While we prepare for the upcoming 2012 fall season and new academic year, the Cal Bear Blog will be undergoing a change in identity.

The site will be temporarily offline as we begin to roll out the new Cal Bear Blog for the 2012-13 season.

During this time, please log on to CalBears.com and the Cal Athletics FaceBook page for the latest news on the Golden Bears.

The first of four episodes of "Back in Berkeley: Training Camp with Cal Football" made its today. The show is documenting the team's 2012 training camp. The show is produced by Cal Bears Productions, the in-house video production group of Cal Athletics' Creative Services unit.

The Golden Bears practiced in pads for the first time during camp on Wednesday evening. Head football coach Jeff Tedford addressed the media following Wednesday's session.

The Golden Bears are assured of adding two more medals to their 2012 count after the USA women's water polo team, featuring former Cal players Elsie Windes and Heather Petri, reached the gold-medal match with an 11-9 overtime victory over Australia in the semifinals Tuesday at the Water Polo Arena.

As the pair gets set to add to Cal's medal count, CalBears.com contributing writer PJ Brown talked to Windes leading up to the games and shares this feature with the former Golden Bear standout.

Team player. The ultimate team player someone who thinks of the team first and foremost and is not focused on individual accolades. We hear this term a lot, team player, and when we come across those who truly define this word, we need to step back and notice.

Elsie Windes, Cal alum and U.S. women's Olympic water polo player, definitely falls into the category of team player. Recently when asked a few times about her individual play and contributions, Windes quickly changed the conversation to focus on her team.

"I love the team aspect, it's why I have stuck with water polo," Windes commented. "Your teammates are with you for the long swim sets and push you through the grueling hours of training. It's who you compete for and they keep it fun. It is a lot of fun. We lean on each other. They get me in gear and vice versa. We are there to support each other."

Even when talking about her first Olympic moment - the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the hard loss in the gold medal game - her thoughts were of her team. The U.S. was down 4-0 in the first quarter to the Netherlands, rallied to tie it 8-8 in the fourth, and with 26 seconds left the Dutch scored the game winner.

"It was hard because we just lost the game and you don't want to think you just lost the gold," said Windes. "We won the silver. It was a special moment for our team. To be part of U.S. water polo with its long history of winning medals. It is so special to be part of that. To have the opportunity to compete in the Olympics is quite an experience.

"You always want to play your best against the best in the world," continued Windes. "The Olympics are where the best are. It is an amazing experience. It's what I dreamed of as a little kid. For me, the 2008 Opening Ceremonies was special...to be part of the Olympic movement, hearing the USA chants, following our flag, and seeing the other flags. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. It was special to enjoy it with my family and friends."

At Cal Windes was a three-time All-American. She scored 23 goals in 18 matches in her senior year and finished her career with 147 goals. In 2004, she was an honorable mention All-American - Cal's first true freshman to receive the honor.

"Cal was a perfect fit for me," said Windes. "It's a great school, we had a great team, and we have great athletics. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to go back since I graduated. I moved down to southern California to train for the Olympics, then I went to Beijing, then I played professionally in Greece and Italy. This year has been crazy. Hopefully, I will make it back for a football game this fall. I am getting married in September and I'd like to bring my fiancé (Ian Wenger) to a game and show him all the Berkeley spots."

Coming into the 2012 Olympics, Team USA is ranked sixth in the world after its finish at the World Championships, but seems to be peaking at the right time. With four tune-up matches against Hungary up and down the California coast, Team USA won all four matches and Windes scored goals in three out of the four contests.

"It's been good to play these matches," said Windes. "We played one game at Stanford and it was awesome. It was a sellout, and we have great fans here. It's inspiring to play in front of our fans before we go to London. One game was televised and that doesn't happen too often for us. It gave friends and family a chance to see us before we take off for London."

Those pre-Olympic matches weren't the only games against international competition Team USA has played this year. After qualifying for the Olympics by winning the gold medal at the Pan American Games in November, 2011 (Windes scored four goals during the Pan Ams), Team USA has taken long trips abroad getting games in.

