It Gets Harder, but He Doesn’t Have to Spell It

California football Coach Keith Gilbertson has it tough, really tough, and his toughest task is yet to come.

Tough: Cal lost to San Diego State, 33-9, and to Fresno State, 25-24.

Really tough: A San Francisco Chronicle columnist recently wrote: “Keith Gilbertson must go.” Another area columnist opened his work, writing, “This just in. Cal stinks.”

Toughest task yet: The Bears’ top receiver, who has been sidelined because of a thumb injury, will return for next week’s game against San Jose State. That means Gilbertson will have to pronounce Iheanyi Uwaezuoke’s name.

“So far he’s just said he when referring to him because he hasn’t been playing,” said Pete Treadwell, a media relations intern at Cal. “I was scared when I started because he’s one of our best players, but it took me about three weeks before I could both spell it and say it.”

Three weeks? The kids at Cal, of course, are pretty bright. For those who hail from schools elsewhere, it’s: ee-HAHN-ee ooh-WAY-zoh-kay.

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Trivia time: Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive-game streak hits 2,141 today. Defensive end Jim Marshall has the NFL record with 282 consecutive games. Who has the longest streak among active NFL players? (This is a trick question.)

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Advice from Dad: Archie Manning, former quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, had to contend with noisy crowds and domed stadiums during his 14-year NFL career. Now his son, Peyton, must contend with similar circumstances as starting quarterback for the University of Tennessee.

The Manning secret: Gargle.

“I want to be able to shout audibles without going hoarse,” explained the youngster.

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Ram fever: How is the one and only newspaper in St. Louis treating the Rams so far?

Well, two games into Rich Brooks’ tenure as NFL coach, St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz now refers to him regularly as Rich (Big Daddy) Brooks. It seems the players at the University of Oregon nicknamed Brooks “Big Daddy,” because he could be so intimidating to the younger players.

After the Rams’ first victory in St. Louis, Miklasz wrote: “Where are we, Toto? What’s happening? How did we get here? Is this really St. Louis, the conservative baseball town that supposedly has an allergic reaction to football? And are these really the Rams, the chronic losers who committed so many acts of tomfoolery that they were laughed out of Los Angeles by the several dozen fans who still cared?

” . . . Warn the NFL. Something funky is spreading. No one told us that the Rams would be 2-0, dancing with fans. All this spontaneous bliss may give Paul Tagliabue a migraine. We’re back. Deal with it, America.”

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Trivia answer: The 1987 NFL strike, which resulted in three games being played by replacement players, stopped all active streaks. The regulars returned during Week 7 of the 1987 season and since then 20 players have not missed a game. Notable on the list of those who have played in 124 consecutive games since are San Francisco receiver Jerry Rice and Green Bay defensive lineman Reggie White. There are no quarterbacks on the list.

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For the record: Rob Johnson is second to Rodney Peete in total offense at USC. The information was incorrect in the trivia answer in Saturday’s Morning Briefing.

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Quotebook: Georgia Frontiere, after the Rams’ victory in St. Louis last Sunday: “I wanted to cry, but I didn’t have my waterproof mascara on.”