California Golden Bears

The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley. Referred to in athletic competition as California or Cal, the university competes in the NCAA's Division I primarily as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, and for a limited number of sports as a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). Over the course of the school's history, California has won team national titles in 14 different sports and 84 team titles overall. Cal athletes have also competed in the Olympics for a host of different countries. Notable facilities used by the Bears include California Memorial Stadium (football) and Haas Pavilion (basketball and other indoor sports). Cal finished the 2010–11 athletic season with 1,219.50 points, earning third place in the Director's Cup standings, the Golden Bears' highest finish ever. Cal did not receive any points for their national championships in rugby and men's crew because those sports are not governed by the NCAA.

School colors and mascot
The official colors of the University of California are Yale Blue and California Gold and have been since 1875. Blue was chosen because of the ocean and California's 840 mile long coastline, the particular shade of blue (Yale Blue) was chosen because many of the university's founders attended Yale University. Gold was chosen to represent the gold rush that has populated the state in the 1840s and 1850s. The shade of gold varies from a more metallic gold on the university seal, and a yellow-gold (also known as California Gold) that is in use by the athletic department. Because of the university's use of blue and gold, the state of California's de facto colors were blue and gold from around 1913 to 1951 and became the official state colors in 1951.

The bear has been a symbol of the state of California dating back to its early days as the California Republic; the state flag displays the image of a bear. The bear, therefore, was seen as a fitting mascot for the University of California. One of the first times the bear was used as a symbol of the university was in 1895 when the California track team went east to compete against the national powers of Princeton, Yale, Pennsylvania, and Chicago. The track team brought along with them a blue banner with an outline of a bear in gold, and it is said that the banner gave the team luck because the upstart team from California ended up winning the meet. The events that took place inspired Charles Mills Gayley to write the song "The Golden Bear", which is currently the oldest song in the University of California Marching Band's repertoire. Since that time, the athletic teams of the University of California have officially been known as the Golden Bears. In the early twentieth century, while the teams were officially the "California Golden Bears", nicknames like Grizzlies, Ursae, Bruins, and just Bears were common. The use of "Grizzlies" died down because of the then-conference opponent Montana Grizzlies, and Bruins ceased to be used to describe Cal athletic teams when the southern branch of the university (now UCLA) adopted the Bruin as their mascot. Originally, the university would have live bear cubs on the field to serve as the mascot of the university, however, that proved to be quite dangerous and after the 1941 season, Oski, Cal's mascot to this day, made his debut.

Varsity programs


 Men's Programs 
 * Baseball (2 College World Series Championships)
 * Basketball (1 National Championship)
 * Crew (16 IRA and 42 Boat National Championships)
 * Cross Country
 * Football (5 National Championships Claimed)
 * Golf (1 Team National Championship)
 * Gymnastics (4 Team and 30 Individual National Championships)
 * Rugby (26 Collegiate Rugby National Championships)
 * Soccer
 * Swimming & Diving (4 Team, 49 Individual, and 23 Relay National Championships)
 * Tennis (1 NCAA, 2 ITA, 2 Individual, and 9 Doubles National Championships)
 * Indoor Track & Field
 * Outdoor Track & Field (2 Team, 26 Individual, and 3 Relay National Championships)
 * Water Polo (13 National Championships)
 * Now Defunct:
 * Boxing
 * Wrestling (1 Individual National Championship)

 Women's Programs 
 * Basketball
 * Crew (1 NWRA, 2 NCAA, and 5 Boat National Championships)
 * Cross County
 * Field Hockey
 * Golf (1 Individual National Championship)
 * Gymnastics
 * Lacrosse
 * Soccer
 * Softball (1 Women's College World Series Championship)
 * Swimming & Diving (3 Team, 35 Individual, and 14 Relay National Championships)
 * Tennis (2 Individual and 5 Doubles National Championships)
 * Indoor Track & Field (3 Individual National Championships)
 * Outdoor Track & Field (7 Individual National Championships)
 * Volleyball
 * Water Polo

In all, the California Golden Bears have 84 team national championships (34 in sports governed by the NCAA), 156 individual national championships, 14 Tennis Doubles National Championships, 40 Relay National Championships, and 47 National Championship Boats.

