Wednesday, December 21, 2005

SF Chronicle: O'Callaghan limps back to practice

CAL NOTEBOOK

Bruce Adams

Las Vegas -- Starting right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan was in full gear at Tuesday's practice, although his work was limited. O'Callaghan, who turned an ankle in Saturday's practice in Berkeley, said he was fine and would be able to play Thursday. At Monday's practice, he watched from the sideline in his sweats. The ankle was taped Tuesday, but he still was limping. O'Callaghan, who is 6-foot-8 and down to 340 pounds from his listed weight of 360, is a critical part of the Bears' offensive line. He has been named first team All-Pac-10 the past two years and also honored this year as the conference's best offensive lineman. He was overlooked by the Associated Press' All-America team. Late last week, looking at the final All-America roster, he said, "Let's see where their names are on draft day." Quieter digs: Coach Jeff Tedford said the team will check out of the Hard Rock, Cal's official Las Vegas Bowl headquarters, and take up residence in a hotel away from the strip to ensure a quiet night before Thursday's game against BYU.   "It's just the atmosphere," Tedford said, acknowledging the noise, distractions and smoky air at the Hard Rock. "It's hard to get away from the casino life."

Seeing double: Defensive back Thomas DeCoud will wear No. 5 instead of his usual No. 4 in Thursday game because tight end David Gray also wears No. 4 and the two are on the field at the same time on the kickoff-return team. DeCoud has been changing into No. 96 for that chore all year. It points to one of the things that often has confused fans, and some public-address announcers: duplicate numbers. Players can wear the same number if they aren't on the field at the same time. It's fairly common in college football. What's unusual about Cal is that so many front-line players share a number. Tailback Marshawn Lynch, who leads the team in rushing, and linebacker Desmond Bishop, who leads the team in tackles, both wear No. 10. Receiver DeSean Jackson and linebacker Worrell Williams wear No. 1. Safety Harrison Smith and receiver Robert Jordan both wear 11, and so on. "It's not an issue," Tedford said. "If that's what they want to wear, that's fine."

 

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