I would like to let everyone know of a new subject that I will be reporting to you, the readers. Something that I have fallen in love with over the past two years, will now be shared with you. Not many blogs cover division 2 football. So as the old saying goes, there's a first time for everything. In this case, we may have the first Pittsburgh based blog covering the local California Vulcans.
Anyone who has not attended Adamson Stadium, on the campus of California University, should most definitely get to a game this fall. You get great football, great atmosphere, and great fun, all for a very cheap price. Be sure to stop by the alumni tent on the way into the game for the scrumptious spread of free food.
I myself have fallen in love with this team. The team, is the California Vulcans. My sister is currently in her junior year at Cal, and with her being in the marching band, I actively attend as many Vulcan football games as possible. As I said before, these games are great. It truly is the college atmosphere, just packed into a smaller stadium. The kids still load up with antifreeze before the game, and those same students paint their chests and pack "Armenti's Army" to watch their beloved Vulcans.
Now let's talk some football. California plays in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, and have been crowned conference champions for the past two seasons. In the past two years, Coach John Luckhardt and his Vulcans have compiled quite the impressive resume. In the last two years, the Vulcans have compiled an impressive 25-3 record, two PSAC championships, and two straight trips to the NCAA Semifinals. The Vulcans quest for the national championship has ended at home the last two seasons, losing to the eventual champion both times. Valdosta State and Minnesota-Duluth respectively.
Above: Senior WR Marcel Pestano sits alone on the bench
as his dream for a national championship
ended on a snowy, Saturday afternoon last year
to eventual champ Minnesota-Duluth.
Looking to build off of the great 2007 and 2008 seasons, Cal begins the 2009 campaign as the 8th ranked team in the country. As usual, the PSAC competition will be tough again this season. Including the Vulcans, five teams are ranked in the preseason polls. Those teams are Bloomsburg(11), West Chester(20), Edinboro(21), and IUP(22). All of these four teams appear on the California schedule in 2009.
On offense the Vulcans will return seven starters, including the entire offensive line from last year. The 2008 offense averaged 35.6 points and 429.4 yards of total offense per game. New offensive coordinator Mike T. Jacobs brings nearly 30 years of college coaching experience to Cal. With increased depth at all spots, and new playmakers at all of the skilled positions, many believe that this will be the most explosive offense in school history.
Now let's take a look at the playmakers on offense...
Quarterback:
For the second straight year the Vulcans will be lead offensively by a division one transfer. Last year, Kevin McCabe came over from Virginia to lead the Vulcans to the national semifinals. This year, dual threat quarterback Josh Portis has transfered into Cal from Maryland. Josh is the cousin of Redskins running back Clinton Portis. Josh's goal this year is simple: lead the Vulcans to the national title game in Florence, Alabama. Portis was one of the most highly sought after quarterbacks in the nation coming out of high school in 2004. His senior year, Portis had a combined total of 49 touchdowns. Cal has excellent depth behind Portis, in the unfortunate event of an injury. That also bodes well for the coming years.
Above: Josh Portis bears a striking resemblance to former Pitt hoops
star Sam Young.
Running Back
The Vulcans lost two All PSAC-West running backs last year in Daine Williams and Brandon Lombardy. However, the Vulcans will display enormous amounts of talent this season. After two seasons of mainly being a third down and short yardage back, Windell Brown returns as the starting RB. Brown has rushed for 969 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career, and amazingly he has not even surpassed the 150 carries mark yet. Let me tell you folks, Brown is a physical specimen. He completely runs over defenders, but can make anyone miss in the open field. He is worth the price of admission. Along side Brown in the backfield, will once again be senior Freddie Bacco. The senior rushed for 6 touchdowns last year. A third player expected to see extended action in the backfield is Junior Cody Wilson. Wilson transfered from divison 1, The Citadel. Wilson is the prototypical power back, who adds great depth to the position. The last player to fit into the running back mix is sophomore Dane Conwell, who transfered from division 1 Indiana. Conwell played linebacker for the Hoosiers, but will be on the offensive side of the ball for the Vulcans. Because of depth and versatility, Wilson and Conwell are expected to see action as a fullback.
Above: Windell Brown scores the game winning touchdown
against Edinboro last season.
Wide Receivers
The Vulcans suffered the loss of record setting receiver, Marcel Pestano to graduation. However, this year Cal features more depth and speed at the position. Leading the way will be preseason All-American AJ Jackson. Jackson, a senior, caught ten touchdown passes last year. Also returning will be Blackhawk alum, Josh Gumbert and South Florida transfer Chedrick Cherry. Gumbert and Cherry are both sophomores. Last year as a freshman, Josh Gumbert saw extended playing time and was a huge piece of the Vulcans offense. His role will increase this year with the Vulcans. California has also brought in two legitimate playmaking transfers at the position. Dominique Curry comes to Cal after being a basketball star at Cheyney University, and JUCO transfer Terrance Moore will bring some blazing speed to the offense.
All and all, California will feature a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the ball this year. They have a great blend of veterans, mixed in with some very talented newcomers. The Vulcans have two players on offense that are listed on the preseason All-PSAC team, OL Nate Nurse and WR AJ Jackson. Factor in the return of the entire offensive line and you can easily realize that this will be an explosive unit.
