A sampling of what Cal’s players said after Saturday’s 36-21 win over Fresno State:
CORNERBACK STEVE WLLIAMS
On the defensive performance:
“We came out with good effort. We came out playing really fast. We knew what to do. Coach Pendergast gave us the keys to the game and we just came out and executed.”
On it being the first step in erasing last season:
“I think it’s a great step because we have a new bond as a team. We’re more accountable for each other and we rely on each other better. We know that we have each other’s back. The team is more together now. This is the team that is the most together that I’ve seen here atCal.”
On noticing the heavyFresno State fan contingent:
“I noticed for a little bit. When we came outFresnofans were pretty loud. Then our fans came later. But that wasn’t really a big deal. It doesn’t matter, home field advantage. It doesn’t really matter for us because we know we can play with anybody, anywhere.”
LINEBACKER CECIL WHITESIDE
On his strip of Fresno St. quarterback David Carr:
“It was a just a contained rush. The quarterback clutched it and I stripped his hand on the second pump ad knocked it out and Trevor Guyton scooped and scored.”
On having that kind of college debut:
“It was great. (Linebackers coach Kenwick Thompson) told me he was going to put me in during obvious pass downs. He just wanted me to get after the quarterback. I did what I could and obviously it was a great play.”
QUARTERBACK ZACH MAYNARD
On rating his performance:
“4 1/2, 5 out of 10. There were a lot of mental errors, not very consistent with the ball. First game jitters, we got them all out and we’re going to be ready forColoradonext week.”
On throwing an interception on his first pass:
“I really didn’t think about it. I just shook it off and got ready for the next series.”
On not being satisfied with his performance:
“It’s something I’m conscious of as a quarterback. You always feel like you can do better. We can all do better.”
On leading a touchdown drive after the interception:
“It was very important. I got back to the sidelines and talked to my guys. They all rallied around me. We went back out and drove the ball at will.”
On rushing things at the beginning:
“I rushed the first pass a little bit. The speed is a lot faster than in practice and I haven’t got hit in a long time.”
On the confidence he has in Keenan Allen and Marvin Jones:
“Very confident. We’re all on the same page and Keenan being my brother, we have an instant connection from birth. Me and Marvin have a great connection too from spring ball and through the fall.”
On his long TD pass to Marvin Jones:
“I just felt the pressure and tried to get outside the pocket to get him a ball he could catch and I got the ball to him. He made a great catch.”
On whether he was nervous when the game started:
“I was very nervous. I haven’t played in a year and a half. I was nervous at first. Once I got in the game and threw that first interception, I really had to focus. I wasn’t mad at all. It was real life. I had to keep playing. Everybody makes mistakes.”
DEFENSIVE END TREVOR GUYTON
On his fumble recovery for a touchdown:
“I was just doing my job and good things happen when you do your job.”
On the last time he scored a TD:
“It was my first one ever and it was nice. It was the best feeling in the world.”
On having the ball pop right to him:
“That’s what we practice. We practice getting the ball and scooping and scoring, so it’s just applying technique.”
On the performance of the freshmen:
“We pride ourselves on the D-line in not having a dropoff when we rotate guys in. The best thing we can do is provide a good example for them. They come in when we need a breather and do the exact same thing. So far, they’ve been doing a real good job and we plan on keeping on doing the same.”
RIGHT TACKLE MATT SUMMERS-GAVIN
On the penalties against the offensive linemen:
“We definitely have to clean that up next week. Just mental errors. Basically, anytime we had any adversity in this game, I feel like it was on ourselves. We just have to clean that up next week for sure.”
On the feeling they could have scored a lot more points:
“I feel like we could have put twice as much as we put up if we clean up our mental mistakes and play the football we know how to play.”
On it being the first step in avenging last season:
“Coming into this year, we had that in our memory but this is a new season and a new team. This is the closest team I’ve ever been a part of. Getting the win off the bat is real big.”
On if there is an increased hunger after a losing season:
“Hunger was straight from spring, right when we got back from our winter break. Everyone was just tuned in and from then on it’s been the hardest work I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s paying off. We just have to continue doing it.”
On Zach Maynard:
“I have all the confidence in Zach in the world. I know he puts his heart into this game, puts his heart into this team. He’s only going to get better. From the moment he got here, every single day, I’ve seen him getting better.“
On the significance playing at Candlestick Park because he is a San Francisco native:
“Born and raised in San Francisco. I’ve been to many Giants games, a few 49ers games. Just to be on this field is an amazing privilege. I can’t believe it. It’s a dream come true.”
On there being more Fresno State fans:
“I would have like to have seen Cal take the edge in that but we have to play our game. It’s great to have fan support, but the bottom line is about what we do on the field in between the lines. I felt like we did pretty well today but we have a lot to clean up. It’s good to know we have a lot more improvement to do.”
LINEBACKER MYCHAL KENDRICKS
On whether he was extra excited to play against his hometown team:
“I was actually surprisingly calm. I got some advice from an old friend who played here, Zack Follett. I called him last night – he told me to call him. He gave me some good advice. He just told me, with it being Fresno and the hype that everyone is making it out to be, he knew I was going to be excited. That can get you tired. He just told me to stay calm, breathe and wait for the game.
“I just listened to what he said. I stayed calm, I listened to calm music before the game. Usually I listen to some rock or hip hop or something to get me amped up. But I changed up my routine — Sade, some cool jazz.
On it being rare to be so calm before a game:
“I was overly excited for this game. I just wanted to relax. You can really waste your energy before you ever get on the field letting your adrenaline pump through. That’s not what you want to do.”
On it being the first step in erasing last season:
“It was good getting the taste out of your mouth, especially ending on a loss. For me, this is a hometown game. It’s nice. But we have another game and we’re looking forward to that.”
On the mistakes:
“We made a lot of mistakes today. It’s our first game. I expected that. We should learn from that and get ready.”
On the play of the freshmen defensive players:
“We had some freshmen in there making some plays. I’m really proud of them. We have some babies out there. They’re not used to this game. Now they’ve been exposed so we’re going to expect more from them.”
