California Picked 2nd in Pac-10

This is from Bear Insider. Yes, I know USC's picked first. But I can't stand seeing USC noted!

Cal Picked 2nd in Pac-10

By: Cal Media Relations

Date: Jul 27, 2006

LOS ANGELES - The 2006 California football team has been picked to finish second in the Pac-10 Conference in a preseason poll of West Coast media members who regularly cover the league. It is the third consecutive year that the Golden Bears have been tabbed to finish second, which is the highest that Cal has ever been picked to finish in conference play, dating back to 1961.

"I am very excited about the season," Cal head coach Jeff Tedford said. "Obviously, we have a great opener at Tennessee. I feel our team has the potential to accomplish a lot. Our main goal is to make sure we reach our potential.

"We're all aware of the expectations," Tedford continued. "There are internal and external expectations. We focus on the internal ones. It's all up to us. We're going to concentrate on reaching our full potential each week. If we do that, we hope to put ourselves in position for a BCS bowl. Everything else will take care of itself."

Three-time defending Pac-10 champion USC has been picked to win the conference. USC garnered 18 of 29 first-place votes in the poll, but California, Oregon and Arizona State also received first-place support.