San Jose Mercury: Cal, Stanford and SJSU football: Three teams, two problems

Link.

By Jon Wilner

It didn’t occur to me until Jim Harbaugh made mention of Stanford’s tailback situation following the Spring Game:  Not only do the locals have quarterback questions; they also have backfield questions. The Bears, Cardinal and Spartans are all looking for No. 1 quarterbacks and No. 1 tailbacks.

***

CAL

Quarterback: My feeling at the end of the ‘07 season was that Nate Longshore might bolt for a Mormon Church Mission rather than compete for the starting job with bowl sensation Kevin Riley.   Instead, he opted to compete — creating the possibility that their duel would last through training camp and possibly stretch into the season, with neither establishing himself as the clear-cut No. 1.  And now Longshore’s out with a torn pectoral muscle, leaving most of the spring snaps to Riley, who obviously needs them more given the disparity in experience.

Best guess: Longshore works his butt off over the summer and looks very good in August, so good that Coach Jeff Tedford can’t give Riley the job.

Tailback: My feeling at the end of ‘07 was that Jahvid Best’s career might be over because of the hip injury, and I’m glad I was wrong — you hate to see players retire in college because of injury.  But there’s no telling how effective Best will be in training camp, and without Shane Vereen (hamstring) and James Montgomery (transfer), Cal has been light on experience in spring ball.

Best guess: Tracy Slocum and Covaughn DeBoskie are getting most of the reps now, but look for a tailback-by-committee approach, at least early in the season.  Off the top of my head, I’m thinking this will be, by far, the most wide open tailback situation of the Tedford era.

Daily Cal: Oregon State, Air Force and All, Kevin Riley Returns Ready For Spring Ball

By Steven Dunst

Wideout Jeremy Ross chuckles just recounting the story. The Cal football team was trying its best to look "hard" and intense. It was, after all, time to pose for the team picture.   Freshman quarterback Kevin Riley strutted on from stage left with a goofy grin. The whole team burst out laughing, looking at his ridiculous walk.   "You can just sense his funniness wherever he is," says Ross, not the most solemn guy himself. "The days are tough, and he knows how to change the mood. He's a really outgoing guy."  There was nobody there to lighten the mood after Riley's first career start last year. For a while, it seemed like the confident gunslinger with the goofy demeanor might have to spend the next two years thinking about 14 seconds.

Riley has not forgotten the crushing 31-28 loss to Oregon State, in which he was stopped well short of the goal line and could not spike the ball with time winding down. The field goal unit never came close to seeing the field-costing the Bears their undefeated season, a No. 1 national ranking and a potential BCS bid.

But his confidence is not shaken. After Saturday's scrimmage, during which he efficiently if not masterfully led the first team offense, Riley walks over to his mom and slowly takes the tape off his throwing hand. His voice remains calm and level when a reporter asks him for the umpteenth time to talk about his first career start against the Beavers.

Read the entire article here.

 

Contra Costa Times: Cal's Riley has the right attitude

Cal's football scrimmage had ended Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, and a young Bears fan approached Kevin Riley on the field, seeking an autograph and offering an impassioned pro-Riley take on Cal's quarterback competition.   "You had a couple sick games last year," the fan said, rapid-fire. "You tore it up. ... You have to be feeling pretty confident about it."  Riley listened patiently, an amused look on his face, then responded.  "That's just the way I am," Riley told the fan.

Confidence has never been an issue for Riley. Not when he was growing up in Oregon as the youngest of four siblings and the son of a high school football coach. And certainly not now when he's trying to unseat Nate Longshore as Cal's starting quarterback.  No one knows which quarterback -- Brock Mansion is also in the running but a long shot -- will ultimately win the job. That's up to coach Jeff Tedford, and he said he probably won't decide until the week of Cal's Aug. 30 season opener against Michigan State.  But I'd give Riley the early edge in this competition, largely because of the aggressive, confident approach he's taking.

Consider what he told our Jonathan Okanes before spring practice began.

"I'm going to have the attitude that I'm going to be the man," Riley said. "I want to be the guy. I want everybody on the team to want me to be the guy, and not leave any doubt. I want to make sure they want me in the game and they trust me."  If I'm a coach, that's the attitude I'm looking for from my quarterback. Not arrogant or cocky, but confident, passionate and competitive. A leader.  You can't question Longshore's intelligence, experience or NFL-caliber throwing arm -- he threw for more than 3,000 yards in 2006 and has 26 starts to Riley's one.

But you can question his mobility and durability -- he's sidelined now with an injured right pectoral muscle. And, more importantly, you can question the way he's approaching the competition for his starting job.

