MoragaBear;842855471 said:

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Here's veteran writer and Cal alum David Bush's take on the question: http://bearinsider.com/news/story.php?article=2475

Personally, I'd have mixed in some more later era players, like Marshawn and Desean but that's why there's no right answer to the question, only personal opinion.

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Cal football in a nut shell. The number 1 guy played 100 years ago, the second and fourth best players played 70 years ago, the third best player played 60 years ago, and the fifth best player played over 40 years ago.

1. Brick Muller
2. Stan Barnes
3. Walter Gordon
4. Benny Lom
5. Dan McMillan
6. Roy Riegels
7. Bob Herwig
8. Charley Erb
9. Bob Reinhard
10. Carl Van Heult
11. Johnny Olszewski
12. Marshawn Lynch

I only started watching Cal football in 2003 when I began my time at Cal. Based on the past 13 seasons of football, I would rank the top 12 as stated below. My criteria is simple, if I were building my own college football team, who would I select first. My second selection is under the assumption that my first choice is unavailable. I am basing these selections on the player's performance over their career at Cal, so production and surrounding talent is accounted for. It gets a little dicey because some positions are inherently more important than others (think QB versus S) where as I would take a QB that is merely pretty good over the best S of all-time.

1. Jahvid Best - Super productive, and played without a consistent passing game or an overly talented offensive line for most of his career. I always had the belief that all he needed was one play of correct blocking and he'd end up in the end zone. He was also an underrated short yardage back, as although he didn't have the power to break through tackles (like number 2 on the list), he would hit the hole or the edge so fast, the defense couldn't beat him to the spot.

2. Marshawn Lynch - The originator of Beast Mode. Played on some truly talented Cal teams, but always appeared as the most talented of the bunch. Consistently outplayed a 2,000 yard running back as a freshman, powered the Cal offense in 2005 during the Ayoob trials and nearly won the Oregon game by himself by being responsible for 66% of total offense.

3. Jared Goff - I can't think of a Cal player that was more important to his team, if Jared had gone down, those teams would have been a complete disaster on both sides of the ball. He set all the sexy records for a Cal QB, without the benefit of a good line, consistent run game, or a defense/special teams to make his job easier.

4. Aaron Rodgers - Obviously, super talented, but played with a great offensive line, good receivers, excellent running backs, and a very good defense. Also, he split time as a sophomore, and then had only one really good year, a year where with all the aforementioned supporting talent.

5. JJ Arrington - Probably, the most productive running back season we will see in our lifetime. 2,000 yards while averaging 7 yards a carry. Benefited from an amazing offensive line.

6. Daymeion Dante Hughes - He shut down his side of the field through the air, allowing the rest of the defense to take risks.

7. Syd'Quan Thompson - Minus his first start versus Tennessee, had a long and successful career as an excellent corner, and was perhaps the best corner I've seen in college in providing run support.

8. Keenan Allen - An amazing talent, that had to play on teams with dwindling talent. The offensive line was a shell of itself (thanks Marshall), had nothing but erratic and inconsistent quarterbacks, yet still appeared to be a man playing among boys. Gets bonus points due to his consistency and the level of difficulty of his circumstance.

9. Alex Mack - The Mack Draddy winner, dominated the interior line, got everyone organized, and opened some huge holes. Once he left, the offensive line was never the same.

10. Desean Jackson - Amazing speed, and a big play machine in two phases. Having a player that can kill you over the top opens up the underneath routes and the running game. Perhaps more gifted than Allen, but Desean's tendency to look like the best player in college football versus the conference's best teams, while disappearing against the lesser teams takes away from his overall rating.

11. Desmond Bishop - I was watching some of the old classics like Oregon in 2006, I forgot how much territory he covered and how many big plays he was involved in. He was all over the place.

12. Zack Follet - Another big play linebacker, particularly as an edge rusher forcing defenses to account for him, or run the risk of the sack/strip (like Tennessee 2007, Emerald Bowl 2008) or in the words of Cameron Jordan straight-up killing the quarterback.