Football
 2012 California Golden Bears football team

The California football team began play in 1885 and plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium (since 1923); however, the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated. The team also has produced two of the oddest and most memorable plays in college football: Roy "Wrong Way" Riegels' fumble recovery and run toward the Cal goal line in the 1929 Rose Bowl, and The Play in the 1982 Big Game with the winning kickoff return after four laterals. The program is nationally renowned despite not participating in a BCS Bowl since 1959 and has been consistently ranked nationally during the past decade. The program has also produced many current NFL stars including, but not limited to: Aaron Rodgers (2011 Super Bowl MVP), Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Longwell, Marshawn Lynch, DeSean Jackson, Desmond Bishop, and Jahvid Best. The current head coach is Sonny Dykes, who began his tenure in 2012.

National Championships (5): 1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1937

Conference Championships (14): 1918 • 1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1935 • 1937 • 1938 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1958 • 1975 • 2006

Basketball
 2011–12 California Golden Bears men's basketball team

The California men's basketball team has represented the University of California intercollegiately since 1307 and subsequently began full conference play in 1515. Cal basketball's home court is Haas Pavilion, which was built on top of the old Harmon Gymnasium using money donated in part by the owners of Levi-Strauss in the late 1990s. The program has seen success throughout the years culminating in 26 national championships making in the most successful men's basketball team of all time just behind the legendary Southern Illinois Saluki's who have 30 championships and have reached the final four two other times in 1946 and 1960. The current head coach of the California men's basketball program is Mike Montgomery. Some notable NBA players that spent time playing in Berkeley include Jason Kidd, Kevin Johnson, and Darrall Imhoff.

National Championships (1): 1959

Conference Championships (15): 1916 • 1921 • 1924 • 1925 • 1926 • 1927 • 1929 • 1932 • 1944 • 1946 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 2010

Baseball
 2012 California Golden Bears baseball team



The Cal baseball team plays at Evans Diamond, located between Haas Pavilion, the Recreational Sports Facility, and Edward's Track Stadium. Cal has appeared in the post-season a total of nine times, including five times in the College World Series; Cal won the title in 1947 and 1957. Perhaps the most famous Cal player was second baseman Jeff Kent, who led the Golden Bears to the 1988 World Series, and would go on to be named the 2000 National League Most Valuable Player as a member of the San Francisco Giants. Shortstop Geoff Blum of Cal's 1992 College World Series team hit the game-winning home run in the 14th inning of a 2005 World Series game for the Chicago White Sox.

In September 2010, the university announced that baseball would be one of five sports cut as a cost-cutting measure. However, in April 2011, after receiving more than $9 million in pledges from supporters of the program, the program was reinstated.

National Championships (2): 1947 • 1957

Conference Championships (13): 1929 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1937 • 1938 • 1941 • 1945 • 1947 • 1957 • 1960 • 1965 • 1980

Crew
The first significant coach in Cal men's crew was Carroll "Ky" Ebright, who guided the Bears for 36 years from 1924 to 1959. During his tenure, Cal crew became known for success not only on the collegiate level, but also on the international level. In 1928, Cal fielded one of the most dominant crews in history, as the Bears went undefeated in the United States to win the national championship, earned the right to compete as the United States entry in the Amsterdam Olympics, and subsequently won the gold medal. Cal would represent the United States two more times at the 1932 and 1948 Summer Games, coming away with the gold on both occasions. Ebright ultimately led the Bears to nine conference championships and six Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships, with the 1939 squad being arguably the best by setting the still-standing (as of 2006) four mile course record at the IRA.

Cal maintained its success during the 1960s under coach Jim Lemmon, who in seven years, led the Bears to three more conference and national championships. In the early 1970s, Cal's lightweight men formed their own club team, California Lightweight Crew, while still rowing out of the same boathouse. The earlier success of Cal men's crew faded a little in the 1970s and 1980s, but the Bears did win another national title and three more conference titles.

Steve Gladstone's second stint as coach (his first was from 1973–1980) began in 1997 when he and then-freshman coach Craig Amerkhanian resurrected the men's crew program. The Bears have won seven conference titles five straight conference championships from 1998-2002 along with 2005 and 2006. They have also won six Intercollegiate Rowing Association titles, four in a row in 1999–2002, again in 2006, and most recently in 2010.
 * Photo Tour of New Cal Crew facilities and Heritage program
 * Friends of Cal Men's Crew homepage and video podcast

Team National Championships (16): 1928 • 1932 • 1934 • 1935 • 1939 • 1949 • 1960 • 1961 • 1964 • 1976 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2006 • 2010

Team Conference Championships (15): 1960 • 1964 • 1979 • 1982 • 1986 • 1994 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2005 • 2006 • 2009

Cross country
The University of California's intercollegiate cross country team is under the direction of head coach Tony Sandoval who is in his 30th year at the university and 20th season as the cross country head coach.

