Other than the uniform colors — and what other team could compare to Oregon in that category? — it might be difficult to differentiate California from Oregon during today's Pacific 10 Conference game at Berkeley. From the spread offenses featuring speedy skill position players that average 40.5 and 38.4 points a game to defenses that give up 20 and 20.4, the teams are nearly mirror images. And that should come as no surprise, considering Cal Coach Jeff Tedford was the offensive coordinator under Oregon's Mike Bellotti for four years and has modeled the Golden Bears after his mentor's Ducks. Because both use similar schemes, the coaches also regularly compete against each other for recruits, which has added a personal touch to the game. For example, Cal running back Marshawn Lynch chose to stay close to home rather than head north to Oregon, while Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon left the Bay Area and became a Duck. "So many of the players that went up there, we always talked, and we all wanted to end up at the same school," Lynch said. "So that's a little rivalry right there." Four of Tedford's assistants have been Ducks, including defensive coordinator Bob Gregory. Tedford's strength coach, video coordinator, recruiting assistant, two equipment managers and the director of football operations also have experience at Oregon.
"I know half his staff," Bellotti said. "He's done a nice job of recruiting good people, and that's what it's about." The winner will become USC's primary rival for the Pac-10 championship, and the loser might be knocked out of the Bowl Championship Series picture. Either way, it's the most anticipated matchup of the season at Memorial Stadium — mostly because everybody knows each other.
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