Beat Cal - Printable Version

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RE: Beat Cal - Phogge - 11-18-2021

Hey Jacketree... You should have seen us in ‘63 when SI was National Champ. We will live it again at our Christmas lunch. I have given up alumni games at Marchbank. Fastball down to about 45mph.

Hope I’m alive when your son becomes Chief of Naval Operations.

Go Cats, Go Stanford.

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RE: Beat Cal - 82lsju - 11-18-2021

Big Game Pranks 1982 - this is probably the best Big Game Prank of all time

The fake Daily Californian edition the Wednesday after "The Play"

https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/13078/stanford-journalists-rewrote-cal-history?fbclid=IwAR3VuuRiaIufoEQCatpi6oVTQv1BRuv8MdhEDP5GJ-3bxim9xXTA5k0Hs9Q

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RE: Beat Cal - newguy - 11-18-2021

Big Game Pranks 1982 - this is probably the best Big Game Prank of all time

The fake Daily Californian edition the Wednesday after "The Play"

https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/13078/stanford-journalists-rewrote-cal-history?fbclid=IwAR3VuuRiaIufoEQCatpi6oVTQv1BRuv8MdhEDP5GJ-3bxim9xXTA5k0Hs9Q

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i remember it well.
a few months later, there was a legitimate photograph in the Stanford Daily of a referee waving the play dead.  i wonder if anyone can find it.

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RE: Beat Cal - 82lsju - 11-18-2021

(11-18-2021, 08:39 AM)newguy Wrote:  i remember it well.
a few months later, there was a legitimate photograph in the Stanford Daily of a referee waving the play dead.  i wonder if anyone can find it.

see

https://archives.stanforddaily.com/1982/12/03?page=9&section=MODSMD_ARTICLE28#article

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RE: Beat Cal - BostonCard - 11-18-2021

Lol, “the big game controversy will go on a little bit longer”

39 years later.

BC

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RE: Beat Cal - 82lsju - 11-18-2021

(11-17-2021, 09:00 PM)jacket3ree Wrote:  
Random you kids get off my lawn memories from Big Games of yore. I probably don't have some of the years right.
...
What will 2021 bring?

 
Perhaps Tech smoking #1 UGA in Atlanta on 27 Nov 2021!!!!!!

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RE: Beat Cal - newguy - 11-18-2021

(11-18-2021, 09:02 AM)82lsju Wrote:  

(11-18-2021, 08:39 AM)newguy Wrote:  i remember it well.
a few months later, there was a legitimate photograph in the Stanford Daily of a referee waving the play dead.  i wonder if anyone can find it.

see

https://archives.stanforddaily.com/1982/12/03?page=9&section=MODSMD_ARTICLE28#article

thanks, 82lsju.

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RE: Beat Cal - teejers1 - 11-18-2021

(11-18-2021, 09:58 AM)newguy Wrote:  

(11-18-2021, 09:02 AM)82lsju Wrote:  

(11-18-2021, 08:39 AM)newguy Wrote:  i remember it well.
a few months later, there was a legitimate photograph in the Stanford Daily of a referee waving the play dead.  i wonder if anyone can find it.

see

https://archives.stanforddaily.com/1982/12/03?page=9&section=MODSMD_ARTICLE28#article

thanks, 82lsju.

Pac 12 Network has been airing documentary on The Play all week.  The production is 10 years old or so, but somehow, I had missed it until this week.  All the Stanford participants were classmates, fellow house members, fellow-bandsters, etc., so it was particularly compelling for me to watch this look down Memory Lane.  The Stanford reps (including footballers Elway, Dressel, Dot) all had remarkable maturity and perspective - time will heal most/all wounds, and the aftermath of The Play hurt for a long time.  Paul Wiggins reinforced what a true gentleman he was.  They even had an official from the game commenting.

And that leads to what I found most interesting (and that I hadn't know previously).  The official acknowledged the photo above (waving off the play) and said that Stanford "had a strong argument" (or words awfully close to that) that The Play was mishandled by the refs.  But in that cauldron/craziness that was Memorial Stadium after Moen had plowed into our own Gary T, was there any way they were going to have the fortitude to make "the right call?"  No way.  No how.

