It's not exactly the image that Best, a Heisman Trophy candidate, wants to define him.
"I'm sure he's going to have something to prove," Brown said. "I'm sure this is a game he's circled on the calendar. He's a Heisman candidate, and I'm sure we're going to get his best shot."
* Home field and time-zone advantage. Was the time-zone factor overrated last season? It sure didn't help Cal to be beginning a game when it would normally be finishing breakfast. This year, it's Maryland that must switch time zones. Friedgen and the team intentionally planned a flight Thursday that would arrive in the evening. He wanted the players tired so that they would sleep through their first night here.
Cal has been steady at Memorial Stadium (71,799 capacity) under Tedford, going unbeaten there in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
So can Maryland win?
The Terps, with a young offensive line, might have trouble outgaining Cal, which averaged 376 yards and 32.6 points per game last season.
The outcome will depend heavily on Brown's defense, which was the talk of training camp. Friedgen said the defense, which relies on constantly shifting personnel, recorded 50 interceptions during intrasquad competition. Quite often, Maryland's offense looked baffled against it, unable to respond to well-disguised pressure.
Tedford has seen Maryland quarterback Chris Turner and running back Da'Rel Scott, who rushed for two touchdowns in last season's game but suffered a shoulder injury that bothered him the rest of the regular season.
But Maryland's defense is a mystery to the Golden Bears, as it is to nearly everybody else. Brown's defense at Massachusetts - where he was head coach - finished among the top 20 in three of his five seasons.
"I know there's going to be an element of surprise there," Tedford said. "There is no background. As far as us playing them last year, they're not the same team."
MARYLAND@NO. 12 CALIFORNIA * Tonight, 10 * TV: ESPN2 * Radio: 105.7 FM
