Monday, August 21, 2006

Contra Costa Times: Hicks healthy and delivering the hits for Cal defense

Even his teammates aren't spared punishment from the physical safety

By Jay Heater

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

BERKELEY - The crack could be heard around Memorial Stadium, making anyone in the stands stand up and take notice. It was the sound of a devastating hit, one that rattles teeth and causes defensive players to jump around like they have collectively hit the lottery. Once again, the guy delivering the hit was sophomore safety Bernard Hicks, a 6-foot-1, 202-pound muscle with a head attached. He had just laid out another offensive player. Surveying the action, coach Jeff Tedford had a message delivered to Hicks. "These guys are your teammates." It wasn't easy for Hicks to do, but he has tried not to bury anyone under the turf. "Coach Tedford told me a couple of times to back off," Hicks said. "It's hard because you get your defense going. Big hits are one of the keys to my play. Those hits can change momentum.

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