The Cal players and coaches didn’t seem to be on the same page in the UCLA’s 31-14 pistol-whipping of the Bears on Saturday. Apparently the coaches weren’t on the same page with each other either.
Asked about the impact of linebacker Mychal Kendricks playing sparingly in the first half, defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast said a little more than he should have.
“Well, he’s the leading tackler in the Pac-10, so obviously that’s gonna have some effect,” Pendergast said. “But he didn’t get the reps this week because of the surgery on his thumb, and of course I’m sure that hurt us some.”
Wait, Kendricks had surgery on his thumb? Care to elaborate?
“Umm, he had some work done on it,” said Pendergast, clearly embarrassed upon realizing his mistake and anxious to change the subject.
Not sure what “had some work done on it” means; I don’t think Kendricks had his nails painted.
Regardless, having the “leading tackler in the Pac-10” — he was actually third in the conference heading into Saturday — in the whole game probably would not have made much of a difference against UCLA’s regal rushing attack. Certainly Kendricks’ injured thumb did not force Zach Maynard to pass to the opposing team four times.
Pendergast also referred to the Pac-12 as the Pac-10; then again, back when the conference was the Pac-10, Cal used to actually release injury information.