Cal's Levy, Murphy are honored to start in such a monumental game; so is Stanford QB Edwards, whose left hand is injured
By Jay Heater
Today's 108th Big Game at Stanford won't be about bowls, or the Axe or Stanford Stadium's swan song. This game will be about perseverance. Consider, for instance, the road taken to the Big Game by Golden Bears junior quarterback Steve Levy, who makes the first start of his career. Viewed as a recruiting mistake by Cal coach Jeff Tedford, Levy hung around Berkeley despite being turned into a fullback for a season. He was viewed as a quarterback locked in a linebacker's body or a clipboard holder with the heart of a lion. He wasn't looked at as a guy who could start on Saturday, and especially not on the biggest Saturday of them all. His effort could determine whether Cal (6-4 overall, 3-4 Pac-10) enhances its bowl opportunities. Stanford (5-4, 4-3) needs a win to become bowl eligible. "This will be an honor," said Levy, who has thrown 11 passes his entire career. Levy isn't the only guy who has overcome adversity to play a key role in today's game, the final Big Game to be played at Stanford Stadium before its renovation. When Levy goes back to pass, his back will be guarded by Cal left tackle Jonathan Murphy. Murphy, who was given a scholarship at the beginning of his fifth season, spent the first four years of his Cal career as a walk-on, hoping for a few garbage time snaps. His career, until this season, could have been defined by his biggest disappointment, failing to get a snap during the 2002 Big Game. "There was a turnover at the end of the Big Game (won by Cal 30-7), and with a few seconds left, I was going to get one play," Murphy said. "But the fans rushed the field and they just ran the time off the clock." It's going to be a different story today.
With first-string tackle Andrew Cameron out for the season with a torn ACL and second-stringer Scott Smith hobbled by a knee injury, Murphy is expected to make the second start of his career. "I've been here a long time," he said. "It would mean a lot to me." The game obviously means a lot to Stanford redshirt junior quarterback Trent Edwards, whose injured left hand on Monday looked like he had been bitten by a rattlesnake. Nevertheless, Edwards has practiced all week and will start today. During Monday's news conference, Edwards tried to keep his hand hidden under the table in front of him. But it was obvious that he will be playing in pain. That adversity might be easier than the kind his team faced earlier this season when it lost 20-17 to Division I-AA UC Davis. That kind of embarrassment might have caused many teams to fold, but the Cardinal continued to fight. Whether it gets that victory today probably won't be decided until the final moments. With so many injured and inexperienced players involved in key roles, the Big Game might be a conservative affair with both coaches waiting for the other team to make a mistake. Cal coach Jeff Tedford, who is 3-0 against the Cardinal, was asked if there was a common theme in Stanford's victories this season. "They always won the turnover battle," Tedford said. That could be distressing news for the Bears, who rank ninth in the Pac-10 in turnover margin. Cal has forced 18 turnovers but lost 26. Stanford has forced 18 and has given the ball away only 16 times. "Stanford really isn't a big, explosive team," Cal rover Donnie McCleskey said. "But they hold on to the ball and they know how to get to the end zone." McCleskey said that Cal needs to contain Edwards and not let him scramble for big plays. "He makes a lot of plays," McCleskey said. "And he moves the pocket around." Edwards said he expects Cal to get some shots on him. "I would describe Cal's defense as a defense that plays downhill," he said. "They are real physical and they aren't afraid to try to make a play."
• TODAY: Cal at Stanford, 4 p.m. TV: Chs. 7, 10. Radio: 810-AM, 910-AM
108TH BIG GAME BIG GAME REPORT
• ESSENTIALS: Cal at Stanford, Stanford Stadium
• KICKOFF: 4 p.m.
• TV/RADIO: Chs. 7, 10; 810-AM; 910-AM
• RECORDS: Cal 6-4 overall, 3-4 Pac-10 after a 35-10 loss to USC at Cal last Saturday; Stanford 5-4, 4-3 after a 20-17 win at Oregon State on Saturday
• INJURIES: Cal -- DT Matt Malele (knee) and DE Tosh Lupoi (foot) are out, OT Scott Smith (knee) and OG Erik Robertson (ankle) are questionable. Stanford -- TE Matt Traverso (shoulder) and OT Allen Smith (shoulder) are questionable.
• NOTES: The last Cal quarterback to make his first start in the Big Game was Wesley Dalton in 1999. Dalton went 11-for-26 for 119 yards with two interceptions in the Bears' 31-13 loss. ... Cal freshman offensive guard Noris Malele is expected to start today for the injured Robertson.
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