"I'm just trying to get better," Longshore said before spring practice began. "I'm not worried about beating any other quarterback. I'm out there to beat the defense. ...  "If I put everything I have forward and I improve, no matter what happens, I'll be happy with myself. I'll be able to look myself in the mirror and know I did everything I could."  When athletes start talking about being happy when they look in the mirror, that's usually when they sense their starting job or, in the pros, very career is in serious jeopardy.  I can't imagine Riley being happy in any sense if he loses this competition, no matter how much he improves or how well he plays in spring ball and training camp.  Riley said Saturday that his competitive nature stems from his battles with two older brothers -- one is nine years older, the other eight -- and a sister who is just a year older but is "probably the best athlete in the family" and used to beat him up.  "They'd always talk down to me," Riley said. "And I'd always go, 'Be ready. I'm going to beat you guys someday soon.' It always carried with me. I think it's just the type of person I am. I don't want to lose."  By most reports, Longshore was having an impressive spring before being injured. But Riley was even more impressive during Cal's 42-36 victory over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl in December.  Riley came off the bench in relief of Longshore with the Bears trailing 21-0. He completed 16 of 19 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a score. He led the Bears to touchdowns on his first six drives, showing the poise and leadership of a veteran.   Many Old Blues thought, and rightfully so, that Tedford should have turned to Riley much earlier in the season when Longshore was battling a sprained ankle and the Bears' season was imploding.

After his performance against Air Force, Riley is now clearly the people's choice -- at least most of the people -- to be Cal's starting quarterback. When Riley's name was announced before the scrimmage's first series, fans applauded loudly.   "It definitely is a little awkward, but I'm excited that people like me," Riley said. "I just have to work hard. It's not really what the fans want. I love fans, but it's really what the coaches want."  Longshore has the edge in college experience, but Riley is wise beyond his football years. Long before he reached high school, Riley watched countless hours of game tapes with his dad, Faustin Riley, his coach at Beaverton High School. He received a priceless football education.

But Riley said that once he entered high school, his dad showed him no favoritism. Quite the opposite.  "My dad was always toughest on me," Riley said. "He wasn't really like a dad-coach."  Approaching his junior season, Riley thought he had the starting job locked up. But his dad made him compete for the job with a sophomore.  Riley won that job, and now he's confidently taking aim at another.

San Francisco Chronicle: Starting QB job still open question

Rusty Simmons

The most indelible image from a quarterback in Cal's first scrimmage of the spring came Saturday from a fourth-stringer who wasn't even playing quarterback.  Cory Smits, a junior walk-on who was acting as a scout-team gunner, sprinted about 50 yards, fended off a blocker and tackled returner Nyan Boateng as he fielded a punt.  "He may have just won himself a spot on the travel squad," coach Jeff Tedford said. "I'm just kidding. Don't write that."  That isn't much insight into the quarterback competition, and that's because there isn't any. As Tedford hinted at before spring drills, the job probably isn't going to be won in the spring, and, now, it's even less likely.

Incumbent Nate Longshore looked sharp in the first week, but he has a pulled right pectoral muscle that might keep him sidelined for the rest of the spring. With extra snaps, it appeared as though Armed Forces Bowl MVP Kevin Riley and redshirt freshman Brock Mansion could make statements, but the duo combined to attempt only 14 passes Saturday.

"There wasn't much to evaluate really," Tedford said. "There's some work to be done on decision-making and throwing the ball away, which comes with experience. When Kevin did throw the football, he was pretty accurate."  Riley, working strictly with the first-team offense, completed 4 of 7 passes for 30 yards, including a well-thrown 11-yard touchdown to Michael Calvin. Riley consistently got the loudest ovations of the day from the crowd of about 2,000, and he showed off some of his playmaking ability with an 8-yard run on the first called pass play of the day.

In the "situational scrimmage," however, there is no contact on quarterbacks, so other plays were blown dead when defensive players got close to Riley. He's known for making the first guy miss and finding receivers down field, but that couldn't be showcased in this scenario. "I was like, 'No way, I would have broken those (tackles),' " said Riley, who didn't make much of his added opportunity with Longshore out. "I'm just looking at it as a chance to be with the (first team), so I'll be really comfortable when the fall comes around."

Read the rest here.

San Jose Mercury: Running backs control Cal's scrimmage

By Eric Gilmore

Cal sophomore quarterback Kevin Riley got the biggest cheer of the day, but running backs Tracy Slocum and Covaughn DeBoskie carried most of the offensive load Saturday during a controlled scrimmage at Memorial Stadium.  Several thousand fans showed up on a sunny and unseasonably warm day to watch Cal's only spring football practice open to the public.  Those expecting to see Riley and his fellow quarterbacks fill the blue sky with footballs, instead spent most of the day watching Cal work on its running game.  "We're short on some positions, so we really had to kind of focus on the run game a lot today because our receiving corps is a little banged up," Cal Coach Jeff Tedford said.

