NON-SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS VITAL TO CAL PROGRAM, TEDFORD SAYS
Cal Coach Jeff Tedford appreciated a statement made by freshman walk-on wide receiver LaReylle Cunningham, who said he felt important to the team even before he made some big catches in the Golden Bears' 42-38 victory over Washington State on Saturday. Cunningham, who caught a 57-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown strike from quarterback Joe Ayoob along with a 21-yard pass that set up the winning touchdown, said he thought his role in practice always has been important in preparing the Bears for their next opponent, whether or not he got into the game. ``It takes special people like him, and all our walk-ons,'' Tedford said. ``They don't get a lot of attention, but they come out and work every day. It's a rigorous schedule, the practice, the lifting, the meetings. I admire our walk-ons and it's nice to see a guy like that given an opportunity.'' Cunningham, 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, is the latest in a line of successful walk-ons who have played for Tedford. Starting guard Aaron Merz was a walk-on along with backup offensive tackle Jonathan Murphy, who started against Washington State in place of injured Ryan O'Callaghan. Merz and Murphy have been awarded scholarships by Tedford. But there aren't enough scholarships to go around, so Tedford must depend on walk-ons to give their full effort without expecting anything in return. ``They are vital to our preparation and an integral part of what we do,'' Tedford said.
Cunningham received mild interest from Idaho State during his senior year at Vanden High School in Fairfield, but an ankle injury kept him from the kind of season that would attract other universities. Without any solid offers, Cunningham knew where he wanted to go. ``I had come to Cal's football camp on my own,'' he said. ``I developed some close ties to (wide-receivers) coach (Eric) Kiesau. My grades were good, so I applied for a lot of academic scholarships.'' Those scholarships came through, allowing Cunningham to become a walk-on at Cal. Cunningham spent the 2004 season on Cal's scout team, which helps prepare the squad for each opponent. This year, he earned a spot on the traveling team. Even so, he was buried behind Robert Jordan, DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins, Noah Smith and Sam DeSa on the depth chart. Then Smith broke his leg in the opener. Jordan (collarbone) and Jackson (shoulder) were injured against Oregon State. ``I just kept my head focused and worked hard,'' Cunningham said. With Jordan, Jackson and Smith likely to return when the Bears play at Oregon on Nov. 5, Cunningham probably will revert to a backup role. ``Everybody plays a role,'' Cunningham said.
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