BERKELEY – The current Cal football team is not the only one picking up steam in recent weeks. Former Golden Bears are also getting on board and enjoying the program's renewed success in growing numbers as evidenced by the recent attendance at Cal Football Alumni Tailgates hosted by the football program prior to each game on the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Plaza.
Attendance at the most recent event prior to the Colorado game drew record numbers including former players from seven different decades and an even bigger turnout is expected this Saturday prior to Cal's home game against Washington. The festivities begin two hours before kickoff at 1 p.m. PT.
“We appreciate everything former Cal football players have done and continue to do to build this football program,” head coach Sonny Dykes said. “This is our way of saying thank you to all of those players and their families and friends who have invested so much into the Cal football program. Their investment is critical and we appreciate their dedication, hard work and support. They are all part of the Cal family, and we are honored by their involvement with our program.”
“We are excited about the growing level of support from our football alumni,” said Matt Russi ('08), who played four seasons at Cal and has returned to the program as a recruiting assistant and liaison to Cal football alumni. “The Cal football experience is one we hope they enjoyed while they played here and will continue to enjoy as our biggest fans.”
The most recent home contest against Colorado also served as the Cal Football Alumni Reunion Game and included a special moment when former players from the tailgate lined the inside of the same North Tunnel they came on to the field through during their playing days in support of current Cal players continuing the long-standing North Tunnel tradition that is now nearly a century in the making.
“It gives me goose bumps reminiscing the rush of walking through the North Tunnel as the band is beating their drums and I waited to be unleased on the enemy, so epic!” said Zack Follett, a four-year letterwinner at Cal from 2005-08 who ranks fifth all-time at the school in tackles for loss and sixth in sacks.
“The North Tunnel is a special thing and an unreal experience,” sixth-year senior defensive tackle Austin Clark said. “It's the same tunnel that all of the Cal greats like Joe Roth, Aaron Rodgers and so many others went through. “It's a big deal when you see a former player right there on the field when you're coming out of the tunnel. The best support you can have is from someone who has been in your cleats.”
Cal is 4-1 overall and in sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 North with a 2-1 conference record, marking the first time the Bears have been in first place three games into the league slate since 2006 when Cal won its first six Pac-10 contests.
The Bears have also opened the 2014 season by winning four of five games to begin a campaign for the first time since 2008 and received votes in the national rankings in both the latest AP Top 25 and USA Today Poll released Sunday. Cal received votes for the first time since the fourth week of the 2011 season, picking up six and four votes, respectively.
After this Saturday's contest versus Washington that is also Homecoming on Parents & Reunion Weekend and will be televised by Pac-12 Networks, the Bears stay at home in Berkeley the following Saturday to host UCLA (Oct. 18, 12:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN2). The UCLA contest will also serve as the team's annual Joe Roth Game dedicated to the memory of the late Cal quarterback who is the only player in school history to have his uniform retired.
Cal will conclude its October slate by playing Oregon in the first-ever collegiate football game at Levi's® Stadium in Santa Clara on Friday, Oct. 24 (7 p.m. PT, FOX Sports 1).
After road games at Oregon State (Saturday, Nov. 1) and USC (Thursday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m. PT, ESPN) to begin November, Cal returns home for its final two regular-season contests by hosting Stanford in the 117th Big Game (Saturday, Nov. 22) and BYU (Saturday, Nov. 29).
Kickoff times and television broadcast information for all November games other than the previously announced contest at USC are scheduled to be announced either six or 12 days in advance.
Audio broadcasts of all Cal football games are available on KGO 810 AM, the Cal IMG Sports Network, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and online at CalBears.com via TuneIn.
Cal football tickets are available at CalBears.com or by calling (800) GO BEARS (462-3277).
Former Cal football players seeking more information about the Cal Football Alumni Tailgates should email Matt Russi at matt.russi@berkeley.edu.