Cal's running corps is short-handed, too. Jahvid Best (hip) isn't ready for contact. Shane Vereen (hamstring) is sidelined. James Montgomery left the program.  Slocum, a sophomore, took advantage of his heavy workload. On one 30-yard touchdown drive, he carried six times for all 30 yards, scoring on a 10-yard run over the left guard. He flashed good power and quickness.  "I felt pretty good," Slocum said. "I love to get the ball between the tackles and just run. I love contact."

On the next drive, Slocum shot around right end for a 12-yard touchdown. Slocum said he's matured greatly since his freshman season when his lack of playing time often left him discouraged. "I think he just realizes he has a great chance to play," Riley said. "Once we came back from the (Armed Forces Bowl), he started working out way harder.  "And it's showing right now. Every big day we've had, he's done well, every live day. He's running hard. He's doing his job."

Read the rest here.

Daily Cal: Slocum Makes Most of Time in the Spotlight

By Steven Dunst

Maybe the events that crippled the Cal football team's running back corps going into spring ball were really blessings in disguise.   First-stringer Jahvid Best sat out most of the spring with a hip injury and then backup James Montgomery left the program for personal reasons.   In stepped Tracy Slocum, once a forgotten man buried deep down the depth charts, now ready to make an impact after waiting patiently for two years.

Slocum ran the ball 11 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's spring game, looking capable of serving as a complement to Best once the shifty speedster returns.   He showed a second gear on a few occasions, bursting through the middle for a nine-yard score and bouncing to the outside for an 11-yard scamper just minutes later.  The Bears boast a number of skilled running backs, but Slocum may be the only one capable of taking the pounding between the tackles and fighting for the tough yards.  "Coming out of high school I used to get 30 carries a game," Slocum said. "I'd love to get back to that. Hopefully coach (Jeff) Tedford gets some confidence in me."

Slocum will never have the sprinter speed of Best or freshman Shane Vereen. Nevertheless, he embraces his potential role as the power back and grinder on the team, which could be a necessity if Best is unable to remain healthy throughout the season or become an every-down runner.

"Jahvid is more of a speed guy with good vision and I'm more of a power back," Slocum said. "You put all that together and we'll be dynamic. I love carrying it between the tackles."  While Slocum shined with the first team, Covaughn DeBoskie showed good ability as well. The true freshman has only been on the Berkeley campus since January, but has already made a name for himself. He hit the hole hard on a draw to gain eight yards and dove into the end zone for a two-yard score later on.  But he fumbled near his own goal line on a run up the middle.

"I should've had two hands on the ball instead of grabbing my facemask when I got hit," DeBoskie said. "But overall I thought I did pretty well. A couple of plays I thought if I kept my feet under me I would've scored."

If Vereen was not sidelined with a hamstring injury or if Montgomery decided to stay with Cal, DeBoskie would not have had many opportunities to experience growing pains and learn from his mistakes.  He embraces the chance to get some carries early on and really hone in on what adjustments he needs to make as a running back on the collegiate level.

"I'm playing with the big boys now," DeBoskie said. "It's kind of a blessing for me but also kind of a curse, what's happening to the running back corps (with injuries). I'm just out there trying to get positive yards."

The quarterback competition steals all the headlines, but with Nate Longshore injured and the receivers still acclimating themselves to the offense, the backup running backs stole the show in front of over 2,000 fans.

"We were short on some positions so we really focused on the running game today," Tedford said. "Tracy ran really well. They're getting better every day."  Slocum and DeBoskie may not be particularly flashy and they may not be home run threats just yet, but both signaled that the tailback stables are far from empty even without Montgomery.  Slocum's wait is finally paying off.

 

Oakland Tribune: Cal's Boateng makes a fresh start

Transfer from Florida is back on track academically and is focused on filling a major need at wide receiver

By Jonathan Okanes

BERKELEY -- Cal wide receiver Nyan Boateng got a little emotional when he took the field for the first day of spring practice March 31. It hadn't been that long ago that Boateng wasn't sure he'd take any field ever again.   The beginning of spring practice marked the beginning of a new life for Boateng, the embattled transfer from Florida who was suspended from the team in the fall. Boateng had to overcome legal trouble and an academic hole to get back in the good graces of Cal's program. Now, he's faced with the opportunity to resurrect a once-promising career that just recently was in critical condition.  "I thought I was pretty much done here," Boateng said. "It seemed like I had a great uphill battle. It seemed like I was never going to be back playing football again."

Boateng arrived at Cal in time to take part in spring football last year. NCAA transfer rules dictated he had to sit out last season anyway, but he still could have practiced with the team had he not been suspended by coach Jeff Tedford. Boateng was far behind in academic units he needed to become eligible by this season -- he said some of his course work at Florida didn't transfer to Cal, and that he "didn't do too well" in the spring -- and he was facing charges of burglary, battery and criminal mischief in Florida after allegedly kicking in the door of a girlfriend.

