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The big story coming out of Wednesday's practice is that starting outside receiver Chris Harper will practice Thursday and is expected to play on Saturday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Dykes says Chris Harper will practice tomorrow. His shoulder injury is not serious <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CalFootball&src=hash">#CalFootball</a></p>— Hunter Hewitt (@HunterHewitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/HunterHewitt/statuses/372888777800577024">August 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Dykes says <a href="https://twitter.com/ItsChrisHarper">@ItsChrisHarper</a> (shoulder) will practice tomorrow and play on Saturday. Huzzah.</p>— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalRivals/statuses/372894619123478528">August 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
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On Tuesday, Harper had reportedly hurt his shoulder while diving for a pass. But the good news is, Coach Dykes confirmed at Wednesday's post-practice presser that Harper is ok: "We expect him to play Saturday. He basically sprained his shoulder."
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Coach Dykes also noted that Brennan Scarlett's status will be more clear by Thursday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Dykes said he expects to know definitively about DE Brennan Scarlett's availability for <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Northwestern&src=hash">#Northwestern</a> tomorrow.</p>— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalRivals/statuses/372904664640925697">August 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Nick Forbes, however, remains doubtful to play on Saturday. Hardy Nickerson is slated to start at middle linebacker, and he sounds ready for the assignment:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Hardy: we're getting better & playing faster every day, Nick has been great giving me advice, dad's always giving me advice</p>— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/372889786794917889">August 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
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For more details on Tuesday's & Wednesday's practices, here are links to:
- Jeff Faraudo's Wednesday report - LINK
- Hunter Hewitt's notebooks from Tuesday & Wednesday
Also check out Hunter Hewitt's feature on freshman QB Jared Goff - LINK.
"What we want Jared to do is just what he's done at practice," Dykes said. "Just take care of the football, get the ball to the right players, be accurate, be a good leader, stay emotionally calm and stable and steady. All of those are reasons why we named him the starting quarterback.
"He has the uncanny ability to not worry too much about what's going on around him and focus on the stuff that's important."
Goff has identified several things he wants to focus on this season, but said one statistic trumps everything else.
"I just want to win games," he said. "That's the biggest stat for a quarterback, and that's all that matters at the end of the day."
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There is one more practice this week on Thursday, and then the long awaited season opener on Saturday! In the meantime, there's a Thursday night rally for students (and alumni & fans - HT fiatlux) at Memorial Stadium.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Are you going to the Thursday Night rally at Memorial Stadium??? <a href="http://t.co/5P8Gzn5Kz2">http://t.co/5P8Gzn5Kz2</a></p>— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/372843430444941312">August 28, 2013</a></blockquote>
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And of course, don't forget the ice cream:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Mrs Dykes to the team after the Sonny breaks the huddle: "we have ice cream sandwiches for everybody...!"</p>— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/372887176247115776">August 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
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