No Names On Cal's Jerseys? Thanks a lot, Jeff Tedford

Jeff Tedford is many things. He's Cal's coach, a guru of quarterbacks who can't cut it in the NFL, and now, enemy to all fans who don't want to watch a game with their faces peeled to a roster. The Golden Bears recently unveiled their new uniforms for the 2008 season, which feature a helmet with a widening stripe and a bear claw on the back with the players' number and jerseys with claw-like slashes around the collar and a bear claw logo on the neck. But the initial drawings of the jersey that are pictured here show something that you won't see on the field: the players' name. Tedford initially stripped the players of their name plates before the Armed Forces Bowl to honor the military and humble his players for a free fall that saw them lose six of seven after ascending to the No. 2 ranking, but he has decided to maintain the name ban for the upcoming season. It's a great statement for the players, who put aside individuality and put team first. But for fans, it's a complete pain. Now, The Señior gets that at certain schools (like Notre Dame, Penn State and USC) it's tradition but that doesn't make it right. This isn't the 1960s, rosters are like small towns these days and it's too much to ask fans to know every player by number, especially when players are sharing numbers. Cal's preseason roster has 27 numbers shared by two players, including the No. 5, which is shared by starters Cameron Morrah (tight end) and Syd'Quan Thompson (cornerback). A year ago, USC quarterback John David Booty shared No. 10 with linebacker Brian Cushing. Of course, with 85 scholarship players and scout teamers on the roster, and numbers that go from 1-99, it's inevitable. But the growth of rosters has made names on jerseys an absolute necessity. Jeff Tedford may think this is a nod to the past, before guys were ripping off their helmets or doing the Soldier Boy dance after a touchdown. But they put names on jerseys for a reason: to make it easier on the fans and the announcers. Give Tedford credit though, he is succeeding in doing one thing. He's sure going to help Cal's athletic department sell some programs.