By Jim McGill, Staff Writer
Posted Sep 8, 2011
If by BearInsider Staff or Contributor, this article is Copyright © 2011 BearInsider.com
As the Bears got in a last day of practice before heading to Colorado tomorrow morning, Cal head coach Jeff Tedford, defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast and defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi were available for comments afterwards.
The Bears will be traveling with more true frosh this week than at any time in Tedford's previous nine years with the program. With so many players traveling for the first time, will the anxiety level and excitement be higher for many of the young players?
"Last week was a road trip, really," said Tedford. "We got on the bus, went to a hotel (in San Francisco). I think the leadership, with the older guys, have done a really nice job with making sure they're setting the tempo and setting the stage for what the attitude needs to be as we're going.
"Last week's game kind of felt like a road trip, with more Fresno State fans there than ours.
"From time to time if a young guy, it's his first time, then we'll coach him up on that, too. There's always growth going on in everything you do when you're dealing with young guys."
Several of the young players were worked into Saturday's game, particularly in the second half. Between redshirt frosh, like defensive ends Gabe King and Deandre Coleman to true frosh like Brennan Scarlett, Vei Moala, Chris McCain, Cecil Whiteside and others, the competition is fierce for reps.
"Gabe's in that competitive group where there's quite a few guys that are competing to get in the game, said Cal defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi. "He's a part of that group where there's a very even battle. He just needs to continue to master his playbook. It's day-by-day as far as competing. Any time a player understands his playbook in-and-out, it allows him to play faster and be more productive.
continued:
http://bearinsider.com/news/story.php?article=1482
Posted Sep 8, 2011
If by BearInsider Staff or Contributor, this article is Copyright © 2011 BearInsider.com
As the Bears got in a last day of practice before heading to Colorado tomorrow morning, Cal head coach Jeff Tedford, defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast and defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi were available for comments afterwards.
The Bears will be traveling with more true frosh this week than at any time in Tedford's previous nine years with the program. With so many players traveling for the first time, will the anxiety level and excitement be higher for many of the young players?
"Last week was a road trip, really," said Tedford. "We got on the bus, went to a hotel (in San Francisco). I think the leadership, with the older guys, have done a really nice job with making sure they're setting the tempo and setting the stage for what the attitude needs to be as we're going.
"Last week's game kind of felt like a road trip, with more Fresno State fans there than ours.
"From time to time if a young guy, it's his first time, then we'll coach him up on that, too. There's always growth going on in everything you do when you're dealing with young guys."
Several of the young players were worked into Saturday's game, particularly in the second half. Between redshirt frosh, like defensive ends Gabe King and Deandre Coleman to true frosh like Brennan Scarlett, Vei Moala, Chris McCain, Cecil Whiteside and others, the competition is fierce for reps.
"Gabe's in that competitive group where there's quite a few guys that are competing to get in the game, said Cal defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi. "He's a part of that group where there's a very even battle. He just needs to continue to master his playbook. It's day-by-day as far as competing. Any time a player understands his playbook in-and-out, it allows him to play faster and be more productive.
continued:
http://bearinsider.com/news/story.php?article=1482