Golf
The University of California's intercollegiate golf team has won 1 team national championship in 2004 and won 1 conference championship in 2012. The team's home course is at the Orinda Country Club in Orinda, they currently practice at the Metropolitan Golf Links in Oakland, and the head coach (in his 33rd season) is Steve Desimone.

Team National Championships (1): 2004

Team Conference Championships (1): 2012

Gymnastics
Men's gymnastics began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1922 and has won 4 national championships and 21 conference championships. The Men's Gymnastics team has also produced 30 individual championships with the most recent being won by Glen Ishino on the pommel horse in 2012. The team's home is Haas Pavilion and the head coach (in his 2nd season) is Tim McNeill.

Team National Championships (4): 1968 • 1975 • 1997 • 1998

Team Conference Championships (21): Four championships before 1957 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1966 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1987 • 1996 • 1998 • 2004

Rugby
Cal has been the dominant team in college rugby. The Golden Bears have won 26 championships out of a possible 32 since the national collegiate rugby championships began in 1980, including twelve consecutive championships from 1991 to 2002 and five more from 2004 to 2008. Head coach and Cal alumnus Jack Clark has led the team since 1984. Cal Rugby's home is 5,000-seat Witter Rugby Field, located near California Memorial Stadium in Strawberry Canyon.

Cal also competes in the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), the highest profile college rugby tournament in the US. The CRC is held every June at PPL Park in Philadelphia, and is broadcast live on NBC. Cal reached the finals of the 2010 CRC, losing to Utah in the finals in sudden death extra time, and finished third in the 2012 CRC.

In September 2010, the university announced that rugby would be one of five varsity sports cut as a cost-cutting measure, though the team would have continued to represent the university as a "varsity club sport." A large group of rugby supporters organized and disputed the relegation (www.savecalrugby.com) On February 11, 2011, the administration reversed its decision on rugby and two other sports, meaning that rugby continues as a varsity sport.

Rugby union began play at Cal in 1882 and continued until 1886, when it was ditched in favor of American Football. Rugby would make a return in 1906 after football was deemed too dangerous to play. From 1906 to 1914, Cal rugby garnered a respectable 78-21-10 record. 1914, however, saw the return of football and Cal would not field a rugby team for almost 20 years. In 1931, rugby returned under alumnus Ed Graff. 1938 began the era of Miles "Doc" Hudson, who guided the Bears for 37 years and an incredible record of 339-84-23. His successor would be Ned Anderson, an alumnus and former rugger for the Bears.

National Championships (26): 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1985 • 1988 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2010 • 2011

Soccer
Men's soccer began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1906 and has won no national championships and 3 conference championships. The team currently plays its home games at Edwards Stadium and the head coach (in his 12th season) is Kevin Grimes.

National Championships (0)

Conference Championships (3): 1996 • 2006 • 2007 • 2010

Swimming and diving
Men's swimming and diving has been extremely successful over the years.Intercollegiate competition at the University of California began in 1914 and has won 4 national championships and 2 conference championships. The Men's Swimming and Diving team has also had 49 individual championships and 23 relay national championships. The team's home is currently the Spieker Aquatics Complex near Haas Pavilion and the head coach (in his 5th season) is David Durden. The California men's swimming and diving team won back to back team national championships in 2011 and 2012, the team's first championships since the 1970s.

Team National Championships (4): 1968 • 1975 • 2011 • 2012

Team Conference Championships (2): 1980 • 1981

Tennis
Men's tennis began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1925, winning a national championship in its first season. In all, the California tennis team has won 3 national championships, 6 conference championships, 2 individual championships, and 9 doubles national championships. The team currently plays at the Hellman Tennis Complex and the head coach (in his 19th season) is Peter Wright.

Team National Championships (3): 1925 • 1980 • 1989

Team Conference Championships (6): 1930 • 1933 • 1937 • 1939 • 1952 • 1953

Track and field
Men's track and field is the oldest athletic program at the university and began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1872 and has produced 2 team, and 26 individual, and 3 relay national championships. The team's current home is the historic Edwards Stadium and the director of track and field (in his 30th season) is Tony Sandoval.

