GARY HOROWITZ
Statesman Journal
September 8, 2005
California fans are accustomed to excellence at the quarterback position. Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers were the Golden Bears' signal callers the past six years, and both players are in the NFL. Patience may be the theme in 2005, at least early on for the 16th-ranked Golden Bears. Redshirt freshman Nate Longshore earned the starting quarterback job in a fall camp battle with junior college transfer Joe Ayoob, but he suffered a broken fibula late in the first half of Saturday's 41-3 victory against Division I-AA Sacramento State and is likely out for the remainder of the season. Enter Ayoob, who went 0 for 10 and was replaced by third-string signal caller Steve Levy, a fullback for the Bears last season. Coach Jeff Tedford said Ayoob would be the starter in Saturday's Pacific-10 Conference opener at Washington.
"He made good decisions," Tedford said. "He just was a little bit off with some of this throws and had a couple dropped balls. It just kind of mounted on him. We still have a lot of confidence in him." The Bears have plenty of other weapons on offense and a stout defense. Sophomore tailback Marshawn Lunch, who averaged 8.8 yards per carry last season backing up J.J. Arrington, rushed for 147 yards in the opener. Highly regarded freshman wide receiver DeSean Jackson scored two touchdowns, one on a 49-yard punt return. NATION PULLING FOR LSU: Because of Hurricane Katrina, Saturday's game between No. 5 LSU and No. 15 Arizona State, originally scheduled to be played in Baton Rouge, La., has been moved to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. The game will not count as part of a home-and-home series between the schools. LSU will still come to ASU in 2008, and ASU will return the game at a date to be determined. Saturday's game will serve as a fund-raiser for the relief effort.
HUSKIES LOSING STREAK AT SEVEN: The Tyrone Willingham era began Saturday with a 20-17 loss to Air Force in Seattle. It was the Huskies' seventh straight loss, dating back to last season. The Huskies host Cal on Saturday.
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