Painful exemptions: Justin Forsett, Shane Vereen, Brandon Mebane, Tyson Alualu, Mike Mohamed, Craig Stevens, Cameron Jordan

golden sloth;842855495 said:

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I only started watching Cal football in 2003 when I began my time at Cal. Based on the past 13 seasons of football, I would rank the top 12 as stated below. My criteria is simple, if I were building my own college football team, who would I select first. My second selection is under the assumption that my first choice is unavailable. I am basing these selections on the player's performance over their career at Cal, so production and surrounding talent is accounted for. It gets a little dicey because some positions are inherently more important than others (think QB versus S) where as I would take a QB that is merely pretty good over the best S of all-time.

1. Jahvid Best - Super productive, and played without a consistent passing game or an overly talented offensive line for most of his career. I always had the belief that all he needed was one play of correct blocking and he'd end up in the end zone. He was also an underrated short yardage back, as although he didn't have the power to break through tackles (like number 2 on the list), he would hit the hole or the edge so fast, the defense couldn't beat him to the spot.

2. Marshawn Lynch - The originator of Beast Mode. Played on some truly talented Cal teams, but always appeared as the most talented of the bunch. Consistently outplayed a 2,000 yard running back as a freshman, powered the Cal offense in 2005 during the Ayoob trials and nearly won the Oregon game by himself by being responsible for 66% of total offense.

3. Jared Goff - I can't think of a Cal player that was more important to his team, if Jared had gone down, those teams would have been a complete disaster on both sides of the ball. He set all the sexy records for a Cal QB, without the benefit of a good line, consistent run game, or a defense/special teams to make his job easier.

4. Aaron Rodgers - Obviously, super talented, but played with a great offensive line, good receivers, excellent running backs, and a very good defense. Also, he split time as a sophomore, and then had only one really good year, a year where with all the aforementioned supporting talent.

5. JJ Arrington - Probably, the most productive running back season we will see in our lifetime. 2,000 yards while averaging 7 yards a carry. Benefited from an amazing offensive line.

6. Daymeion Dante Hughes - He shut down his side of the field through the air, allowing the rest of the defense to take risks.

7. Syd'Quan Thompson - Minus his first start versus Tennessee, had a long and successful career as an excellent corner, and was perhaps the best corner I've seen in college in providing run support.

8. Keenan Allen - An amazing talent, that had to play on teams with dwindling talent. The offensive line was a shell of itself (thanks Marshall), had nothing but erratic and inconsistent quarterbacks, yet still appeared to be a man playing among boys. Gets bonus points due to his consistency and the level of difficulty of his circumstance.

9. Alex Mack - The Mack Draddy winner, dominated the interior line, got everyone organized, and opened some huge holes. Once he left, the offensive line was never the same.

10. Desean Jackson - Amazing speed, and a big play machine in two phases. Having a player that can kill you over the top opens up the underneath routes and the running game. Perhaps more gifted than Allen, but Desean's tendency to look like the best player in college football versus the conference's best teams, while disappearing against the lesser teams takes away from his overall rating.

11. Desmond Bishop - I was watching some of the old classics like Oregon in 2006, I forgot how much territory he covered and how many big plays he was involved in. He was all over the place.

12. Zack Follet - Another big play linebacker, particularly as an edge rusher forcing defenses to account for him, or run the risk of the sack/strip (like Tennessee 2007, Emerald Bowl 2008) or in the words of Cameron Jordan straight-up killing the quarterback.

Painful exemptions: Justin Forsett, Shane Vereen, Brandon Mebane, Tyson Alualu, Mike Mohamed, Craig Stevens, Cameron Jordan

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I can kind of see where you could put Best ahead of Lynch, but Goff over AR?! That's just crazy.

Here's my top Cal Team since following since 1986

WR Sean Dawkins
WR DeSean Jackson

TE Tony Gonzalez
TE Craig Stevens

OT Troy Auzenne
OT Langston Walker

OG Todd Steussie
OG Jeremy Newberry

C Alex Mack
C Marvin Philip

FB Chris Manderino
FB Will Ta'ufo'ou

RB Marshawn Lynch -Wrecking Ball
RB JJ Arrington (can't deny a 2k rusher)

QB Aaron Rodgers
QB Mike Pawlawski

DL Chidi Ahanotu
DL Regan Upshaw
DL Andre Carter
DL Tully Banta-Cain

LB Hardy Nickerson
LB Zach Follett
LB Desmond Bishop

CB Syd'Quan Thompson
CB Deltha O'Neal

S Giordano
S DeCoud

K Longwell
P Anger

tons of good WRs/RBs/DBs to choose from. That offensive line would be really nasty lol.

