by Morris Phillips

BERKELEY–Former Cal safety Bernard Hicks has filed a lawsuit against Cal for concussion medical malpractice. Hicks played from 2004-2008. Hicks claims he sustained several concussions during that time and was allowed on the field after suffering in game injuries. Hicks claim is that after being allowed to come back in the games he suffered neurological injuries and has continued to suffer from pain and injuries from his playing days.

Hicks attorney Matthew Whibley says that Hicks was not informed by the university of the long term effects from the injury of neurological disorders related to concussions and subconcussive to the head. Whibley said that the university is the caretaker, “we think it would be fair for them to at least inform the players what they’re getting themselves into.” said Whibley.

The university countered saying that it does care about it’s former athletes and supplies it’s athletes with the “best and up to date guidelines, the medical care we provide our student athletes meets or exceeds the standard collegiate and national sports medicine.” said a Cal statement.

Since leaving Cal Hicks has suffered “permanent and debilitating” neurological injuries that has caused depression, suicidal shots, dizziness, memory loss, and blurred and double vision the lawsuit read.

In the Pac 12 it is expected that there will be a number of teams that will be in the mix for a shot at the bowl. Then there’s the possibility of having a USC who would be a top ten mainstay this year and there’s Oregon that’s floating in there as well. With Grambling and S San Diego State coming into Cal to open the season the Bears will be good early.

This is a more experienced Cal group one thing we know about Cal they can throw it and catch it. They got Jared Goff a great receiving crew with wide receiver Bryce Treggs. Cal is expected to do better against the lesser competition and after that it will be a real test for them. This year your evaluating Cal on two different levels.

Cal will be evaluated on how many games they win or lose but also on their ability to improve because their schedule is tough and they may not win the way that a team that really is improving would go 6-6 but it will be an improvement none the less. Were not evaluating them given the high level of difficulty of the schedule it’s a week after week process in the Pac 12.

It couldn’t have been a harder introduction for the Bear Raid offense since head coach Sonny Dykes took over and the Bears just didn’t have enough good players on defense. It didn’t matter because of what they were doing and what they were doing offensively it involved too many turnovers with deflected balls, fumbles, and spurts of great offense mixed in with a lot of mistakes.

Morris Phillips is a beat writer for the Cal Bears and does weekly podcasts on Cal at http://www.sportsradioservice.com