The Latest
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Local college players turn heads at respective Pro Days
Last week both Stanford and Cal held “Pro Day,” an annual showcase where each school’s departing players audition for NFL scouts. To those unfamiliar with Pro Days, these events typically feature lots of men with stopwatches, a few TV news crews, and a group of players running 40-yard dashes, cone drills and 20-yard shuttles. The objective is to give...
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2017 spring practice important for Cal, Stanford for different reasons
It’s only February, but this week marks the beginning of the 2017 football season in the Bay Area. Spring practice has arrived. Most schools now begin “spring” practice in the winter. In the Pac-12, for example, Oregon State began on February 17, Arizona on Feb. 18 and Colorado on Feb. 22. Stanford’s drills start this Tuesday, while Cal’s kick off…
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College Football Roundup: Stellar class for Stanford, change hurts Cal
Wednesday is “National Signing Day” in college football, the day when thousands of high school recruits make their choice of colleges official by signing binding letters of intent. And it’s become a huge production. To record this momentous occasion, athletic departments churn out reams of press releases hyping the size, speed, ratings and statistics of their top recruits. CBS...
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College Football Roundup: Wilcox the right choice for Cal; Stanford raising ticket prices
The Golden Bears may have gotten it right this time. Cal moved quickly to replace fired head coach Sonny Dykes with Justin Wilcox, one of the most respected defensive minds in college football. And judging from the early returns, it looks like an excellent hire. Wilcox has earned high marks as defensive coordinator at a number of the top programs…
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College Football Roundup: Watson shines in a classic; Stanford trending up, Cal down
Back-to-back classics. That’s what we’ve witnessed in the National Championship Game the past two seasons. Even in their wildest dreams, the organizers of the College Football Playoff couldn’t have imagined two games of this caliber in successive seasons. Last year, you’ll recall No. 2 ranked Alabama edged No. 1 ranked Clemson, 45-40. This year, the tables were turned, as...
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College football roundup: Young stars electrify all-time classic Rose Bowl
With just the national championship game remaining on the schedule, it’s time to reflect on the highlights of the 2016-17 bowl season. Close encounters: This has been the most competitive and exciting post-season in recent memory. Over half the games had a one-score margin of victory and were decided in the last minute or overtime. Best Game: The Rose...
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College football roundup: Time for the real bowl games to start
Bowl season is in full swing, with the usual assemblage of blowouts, thrillers, and last-second heroics. Of the first 17 games, 10 have been decided in the last minute. Now it’s time for the games that really matter, locally and nationally. Foster Farms Bowl, Dec. 28, Levi’s Stadium—Indiana vs. Utah Both teams have something to prove. Indiana’s new coach,...
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McCaffrey skipping game not an indictment of the bowl system
There are too many bowl games, and the College Football Playoff has significantly diminished their stature. That much is indisputable. But despite a lot of media chatter, bowl games are not “meaningless” or “bogus,” and they’re not “populated by dubious figures,” as alleged earlier this week in a San Francisco Chronicle column. Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey’s decision not...
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College football roundup: In midst of WakeyLeaks, Louisville shows true colors
WakeyLeaks. That’s what they’re calling the latest scandal in college football. Wake Forest announced last week that former Wake player and coach Tommy Elrod, now a radio analyst for the school, had leaked game plans to opposing coaches. Elrod apparently gave the plans to former colleagues working for Wake Forest opponents. To date, Louisville, Army and Virginia Tech have...
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College football roundup: Bowl game viewing guide
Bowl season is upon us! Starting this Saturday, 40 college football bowl games will be crammed into 17 days, followed by the national championship contest a week later. With 80 out of the 128 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams participating in this year’s postseason lineup—including three with losing records—there are bound to be some clunkers. But lots of great matchups…