BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -The frightening fall and concussion that sidelined California star running back Jahvid Best hit his backup Shane Vereen particularly hard.
Vereen considers Best to be as close as a brother, with their relationship starting back when they competed against each other in high school track meets and blossoming when they arrived together at Cal in 2007.
That’s why Vereen was so shaken up when Best was unconscious in the end zone and taken off the field on a stretcher after falling from more than 8 feet in the air on the back of his helmet and back last week against Oregon State.
Those vivid memories will be put aside Saturday when Vereen tries to help the Golden Bears (6-3, 3-3 Pac-10) get back on the winning track against No. 18 Arizona (6-2, 4-1).
the risks coming into the game. I’m sure he knew that when he left the ground that something bad can happen. But that’s his personality to give everything he’s got for the good of the team.”
Cal will have to make do this week and perhaps even longer without Best, the electrifying back who has rushed for 867 yards and scored 16 touchdowns already this season. Coach Jeff Tedford said the team hasn’t even discussed when Best might return to the field.
Arizona nose tackle Donald Horton said he has mixed emotions about not having to go up against the talented Best.
“It’s kind of good – not good that he got hurt – but good and bad. Obviously, he’s a great player, and he can change the game at any moment,” Horton said. “That’s one thing we don’t have to worry about. But at the same time, you’d like to be that guy, or that defense, that shut down Jahvid Best, because he’s been getting his numbers all year.”
Tedford almost always has employed a two-back system so he has an experienced replacement in Vereen, who was 10th in the conference last year with 715 yards rushing. He has gotten fewer chances this season but still is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and has scored eight touchdowns.
Vereen showed just what he can do when he rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown in a 45-26 victory over UCLA on a day when Best was bottled up for most of the game.
that he can go out there and make plays,” quarterback Kevin Riley said. “He works hard. And anytime we’ve asked him to step up, he’s done a good job of it. So I think everybody on the offense is comfortable with Shane out there.”
Arizona also could be without its starting running back for the game, as well with Nic Grigsby listed as questionable with a sprained right shoulder. Backup tailback Greg Nwoko, who also has a shoulder sprain, will practice this week and might play, coach Mike Stoops said.
The Wildcats are in the thick of the race for the Pac-10’s bid to the Rose Bowl and can earn an outright conference title with wins over Cal, No. 14 Oregon State, Arizona State and No. 11 Southern California.
“I think our guys are excited about where they’re at,” Stoops said. “This is a good time. This is exciting. Each game gets bigger and bigger, and that’s good.”
Arizona can earn its first Rose Bowl bid ever even with a loss to the Bears, as long as the Wildcats win their final three games.
The Arizona players are trying not to be distracted by all the different bowl scenarios that could play out and focus instead on what they can control.
hat you don’t get beat, so you can get put in that position.”
—
AP College Football Writer Andrew Bagnato in Tucson, Ariz., contributed to this report.
Add A Comment