By TED MILLER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
If California's Nate Longshore were like many of us, he'd already be dreaming about his impending multimillion-dollar signing bonus. After all, he's just been named the starting quarterback for a Jeff Tedford-coached team, which means he's won the lottery and now is destined to become a first-round NFL draft pick.
Longshore knows the elite company he is stepping into, of course. Two years ago during recruiting, when he was merely a Parade All-American out of Canyon Country, Calif., the Bears generously provided him a shiny, illustrated list of six former Tedford quarterbacks who were picked in the first round and are presently living large in the top tax bracket -- Trent Dilfer, Akili Smith, David Carr, Joey Harrington, Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers.
(We'll leave it to the NFL writers to wonder about why none of the above has become a perennial star.) "Definitely, he has a track record," Longshore said. "But I'm not thinking about that right now. I haven't even played at the college level."
The redshirt freshman does have a bit of time before he should start worrying about the NFL, and he still may need to look over his shoulder. His winning the job is a bit of a surprise. Most folks assumed that hotshot junior college recruit Joseph Ayoob would be the man, duplicating the JC-to-stardom path that Rodgers took.
That path is still there. Rodgers began the 2003 season as Reggie Robertson's backup and didn't earn the starting job until Week 5.
Ayoob, who's far more athletic than the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Longshore, has struggled to learn the offense, at least to an extent that satisfies Tedford. Just like Rodgers did early in his career.
And just like the Rodgers-Robertson competition, both Longshore and Ayoob will play early in the season, particularly on Saturday against a patsy like Sacramento State.
There's a big difference this time around, though. There isn't a wide talent differential. Most Bears fans were salivating about the 6-3, 220-pound Ayoob, who threw for 3,679 yards and 35 touchdowns at City College of San Francisco. Many immediately penciled him in as the starter, treating Longshore like he wasn't even there.
"I didn't get too upset," the unassuming Longshore said. "(Ayoob) definitely earned all those articles about him, and I was excited we got to recruit talent like that. I knew I still had a lot to learn."
Prediction:
Sacramento State (NL) at No. 19 California
Bears deliver whipping, taunts about living in Sacramento
Pick: California, 50-11
Last year's record: straight up: 55-13; vs. spread: 38-28
Past two years combined: straight up 110-36; vs. spread: 80-60
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