Cal Gets Familiar Look

When winless USC plays at unbeaten California on Saturday, Cal will be looking at a familiar offense--in theory, anyway.

Hue Jackson, USC’s new offensive coordinator, was Cal’s offensive coordinator last season. Cal Coach Tom Holmoe was the Bear defensive coordinator until being named coach when Steve Mariucci left to coach the San Francisco 49ers.

“I’m sure they feel like they know me, and I feel like I know them,” Jackson said. “But I’m not going to decide the game and they’re not going to decide it. The players will decide it between the yard lines.”

Cal has opened the season with victories over Houston and Oklahoma despite the departure of quarterback Pat Barnes, who led the Pacific 10 Conference in passing with the Bears’ high-powered offense. New quarterback Justin Vedder has directed the Bears to 35 and 40 points in the first two games.

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Rover Grant Pearsall will almost certainly redshirt this season, Coach John Robinson said, even though Pearsall’s recovery from knee surgery might allow him to play half a season. Robinson cited Pearsall’s pro prospects as one reason for waiting to play a full season.

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NEXT FOR USC

WHO: California

WHERE: at Berkeley

WHEN: Sept. 27, 4 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

RADIO: KLSX-FM (97.1)