't help but wonder about his upside potential. I believe a kid his size (6'5 270lbs.) right now is fairly maxed out. And honestly when I look at his film he does not possess the game changing ability and dominance I look for in an athlete of his size on the high school level let alone major college level. I have heard arguments from both sides of the coin so I present his film as evidence and let the community be the judge. Is it me? Am I tripping? Please don't be afraid to call me out on this one. After all when you are rated as the #1 athlete in the country you have to expect those are some big shoes to fill. And it's not his fault either so I'm not going hard on the kid, I just don't see the beast.Previous Article on Nkemdiche Redzone Recruits, high school football recruiting, college football recruiting, division 1 football,

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Owen Williams and Nick Keefe Head To Play FCS Football

Tailback Owen Williams 2012

Owen Williams and Nick Keefe, who have been teammates for four years at Lake Forest High School, will be lining up against each other for next four years.

Williams, who finished his senior season with 1,206 yards and 20 rushing TDs, will be playing for the University of Dayton next fall. Keefe, a star on the Scouts’ defense, will be suiting up for University of San Diego.

These two NCAA Division IAA schools compete in the 12-team Pioneer Football League. Dayton’s Flyers are scheduled to play the Toreros on Oct. 27. 2012 in California.

“Both of these guys are going to great schools,” said Lake Forest head football coach Chuck Spagnoli. “And best of all, they’re going to schools where they really wanted to go to.”

Last year, San Diego went 9-2 overall and won the conference with a 7-2 record. Dayton finished 6-5, 4-4.

Without a doubt, Dayton will be adding a playmaker to the mix. He basically was unstoppable for the past two seasons. As a junior, he rushed for 1,266 yards and 18 TDs. His career included not one, but two six-touchdown games.

Keefe capped off his three-year varsity career with a sterling senior season. He was all over the field, finishing with 56 tackles, seven quarterback sacks and 13.5 tackles-for-loss.

Meanwhile, Keefe’s defensive sidekick, Brandt Pfeifer has agreed to be a preferred walk-on at Division I Kent State, which competes in the Mid-America Conference.

Pfeifer was a defensive difference maker for the Scouts (8-3, NSC Lake co-champs). He wound up with 55 tackles, including five for loss.

Spagnoli said a couple of his other players still are weighing their options.

It’s down to three schools for quarterback Jordan Beck: West Point, Dayton and Augustana. Lineman John Marwede is looking at Bowdoin and DePauw, while Tyler Funk is undecided.
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RB Kelvin Taylor Commits To Florida over Bama

It didn’t come as a huge surprise to those who know him when Glades Day running back Kelvin Taylor decided to stick with his gut. The storied, record-breaking junior verbally committed to Florida on Saturday morning.

Taylor

Taylor (5-11, 215 pounds) broke the state’s career rushing record this past fall, becoming the first high school running back to run for more than 9,000 career yards. He also broke the career rushing touchdown record earlier in the season. Taylor ran for 2,884 yards and 40 touchdowns on 292 carries as a junior, and has started at running back for Glades Day since eighth grade.

His recruiting process started quickly because of his family name. Kelvin’s father, as we’ve documented regularly, is Fred Taylor, a Glades Central legend who played at Florida and 11 seasons in the NFL. Taylor was heavily recruited by Alabama, Florida and several other programs, but ‘Bama and UF stood out.

Verbal commitments are non-binding. Prospects in the class of 2013 can officially sign for a school in February of 2013.
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High School Football Coach Allegedly Chokes The Shit Out Of Student Athlete

Police are investigating a Lawrence Central High School assistant football coach who was fired after he was accused of choking an 18-year-old student.

Lawrence Police Department Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff said Friday that information in the case could be forwarded to the Marion County prosecutor's office next week.

Desmoin Cooksey, 33, who was an instructional assistant and assistant coach, has not been arrested or charged since the investigation began Monday.

In a statement posted Thursday on the district's website, Lawrence Township school officials said: "The incident involved inappropriate conversations and actions by an instructional assistant toward three students. The situation was immediately investigated by Lawrence Central administrators and public safety authorities."

The statement said administrators learned Monday of the Feb. 10 incident at the school and that the employee was put on leave. An investigation, according to the district's statement, "confirmed the allegations, and the instructional assistant was immediately terminated."

