Costa Contra Times: Tedford's extension gets final approval

The contract extension that Cal football coach Jeff Tedford agreed to on New Year's Day has been approved, according to Thursday's Report of Interim Actions to the UC Regents.  Cal announced previously that Tedford and the school had come to terms on a two-year extension that would keep him in Berkeley through the 2015 season. The report of the extension's approval didn't provide much more information than what was already public, with a few exceptions.  Most notable is a provision that Tedford will receive an additional automatic one-year extension for every season the Bears win nine games. The new extensions will simply continue all the terms of this latest one.

Tedford's base salary of $225,000 and talent fee of $1,575,000 remain unchanged under the new extension. But the latest deal calls for Tedford's previous retention bonuses to be split up so the coach can contribute money to a deferred compensation plan.  Instead of receiving a $1 million bonus on Jan. 8 for his continuing employment as Cal's coach, $500,000 of it was put in the deferred plan. The university now will contribute $500,000 to the plan on Jan. 8 of every year Tedford remains at Cal. The new deal also calls for substantially greater rewards in incentives. For instance, Tedford will earn $1 million if the Bears win the national title. The previous contract called for just a $150,000 bonus. The extension also dictates Tedford will

receive $750,000 for playing in the BCS title game, a provision that didn't exist previously.  Other new incentives are $500,000 for winning the Pac-10 title or going to the Rose Bowl, $400,000 for going to another BCS game and $250,000 for tying for the conference title but getting shut out of a BCS game. There also are bonuses for playing in the Holiday Bowl ($60,000), Sun Bowl ($40,000) or any other non-BCS bowl ($30,000).

The new contract also will give Tedford a $45,000 bonus if the team has an 80 percent graduation rate, a 950 APR score or a teamwide 2.8 GPA.  Tedford and athletic director Sandy Barbour both cryptically said the impetus for the extension was due to overtures from other schools, but the report says it explicitly.  "The campus undertook negotiations with Mr. Tedford to enhance and extend his current contract when he was contacted by other universities to fill their head coach position," the report said.

Injury updates

Tedford said wide receiver Michael Calvin, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee midway through last season, won't be recovered in time for spring practice. Nose tackle Derrick Hill also will miss the spring as he rests his perpetually bothersome knee.  Offensive guard/center Chris Guarnero, who had season-ending toe surgery after three games last year, will be back for spring ball. Offensive tackle Mike Tepper, who recently was granted a sixth year of eligibility, also will participate in the spring after missing last year with a pectoral injury.

Extra points

Tedford said wide receiver Jarrett Sparks will move to tight end. ... None of Cal's 18 recruits will enroll early, Tedford said. Last year, running back Covaughn DeBoskie and nose tackle Kendrick Payne graduated from high school early and were at Cal in time for spring practice.