Sept. 1, 2010

BERKELEY - CalBears.com chatted with California men's soccer player Ted Jones this week before he and the rest of the Golden Bears left for the Midwest. A junior defender/midfielder, Jones played in 31 games over his first two seasons at Cal and garnered Pac-10 all-academic honors in 2009. The San Francisco Bay Area product hails from Tiburon, Calif.

CalBears.com: How do you think the team will do this season?

Ted Jones: The team has high hopes. We're a fairly young team compared to last year. We're excited.

CalBears.com: Have you been to Indiana before?

TJ:I have been to Indiana. My dad went to school at Indiana. I like the school and campus, but I'm not too familiar with it.

CalBears.com: Which team is your father rooting for when you play the Hoosiers on Friday?

TJ: He definitely hopes that Cal wins; he's more loyal to Cal. He went to Indiana a long time ago.

CalBears.com: We list you as a defender/midfielder. Have you played in midfield or have you just played in the back at Cal?

TJ: That's an interesting question. Last game I played five different positions. Whatever role Coach wants me to play is fine. I'm the happiest when the team is doing well. Last season, I played mostly right back and center back. Freshman year, I played center mid. It's a good experience to diversify your game.

CalBears.com: What position did you mainly play before coming to Cal?

TJ: Holding midfielder was my predominant role. I had experience at other positions. I've always been a player to bounce around when the coach wants it.

CalBears.com: How did you decide to go to Cal?

TJ: I would always say as much as I love the sport and as much as soccer is the main thing in my life, if I had a career-ending injury, academically this is the school I want to go to. Also, when I met the team at a Cal basketball game - there were a couple of seniors who were not even going to play with me - the team was welcoming.

TJ: My family is kind of a Bears family. My uncle (Blaine Warhurst) played rugby for Cal. He played both rugby and football; his main sport was rugby after college. My mom's side and extended side of the family is a Bears family.

CalBears.com: Did you go to many Cal sporting events growing up?

TJ: When in high school and being recruited, I went to a bunch of soccer games. Football I watched on TV, and I went to some basketball games. But I didn't follow Cal intensely till sophomore year in high school.

CalBears.com: Since you're from the Bay Area, do you have a lot of friends and family attending games?

TJ: Definitely. It's great to have some high school friends here. Mom and Dad go to as many games as they can because they're pretty close.

CalBears.com: How was your summer?

TJ: I had a great summer. It was very different than the previous summer. The team stayed in Berkeley to train. I had an amazing time playing soccer and going to some beaches to meet new people.

CalBears.com: Which team did you root for in the World Cup?

TJ: My teammates give me a hard time about it, but I was actually a France fan. They had a pretty dismal World Cup. Once they went out, Netherlands was my team. They had a lot of Arsenal players on that team, and that was the name of my club team.

CalBears.com: What did you think of the Spain-Netherlands final?

TJ: Spain showed their desire. They played the kind of attacking football that we want to play at Cal - soccer that's positive and attractive. It was nice to see them win.

CalBears.com: Are you still undeclared?

TJ: I'm an anthropology major now.

CalBears.com: Once your playing career is over, what do you want to do with your life?

TJ: I'm pretty open. I love to write. Possibly work in marketing. Also, I like social sciences. I'm pretty open in terms of fields after college

CalBears.com: Your bio says you want to teach English and become a social activist. What fostered those interests?

TJ: My mom was an English teacher before. My dad is a great writer. Both instilled a mentality in me that would lean me towards social activism. I love the idea of it. The thing I love about Cal is how different each person is. Berkeley has a big rep for being liberal, but each new person I meet has a lot to offer. That's what I love about Berkeley.

CalBears.com: Do you have any hidden talents?

TJ: I do like to write a lot of poetry. I don't know how good it is.

CalBears.com: What's your favorite travel or vacation destination?

TJ: When we traveled to Italy with the team (in 2008), we got to spend a couple days in Venice. It's one of most beautiful cities I've ever seen.

CalBears.com: Who is the most interesting person you follow on Twitter?

TJ: A.J. Soares. It definitely helps that I know what he's talking about. He has a lot of talents outside of soccer. He's a great guitar player and a great guy. I like reading his tweets.