"Coach Tedford was really upset and urged me to get my act together," Boateng said. "It was a very sad conversation when I went to talk to him. It was scary. I always had that doubt. What if they don't reinstate me? What am I going to do?"  As it turns out, the suspension may have been what saved Boateng's career. Freed from the demands of practice, he was able to concentrate on his studies and he caught up on his units. Meanwhile, the charges against him were dropped.   In the meantime, Boateng also was working out regularly at City College of San Francisco. He also spent some time with former Cal quarterback Steve Levy, who, like Boateng, is a native New Yorker.  "He's a good kid. He came out here probably a little too confident," Levy said. "We'd go out to throw a couple days a week, but most of the time we'd just talk. I think he came here with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. When he came here, it was a rude awakening. He's matured a lot. He's definitely turned over a new leaf. I'm proud of him."

Boateng wasn't on scholarship until this semester, so for a while he lived with former Cal wide receiver DeSean Jackson and current defensive back Gary Doxy. Jackson and Boateng, two of the top receivers coming out of high school in 2005, met at a prep all-star game.  "DeSean was always there for me," Boateng said. "He provided for me. We even slept in the same bed sometimes. That's a brother.  "At one point, I just cried and said that I was going to go back home and just forget everything. Gary and DeSean talked to me and told me not to give up on everything I've worked for." Boateng and Doxy agree that it was during that time they lived together that Boateng started taking a more positive approach.  "He was ready to start packing his stuff up and go back to New York," Doxy said. "We sat him down and talked to him and let him know there was going to be ups and downs and smiles and frowns. We just wanted to be like a brother to him, welcome him with open arms and (let him) really feel comfortable around us."

The Bears really could use Boateng next season. Cal lost its top three receivers from last year and essentially is starting over at the position. Boateng's athletic ability is unquestioned -- he also was a star basketball player in high school, where he was a teammate of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Sebastian Telfair -- but he's starting out at the bottom of the team's depth chart.  "He's a guy who has some ability but has to fit into the system, has to get used to the work ethic and what it takes to be consistent," Tedford said. "But he has ability. He has speed, he has size, he has good hands and is a good athlete. He has potential to be a contributor for us."  Levy said the old Boateng may have had a problem being buried on the depth chart. But not now.   "I'm in a hole," Boateng said. "I have to be patient. I can't worry about the depth chart or who's in front of me or anything like that. I just have to go out there with a great attitude and work on being a great football player. These guys have been here for a long time and have been busting their butts. I just have to go in there and work my way up. Eventually, the cream will rise to the top."

Read the rest of the story here.

Contra Costa Times: Longshore may have to skip rest of spring

BERKELEY -- Cal quarterback Nate Longshore knows what's at stake. He also wants to make sure he gives himself a chance to cash in.  Longshore says he may have to sit out the rest of spring practice after pulling his right pectoral muscle last week. His absence means Kevin Riley will be running for the starting job unopposed for a while, but Longshore wants to make sure he doesn't risk further injury and set himself back in the fall.

"I want to get reps, obviously," Longshore said. "But there's a lot of time between now and the season. If something is going to happen, I'd rather it happen now."  Longshore said he suffered the injury last Wednesday during practice but played through it Friday and Saturday. By the time Saturday rolled around, the area had become discolored and swollen.  Longshore said he isn't able to lift his arm right now.  "It wasn't that bad at first," Longshore said. "It just kept getting worse and worse. When it started changing colors, I figured I should probably give it a rest."  Longshore said it started to feel much worse on Friday but that he wanted to practice Saturday because "we just didn't do well as an offense on Friday. I wanted to come back and make a statement on Saturday."  Longshore said he could return in two weeks "if all goes well." Coach Jeff Tedford said the injury was day-to-day

Read the rest here.

Daily Cal: Reborn Identity

Sporting a New Jersey Number, Senior Nate Longshore is Taking the Chance to Start Anew

By Jeff Goodman

Nate Longshore's world has turned upside down-in one way, at least.   After wearing a No. 9 jersey for the past three years, the quarterback has decided to put it back on the shelf.   For the Cal football team's spring practices, which began last Monday, and for the upcoming season, Longshore will sport a No. 6 across his chest.  What's the motive behind the modification?   "There's nothing significant about it," he says. "Just wanted to change it up, do something different."   The variation in his uniform could be construed as trivial, but it's a variation nonetheless. And even if there's no reason for the change to his jersey, there seem to be many reasons why Longshore would want a fresh start.

