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California Bears Kyle and kids expect improvement
'99: 4-7, 3-5 Pac-10CoachTom Holmoe (fourth year, 12-21)
Key offensive playersJoe Igber, RB, So.Averaged 4.7 yards per carry while rushing for 694 as a true freshman.
Kyle Boller, QB, So.
Scott Tercero, G, So.
Key defensive playersAndre Carter, DE, Sr.An Outland Trophy candidate after recording 10 sacks and 20 tackles-for-loss last season.
Jacob Waasdorp, DT, Sr.
Chidi Iwuoma, CB, Sr.
Key newcomerCharon Arnold, WR, Jr.Best of three new juco wide receivers. He averaged 18.3 yards per catch for El Camino CC last year.
Throwback playerA former high school wrestling star at 215 pounds, defensive tackle Waasdorp, now 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, has used hard work in the weight room and pure intensity to become a star.
21st century playerBilled by students as "Baby Jesus," the vaunted Boller went to Cal for one reason: It essentially guaranteed him he would start immediately. Very 21st Century.
Fast FactCal had the worst offense (16.4 points per game, 36 sacks allowed) and best defense (23.1 ppg, 51 sacks) in the conference last season.
OutlookIf nothing else, California is an interesting team. It has three senior stars: Playboy All-Americans Andre Carter, punter Nick Harris (44.6 yards per punt) and first team All-Pac-10 defensive tackle Waasdorp. It also has no experienced receivers returning to a remarkably bad offense and lost seven starters off the conference's best defense. What will this team look like? "If we improve on offense and score points, we'll be in a bowl game," says Holmoe. During a successful spring, the Bears installed a short passing game for Boller, who returned from shoulder surgery. Boller showed flashes last year but was wildly inconsistent. Igber's success at running back allowed Marcus Fields to move to H-back, where he will run and catch the ball. Two expected defensive contributors apparently were lost during he offseason: linebacker Jamaal Cherry to academics and end Tim Pompa to NCAA rules violations.-- Ted Miller
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