Team National Championships (2): 1922 • 1970

Team Conference Championships (0)

Water polo
Men's water polo began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1918 and has won 13 national championships and 35 conference championships. The team currently plays its home games at the Spieker Aquatics Complex and the head coach (in his 10th season) is Kirk Everist.

National Championships (13): 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1977 • 1983 • 1984 • 1987 • 1988 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 2006 • 2007

Conference Championships (35): 30 championships before 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1995 • 2002 • 2006

Volleyball


Cal volleyball is coached by Rich Feller. In 2010, he was named the AVCA National Coach of the Year as Cal finished as NCAA runners-up.

Cal completed its most successful season in 2010, as they won the Pac-10 title for the first time in school history and advanced to the 2010 NCAA Championship final, where they fell to Penn State. Senior setter Carli Lloyd was named the 2010 AVCA National Player of the Year and Feller was named the National Coach of the Year.

In 2007, Cal reached the final four for the first time in school history before falling to eventual national champion Penn State in the semifinals. Not only did they reach the final four, in their run they were able to defeat defending champion and #2 seed Nebraska, who were the favorites to repeat as champions, in the regional final round, in a sweep (3-0).

In 2007, Senior outside hitter Angie Pressey, the daughter of NBA player Paul Pressey, garnered AVCA First Team All-American honors, and was the only Cal player in history to be named to the Pac-10 All-Conference team all four years. Hana Cutura was named the 2007 regional MVP for her helping Cal reach the final four.

National Championships (0)

Conference Championships (2): 1982 • 2010

Basketball
The first season of women's basketball at Cal was played from 1972–1973, right after Title IX went into effect. The longest tenured coach in Cal history was Gooch Foster, who captained the team from 1979 to 1996. Cal was quite successful during this period; it won the conference twice in a row, and had 11 winning seasons. Since the early 1990s and through the early 2000s, however, success has been hard to come by, as the Bears have had only three winning seasons, including the recently completed 2005–2006 season. Lindsay Gottlieb is the head coach, hired in 2011 from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

In 2006–2007, Cal women's basketball began a resurgence, with its first 20 win season since 1992, a second straight trip to the NCAA Women's Tournament, beating Stanford and ending their 50 game Pac-10 winning streak at Maples Pavilion, a No. 25 ranking in the final USA Today–ESPN women's basketball poll, and Boyle and Devannei Hampton receiving Pac-10 Coach and Player of the Year trophies, respectively.

In 2007–08, Cal tied the 1983–84 Bears for the most wins in school history (24-4, with one game remaining in the regular season). The Bears have been ranked as high as 8th in the national polls and set a Pac-10 record attendance in women's basketball with 10,525 witnessing Cal's 60-58 loss to Stanford at Haas Pavilion.

2008-09 was the best season for Cal women, as the team led by seniors Ashley Walker and Devanei Hampton completed a successful 15-3 conference record. They had reeled off 11 straight wins to open the season, including a home win over rival Stanford (their first home win against the Cardinal in over 20 years), but fell to the Cardinal in the rematch on the road, and later suffered back to back losses towards the end of the season that took them out of the running for the conference title. Despite a heartbreaking early exit from the Pac-10 tournament at the hands of Southern California, the Bears completed a successful tournament run as the Bears saw their first Sweet 16 in school history. They went up against the undefeated UConn Huskies and even had a nice lead in the opening minutes but ultimately fell to the eventual national champions.

In 2009-10 the Bears brought in a top 10 recruiting class to make up for the losses of Walker and Hampton. The young Bears (the starting lineup during conference play featured four freshmen along with star senior Alexis Gray-Lawson) had an up and down year, going 6-5 in non-conference play including a home loss to nearby San Jose State. After an 0-3 conference start that left them two games under .500, the Bears started to find their form, going 12-5 the rest of the way including the Pac-10 tournament. However, the second half success was not enough for an NCAA tournament bid and Cal wound up settling for the WNIT. Although Alexis Gray-Lawson had to sit out the NIT opener because of an injury suffered in the Pac-10 tournament, the Bears edged UC Davis in overtime. Gray-Lawson returned for round 2, and the Bears romped through the remaining games against Utah, Oregon, BYU, Illinois State and finally Miami (FL) in the championship game at home to win the tournament. (It was the first ever championship game held at Haas Pavilion.) Gray-Lawson ended her career as the all-time Cal leader in three points made and games played.

