By Jay Heater
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
BERKELEY - It would make sense if Cal's offensive playmakers felt pretty invincible right about now. The Bears are 5-0 and ranked No. 10 in the country despite going with a quarterback in his first season of Division I-A ball, a sophomore at tailback and a true freshman at one wide receiver spot and a sophomore at the other. And, oh by the way, the starting tight end is a sophomore. With such inexperience among those who handle the ball, it would seem that coach Jeff Tedford would have to lecture his players about the importance of being humble. After all, Cal is outscoring its opponents by an average of 30 points a game. Everything has been peaches and cream.
All those skill position players were big stars at the high school, or in quarterback Joe Ayoob's case, junior college. They know nothing but winning. It's been one big party. Even so, the Bears aren't sitting around reading their press clippings after wins over Sacramento State, Illinois, Washington, New Mexico State and Arizona. "I don't ever get the feeling of giddiness on this team," Tedford said. To a man, Cal's players preach that they haven't proven anything yet despite their five routs. There hasn't been the least hint of arrogance.
"All those (skill position) guys were big names coming out of high school," said Cal senior offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan. "But they are very level-headed. They don't have any problem listening to Coach and believing what he says." The message has been loud and clear from Tedford, who wouldn't take issue with anyone criticizing the team's soft early schedule. Cal, 2-0 in conference, will earn respect by winning Pac-10 games.
"There are enough veterans on this team for everyone to realize that these victories don't mean anything," Tedford said. "I think everyone does understand," said Cal senior linebacker Ryan Foltz. "The way our schedule is set up, every week we play the best team we have faced. That schedule has served us well. It allowed a young team to see what Division I-A football is like." But Foltz also said that Cal has done nothing to dispel the thought that it should be ranked in the top 10. "I don't even know who makes up our schedule," Foltz said. "It's completely out of our control. What else can you do but win?" Cal has won in very convincing fashion, but it still has been made the underdog by Las Vegas oddsmakers going into Saturday's game against UCLA (4-0) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. "No one here is taking it easy," Foltz said. "Everyone knows we are facing a lot of great athletes this week. This will be a caliber we haven't seen yet."
Ayoob said the Bears are working hard to get better. "We know that we could very possibly lose this game," he said. "We know the easiest part of our schedule is over. But it's not like we have played up to our potential yet." He also said the coaches don't have to hammer at the Bears to not become overconfident. "They stress it at the beginning of the week and then let it take care of itself," Ayoob said. "They don't have to say it twice." Tedford said his team has enough veteran leadership to teach his inexperienced players that the schedule will get a lot tougher. "I get the sense they understand that," Tedford said. "We were focused going into the Arizona game. Our mind-set was good for the Washington game. I think our focus has been good in every game we've played." So Tedford hasn't seen his players become overconfident? "That's not us," he said.
Against No. 20 UCLA on Saturday, Tedford said he won't have to worry about the Bears being overconfident. "You run out of the tunnel and feel the goosebumps that come up," Tedford said. "You know what is going to happen. There is a lot of emotion. "It just doesn't get any better ... two top 20 teams in the Rose Bowl." Actually, it could get better. If Cal can win its next four games, it would set up a titanic matchup against No. 1 USC (if the Trojans continue to win) in Berkeley on Nov. 12. It would be arguably the biggest game ever played in Berkeley. However, the next four games are against UCLA, Oregon State, Washington State and Oregon, teams with a combined record of 14-4. "We are improving every day, every week," Tedford said. "Guys are understanding the system better."
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