On Saturday, a group of men sporting the Blue and Gold will play for more than the typical.
 
Not that any member of the California football team needs additional motivation, but this effort will not only be about winning for another notch in the win column, and to get closer to bowl eligibility, but about cementing final legacies at the place each member of the squad chose to build one.
 
Senior Day will be celebrated, as it is every season, when the Golden Bears appear at California Memorial Stadium for their final home game of the 2017 slate.
 
"It's been a special ride over the past few years," said senior placekicker Matt Anderson. "There were lows the first two years and highs over the past three years. All those moments are something to cherish and something special. I won't take it for granted. It's a tough week for it to be the last time I play in Memorial Stadium, but it's been a special ride over the past five years."
 
Just as the fault line makes the stadium unique, so have the highlights and imperfections in the journeys of so many senior players to make their departure bittersweet.
 
"A lot of blood, sweat and tears the last five years," said senior linebacker Raymond Davison III. "I'm excited for the future, but also excited about the legacy I've left here. Being a Cal football player sets the standard; it means that you excel athletically and academically. I pride myself on those things. I think I've done a good job in setting an example of what a Cal Bear should be. It has so much power when you tell people that you're a part of Cal football."
 
The mixed emotions have trickled throughout the group.
 
"It was a beautiful rollercoaster," said senior running back Vic Enwere, who is 25 yards shy of becoming the team's active career leading rusher. "There were ups and downs, but at the end of the day, the ride was all worth it. I appreciate my time at Cal and I'm really going to miss it."
 
The time wasn't only about any individual accolades or solitary experience, it was about giving to a place and program that offers so much. On the field, Cal holds historical prominence and even now boasts a record number of NFL talent that tied for 13th nationally to open the season. Those types of nods are what motivated Anderson. 
 
"It's humbling. I've been aware of the legacy of Cal kickers since I first committed here," said Anderson, who is four points shy of Cal's all-time scoring record held by Doug Brien. "To be in the company and have my name on the lists with the all-time greats is humbling. Hopefully I can come back in 20 years and see someone doing better than I did."
 
Outside the gridiron, Berkeley is unparalleled in fostering diverse experiences. In fact, one senior urges his younger teammates and future Bears to make sure they take advantage of it all.
 
"Don't miss any opportunities socially, academically or athletically," Davison said. "Get involved. You're going to enjoy it. There are so many things Cal can offer you in all those areas. Don't be afraid to be great."
 
Certainly Davison and the other seniors have taken advantage of the time with their teammates. In fact, it is that particular time that onlookers can't see that will be most missed from the departing class.
 
"The locker room is probably the biggest thing I'll miss," Davison said. "I'm going to miss all of the guys. I always think about the fact that you're never going to have brothers like this that you can laugh with every day no matter what. You can just go in there and laugh for hours and you'll get a six-pack from laughing."
 
Other moments were visibly shared within the entire Cal family.
 
"One of the biggest highlights was beating Washington State this year and being able to crowd surf was something I'll be able to take with me for the rest of my life," Enwere said of the Bears' 37-3 victory over the then-eighth-ranked Cougars.
 
For the lot, people have made the difference. From coaches and teammates to fans and passersby, the senior class commends the Berkeley culture for their holistic development.
 
"I've come to appreciate the people in Berkeley and the Bay Area," Davison said. "Everyone is genuine and offers a little nugget of wisdom. Whether they drive a Porsche, walk or ride a bike, they give you a little bit of love, and I've learned to try to give back to people, as well."
 
While many may leave, there was one thing they would not forget.
 
"Berkeley is home," Anderson said.
 
Saturday will be the final and an emotional chance to defend it.