"We were able to see the Olympic venue in a test event, "she said. "We saw the Olympic Park, the locker room. We got to play games in front of big crowds. It gave us a chance to visualize what it will look like...one less surprise for us at the Olympics. The facility is new. It was just built for water polo and it will be taken down after the Olympics. It is similar to the Stanford pool - just a great water polo venue."

The USA National Team has now trained together for the past year and has only one focus - a gold medal in London.

"You always want to go for the gold...for our families and for the team," said Windes. "But, we have to take it one match at a time and take opportunities as they come. We can't look too far ahead...we need to focus on the match at hand."

Spoken like a true team player, USA Olympian and Cal Alumnae Elsie Windes.

Follow PJ Brown on Twitter @PJBrown09 and her blog Roaming The Sidelines

Nick Greenlee, one of the members of Webcor's team that is overseeing the retrofit of Memorial Stadium, provided us with this amazing image of the project. The bottom photo was captured in July 25, 2011 and the top photo was taken one year later on July 31 of this year.

For junior offensive lineman Mark Brazinski, the 2012 preseason camp is much different than when he first arrived from Immaculata High School in New Jersey as a freshman in 2009. He had earned a starting role at left guard earlier this spring before an injury in practice during spring drills forced him to the sidelines. He continues his rehabilitation and is hopeful to be back in action later this season.

In the meantime as Brazinski's fourth pre-season camp began this week, the studious offensive lineman who will graduate from the Haas School of Business later this month, sat down for five questions with the Cal Bear Blog.

How different is it for you to come in as a veteran now than when you were a freshman?
As a freshman, you come in and you don't know what is going on. You don't know which way is left and which way is right. You come in and the first day you learn eight plays against five different defenses and you try to memorize every picture. The second day, you learn eight more plays. By the fifth day, your head is spinning in every direction. Now that I have been here for a couple years, it is like second nature to me.

It gives you a different prospective, because each camp gets easier. You are in better shape and you are mentally stronger. This one will be a very interesting camp because of my position with the team. I think it is going to be a lot of fun. We are really getting after it.

I have been here for a lot. This is the third locker room we have had since I have been here but this place is a palace so it was well worth it.

What will it be like to play back inside Memorial Stadium?
Unfortunately, I am injured and won't be able to play on Sept. 1. I am looking forward to experiencing it as a player later in the season. I appreciated AT&T Park last season, but there is no place like home. You don't need to take a bus 30 minutes across the bridge to get to your home field where there is a dirt baseball field in the middle of the grass. It was fun, but when you are at home, you have that home feel. Memorial Stadium creates a special energy like no other. It really shows what college football is all about.

How is your rehabilitation going?
I met with my doctor recently and he felt I was ahead of our expectations now that we are three months since the surgery. Working day-by-day, everything that is supposed to be sore is sore and everything that is not supposed to be sore is not. I feel really good about it. I am getting after it a little harder each day.

How did you spend your summer?
Because of my injury, almost everything took a back seat while I continued my rehabilitation here on campus this summer. I had planned a trip to Europe, but had to cancel it to remain here because missing a week of rehabilitation could mean setting myself back three weeks or a month. My brother, who attends Cambridge in England where he is writing his dissertation, opted to come to Berkeley and be a visiting scholar this summer so I got to hang out a lot with him. That was a lot of fun.

Even though you won't get to compete on the field with your teammates just yet, how exciting is it to be back with the team now that preseason camp has started?
The next season really begins the day after we get back from the bowl game. We are here year-round. We hang out together, we lift together, we eat together. However, when camp starts, it is different. There is that feeling of 'it is time to get after it' and get the pads on and play. It will be great when we start playing the games in less than a month.

For junior offensive lineman Mark Brazinski, the 2012 preseason camp is much different than when he first arrived from Immaculata High School in New Jersey as a freshman in 2009. He had earned a starting role at left guard earlier this spring before an injury in practice during spring drills forced him to the sidelines. He continues his rehabilitation and is hopeful to be back in action later this season.

