SF Chronicle: CAL NOTEBOOK

Forsett picks up where he left off against Illini

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Las Cruces, N.M. -- Tailback Justin Forsett, starting again in relief of injured Marshawn Lynch, continued a hot streak he began in Saturday's win over Illinois.  Forsett rushed for 235 yards -- the fourth highest total in Cal history -- and one touchdown on 31 carries against New Mexico State.  It was his second straight start after Lynch broke the little finger on his left hand in the win at Washington.  In an oddity Forsett gained more than 200 yards in two quarters -- or the equivalent of two 100-yard games, each achieved in one quarter. He accomplished that feat by gaining 88 yards in the fourth quarter against the Illini and 114 in the first quarter against New Mexico State.

Aggie hospitality: New Mexico State is hosting the University of New Orleans baseball team, as part of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.  Athletic director McKinley Boston said the school was waiving tuition and other fees for the players. A dormitory scheduled to be closed was reopened for the team's 31 players and three coaches.  "They'll be our guests," Boston said.  Boston said that in most cases the players were able to enroll in courses similar to those they had signed up for in New Orleans.  Boston said the school was able to quickly make accommodations for the refugees.  Both teams -- New Mexico State and New Orleans -- are sharing the Aggies facilities for fall drills.  Off the bus: Offensive tackle Andrew Cameron and guard Aaron Merz missed their second consecutive starts. Both are recovering from concussions. Neither player made the trip to New Mexico.  Scott Smith started in place of Cameron and Bryan Deemer for Merz.

Briefly: Defensive back Bernard Hicks rejoined the team after serving a three-game suspension in connection with his offseason arrest on misdemeanor marijuana charges. ... Temperature at gametime was 81 degrees. ... Friday night's game was broadcast on the Internet in Navajo -- believed to be a first for a college football game. ... This was Cal's only game of the year without replay. The Aggies play in the WAC -- a conference that doesn't use replay. ... Friday night is normally high school football night in the Las Cruces area, but because the game between the Aggies and Bears was played on Friday night for ESPN, all high school games were moved to tonight. ... The 94-yard kickoff return by Chris Williams for an Aggies' TD in the first quarter was the first kickoff TD return surrendered by Cal since 1995 to Arizona State.