Bears Kick Off Fall Camp...Finally

After months of delay, the Bears finally got back on the field as fall camp kicked off at Memorial Stadium today. After finally receiving clearance from health officials and the City of Berkeley, 75 players were allowed on the field at once, with the rest of the roster phased in with an extra session.

The logistics surrounding the cohort limitations have been tricky to navigate, though the limits on participants has caused quicker, more efficient practices, allowing the additional players to be phased in more quickly than might be expected.

Asked about how this first practice compared to past seasons, head coach Justin Wilcox said there wasn’t any difference.

“There was excitement, eager play, eager coaching, plenty of mistakes, all in all great attitude out there, everybody was really glad to be on the field.

“We had a greater appreciation of what we get to do. Sometimes it takes not having something and being able to go back on the field, players getting to work on their craft, and being around eachother to understand your appreciation of the game. Our appreciation was evident when we were able to run out there today.”

Deng, Saffell, Hicks, and Paster joined afterwards, giving their feedback on Day 1 of Fall Camp. Asked about the culture of the team currently, and the chemistry going into Week 1 against Washington, Deng said:

“Chemistry is good. We’ve had smaller cohorts these past few weeks. Our first team defense has been together. We do our workout together. We do our run together. We do our walkthroughs together.

“We’ve developed a really good bond and continuity. You can really see how excited everyone was to be out there together. It was all about running to the ball, sprinting to the ball, making a play everytime you get an opportunity. Talking smack. Overly communicating. Shifts. Motions. Bringing that noise, energy, and intensity from all three levels of the field: the linebackers, secondary, and defensive line. I’m going to continue to push for that. That what I want from us, and what we want from ourselves. To get where we want to get, we have to sustain that throughout the entirety of camp.”

Freshman safety Trey Paster, who came in last spring as an early entry, spoke up, talking about the “juice” at practice:

“We’re all excited, really blessed with the opportunity we have ahead of us. We’re really thankful for everything that all the people have done for us to even let us be out there on the practice field.

“It’s football, we all love it out there. There was a lot of energy today, especially on the defensive side.

“It started ever since I got here, just that juice on first spring practice, it never left. We stayed pretty close knit over the time that we were gone and it rolled over into today.”

Senior center Mike Saffel seemed energized, and is excited to get things rolling this season. Asked on how the solid play from the offense over the last few games last year will carry into this one, he said:

“Just being out there today, we’re gonna be pretty good.

“There’s high expectations. Especially with the talent that we’re returning. We have experience on both sides of the ball. The leadership we have on this team speaks for itself. This could be a special year.”

With regards to new faces, PWOs and scholarship freshmen, Elijah Hicks was impressed specifically with one group:

“Wide receivers.”