After all, he was at the center of a Bears team that climbed as high as No. 2 in the national rankings last year before falling-and falling hard.  After opening the 2007 season with five straight wins, Cal collapsed, losing six of its last seven regular-season games. And after sustaining an ankle injury against Oregon, Longshore did not play against Oregon State, giving backup signal-caller Kevin Riley a chance to prove his worth.  Riley's performance against the Beavers-though marred by a late-game decision that dealt the Bears their first loss-and his stellar outing in the Armed Forces Bowl-where Riley was named the Most Valuable Player-were enough to make the competition for this year's starting spot much more interesting.

But Longshore, now vying for the job he has had for the past two seasons, says his relationship with Riley is a good one.  "We've been friends before, we'll be friends after," says Longshore. "We're just interested in seeing each other improve and competing."  After a one-game hiatus, Longshore returned. But his comeback wasn't pretty, and neither was the rest of the season.  On Oct. 20, Cal trailed UCLA by two points and stood on the Bruins' 30-yard line late in the fourth quarter. But Alterraun Verner intercepted a pass by Longshore and returned it for a touchdown, effectively ending the game.  It turned out to be one of several flawed fourth quarters by Longshore, who was criticized extensively for decreased mobility in the pocket and a lack of confidence down the stretch.

On Nov. 10, the Bears faced a seven-point deficit against USC. With less than three minutes left in the game, Longshore was picked off by Terrell Thomas at the Trojans' 17-yard line.  Three weeks later, Cal trailed by a touchdown against Stanford. After getting his team into the red zone, Longshore threw an interception to Nick Sanchez in the closing minutes.  Altogether, the senior, who was hailed as one of the top junior quarterbacks in the country last year, had four games in which he threw more interceptions than touchdowns.  With next season in mind, however, he doesn't have distinct memories of those games. All of that is behind him.

"It all just kind of blurred together into unacceptable," he says. "We know we've gotta improve, and that's what we're focused on everyday."  Spring ball is an opportunity for Longshore to make those improvements without thousands of fans watching and scrutinizing his every move, as they did throughout last season. And whether or not Longshore gets to spearhead the Bears offense in the fall, he knows the criticism comes with the territory.  "Playing any position in any sport, you get criticism, especially when you're quarterback," he says. "A lot of the blame goes to you. But I'm not worried about it. Life goes on. I'm just trying to focus on getting better."  Longshore says he is pleased with his team's effort in practice so far, and he knows these sessions are just the early phases of a long and grinding process.   When Cal faces Michigan State in its first game on Aug. 30, he hopes that running out of the tunnel before kickoff isn't the only running he'll do.

Bears coach Jeff Tedford, however, probably won't announce the starting quarterback until shortly before the season begins.  "It's a long ways away," says Longshore. "But at the same time, we're focused at the end of the tunnel."  With more than four months between now and the first game, Longshore can supplement his experience with each drill, each snap and each pass.   Despite suffering a pulled pectoral muscle during last Wednesday's practice, he seems to be off to a promising start.

Towards the end of Saturday afternoon's session at Memorial Stadium, Longshore crouched in the pocket during a simulation scrimmage. Wearing his new No. 6 jersey, he dropped back, stepped up and launched a perfectly timed 40-yard bomb to a streaking Jeremy Ross.  At that moment, it looked as though Longshore's world was right-side up.

 

Nate Longshore Sits Out Monday Practice

According to the Mercury News (link), “Cal quarterback Nate Longshore (strained right pectoral muscle) sat out spring practice Monday. Longshore suffered the injury Wednesday during practice but participated Friday and Saturday. Coach Jeff Tedford placed no timetable for his return.”

Spring Practice this Saturday

Cal Football to Host Open Practice on Saturday, Apr. 12

BERKELEY - California football fans will have the opportunity to get a sneak-peek at the 2008 Golden Bears on Saturday, April 12th at Memorial Stadium.  The free open practice is the only open-to-the-public practice of the spring season for Cal. The practice is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. as part of Cal Day - a full day of campus activities open to the general public.

 

In addition to the Golden Bears being in action, highlights include the first availability of the 2008 Official Gameday Football Shirt, free food for the first 500 fans (starting at 11 a.m.) and a surplus equipment sale which begins at 9 a.m. in the Prospect Avenue parking lot located on the south end of the stadium. The surplus sale will include official Cal clothing from Golden Bear varsity sports teams, official Cal jerseys, Nike shoes and duffel bags. A limited amount of football equipment, such as kicking nets and ball bags, will be also available.  

 

Contra Costa Times: Spring Practice Update

Read Jonathan Okanes’ summary of Friday’s practice here.

Los Angeles Times: It looks like a bear market for Cal

Golden Bears, still recovering from their 1-6 finish to last season, have lost superstar Jackson to NFL and have numerous questions, including at quarterback.

By Chris Dufresne

Link.

This is the sixth in a series of short reports examining some of college football's spring story lines. Today: Cal football . . . after the gold rush.

