Bears Not Ready for Hibernation Yet

Minutes after the final play in California’s 17-0 victory over UCLA on Saturday, Bear players celebrated in the north end zone in front of their fans as if they had never won a game before.

Players danced, coaches hugged and defensive tackle Jeremiah Parker ran around the Rose Bowl field holding a large blue-and-gold Cal flag for all to notice. Normally, this type of partying would seem a little excessive for a 3-3 team, but the Bears didn’t seem to care.

Not after defeating UCLA for the first time since 1994 and ending the Bruins’ 13-game home Pacific 10 Conference winning streak. And especially not after Cal found itself back in the Rose Bowl race with a 2-1 conference record.

“I would have never ever expected that we’d [shut out] UCLA,” Cal Coach Tom Holmoe said. “I’m very happy and pleased that our defense was able shut them out. . . . To win in the Pac-10, you have to win in L.A. Whether it’s at UCLA or USC, you have to win on the road down here.”

Cal had been 0-3 on the road before Saturday and had given up 94 points in the three defeats.

“We needed this opportunity to show everybody, including ourselves, that we can play,” said defensive end Andre Carter, who had one sack and pressured UCLA quarterback Cory Paus most of the game.

“For us to take care of business and play with heart and get the job done in L.A. is just phenomenal.”

Although the Bears’ defense will get most of the credit, Cal’s offense made enough plays to ensure a victory.

Freshman quarterback Kyle Boller completed only nine of 20 passes for 113 yards, and had three passes intercepted. But he made a couple of key throws that led to touchdowns and directed a Bear offense that controlled the ball for 38:18 compared to UCLA’s 21:42.

“Our offensive line was great,” said Boller, a former standout at Newhall Hart High. “They did a great job blocking, giving our backs big holes to run through and giving me plenty of time to pass. I felt completely protected and I was able to see in the pocket.”

Boller’s first big completion was a 27-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Joseph Echema down the Cal sideline, good for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

That score held up until early in the fourth when Boller’s second big pass play put Cal in scoring position. Faced with third and 26, Boller completed a 39-yard pass to Sean Currin, who was playing in place of split end Michael Ainsworth, who missed the game because of a hamstring injury.

“We definitely felt at that time that we needed a big play,” said Currin, who had caught only one pass this season before Saturday. “We had a seven-point lead and our offense was a little stagnant.”

Boller didn’t complete another pass the remainder of the game but Cal’s rushing attack, which accounted for 248 yards, did the rest.

On third and 25, backup tailback Saleem Muhammad scored on a 33-yard draw play.

The Bears’ running game took over again later in the fourth quarter when, on third and one, fullback Joshua White broke through the middle for a 62-yard gain to set up a Cal field goal.

“I thought our line had taken over the game at that point,” White said. “I hadn’t had a run that long since high school.”

Up next for Cal are back-to-back Pac-10 home games against Washington and USC, and similar efforts could put the Bears in position to return to the Rose Bowl to play on Jan. 1.

“All we have to do now is win out,” linebacker Keith Miller said. “We control our own destiny now.”

That’s more than the Bruins can say.