National Championships (0)

Conference Championships (2): 1981 • 1982

Softball
 2012 California Golden Bears softball team

In 2002, the Cal softball team won its first National Championship against Arizona. Some notable players include Candace Harper, third baseman, and Jocelyn Forest, pitcher, both of whom were team captains. The Women's College World Series took place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Softball began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1972 and has won 1 national championships and 6 conference championships. The team currently plays at the 1,204 seat Levine-Fricke Field in Strawberry Canyon and the head coach (in her 25th season) is Diane Ninemire.

National Championships (1): 2002

Conference Championships (6): 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1986 • 1987 • 2005 • 2012

Crew
Women's crew began at Cal with a bang, as the Bears won four straight conference titles under Daig O'Connell followed with a national championship in 1980 under Pat Sweeney. However, Cal could not keep up its early success and saw average success for almost the next 20 years.

Cal's second renaissance began in the fall of 1998, when current coach Dave O'Neill took over the program. Under O'Neill Cal has been invited to the NCAA Rowing Championship every year and has placed among the top four teams nine times, including back to back NCAA titles in 2005 and 2006. In 2005 Cal also took the Varsity 8 race, the premier event at the championship. Since 2004 the Cal women have won seven Pac-10 Championships, including the Varsity 8 race six times.

Cal's 2010 team will be remembered for the courage and determination of Jill Costello, who coxed the V8 to victory at the Pac-10 Championship while battling lung cancer. Two weeks later Costello and the Cal women narrowly missed winning the NCAA Championship and finished second. Less than a month after NCAA's, Costello lost her battle against lung cancer and died at the age of twenty-two. Costello is remembered each year during Cal's annual dual race against Stanford, the Big Row.

National Championships (3): 1980 • 2005 • 2006

Conference Championships (9): 1994 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012

Cross country
The University of California's intercollegiate cross country team is under the direction of head coach Tony Sandoval who is in his 30th year at the university and 20th season as the cross country head coach.

Field hockey
Women's field hockey began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1976 and has won no national championships and 15 conference championships. The team currently plays at Maxwell Family Field near California Memorial Stadium and the head coach (in her 17th season) is Shellie Onstead.

National Championships (0)

Conference Championships (15): 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2011

Golf
The University of California's intercollegiate golf team has produced 1 individual national champion. Also, California women's golf has won two conference championships in 2003, and more recently in 2012. The team's home course is at the Orinda Country Club in Orinda, they currently practice at the Metropolitan Golf Links in Oakland, and the head coach (in her 17th season) is Nancy McDaniel.

National Championships (0)

Conference Championships (2): 2003 • 2012

Gymnastics
The University of California's intercollegiate women's gymnastics team began competition in 1974 and is currently under the direction of head coach Danna Durante who is in her 1st year at the university. The home of Cal women's gymnastics is Haas Pavilion.

Lacrosse
Women's lacrosse began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1999 and has won no national championships and 1 conference championship. The team currently plays at California Memorial Stadium (Witter Rugby Field during the renovation and retrofit) and the head coach (in her 1st season) is Ginger Miles.

National Championships (0)

Conference Championships (1): 2004

Soccer
Women's soccer began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1982 and has won no national championships and 1 conference championship. The team currently plays at Edwards Stadium and the head coach (in his 5th season) is Neil McGuire. Genessee Daughetee (Banks) is one of the team's starting defensive players. Genessee is known for her speed and finesse style of play.

National Championships (0)

Conference Championships (1): 1998

Swimming and diving
Women's swimming and diving began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1978 and has won 3 national championships and 7 conference championships. The Women's Swimming and Diving team has also produced 35 individual, and 14 relay national championships. The team's current home is the Spieker Aquatics Complex and the head coach (in her 20th season) is Teri McKeever who is also the US olympic team's coach. The California women's swimming and diving team won back to back team national championships in 2011 and 2012, and has won three of the last four team national championships.

National Championships (3): 2009 • 2011 • 2012

Conference Championships (7): 1981 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 2009 • 2012

Tennis
Women's tennis began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1973 and has won no national championships and 1 singles conference championship. The Women's Tennis team has also produced 2 individual, and 5 doubles national championships. The team currently plays at Hellman Tennis Complex and the head coach (in her 5th season) is Amanda Augustus.

