Cal Bears ready to start Pac-10 season, forget loss

By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) California is not sure what to make of its loss to Air Force last week, except that it was frustrating and everyone around the program is thankful it's behind them.

What it means in the big picture of Cal's comeback season is uncertain.

The setback sent the Golden Bears to a quick exit from the Top-25, after a 3-0 start propelled them into the poll for the first time in six years. While one defeat doesn't concern Cal, this team will begin to worry if they start piling up again.

The Bears (3-1) could be right back in the rankings with a good showing Saturday. They return to a familiar foe playing No. 16 Washington State (3-1) in Memorial Stadium in the Pac-10 opener for both schools.

``I don't think there's any finger pointing,'' quarterback Kyle Boller said. ``Eleven guys need to do the right thing every play. Not 10, not nine, but 11.''

When asked if he would have rather played an unorthodox Air Force offense to start the season, coach Jeff Tedford said, ``opening game or never!''

By Tedford's count, the Bears dropped 11 passes in the 23-21 loss, which ended on a failed two-point conversion attempt with 31 seconds left.

``That's going to kind of mess up, dampen your offensive flow,'' Tedford said Tuesday. ``The first half we couldn't get anything going. We just need to concentrate a little more.''

Having a winning football team after years of losing is still sinking in here.

The way the program responds to a loss has changed big time under Tedford.

The first-year coach, formerly the offensive coordinator at Oregon, acknowledged the mistakes of his receiving corps, then told the group not to do anything differently and assured them he still believes in their ability. He simply asked them to play harder.

``This loss is no big deal,'' receiver LaShaun Ward said. ``We've got Washington State and everybody is Oh-and-Oh. It's time to go for the Pac-10 championship.''

Tedford requires his players to focus on winning in practice every down, every drill.

``I don't think the loss last week dampened their confidence or their attitude,'' Tedford said. ``They realize what it takes to win.''

Last year at this time, the Bears were 0-4.

``We panicked more,'' Ward said. ``We wouldn't have been levelheaded, not as poised. We're more focused and just have to execute.''

This bunch is quickly learning how good victory feels. On Saturday, Cal will see if it can bounce back from defeat, which hasn't happened in a long time.

As cornerback James Bethea points out, the Bears are one win away from matching their victory total of the past two seasons.

``The only way you can get confident is if you win,'' he said. ``If you don't win, you don't have confidence. Those three wins, though not against big teams, gave us experience winning.''

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)