Administrators did not name the fired employee. A Lawrence Police Department report identified the staffer as Cooksey.

Cooksey could not be reached Friday for comment.

The police report details the allegation against Cooksey and his denial of choking the student. According to the report, the three male students received a text message from Cooksey on Friday asking them to "come down to my office I need to talk to you."

The report said Cooksey was upset about a rumor concerning him. While pacing the floor of his office, Cooksey told the three students someone would "have to pay and be made an example of," according to the report.

The 18-year-old told police that Cooksey "came from behind him and began to choke him from behind, pulling him down . . ," according to the report. The other two students told police they ran to Cooksey and pulled him off.

Cooksey told police the conversation with the students got heated, and when the 18-year-old tried to leave "he grabbed him by his shoulders and sat him back down." But Cooksey insisted he did not choke the boys. He said he has treated the 18-year-old as a son and would never hurt him.

The 18-year-old's mother told police she received text messages on Feb. 10 from students telling her that Cooksey choked her son. She contacted Cooksey, who denied choking her son and told her "the kids are just exaggerating."

She said when she asked her son about the incident he told her "Everything is fine." He later told her he just had a headache, according to the police report.

But on Sunday, the police report said, she noticed her son had blood clots in his eyes and concluded that Cooksey had choked her son.

Indianapolis attorney Tara Melton, who is representing the 18-year-old, said her client went to a physician Monday, and the physician said that he suffered hemorrhaging in both of his eyes consistent with asphyxiation.

She said all three of the students in the case "had quite a bit of respect for the coach" and "were very shocked" by his conduct.
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TCU Football "Mary Jane" Bust Exposes New Challenges For NCAA

Maybe this week's drug bust at TCU shouldn't surprise anyone.

National Center for Drug Free Sport vice president Andrea Wickerham said the arrests of four football players among 15 TCU students and four former students on suspicion of selling marijuana is symbolic of an increasing pot problem in college athletics.

She hopes administrators across the nation are paying attention.

"I hope they don't see this event at TCU as an isolated incident. It's not," she said. "The question is, 'What does TCU do about it?' and what do other college administrators do?"

The arrests at TCU came Wednesday, just a month after the NCAA said that 22.6 percent of 20,474 student-athletes participating in an anonymous survey in 2009 admitted to using marijuana the previous 12 months. That number was up from 21.2 percent in 2005.

Among the most high-profile sports, across all divisions, 26.7 percent of football players and 22 percent of men's basketball players admitted in 2009 to using marijuana the previous year. Both were up significantly from the 2005 numbers (21.7 percent and 18.6 percent, respectively).

The report has been done every four years since 1985 and alcohol always has been the overwhelming substance of choice. Marijuana is No. 2. The NCAA tests for marijuana at its championship events and football bowl games but not in its year-round testing program that has been in place since 1990.

In 2009-10, the most recent academic year for which data is available, 72 of 1,645 tested athletes (4.3 percent) turned up positive for marijuana. That was up from 28 of 1,799 tested athletes (1.6 percent) in 2008-09.

Chris Herren, a former player at Fresno State who struggled with cocaine and marijuana in college and during his brief stay in the NBA, said his marijuana use in high school led to his well-documented problems. Herren, who said he has been clean since 2008, travels the country lecturing high school and college athletes about the dangers of street drugs.

Herren acknowledges the power of addiction. But with a clear mind now, he said, he can't help but find the survey findings and NCAA testing results disheartening.

"We can sit here and say marijuana is no big deal," he said. "But in (athletes') situations, it is a big deal. If they're willing to throw away $200,000 of their education because of a blunt or a bong, let's be honest, something's not right there."

The National Center for Drug Free Sport administers drug tests for more than 250 colleges as well as the NCAA. Wickerham said testing is the most effective deterrent and works best if it is consistently inconsistent.

"You want to test often enough so athletes truly believe they have a likelihood of being selected," she said.
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"UNDEFEATED" A Heart Warming High School Prep Documentary

If life is getting you down, an inspirational sports flick is always the right choice. And it’s even better if you can find a documentary like the heartwarming “Undefeated.”

