Lightly regarded opponents can be dangerous, but Cal simply looks to take care of business vs. Portland State
By Jay Heater
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
BERKELEY - Cal's football players weren't accepted into the nation's No. 1-ranked public university because they were dummies. They know the reality of today's game (3:15 p.m. kickoff) against Division I-AA Portland State at Memorial Stadium. "It's a game we think we should win," senior offensive guard Erik Robertson said. It's easy to understand why Robertson believes that. Cal had two cupcakes in 2005 and dispatched both Sacramento State and New Mexico State with relative ease. In both cases, talent simply took over. However, Robertson should remember back to his redshirt freshman season of 2002 when Cal figured to beat up on a smaller, less-talented Air Force squad. The Falcons flew out of Berkeley with a 23-21 win.
There have been games in every university's history that were supposed to be bunnies and instead turned into catastrophes. Remember when Hawaii came into Memorial Stadium in 1994, blocked two punts and came away with a 21-7 victory? Yikes! How about that supposed weekend getaway to Shreveport, La., where the Bears figured to beat up on minor conference opponent Louisiana Tech in 1997? They had a very long plane ride home after a 41-34 loss. Or for ultimate embarrassment, consider Stanford's loss to UC Davis last season. Cal coach Jeff Tedford will not motivate his players this week by mentioning Davis' win over Stanford. There will be no "Don't let this happen to you" speeches. His theory is to run his ship exactly the same way he would if USC were coming to town. "I don't think we are thinking about who we are playing," Tedford said. "We don't change what we do. If we changed, it would mean we're not doing the right thing in the first place." Of course, he isn't naive. He has faith that his leaders in the locker room will keep everyone on course. "There always are the pitfalls of people who take things lightly," Tedford said. One team leader is senior cornerback Daymeion Hughes, who said there is a clear theme this week. "This is not about (Portland State)," he said. "This is about us."
Hughes said the Bears will be fine if they play up to their ability. He said it would be counter-productive to run around warning everyone that they have to get higher emotionally for Portland State. "You don't want to push people too far," he said. "You want to go about things the way you usually do." Hughes was asked if he ever has underestimated an opponent. "Southern Miss took us by surprise (in 2004)," he said. "They had the best receiving corps we faced all season." Cal managed to win that game 26-16, but it was tougher than expected. Stanford would have taken a tougher-than-expected win against Davis last year. It didn't happen. "You don't want to see anyone in the Pac-10 lose," Hughes said. "I felt sorry for them.
"You just hope it doesn't happen to you."
• ESSENTIALS: Portland State at Cal, Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
• KICKOFF: 3:15 p.m.
• TV/RADIO: Comcast Sports Network; 810-AM
• RECORDS: Portland State 2-0 after a 45-3 win against visiting Northern Colorado last Saturday; Cal 1-1 after a 42-17 win over visiting Minnesota last Saturday.
• INJURIES: Portland State -- TB Mu'Ammar Ali (shoulder) and TE Brent TenBruggencate (knee) are out. Cal -- OT Andrew Cameron (ankle) and OG Bryan Deemer (knee) are out; TB Marshawn Lynch (ankle) and TE Craig Stevens (concussion) are questionable.
Good and bad
Almost every university's athletic administration tries to set up its football team for at least one easy nonconference win. Sometimes those games go to form. When they don't, it can be embarrassing.
EASY PICKINGS
• 2005: Cal 41, Sacramento State 3
• 2005: Cal 41, New Mexico State 13
• 2002: Cal 70, Baylor 22
• 1993: Cal 58, Temple 0
• 1991: Cal 86, Pacific 24
WHAT HAPPENED?
• 2002: Air Force 23, Cal 21
• 1997: Louisiana Tech 41, Cal 34
• 1995: San Diego State 33, Cal 9
• 1994: Hawaii 21, Cal 7
• 1980: Army 26, Cal 19
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