You could say Cal has hit the skids since it rushed to 5-0 and a No. 2 ranking last October.  What does California football need to focus on this spring?  "Everything," seventh-year Coach Jeff Tedford said.

The Bears were poised to become No. 1 before a staggering Oct. 13 home loss to Oregon State sent the program reeling to a 1-6 finish. Cal showed some claws in rallying to beat Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl, but this is as shaky as the program has been since early in the Tedford era.  The off-season hasn't been much better, starting with the Kevin Hart hoax recruiting debacle. The Bears were so beat up they moved their spring practice start date from mid-March to March 31 just to buy some recovery time.

Spring forward: Star receiver DeSean Jackson declared for the NFL draft and tailback James Montgomery transferred. Tedford must decide whether the injury-haunted Nate Longshore or Kevin Riley deserves to be the starting quarterback next fall.

SF Chronicle: A Stanford Hall of Famer Turns Blue and Gold

Ray Ratto

It seems so preposterously delicious, this Mike Montgomery-Cal thing. The hero of Palo Alto, the scourge of Oakland, and now the savior of Berkeley - man, that's a skullful.   The decision, apparently reported first by ESPN's annoyingly reliable Andy Katz, comes as something of a bolt from the blue, after athletic director Sandy Barbour's apparently brief chats with Pitt's Jamie Dixon and Nevada's Mark Fox. Montgomery had been linked by persistent rumormongers to Indiana (filled by Tom Crean) and Loyola Marymount (taken Thursday by Billy Bayno), but Monty to Cal was largely an Internet pipe dream, the product of illogical, disturbed and Chee-to-destroyed minds.

Except that it wasn't. Not even the Chee-to part.  Montgomery clearly recognized that opportunities, even middling ones like this, do not leap out every day, and given that he lives in the area, knows the conference and at 61 still has some tread on the mental tires, it made sense to him - and, clearly, to Barbour.

It is not yet known whether he will install his son John, currently an assistant at Furman, as an aide here, though it is safe to assume that he would not poach anyone from the current Stanford staff. It is also not known how hard he will try to recruit Ryan Anderson, who announced Thursday that he was going to investigate the NBA draft (currently figured in the 18 to 25 range).  But it is known that he becomes the first member of the Stanford Hall of Fame to seek and find work up the 880 Corridor, and that will cause some brains to bend.

Montgomery has been out of the game for 585 days, since getting the black ticket from the Warriors, and he never hid the fact that he wanted back in. Cal, though, seemed like an odd fit, at least for those people who believe that Cal and Stanford aren't actually two sides of the same coin.   And the money? Oh, the money. Rumored (though not yet confirmed) to be in the six-year, $10 million range, it surely would get Montgomery's attention. The money is fungible, of course, but the duration is the intriguing part, given that he would be 67 when the contract expired. Fortunately for him, and Cal, nobody regards a contract as anything other than a general rubric - Ben Braun's contract ran through 2011, and Barbour ran through him with three years to spare.

Whether this makes cosmic sense for Cal is another issue, and one that can only be answered in each person's head. Fan response on the chat boards was running relatively even, and that is in places where everyone starts with the same assumption, that God, Allah and Robert Gordon Sproul all agree that Cal is the center of the galaxy. Montgomery is a weird sell for those who believe that Stanford is the natural predator and enemy of all things Bear.

But politics makes strange bedfellows, and if this seems a bit like Bob Knight at Purdue, Geno Auriemma at Tennessee, or Barack Obama at the Clinton family weenie roast and fund-raiser, well, so be it.  Montgomery is a name, which Barbour clearly felt the program needed. He has a Division I track record, which others, including putative favorite Mike Dunlap, did not. He becomes a sure talker; here at the college basketball trade show that is the Final Four, the news is being regarded as something between a surprise (that Montgomery would take the job after being so secure at Stanford) and amazement (that the numbers and length would be so inspirational).

Assuming the agreement in principle doesn't explode, a press conference will be scheduled soon, at which time Montgomery will turn on his evident, if occasionally asymmetrical, charms upon the same folks who saw him in triumph at Stanford and in defeat in Oakland.  The challenge of Cal is a daunting one - not quite Oregon State, where San Diego's Bill Grier just turned down the Beavs for the security of San Diego (!), but still a program in long and studied repose. Montgomery must pretty well hit the ground running, which will not be easy if Anderson leaves.

We won't know for some time whether he is what Cal needs, but we know he is what Sandy Barbour needed. She couldn't come in with an off-brand name or someone else's fourth choice, and though Dunlap would have been a sound choice, Montgomery is one fraught with greater possibilities at each end of the spectrum.   Barbour went deep with Joanne Boyle on the women's side, and this is her second high-profile hire. No pressure, though.

