Longtime Cal football staffer Bud Turner dies at age 84

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Bud "Dog" Turner, who worked in various roles for the California football program for half a century, has died. He was 84.

Cal said Turner died Thursday night from heart failure at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California.

Turner began his employment at Cal in 1970, working the field phone for the public address announcer. He later worked in the equipment room, then with the program's operations staff.

Turner was known for greeting people with a fist bump and a simple message: "It's a great day to be a Bear."

Coach Justin Wilcox called Turner a "kind and genuine person" and said he can't imagine not seeing Turner every day when he comes to work.