MinotStateBeav;842855507 said:

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Here's my top Cal Team since following since 1986

WR Sean Dawkins
WR DeSean Jackson

TE Tony Gonzalez
TE Craig Stevens

OT Troy Auzenne
OT Langston Walker

OG Todd Steussie
OG Jeremy Newberry

C Alex Mack
C Marvin Philip

FB Chris Manderino
FB Will Ta'ufo'ou

RB Marshawn Lynch -Wrecking Ball
RB JJ Arrington (can't deny a 2k rusher)

QB Aaron Rodgers
QB Mike Pawlawski

DL Chidi Ahanotu
DL Regan Upshaw
DL Andre Carter
DL Tully Banta-Cain

LB Hardy Nickerson
LB Zach Follett
LB Desmond Bishop

CB Syd'Quan Thompson
CB Deltha O'Neal

S Giordano
S DeCoud

K Longwell
P Anger

tons of good WRs/RBs/DBs to choose from. That offensive line would be really nasty lol.

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IIRC, at Cal, Jeremy Newberry played some tackle and some center, but not guard. I could be wrong. I'm sure he COULD HAVE, though, and so would merit a spot on your OL.

The thing I both love and loathe about these lists are the lack of criteria. Makes for good discussion, but gets frustrating.

David Bush alluded to one of the issues: How much should success at the next level factor in? Each individual gets to decide! The classic example of this is Tony Gonzalez and I'm glad Bush posted his CAREER college stats, as I had always remembered them to not be too impressive: 89 receptions, 1300 yards, 8 TDs. That's not all that awesome. But being arguably the best TE in NFL history kind of has to count for something, doesn't it? My view is, pro success counts, but ya can't get too hung up on it.

Other debatable criteria:

Stats, vs. "the eye test", vs. post-season honors, vs. playing on a winning team. Position. Old-timers vs. the modern era.

Interesting how, so far, Jared Goff is getting ZERO love. Holds most all of Cal's passing records and was the number one pick in the draft. How much different would it be if he led us to the Rose Bowl? What if he had had a rookie year like the guy from the Cowboys? Hey, I get it, though. I bet if he ends up developing into an elite NFL quarterback, he will suddenly find a spot on The Dirty Dozen.

I can't go back before my time (1975), so here goes (using varied, admittedly subjective criteria)...

Joe Roth
Mike Pawlawski
Aaron Rodgers
Jared Goff
Desean Jackson
Wesley Walker
Sean Dawkins
Chuck Muncie
Marshawn Lynch
Jahvid Best
Alex Mack
Ron Rivera
Mychael Kendricks
Andre Carter
Deltha O'Neal

Wait, I CAN TO go back before my time, because I need to add:

Les Richter
Joe Kapp. Especially Joe Kapp.

Yes, that includes a lot of offensive skill-position guys. Yes, that's, what, seventeen? I can't take anybody off now.

Go Bears!

My faves over the past 42 years:

Joe Roth, Aaron Rodgers
Chuck Muncie, Marshawn Lynch
Desean Jackson, Wesley Walker
Tony Gonzalez
Alex Mack
Ron Rivera
Hardy Nickerson, Sr.
Syd Quan Thompson
Zack Follett

If including punters and kickers:
Bryan Anger
Jimmy Breech
Ryan Longwell

Good article.

I've watched Cal FB since 1950. All of your selections are good. The very best player I have ever seen is Les Richter. After graduation. the Rams traded eleven players to the Colts for him. He was ten straight years a pro bowler. He is in the NFL HOF. He was devastating at Cal. A very fast 235 li linebacker in an era of 215 lb linemen. Not only the bestCal player...The best player period.

