Cal football now has a Spanish-language broadcast for the first time in the program’s 144-year history. Branded Vamos Osos, “Go Bears” in Spanish, it streams every home game on the Cal Football and Cal Athletics YouTube channels. A companion Instagram account posts Spanish-language content.
The voices
Brothers Jesús Zárate and Enrique Zárate Jr., the lead Spanish play-by-play broadcasters for the San Francisco 49ers, called the first Spanish broadcast at the Sept. 5 season opener against UCLA at California Memorial Stadium, according to Cal Athletics. Carlos M. Ramirez, an Apple TV MLS broadcaster, is also on the broadcast team. The brothers also host the 49ers’ official Spanish podcast, the Daily Californian reports.
“It’s definitely a dream come true,” Enrique Zárate told the Daily Californian. Jesús Zárate said his favorite call this season was Cal’s 25-20 home win over Virginia Tech on Oct. 10, when Cal took the lead late in the game.
Why Cal did it
“Over a quarter of the San Francisco Bay Area population is Spanish-speaking,” Cal Football general manager Ron Rivera, a Hispanic Football Hall of Famer, said when the program was announced. Cal Athletics spokesperson Jonathan Okanes told the Daily Californian that the move grew out of a look at Bay Area demographics after the Raiders left Oakland. “As the only team left in the East Bay, we want to ensure we are creating an opportunity for all fans to listen to our games,” he said.