The 2011 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Jeff Tedford, the Bears are members of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference.
Due to reconstruction at California Memorial Stadium, California played their home games in AT&T Park, now known as Oracle Park, in San Francisco, California. The season opener against Fresno State, officially a neutral-site game, was played at Candlestick Park. The regular season also ended with an away game with a matchup at Arizona State on November 25.
Following the team's first losing season during Tedford's tenure as head coach, the Golden Bears improved to 7–5 (4–5 in the Pac-12) to finish fourth in the North Division. Cal also became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2009 and accepted a bid to play in the Holiday Bowl, which they lost to Texas. With a victory against Presbyterian College on September 17, Tedford became the winningest coach in program history.
Preseason Following the program's first losing season during Jeff Tedford's tenure as head coach, several coaching changes were implemented. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig departed for the same position at San Diego State. He was replaced by Jim Michalczik, who will also be the offensive line coach due to the departure of Steve Marshall for Colorado. Michalczik had previously been the offensive line coach at Cal from 2002–2008. Wide receivers coach Kevin Daft was succeeded by Eric Kiesau, who will also function as the passing game coordinator, while defensive backs coach Al Simmons was succeeded by Ashley Ambrose, who held the same position at Colorado. Marcus Arroyo joined the coaching staff as quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach.
Starting running back Shane Vereen, who finished the 2010 season with 1,167 yards to become the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since the 2008 season, decided to forego a remaining season of eligibility and enter the NFL draft, having graduated in December. He was drafted in the second round by the New England Patriots, following defensive end Cameron Jordan, who was drafted in the first round. Safety Chris Conte was selected in the third round by the Chicago Bears, and linebacker Mike Mohamed was picked in the sixth round by the Denver Broncos.
The team held its spring football from March 15 to April 24. Junior transfer Zach Maynard, the half brother of wide receiver Keenan Allen, was named the starting quarterback on May 14. Maynard had played at Buffalo from 2008–2009 before transferring to Cal in 2010.
Schedule
The Colorado game on September 10 was designated as non-conference
Game summaries
Fresno State
The third meeting between Cal and Fresno State was a neutral-site game played at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. It saw both quarterbacks each start their first career games for their respective teams: Cal's Zach Maynard had transferred from Buffalo in 2010, while Fresno State's Derek Carr had redshirted the previous season. On the opening drive Maynard's first pass was intercepted on the Cal 16-yard line and Fresno State was able to score first on a 9-yard run by running back Robbie Rouse. However, the Bears were able to rebound. Their second possession saw a 67-yard scoring drive put together which was capped off with a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Isi Sofele, although the PAT was blocked. On their third possession of the game, Sofele was able to break free for a 39-yard run, but the PAT was blocked again. The Bears scored for a third time on their fourth possession when Maynard connected with wide receiver Marvin Jones for a 42-yard score. The Bulldogs had a chance to add some points at the beginning of the second quarter, but a 35-yard field goal missed. The Fresno State defense was able to keep Cal scoreless, and with Cal backed up on its own 6-yard line, were able to capitalize on a botched snap that Sofele tried to recover in the Cal end zone, but was knocked lose for a fumble and recovered by the Bulldogs for a touchdown. This trimmed Cal's lead to 19–14 at the half.
On Cal's first possession of the third quarter, Maynard was able to hit Jones for a second touchdown, this one for 23 yards. Carr was intercepted on the ensuing possession, but the Bears were unable to convert it into points. However, the Cal defense was then able to sack Carr and force a fumble, which was returned for a 22-yard score. The Bears' final score of the game came on a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, while the Bulldogs were able to put together a drive that ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Carr to receiver Josh Harper for the game's final score.
In his first start for the Bears, Zach Maynard passed for 266 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception, while running for 53 yards. Starting running back Isi Sofele scored the second rushing touchdown of his career and rushed for 83 total yards. Keenan Allen had 112 yards receiving, while Marvin Jones had 118, with two touchdowns, marking the first time two Cal receivers had 100 yards in a game since 2006. For Fresno State, Derek Carr passed for 142 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Robbie Rouse had 86 rushing yards, with a touchdown.
Colorado
Although both teams were in the Pac-12, this game counted as a non-conference game in Pac-12 standings, as it was scheduled before Colorado joined the Pac-12. The Bears visited Boulder for the first time since 1982, where they were shut out during the first quarter by the Buffaloes. Zach Maynard was intercepted on Cal's second possession of the game to set up a Colorado 27-yard field goal. However Cal got on the board to open the second quarter on a 2-yard pass from Maynard to fullback Nico Dumont, although a PAT was blocked for the second week in a row. After both teams traded field goals, Cal added to its lead on a 7-yard pass from Maynard to tight end Anthony Miller to make it 16–6 at the half.
