While challenges await, Cal expresses excitement, optimism at ACC football media day

Cal coach Justin Wilcox on his team's first season in Atlantic Coast Conference: 'We just have to be focused on playing better and better football.'

In most years of Justin Wilcox’s tenure as Cal football’s head coach, the Pac-12’s Media Day would take place in Los Angeles, roughly an hour flight from the Bay Area. But traveling to Charlotte, N.C., the location of Atlantic Coast Confrence Media Day? That’s closer to an all-day affair.

The cross-country venture was, in essence, a precursor of what awaits the Golden Bears this fall.

“We’re incredibly excited,” Wilcox told reporters in Charlotte on Tuesday. “I can speak for the coaches and the players, but not only the team — our students, our alumni. We’re going to visit some new venues. We’ve got new teams coming in, and couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the ACC this year.”

For Wilcox and Co., being a part of the ACC will mean traveling more than ever before. In its inaugural season in its new conference, Cal will have road games against Auburn (non-conference), Florida State, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest and SMU. In total, the Golden Bears will travel over an estimated 20,000 miles.

To combat the travel, Wilcox outlined that Cal will leave for games a day earlier than usual. He added that the Golden Bears will also fly on “the biggest plane that Delta makes” that feature “lie-down suites.”

Back in Berkeley, Cal will host four familiar opponents in Stanford, UC Davis, San Diego State and Oregon State, but will also welcome ACC mainstays Miami, North Carolina State and Syracuse.

“From top to bottom, the coaching and the players — the quality of play — we know that’s going to be really, really high,” Wilcox said. “For us, it’s how good can we get from now until we play our first game and throughout the season. We just have to be focused on playing better and better football. We have a ton of respect for the teams on our schedule and we’re looking forward to competing against them.”

While the Golden Bears don’t have an extensive history with many of their upcoming opponents, they’ve got plenty against Stanford, which is also entering the ACC. Cal has beaten Stanford in three straight Big Games. In the 127th Big Game set to take place on Nov. 23 in Berkeley, the Golden Bears will have an opportunity to show the ACC what the rivalry is all about.

“When it comes to that game, the week of preparation and the intensity of it is crazy,” said defensive back Craig Woodson. “Everybody is dialed in. Everybody is going to sleep early. Everybody is staying extra for film, doing extra after practice because we have to dominate those guys across the Bay. For everybody who doesn’t really know about the rivalry, I would say watch the game. Tune in this year. You’re going to see what it’s all about.”

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Fernando Mendoza played no small role in last year’s win against Stanford, amassing 294 passing yards and three touchdowns despite taking a hit to the head in the third quarter. But despite Mendoza’s emergence last season, the question of whether he will be the team’s starting quarterback remains ambiguous.

Mendoza appeared to secure his spot as the starter after stepping into the role midway last season. While the Golden Bears lost Mendoza’s first four games at the helm, he led the team to three straight wins against Washington State, Stanford and UCLA to finish the season 6-6 and qualify for a bowl game. Mendoza ended the year passing for 1,708 passing (63.0% completion percentage) with 14 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, earning a Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honorable mention recoginition.

For all the strides Mendoza made, Cal brought in Chandler Rogers from North Texas, who is going into his sixth and final year of eligibility. Rogers did not enter last season as the Mean Green’s starter, but snatched the role and finished the year with 3,382 passing yards and 29 touchdowns to five interceptions in the American Athletic Conference. Mendoza, who spoke the longest of the four players that Cal brought to Charlotte, appears to have the edge, but things can change between now and late August.

“My goal is to become the best player I can be at the end of fall camp,” Mendoza said. “That’s my short-term goal right now. Chandler’s helping me do that because he has a ton of experience.”

Added Rogers: “I didn’t come here to sit — as well as Fernando. He’s here to play as well. The goal is definitely to help this team win games.”

While the Golden Bears’ starting quarterback situation is unsettled, there is no doubt as to who will serve as the team’s starting running back. Jaydn Ott enters his junior season as one of the nation’s best running backs, having compiled 1,305 yards (5.3 yards per rush) and 12 touchdowns on the ground as a sophomore. He may have scared fans last December by posting a video on social media in which he pretended to announce his intent to transfer, but he confirmed at media day that he is “a Cal dude.”

Ott compiled 2,212 rushing yards in his first two seasons and sits well within striking range of Russell White’s program record of 3,367. When asked about his pursuit of history, Ott left no doubt as to where he believes he’ll rank in the record books at season’s end.

“I’m going to hit it this year,” Ott said.