SN Q&A With Jahvid Best

Cal's Junior RB Jahvid Best, last season's leading PAC-10 rusher, and the conference's player rated to have the best chance to crash the Heisman Trophy party, is featured in the Sporting News, with a Question and Answer session.

To me, the best back in the country is the back that keeps his team winning.

Best, shown here celebrating last year's 24-17 Emerald Bowl victory over Miami, and OSU's Jacquizz Rodgers, are both candidates for that "best back" status, and the game on November 7, when the Beavers visit the Bears in Strawberry Canyon, could go a long way to deciding that battle.

'Quizz won that battle last year, in the Beavers' 34-21 win on Dad's day weekend.

Best carried for 116 yards on 15 carries, including a stunning 65 yard touchdown romp, while 'Quizz got 144 yards and a touchdown, but needed 27 carries to do it.

Whether the Bears, picked second in the pre-season PAC-10 media poll, can make a run at USC for the conference championship, will depend on whether Best can carry them there, and on how the matchup with 'Quizz goes this year.