2017 California Golden Bears Football Team
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2017 California Golden Bears Football Team
The 2017 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bears were led by first-year head coach Justin Wilcox and played their home games at California Memorial Stadium. The Bears went 5-7, with wins over North Carolina, Ole Miss, and No. 8 Washington State, and three losses by three points or fewer.[1] The season highlight was the Bears 37-3 defeat of Washington State, the first time Cal beat a top ten opponent since its defeat of No. 3 USC in 2003.[2]
Previous season
Fourth-year head coach Sonny Dykes led the Golden Bears to a record of 5-7 (3-6 Pac-12) in 2016 to finish in a tie for fourth place in the North Division. On January 8, 2017, Dykes was fired.[3] He finished at Cal with a four-year record of 19-30.
On January 14, 2017, Justin Wilcox was hired as the new head coach for the Golden Bears, following the dismissal of Dykes.[4]
Recruiting
Position key
Recruits
The Golden Bears signed a total of 14 recruits.
US college sports recruiting information for 2017 recruits
|
---|
Name
|
Hometown
|
High school / college
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Commit date
|
---|
Gabriel Cherry DE
|
Bakersfield, California
|
Centennial HS
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
|
265 lb (120 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Taariq Johnson WR
|
Buena Park, California
|
Buena Park HS
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
213 lb (97 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Jeremiah Hawkins WR
|
Buena Park, California
|
Buena Park HS
|
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
|
170 lb (77 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Chase Garbers QB
|
Newport Beach, California
|
Corona del Mar HS
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
205 lb (93 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Alex Funches DE
|
Denton, Texas
|
Trinity Valley Community College
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
225 lb (102 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Biaggo Ali Walsh RB
|
Las Vegas, Nevada
|
Bishop Gorman HS
|
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
|
186 lb (84 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Michael Saffell C
|
Huntington Beach, California
|
Edison HS
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
293 lb (133 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Elijah Hicks CB
|
La Mirada, California
|
La Mirada HS
|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Poutasi Poutasi OG
|
Las Vegas, Nevada
|
Desert Pines HS
|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
|
280 lb (130 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Daniel Scott S
|
La Cañada Flintridge, California
|
St. Francis HS
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
195 lb (88 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: N/A
|
Kyle Harmon LB
|
Oakley, California
|
Freedom HS
|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
|
218 lb (99 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A
|
Gavin Reinwald WR
|
Elk Grove, California
|
Elk Grove HS
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
225 lb (102 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A
|
Branden Smith CB
|
Lancaster, California
|
Paraclete HS
|
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
|
175 lb (79 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Ben Moos TE
|
Pullman, Washington
|
Pullman HS
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
240 lb (110 kg)
|
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Overall recruiting rankings:
|
-
- Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
- In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
|
Personnel
Coaching staff
Roster
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
September 2 | 9:20 a.m. | at North Carolina* | | ACCN | W 35-30 | 49,500 |
September 9 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 25 (FCS) Weber State* | | P12N | W 33-20 | 36,209 |
September 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Ole Miss* | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA
| ESPN | W 27-16 | 37,125 |
September 23 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 5 USC | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA (Joe Roth Memorial Game)
| ABC | L 20-30 | 46,747 |
September 30 | 7:30 p.m. | at Oregon | | FS1 | L 24-45 | 55,707 |
October 7 | 7:45 p.m. | at No. 6 Washington | | ESPN | L 7-38 | 67,429 |
October 13 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 8 Washington State | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA
| ESPN | W 37-3 | 26,244 |
October 21 | 4:00 p.m. | Arizona | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA
| P12N | L 44-45 2OT | 37,525 |
October 28 | 11:00 a.m. | at Colorado | | P12N | L 28-44 | 47,216 |
November 4 | 2:00 p.m. | Oregon State | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA
| P12N | W 37-23 | 35,440 |
November 18 | 5:00 p.m. | at No. 20 Stanford | | FOX | L 14-17 | 51,424 |
November 24 | 7:30 p.m. | at UCLA | | FS1 | L 27-30 | 50,287 |
- *Non-conference game
Homecoming- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game
- All times are in Pacific time
|
Source:[6]
Game summaries
at North Carolina
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
Golden Bears
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
14 |
35 |
Tar Heels
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
6 |
30 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
First meeting
|
Weber State
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
No. 25 (FCS) Wildcats
|
10
|
10
|
0
|
0 |
20 |
Golden Bears
|
7
|
10
|
0
|
16 |
33 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
First meeting
|
Ole Miss
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
Rebels
|
10
|
6
|
0
|
0 |
16 |
Golden Bears
|
7
|
0
|
10
|
10 |
27 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
First meeting
|
USC
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
No. 5 Trojans
|
3
|
10
|
0
|
17 |
30 |
Golden Bears
|
3
|
10
|
0
|
7 |
20 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
29-70-5 |
2016 |
USC, 45-24
|
at Oregon
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
Golden Bears
|
0
|
7
|
7
|
10 |
24 |
Ducks
|
17
|
0
|
7
|
21 |
45 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
41-37-2 |
2016 |
CAL, 52-49
|
at Washington
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
Golden Bears
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
0 |
7 |
No. 6 Huskies
|
7
|
17
|
7
|
7 |
38 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
39-53-4 |
2016 |
WASH, 66-27
|
Washington State
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
No. 8 Cougars
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0 |
3 |
Golden Bears
|
10
|
7
|
3
|
17 |
37 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
46-27-5 |
2016 |
WSU, 56-21
|
- The game marked Cal's first win against a top ten opponent since 2003.[7]
- The three points allowed by the Bears defense are the fewest since holding UC Davis to three points in 2010.
