Daily Cal: Slumping Bears to Lean on Levy in Big Game

By CHRIS NGUON

When Cal tailback Marshawn Lynch was asked earlier in the week how he would assess his team's overall performance so far this year, the Bears' leading rusher paused for a second before answering.  Lynch pondered, and then said, "Overall, I think we have had a pretty good year, considering . . ."  Considering?  "Everything," Lynch said.  Suffice it to say, as the Cal football team heads into the Big Game tomorrow against Stanford at 4 p.m. at Stanford Stadium, the Bears are one team that has been through tremendous adversity this season.  From various off-the-field distractions, to being hit with a plethora of injuries at key positions, to having inconsistent performances at the quarterback position, Cal (6-4, 3-4 in the Pac-10) heads into the Big Game spiraling downward, having lost four of its last five contests and faced more with more questions now than when the year first began.  But, that doesn't stop Bears coach Jeff Tedford from being optimistic about his squad's chances heading into tomorrow's contest.  "I tell my players that we still have an excellent football team," Tedford said. "Our three losses before USC have all come down to the end of the fourth quarter in which we could have won. Our team has nothing to be ashamed of. It's not an effort thing. They have played really really hard."  One of the reasons that gives Tedford and his squad some confidence going into the Big Game is the showing that backup quarterback Steve Levy had against No. 1 USC last week.  After relieving ineffective starter Joe Ayoob in Cal's 35-10 loss to the Trojans, Levy was solid in his limited play, completing 4-of-4 passes for 33 yards and responsible for the Bears only touchdown of the day.  Tedford announced Thursday after practice that Levy will start against the Cardinal (5-4, 4-3).  Either way though, Levy's performance last Saturday gives the Cal team some hope that its productive running attack will receive some much needed help through the air.  The Bears rank ninth in the country and second in the Pac-10 behind USC in rushing this season, tallying 235.6 yards per contest.  Led by Lynch and backup tailback Justin Forsett, Cal will likely again rely heavily on its running attack tomorrow.  Both Lynch and Forsett have the chance some make history Saturday, as the talented duo can become only the second pair of teammates in Bears history to have two backs go over 1,000 yards in a single season-the first being Anthony Wallace and Russell White in 1990.  Lynch currently stands at 929 total yards on the ground this year, while Forsett-who is boasting the nation's second best yards per carry average at 7.3-has 912 yards.

"Cal has a great offensive line, that's where it all starts for them," Cardinal defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo said. "They're very physical up front, and schemes are one thing, but when you have talented backs like that you can make almost anything work."  While the Bears come into the contest tomorrow struggling on the field, it has been the exact opposite for Stanford.  After dropping an embarrassing 20-17 loss to Division I-AA UC Davis earlier in the season, the Cardinal has rebounded well, winning four out of its last six contests heading into Saturday.  Stanford will have to win either the Big Game or its matchup with No. 6 Notre Dame in two weeks to become bowl eligible. Cal is already headed to a bowl game.

Cal Football 2005: Cal vs. Stanford

KICKOFF: Cal takes on Stanford tomorrow at

4 p.m. at Stanford Stadium.

TV: ABC

RADIO: KGO 810 AM

THE OPPONENT: Stanford (5-4, 4-3 in the Pac-10) is coming off a 20-17 win over Oregon State.

SERIES: Stanford leads 54-42-11. Cal has won the last three meetings.