Jonathan Okanes
That was a pretty good fast one pulled off by Cal's coaching staff. When asked about the competition to handle kickoffs during training camp, coach Jeff Tedford talked only about senior Jordan Kay and freshman David Seawright. Little did anybody know that the Bears were waiting for walk-on Giorgio Tavecchio to join the team once the fall semester began. Tavecchio, a freshman from Campolindo High School, participated in his first Cal practice on Wednesday, the day classes began. Three days later, it was Tavecchio who got the 2008 season under way when he kicked off to begin the Bears' opener against Michigan State. "It was an honor to start off the 2008 Golden Bear season," Tavecchio said. "I feel like I'm in a dream. On Thursday, I was just happy to be here." Seawright, another walk-on, beat Kay for the right to handle field goals. It was believed it was just those two who were vying for kickoff responsibilities, but neither had a very good camp kicking it deep. Tavecchio consistently kicked it farther than the other two during Thursday's practice. He was told after practice he would be kicking against the Spartans.
"They hadn't really told me much," Tavecchio said. "I thought I would just tag along with the other kickers and then get a chance to show what I got. I thought it would be a couple of weeks before I really got a chance. I went in trying to absorb as much as I could. I guess the coaches liked what they saw and decided to give me a shot." Tavecchio handled the first four kickoffs against Michigan State. Seawright took the final two. Tavecchio said he expects the competition to continue. "I walked out on to the field and the hair was standing up on my neck," he said. "I saw all the people and I felt this great sense of enormous adrenaline pumping through my body. It was a once in a lifetime experience, something I've never felt before. My goal is to contribute to this team as much as possible."
Smashing debut
Cal punter Bryan Anger said he didn't see or hear anybody in the stands Saturday. That means he missed the "oohs" and "ahs" coming from the fans as they watched punt after punt soar through the sky. Anger, a highly regarded redshirt freshman playing in his first college game, reeled off punts of 56, 59 and 56 yards on his first three attempts. His last punt near the end of the game went just 21 yards, but he still finished with a 48.0 average for the game. "I did not see anybody. I did not hear anything," Anger said. "People told me not to pay attention to the stands, so I didn't see anything going on. I was just watching where it went."
Anger also mishandled a snap that he recovered and tried to punt, but it was blocked. He suffered a sprained knee on the play but said he expects to play this Saturday at Washington State.
Extra points
Cal's game at WSU marks the earliest the Bears have opened Pac-10 play since playing UCLA in the season opener in 1993. ... The Cougars lost their opener to Oklahoma State 39-13.
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