Cal is ‘excited’ about heading into Autzen
. . Courtesy of California Media Services
Cal defensive lineman Andre Carter is the “best player in the country,” according to Oregon State head coach Dennis Erickson.
■ Led by a sophomore
quarterback, the improving
Bears look to end the Ducks’
home winning streak
By Adam Jude
Oregon Daily Emerald
With their hopes of a bowl berth
gone, the California Golden Bears
have their paws ready to ruin the
Ducks’ unbeaten conference record
and upset the country’s sixth
ranked team in its own backyard.
Although the Bears (3-6 overall,
2-4 Pacific-10 Conference) haven’t
won in Eugene since 1987, they do
hold an all-time series advantage
against the Ducks, 35-26-2. Oregon,
however, has won the last four
meetings, including last year’s 24
19 win in Berkeley.
Coming off a close 38-32 loss to
Oregon State and a near upset two
weeks ago in Seattle, Cal is eager to
finally put some wins on the board.
“They're just excited about this op
portunity,” Cal coach Tom Holmoe
said of his players. “They respect
Oregon and what they have accom
plished. They realize it's a very diffi
cult challenge, but they're up for it.”
The Bears have owned the state of
California this season, picking up
their only two conference victories
against UCLA and USC.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cal
presents one of the toughest matchups
in the country in senior lineman An
dre Carter, who holds the school
record for most sacks with 28.5.
“Andre Carter is the best player in
the country — that’s just my opin
ion,” Oregon State head coach Den
nis Erickson said after last week’s
contest. “I’m surprised he’s not in the
Lombardi Award race [for best defen
sive lineman]. When you play Cal,
you’ve got to get ready for Carter.”
Cal also boasts the best punter in
college history in Nick Harris, who
set the NCAA record for total punting
yards last week. The senior kicked for
an average of 45.5 yards on eight
punts versus the Beavers, pushing his
career total to 13,161 yards. It is likely
that the senior from Avondale, Ariz.,
will be drafted into the National Foot
ball League next year.
(( They're just excited
about this opportunity.
They respect Oregon and
what they have
accomplished. They
realize it's a very diff icult
challenge, but they're
up for it.
Tom Holmoe
Cal coach <1
“After the Illinois game [a nation
ally televised game in which he put
nine punts inside the 20], all the
agents started calling me,” Harris
told the Contra Costa Times. “I
know there is a spot at the table for
me. I know I can sit there.”
Offensively, the Bears are near the
bottom in most of the major Pac-10
statistics. Starting quarterback Kyle
Boiler is averaging just 192 yards per
game through the air, which is ninth
in the league, while the team scores
an average of 22 points per game.
But things are starting to look up
for a program that has had little suc
cess in recent years.
Over the last four games, the Bears
Turn to Golden Bears, page 6B
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