Cal moved up two spots to No. 6 in the Associated Press college football poll Sunday. The Bears (3-0) won 35-21 at Minnesota on Saturday in their first road test of the season. In 2008, Cal lost its last four road games. The Bears, who play their Pacific-10 Conference opener Saturday at Oregon (2-1), are confident they can continue to win on the road this season. "It's about belief," said running back Jahvid Best, who rushed for five touchdowns against Minnesota. "I feel like this team is really a family. So when times get hard and times get rough, I feel like this team really comes together and fights for each other."
Add to that a defense that forced four turnovers against the Gophers, had three sacks and held Minnesota to 37 yards rushing, and this Bears team appears to have momentum heading into a tough stretch that includes Saturday's game at Oregon, an Oct. 3 showdown against USC and an Oct. 17 game at UCLA. "I like this team's chemistry. I like this team's leadership," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "I like their work ethic and I like their togetherness. They always work hard every day and so I have a lot of respect and admiration for what our guys do every single day. "Everything about them, I like who they are. I think it's a special group that way." Cal receiver Nyan Boateng will be sidelined four to six weeks after suffering a fractured right foot during Saturday's game. Boateng will undergo surgery today to have a pin inserted in the foot. He said he suffered the injury while blocking on a play during the second quarter.
Boateng had two catches for 30 yards before going down against the Gophers. He has five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown this season. Boateng was Cal's leading receiver last season with 29 catches. Jeremy Ross, who caught two passes during the Bears' winning fourth-quarter drive Saturday, figures to pick up the majority of the available playing time in Boateng's absence. Michael Calvin and Alex Lagemann could also see increased action.
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