Boller Starting to Look Like a Pro

Quarterback Kyle Boller left for Northern California after a brilliant career at Newhall Hart High.

After three frustrating seasons, he returns today as the key performer for the Golden Bears and is improving his professional stock each week.

Boller, 6 feet 4 and 225 pounds, has passed for 1,478 yards and 16 touchdowns with four interceptions. Last week, he passed for five touchdowns and averaged 20.5 yards per completion in California’s 34-27 victory over then-No. 12 Washington, the Golden Bears’ first victory in their last 20 games against the Huskies.

“It was the best game I’ve experienced in my college career,” said Boller, who has thrown 52 touchdown passes, two behind all-time Cal leader Pat Barnes.

Boller credits new Coach Jeff Tedford for improving his mechanics and supplying him with an effective offensive system. He also appreciates an offensive line that has given up only seven sacks.

“A lot of things [Tedford] pointed out, I never really noticed,” Boller said. “I got into a lot of bad habits getting hit as many times as I got hit the last three years.”

Boller, a freshman when he became the Golden Bears’ starter in the 1999 Pacific 10 Conference opener, said he would redshirt his first season if he could do it over again.

“You probably should redshirt, not only football-wise but because of school, being away from home, those kinds of things,” Boller said. “When you’re a freshman quarterback, everything is on your shoulders. It’s tough being a freshman quarterback in the Pac-10.”

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Former All-Pro cornerback Willie Buchanon was looking forward to sitting in Coliseum seats located in the upper rows behind the end zone and watching his son, William, start again at left cornerback for USC.

“I like sitting up there because I can see everything developing,” Buchanon said.

Buchanon, however, has another engagement today.

The former All-American at San Diego State will have his jersey retired tonight during the Aztecs’ game against Utah.

“It’s a great honor for him,” William said.

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USC leads Cal, 55-29-5, in the series, which dates to 1915.

The Golden Bears, however, have won four of the last five games.

USC won last year, 55-14, the largest margin of victory by the Trojans since a 62-7 victory over Hawaii in 1999.