Defense
It was only two short years ago that California's defense lead the country in three of the major statistical categories in 2007. This year, the defense features more speed and leadership than last year. In 2007, the defense lost many to graduation, but now two years later, the defense looks poised for a huge year. The Vulcans will return 8 starters on the defensive side of the ball. The defense will be led by All-American cornerback Terrence Johnson, and Gene Upshaw Award finalist, defensive end Willie Walker. The Gene Upshaw Award is given to the best defensive lineman in division 2 football. Johnson is a four year starter, and Walker is a three year starter.
Below: All-American Senior CB Terrance Johnson.
Defensive Line
The Vulcans return all three starters up front including three time All-PSAC selection, Willie Walker. Walker was third on the team in tackles in 2008. Another senior, Brandon Gordon returns with Walker. Gordon led the team with 8.5 tackles for loss last year, along with 4.5 sacks. Second year starter Sam Fikaris comes back to the d-line also. Fikaris has started all 28 games in his career at California. Seeing limited action last year, junior Gabe Hernandez will have a new role this year. Hernandez will be used mostly as a rush linebacker. He ranked amongst the team leaders with 7.0 tackles for a loss last year. With Hernandez's versatility, he adds quality depth to the Vulcans defense up front. Another key piece on the D-Line is Steve Santia. He provides good experience and depth. Santia played in all 14 games last year as a redshirt freshman.
Above: The Cal U defensive line is looking to make shambles
out of their PSAC opponents.
Linebackers
Another defensive position that Cal is loaded at, will be linebacker. Cal brings back several experienced players at the position. The talented trio of Dontey Brown, Brett Diamond, Matt McClellan, will bring great leadership to the defense. Diamond started the final eight games of the 2008 season as a true freshman. In that span he recorded 37 tackles. Penn State transfer Dontey Brown had a stellar first season with Cal last year. Brown registered 43 tackles last season. Matt McClellan ranked fifth on the team in total tackles with 46 in his first year as a starter. Cal also displays great depth at this position. Sophomores Terrance Hemsley, and James Lipsey, have both developed very nicely this offseason. Both saw spot duties last year as true freshmen. Also redshirt freshman Shawn Patil and Iowa Central transfer Anthony Roberts, showed great potential in camp.
Cornerbacks
The Vulcan defense also be experienced and deep at the cornerback position. All-American Terrence Johnson returns as one of the nations top playmakers on defense. Johnson has totaled 13 interceptions in his career. Junior Patrick Swearinger will start opposite Johnson for the second straight year. Swearinger proved to be a clutch defender last year, as all three of his interceptions came against nationally ranked opponents. Senior Trey Allen provides some veteran depth to the secondary. Cal also brought in a pair of division one transfers who will be lobbying for playing time. Mike Brown from Virginia, and Derek Bailey from Syracuse.
Safeties
The only defensive position to feature two new starters is at safety. Senior Josh Menendez will start at free safety this year. Sophomore Shawn Anderson as moved to free safety this spring, he adds quality depth to the last line of defense. Erik Harris was a special teams ace last year for the Vulcans. He looks to be challenging for the starting strong safety spot with Rontez Miles
California looks like a very, very dangerous team on paper. With experience watching this team play the last two years, I know that they will not disappoint on the field. The coaching staff will have this team ready to play week in and week out.
The Vulcans showcase a rare blend of tremendous talent, leadership, depth, and speed on both sides of the ball, that might be unmatched by any other school in the PSAC, or division 2 for that matter. Cal U totals six players selected to the All-PSAC Preseason team.
Looking at the Vulcans schedule, we will see what they are made of in the first three weeks. Cal opens at home with talented Saginaw Valley (Mich.), hosts #11 Bloomsburg in week 2, and travels to #20 West Chester in week 3.
Saginaw Valley is coming off of a great 2008 season, and would like nothing more than to spoil the Vulcans home opener. Coach John Luckhardt went out of Pennsylvania to schedule this non -conference game against a team out the tough Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Last year California split in two games with Bloomsburg. The Huskies took the week 2 contest last year, but Cal won the more important match up in the Super Region One Final. Playing Bloomsburg at home is a definite advantage for Cal, but this game is still not an easy win.
West Chester lost three times to Cal in the year of 2008. The Vulcans and Coach John Luckhardt are a team that just has the Golden Rams' number. Even though WCU is ranked in the top 25, I am not fully sold on a team that has lost four straight game to the Vulcans. I see Cal easily taking care of business on the road.
Another game to look out for is in week 6 at IUP. Cal has played IUP extremely close the last two years. The Vulcans have taken the last two in this rivalry game, but for it to be a rivalry game both teams need to win. I think that this might be the year that the Crimson Hawks can upset their hated rivals. Not a definite loss, but certainly not an easy win either.
The only other tough game that the Vulcans might see is out of Edinboro. The Fighting Scots' played Cal a tough game at home against Cal last year. The Vulcans won a tight contest on the road 35-31. I must admit, I am not sold on Edinboro this year. The Fighting Scots' are going to come to "The Valley" and I see Cal making quick work of them.
So I have counted five tough games this year for the Vulcans. Saginaw Valley, Bloomsburg, West Chester, IUP, and Edinboro. I think the Vulcans will escape this tough trek mostly unscathed. I see Cal losing only one of these five games. My gut tells me that they will lose to IUP this year.
So I see Cal going 9-1 in the regular season, and winning the PSAC Championship game on November 7. The last two seasons, the Vulcans have made a postseason run to the National Semifinals. This year the Vulcans have a team that is deeper and more talented than those previous two teams. The Sky is the Limit for the 2009 California Vulcans.