In the meantime as Brazinski's fourth pre-season camp began this week, the studious offensive lineman who will graduate from the Haas School of Business later this month, sat down for five questions with the Cal Bear Blog.

How different is it for you to come in as a veteran now than when you were a freshman?
As a freshman, you come in and you don't know what is going on. You don't know which way is left and which way is right. You come in and the first day you learn eight plays against five different defenses and you try to memorize every picture. The second day, you learn eight more plays. By the fifth day, your head is spinning in every direction. Now that I have been here for a couple years, it is like second nature to me.

It gives you a different prospective, because each camp gets easier. You are in better shape and you are mentally stronger. This one will be a very interesting camp because of my position with the team. I think it is going to be a lot of fun. We are really getting after it.

I have been here for a lot. This is the third locker room we have had since I have been here but this place is a palace so it was well worth it.

What will it be like to play back inside Memorial Stadium?
Unfortunately, I am injured and won't be able to play on Sept. 1. I am looking forward to experiencing it as a player later in the season. I appreciated AT&T Park last season, but there is no place like home. You don't need to take a bus 30 minutes across the bridge to get to your home field where there is a dirt baseball field in the middle of the grass. It was fun, but when you are at home, you have that home feel. Memorial Stadium creates a special energy like no other. It really shows what college football is all about.

How is your rehabilitation going?
I met with my doctor recently and he felt I was ahead of our expectations now that we are three months since the surgery. Working day-by-day, everything that is supposed to be sore is sore and everything that is not supposed to be sore is not. I feel really good about it. I am getting after it a little harder each day.

How did you spend your summer?
Because of my injury, almost everything took a back seat while I continued my rehabilitation here on campus this summer. I had planned a trip to Europe, but had to cancel it to remain here because missing a week of rehabilitation could mean setting myself back three weeks or a month. My brother, who attends Cambridge in England where he is writing his dissertation, opted to come to Berkeley and be a visiting scholar this summer so I got to hang out a lot with him. That was a lot of fun.

Even though you won't get to compete on the field with your teammates just yet, how exciting is it to be back with the team now that preseason camp has started?
The next season really begins the day after we get back from the bowl game. We are here year-round. We hang out together, we lift together, we eat together. However, when camp starts, it is different. There is that feeling of 'it is time to get after it' and get the pads on and play. It will be great when we start playing the games in less than a month.

Head football coach Jeff Tedford addressed the media following Monday evening's practice.

Head coach Jeff Tedford and quarterback Zach Maynard talked to the media following the Golden Bears' first practice of the 2012 season at Witter Field Saturday afternoon.


Head coach Jeff Tedford




Quarterback Zach Maynard

Prior to the Olympic games, former Cal and current U.S. Soccer star Alex Morgan filmed a quick profile with the U.S. Soccer team. She talks about her nickname baby horse and her favorite goal celebrations.

Photo by John Todd

In a battle of two Cal women's soccer stars, the United States defeated New Zealand, 2-0, in a quarterfinal match in the Olympics at St. James' Park in Newcastle, England this morning.

Alex Morgan, who earned first team All-American honors as a forward at Cal where she completed her career in 2010, is playing in her first Olympics with the United States. Betsy Hassett, the 2011 All-Pac-12 honoree who is entering her senior season with the Golden Bears this fall, is playing in her first Olympic games with her native country of New Zealand.

The U.S. jumped out to the early lead thanks to a nice feed by Morgan to teammate Abby Wambach for the score in the 27th minute. The former Golden Bear standout dribbled down the left side and beat her defender where she got off a perfectly-timed pass to Wambach inside the far post. Wambach punched it in for the goal.

Hassett led New Zealand's search for the equalizer with a good shot attempt late in the first half, but could not find the back of the net.

The Americans added a goal by Sydney Leroux from Tobin Heath in the 87th minute to extend their lead to 2-0 and cruise into the semifinal round.