Many great players to choose from over the years, but two seem to stand out mostly to me, based on best at their positions. Both played at the next level, but neither made a huge impact in the NFL.
First is Ron Rivera. I remember focusing primarily on him during a USC game. He was all over the field! Seemed to always be at the ball. I don't know if it was because his supporting cast didn't have a whole lotta talent, but he was a monster big play player! And a huge hitter. I remember him in coverage running step for step with a receiver across the middle. We've had some great Lb's come through- Hardy Sr., Ken Harvey, Follett and even Ortega for his era. But I think based on position, Rivera may be the best I've seen.
Other guy is Troy Auzenne. To this day, I don't think I've seen a tackle pass block with seemingly such ease. The guy was on an Island on every pass play against some of the Pac-10's best ever, especially with the type of offense they ran. Steussi, Salem, Albriecht and Zawatson were all solid tackles, but I don't think any of them matched his pass protection ability.

Just my two cents.
Way too hard to pick just 12!

Big C_Cal;842855509 said:

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IIRC, at Cal, Jeremy Newberry played some tackle and some center, but not guard. I could be wrong. I'm sure he COULD HAVE, though, and so would merit a spot on your OL.

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I could of swore Newberry started out as a OG early in his Cal career then switched to OT....maybe i'm wrong...Moraga...you remember? Either way ..he would of made a kickass OG lol. PS. Also Offensive and Defensive line has almost no carry over between eras since the size of lineman in the last 40 years is vastly different than the size of them from the 50s thru the 70s.



Edit now that I think about it, you are probably right...he started at C not OG. Alright..I'm gonna replace Newberry at OG with Eric Mahlum ...HAHAHAH

Btw I think Eric Mahlum is now a football coach at Liberty High School in Hillsboro Oregon :P http://portlandtribune.com/ht/120-hillsboro-tribune-sports/313488-191932-local-linebackers-suit-up-for-all-star-game

Yeah, this question, while a good one, needs some boundaries. As an example, I never saw guys like Jackie Jensen, Vic Bottari or Brick Muller, but their reputation should count for something. The responses will be skewed toward the '80s and '90s because most respondents have never seen, much less even heard of some of the greats from the past. i gain an advantage from my parents old yearbooks and owning several books about Cal football which I treasure. But some of those old guys deserve mention and it's a shame they won't get acknowledgement due to lack of exposure by many who will respond.

LACalFan;842855500 said:

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I can kind of see where you could put Best ahead of Lynch, but Goff over AR?! That's just crazy.

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I understand the criticism, but it boiled down to three things. 1) Rodgers had a vastly superior supporting cast. Without Rodgers on that 2004 team, the Bears still end up with 8 or 9 wins. Whereas in 2014 and 2015, if those teams did not have Goff and they would of struggled to win more than 2 or 3 games. 2) Goff performed at a high level for two seasons while Rodgers only performed at a high level for one. 3) I'm not including their respective NFL experiences.

I remember a favorite moment: the defensive stops of Phil Heck who stuffed Ricky Bell to play a major role in beating U$C.

Minot mentions Deltha ONeal. Good and thanks. The 1999 team had two players who were top drawer. ONeal and Nick Harris the punter. 1999 was awful despite wins over UCLA and SC. The big deal for me was during Big Game O'Neal was our only offensive threat. Harris was the player who switched the field position for cal throughout the season with his great punts. But Goff better than Rodgers or Pawlawski? Can't see it.

MinotStateBeav;842855507 said:

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Here's my top Cal Team since following since 1986

WR Sean Dawkins
WR DeSean Jackson

TE Tony Gonzalez
TE Craig Stevens

OT Troy Auzenne
OT Langston Walker

OG Todd Steussie
OG Jeremy Newberry

C Alex Mack
C Marvin Philip

FB Chris Manderino
FB Will Ta'ufo'ou

RB Marshawn Lynch -Wrecking Ball
RB JJ Arrington (can't deny a 2k rusher)

QB Aaron Rodgers
QB Mike Pawlawski

DL Chidi Ahanotu
DL Regan Upshaw
DL Andre Carter
DL Tully Banta-Cain

LB Hardy Nickerson
LB Zach Follett
LB Desmond Bishop

CB Syd'Quan Thompson
CB Deltha O'Neal

S Giordano
S DeCoud

K Longwell
P Anger

tons of good WRs/RBs/DBs to choose from. That offensive line would be really nasty lol.

