Steve Harris August 21, 2008

From: Steven Harris
-- Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008
-- Subject: And the QB is... Kevin Riley!

I can't believe it either! There's hope for Cal football after all! Per the Oakland Tribune's Jonathan Okanes about 90minutes ago, Coach Tedford said that Kevin Riley will start... but Nate Longshore will probably see action as well. This is a big, big opportunity.

Remember that the Pac-10 opener is in the second week, AT Washington State. Sure, WSU is going to be very weak this year, but it's still the Pac-10 opener, and Coach Tedford doesn't want to mess around with that important game, particularly a road matchup.

So what does this mean? I think it means that if Riley has a strong opener against Michigan State, then he's got the job. If Riley struggles, then Nate could easily win the job back. I'm just happy that Coach Tedford was open-minded enough to see past some extreme loyalty and select the QB who has the best potential to win. Longshore, God bless him, plateaued. Well worth the growing pains to see what Riley has for us.

Just so you can see the announcements for yourself...

SF Comical...Riley wins starting QB job at CalThursday, August 21, 2008 -- Berkeley, Calif. (AP) -- Kevin Riley will start the season opener at quarterback for California against Michigan State with former starter Nate Longshore expected to play as a reserve. Kevin Riley has won the nod as the starting QB at Cal. Coach Jeff Tedford made the announcement about his quarterbacks after practice on Thursday. The Golden Bears open the season Aug. 30 at home against the Spartans. "We feel like both of them have had great camps, but Kevin's going to take the first snaps and we'll see how it goes from there," Tedford said. "Nate will play in the game. I don't know exactly when, but Kevin will start." Riley saw action in four games last year as a redshirtfreshman, throwing for 563 yards and five touchdowns. In Riley's first career start last season, he tried to run with the ball in the final seconds instead of throwing it away, costing the Bears the chance at a game-tying field goal in a 31-28 loss to Oregon State. Cal would have been in position to move up to No. 1 in the poll with a win, but instead lost six of its final regular season games. Riley did excel in the Armed Forces Bowl for Cal, entering with a 21-0 deficit in the second quarter and leading the Bears to a 42-36 victory over Air Force. Riley was 16-for-19 for 269 yards and three touchdowns to earn MVP honors in the game. "I'm just getting ready for Michigan State," Riley said. "It's an honor to be named the starter, especially after what Nate's done at Cal. We're in good hands having two good quarterbacks here. I just have to prepare, watch film and get ready for this game." Longshore ranks fourth all-time at Cal in passing efficiency (133.1), sixth in passing touchdowns (62)and seventh in passing yardage (5,732). He is also second all-time at Cal with 18 victories as a starting quarterback.