Cal QB looks for redemption after 0-for-10 outing

Ayoob named starter

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

Cal quarterback Joe Ayoob will get a shot his redemption. And it's coming soon.  Ayoob, dismal in his Division I-A debut, will start Saturday when Cal plays its Pac-10 opener at Washington.    "I'm better than that," said Ayoob, who came to Cal as the heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers after an outstanding JC career at City College of San Francisco.

Ayoob was referring to his performance in Saturday's 41-3 season-opening win over Sacramento State.  When starter Nate Longshore left the game late in the second quarter with a broken ankle, Ayoob came in -- just a bit earlier than initially planned.  Ayoob struggled with his timing, his footwork and his accuracy. He went 0-for-10 before being relieved by third-string quarterback Steve Levy.   "He didn't play to his potential by any means," coach Jeff Tedford said. "That doesn't mean he can't play. ... He'll be ready. He'll practice hard."  Tedford acknowledged that Ayoob came into the game in a tough situation. He was initially scheduled to start the second half. Instead, with little warm-up, he got in the game while the Bears were in a two-minute drill, and he immediately was forced to attempt long passes.

After being off-target on his first few efforts, he began to force his throws. And, Tedford said, things went worse from there. Those days happen," Tedford said.  "I've had bad days," Ayoob said, "but not like that."

Ayoob said he went to bed early Saturday and tried to sleep while his roommates were hosting a party.

He went to his family's home in Marin County on Sunday, where his dad cheered him up with some good-natured kidding.  Ayoob had taken off his Cal warm-up jacket, tossing it toward the couch. He missed.  "That's 0-for-11," his dad said.  Ayoob felt better when Tedford called him, telling him he'd be getting the start against the Huskies.  "I didn't have to wait another day or think about it," Ayoob said.

Later, the two also had a private talk, which Tedford characterized as "very similar" to the talk he had with Rodgers two years ago after Rodgers went 9-for-34 in a loss to Oregon State early in his career at Cal after transferring from Butte College.

Tedford said JC transfers often needed a little extra care. "They have to learn how to practice, learn how to focus."

Longshore, meanwhile, had surgery Sunday. He said doctors told him his recovery should take two-to-three months. Surgeons inserted two pins into his broken left fibula, binding it to the tibia high on the ankle, and sewed up ligament damage lower, at the ankle joint itself.

He was at practice Monday, watching from the sideline, his leg in a cast and heavily wrapped from calf to toes.

"I had nothing else to do," he said. "This is life, football."  The redshirt freshman was all smiles as he looked back on his brief stint as the Bears' starting quarterback. "It was fun while it lasted," he said.

For now, redshirt freshman walk-on Bryan Van Meter moves to third on the depth chart and will make the trip to Washington. True freshman Kyle Reed, a blue-chip recruit from McClymonds High expected to redshirt, will be taken off the scout team and begin taking regular reps at practice.

Briefly: Wide receiver Noah Smith also broke an ankle in Saturday's game. Tedford said Smith's break was lower than Longshore's, actually at the ankle joint, and wouldn't require surgery. He is expected back in six weeks. Smith had three catches for 72 yards and one touchdown in Saturday's win.