27 Comments
User's avatar
Rick Chen's avatar

We're lucky to have you on the team, Edrick!

Expand full comment
Edrick Willie Sabalburo's avatar

It's an honor to be here!

Expand full comment
OC Bear's avatar

love of Cal is the only job requirement. Welcome.

Expand full comment
JCB's avatar

My Dad ( an Old Blue ) took me to my first Cal game at Memorial over 50 years ago. From the second I heard the Cal Band come out of the north tunnel, I was hooked. I graduated in 1976, met me wife there ( Class of 1977 ) and started taking my son to games 20 years ago ( he's a proud Gaucho and soon to be married to a Young Blue!) and he's loved the team since meeting Jeff Tedford at a Cal Football open house ( do they still do those?). Anyway, this year has been a surprise and I can't wait for Saturday!

Expand full comment
OC Bear's avatar

woo-hoo, '76er. (same)

Expand full comment
Wiata78's avatar

Hey I overlapped with you guys!

Expand full comment
LDBear's avatar

I really love the sincerity and thoughtfulness here.

Expand full comment
Wiata78's avatar

Edrick, you may not be a prototypical sports guy.

But I think you are a prototypical Cal Sports guy!

Expand full comment
Edrick Willie Sabalburo's avatar

Put another way: I enrolled at UC Berkeley and graduated from Cal.

Expand full comment
Wiata78's avatar

Now I bet that is a story to tell! You might consider writing about that.

Different from people like me. My dad was a Cal guy.

Expand full comment
The Berkeley Pulse's avatar

I love the heart of the Bears, through and through!

Expand full comment
TKE Prytanis 79's avatar

Welcome Edrick...you are in very good, and often tearful company. We are all hoping for fewer tears this year! Go Bears Forever!

Expand full comment
Toohandy's avatar

I'm hoping for many tears of joy of a winning season. I was at "The Play" game and I took my 17 year old daughter who was a senior in high school, with me. When she saw me with tears in my eyes after the glorious finish, she told me, Dad I'm going to Cal and I teared up more. So I hope for many tears of joy this year.

Expand full comment
BostonBear's avatar

The understated (or unstated) importance of your message is not lost on me -- that there are moments in college sports that are so unexpected, so magical, so communal, that they drive motivated individuals to great schools. It's not singular to Cal, but it is important that UC Berkeley understands this -- our program can bring great minds, great people, and great energy to the greatest school in the world. I didn't go to Cal, mostly because I grew up in Berkeley but my parents did, my wife did her PhD there, and I'm a Davis grad school guy. Regardless, it's this beacon of light in a damaged world that gives me hope.

Expand full comment
justbearly's avatar

Welcome Edrick. Wade through the numbers, have some fun, share your storytelling skills with us. Thank you! Go Bears!

Expand full comment
Blondiesandtopdog's avatar

I love this so much - can’t wait to journey through this season with you!

Expand full comment
BostonBear's avatar

Lovely intro. You will kill it Edrick!

Expand full comment
JP90's avatar

Welcome Edrick and Go Bears!

Expand full comment
GoldenBear8933's avatar

GO BEARS!

Expand full comment
Edrick Willie Sabalburo's avatar

I'm doing my part so far -- including last weekend against Minnesota

Expand full comment
CalBear91's avatar

Well said and appreciate your efforts. I too was converted into a lifelong Bear fan during my years prowling the halls at Dwinelle and the LSB.

Expand full comment
Edrick Willie Sabalburo's avatar

Maybe the most important thing I learned as a student is that sports can be fun

Expand full comment
Daniel K's avatar

This is awesome on two points: 1) Yes, the feelings about our team really have a way of getting to us; 2) Go Birds!

Expand full comment
Edrick Willie Sabalburo's avatar

(are we allowed to say that here?) GO BIRDS

Expand full comment
Daniel K's avatar

Invoking the authority granted to me by Randall Cunningham, Nnamdi Asomugha and DeSean Jackson, I say yes. Go Bears! (I had to throw in Randall despite him not being a Golden Bear).

Expand full comment
BostonBear's avatar

One very important instruction, Edrick. You are forever banned from taking and/or appearing in photographs with Oskie.

Expand full comment