Sunday, September 10, 2006

Contra Costa Times: Cal's Longshore steps up

QB's dazzling display in lopsided win just what the Bears needed

Column by Carl Steward

BERKELEYCal came home and not only found its credibility on Saturday, it also found its quarterback for the long term.  If Nate Longshore didn't firmly establish himself as the right man to lead the Golden Bears' offense with a 300-yard, four-touchdown, zero-turnover performance during a 42-17 romp over Minnesota, then the game film will show something everybody else missed.  As last year's team proved, Cal can be very good even when the quarterbacking isn't. But to get where Jeff Tedford wants to take the program — to the Rose Bowl or a spot in the BCS derby — it needs a passer and a leader to start delivering as Longshore did in a 22-for-31 performance that won over the Memorial Stadium crowd.

It definitely won over Tedford in a big, big way. The head coach hasn't looked this happy since Aaron Rodgers was around, and he definitely looked happier than he did after last week's Tennessee disaster.  "That was more like us, that's what we expect of us," Tedford said. "Last week was something of a fluke. It was one of those days where everything that could have gone wrong did. I think it would have been impossible for that to happen two weeks in a row."  But Cal's return to prominence was really galvanized by Longshore, who was just short of brilliant. It was the breakout game Tedford obviously had been looking for from his talented 6-foot-5 sophomore, the first complete game of his college career. It's been a long time coming.  "I finally made it through a game," Longshore said. "It was fun. I never played a fourth quarter before, so that was pretty exciting."

He'll play many more if Saturday's outing was any kind of preview. It wasn't just his numbers. The hints of poise he showed in the Tennessee game really emerged in this second start. He was confident and locked in on his targets most of the day. He looked like he'd been doing it for years.  "He was really, really sharp today," Tedford said. "He was throwing some lasers in there and hitting them right on the numbers at times. Plus, he has such a great demeanor with the team in the huddle and on the sidelines. He's really focused."  So is there any doubt now Longshore is the No. 1 guy?  "No ... Nate's our starter," the coach said flatly.

Read the entire article here.

 

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