Football

New sheriff in town: Sonny Dykes’ vision for Cal football

Five months into the job, Sonny Dykes envisions his program to go beyond winning football games. He wants to redefine what Cal football means to the Berkeley community.

Cal football head coach Sonny Dykes came into the Daily Cal office for an exclusive interview.
Levy Yun/Staff
Cal football head coach Sonny Dykes came into the Daily Cal office for an exclusive interview.

Sonny Dykes has two young daughters at home, but when he arrives at work every day, he transforms into a surrogate parent of nearly 100 men. Before and after practice, he mingles with his players, cracking light-hearted jokes and dispensing life advice to his players. From the upper stands of Read More…

Football

Cal athletics can owe Jeff Tedford at least $5.4 million if it fires him this year.

Cal, Tedford agree to adjusted contract settlement

When former football head coach Jeff Tedford was fired on Nov. 21 of last year, the common understanding was that Tedford would be paid a maximum of $6.9 million in accordance with the stipulations of the original contract. On Feb. 4, Cal Athletics reported that the maximum of the buyout Read More…

Football

dykes.ZHOU_-698x450

Meet the coaches, part 1: Offense and special teams

Editor’s Note: In with the new, out with the old. It seems new Cal football coach Sonny Dykes took that adage in stride when he was putting together his coaching staff. All coaches who worked under Jeff Tedford last year are gone, and nine coaches have come to fill their Read More…

Football

Meet the coaches, part 2: Defense

Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of Meet the Coaches, part 1: Offense and special teams Andy Buh, Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers Coach: While newly appointed head coach Sonny Dykes was hired primarily for his offensive prowess, his defensive unit at Louisiana Tech was ranked dead-last in college football in 2012. Read More…

Football

dykes.ZHOU

Dykes’ arrival marks new chapter in Cal football history

Amid the downpour of dead week, excitement is in the Berkeley air. Call it the oncoming Bear raid. Or perhaps Air Bears. With Sonny Dykes and the “air raid” offense coming to Cal, nicknames for the 2013 Bears’ offense have already been floated throughout the campus community and blogosphere. “What’s Read More…

Football

michael rosen mug

A change of pace Cal direly needed

In the Big Game on Oct. 20, Stanford’s defense smothered the Bears’ offense to death at Memorial this year. Jeff Tedford’s offensive scheme lacked excitement and unpredictability, and the Cardinal’s suffocating run defense held Cal to negative total rushing yards. After the Big Game, it became woefully apparent that the Read More…