SF Chronicle: Injured DeCoud still not ready to go

Rusty Simmons, Chronicle Staff Writer

Cal safety Thomas DeCoud, who led the team with 26 tackles at the time of his injury, is "progressing but still not ready," for Saturday's game against No. 11 Oregon, coach Jeff Tedford said Wednesday.  DeCoud, who missed last week's win over Oregon State with a strained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, was held out of Wednesday's practice. He was in full pads and looked pretty good while running through a series of drills on the sideline.  During his first two years, he made his name with six blocked kicks, and he has proven to be a ball hawk on defense this season. Despite missing the last seven quarters, DeCoud ranks third on the team in tackles behind senior linebacker Desmond Bishop (32) and junior rover Brandon Hampton (31).  Bernard Hicks got his first collegiate start in DeCoud's place against Oregon State and responded with seven tackles and a pass breakup.

Briefly: Cal's game against Washington State has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 14 in Pullman. The game isn't scheduled to be televised. ... Former Cal quarterback Steve Bartkowski has been selected for induction into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. He was a consensus All-American for the Bears in 1974 and was the NFL Rookie of the Year for the Atlanta Falcons in 1975. ... A book detailing more than 120 years of Cal's football history is in the works. Ron Fimrite, a Cal alum who made his name at The Chronicle and at Sports Illustrated, is the author. Donations to help fund the effort can be made by contacting Lefty Stern of the Cal Football History Project at leftystern@hotmail.com.