Cal's Matthew Cindric Celebrates His Final Trip Home to Seattle

The first college football game Seattle area native Matthew Cindric ever attended pitted Cal against Washington at Husky Stadium.

He believes he was 5 or 6 years old, which means the game would have taken place in either 2004 or ’05. The Bears visited UW each of those seasons and won both games.

“I remember being sad,” Cindric said. “Now looking back, I’m happy that happened. It was a fun one.”

Cindric is hoping for another fun one tonight at Seattle when the century-old rivals will meet for the last time before departing the Pac-12 for new conference homes.

But the 24-year-old sixth-year senior center won’t be in shoulder pads on the field. He is out for the season for the second year in a row after tearing his left bicep muscle.

“I probably hold the record for the fastest bicep re-tear of the opposite arm,” he said, alluding to having injured his right bicep last year.

Surgery went well, Cindric said, but his season is over. He worked hard to prepare himself for this season and believed he might have some chance to play professionally after his Cal career.

Phil Steele rated him as the No. 16 draft-eligible center in the country. Cindric was named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation’s top college center. And he was included on the Senior Bowl watch list.

And now?

“I think it definitely brings up a lot more conversations,” Cindric said. “Football is definitely not out of the picture but it is a tougher road, especially if going to the next level is the plan.”

Cindric said doctors have told him he won’t be available for any of the post-season all-star games or the NFL combine camp, beginning in late February but that he might be ready to participate in Cal’s pro day, a gathering of NFL scouts later in the spring.

He understands the reality that the NFL is a long shot for most college players. Even so, this is a big disappointment for Cindric.

“It’s obviously not how you drew it up. You work very hard to get back to this point. It’s definitely a bummer,” he said.

“But I told the guys, especially the young guys, if you put all your into the basket of the 12 games of football in a season, you’re probably doing it wrong. You’ve got to embrace the journey.”

With or without a playing career, Cindric has set himself up for a successful future. He graduated in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Haas School of Business and is working toward a master’s degree at Cal’s graduate school of education with intersection of sports in education.

Cindric said he can envision himself eventually coaching high school or youth football — not at the college level, he said — and for now he is assisting Cal offensive line coach Mike Bloesch and graduate assistant Mike Saffell, providing “an extra set of eyes,” especially on technique issues.

It hasn’t been all athletics and academics at Berkeley for Cindric. His efforts on the behalf of the community made him the sixth Cal player named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He joined previous winners Nick Forbes (2013), Jeffrey Coprich (2014), Patrick Laird (2018), Marcel Dancy (2019) and Elijah Hicks (2020).

Courtesy of Cal Athletics, here is a rundown on Cindric’s

Golden Buddies Football Clinic – Founder who donated countless hours to piloting the inaugural event held at California Memorial Stadium on July 15, 2023. The clinic allowed approximately 50 local students aged 6-13 with and without intellectual disabilities to participate in football drills and interaction with about 40 Cal football players running the various event stations.

Cindric called the Golden Buddies his favorite event. “Football is a sport that not everybody gets to play,” he said, “so seeing a smile on these kids’ faces when they were catching a touchdown or running the ball was really cool.”

Cal Football Reading Challenge – Visited local elementary schools to read to students while encouraging them to continue reading over the summer to combat summer learning loss.

Cal's Haas School of Business Student-Athlete Mentorship Program Student Director - Helped Cal student-athletes through the rigorous process of applying to the university's prestigious business school.

Cal Athletics Leadership Showcase - Volunteered his time to give a Ted Talk-style speech at the Cal Athletics Leadership Showcase after being nominated by his peers, coaches and staff for demonstrating significant leadership in school, sport and life

Upcycle Gear Drive – Co-founder who collected and distributed gear, clothing and equipment through a targeted drive with Cal student-athletes donating 500 gently used and excess items to meet the specific needs of those in the community

Cal Athletes In Action President - Engaged in worship and community service activities with a group of student-athletes, while also traveling to Croatia on a community service trip

“It’s a huge honor,” Cindric said of being named to the 22-player nationwide Good Works Team. “I’ve been in Berkeley for over five years now — it feels like a home away from home. Football is just a game, but what you can do to impact lives is much greater.”

A year ago, Cindric was a national semifinalist for both the Wuerffel Trophy known as college football's top award for community service and the Campbell Trophy also known as the "Academic Heisman.”

He will be on the sidelines tonight — likely wearing a headset — as the Bears (2-1) take on the No. 8 Huskies (3-0).

Cindric was making his first road trip four years ago when the Bears survived a 2 1/2-hour delay for a lightning storm over Husky Stadium and emerged with a 20-19 victory.

“I know everyone jokes about Pac-12 after dark . . . crazy things happen,” he said. “I have full confidence that these guys will go out there and put their best foot forward and give UW everything we’ve got.”

However things go tonight and the rest of the season, Cindric embraces his experience at Cal. “I definitely wouldn’t change anything if I could go back.”

Cover photo of Matthew Cindric by Darren Yamashita, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo