RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
Cal finds right mix for title run
jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
The secret to California University's success in football this week could lie with the book bag slung over Daine Williams' shoulders.
It does not contain any secret information. It doesn't have the stolen game plans and formations of the team from Minnesota Duluth, Cal's opponent in Saturday's NCAA Division II semifinal game at Adamson Stadium.
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
No, the secret to the Vulcans' success is the book bag.
It's nothing more than a child's book bag - he wore the Handy Man version to a Wednesday press conference - one that might be on the back of a 6-year-old, not the star tailback of the California football team.
Williams has a dozen such book bags, and his favorite one has the comic book character The Flash on the back.
Linebacker Darren Burns, a 6-3, 215-pound linebacker most recently noted for his game-saving hit in last week's 27-24 victory over Bloomsburg, prefers the Superman version. Quarterback Kevin McCabe doesn't wear one, but if he did?
"It would be Diego," he said of the cartoon character whose show can be found on Nick Jr.
"One day, we were in Wal-Mart and saw them," Williams said. "We thought they'd be cool to wear."
When head coach John Luckhardt was asked if he had a book bag, he simply smiled, shook his head, then quickly excused himself from the press conference.
While some see Williams trying to recapture his childhood, these book bags stand for something more symbolic.
"That's the beauty of this team," McCabe said. "We have different personalities and different characteristics. We get a little bit of flare from everyone, and we each carry a little of each other's persona."
You can't underestimate the importance of that. This year's team integrated many new starters, including McCabe, a transfer from Virginia. Wide receivers Marcel Pestano (Pitt) and A.J. Jackson (College of the Sequoias) also were unknowns. Even Burns, the only returning starting linebacker, had to get used to playing with new starters.
"It's more of a team thing," Burns said. "Every team does something different. It makes us close, like a family. No matter whether you hang with them, or go hit golf balls, whatever."
Even with new players at crucial positions, the Vulcans have returned to the national semifinals for a second straight year. If they beat Minnesota Duluth, they advance to the championship game in Florence, Ala., against either North Alabama or Northwest Missouri State.
"We have a group of guys who have managed to merge together," said Luckhardt. "Every team that advances this far, should feel like they can ... win the whole thing."
What California needs against Duluth is what the book bags symbolize: a strong team effort. That worked in the win over Bloomsburg, where Cal did not have a penalty or turnover, nearly unheard of at any level of football.
"We're not satisfied just by being here," said Luckhardt. "We're planning on taking it the distance. But I'm sure the other three teams (in the semifinals) are thinking the same thing."
Cal will have to deal with the balanced attack of Minnesota-Duluth. The Bulldogs are coming off the biggest win in the program's history: a double-overtime 19-13 upset of No. 1 Grand Valley State.
The Bulldogs' quarterback - senior Ted Schlafke - has passed for 2,749 yards and 31 touchdowns and junior running back Isaac Odim has gained 1,443 yards and scored 22 times. The duo tops an offense that scored at least 38 points in each regular-season game.
Minnesota-Duluth hasn't allowed more than three touchdowns in a game and held two playoff teams - Chadron State and Grand Valley - to a combined 23 points.
"They can run the ball and their defense is good," said Williams. "But stats make me mad. They don't win ballgames for you."
Key plays, big hits, strong defense and mistake-free football do.
If the Vulcans do that against Minnesota Duluth Saturday, then they won't have to worry about winning.
It will be in the bag.
