Bears to go green against Hornets

Youthful Cal will get experience in an apparent mismatch
Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, September 3, 2005
Cal coach Jeff Tedford says it's time to see if his young players do indeed have the right stuff.
"You can only practice so much," Tedford said. "Now it's time to get in the game."
The Bears, with many new faces in the lineup, open play today against Division I-AA Sacramento State at Memorial Stadium.
It could be a mismatch. No. 19 Cal is coming off a 10-2 year and season- long national ranking going against a team that went 3-8 last year, and finished tied for sixth in the Big Sky Conference.
Tedford loses five starters on offense and eight on defense. Today's most pressing matter is settling on a quarterback to replace Aaron Rodgers, who left school early for the NFL Draft.
Earlier this week Tedford named redshirt freshman Nate Longshore the starter, giving him the edge after a training camp competition with City College of San Francisco transfer Joe Ayoob. But he said he needs to see more before making the decision final.
"We hope that both of them will play in the first game and we'll see what happens from there -- how they handle game situations and continue the competition," he said.
Tedford said he will settle on the matter quickly, with Cal having an early Pac-10 game next Saturday at Washington.
He said he wouldn't be quick in pulling either quarterback out of the game.
"For anyone to get better they are going to have to go through some adversity," he said. "That's why we're not going to be a two-quarterback system."
This will also be sophomore tailback Marshawn Lynch's first collegiate start, a chance to experience the grind of being an every-down back. It could be a gradual transition, with Tedford saying he plans to rotate Lynch's three backups into the game. Tedford also plans to do the same with the wide receiving corps and linebackers. He said he'll also be keeping an eye on the play of the defensive ends.
Sacramento State coach Steve Mooshagian -- who has 17 returning starters -- isn't conceding anything, but he is admitting that the game is a bit of a mismatch.
"It's probably a David and Goliath-type battle," he said. "But we have to go into it with the right mind-set."
Mooshagian is telling his players not to look at the scoreboard.
"Focus on your job and things will take care of themselves," he said.
Briefly: Wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, a junior college All-American out of CCSF, will not play today to come into compliance with NCAA transfer guidelines. Hawkins briefly attended LSU and left before the 2004 season began, enrolling at CCSF for one year. Hawkins must take a year off between Division I schools, and today's game falls a few days short. He will be eligible for next week's game. ... Guard Noris Malele (knee) and linebacker Worrell Williams (ankle) are both listed as doubtful. ... Wide receiver Robert Jordan will serve a one-game suspension and defensive back Bernard Hicks begins a three-game suspension for disciplinary reasons stemming from an offseason arrest.
Today's game
Who: Sacramento State at Cal
When: 2 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet Radio: KGO (810 AM)
Storyline: With a Division I-AA opponent and little doubt about the outcome, the Bears have the opportunity to give newcomers on both sides of the ball a chance to gain experience and build confidence. The biggest question for the Bears is whether redshirt freshman Nate Longshore retains the job as starting quarterback over junior college transfer Joe Ayoob. Tailback Marshawn Lynch makes his highly anticipated debut as a starter. Look for the Bears to rotate a number of players into the game, particularly at wide receiver and linebacker.