May 2, 2000
THIS WEEK:
Saturday, May 6 vs. Army - Tampa, FL - 1:15 p.m.
Sun., May 7 - TBA - Tampa, FL - TBA
Cal looks to crown a decade of rugby dominance in Tampa this weekend where the Bears chase their 10th consecutive national championship. For longevity, Cal's remarkable dynasty already exceeds notable collegiate streaks, such as UCLA's basketball glory of the 1960s and '70s, and is closing in on marks such as Arkansas' indoor track dominance (12 straight titles). But for coaches and players this week, the focus is solely on semifinal opponent Army, which squeaked into the Final Four with a 29-28 victory over Indiana. It is Army's second consecutive trip to the Final Four. Last year, the team from West Point fell to Penn State in the semifinal round.
"We haven't played Army in a number of years," said Cal head coach Jack Clark, "but we expect to see a physical and determined opponent."
The other side of the bracket sees two newcomers square off. Wyoming had a one-point victory over Navy to reach the Final Four, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania went into double overtime to edge out San Diego State.
Rugby's Final Four format requires teams to play on consecutive days and is often a test of team depth. Cal traditionally strives to develop depth throughout the regular season, and while two or three starters are under injury clouds at the moment, the Bears have back-up players available at most positions for this weekend.
