SF Chronicle: Home debut left Ayoob feeling blue

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Quarterback Joe Ayoob says he loves Cal's blue home uniforms. He hopes today he will finally feel comfortable in one.  "Right now I like the whites," Ayoob said.  Ayoob was wearing blue when he went 0-for-10 in a disastrous Cal debut in the Bears' season-opening 41-3 win over Sacramento State two weeks ago.  Last week, wearing road whites, he was 17-for-27 for 271 yards and four touchdowns in Cal's Pac-10-opening 56-17 win at Washington.  He'll have another chance in all-blue today when No. 15 Cal (2-0) hosts Illinois (2-0) at Memorial Stadium.  "I want to come out and have a good showing for the crowd," Ayoob said. "I'll probably have to calm myself down every-other play."

That was enough serious talk for Ayoob, who took his observations on Cal's uniforms a step further.  "I look like a schmuck," he said. "I don't have a butt and my nose hangs out of my helmet."  That line drew a big laugh when he delivered it to writers earlier this week. And it showed a side of the junior college transfer that had coach Jeff Tedford just a bit worried. As far as Tedford is concerned, delivering one-liners to the press corps is one thing. But on the field, he expects his quarterbacks to be all business.

"Every now and then you'd turn around (at practice) and see him goofing off with the guys," Tedford said. "You don't see that anymore."  It took some doing, but Ayoob says he's found a way to become the leader of Cal's offense without completely forsaking his happy-go-lucky side off the field.  Shortly after transferring from City College of San Francisco, Tedford told him he'd have to get more serious about football, including setting the tone at practice -- a chore Ayoob acknowledges he had always taken lightly.  "I took that to mean don't smile at practice, don't talk to anybody, just stay focused," Ayoob said. "I tried doing that and it kind of threw me off a little bit."

So he reverted. And when he took over the starting job going into Week 2, he found that didn't work either. So he struck a balance -- as did his predecessor, Aaron Rodgers, who could be an outgoing jokester in the locker room but became, in Tedford's words, "a perfectionist on the football field."  "I naturally took a more serious approach," Ayoob said. "I got into the playbook, got into the film. ... The big thing was taking everything more seriously, but being myself, not changing who I am."  Tedford has been satisfied with Ayoob's new approach, which has resulted in a sharper quarterback whose passing mechanics were much improved in the Washington game.  "After the first week he matured big time," Tedford said. "More than just physical things, the mental part of the game and the leadership he provides in the huddle has improved dramatically."  And through it all, Tedford may have changed just a bit as well -- showing that Ayoob isn't the only one who can deliver a one-liner amid the serious business of Cal football. He was acknowledging Ayoob's popularity with the players -- established quip-by-quip in spring practice and at fall camp -- when he stopped and arched an eyebrow.

“They like him a lot more now," he said.

Lineup changes: Worrell Williams and Anthony Felder will split time at one of the outside linebacker spots, replacing Greg Van Hoesen (ankle). Defensive end Phillip Mbakogu will replace Tosh Lupoi (knee). Coaches will make two game-time decisions on the offensive line. If center Marvin Philip (ankle) can't play today, he will be replaced by Alex Mack. And if tackle Aaron Merz (concussion) can't go, he will be replaced by Bryan Deemer. Tailback Marshawn Lynch (broken finger) has already been ruled out. Justin Forsett will start and Marcus O'Keith will be in the rotation.