The Cal men’s basketball team ended 2010 on a positive note.

The Bears’ coach finished on a historic one.

With a 74-56 drubbing of Hartford at Haas Pavilion on Tuesday night, Cal (7-5) gave Mike Montgomery his 600th career victory — making him the seventh active NCAA coach to eclipse 600 Division I wins.

Montgomery is in his 29th season as a collegiate head coach, with previous stops at Montana and Stanford; during his 18 seasons with the Cardinal, Montgomery collected five conference titles, made a Final Four appearance and earned four Pac-10 Coach of the Year awards.

“Just happy to get a win. It’s an even number,” Montgomery told media after the game.

On the evening, Harper Kamp paced the Bears with 19 points, while freshman Allen Crabbe poured in a career-best 17 (including 5-for-9 on 3-pointers).

Cal wrapped up its non-conference schedule with the victory, and travels to Stanford on Sunday to open up Pac-10 play.

The postgame press conference was a vivid picture of not only what Oklahoma State’s final victory meant to Brandon Weeden, but also what the season has done for the 27-year-old quarterback.

Nearly an hour after the Cowboys topped Arizona 36-10 in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Wednesday night, the clock had already moved on to Thursday morning but Weeden wasn’t about to move on from what transpired in the Alamodome. Weeden led the Cowboys to their first 11-win season in program history and he wasn’t ready for it to be over.

“I’m kind of having a hard time taking my pads off,” Weeden said.

Weeden detailed how part of the reason for his apprehension to remove his game attire was because he didn’t want to let go of the unique connection and accountability the team exhibited this season. The Alamo Bowl performance was no different.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, the way we started … coming in here thinking you’re going to win 11 games, I’ll be honest, I don’t think there’s many guys in that locker room that did,” he said. “But we all knew if we came together as a team, anything could happen.

“This feeling right now, it’s pretty special.”

And what OSU accomplished in San Antonio was special in many ways but it was also everything fans have come to expect from the 2010 Cowboy football team. OSU relied on steady success to maintain form and huge plays to generate distance on the scoreboard.

OSU succeeded on both fronts in all three phases of the game.

The offense was its normal explosive self, highlighted by two touchdown grabs by a healthy Justin Blackmon, including a 71-yarder in the first quarter. However, the efforts turned in by the defense and special teams really separated the Pokes from the Wildcats.

The Cowboys might have been outgained by 58 yards of total offense but that was a byproduct of success on the other side of the ball. The OSU offense played with short fields given to them because of four turnovers forced by defense and special teams.

OSU’s defense also forced two turnovers on downs that don’t register in that category but are equally important in gaining momentum.

Perhaps no single play swung things in OSU’s favor more than safety Markelle Martin’s 62-yard interception return that boosted the lead to 23-7 and seemed to suck the life out of Arizona.

Martin said the gameplan for Arizona’s high-profile passing attack paid dividends by offsetting the 280 passing yards they allowed with three interceptions.

“I think the main thing is we were concerned with what we could do,” Martin said. “We knew they were going to catch some passes … For us to be physical, come up, attack the ball, continue to buy into our plan was going to work well for us. The defense did that, we attacked the ball and forced turnovers.”

On special teams, Dan Bailey proved to be as important as ever in his final game as a Cowboy. The Lou Groza Award winner filled in for Quinn Sharp on punting duties and booted five for 195 yards in his first action at the position.

“One thing that coach (Joe) DeForest and coach (Mike) Gundy tells us is you’re only one play away from starting,” Bailey said. “Just because I start on kicks doesn’t mean I’m not one play away from punting. You have to be ready at all times.”

In addition to punting, Bailey also took over kickoff duties and maintained his role as kicker. Bailey hit three field goals, including a 50-yarder, earning him high praise from his head coach.

“I don’t know if anyone was more important to our team tonight than Dan Bailey,” Gundy said. “He punted awesome. He had two long field goals in critical situations. He kicked off very well. The reason I bring him up is it’s an example of what this football team’s all about. Another guy stepped up and made a play.

“I couldn’t be more happy for this football team and for Oklahoma State. Winning 11 games is very difficult.”

