Cal Football: To Buy Or Not To Buy Endowment Seating

The renovations are under way for a new athletic-training facility and a revitalized California Memorial Stadium.

But the lingering question remains: As a long time season ticket holder, does one plunk down the large deposit for the Endowment Seat program?

After last week's embarrassing loss to Oregon, that question is making the rounds among many Cal fans. I was one who quickly turned on the Bears, even coming close to calling for Tedford to be fired. But after taking some time, I realized that I was wrong, and that anyone who is on the fence should go forward with the ESP purchase.

My reasoning:

I've been going to Cal games since I was five-years-old. I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly (actually more of the ugly and bad, and less of the good). They were not winners.

For years, we were a joke within the Pac-10. But in 2001, they hired Jeff Tedford and quickly things changed. In fact, it happened right on the first play of his coaching career at Cal—a half-back pass.

Since then, Tedford has gone on to win 59-games in the last seven seasons, the most in any seven-year stretch in Cal football history. He is 5-1 in bowl games and has Cal ranked in the top 25 year after year.

Why am I telling you this? Because the Cal Bears won only 21 games in the seven years before his hiring.

Yes, the product that he had out there Saturday against Oregon was brutal. But we cannot forget how he has turned this program around, and made it a winner. He is signed to 2015, and he was instrumental in getting the desired changes needed for Memorial Stadium, which will make it one of the better stadiums in the country, as well as help with recruiting.

Location, location, location.

We in the Bay Area take for granted the locale that surrounds Cal's football stadium. It is positioned at the foot of the Berkeley Hills, and can provide views of the San Francisco Bay (top row), as well as views of the Berkeley Hills and Strawberry Canyon. There are also the fans and canon on Tightwad Hill.

I've been to many night games—where the moon will appear above the hills—and it is truly one of the most scenic views one can see, all while watching college football. There is no other substitute.

I realize in this economy it is truly a hard question to answer: Do I put this much money into these seats?

But if you are a Cal fan, you realize that the stadium does need to be upgraded (for basic reasons as well as seismically). And if you have been to games for years like I have and bled Blue & Gold, then you know the answer. You have to pay for winners, for greatness.

And this is that final step to get us what we all truly want—a ROSE BOWL BERTH!