There was a familiar sight at Cal’s spring game on Saturday.
A running back wearing No. 10 went around the right side of the line and sprinted 22 yards for a touchdown, calling to mind memories of when Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch wore that number in Berkeley. As it turns out, it was more than memory.
It was actually Lynch, who took part in his alma mater’s scrimmage for one play as a way to give the fans watching the game an unexpected surprise. Lynch had spoken to the school about taking part and new head coach Sonny Dykes agreed to a plan involving a carry for Lynch. He made sure his team understood that they were to keep their distance from Lynch so that Dykes didn’t have to explain an injury to Pete Carroll.
“We told the guys if anybody tackled him, it was going to be a $25 million fine,” Dykes said, via the San Jose Mercury News. “I didn’t want to be getting a call from Pete.”
Lynch told the Associated Press that he was hopeful that Dykes and the new staff at Cal would be able to get the program “back into what it was when I was here.” It would help if they could uncover more backs like Lynch, even if they aren’t also adept at driving golf carts after games.
Photo via @calbearsonline.