Levy family savors QB's Golden game

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER 

ANG Newspapers

 BERKELEY — Outside the Cal locker room Saturday, Steve Levy's family was overcome with joy after the unexpected turn of events.  "He's my hero," Mark Levy, 24, said of his younger brother. "It's the best day of my life."   "I was crying the whole time," Angela Levy, the mother, said. "My legs can't stop shaking."    "It's been a long time since I've seen him throw a touchdown pass," Mark Levy, the father, said. "It was nice to see all the players happy for him."   The father is a landscape contractor. The family lives in Cornwall, N.Y., north of New York City, near West Point. For four years, the Levys have traveled cross-country to numerous Cal games, hoping to see Steve, the second of three sons, play.

Until Saturday, there had been only two instances where the family was rewarded. Last year, Steve carried twice for 3 yards at Air Force, and caught a 9-yard pass against New Mexico State — as a fullback.   Steve is naturally a quarterback, but Cal needed fullback depth last year, so Steve, always a team player, obliged for one season.   But Saturday, Steve, No.3 on the depth chart at quarterback, was pressed into action against Sacramento State after Nate Longshore broke his left ankle and backup Joe Ayoob threw 10 straight incomplete passes.

And Steve's very first completion at Cal turned into a 46-yard touchdown pass to Noah Smith that contributed to the Bears' 41-3 victory. And Steve's teammates were, indeed, happy for him.   "This is a guy who puts in a lot of work," All-America center Marvin Philip said. "He's been tossed around a bit. It's nice to see it pay off."   From out of nowhere, which is a suburb of oblivion, Steve Levy has emerged as a potential starter. Or, at least, a solid contributor. Tedford will decide Monday on Ayoob or Levy as his starting quarterback for Saturday's Pac-10 opener at Washington.

"It's been a long time coming," Steve said.  There is a Steve Levy on every college football roster, someone who isn't a blue-chipper, yet is deserving of a scholarship, someone who has the ultimate respect of others, but struggles to find playing time.   Cal has the real Steve Levy, and Tedford, his assistants and Levy's teammates appreciate him greatly. He is a jack-of-all-trades and one of the team's most popular players.   "I've been playing football since I was 6 years old, so this is kind of my life," he said. "Being away from home, I make the best of it. I come out here every day and try to get better. Put me on the field whereever and I'll do it. That's my attitude, to get it done."   Levy is similar to most Division 1-A players, recruited out of high school. At Don Bosco Prep, he was ranked among New Jersey's top five quarterbacks after passing for 11 touchdowns and rushing for six touchdowns as a senior in 2001, when he was named North Jersey Player of the

Year.   "Then I came out here and it's like wait your turn," he said in an interview last Wednesday. "I'm still waiting my turn. But you can't let it get to you. You have to think optimistically. You can't think 'I suck.' But it's been very difficult, and depressing, playing fullback and getting beat up."   Then he mentioned his strong support group, including his parents, who've buoyed him through this difficult period of idleness by keeping him grounded.

"Mothers would tell me, 'How can you let your child go across the world?' "Angela said a few days before Saturday's memorable game for her son. "But I have to let him go. I love him so much. We talk on the phone every day, even if it's just to hear his voice.   "He's a carefree kind of guy, very positive, never a negative word. He's well-rounded and very caring. It would be wonderful to see him play, but if he doesn't play a down, life goes on. He'll be OK. He's getting a great education. The sun will shine again."   Steve is a redshirt junior with visions of starring at Cal before life does, indeed, go on after graduation.   "I have dreams all the time," he said Wednesday. "I sit in class and daydream, that if something happens, I could be the man in there. I'm ready. Coach knows I'm ready."   Tedford does knows that, and last Wednesday he projected Levy playing a bigger role, to the point of helping Cal win games.   "I don't think there's any doubt about that," said Tedford. "He's really made huge progress at quarterback. If he plays, our offense would be in good hands. I would have no problem with Steve in there.

"He's a great team guy ... eager to help the team any way he can. He's such a likable guy, with a great personality and sense of humor."   On Saturday, Tedford sent Levy in, and the frog became the prince. Yes, he hit on only 2 of 7 passes for 52 yards. And he had an interception and fumbled the ball away once. But imagine his excitement at finally getting to play extensive minutes with no reps in practice last week.   "He is a competitive guy," Tedford said of Levy after the win. "And I think if he can get some reps in practice, he will be fine for the games."    Whatever happens, Steve and his family will need seat belts all this week, because they are floating on air.

NOTE: Longshore had surgery Sunday to repair the broken bone in his left leg. The surgery confirmed the original diagnosis of a fractured fibula, and no further damage was found, the school said. He is expected to miss three months.