Maybe 'theft' is a harsh term for what is obviously just a better job of selling. When kids get into trouble for the tussle they've gotten into, it's common to hear the phrase, "Well, they/he/she started it."
In the case of the recruiting war going on between Cal and the University of Washington, Jeff Tedford could also make that same statement. So could Steve Sarkisian of Washington.
It was bound to happen. Two schools within the same conference, both having a similar amount of prestige, and in close enough proximity to each other, is going to cause these sorts of rivalries off the field as well as on it.
While the Bears and the Huskies have been Pac-10 rivals for quite some time, it seems that the rivalry has heated up since former line coach Jim Michalczik accepted an offer to be the offensive coordinator of Sarkisian's "best coaching staff in the country."
Soon after, the Bears took the top defensive lineman recruit from the state of Washington, after he had verbally committed to the Huskies. Rumors of recruits having both teams on their top lists have surfaced since, with each school getting wins over the other.
This time, Cal received a verbal from a recruit that decommitted from Washington. If Sarkisian can coach the Huskies to any prominence, there could be another game on Cal's schedule that will mean something this fall/winter.
I'm reporting this a little late, so I apologize. Last Thursday, the Bears received a verbal from wide receiver Tevin Carter from Los Angeles, CA to join the 2010 class.
Carter, at 6'3" and 185 lbs., is a speed-burner who clocked a fourth-best 10.51s 100-meter dash at the California state track and field championships - Jahvid Best ran a 10.31s dash his senior year to win it.
At Santee High, Carter is a three-sport athlete and played both offense and defense when it came to football.
Last year, he caught 28 passes for 833 yards and 11 touchdowns. To put that into perspective, Nyan Boateng led Cal with 29 receptions for 439 yards and five touchdowns last year. For those of you keeping score at home without a calculator, Carter averaged 29.75 yards per reception - not easy in any league.
On defense, Carter had 119 tackles (33 solo), three interceptions, nine passes defensed, four fumbles forced, and five fumbles recovered.
Did I mention that he also carried the ball? Nothing too guady, but he had 19 carries for 221 yards and three touchdowns. That's an average of 11.63 yards-per-carry. He also earned first-team all-city, first-team all-league, and was his League's defensive Player of the Year as a junior.
So far, I haven't been able to find a reason that he isn't more highly touted, but something tells me that by the time these recruits begin signing letters, that will have changed.
| POS | PLAYER | SCOUT RATING |
SCOUT POS RANK |
RIVALS RATING |
RIVALS POS RANK |
ESPN RATING |
ESPN POS RANK |
| WR | Tevin Carter |  |
61 | NR | NR | 78 | NR |
Tevin Carter | WR
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
High School: Santee High School
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Here are what some of what's been said about Carter:
ESPN.com
Carter is a big, physically-imposing prospect with terrific measurables and a competitive demeanor. He has the frame to fill out and become a physical, strong prospect versus press coverage and in the red zone. Has a nice combination of speed and quickness given his long frame and shows some fluidity and acceleration both off the line and after the catch. He explodes off the line and builds speed quickly.
BearInsider's Jim McGill
Carter will team with Steamboat Springs, CO Elite 11 candidate quarterback Austin Hinder to potentially form one of the best qb-receiever tandems in the 2010 class nationally, with the Bears looking to take an additional 1-2 receivers in the class this year.
Tevin Carter on why he committed to Cal
Cal was just the right place for me. I like the area, the program's real strong and their academics are great. It's nice that it's close to home but not too close, too.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Bears get two more to commit
- Wide receivers not a problem for the Bears
- Cal snags Washington's top defensive recruit from Huskies
- Cal loses offensive line coach to new Huskies regime
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Comments
Similar amount of prestige?? You have to be kidding me. When was the last time Cal won a national championship or rose bowl? The only other team in the conference with a similar amount of prestige to UW is USC.
Earth to Mike: when was the last time UW won a game, much less a championship?
Earth: Cal last won a Rose Bowl in 1938. Heck, they haven't been to a Rose Bowl since 1959. The true mark of success in the Pac-10 (according to Husky fans) is Rose Bowls. If you're happy with Emerald Bowls, Vegas Bowls, et al, then I guess that's the difference between UW fans and Cal fans.
Dawg fans are never satisfied unless we're winning Rose Bowls. And that's why success is on the horizon--we won't accept anything else.
Earth - 2001 Rose Bowl Champions. Hope that helps.
"Two schools within the same conference, both having a similar amount of prestige"
Within same conference? Yes
Similar amount of prestige? Not even close
Cal - Holiday Bowl domination since 2004...
Huskies have done their best.
Prestige is something that is earned over decades, not individual seasons. The last Pac-10 team to win a Rose Bowl not named USC? Washington. Cal's decades of futility are not fully rehabilitated by a decent run that has yet to result in anything close to a Rose Bowl championship.
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