How many of us have imagined the challenge and excitement among this team's young men as they face their season? Unlike any other Cal football team, they'll be traveling to play in stadiums (mostly) foreign to the Golden Bears. And what leadership they have! It'll be a long, well traveled season, but one that will be a once-in-a-program season.

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.

Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road or secret gate;
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.

- J.R.R. Tolkien (excerpt from The Hobbit)

Even the traveling, isn't going to have that much effect. Teams use to travel on busses everywhere, now traveling across the country can be done in 4-5 hours. Really the only effect will be the return back home they'll be tired for a day which most teams have a day off anyway. These guys are in the athletic primes of their life, they'll be fine.