The very best of humanity is on display in this chronicle of the Manassas Tigers, an inner-city high school team in Tennessee. The Tigers were perpetual losers until they got a new coach in Bill Courtney, whose own difficult childhood inspires his work with at-risk teens.

The film focuses on three players: the driven Money, easygoing O.C., and Chavis, whose tough upbringing and hot temper have made him the team’s biggest potential liability.

Directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin don’t break any new ground in style, but they pull us in and keep us on edge through each nail-biting game.

The primary suspense comes off the field, of course, as Coach Courtney helps his troubled team grow together and individually.

There are plenty of unexpected moments within this stirring film, but it’s no surprise at all that it’s been tapped to compete for a Best Documentary Oscar next Sunday.

Magic Moment: The casual but tremendously moving ceremony for the team’s Player of the Year Award.
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The Story Behind Shaq Thompson Signing with Washington

SACRAMENTO — Sitting in the house where it all happened, Patty Thompson points at the couch and laughs.

She had no idea that from that couch on Jan. 30 her youngest of four sons, Shaquille Thompson, had sent out the tweet heard around the college football world.

Expected to announce his decision on signing day at Grant High School, Thompson decided to end the suspense early.

"Just committed to the UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON," he wrote in a tweet at 10:05 p.m.

Patty sat a few feet away, but didn't know what was going on until another son, Ricky, walked into the room, wearing a UW beanie.

"I got your tweet," he told Shaquille.

"What'd he do now?" Patty wondered of a son who has never been short of surprises.

She'd seen him come home and announce he would take up skateboarding. Now this.

"He changes like the wind," she said of Shaq.

She still remembers what he said when he got up from the couch: "Mom, I just had to do it. It was time."

With those seven simple words on Twitter, Shaquille Thompson became one of the most celebrated Washington football recruits in recent memory.

The only player rated five stars by both Scout.comand Rivals.com to sign with UW in the past 10 years had been the subject of a fierce recruiting battle. He'd also seriously considered California, Oregon and UCLA, though he likely could have picked any school in the country.

He'd long been expected to go to California, a 90-minute drive from the family home in Del Paso Heights and where his older brother Syd'Quan played before going to the NFL.

In fact, he'd been regarded as a silent commit to Cal for months and made a public commitment to the Bears at the U.S. Army Game in early January before re-evaluating his options in the wake of Washington hiring three assistants with Cal ties to its staff.

So why Washington? Since his commitment to UW that Monday and signing two days later, he's fielded the same question time and again, especially from locals who'd long assumed he would stay home — why Washington?

"They were always there on my list," he said, standing in the hallway at Grant High School last week. "Washington always stayed in it, so from the get-go that should have told everybody 'he's coming to Washington,' because that was the only school that didn't change.

"I went up there for the Cal game (in September) and it was a beautiful atmosphere, a beautiful city, the fans really love their football, the team was fun to be around, the coaches were great. It was just like a great place for me."

Still, he'd gone back and forth, especially the final two weeks, often giving the public a glimpse of his internal struggle with Twitter comments.

He made another trip to the UW campus the weekend before Signing Day, an unofficial visit.

Patty thought he was going to Oregon until a couple days before his tweet.

"People might say, 'He was playing games,' " Shaquille Thompson says. "But I was in moments and then I would get back out of moments where I would rethink where I want to be. It was crazy at times, but I made a great choice for myself and my family."

His mother isn't surprised Shaquille ultimately went his own way.

"You know how if there's a huddle and there's 10 guys standing in it and one outside of it? He's the one outside of it," she says. "He's a thinker."

He has always stood out once the huddle breaks, as well.

Grant coach Mike Alberghini calls Thompson among the best players he has seen since coaching at the school in 1969. Grant alums include NFL receiver Donte Stallworth, former WSU quarterback Aaron Garcia, former Husky C.J. Wallace (Thompson's cousin) and former Oregon running back Onterrio Smith.

Thompson weighs 215 and finished seventh in the state 200 meters. "He's kind of the total package of size and speed," Alberghini said.

Family members realized early he would be a star.

"We always knew it," says his uncle B.T. Thompson. "It was like, 'He's the one.' You can tell when they are little biddy fellows and it doesn't matter what sport it is, they are dominating."

