Comments on: Football: Bartkowski enters college Hall of Fame; Where does he rate among Cal’s best QBs?

By: Kevin Thomas

Kevin Thomas — Sat, 19 May 2012 19:57:53 +0000

Going back a ways, and without considering NFL careers, only their Cal careers, here’s my list.

1. Joe Roth – All-American. Simply the best, could throw all the passes perfectly.
2. Paul Larson – All-American. Best all around QB. Led the nation in total offense, and led the team in punt and kickoff returns.
3. Craig Morton – All-American. Best passer. He basically had one receiver, and was great runner until he blew out a knee.
4. Johnny Meek – All-American on the ’37 Thunder Team, the National Champions.
5. Joe Kapp – Best team leader, fine runner in a run dominated offense, the split T, and carried the Cal team to the Rose Bowl on his back.
6. Bob Celeri – All-American on Pappy’s ’49 team that went to the Rose Bowl.
7. Steve Bartkowski – All-American. Best throwing arm ever, fine passer
8. Aaron Rodgers – Most accurate passer
9. Pat Barnes
10. Dave Barr

Honorable mention: Rich Campbell, Troy Taylor, Fred Besana, Mile Pawlawski, Gale Gilbert, Kyle Boller

By: covinared

covinared — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:48:58 +0000

Really hard to rank so many good qb’s. It used to be we were always strong at qb even if lacking in other areas. If only we had one of these guys the last few years.

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:31:11 +0000

I was in the stadium for the Ferragamo and Bartowski (and Roth) years as a member of the Cal Band. Bartowski had a rocket arm and was also a star (catcher, I believe) on the baseball team. There were thoughts that he would leave football to concentrate on a pro baseball career. Until his senior year, he simply hadn’t developed touch on his passes. I recall some of his rockets simply bouncing off of his receivers because he threw so hard. Ferragamo did earn more playing time in 1973, but then he left. Bartowski rose to the occasion for his senior year in the fall of 1974. He developed touch on his passes. Of course, it didn’t hurt to have Muncie in his backfield. He had a superb year. Bart’s 1974 season was better, IMHO, than any collegiate season by Ferragamo at either Cal or Nebraska. The top three seasons for QB I have seen at Cal were Roth ’75, Rodgers ’04, and Bart ’74. Each was spectacular in its own way and I find it very hard to compare and decide one was better than another. Ferragamo does not make that list — end of story.

By: Gobears49

Gobears49 — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:59:05 +0000

Forgot to add, in comment #19 above, that the stats for 1973 show Ferragamo having a lot more passing attempts than Bartkowski, which most likely shows that Ferragamo got more playing time than Bartkowski that year. That is what I said initially. Unless anyone can show me actual minutes played during the season, I think that stats shown above support my view that Ferragamo beat out Bartkowski in 1973, the year before Ferragamo left for Nebraska.

I will be waiting for people to state their contrary views, and back them up with stats.

By: oldcalfan

oldcalfan — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:29:39 +0000

Joe Kapp. What other Cal QB has scored on a 92 yard QB sneak? ( Vs. Oregon, 1958).

By: Gobears49

Gobears49 — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:12:07 +0000

Old Bear,

I am on the road, but I will try to find online what the comparative statistics were in the years that both Bartkowski and Ferragamo were at Cal, but I did read that Bartkowski shared QB duties with Ferragamo and that Bartkowski only had a great year when he was a senior, after Ferragamo left. I think the comparative stats will tell the tale.

By: LongtimeBlue&Gold

LongtimeBlue&Gold — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:15:47 +0000

been following the Bears since Ferragamo was playing, and it’s hard to see placing anyone ahead of Joe Roth. Not just the ’75 season; as I recall he started the next year scorching as well (despite the significant loss of Muncie from the running game), until his health caught up with him…

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:33:17 +0000

1. Joe Roth
2. Aaron Rodgers
3. Steve Bartkowski
4. Craig Morton
5. Mike Pawlawski
6. Joe Kapp
7. Troy Taylor
8. Pat Barnes (1993-96)
9. Dave Barr (1992-94)
10.Rich Campbell

By: MoreNCsarecoming

MoreNCsarecoming — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:04:44 +0000

Palmer
Barkley
Leinart
Peete
McDonald
Sanchez
Johnson

By: MoreNCsarecoming

MoreNCsarecoming — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:44:57 +0000

Question: Who was the highest drafted QB in history not to have started an NFL game?