By Jack Ross
On a day where the Cal football team put together arguably its most complete game of 2008, one reporter simply couldn't resist asking about a familiar issue involving two Bears signal callers, uttering what must be one of Cal coach Jeff Tedford's least favorite phrases:
Quarterback controversy.
"I don't think there is a controversy," Tedford bluntly stated in the aftermath of Saturday's 24-14 win over Arizona State. "We just put in who we think is going to give us the best chance to win. I'm not saying it can't be Kevin (Riley). We'll evaluate this game and we'll look to see what Nate (Longshore) could have done better and what Kevin would have done differently." Then, Tedford reiterated the sentiment he's made clear since the beginning of this quarterback competition:
"It may take both (Kevin and Nate) for us to get to where we need to go." Yet on this particular Saturday, the Bears only needed Longshore to take down the Sun Devils. Flanked by a breakout performance from freshman running back Shane Vereen-who had more than 100 total yards in the first half-the veteran quarterback had a ho-hum statistical day, completing 17 of 28 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers. As a unit, Cal's offense got off to seemingly its strongest start of the year, something Tedford earlier claimed was a driving force for the change from Riley to Longshore. Scoring twice in the opening two drives-a 21-yard field goal by David Seawright and 19-yard LaReyelle Cunningham touchdown-the Bears set the stage by establishing a 10-point cushion just 10 minutes into the game. Arizona State never got closer than that. "Everything (went) well," Tedford said of the faster start. "We went out on the first drive and-you'd like to get a touchdown there-but it's great to have a long drive and come away with points." The only true mistake Longshore did make came on the Bears' third drive following the two opening strikes. With great field position at the Arizona State 45-yard line, Cal seemed ready to blow the game wide open with a third straight score, until a miscommunication on a busted screen pass to Vereen led to a Longshore interception and quelled the prospect.
Outside of that, Longshore was at his best once Cal marched into Sun Devil territory. On each of his three touchdown passes, he didn't allow the Arizona State defense into the picture, placing the ball accurately where only Cunningham, Nyan Boateng and Cameron Morrah could catch it. Yet even on a day where he had a leading role in the Bears' success, the deferential Longshore seemed happy to credit Cal's other side of the ball as Saturday's stand-out reason for success-to his own viewing pleasure. "I love watching our defense, they're on fire right now," Longshore said. "They won the game today. I don't even like defense, but I like watching (our) guys."
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