SF Chronicle: Riley still a riddle for Saturday start

By Rusty Simmons

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Cal coach Jeff Tedford said sophomore quarterback Kevin Riley will have to practice today to have a chance to start Saturday against No. 7 USC, and if Tuesday night's interview is any indication, Riley won't be practicing any time soon.  Riley, who endured a concussion in the first quarter of Saturday's 26-16 win over Oregon, said Tuesday he couldn't remember tests he had taken earlier in the day and had trouble focusing on the game plan as he observed practice.  He has taken two sets of computer-based tests that assess brain activity, movement and focus. He still hasn't been approved to take an impact test, which is a must before he'll be cleared to practice.  "I'm feeling better and haven't had a headache in 24 hours," Riley said. "I'll come in early Wednesday to do conditioning, and, hopefully, they'll let me take the impact test and let me practice.  "That's what I want to happen, but I don't know if that's what is going to happen."

In all likelihood, senior Nate Longshore, who took all of Tuesday's first-team repetitions, will start at USC. He went 13-for-27 with 136 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in relief of Riley in miserable, wet conditions at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. "I'm approaching the game like I'm starting, but I do that every week," said Longshore, who has not beaten USC in two tries as a starter. "It's an important game for us, because it's important to our season, not because beating USC looks good on your career resume. "Too many people are satisfied with their big victories in life. You hear people say, 'It'd be OK if we go 1-10 as long as we beat our big rival.' We need to beat USC, because they're in our way of the Pac-10 championship."

USC outlasted Cal 24-17 in Strawberry Canyon last season. The Bears tied it in the final minute of the third quarter and drove into Trojans' territory with three minutes left, but Longshore was intercepted by Terrell Thomas.  "It's just an honor for us to be able to be on the same field with them," Longshore said tongue-in-cheek. He also jokingly referred to Riley as "scatterbrains." Riley said he has no memories from immediately after he was sandwiched by three Oregon defenders. He was led to the huddle by tailback Shane Vereen and then wobbled to one knee. As he neared the sideline, Riley tried to jog, but the trainers wouldn't allow it. With one arm, he tried to get the crowd enthused with emphatic waves. "People have told me about that," Riley said. "I came to about seven minutes later and was like, 'What the hell is going on? Put me back in the game,' so they hid my helmet from me." Riley has completed 53.7 percent of his passes for 1,065 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions and is 5-1 as a starter. Longshore has completed 56.8 percent of his passes for 767 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions and is 1-1 as a starter.

Tedford offered his weekly, "We'll see as the week progresses and we'll make the determination from there."  "I would think that we can make a determination by Thursday, depending on Riley's health," the coach said. "He would have to practice Wednesday. If he doesn't practice Wednesday, the chances of him starting would not be good."