Usually a team practicing in their home stadium isn't news, unless that team is Cal. The Golden Bears practiced inside of Memorial Stadium on Thursday, the first time the team has been inside the stadium since November 2010.
Following the team's loss to Washington on Nov. 27, 2010, Memorial was closed so the stadium could undergo a $321 million renovation. Besides being $321 milllion nicer, the stadium is now earthquake-proof, which is important, because it was built directly over the Heyward Fault.
As for the Bears, after spending the 2011 season at AT&T Park -- the San Francisco Giants home field -- players were excited to return to their home turf. "I had goosebumps coming out here," RB Isi Sofele told the San Jose Mercury News. "I feel like it's my freshman year again. This is better than what I thought."
Coach Jeff Tedford was equally pleased to be back at Memorial Stadium, "We always talk about owning our house. It takes on a new meaning when you actually get in your house."
Although there was an initial worry that the stadium wouldn't be ready for the team's Sept. 1 opener against Nevada, assistant AD Bob Milano Jr., says that's not the case. "There's nothing that's going to stop us from having a game Sept. 1."
For all the Pac-12 news you can handle, follow @CBSSportsPac12, @JohnBreech, and @cmorgancbsfoxaz on Twitter.
