A flock of environmentalists perched in oak trees. Four lawsuits. A $125 million plan. A top-flight coach. A four-year contract. One humdinger of a geologic nightmare. This is a story that could emanate only from California. It has long been known that Memorial Stadium, the gorgeous home of the Cal Bears, is a potential disaster. The stadium sits atop the Hayward Fault, an ever-shifting danger spot that could kill thousands if an earthquake struck. It is agreed that something must be done to make the place safer. But what?
The university's plan was to first move athletic department employees into a safer state-of-the-art training center on the stadium's west side. Ground was to be broken on that project this spring. Later, the university would retrofit Memorial Stadium and make it earthquake-safe. But nothing is that easy in the Golden State. Last Monday, a judge granted an injunction after three groups, including the city of Berkeley, filed suit. That stopped construction until the issues are settled in a trial. Still another group sued because the plan would damage the view from their property. And a band of tree-hugging activists is protesting Cal's plan to clear 26 oak trees as part of the project. Hard to imagine that at Nebraska or Michigan. Lost in the legal shuffle is the status of coach Jeff Tedford, who is 43-20 in five years at Cal and repeatedly has turned down higher-profile jobs. Tedford has pressed for an upgrade in facilities. Three weeks ago, he agreed to a contract extension through 2013, but the deal has not yet been signed. The legal wrangling likely means Tedford, if he doesn't just give up and go elsewhere, won't get his new facility until at least 2010 -- or longer if Cal loses at trial.
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