- In the fourth quarter, quarterback Ross Bowers executed a flip into the end zone to put the Bears up 27-3.[8]
Arizona
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 | OT | 2OT |
Total |
---|
Wildcats
|
14
|
7
|
7
|
3 | 7 | 7 |
45 |
Golden Bears
|
7
|
0
|
14
|
10 | 7 | 6 |
44 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
14-16-2 |
2014 |
ARIZ, 49-45
|
at Colorado
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
Golden Bears
|
7
|
7
|
0
|
14 |
28 |
Buffaloes
|
14
|
13
|
0
|
17 |
44 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
5-3 |
2014 |
CAL, 59-56
|
Oregon State
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
Beavers
|
7
|
6
|
7
|
3 |
23 |
Golden Bears
|
14
|
6
|
10
|
7 |
37 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
36-33 |
2016 |
ORST, 47-44
|
- The game was the sixth time in program history that Cal had zero punts in a game. It was the first time that Cal had zero punts in a game since playing USC in 2004.[9]
- Matt Anderson broke the Cal record for career scoring, reaching 297 points after kicking three field goals and four extra points in the game. He broke the previous record of 288 points held by Doug Brien since 1993. Anderson would finish the season with an all-time record of 316 points.
- Patrick Laird's 214 yards rushing ranks tenth in program history for rushing yards in a single game.
at Stanford
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
Golden Bears
|
3
|
3
|
8
|
0 |
14 |
No. 22 Cardinal
|
3
|
7
|
7
|
0 |
17 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
43-57-10 |
2016 |
STAN, 45-31
|
at UCLA
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
---|
Golden Bears
|
3
|
6
|
8
|
10 |
27 |
Bruins
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
6 |
30 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result
|
---|
33-52-1 |
2016 |
CAL, 36-10
|
- Matt Anderson broke the Cal record for career field goals, reaching 60 after kicking four field goals in the game. He broke the previous record of 56 field goals held by Doug Brien since 1993.[10]
- Ross Bowers reached 3,000 passing yards for the season and became the seventh player in Cal history to reach the milestone.
- Patrick Laird reached 1,000 rushing yards for the season and became the sixteenth player in Cal history to reach the milestone.
Awards and honors
Coaches
- Athlon Sports' National Defensive Coordinator of the Week, vs. Washington State[11]
Offense
- Manning Award Stars of the Week, vs. North Carolina[12]
- Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist[13]
- First-team Pac-12 All-Academic[14]
- All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention[15]
- CoSIDA Academic All-District Team[16]
- SB Nation Piesman Trophy finalist[17]
- Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watchlist[18]
- Biletnikoff Award watchlist[19]
- Second-team Pac-12 All-Academic[14]
- All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention[15]
- Second-team Pac-12 All-Academic[14]
Defense
- All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention[15]
- Chuck Bednarik Award watchlist[20]
- Lott IMPACT Trophy watchlist[20]
- All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention[15]
- Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, at North Carolina[20]
- Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week(2), vs. Ole Miss[20]
- College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Ole Miss[21]
- College Sports Madness Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Ole Miss[21]
- Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Washington State[22]
- Rose Bowl: Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Washington State[22]
- Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Washington State[22]
- College Sports Madness Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Washington State[22]
- First-team Pac-12 All-Academic[14]
Special teams
- Pac-12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year[23]
- Campbell Trophy semifinalist [24]
- Lou Groza Award pre-season watchlist[24]
- Senior CLASS Award candidate[24]
- Second-team Pac-12 All-Academic[14]
- CoSIDA Academic All-District Team[16]
References