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Nice list for mid 80's to present time. I'd change the following:

DL Tyson Alualu over Tully Banta-Cain (DL for DE)
RB Russel White or Jahvid Best over JJ Arrington
LB Jerrott Willard over Desmond Bishop
QB Dave Barr over Mike Pawlawski

golden sloth;842855530 said:

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I understand the criticism, but it boiled down to three things. 1) Rodgers had a vastly superior supporting cast. Without Rodgers on that 2004 team, the Bears still end up with 8 or 9 wins. Whereas in 2014 and 2015, if those teams did not have Goff and they would of struggled to win more than 2 or 3 games. 2) Goff performed at a high level for two seasons while Rodgers only performed at a high level for one. 3) I'm not including their respective NFL experiences.

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I'll just note that Cal's recruiting classes that comprised the roster in 2003 and 2004 (the AR years) were the worst of any three to four year stretch that I recall, maybe ever at Cal. I provided that data before, but basically those classes (1999 - 2003) were terrible, 8th-10th best in the Pac-10.

AR had a very good HC and staff though, who worked wonders with that not so stellar incoming talent....

AR is damn special, and that was so evident while at Cal too.

Big C_Cal;842855512 said:

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I can't go back before my time (1975), so here goes (using varied, admittedly subjective criteria)...

Joe Roth
Mike Pawlawski
Aaron Rodgers
Jared Goff
Desean Jackson
Wesley Walker
Sean Dawkins
Chuck Muncie
Marshawn Lynch
Jahvid Best
Alex Mack
Ron Rivera
Mychael Kendricks
Andre Carter
Deltha O'Neal

Wait, I CAN TO go back before my time, because I need to add:

Les Richter
Joe Kapp. Especially Joe Kapp.

Yes, that includes a lot of offensive skill-position guys. Yes, that's, what, seventeen? I can't take anybody off now.

Go Bears!

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Finally, a list with Joe Roth. Thank you. You start with the legend, then go from there.
The original article listing Morton over Roth is simply counting post-Cal way too much. What Roth would have done at the next level would have compared with Rodgers, Goff, Bartkowski, et. al.

no love for donnie mcklesky smh

Also, in the last 20-years --

Nick Harris, P, Consensus AA.
David Lonie, P.

Marvin Jones, WR.
Geoff McArthur, WR.
Keenan Allen, WR.

Russell White was a man amongst boys. Russell and Marshawn, then everyone else. Chuck Muncie was another truly feared running back. Jahvid could break it at any time.

Goff is the most talented QB I've ever seen at Cal. Aaron Rodgers is the best NFL quarterback. Never saw Joe Roth or Steve Bartkowski, Craig Morton or Joe Kapp.

Deltha O'Neal could change a game all by himself. As could Desean Jackson. Sean Dawkins and Tony Gonzalez deserve mention as well.

Troy Auzene and Todd Stuessie were the best O-linemen and Alex Mack was the best center.

Loved watching Branden Mebane, Regan Upshaw, Lorenzo Alexander and Cam Jordan blow up offenses. Zach Follett, Des Bishop, Hardy Nickerson, and Jerrott Willard at LB.

Syd Quan, Daymeion Hughes were absolute shut down DBs and don't forget Nnamdi Asomugha.

Nick Harris was the best of our punters. Shout out to Tabor and Anger.

Robbie Keen hit some clutch kicks.

BEAST2324MODE;842855578 said:

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no love for donnie mcklesky smh

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I almost added him but Donnie played that hybrid spot.

bigtuba1;842855590 said:

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Russell White was a man amongst boys. Russell and Marshawn, then everyone else. Chuck Muncie was another truly feared running back. Jahvid could break it at any time.

Goff is the most talented QB I've ever seen at Cal. Aaron Rodgers is the best NFL quarterback. Never saw Joe Roth or Steve Bartkowski, Craig Morton or Joe Kapp.