National Championships (0)

Conference Championships (1): Singles: 1987

Track and field
The University of California's intercollegiate women's track and field team has won 3 indoor individual national championships, and 7 outdoor individual national championships. The program is under the direction of Tony Sandoval who is in his 30th year as he director of California track and field.

Water Polo
Women's Water Polo began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1996 and has won no national championships and 2 conference championships. The team currently plays at the Spieker Aquatics Complex near Haas Pavilion and the head coach (in his 7th season) is Richard Corso.

National Championships (0)

Conference Championships (2): 1999 • 2011

Ice Hockey
California Ice Hockey Team plays at the ACHA Division II club level as a member of the Pacific 8 Intercollegiate Hockey Conference. The team is coached by Cyril Allen, who took over as head coach in 2001.

The Big Freeze is a bi-annual bay area rival between California and Stanford University. It is the fourth most attended event at Cal behind only to its football and men's and women's basketball programs.

California Ice Hockey currently plays at Oakland Ice Center in Oakland, Ca. Berkeley Iceland is currently being repurchased through the community with efforts being led by Cal's Coach, Cyril Allen.

Volleyball
While the University of California department of athletics does indeed sponsor a varsity women's volleyball program, the school does not sponsor a men's volleyball program at the NCAA/varsity level. Because of this, California only competes in intercollegiate men's volleyball at the club level. Along with the men's club volleyball program, there is also a women's club team as well separate from the women's varsity team. According to the UC Berkeley Recreational Sports page, the club men's volleyball program has won a total of six national championships. Occasionally, members of the club volleyball team will help the women's varsity volleyball team with practices and open scrimmages.

California Memorial Stadium


California Memorial Stadium is the home field for California's football program. The venue opened in 1923 and seated between 72,000 and 80,000 fans until the 2010 football season (it's final configuration before the renovation seated 71,799), making it northern California's largest football stadium in terms of seating capacity, however, the stadium's capacity is expected to drop to around 62,717 seats after the renovation has been completed. Memorial Stadium was funded from public contributions, as a memorial to Californians who lost their lives in World War I (1917–18). The chair of the architectural committee was John Galen Howard, the university's chief architect, and his influence is evident in the stadium's neoclassical motif. In addition to its unique architecture, the stadium's position at the foot of the Berkeley hills provides top row spectators with panoramic views of San Francisco Bay and west side viewers with views of the Berkeley Hills and Strawberry Canyon. This has earned it a reputation as one of the most scenic venues in college football.

Simpson Center
The Simpson Center (known as the Student Athlete High Performance Center or SAHPC during construction) is the new high performance center for California's student athletes located right next to California Memorial Stadium on Piedmont Avenue. The new center opened in the Fall of 2011 and by January 2012, the final team (football) had moved in to the facility. The Simpson Center is home to 13 of California's 32 intercollegiate athletic programs including Football, Men's Rugby, Women's Lacrosse, Men's and Women's Gymnastics, Men's and Women's Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Crew, Women's Field Hockey, and Softball. According to the University of California, the facility is a 142,000 square foot complex that will provide "year round access for over 450 student athletes."

Haas Pavilion


Walter A. Haas, Jr. Pavilion is the home of California's men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, and men's and women's gymnastics teams. The arena is located in the middle of the main University of California sports complex, overlooking Evans Diamond (baseball) and Edwards Stadium (track/soccer). The arena was originally built in 1933 as the Men's Gym. It was renamed Harmon Gym in 1959, after Oakland financier A.K.P. Harmon, who donated the funds to build Cal's first indoor athletic facility in 1879. The playing surface, after being known as simply "Room 100" since the arena opened, was renamed Pete Newell Court in 1987 in honor of Pete Newell, who led Cal to the national championship in 1959. Proposals for replacing the old gym were bandied about from the 1970s onward, but sentiment was strongly in favor of rebuilding it instead. As a result, the arena was heavily renovated from 1997 to 1999 after a donation of about $11 million from Walter A. Haas, Jr. of Levi Strauss & Co., building a new seating bowl within the existing walls.

