Another week of spring practice has concluded as the California Golden Bears gear up for their transition to the ACC. For college athletes, days are brimming with football-related activities, from film study and weightlifting to meetings, practice, and recovery not to mention time in class and devoted to classwork. Hence, making the most of the limited free time becomes crucial. In this regard, the Golden Bears, led primarily by Jaydn Ott and Jack Endries, have upheld the tradition of the Reading Challenge.
“We're extremely excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Cal Football Summer Reading Challenge,” Ott stated. Endries chimed in with some history and the goal of this challenge every year over the last 6 years. “Started by Patrick Laird in 2018 with the goal to inspire young readers to fight summer reading loss and promote literacy throughout the Bay Area, Jaydn and I are honored to continue the reading challenge this summer."
Of course, when you have a reading challenge for kids in the area, it helps to have a major incentive. “This spring, we'll visit local classrooms to encourage students from first to eighth grade to read this summer and earn two free tickets to see us and our teammates take on UC Davis at California Memorial Stadium August 31."
But that is not all for the Cal fans out there looking to get involved. “There are two ways to get involved. One, encourage students to participate in the Cal Football Summer Reading Challenge. Read this summer, complete your reading log and earn your tickets to see us play. Number two, contribute to the Cal Football Book Drive beginning April 20 at the Cal Football Spring Showcase. Cal fans can purchase new books from our online wish list, bring them to the showcase and receive a limited edition memorabilia item. This year, the book drive will run from April 20 to June 1 to provide new books to Bay Area students. Help us reach our goal of providing 500 students with brand new books to inspire reading. And there's more. If you donate 10 or more books at the showcase, you'll be entered into a raffle for a chance to win exciting autographed items."
Ott went on to emphasize the importance of his involvement with the challenge. “I wanted to get involved because I used to do reading challenges and reading letters when I was young. I didn't really want to do it, but it actually turned out being very beneficial - helping me in school, helping me communicate with my classmates more efficiently, and then as well as on the football field… I started reading Harry Potter when I was in middle school, and I wound up reading all of it. And, those books are pretty thick. So, I ended up liking to read.”
Ott also had his first experience with the kids this past Friday. “We went to Rosa Parks Elementary, and it was good talking to all the kids,” Ott said. “They had some funny questions for me and Jack, but it feels good to get back into the community and reach out and help these kids understand that they could be in our shoes one day as well."
Kids always find ways to ask comical questions and it seemed to be no different for Ott when he was there. “So this little girl, she had told me that her sister, her baby sister wrote a book. It was like three pages with one word on each page and she goes, 'Hey, the book I made is like, Or my little sister made like this big. Can I read and put on the reading log?' And I was like, Yeah, that's a pretty big book. But no, you can't put that on to reading log. It's not going to cut it."
“He started from scratch in 2018.” Ott went on to say when asked about what he knew about the challenge as well as Patrick Laird. “It's an honor to carry it on. Last year we had preschool. This year, me and Jack and Pat are really close. We talk pretty often. He was here at the Stanford game last season and a couple other ones. And so, to be able to carry the torch on for the reading challenge is good." High praise came from Ott as this challenge means a lot to the community and it is not taken lightly on how important it is to the people around the Bay Area.
Endries was also able to chime in about his emotions towards giving back in such a special way and what it meant to him. “Yes, it's a great time. I saw (Brian) Driscoll did it last year and Coach (Mike) Saffell and Patrick (Laird) before that. And I thought it was a really good cause, and no one was doing it this year. So, I decided to get my buddy Jaydn Ott to take it over and it's been really good. We did our first visit last Friday and it was a good time talking to all the kids and just felt good, putting ourselves out there, being role models for kids that might need it, might not need it, but just encourage summer reading as well."
It wasn’t just giving back to the community that spoke to Endries, but it was also the experience that he had as a kid going through similar programs and seeing the impact it can have. "Yeah, I think they're having a good time out there. I remember when I was in elementary school, and someone came to read to me. It was a good break from everything, so it was a good time for them. They were laughing and joking, and I think they just had a good time. A lot of Cal fans out there, too. So hopefully we can get them to more games, you know?" Endries and Ott understand what impact acts like these can have on the youth in the area and potentially future Cal Golden Bears.
Endries was also able to give more details about ways to help in the book drive for those who are interested on Saturday. “So, there's going to be a bookshop on Saturday and if you bring, I think it's ten books, but it might be 15. But if you bring ten or 15 books, then you get entered into a raffle for a signed football… Of course, if you bring a book, you get to talk to Jaydn and I. Jaydn, and I are going to be doing a separate thing just to encourage people to try to bring books. There's also going to be a QR code that brings you to our Amazon wish list, where you could buy books there and support the cause. You know, we're trying to raise a lot of books, so I think this is the best way to do it." If you are looking for the website to donate any books that you have the link is provided below with a link to the Amazon Wish list.
https://calbears.com/news/2024/4/15/cal-football-launches-summer-reading-challenge.aspx
With the impact Endries is having on the community already it is hard to not put him in the role model category, but he is looking to be see in that light for a long time like the fellow players who took this challenge head on. “I remember watching (Brian) Driscoll and Matthew Cindric doing it, and I thought, those are two good role models and that's a position I want to be when I'm when I'm a year older. And I can encourage the younger guys to get out and give back, just like they were encouraging us. I remember they were talking to me about getting out there and doing our stuff, so I just want to be the same way." Ott and Endries have infused the challenge with their unwavering commitment and garnered significant attention, ensuring its success. They not only lead by example on the field but also within the community, making them integral figures in this challenge.
And last but not least, we also were able to get insight on what Mike Saffell’s impression was with his players stepping up to the challenge. “I'm really proud of Jaydn and Jack for taking over this reading challenge. It's a really, really cool opportunity for these guys to use their football platform while they have it. We preach a lot about Cal guys being overachievers in all phases of life, not just football and academics. We want that and we really push that, the community service aspect of it all. I'm really excited about those guys taking over this challenge, being able to reach out and express how important reading is, especially to some of the local Bay Area schools.”
“It's really easy for a lot of these guys that had parents supporting them growing up and showing them what an avid reader looks like and what the benefits of reading are.” Saffell said very passionately about what the challenge brings to the table. “But some of these Bay Area kids don't have that advantage, and it's awesome while they had their football platform, Jaydn and Jack to go to these schools, connect with kids, show them how important reading is, where their jerseys show them that, football players aren't just athletes but they care about learning and education. So really excited for those guys, really proud of them. They're going to do even better.”
Saffell and the entire Cal community take immense pride in the leadership shown by the team's captains, who have stepped up for a vital cause within the Bay Area community. Their commitment will be etched in the hearts of fans, alumni, and all who witness their efforts. Ott and Endries are not only enhancing their legacy at Cal but are also leaving significant marks both on and off the field. As time progresses, they will undoubtedly become the role models that future players aspire to emulate, leaving an indelible imprint on the community and setting the standard for Cal players, students, and staff in their contribution to the community.