Deltha O'Neal could change a game all by himself. As could Desean Jackson. Sean Dawkins and Tony Gonzalez deserve mention as well.

Troy Auzene and Todd Stuessie were the best O-linemen and Alex Mack was the best center.

Loved watching Branden Mebane, Regan Upshaw, Lorenzo Alexander and Cam Jordan blow up offenses. Zach Follett, Des Bishop, Hardy Nickerson, and Jerrott Willard at LB.

Syd Quan, Daymeion Hughes were absolute shut down DBs and don't forget Nnamdi Asomugha.

Nick Harris was the best of our punters. Shout out to Tabor and Anger.

Robbie Keen hit some clutch kicks.

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I'm taking this opinion thinking that you'd never seen Muncie - I'd go Muncie/Marshawn (either order) then Russell. But just my two pfennigs, based on who I've seen play.

It is an impossible task to narrow down a list of Cal football players to the top 10 or 15 or whatever, without leaving out a lot of great players. There were just too many.

David Bush’s list is a good one. My only criticism is that Bush has overlooked the greatest team in Cal history, the 1937 Thunder Team, which went 10-0-1, and beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl, 14-0, and Bush did not name a single player from that team to his list. That team was dominant. Except for the UW and Alabama games, nearly all the rest of the games were over in the first half, and substitutes played the entire second half. One might say that they were great as a team, and the individuals were not the greatest of all time. Remembering that the players on that team played both ways, offense and defense, consider this:

Five players from that team were selected first team All-Americans on at least one All-American Team, including Sam Chapman, who was selected to 6 different First Team All-American teams. Five more players were selected to other All-American teams, making ten players in all who made an All-American team that year. In the following year, 1938, the eleventh starter, Vic Bottari, was selected to 7 different First Team All-American teams.

The 1937 Thunder Team First Team All-Americans were:

Sam Chapman, HB, 6 All-American teams
Bob Herwig, C, 4 All-American teams (3 in 1936)
Johnny Meek, QB, 2 All-American teams
Perry Schwartz, E, One All-American team
Vard Stockton, G, 2 All-American teams
Vic Bottari, HB, 7 All-American teams (1938)

I never saw them play, but at the very least, Chapman and Bottari should be on any list of the greatest Cal football players, IMO.

SFCityBear;842855606 said:

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It is an impossible task to narrow down a list of Cal football players to the top 10 or 15 or whatever, without leaving out a lot of great players. There were just too many.

David Bush’s list is a good one. My only criticism is that Bush has overlooked the greatest team in Cal history, the 1937 Thunder Team, which went 10-0-1, and beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl, 14-0, and Bush did not name a single player from that team to his list. That team was dominant. Except for the UW and Alabama games, nearly all the rest of the games were over in the first half, and substitutes played the entire second half. One might say that they were great as a team, and the individuals were not the greatest of all time. Remembering that the players on that team played both ways, offense and defense, consider this:

Five players from that team were selected first team All-Americans on at least one All-American Team, including Sam Chapman, who was selected to 6 different First Team All-American teams. Five more players were selected to other All-American teams, making ten players in all who made an All-American team that year. In the following year, 1938, the eleventh starter, Vic Bottari, was selected to 7 different First Team All-American teams.

The 1937 Thunder Team First Team All-Americans were:

Sam Chapman, HB, 6 All-American teams
Bob Herwig, C, 4 All-American teams (3 in 1936)
Johnny Meek, QB, 2 All-American teams
Perry Schwartz, E, One All-American team
Vard Stockton, G, 2 All-American teams
Vic Bottari, HB, 7 All-American teams (1938)

I never saw them play, but at the very least, Chapman and Bottari should be on any list of the greatest Cal football players, IMO.

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We saw the great Sam Chapman play several times in Emeryville at the end of his baseball career for the PCL Oakland Oaks (post-Phillie A's and Cleve-Land)...and, of course, dining at Angelo's Bar and Family Restaurant across the street.

As a kid I was "blown away" when I first learned of Sam's CFB excellence at Cal as a member of the "Thunder Team". It was like wow!...Jackie Jensen (Cal) and Gene Conley (WSu)...multi-sport excellence.

