Zach Kline had an off day in his performance at The Opening in Beaverton, Oregon a few weeks ago. He was much better during day two, but still played below his own expectations. Here he talks to the media about bouncing back from a disappointing performance.
"What you do reflects how everyone looks at you," Kline said. "I had an off day at The Opening, didn't have my best day and I'm not going to blame it on the receivers, not going to do anything like that, but everyone could play up there and I didn't have my day. I didn't play the way I usually play.
"I'm just saying forget it, it doesn't matter, just blow it over, everyone has a bad day. Even Peyton Manning has a bad day but I'm coming in here with a chip on my shoulder. I want to prove something here. I want to prove my name and I want to prove my skill. I want to prove all that because there is still a lot to prove."
Referencing Drew Brees' book, "Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity", Kline said he's learned to always play with purpose. Good day, bad day, it doesn't really matter. There will always be the next challenge, the next test, the next event to prove he's still one of the nation's top quarterbacks.
"That was the ultimate message - playing with a chip on your shoulder, always playing like you have something to prove," Kline said. "Especially being a quarterback you're never in a good, normal spot. You're always in a spot where you need to shine."
As committed as he is to living up to expectations as one of the top QBs in the 2012 class, Kline tries to enjoy his time on the field.
"On the field, I'm serious but I like to have fun," Kline said. "I like to make guys laugh and I like to lighten the mood. That's how I deal with it, just making jokes and being a fraternity out here, being friends, that's the biggest thing. When you press you don't really do well and when you just have fun that's when you play better.
After the jump Wilner has more on the Pac-12 TV network, Faraudo checks in with the basketball team, and Lindsay Gottlieb talks about returning to Cal.
Football
- Wilner has more speculation on the Pac-12 television network, whose announcement will likely be pushed back to next month. Wilner expects a partnership between the conference and Time Warner.
- Wilner posts his ballot for the media poll. Cal finishes fourth in the North while Oregon and USC win their divisions.
- ESPN reviews the Pac-12's committed Elite 11 QBs, including our own Zach Kline.
- UWDawgPound rates the Pac-12 receivers and has Cal at 7th overall.
- The OC Register previews the Cal-UCLA matchup and predicts a UCLA victory. Cal will come off a tough four-game stretch while the Bruins will have only played once in the previous three weeks.
Basketball
- Lindsay Gottlieb talks about returning to Cal and rounding up a good crew of assistants.
- Faraudo checks in with the team, which began practice this week. Several players are sitting out to give themselves more recovery time.
Golf
- CalBears.com has a story on how Stephen Hale came to realized that he needed his mental approach to the game, resulting in his best-ever season as a senior. Hale was named an All-America scholar for the second consecutive year.
- Is Alex Morgan the star US Women's Soccer needs? SBN Bay Area says she may elevate the sport in the US.
- CalBears.com catches up with former players on the men's team who are now in the pros.
- Emily Csikos was named to the first-team All American for the second year in a row. The Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches also named Stephanie Peckham and Dana Ochsner to the second team, Breda Voster to the third team, and Ashley Young as an honorable mention.