2005-06 College Bowls

FORT WORTH – Air Force Academy coach Troy Calhoun describes his team as a bunch of undersized, but extremely dedicated and smart football players – guys who "may not have been five-star recruits, but are five-star kids."

The same could be said of California running back Justin Forsett, an Arlington native whom Calhoun's defense will try to slow down today in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl at TCU's Amon Carter Stadium.

Forsett, a Grace Prep graduate, certainly did his part to help make the game a sellout. The 5-8, 196-pound senior estimates that more than 300 family members and friends will be in attendance for what teammate Greg Van Hoesen jokingly dubbed "The Justin Forsett Bowl."

As unofficial host, Forsett has been a popular guy this week, showing his teammates around town and even taking a group to get haircuts at his favorite barbershop. He also served as guest speaker during Sunday morning service at The Potter's House church in Dallas. The topic of Forsett's speech was how his faith has helped him overcome adversity as a player and made him a stronger person.

Forsett has never let a little adversity stop him.

Following a spectacular senior season at Grace Prep in which he rushed for 2,560 yards and 38 touchdowns, Forsett thought he had a scholarship to Notre Dame locked up, only to find out at the 11th hour that he no longer fit in the Irish's plans.

"I hadn't heard from them in a while, so I called the running backs coach, and he told me that they didn't need me anymore," Forsett recalled. "It was only a few weeks before signing day so I had to scramble to get some tapes out. Cal got back to me along with Boise State and West Virginia. It made me mad and drove me a little bit. When I showed up at Cal, I had something to prove."

Forsett scored a touchdown in his first college game – coincidentally, against Air Force – as a freshman in 2004. He has been a heavy contributor for the Bears ever since, rushing for more than 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns and establishing a career rushing average of 5.7 yards per carry.

"He came in and worked hard from Day 1, and he's done everything we've asked of him and more," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "This year was finally his year to be the guy, and he stepped in and he didn't miss a beat."

AP

Cal's Justin Forsett is tied for the Pac-10 lead with 13 touchdowns.

Forsett may have had to wait behind former standouts J.J. Arrington and Marshawn Lynch for his turn as the Bears' featured back , but he has made the most of his only season as a starter. He tied for the Pac-10 lead with 13 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,406 yards, earning first-team all-conference honors.

Despite all his individual success, Forsett's final season in Berkley was largely a disappointment because of his team's collapse. Cal (6-6) began the season with national championship aspirations and rose to No. 2 in the polls after a 5-0 start. But injuries and bad breaks derailed the Bears, who stumbled down the stretch, culminating with a devastating 20-13 loss to Stanford on Dec. 1.

"We thought that our season was over when we lost to Stanford," Forsett said. "For us seniors it was a terrible way to go out. Then, when we found out we were going to get a chance to come to Fort Worth and play, it was like a second chance – an opportunity to go out on a high note and salvage a winning season."