TAMPA, Fla. – Don’t let the 7-5 record or the mediocre season with a lackluster finish fool you.

On Jan. 1, the Penn State seniors don’t plan on simply fading quietly into the memories of Penn State fans.

Given their bowl matchup — one against a historically successful Florida program in a bowl game that has received national attention — those players feel they have been given the perfect opportunity to go out with a bang.

“Penn State-Florida — you look at that matchup, that’s as big as they come,” senior co-captain Brett Brackett said. “To us this is the best bowl game we can get.”

With all of Florida’s recent success under coach Urban Meyer — who will resign following the season to spend more time with his family — Brackett said he has paid close attention to the Florida program, and he has enjoyed watching their offenses led by former Gator quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Chris Leak.

The respective traditions of the two schools made Brackett call the game a chance at a “tremendous win.”

Thursday, Brackett took part in his final practice at Penn State before Friday’s walk-through. The season’s last practice was filled with its typical joviality as the players swapped practice jerseys at the Tampa Jesuit High School Field. Guard Eric Shrive wore Matt McGloin’s No. 11, while Rob Bolden and Brandon Ware switched their Nos. 1 and 99.

Despite the amusement, the seniors have reiterated Penn State isn’t treating the season as if it’s over.

Evan Royster called Florida “a team that I circled,” when he learned of Penn State’s possible bowl opponents after the season had finished.

“The history that that school has — two national championships in the last five years or so — to go up against a team with that kind of prestige is really exciting and to get a win would be huge,” Royster said.

With 84 yards, Royster has a chance to become the first player in Penn State history to rush for 1,000 yards three times. From a personal standpoint, doing so against Florida would be a perfect way to go out.

“Everybody wants to end their career on a good note and I’m no different,” Royster said. “I want to come out and have a good game against a good team like Florida.”

And, in the past, Penn State has typically been able to come out strong in its bowl games. The Lions have won four of their last five postseason contests.

Senior defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu said that success comes from a mindset that is instilled at the top.

“We treat it as camp,” Ogbu said. “Yeah we’re at a beautiful site and we go out sometimes, but when we’re on the practice field, you’ll see us getting at it pretty well.”

So does Florida, however. The Gators have also won four of five and Meyer is 6-1 all time in bowls.

The similarities combined with tradition makes Saturday’s game the ideal end to Ogbu’s career, he said.

“We’re a great team that just fell short a couple times and so is Florida,” Ogbu said. “They’re a team that fell short a couple times, so I think it’s a pretty good match.”

After consecutive blowout losses to Illinois and Wisconsin, Northwestern might have wanted to just hit the reset button. According to junior offensive tackle Al Netter, that’s exactly what the Wildcats got to do.

“The great thing about bowl season is the 15 practices leading up to the games,” Netter said. “We look at it as a spring-ball-type deal. We go back to our base fundamentals and that gelling that an offense goes through in spring ball and the beginning of camp.”

With an offense that has struggled to find its footing after losing junior quarterback Dan Persa to a ruptured Achilles tendon and a defense that became porous to the run late in the season, the Cats used their extra practices to return to the basics.

“I’ve been here for close to five years but we went all the way back to my freshman year base fundamental kind of stuff, like learning how to run routes, learning how to make breaks, learning how to come off the ball, learning how to catch the ball, see the ball, little things like that,” senior wide receiver Sidney Stewart said. “So we can build and by the time we get down to Dallas, we’ll be able to hit our game plan full stride.”

NU (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten) will take on Texas Tech (7-5, 3-5 Big 12) on Saturday in the inaugural TicketCity Bowl, played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Crucial to the Cats success against the Red Raiders will be the development of redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Watkins, who has taken the majority of the snaps since Persa’s injury. In his two starts, Watkins threw for just 258 yards and one touchdown with four interceptions and three fumbles.

“Mentally he’s obviously further along than he’s been,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “Physically he’s further along just because he’s had more reps. Now he’s just got to get the poise.”

Watkins said that through the bowl practices, he’s become more confident in trusting his reads and instincts.

