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Incoming offensive lineman Chris Adcock spent his spring break in Ateiku, Ghana helping build a school. Although Cal gave him a workout schedule to follow over break, he says his work and Ghana has helped prepare him physically and mentally. Click here for a slideshow of the trip.
The Ateiku Church of Christ School is the sister school of Adcock's high school and the incoming Cal freshman said that even though this was their first trip to Ateiku, his school had been sending the sister school helpful supplies for the last few years. "It is the longest [mission trip] we have ever done as a school, and the farthest from home," noted Adcock.
Most of the work that the group from Dallas contributed to was aiding in the construction of a new senior high school for the town of Ateiku. Not only did the school need restrooms, but there was also no working electricity.
It wasn't 'all work and no play' for the offensive lineman and his group. They did take some time off from their work for a trip to the coast. "We got to eat lunch on the ocean; It was an amazing experience," wrote Adcock.
Even though it was the offensive lineman's charity that brought him to Africa, he was the benefactor of an experience worth more than he could give.
"This is one of the most life-changing weeks of my life," said Adcock. "Spending time in this new culture [ for me] has really opened my eyes. It's going to be hard to go back home."
A big part of the 'life-changing' came about from seeing the absence of things that we here in America take for granted -- such as electricity and bathrooms. Said Adcock of seeing how people live in other, less fortunate, countries, "It changes the way you look at things."
Not only has his trip changed the way he looks at things, Adcock said that the trip may have recharged him for football. Prior to leaving for Ateiku, Cal's coaching staff had sent Adcock a spring wieght workout routine, and he had already started it prior to leaving. While the regimen issued by Cal is most likely strenuous, Adcock didn't give the impression that it was tougher than construction in Ateiku.
"Well I've been doing physical labor all week, and I think that has tested my mental strength to persevere and finish what i started. It has just put my normal life on hold. I feel like I will come back even more motivated and refreshed to finish my senior year strong, and get ready for Cal."
After the jump our good friend Pete Alamar becomes special teams coach at Fresno St, basketball comes close to finalizing the 2010-11 schedule, DJ Seeley talks about his decision to transfer, and more.
Cal Football
- Ted Miller has another preview of Cal's 2010 season. This time he looks at the topics everyone will be talking about (Riley and Pendergast), the void left by Alualu, and the candidates who will do their best to replace Alualu.
- ALAMAAAAAAARRRR! Fresno St has hired Pete Alamar as their new special teams coach after longtime coach John Baxter took a position at USC.
- The American Football Coaches Association released some data on how coaches feel about the BCS system and the possibility of playoffs.
- The 2010-11 schedule is coming together, featuring rematches against Kansas and New Mexico, another Pac-10/Big-12 Hardwood Series, and tournaments such as the Golden Bear Classic and the Old Spice Challenge.
- DJ Seeley talks about his decision to transfer.
- Swimming narrowly missed its first NCAA team title since 1980, but the team won the title in the 400m relay while Nathan Adrian brought home a second consecutive national title in the 100m free.
- At no. 1 ASU, baseball took a tie into the bottom of the ninth with two outs until ASU scored the winning run to complete a three-game sweep of Cal.
- No. 14 softball went undefeated in the Aggie Stampede, finishing with a 4-0 win over UC Davis to conclude non-conference play.
- Lacrosse defeated George Mason by a score of 15-11.
- Track and field picked up three victories at the Stanford Invitational by winning the hammer throw, 100m hurdles, and individual shotput.