Colorado started out the second half with a 37-yard pass from Tyler Hansen to tight end Ryan Deehan. Late in the quarter Cal scored on a 20-yard reception by Miller. The Buffs responded with a 66-yard touchdown from Hansen to receiver Paul Richardson to close the third quarter. The two connected again when Richardson opened the fourth quarter for a 78-yard score to give Colorado their first lead of the game. However Cal regained the lead on the ensuing possession on a 20-yard run by running back C.J. Anderson. The Buffs were able to tie the game on a 32-yard field goal with 30 seconds left to force overtime.
Cal won the coin toss and elected to play defense to start overtime. Colorado drove to the 4-yard line before settling for a 22-yard field goal. After reaching a first down at the 15-yard line, Cal was pushed back to the 35-yard line by two penalties, setting up a 1st-and-30 situation. However, on first down Maynard connected with Keenan Allen for a 32-yard gain to the 3-yard line. One play later, Maynard passed to Allen for a 5-yard touchdown to give the Bears their first overtime win since 2006. The victory tied head coach Jeff Tedford with Andy Smith for the most in school history with 74.
Zach Maynard passed for 243 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception, Isi Sofele had 84 yards on the ground, while Keenan Allen had 97 receiving yards and a touchdown. Colorado's Tyler Hansen threw for 474 yards, a team record, including three touchdowns, while Paul Richardson had 284 receiving yards, a school record. The Buffs offense outgained the Bears 582–370 in the loss.
Presbyterian
Cal's home opener was the first matchup for the two teams, with Presbyterian making the longest trip for an away game in school history. The Bears' first score of the game came on a 9-yard run by running back C. J. Anderson, followed by a 1-yard run by Isi Sofele that was set up by an interception of Ryan Singer. Sofele opened the second quarter with a 3-yard run, and the Bears scored on the following possession with a 51-yard reception by Marvin Jones. The Blue Hose got on the scoreboard when cornerback Justin Bethel blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown, with the PAT missing. After Cal tight end Spencer Hagan scored on a 16-yard reception, Presbyterian's second score came on a 29-yard interception return by Bethel, with the two-point conversion missing. The final score of the half came on a 21-yard reception by Keenan Allen to make it 42–12 at the half.
The second half opened with an 88-yard kickoff return for a score by Cal running back Brendan Bigelow. Backup running backs Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson and Dasarte Yarnway rushed for 6 and 7-yard touchdowns, respectively, for Cal's final scores. The victory made Cal head coach Jeff Tedford the winningest in program history with 75 wins. Zach Maynard threw for 215 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception, Marvin Jones had 123 receiving yards with a score, while Isi Sofele had his first 100-yard rushing game with 105 and two scores. Cal outgained Presbyterian with 581 yards of total offense to 48, and controlled the ball for two thirds of the game.
Washington
In the conference opener for both teams, Cal faced Washington in Seattle, not having defeated the Huskies since 2008. On the Bears' opening possession Zach Maynard connected with receiver Keenan Allen for a 90-yard score, the longest reception in school history. Washington responded on the ensuing possession on a 20-yard touchdown reception by tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins from Keith Price. The Huskies scored again on a 2-yard run by running back Chris Polk to take the lead, which they never relinquished. After the Bears opened the second quarter with a 29-yard field goal, the Huskies scored their third straight touchdown with a 20-yard reception by Seferian-Jenkins. After Cal scored with a 36-yard field goal, a fumble by Price was recovered by the Bears. This set up a 1-yard score by running back C.J. Anderson for the final points of the half. A 52-yard field goal attempt by Washington's Erik Folk missed to close out the half, with the Huskies leading 21–20.
Cal's final points of the game came on a 25-yard field goal, with Washington responding with a 40-yard field goal. The Huskies padded their lead with a 70-yard reception by Chris Polk to open the fourth quarter. Early in the quarter Cal was unable to capitalize on a fumble recovery and turned the ball over on downs. The Bears had a chance in the final minutes of the game and were able to drive to the Huskies' 2-yard line, but were unable to get the ball into the end zone, making Steve Sarkisian's record against Cal 3–0.
Zach Maynard passed for 349 yards and a touchdown, the first time a Cal quarterback had passed for 300 yards since October 2009. Keenan Allen had a career-high 197 yards with a score, while Isi Sofele had 98 yards on the ground. Keith Price threw for 292 yards with three touchdowns, while Chris Polk was the Huskies' leading receiver and rusher, with 85 and 60 yards, respectively, scoring both through the air and on the ground.
Oregon
Both teams came off a bye week as Cal traveled north to #9 Oregon. The Bears scored on the game's opening drive with a 27-yard field goal, but the Ducks came right back with a 53-yard scoring run by running back LaMichael James. Cal scored again on the ensuing possession with a 38-yard field goal, with Oregon adding its final score of the half on a 17-yard run by receiver De'Anthony Thomas late in the quarter. The Cal defense was able to hold Oregon scoreless in the second quarter, while a 54-yard field goal, a career-high for kicker Giorgio Tavecchio, and a 12-yard touchdown reception by receiver Keenan Allen gave the Bears the lead 15–14. Darron Thomas was intercepted in Cal territory in the closing minutes of the half for the game's sole turnover, but the Bears were unable to add to their lead when a 40-yard field goal attempt was blocked.