The Californian from Salinas, California • 11

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 SPORTS Cal wide receiver Boateng undergoes surgery on foot 4 1 ftl I "1 i PAC-10 Continued from page 7A "There's this image out there that USC has a reputation for not showing up once a year, when the reality is that the conference is deep," Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said in a recent telephone interview. Indeed, USC is 30-1 against the nation, and 15-1 against ranked non-conference teams, since a loss to No. 25 Kansas State in 2002. The lone loss in that span came in the thrilling 2005 BCS title game against Texas and Vince Young. By contrast, USC is 52-8 in Pac-10 games since 2002.

The conclusion: Pac-10 teams have figured out how to play the Trojans. Washington coach Steve Sarkisian, who served as an assistant to USC coach Pete Carroll before taking over in Seattle, has been on both sides of a headline-grabbing USC loss. "I think a lot of the kids within this conference that aren't at SC are used to these kids," said Sarkisian said. "They've known these kids in high school, They're not in awe of them. They just go play." USC tailback Joe McKnight offered a similar take after the loss.

"Washington wasn't the better team; they just outplayed us," he said. "Clearly, we have superior athletes. But hard work beats athleticism any day." Sarkisian may have had an edge against USC because he served on Pete Carroll's USC staff for seven seasons the last two as offensive coordinator -r- before taking over in Seattle. Sarkisian's departure was a double blow for theTrojans, because he took defensive coordinator Nick Holt with him. Sarkisian had a good idea about what USC was going to run and how to stop it.

Strategy alone won't erase a wide gap in talent, but it can help. "I do think familiarity in the league is going to make it tough for SC. said Riley, whose Beavers have beaten USC two of the last three years. "Everybody's going to give them a great shot. The beautiful thing is, as good as they are, there are no givens.

That's why we play the games." Carroll pointed to a different link among USC's recent conference losses: carelessness with the football. The Trojans turned the ball over three times inside the Washington 35-yard line on Saturday. Knocking off the Trojans may be an annual rite in the Pac-10, but it's still a big deal on every campus, especially at Washington, which went 0-12 last year. On Washington's Web site, the athletic department is selling framed photos from last weekend's game. "jN i A '7 Key offensive player will be out four to six weeks The Associated Press BERKELEY California heads into the toughest stretch of its schedule missing one of its key offensive players.

Wide receiver Nyan Boateng is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery on his broken right foot Monday. "He was making plays this year," quarterback Kevin Riley said Tuesday. "He runs crisp routes, make plays, catches the ball well. It definitely hurts." No. 6 Cal opens Pac-10 play this Saturday at Oregon and then hosts No.

12 Southern California next week. After a week off, the Golden Bears travel to UCLA. Boateng injured him- self in the first half of last Saturday's 35-21 win at Minnesota while blocking on a run by Jahvid Best. Boateng played the remainder of the half before doctors determined the injury. "Some other guys are going to have their opportunity to step up now, which we have confidence that they will," coach Jeff Tedford said.

Jeremy Ross did just that last week, catching a 35-yard pass and a 31-yarder on the drive that gave the Bears a 28-21 lead in the fourth quarter. Ross is excited for even more opportunities coming in these next few weeks. "I'm really looking for- IHE ASSOCIATED PRESS California's Nyan Boateng celebrates his touchdown reception against Arizona State on Oct 4, 2008 in Berkeley. Boateng will miss about a month after undergoing surgery on his broken right foot. iff llfl kill 11 I i ill I I I I 1 player the Bears have believed he could be.

"He's a great athlete," Riley said. "He has the talent to be one of the best receivers we have. It seems that there are lapses at times. This will just give him confidence to continue to get better." The injury could also give more playing time to Alex Lagemann, Michael Calvin and Charles Satchell. Boateng was Cal's leading receiver last season with 29 catches for 439 yards and five touchdowns.

He slipped to No. 3 receiver this season behind Marvin Jones and Verran Tucker. ward to it," he said. "I've been just waiting for my time, trying to prepare myself so when an opportunity did come I'd be ready. I'm excited about getting an opportunity to play more on the field and hoping to make plays for my team." Ross had only one catch the first two games before coming through with three against the Golden Gophers, including a key third-down conversion on the winning drive.

That matched the best game of his career, as Ross is beginning to show the signs of becoming the w. y. It VV JJ VOTE ONLINE: www.theca'.ifornian.ccm VOTING ENDS SEPTEMBER 23 r' Ov 7, ft. I A ') -i A ISUYUMG Evemtl uying Gold Scrap, i Diamonds 2ct, Jewelry, Platinum, .4 Silver, Coins, Fine Watches, Sterling Just like a healthy garden, Rabobank, N.A. is growing.

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