Morgan collided with a New Zealand defender late in the match and was substituted for by Leroux in the 80th minute. Morgan recorded five of the USA's 15 shots in the match.

Hassett played all 90 minutes for the Football Ferns where she recorded two of New Zealand's seven shots in the match.

Morgan and the United States advanced to Monday's semifinal round in Manchester, England where they will face either Great Britain or Canada at 11:45 a.m. (PT). The NBC Sports Network will provide live coverage of all the action.

Erin Cafaro, who rowed at Cal from 2002-06, became the third former Golden Bear to capture a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic games Thursday morning. The 2006 Cal grad joined Mary Whipple, Caryn Davies, Caroline Lind, Eleanor Logan, Meghan Musnicki, Taylor Ritzel, Esther Lofgren and Susan Francia as the women's eight cruised to the finish line in a time of 6:10.59 to beat second-place Canada (6:12.06) and third-place The Netherlands (6:13.12).

For Cafaro and the U.S. women's eight, it was their second-straight Olympic gold medal after also winning in Beijing in 2008.

She had qualified for the '12 Games in the pairs, but turned down her seat in order to pursue a return to the women's eight boat.

Cafaro was a major part of Cal's rowing success having been a part of the varsity eight boats on the 2005 and 2006 national championship teams for the Bears.

The achievement was the fourth gold medal overall for Cal athletes in the 2012 Olympic games. Dana Vollmer has captured two gold medals so far in London, winning the 100 butterfly on Saturday and swimming the second leg on the winning 800 freestyle relay team on Wednesday. Nathan Adrian took gold in the 100 freestyle on Wednesday.

For a full recap of today's Olympic action involving Golden Bears, check CalBears.com/Olympics later this evening.

Moments after Nathan Adrian captured gold in the 100 freestyle, Dana Vollmer earned her second gold medal of the 2012 Olympic Games.

The former Golden Bear, who won the 100 butterfly in a world record time of 55.98 on Saturday, competed on the gold medal 800 freestyle relay team moments ago. Vollmer swam the second leg in the race as the Americans finished in an Olympic record time of 7:42.92 to beat second-place Australia (7:44.41).

Missy Franklin swam the first leg, followed by Vollmer, then Shannon Vreeland and anchor Allison Schmitt.

Check CalBears.com this evening for a complete recap of today's Olympic action involving the Golden Bears.

Cal alum Nathan Adrian captured the gold medal in the 100 freestyle at the Olympics moments ago. He edged out James Magnussen of Australia for the gold, finishing the race in 47.52 to Magnussen's 47.53.

Adrian becomes the second Golden Bear to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic games. He joins Dana Vollmer, who won the 100 butterfly in a world record time of 55.98 on Saturday.

Check CalBears.com for a complete recap of today's action from the Golden Bears at the Olympic games.

A view of the field from the broadcast booth in the new press box.




The view from the left side of the new press box.




The view from the right side of the new press box.




The view from 50 yard line at field level.




The turf in one of the end zones has been completely installed.




A close up look as the workers install the Cal script logo at midfield.




Another look as workers install the Cal script logo at midfield.




Installation of the turf begins in one of the end zones.




The new expansive video board from field level.




The new scoreboards behind the end zones are almost completely installed.




A second look at one of the new expansive video boards.




Another look at one of the new video boards.




The new ribbon video board is being installed on the new press box.




A look inside the field club as installation of the flat screen TVs is nearly complete.




The TVs around the concourse are up and operational.




A look inside the visiting locker room.




The showers inside the visiting locker room.




The floor is being installed inside the sports medicine area.




The kitchens inside the concession stands are complete and operational.




One of the nice touches of the Hall of Fame room includes a portion of the old wooden benches as part of the wall surrounding the display cases.




One of the large display cases in the new Hall of Fame room.




Installation of the glass deck outside the new expansive press box is well underway.




A look inside the large television broadcast booth inside the new press box.




A view down press row in the new press box.




One of the sections of the area for media inside the new press box.




Inside one of the new large restrooms.




Another look inside one of the large restrooms.