Notebook: Huskies were too late to get Bears quarterback Rodgers
Count Aaron Rodgers on the increasingly long list of ones that the Huskies let get away.
Rodgers will start at quarterback for California on Saturday when the Bears host the Huskies at 12:30 p.m. But he said it might not have taken much to have put him on the other sideline.
"I was really interested in Washington, but they came on a little too late," Rodgers said.
The Huskies can hardly be blamed. Rodgers played last season at Butte Community College, tucked away in the northern part of California in Oroville. Rodgers also was a freshman, so most recruiters assumed he likely wasn't eligible to immediately transfer to a four-year school.
Cal coach Jeff Tedford didn't know of Rodgers until watching a tape of Butte tight end Garrett Cross and noticing that the quarterback was pretty good, also. Tedford — needing a quarterback with Kyle Boller due to graduate — made a few inquiries, found out Rogers was eligible and willing to leave after his first year, and made an offer. Rodgers then lined up a trip to California with the intent of committing on the spot.
Within a day or two, Rodgers said, Washington coach Rick Neuheisel called.
"I loved their program," Rodgers said. "I told them I was going to (take a trip to) Cal and if I liked it I'd probably commit, and if not I'd (take a trip to UW). But I really, really liked it at Cal and decided to go with it."
Cross also ended up signing with Cal (the two hooked up on a TD pass last week at Oregon).
Rodgers said he has no regrets, having become a starter at Cal early this season after beating out junior Reggie Robertson and ranking fifth in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency.
If he had come to UW, Rodgers would have sat out this season.
"They wanted me to be the backup to Cody (Pickett) but redshirt unless he got hurt and then hopefully start for three years," Rodgers said. It was shortly after Rodgers fell through that the Huskies pursued Kentwood's Carl Bonnell, who was then grayshirting at WSU.
The word coaches use most to describe Rodgers is accurate. He has thrown just four interceptions in 244 attempts, a ratio that would be the best in Cal history.
Winslow clarifies choice
In an interview to be aired on Fox Sports Net during its college football kickoff program Saturday, Kellen Winslow Jr. admits that his father's dislike of then-UW coach Rick Neuheisel swayed his decision not to become a Husky.
Winslow was thought to be leaning toward UW in February of 2001 but eventually chose Miami. Kellen Winslow Sr., the former NFL great, said at the time he wanted his son to attend a school with a greater representation of African-American coaches. But it had also been rumored that Winslow Sr. didn't like Neuheisel because Neuheisel had played for the Chargers in 1987 while the regular players — such as Winslow — were on strike.
In the interview, the younger Winslow says, "I didn't understand why he didn't want me to go to Washington. I was trying to be a man and just make my decision on my own. He just didn't trust Rick Neuheisel."
Notes
• WR Reggie Williams has been named to the watch list for the Walter Camp player of the year award. Williams, second in the nation in receptions per game, is one of 15 players on the list. Williams is also one of 10 finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver.
• SS Owen Biddle remains out with a pinched nerve and is unlikely to play against Cal.
• With the top two tight ends out, Jon Lyon will get his first start.