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DECEMBER

 

Cal Lutheran's Tom Herman Proves He's 1 of the Best in University of Houston's Win over Florida State University in Peach Bowl 2015

 
After Houston's 38-24 win over Florida State in the Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on Thursday afternoon, you need to discuss Tom Herman prominently with the best head coaches in the country regardless of division, because he's earned it. His offense faced a tough test against the fast Seminoles defense. Herman dialed up play after play, including two completions by Ward on 3rd-and-long situations on a critical drive early in the fourth quarter and a perfect quarterback draw from backup Kyle Postma on 3rd-and-7 late in the fourth that went for 29 yards down to the 2-yard line.


Cal Lutheran's Dave Aranda coaches University of Wisconsin Badger defense in beating USC in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, 23-21 and Accepts Offer of New Defensive Coordinator Position at LSU.


In three years as the Wisconsin defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, Aranda coached a Badger defense that combined to rank among the top 5 in the nation in the four major defensive categories – scoring, total yards, passing yards and rushing yards.

From 2013-15, Aranda’s defense allowed an average of 289.4 yards per game – which ranked first in the nation over that span. His defense allowed 16.9 points (No. 2 nationally), 179.9 passing yards (No. 3 nationally) and 109.6 rushing yards (No. 4 nationally) over the three years, a span that saw Wisconsin win 30 games with just 10 losses.

Aranda’s 2015 defense capped the regular season leading the nation in points allowed at 13.1 points a contest. Wisconsin also currently ranks No. 3 in the nation in total defense (268.5 yards per game), No. 4 in rushing defense (95.4 yards per game) and No. 7 in passing defense (173.2 yards per game).

 
 

In the Holiday Bowl Game, USC  posed a huge challenge, with Smith-Schuster being the most dynamic wide receiver UW had faced this season. The Trojans' running backs in Justin Davis and Ronald Jones came into the game each within 1,000 yards rushing for the season.

Dave Aranda's Defensive squad held USC to 65 yards and 2.3 yards per rush, even lower than Wisconsin's average of allowing 97.9 yards per game. The Badgers constantly were making tackles behind the line of scrimmage (nine total tackles for loss) and held Kessler to only 18-of-32 passing for 221 yards.


CAL LUTHERAN'S PETE  ALAMAR, SPECIAL TEAMS COA
CH AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY REVELS IN HIS YOUNG PLAYERS AS THEY CRUSH THE  UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IN THE ROSE BOWL

Entering the 2015 football season, Stanford special teams coordinator Pete Alamar didn't know what to expect from his six units. He lost his kicker (Jordan Williamson), punter (Ben Rhyne) leading returner (Ty Montgomery) and several key coverage personnel to graduation.

Alamar, now in his 31st year of coaching and fourth on The Farm, didn't panic. He had capable replacements, but they lacked experience. "You take the youth and exuberance, throw in a little veteran leadership and knowledge, and you hope it blends and works out well," Alamar said.

"It's been great," said freshman cornerback Quenton Meeks of his special teams experience. "In high school, I really didn't play much special teams. I played kick return and punt return, and was used to having the ball in my hands. Coming to college as a young guy, especially if you want to get on the field and make an impact on offense or defense, you have to first make it on special teams. That's where you make your mark. It was a challenge for me but I knew I wanted to do it."

Meeks plays on the punt return, kickoff return and kickoff teams. "I just tried to perfect my technique and do everything Coach Alamar asked me to do," he said. "In my opinion, he's one of the hardest working coaches on the staff because he has to know six phases of special teams at every position. I have a ton of respect for him and he makes you want to play hard."

Meeks, a Freshman, who had a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Rosebowl, said he was “shocked” as Beathard, Iowa's quarterback, threw the ball toward his man, Matt VandeBerg, on the sideline.
“I was right on the receiver,” Meeks said. “I didn’t expect Beathard to throw it, but when he did, I was right there. The sun was in my eyes a little bit, but I saw a little brown part and thought, ‘That’s the ball!’ I caught it and thought, ‘Don’t get caught from behind.’”

 
Christian McCaffrey, Devon Cajuste
 
EDDIE GRAN MOVES TO UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AS OFFENSIVE COACH OF THE WILDCATS
 
 

Gran’s 27 seasons of offensive coaching in the college ranks began at Cal Lutheran, where he played four seasons as a wide receiver. Eddie Gran has just accepted an offer from the Kentucky Wildcats  to become their offensive coordinator, after playing the same role for the Cincinnati Bearcats over the past three seasons. In addition to his familiar offensive coordinator title, Gran will be given an assistant head coach title under Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops. Stoops and Gran worked together at Florida State from 2010-12, which led to Gran's role in offensive coaching for Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

Gran’s 27 seasons in the college ranks includes stops from coast-to-coast. He spent 15 seasons as a running backs coach and special teams coordinator in the SEC, including 10 years at Auburn, followed by stops at Tennessee and Florida State before rejoining Tommy Tuberville’s staff in 2013. Gran previously coached with Tuberville at Miami (1990-91), Ole Miss (1995-98) and Auburn (1999-2008).

 
 
 
 
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