Football
Cal Special Teams Shine Under Alamar's Tutelage

Pete Alamar is perfectly content having one of the most thankless jobs in sports.

“If we don’t get things done, I’ll take the blame,” said Alamar, the Cal football team’s special teams coach. “If we do get things done, it’s because there are 11 guys on the field doing a great job.

“Such is the nature of the beast.”

Alamar dominated the headlines after last year’s 47-40 loss to UCLA, when current NFL player Maurice Jones-Drew returned three punts for 162 yards and a touchdown. On another play, the Bears only had 10 men on the field when the Bruins easily converted a fake punt attempt.

Alamar took the brunt of the blame.

But the fourth-year coach described the UCLA meltdown as “just one blip on the radar.”

So far this season, Alamar has stayed out of the headlines. Special teams play has been one of the bright spots for Cal.

Opponents have only managed a total of 66 punt return yards against the Bears for an average of 5.9 yards a punt, compared to Cal’s 13.4 yards per punt return.

“Our experience and athleticism has really made a difference,” coach Jeff Tedford said. “Coach Alamar has done a nice job of putting guys in position. The guys on special teams are passionate out there.”

Newcomer Andrew Larson has made the coverage unit’s jobs a lot easier by averaging over 42 yards a punt. He leads the conference in punting with a 38.8 net average.

“He’s really been a pleasant surprise,” Tedford said of Larson. “He’s had great hangtime and been very consistent.”

Larson, for one, knows how important it is to have consistent special teams play. He has determined through statistical analysis and some common sense that offenses are far less likely to score when pinned deep in their own territory.

“It’s huge,” said Larson about the field position battle. “Field position is the name of the game. The numbers show what a dramatic difference it makes.”

Unfortunately for Larson, he has not always been able to prove his punting ability.

With the Bears offense scoring eight more touchdowns than anyone else in the conference, not a lot of punting has been done.

But Larson said he gets a rigorous workout regardless of how many times he actually punts.

“My leg is always super sore on Sundays,” he said. “I keep warming up, whenever the offense gets a second down.”

Placekicker Tom Schneider also has taken full advantage of his limited opportunities. He has connected on seven-of-eight field goal tries, including on a 50-yarder Saturday against Washington.

To Alamar, Schneider is still perfect on the year.

“The one he missed, there were 12 guys on the field,” said Alamar, referring to Schneider’s missed 50-yard attempt against the Huskies.

Kicker Robbie Keen holds the Cal record for longest field goal, a 55-yarder, but Alamar and Schneider both said they think the record could soon fall.

Alamar said Schneider kicked a 58-yarder warming up before the Washington game. The coach is comfortable with Schneider attempting kicks of up to 55 yards in a game situation.

“He has plenty of leg strength,” Alamar said.

Although Schneider and Larson have excelled so far, it has not been easy.

The kickers arrive to practice 30 minutes before the rest of the team to work on individual kicking drills. Larson spent 20 minutes during yesterday’s practice working with the juggling machine—which quickly spews out balls—in order to be better prepared to handle balls from the long snapper in games.

“They work as hard as anyone,” Alamar said of the kickers. “The only difference is they don’t sweat.”

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