Athletics has always been a focal point of the family. Patty played basketball and ran track in high school. She raised her family as a single mother, with lots of help from the extended family. She encouraged sports in part to keep her sons out of trouble in an area of Sacramento where it's easy to find. Gangs are all around.

"It was hard because you have all these gangs outside around here and you can't go out at dark or go out by yourself without something happening," Shaquille Thompson said. "Sports really kept me out of trouble, kept my mom not worrying so much. Without sports I don't know what I would be."

Grant has a long and storied football tradition, including winning a state title in 2009. All four Thompson brothers played the sport. Due in part to injuries to others, Shaquille ended up playing quarterback last season, throwing for eight touchdowns, as well as running back and defensive back, and even punting.

Colleges recruited him primarily as a safety, but Thompson says he would like a chance to play both ways. Family members say Washington's willingness to let him do that was another factor in UW's favor.

Another, they say, was UW's willingness to let Thompson play baseball if the opportunity arises. He played the sport for the first time since sixth grade as a sophomore, but B.T. Thompson says the Toronto Blue Jays have shown interest in Shaquille. He has taken private baseball lessons after school and plans to be a pitcher and center fielder for Grant this spring.

The family sees baseball as a safer alternative for Shaquille, B.T. Thompson says. A hamstring injury to Syd'Quan shortly before the 2010 NFL draft contributed to his slide to the seventh round.

"It could be serious," Shaquille says of his interest in baseball.

The family also talks about Shaquille staying at UW just three years, and the plan Washington coaches offered that would enable him to graduate in three years was another factor favoring the Huskies.

"If he has to go four, that's fine," Patty Thompson said. "But the goal is three."

She says her son always felt pulled to Washington, regardless of what the coaches might have said during final visits, remembering texts he sent during his official visit in September. "He said, 'this is better for me,' " she recalls.

There was a strong family and local pull to Cal, and Shaquille likely would have ended up there if not for assistant coaching changes at both UW and Cal in January. He resists the notion that it was as simple as following Bears assistant Tosh Lupoi from Cal to UW.

B.T. Thompson calls new UW defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox the bigger influence. Wilcox coached Syd'Quan at Cal.

"When Wilcox went to UW, that opened up UW," said B.T. Thompson.

Shaquille said Lupoi stepped aside from handling his recruiting once the coach went to UW, leaving it to coach Steve Sarkisian, new defensive backs coach Keith Heyward and graduate assistant Donte Williams (who was able to recruit during the time when the Huskies did not have a full staff of assistants).

"He didn't have too much to do with it," Shaquille Thompson said of Lupoi.

Since signing his letter, all Shaquille has talked about is the day he can finally leave for UW, says Patty. She says her son, who wants to become a sports therapist, can't wait to put on his backpack and walk around campus like a regular student. He just wants to blend in, even though his athletic notoriety and braided hair he hasn't cut since eighth grade makes that difficult.

Embracing his star status might be the biggest transition for Thompson when he arrives at UW next fall, Alberghini says.

"He just really isn't a person who worries too much about individual stuff," he said. "Some of our other great players were more that they wanted the ball and wanted to dominate games and that's what made them what they are. I think Shaq has to develop into being a little more wanting to dominate things and wanting the ball in his hands all the time."

Thompson shakes his head when he hears that.

"I don't think I will be ready to take that on when I first get up there," he said. "I don't like when people congratulate me on all this. I will say, 'Thank you.' But I don't like all this stuff on me because that's how people get too bigheaded and just mess up."
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Cal Football Can Forget About BCS Bid For Yrs To Come

Over the last 10 years, Cal Bears football has been mediocre. This upcoming season fans are expecting more of the same. 

With Zach Maynard penciled in as the starter (for now), the Bears will have a hard time coming out on top of the Pac-12 North. While a BCS bid seems even more far fetched at the moment, Cal could potentially get that national recognition a few seasons from now if they are able to address a few issues.

USC, Oregon and Stanford are the strongest teams in the Pac-12. Behind them is Cal, and the rest of the maybe next year teams.

For Cal to even think about earning a BCS bid, they must elevate above the hodgepodge of mediocre teams and start competing with USC and Oregon for the top spot in the conference. 

