SF Chronicle: Cal QB makes most of chance

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Cal's Steve Levy is finally emerging from the shadows, and he couldn't be happier. "It feels really good to be the quarterback here," Levy said. "I haven't been in the spotlight like this since high school." Levy, who will start against Brigham Young in Thursday's Las Vegas Bowl, took over the position in the regular-season finale, a 27-3 win over Stanford in the Big Game. With the Bears ranking second in the Pac-10 in rushing and 10th in passing, coach Jeff Tedford was looking for consistency at quarterback to infuse the offense with much-needed balance. Levy, who won't be mistaken for a Kyle Boller or an Aaron Rodgers, brought confidence and competence to the position. Against Stanford, he was 10-for-18 for 125 yards and one touchdown. For the season, he is 16-for-29 for 211 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. A reserve fullback and special-teams player last year, the redshirt junior finds himself in new territory. "Every practice is important now," Levy said. "It's all about repetitions in this offense. It feels great to get a lot of the reps and feel comfortable with the guys." Levy came to Cal in 2002 as a quarterback from Don Bosco Prep, an all-boys school in New Jersey just across the state-line from his home in Cornwall, N.Y. He took redshirted his first year and didn't play in 2003 after shoulder surgery.

Following what he says was an uncomfortable year at fullback, he returned to quarterback this season. Until the Big Game, he had played sparingly in four games -- the highlights were a 46-yard touchdown pass to Noah Smith in the 41-3 win over Sacramento State and leading a late 51-yard touchdown drive in the 35-10 loss to USC on Nov. 12. Tedford said Levy has been throwing the ball better in practices for the bowl game.

"My technique is getting a lot better," Levy said. "The timing with the receivers is also a very big key. I just feel more comfortable in the pocket."

And though Levy says he's not about to surrender the job without a fight, Tedford said the job will have to be earned in the spring. Since the Big Game, Levy is increasingly being recognized on campus and he's spending more time with the media. He said he's doing his best to deal with the increased hype. He is expecting a 20-person delegation from back East in Las Vegas, including his parents and friends from high school. "This is an exciting time for me and my family," he said.