 

Stanford Daily: Monty headed to Cal

April 4, 2008

By Patrick Fitzgerald

It’s been a bad week for Stanford men’s basketball.   On the heels of the Lopez twins declaring for the NBA draft on Monday, former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery is reportedly heading across the Bay to coach Cal.  According to ESPN.com, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Montgomery has agreed in principle to replace Ben Braun, who was fired Wednesday after 12 years at the helm in Berkeley.

Montgomery, who led the Cardinal to a 393-167 record and 12 NCAA Tournament berths in 18 seasons, had returned to the Farm in September in a part time position as assistant to Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby. He also did broadcast work for Fox Sports Net, Comcast and CBS radio.   In an interview with The Daily earlier this year, the 61-year old Montgomery expressed a desire to return to the sidelines. He had been in a state of semi-retirement since August 2006, when he was released as head coach of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors after two seasons and a 68-96 record.

“[T]here’s still a lot of basketball in my blood, just because you do something for that long,” he told The Daily in February. “We’ll have to wait and see if anything develops there . . . You’ve done something for 37 years, and it’s just what you do.”   The winningest coach in school history, Montgomery helped usher in Stanford basketball’s rise to national prominence. He led the Cardinal to four regular season Pac-10 championships, an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1998 and a Pac-10 Tournament title in 2004.

Read and make comments on the Stanford Daily’s website here.

Contra Costa Times: Top recruit Slocum sees daylight at RB

Injury to Best, Montgomery departure has opened door

By Jonathan Okanes

BERKELEY — There was a time last season when Tracy Slocum looked like he may become Cal's most highly recruited player never to see the field. Now, he's seeing the field at running back more than anyone.

Slocum is taking first-team reps at tailback during spring practice. James Montgomery and Jahvid Best were projected to be the Bears' top two running backs next season, but Montgomery transferred out of the program last month, and Best is practicing in extremely limited fashion as he recovers from a hip injury.

So Slocum, who played only on special teams as a redshirt freshman last season, is getting a chance to make a case for increased playing time in the fall.  "It was kind of frustrating sitting on the sidelines (last season)," Slocum said. "I got in on special teams and told myself to just make the best of it, make the best of my opportunity and my time will come. It's paying off now."  Slocum was a high school All-American at Clovis East in Fresno and multiple recruiting publications ranked him at one of the top 20 running back prospects in the country. But he joined the program the same year as Montgomery, who also came to Berkeley as a highly touted prospect and was the No. 2 tailback last season behind Justin Forsett. With Best making an immediate impact as a true freshman, it appeared Slocum might get caught up in a numbers game.

Best still is the favorite to be the starter in the fall, but Slocum can use the spring to establish himself at the very least as a dependable backup.  “My mind-set is pretty much the same — get better every day," Slocum said. "I've been doing the right things, and it's paying off."  

IN THIS CORNER: Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory is hoping cornerback Darian Hagan makes significant strides this spring. Gregory was disappointed with Hagan's development last season and the Bears could use him to provide depth at cornerback in the fall.

Hagan, who will be a redshirt sophomore in the fall, came to Cal as a top prospect and was believed to be in the mix to become a starter last season. But he was passed up by true freshman Chris Conte, who entered spring ahead of him on the depth chart.

"I think the end of last year he was better," Gregory said. "So far in the offseason, he's been even better. I still think he has a lot of work to continue to do, to improve his practice habits and all that stuff. But I think he's much better than he was."

LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT: Rather than have them play rover and free safety, Gregory is simply using Bernard Hicks and Marcus Ezeff on opposite sides of the field during the spring. The idea is for each to work on the skills of both positions.  "We're keeping them right and left to begin with," Gregory said. "We want to teach them both positions, so they have a greater understanding of the defense and kind of go from there."

EXTRA POINTS: Cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson returned from a brief suspension. Thompson didn't practice in the spring opener Monday because he broke a team rule, according to Tedford. ... Best did a little bit more Wednesday than on Monday, taking a couple of reps during team drills. But Tedford reiterated his work will remain limited. "He's going to do some ballhandling, and he's going to run, but he's not going to bang anybody," Tedford said.

 

 

Contra Costa Times Article on College Athletic Dept. Donations

The article focuses on Cal.  You can read it here.

SF Chronicle: Buzz up!Cal's Best further allays fears, taking field for two plays

Rusty Simmons

Soon-to-be sophomore Jahvid Best made another positive stride in his return from a hip injury Wednesday, appearing for two plays with the first-team offense.  Best returned to the field Monday for the first time since his Nov. 10 injury. He participated only in individual drills Monday, and by Wednesday, he was able to take a very limited role in team sessions.  "He's going to do some ball-handling and he's going to run some, but we're not going to bang him," coach Jeff Tedford said.