My Sam Chapman card was one of my prized Mother's Cookies' PCL trading cards...along with Mel Ott, Augie Galan, Ernie Lombardi, Johnny "Spider" Jorgensen, George Metkovich, Billy Martin, Chuck Dressen and Stengel...and the great Piper Davis and that "Old Duck" player/SACmanager Joe Gordon.

Russell White and Mike Pawlawski have to be in there. Esp. Russell. He was magical and I think gave our program some swag.

mbBear;842855565 said:

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Finally, a list with Joe Roth. Thank you. You start with the legend, then go from there.
The original article listing Morton over Roth is simply counting post-Cal way too much. What Roth would have done at the next level would have compared with Rodgers, Goff, Bartkowski, et. al.

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Joe Roth HAD to go on my list because...
+ 1975 was my first year at Cal and I used to see Joe every M/W/F coming out of class at Wheeler (as I went in).
+ he led the amazing '75 offense that got us sooooo close to the Rose Bowl and beat Furd 48-15.
+ he was a legit talent, projected to go very, very high in the '77 NFL draft.
+ the way he left us was as legendary -- in its own way -- as any other Cal player's pro success (probably much more so).


I only remember Craig Morton as the QB for the Dallas Cowboys, competing with Roger Staubach. I know he was a great quarterback for Cal, but I find it hard to put him on the list ahead of, say, Jared Goff.

Big C_Cal;842855635 said:

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Joe Roth HAD to go on my list because...
+ 1975 was my first year at Cal and I used to see Joe every M/W/F coming out of class at Wheeler (as I went in).
+ he led the amazing '75 offense that got us sooooo close to the Rose Bowl and beat Furd 48-15.
+ he was a legit talent, projected to go very, very high in the '77 NFL draft.
+ the way he left us was as legendary -- in its own way -- as any other Cal player's pro success (probably much more so).

I only remember Craig Morton as the QB for the Dallas Cowboys, competing with Roger Staubach. I know he was a great quarterback for Cal, but I find it hard to put him on the list ahead of Jared Goff.

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QB's Goff and Morton are as different as Kentfield and Campbell, CA.

Thanks SF. I don't know if you saw my comment (prior to yours) but I totally concur.

joe yaks;842855638 said:

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QB's Goff and Morton are as different as Kentfield and Campbell, CA.

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Enlighten me, because I see two great, "tall-ish" passing quarterbacks who starred at Cal and then went on to the NFL. What was Morton like? (I'm assuming he was from Campbell, eh? Same HS as Gary Radnich or Mark McNamara?)

Big C_Cal;842855649 said:

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Enlighten me, because I see two great, "tall-ish" passing quarterbacks who starred at Cal and then went on to the NFL. What was Morton like? (I'm assuming he was from Campbell, eh? Same HS as Gary Radnich or Mark McNamara?)

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Both tall with good field vision and strong arms.
Goff more mobile. Morton had a "knee".
Both surrounded by a cast of good receivers and RB's.
Different offenses...Bear-raid (Goff) v. pro set (Morton).
Cal defense during Morton exceeded defense for Goff.

It's like comparing San Rafael with San Jose.

joe yaks;842855619 said:

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We saw the great Sam Chapman play several times in Emeryville at the end of his baseball career for the PCL Oakland Oaks (post-Phillie A's and Cleve-Land)...and, of course, dining at Angelo's Bar and Family Restaurant across the street.

As a kid I was "blown away" when I first learned of Sam's CFB excellence at Cal as a member of the "Thunder Team". It was like wow!...Jackie Jensen (Cal) and Gene Conley (WSu)...multi-sport excellence.

My Sam Chapman card was one of my prized Mother's Cookies' PCL trading cards...along with Mel Ott, Augie Galan, Ernie Lombardi, Johnny "Spider" Jorgensen, George Metkovich, Billy Martin, Chuck Dressen and Stengel...and the great Piper Davis and that "Old Duck" player/SACmanager Joe Gordon.

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Wow! JY IwaS THERE also, Remember Earl Rapp and Artie Wilson?