Rugby Hosts Regional Playoffs At Witter Field

Rugby Hosts Regional Playoffs At Witter Field

April 11, 2000

THIS WEEK:
Regional Championship
Saturday, April 15 Chico vs. Middle Tennessee State Witter Field 12:30 p.m.
Cal vs. Penn State Witter Field 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 16 Consolation Match Witter Field 11:30 a.m.
Championship Match Witter Field 1:30 p.m.

HUNT FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Cal's campaign for a 10th consecutive national title gets down to business this weekend when the Bears host the national championship regional playoffs. The "Sweet 16" sees Cal, the No. 1 seed in the nation, up against Penn State in first round action. The Nittany Lions were Final Four participants as recently as '98, but have lost some key players to graduation and only just made the playoffs this year. If successful Saturday, the Bears face either Chico State or Middle Tennessee State Sunday. Cal beat Chico, 39-5, early in the season, and last saw the Moosemen from Tennessee in last year's playoffs when the Bears cruised to a 51-3 victory. For Cal, the weekend will see almost all of its starters available for the first time since January. The injury bug has sidelined as many as five first-string athletes at a time during the course of the regular season.

LAST WEEK: Cal crushed the Stanford Saturday, 69-6. Consequently, Cal holds the Scrum Axe for the fourth consecutive year. It was a day when the Bears fired on all cylinders. They took line outs against the throw and scrums against the feed. They played offense, scoring 11 tries, and they played defense, holding the Cardinal to two penalties. Head coach Jack Clark was most impressed with his side's passion: "It was clear from the opening minutes that we were here to play and play hard."

HEAD COACH JACK CLARK: Now in his 17th season as Cal's head coach, Jack Clark has a 283-57-4 record, leading the Bears to 13 national titles and seeking a 10th consecutive championship in 2000. Clark is a former standout football player at Cal who went on to play rugby for the national team and was a world team selection in 1980. He also served as head coach for the USA National Team, the Eagles, from 1993-99.