For more than a month after the injury, it looked like Best might require surgery. He was a supposed lock to miss the entirety of spring ball, and he even admitted to being fearful that his career was in jeopardy. He has quieted each concern and appears to be running and cutting with ease.  "I'll admit that I was a little surprised to see him out here" Monday, running backs coach Ron Gould said, "but I guess I shouldn't have been, because that's just Jahvid."  As a high school junior, Best placed in two state sprint events on a broken foot. Ever since the Cal medical staff put Best on crutches, he's been clamoring to get off them and get back on the field.  "Just being out here watching, I don't know if I'll be able to take it," Best said Monday. "I'm just going to have to live with it and get ready for the fall."

That plan lasted only two days.  "Actually, I think he did sneak in on a couple of plays" Wednesday, Tedford said.  On his first 47 collegiate touches, Best recorded 19 plays of 10 yards or more, and he was first-team all-Pac-10 as a special-teams player. More than 25 percent of Best's 91 high school touchdowns went for more than 50 yards, and his senior year at Salesian High-Richmond was one of the most prolific seasons in Bay Area history: 3,325 yards and 48 touchdowns.

Read the entire article here.

San Jose Mercury: Cal's front-runner at tailback recovering from hip injury

Best participates in individual drills; 'We have quality depth there,' coach says

By Jonathan Okanes

The biggest news on the first day of Cal's spring football practice involved a player who didn't take a single rep.  Running back Jahvid Best, who was expected to miss all of spring practice to recover from a hip injury, participated in some individual drills Monday during the Bears' first of 15 spring sessions at Memorial Stadium. Best watched when Cal lined up for seven-on-sevens or 11-on-11s, but he looked good running and cutting during his drill work.  There are no plans for Best to participate in any contact or team drills this spring, but the Bears want to put him through some tests to see where he stands physically, Coach Jeff Tedford said.

"I was just told to come out here and go as hard as I can and see how my hip responds," Best said. "After today, I feel pretty good. The only thing I felt is that I'm a little bit out of shape from not doing too much in a long time. But I felt fine."  Best suffered a bruised hip Nov. 10 against USC and missed the rest of the season. Because of the sometimes-touchy nature of hip injuries, the Bears have been cautious with his recovery. Best has gradually tested his hip during his rehabilitation.

Read the entire article here.

Daily Californian: Best Getting Better as Cal Opens Its Spring Camp

By Gerald Nicdao

Contributing Writer

There was a bit of a surprise for the Cal football team when it started its spring practice Monday.   On the sidelines, wearing a red "untouchable" jersey and doing his own workouts, was sophomore tailback Jahvid Best.   Best-who injured his hip in the Bears' loss to USC last November-will not participate in team drills this spring, but will participate in personal workouts and individual drills, coach Jeff Tedford said.   "I was just basically told to come out here and push it as hard as I can and see how my hip responds to it," Best said. "After doing it today, I found it pretty good. The only thing I think is that I'm a little bit out of shape from not doing too much for a long time."   Best-who finished the 2007 season with 221 rushing yards-has been rehabbing for some time now, but he said Monday that he just began running recently. He is over, however, the fear of re-injuring himself on the field.   "I'm past the point of being scared to cut or scared to run fast," Best said. "I'm just trying to go out there and act normal."

Tailback James Montgomery's departure from Cal is still surprising to some on the team.  "It shocked me a lot," Best said. "I didn't see it coming. It was kind of all of a sudden. I wished it didn't happen, but that's his prerogative."  Montgomery was slated to be the Bears' No. 1 running back heading into the spring after the graduation of senior Justin Forsett.

Tedford said Montgomery showed no signs of his intention to leave the program, but that he did miss a few practices late last season.  "He was late to a couple of 6:30 a.m. workouts and he was in the doghouse a little bit," he said. "Things weren't going well for him."  Tedford did call Montgomery's action premature and wished that he would have stayed for the duration of spring camp.  "You hate to see that though," he said. "You wish he would have given himself the chance to go through the spring and see where he would have ended up."

With Montgomery gone and Best sidelined, sophomore Tracy Slocum and freshman Covaughn DeBoskie took most of the reps on the first day of practice. Redshirt freshman Shane Vereen saw limited action Monday because of a hamstring injury.  "Right now Slocum is getting a lot of the reps," Tedford said. "Hopefully Shane gets back and takes some of the load, because with only two backs, guys end up getting worn out."  DeBoskie-who graduated from high school early to join the team-had a rude introduction to the program. During one of the scrimmages, senior defensive end Rulon Davis hit DeBoskie hard and took his helmet off.  "I would imagine that their eyes are about that big, just trying to get used to the speed of the game," Tedford said about the four freshmen who joined the team early. "Covaughn got his feet wet a little bit."

Defensive back Syd'Quan Thompson was absent from the Bears' first practice of the spring because of a violation of team rules.  Tedford said that Thompson will be suspended indefinitely and that there is no timetable for his return.