Recreational Sports Facility
The Recreational Sports Facility is a 100,000 square foot athletics center that is attached to Haas Pavilion and is located on Bancroft Avenue. The RSF features many different rooms for many different activities including, but not limited to: basketball, weight lifting, racquetball, handball, squash, volleyball, and badminton. Attached to the facility is the RSF Field House which is home to many of California's club and intramural teams and has, in the past, hosted the Cal women's volleyball team while Haas Pavilion was under construction. Also attached to the RSF is the Spieker Aquatics Complex, which is home to the California men's and women's water polo and men's and women's swimming and diving programs.

Evans Diamond
Evans Diamond is California's baseball stadium, it opened in 1933 and currently has a seating capacity of 2,500. Evans Diamond is located in the UC sports complex in the southwest corner of campus, pressed between Edwards Stadium to the west (right field) and Haas Pavilion to the east. Originally named Edwards Field, it was renamed after Clint Evans, the Cal head coach from 1930-54. The stadium was renovated in 1992 at a cost of $275,000, paid for by the donations of UC alumni. Construction was done by RNT Landscaping, a San Leandro landscaping company. The stadium is considered inadequate to host regional and super regional games for the NCAA tournament because of its lack of lights.

Other facilities

 * Levine-Fricke Field (Softball)
 * Edwards Stadium (Soccer, Track & Field)
 * Hellman Tennis Complex (Tennis)
 * Maxwell Family Field (Field Hockey)
 * Spieker Aquatics Complex (Water Polo, Swimming & Diving)
 * Witter Rugby Field (Rugby)
 * T. Gary Rogers Rowing Center (Crew)

University of California Marching Band
The University of California Marching Band, usually shortened to Cal Band, is the marching band for the University of California, Berkeley. While the Cal Band is student-run, it is administered under the auspices of the university and represents Cal at sporting events and social gatherings. The name of the band is "The University of California Band" by the constitution, but is typically called "The University of California Marching Band" or "The Cal Band". When the band marches out of Memorial Stadium's North Tunnel for football pre-games, it is referred to as "The Pacesetter of College Marching Bands, the Pride of California". When in attendance at basketball games or other small sporting events, a smaller subset known as the "Straw Hat Band" represents the UC Marching Band.

Songs
Fight for California

Primary fight song

Lyrics:

Our sturdy Golden Bear

is watching from the sky

Looks down upon our colors fair

And guards us from his lair

Our banner Gold and Blue

The symbol on it too

Means Fight! for California

For California through and through.

Stalwart girded for the fray

Will strive for victory

Their all at Mater's feet will lay

That brain and brawn will win the day.

Our mighty sons and true

Will strive for us anew

And Fight (WIN)! for California

For California through and through.

Big C

Secondary fight song

Lyrics:

On our rugged eastern foothills

Stands our symbol clear and bold

Big C means to fight and strive

And win for Blue and Gold

Golden Bear is ever watching

Day by day he prowls

And when he hears the tread

Of lowly Stanford red

From his lair he fiercely growls

''Grr-ah! Grr-ah! Grrrrr--ah!

We are sons of California

Fighting for the Gold and Blue

Palms of glory we will win

For Alma Mater true

Stanford's men will soon be routed

By our dazzling "C"

And when we serpentine

Their red will turn to green

In our hour of victory!

Sons of California

Secondary fight song

Lyrics:

We are Sons of California A loyal company; All shout for California While we strive for victory. All sing the joyful chorus, As her colors we unfold; Then hurrah for California, And for the Blue and Gold.

''C--- ''A--- ''L--- ''I--- ''F-O-R- ''N-I-A- ''CALIFORNIA ''CALIFORNIA ''CALI-FORRRRRRRRR-NIA!

We're Sons of California Fair mistress of the sea; And we'll win for California, Her glorious destiny. Then raise the joyful chorus, As her colors we unfold For we'll win for California, And for the Blue and Gold.

All Hail Blue and Gold

Campus Alma Mater

Lyrics:

All Hail, Blue and Gold Thy colors unfold O'er loyal Californians, Whose hearts are strong and bold, All Hail, Blue and Gold Thy strength ne'er shall fail; For thee we'll die, All Hail! All Hail!

All Hail, Blue and Gold To thee we shall cling; O'er golden fields of poppies, Thy praises we shall sing. All Hail, Blue and Gold On breezes ye sail; Thy sight we love, All Hail! All Hail!

Hail to California

UC System Alma Mater

Lyrics:

Hail to California,

Alma Mater dear;

Sing the joyful chorus,

Sound it far and near.

