By Craig Smith
PULLMAN — Help. That's what the Washington State Cougars need from California today if they hope to cool off the hottest team in the Pac-10.
Cougars coach Bill Doba said if his team is going to keep its streak intact of not losing to Cal in Pullman since 1979, the Bears are going to have to make mistakes. "I think quite honestly they are going to have to help us a little bit," Doba said. "Put the ball on the ground a few times or maybe [Nate] Longshore throw a pick once in a while." Quarterback Longshore has been doing just the opposite. In its past five games, Cal has scored more than 40 points each time out, and Longshore has thrown for 17 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Tenth-ranked California (5-1 overall, 3-0 Pac-10) is an eight-point favorite over the Cougs (4-2, 2-1) in the 2 p.m. homecoming game that won't be televised. Cal's misery streak in Pullman covers eight visits, none by any current members of the team. The schools didn't play in 1991-92 and 2003-04. The 1981 Cougs' victory was in Spokane and the schools played to a 17-17 tie in Japan in 1987.
The last visit by the Bears to Pullman was in 2001 when the Cougars' Sun Bowl team won 51-20. Cal coach Jeff Tedford has briefed his team on the hostile environment that awaits them. "I've already warned our kids about that," he said. "There are a lot of things said to them that aren't very nice. We have to make sure not to get into a sparring match that way." In addition to hoping for Bears mistakes, the Cougars are hoping the visitors show up listless instead of lethal. Cal is coming off a revenge victory, a headline-grabbing 45-24 romp over then-No. 11 Oregon. "They just came off a very emotional game — it was the matchup game of the week," Doba said. "They were sky high going into that, sort of the way we were against 'SC. You can talk and preach all that you want but they [players] lose focus. I don't know if they can come in two weeks in a row and be that fired up." Tedford doesn't need reminding about a possible letdown. "We've already talked to our team about that," he said Tuesday. "We'll continue to harp on that every day."
The Bears are dangerous. "You can't give up big plays," Doba said. "That's the thing that probably worries me the most. ... Break a tackle and they're gone." Cal has had 17 scoring drives this season that have taken less than two minutes. Longshore throws to a brilliant trio of receivers in Lavelle Hawkins, Robert Jordan and DeSean Jackson. Jackson, who leads the Pac-10 in touchdowns with 10, averages 18 yards per catch and has scored two of his touchdowns on punt returns. "He's as close to a Reggie Bush returning punts as you can get," Doba said, referring to the former USC star.
Rushers? Well, there is Marshawn Lynch, the only back in the Pac-10 averaging 100 yards, and fellow speedster Justin Forsett. Lynch missed the last half of the victory over Oregon with an ankle injury, but is scheduled to start today. One objective of the Cougs today is to avoid getting in an early hole. Cal has averaged 17 points in the first quarter of its past four games. The Bears lead the Pac-10 in turnover margin at plus-six thanks to 11 interceptions, five of them by cornerback Daymeion Hughes. The Cougar who has Cal's attention is defensive end Mkristo Bruce, who leads the nation with 10 sacks. As a team, the Cougars rank first nationally with 27 sacks. The Cougars have injury problems. Starting tight end Cody Boyd, a 6-foot-8 target and a good blocker, is out with an ankle injury. It will be a game-day decision whether star receiver Jason Hill (shoulder) plays. Starting right tackle Charles Harris (ankle) is doubtful. Hill caught three third-quarter touchdown passes at Cal last year and finished with six catches for 240 yards, but Cal escaped with a 42-38 victory.
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