With the talent Cal has this year, they are huge underdogs to win the Pac-12, let alone reach the Pac-12 North Championship Game.

The Bears' have a strong defense, arguably the best in the Pac-12. The defense would be even stronger if their offense was more effective. For them to beat the odds, they must improve their offense, starting with their quarterback. 

There were seven teams in the Pac-12 who scored more points per game than the Bears last season. If they want to earn a BCS bid, Zach Maynard must improve.

Maynard had the worst pass efficiency rating in the Pac-12last season despite having two talented receivers in Keenan Allen and Marvin Jones. Maynard has done little in his college career to earn anybody's confidence. 2012 may have been his last season as a starter unless he is able to drastically improve this offseason. 

Fortunately for the Bears, incoming freshman Zach Kline will be in competition with Maynard for the starting spot. He was rated as the second best pro-style quarterback in the 2012 recruiting class by Rivals.com after throwing for 3630 yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior.

Regardless of if he starts this season or not, it is crucial that Kline lives up to his expectations if Cal is ever going to earn a BCS bid.

 Regardless of who the starting quarterback is next season, Cal will rely on their run game to win games. Unfortunately, starting running back Isi Sofele is not productive enough to get the job done.

Cal has relied on the running game in the past with talented rushers such as J.J. Arrington, Marshawn Lynch, Justin Forrsett and Jahvid Best. Sofele is a serviceable back but not a game changer. 

He barely gained 100 yards per game last season and only found the end zone 10 times. Cal needs to find a running back who can score more than a touchdown per game to make up for their inconsistent pass offense.

Whether its Pop Warner or the pros, an offense cannot be effective if it does not have a good offensive line. This is especially true for teams with average running backs and quarterbacks.

The Bears' offensive line was okay in 2011, but was nowhere near dominant. They gave up 28 sacks last season and did not consistently open holes in the running game.

Whether it is Maynard or Kline lined up at quarterback, Cal's offensive line must improve in order to give their signal callers as much time as possible. This will decrease the likelihood of either quarterback making rash decisions and turning the ball over.

Cal is a far cry away from earning a BCS bid in the 2012-2013 season. However, there is hope for them in the near future.

Some of their top recruits in 2012 are filling major offensive needs. Quarterback Zach Kline's development should be helped by the three 4-star wide receivers and the four offensive linemen they brought in.

The only negative in the 2012 recruiting class was that they were unable to bring in any 5-star recruits, and they failed to find an impact running back.

Cal needs to figure out a way to bring in more elite players if they ever want to make any noise in the BCS. Since recruiting DeSean Jackson in 2005, they have only gotten two 5-star recruits.

The Bears came close to signing top level talent this offseason but fell short. Shaq Thompson, Ellis McCarthy and Stefon Diggs were all 5-star recruits who considered Cal before deciding to go elsewhere.

Not signing Thompson and McCarthy is extra costly because they both ended up in the Pac-12.

Cal's lack of talent can be overcome by mastering the fundamentals. 

The Bears had the second most penalty yards per game in the Pac-12 last season. Penalties kill drives on offense, and give up precious yards on defense. A team that is already struggling cannot afford to shoot themselves in the foot.

Cal's offense only converted on 38.8 percent of their third down attempts in 2011. This will be improved once they get better play out of their quarterback.

In 2011-2012 the Bears only averaged 20 yards per kick return and 5.8 yards per punt return. Freshman Brendan Bigelow showed flashes as a kick returner last season. They need him to step up so that the offense can consistently begin drives with good field position. 

Improving in these three phases of the game will earn an average team like Cal one or two more precious wins per season.

Jeff Tedford has done a good job since being named Cal's head coach in 2002. Prior to his arrival, the Bears had not had a winning season since 1993. Despite turning this program around, he has never coached the Bears to a BCS game.

Other current and past coaches in the Pac-12 such as Chip Kelly, Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll have innovated their programs. Tedford has made the Bears a better team, but has not provided the spark that creates excellence.

Tedford's game plans are very plain. This defines the team as a whole. Under Tedford, the Bears have been on the brink of earning national recognition, but for the most part, Cal has been mediocre.

It is time for the Bears to find a new coach who can bring the program to the next level—someone who can consistently get their team to the Pac-12 title game and ultimately earn a BCS bid.
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