BERKELEY – Considering the demands of the modern-day college football player, sleep has never been more important. Between classes, practice, conditioning, meetings and more, these student-athletes need the proper amount of sleep to initiate the physical and mental recharge they require on a daily basis.

A nap during the day can do wonders for the body and brain, but with so many commitments, who has the time to go home to squeeze in a nap before having to turn right around and return to campus for the next item on the daily agenda?

The short answer is they don't. That's why, in the past, Cal football players could often be seen fighting for minimal couch space in the locker room or curling up on the floor to fit in a nap. Not exactly the ideal sleeping conditions.

That all changed last year when Cal supporter Kevin Kennedy inquired about ways to help, and he ended up gifting eight sleep pods to the football program. Now, Cal football players have "The Den," a dark and cool space with sleep pods and recliners that helps them refuel without having to take the time to go back and forth to and from their dorm, apartment or house.

"It's been a great help to us," Cal offensive lineman Jake Curhan said. "There are different time slots you can do things and sometimes you are forced into a certain time slot because of your schedule and it leaves little gaps open. Being able to come in here and pop into a sleep pod will save you probably 20 minutes from going home, which is probably a nap in itself."

Scientific studies in recent years demonstrated that collegiate student-athletes in sports such as basketball and tennis saw improved performance after regularly getting an extra dose of sleep. Considering the physical and mental demands of football are second to none, it's reasonable to conclude there would be similar findings.

"It's just an area where they can go rest and recover," Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said. "It's been a real tangible benefit to them. I think sometimes people don't realize how busy these guys are when it comes to school, academic pursuits, and the things they have to do throughout the day. They're getting sleep at night, but these guys are busy. Sleep is a really important part of being an athlete. It's been really valuable for our team."

The football program has worked closely with Cal's sports nutrition department to learn more about enhanced sleep and the positive effects it can have on student-athletes both physically and mentally. Elizabeth McNear, Cal's director of performance nutrition, says sleep is especially important for college football players because of everything they put their body and mind through on a daily basis.

"They need sleep for recovery and repair," McNear said. "That's why these athletes need those extra two hours compared with you and I. We're not going through those three hours of practice. We're not going to those meetings. Our muscles aren't recovering the same. That's why it's so much more important they get that sleep compared with the average individual."

Cal junior Meg Czeisler in in her second year working with McNear as a sports nutrition intern. She brings with her a measure of expertise in sleep – her father, Charles Czeisler, is a renowned sleep expert and a professor and researcher at Harvard Medical School.

"Sleep is basically the chance for your body to filter out everything it needs that is required during the day so you're not groggy and you're able to perform more efficiently," Czeisler said. "You also accumulate sleep debt – just because you miss a few hours one night doesn't mean that the few hours you get the next night will reset it. It takes a couple of weeks to kick in. It's recovery time, but it's also investing in how efficient you are."

The sleep pods are especially valuable these days as the Bears go through training camp, where their schedules are full from sunrise to sundown.

"It can get tight sometimes during fall camp, but it's way improved from three couches," Curhan said. "It's a grind. It's pretty unique to football. It's been great for us."