Cal sticks with Maynard at quarterback vs. WSU

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - California coach Jeff Tedford hasn't paid much attention to the criticism leveled at quarterback Zach Maynard the past few weeks. He hopes his Golden Bears player is doing the same thing.

Despite increasing pressure from fans and alumni, Tedford insists he's sticking with Maynard - a switch from his earlier stance in the week - and bristled at suggestions Cal needs to make a change in its lineup.

"Aaron Rodgers is not here, all right, so if we miss a ball here or there it happens," Tedford said, referring to the former Cal great and starter for the Green Bay Packers. "Everybody thinks it's just the quarterback, but there's a lot of moving parts going on. He just happens to be one pulling the trigger."

Tedford, whose Bears (4-4, 1-4 Pac-12) hosts Washington State (3-5, 1-4) today, isn't the only one speaking out in support of Maynard, the junior transfer in his first season starting for the Bears.

Several Bears players took to Twitter to defend the quarterback, who has come under fire after throwing seven interceptions in the last three games. Four of them came in last week's 31-14 loss to UCLA that dropped Cal to 1-4 in the Pac-12 and put a severe dent in its bowl hopes.

Maynard's brother, wide receiver Keenan Allen, was among those most upset by the critical talk.

"It definitely (ticks) me off, just knowing what he's capable of and knowing it's not all his fault," said Allen, who is on pace to break the Bears single season records for catches and receptions. "He's the quarterback so he is going to take all the blame. But it's kind of hard when (critics) don't really know what they're looking at. But he's handled it well."

Just two weeks ago, Maynard appeared ready to quiet the criticism when he completed 19 of 29 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score in a 34-10 win over Utah.

That snapped a three-game losing streak and seemed to be a turning point for Maynard, who had thrown three interceptions against USC on Oct. 13.

The Cougars, who have lost four straight, need three wins in their final four games to get into the postseason.