“We’ve been executing clean balls, and that’s kind of just trusting yourself and what you see,” Watkins said. “If I do that, we’re good.”

Luckily for Watkins, he’ll be going up against the Big 12′s worst passing defense as Texas Tech gave up more than 300 yards through the air per game.

“We haven’t been very good on the defensive side of the ball all year,” Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said.

Adding to the disarray of the Texas Tech defense, defensive coordinator James Willis left the program unexpectedly on Sunday to pursue other coaching positions. He will not coach the Red Raiders in the TicketCity Bowl.

“I wish James the best of luck but it is important for football team to keep pressing forward,” Tuberville said. “We have a great defensive staff here that will carry the load along with my assistance as we prepare for Northwestern.”

Fitzgerald said that though Willis’ departure may be chaotic for the Red Raiders, it’s creating more confusion for the Cats.

“The advantage goes to them,” Fitzgerald said. “The guy that we’ve scouted and broken down is no longer there.”

For NU’s skill position players, preparing for Texas Tech’s defense has already been a challenge because of the Red Raiders’ propensity to switch around defensive matchups midgame.

“They move guys around a lot,” Stewart said. “I never know who is going to be playing over me.” Whether it’s 21 (defensive back Jarvis Phillips), whoever it is, five (safety Tre’ Porter), they’ll move him in nickel, they’ll move him around.”

The Cats are looking to create some confusion of their own for Texas Tech by adding to the playbook.

“We’ve got some new packages that I think will make some playmakers get the ball more,” Watkins said.

NU will benefit offensively from getting players back from injuries. Fitzgerald said junior running back Jacob Schmidt is “back in the mix” after suffering an ankle injury against Michigan State while redshirt freshman running back Mike Trumpy will be “a game-time decision.”

“If we have Trump, then that’d be awesome, but if not, we have guys that are going to step up – Adonis (Smith) and Steph (Simmons),” Watkins said. “I’m not worried about that.”

On defense, junior linebacker Bryce McNaul will be ready to play. McNaul‘s return should help bolster an NU defense that gave up more than 100 points and 1,000 yards between the Illinois and Wisconsin games.

“What happened at the end of the year is an anomaly,” Fitzgerald said.

The Cats were especially vulnerable to the run, surrendering 519 yards rushing to the Fighting Illini and 329 yards to the Badgers.

“We just haven’t been gap-sound as we usually are,” senior defensive tackle Corbin Bryant said. “A lot of teams are running schemes where they create extra gaps on the outside… We’ve been able to look at the film from the past couple weeks and give guys the information they need to get through those types of things.”

Texas Tech however will present less of a challenge to NU’s run defense than to the secondary. The Red Raiders attempted 46.75 passes per game compared to just 34 rushes.

Asked what to expect from Texas Tech, Fitzgerald said, “Offensively, tempo, tempo and more tempo. They play fast.”

Compared to the Big Ten, in which only Indiana attempted more than 400 passes this season, the Red Raiders will present a new look to the Cats.

“It is a different offense and different weapons than they are used to,” Texas Tech wide receiver Lyle Leong said. “It’s definitely going to be challenge.”

Quarterback Taylor Potts has a plethora of receiving resources at his disposal. In addition to Leong, whose 17 touchdown receptions are second in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Detron Lewis has 79 catches for 803 yards and six other Texas Tech receivers have 25 receptions or more.

The Cats of course have the added pressure of playing with their 61-year bowl win drought hanging over their heads.

“It’s a lone negative, I guess, that you can say about our program,” Fitzgerald said. “That’s definitely a monkey we want to get off our backs.”

For a program that has come a long way since the days of the late 1970s and early 1980 when the Cats lost a Division I-record 34 straight games, NU still hasn’t been able to clear the last hurdle of its dark path by winning a bowl game.

“A bowl win would take the program to another level,” senior linebacker Quentin Davie said. “To win our bowl game our last year would set things up great for years to come, for people to expect great things from Northwestern.”

Adding to the difficulty of that task, NU will be playing a Texas team in the Lone Star State. The Red Raiders have even already played a game in the Cotton Bowl this season, defeating Baylor 45-38 in October.

