Aug. 23, 2008

BERKELEY - The University of California football team wrapped up its 2008 preseason training camp with a two-hour practice on Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium Immediately after the practice, the team hosted its annual Contra Costa Times Fan Appreciation Day with over 2,000 fans attending the event.

"It was a good camp," head coach Jeff Tedford said. "We improved through camp. We had a physical camp; we got a lot of our new guys acclimated to all phases of the game so it was very productive. Now it's time to hone in one game-planning."

Tedford's post-game comments were brief as, in addition to Fan Appreciation Day, the coach and players were signing up for the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry program, a benefit for Project Michelle (ProjectMichelle.com) to help increase awareness and to find potential bone marrow/stem cell donors for people with leukemia and other similar diseases.

In addition to his thoughts on camp in general, Tedford was asked about the receiving corps, the play of the defensive line in the new 3-4 format and his evaluation of freshman tight end Spencer Ladner.

ON THE RECEIVERS:
"There's going to be a rotation with the receivers. We're a little bit deeper than we have been. It depends on what the game plan calls for as to how we utilize them most likely."

ON THE D-LINE:
"I think we have a pretty good understanding of what's going on, but you never really know until you play the game so we'll find out. I feel good about their effort; I feel good about the work that they've put in, so now it's just a matter of seeing them at game time. That's the true test."

ON Spencer Ladner:
"[He's been] very good. Spencer played high school split out a lot so [his] high school training was different. Spencer's really getting acclimated to the line of scrimmage. He's caught the ball great and he's going to be a very, very good player. So we'll keep progressing him through the year and he may get into the mix."

Cal has Sunday off and then will return to the field for full practices on Monday in preparation for next Saturday's season-opener against Michigan State.

Printer-friendly format

Email this article