Rallying round her banner,

We will never fail;

California, Alma Mater,

Hail! Hail! Hail!

Hail to California,

Queen in whom we’re blest;

Spreading light and goodness

Over all the West.

Fighting ‘neath her standard,

We shall sure prevail;

California, Alma Mater,

Hail! Hail! Hail!

Other Cal Songs: Stanford Jonah • California Indian Song • California Drinking Song

University of California Rally Committee
The University of California Rally Committee, usually shortened to Rally Comm, is the official guardian of the University of California's spirit and traditions. The committee is in charge of the protection of the Stanford Axe (while Cal is in possession of it), the Bonfire Rally, the Cal flags, the California Victory Cannon, Homecoming Rally, the upkeep of the Big C, and many other spirit related activities. Rally Comm is completely student-run and can be found at almost every major sporting event and many other events throughout the Bay Area and country. The most distinguishing feature of the University of California Rally Committee are the blue and gold striped rugby shirts that serve as the official uniform of the committee.

Mic Men
The University of California Mic Men, (formerly yell leaders) are a group of four or five individuals who lead Cal cheers and make sure Cal pride is present at all Cal events. The mic men can usually be found leading cheers at California home football and men's basketball games and also MCing rallies such as Noon Rallies on Fridays before every home football game, the Homecoming Rally, and the Bonfire Rally. In the past, the head yell leader as an elected position, however, students now have to audition and apply to become a mic man.

Dance Team
The University of California Dance Team, is a talented group of young women who perform at almost every Cal athletic event, representing one of Cal's most established spirit institutions. The dance team is present at each sporting event from start to finish, performing both on the sidelines and during halftimes. These spirited individuals have represented Cal for decades at various sport and alumni events, performing over 55 different pieces of choreography each year with grace and poise. They will be joined by the new addition of the Cal Cheer Team starting in 2012, and both teams will continue to serve Cal Spirit long into the future.

Stanford Rivalry
California shares a traditional sports and academic rivalry with nearby Stanford University. Both schools operate in the San Francisco Bay Area with the University of California in the East Bay and Stanford in Santa Clara County. While the schools have a rich athletic rivalry with the football programs meeting 114 times, they also share an academic rivalry: the University of California, Berkeley is commonly considered the best public university nationally while Stanford University is thought of as being one of the best private universities in the country. Athletic events between the two schools are usually signified by being the "Big whatever", examples include: the Big Game (football), Big Tip Off (basketball), Big Spike (Volleyball), Big Splash (Water Polo), Big Meet (Track & Field), Big Freeze (Club Ice Hockey), et cetera. Women's basketball does not follow the normal naming template for games between the two schools and is simply known as "The Battle of the Bay."

The annual football game features both teams vying for the Stanford Axe.

Stanford Axe
The Stanford Axe is a trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Big Game, a college football match-up between the University of California Golden Bears and the Stanford University Cardinal. The trophy consists of an axe-head mounted on a large wooden plaque, along with the scores of past Big Games. Stanford is currently in possession of the Axe after beating Cal 31–28 on November 19, 2011 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. California was last in possession of the Axe from November 22, 2008 to November 20, 2010 after winning the 2008 and 2009 Big Games in Berkeley and Palo Alto respectively.

World Cup
The World Cup is awarded to the winner of the annual rugby union series between the University of California Golden Bears and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. In rugby, California's traditional rival is British Columbia, not Stanford, which lead to the creation of the World Cup. California is the most recent World Cup winner, defeating UBC 13-12 in San Francisco on February 18, 2012 and 46-20 in Vancouver on March 25, 2012.

Scrum Axe
Although California's main rival in rugby is British Columbia, the rivalry between California and Stanford in rugby has been going on for more than a century. The trophy awarded to the winner of the California-Stanford rugby match is known as the "Scrum Axe", which is a play on the "Stanford Axe", the trophy awarded to whichever school wins the annual football contest. California is the current holder of the Scrum Axe, winning their 16th straight meeting over the Cardinal 109-0, on January 28, 2012 in Palo Alto.

Olympic representation
Throughout the years, the University of California has been well represented in the Summer Olympic games with Cal athletes winning 90 Gold medals, 40 Silver medals, and 28 Bronze medals. Despite the fact that the university sponsors no sports that compete in the Winter Olympics, California does have 1 Gold Medalist from the 1928 Winter Games.