After Season Away, Cal Bears Return Home

Memorial Stadium home turf again after year in SF.

The California Golden Bears football team is at last returning home, after a season-long road trip.

Cal played its entire season at AT&T Park in San Francisco in 2011, while Memorial Stadium underwent much-needed renovations and repairs. That means that Thursday's practice back in Berkeley is the first home practice in nearly two years -- and the first time on the home field for some members of the team.

"We've got our own field again," sophomore linebacker Brennan Scarlett told the Bay Area News Group.

The Bears and Cal coach Jeff Tedford are back, but it's not exactly full strength -- the north tunnel into Memorial Stadium isn't yet repaved, which means the team can't fit its blocking sleds onto the turf. That means full practices are held elsewhere until Aug. 24.

But no matter. A feel for the new field is the idea, ahead of the season opener Sept. 1 against Nevada.
 

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