Why Not Cal? Patrick Laird on Alignment, NIL, and the Moment Facing Berkeley Athletics
Former Cal running back Patrick Laird explains why leadership alignment, institutional belief, and cultural clarity could redefine the future of Cal football and the university as a whole.
From the Stands to the Sidelines: Michael Cooley’s Lifelong Cal Journey
By the time most kids were choosing an NFL team, Michael Cooley was already climbing Memorial Stadium’s concrete steps with his dad, convinced his blood ran blue and gold.
The third-year outside linebacker for the California Golden Bears grew up across the Bay, the son of a Cal alum who made sure Berkeley football was a family ritual. Saturdays meant driving over to Memorial Stadium, joining thousands of fans in the concrete bowl, and watching names like Jahvid Best, DeSean Jackson, and Jared Goff turn the field into a stage.
The ball left Dai Dai Ames’ hands with the season hanging in the air — then dropped cleanly through the net.