“We are used to playing there, and we know the field,” cornerback LaRon Moore said. “It is good to end in Dallas where we have a lot of support. Every time we have been there, we have had a good turnout with fans and things like that, so it is going to feel like another home game for us.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On a day when up-and-coming Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen signed a contract extension — one that would give him a substantial pay raise — much of the talk, per usual, centered on the nation’s hottest coaching seat.

Some Wolverines denied, like they have for much of the season, that Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez’s job security was on their mind as they prepare for Saturday’s Gator Bowl.

“Right now, we’re just focused on one thing and that’s trying to win the game,” senior defensive end Greg Banks said Thursday. “Everybody has like a sense. They all know. We just try not to talk about it. We’re just staying focused on what we have to do.”

Banks and other defensive players said that much of their focus in the bowl practices leading up to Saturday’s matchup with the Bulldogs have been focused on improving their defense, which ranked 108th in the nation this season and gave up almost 450 yards per game.

But with Athletic Director Dave Brandon’s decision coming soon on Rodriguez’s future, there’s no doubting that the team is fully aware of the staffing changes that may or may not happen after Saturday.

“You know, that’s always in the back of your head because of so much that’s has been said about it,” junior nose tackle Mike Martin said. “We’re just playing, and Coach Rod, he’s coaching, and we’re ready to show everyone January 1st.”

The New Year’s Day bowl game will mark Rodriguez’s first bowl game since 2006, when he led West Virginia to a Sugar Bowl win over Georgia. But a lot has changed since then, as Rodriguez’s first three years in Ann Arbor didn’t necessarily go as planned.

And with that much pressure mounting on Saturday, Mullen sympathized earlier this week with his Gator Bowl counterpart.

“I hope I don’t ever have to imagine or go through that,” Mullen said on Wednesday. “But that’s the coaching profession. It’s tough. I don’t think people sometimes realize the effect it has — not just on the coach, but the families, the assistant coaches and there’s a lot of people’s lives involved in these decisions. And that’s the life we live as a football coach.”

RELF AWARENESS: Michigan’s defensive players have spent a whole lot of time defending the running quarterback this season. After all, each day in practice, they’re forced to defend Denard Robinson, one of the premiere running quarterbacks in college football.

But Mississippi State quarterback Chris Relf provides a different sort of challenge when it comes to running the ball.

“He’s a good runner, but he’s a downhill runner,” redshirt junior defensive end Ryan Van Bergen said. “Denard’s more of a shake-and-bake runner, makes you miss in the open field. This guy wants to hit up field and get in between his tackles and just run the ball.”

When asked if he liked that challenge, compared to Robinson’s elusive running style, sophomore linebacker Kenny Demens flashed a big grin.

“I want that challenge,” Demens said. “I want to take him on myself. I want that stop.”

Relf only passed for 1,508 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. But when it came to his ground game, Relf accounted for a respectable 683 yards and four touchdowns with his legs — a significant portion of the Bulldogs 16th-ranked rush offense.

In two games against Big Ten running quarterbacks, Illinois’ Nate Scheelhaase and Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor, the Wolverines saw mixed results. Scheelhaase topped the century mark in the Wolverines’ 67-65 triple-overtime win, but Pryor was held to 49 yards in Michigan’s blowout loss in Columbus.

Michigan hasn’t seen a quarterback like Relf though, a bruiser who likes to do most of his damage between the tackles. And if the Wolverines’ hope to stop Mississippi State’s potent rushing attack, keeping Relf in check will be especially important.

“Watching film and studying him, he likes to fake and just run up the gut,” Demens said.

“Our key for this game is make him go to the outside, make him go the long way.”

GET THEIR SWAG ON: Aside from the week-long trip to sunny Jacksonville, the Wolverines will be expecting quite the gift package from the Gator Bowl this bowl season.

According to Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal, the Michigan players will receive a Best Buy gift card, a Fossil watch, Oakley sunglasses, a leather duffel bag, a Jostens ring and a commemorative football as part of their bowl gift package.

Van Bergen said that, as of Thursday, the players had only received the Best Buy gift card, but they were excited to receive the rest in the coming days.