P.S.  Joe Kapp was so . . . . Joe Kapp!  ("You get over there and tell the referee that was a good touchdown!!").  I did like how the player sitting next to him for much of the interview got emotional about how big a moment that was for every coach and player for Cal . . . hard not to be just a little happy for him/them after all these years.  Plus . . . there was a measure of revenge in 1990 (for the Stanford fans, anyway).

P.P.S.  The documentary included a segment on the Fake Daily Californian.  The BEST part of that brilliant move was the description of Kapp upon hearing the news, and of course the now-famous quote attributed to him:  "Life isn't fair.  I swear to God it isn't."  [I STILL laugh at that one!].

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RE: Beat Cal - Treebound - 11-18-2021

I still have my copy of that fake cal paper, 82LSJU.  It fooled me and a number of Donnerites the morning we found it.  Oh if only it was all true.  I still remember the sickening feeling in the crowd as we watched that canon go off.   Although, it may have come from the fun we all had at the crazy SF rally the night before.  The entire weekend was surreal for all of us frosh going through our first quarter on the Farm!   Elway and Stanford were robbed but we made up for it with The Revenge!

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RE: Beat Cal - Austroturf - 11-19-2021

(11-18-2021, 12:15 PM)teejers1 Wrote:  

(11-18-2021, 09:58 AM)newguy Wrote:  

(11-18-2021, 09:02 AM)82lsju Wrote:  

(11-18-2021, 08:39 AM)newguy Wrote:  i remember it well.
a few months later, there was a legitimate photograph in the Stanford Daily of a referee waving the play dead.  i wonder if anyone can find it.

see

https://archives.stanforddaily.com/1982/12/03?page=9&section=MODSMD_ARTICLE28#article

thanks, 82lsju.

Pac 12 Network has been airing documentary on The Play all week.  The production is 10 years old or so, but somehow, I had missed it until this week.  All the Stanford participants were classmates, fellow house members, fellow-bandsters, etc., so it was particularly compelling for me to watch this look down Memory Lane.  The Stanford reps (including footballers Elway, Dressel, Dot) all had remarkable maturity and perspective - time will heal most/all wounds, and the aftermath of The Play hurt for a long time.  Paul Wiggins reinforced what a true gentleman he was.  They even had an official from the game commenting.

And that leads to what I found most interesting (and that I hadn't know previously).  The official acknowledged the photo above (waving off the play) and said that Stanford "had a strong argument" (or words awfully close to that) that The Play was mishandled by the refs.  But in that cauldron/craziness that was Memorial Stadium after Moen had plowed into our own Gary T, was there any way they were going to have the fortitude to make "the right call?"  No way.  No how.

P.S.  Joe Kapp was so . . . . Joe Kapp!  ("You get over there and tell the referee that was a good touchdown!!").  I did like how the player sitting next to him for much of the interview got emotional about how big a moment that was for every coach and player for Cal . . . hard not to be just a little happy for him/them after all these years.  Plus . . . there was a measure of revenge in 1990 (for the Stanford fans, anyway).

P.P.S.  The documentary included a segment on the Fake Daily Californian.  The BEST part of that brilliant move was the description of Kapp upon hearing the news, and of course the now-famous quote attributed to him:  "Life isn't fair.  I swear to God it isn't."  [I STILL laugh at that one!].

To this day, every time some highlight reel includes the Play in its pantheon of greatest ever comebacks or craziest plays of all time, I stop watching.  It's a moment in football that never would have survived today's review process and thoroughly robbed Elway and the gang of a well-deserved bowl game that season.  Yes, it's memorable; yes, it has become iconic of the Stanford-Cal rivalry; and, yes, I am perhaps being a bit sour-grapes about it all.  But any replay of that kick-off shows multiple infractions that should have halted play.  Nearly forty years later, we are still talking about it, so there's that.  I just don't enjoy watching it, but that's par for the course when your team is on the bad end of an event like that.

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RE: Beat Cal - teejers1 - 11-19-2021

(11-19-2021, 04:05 AM)Austroturf Wrote:  To this day, every time some highlight reel includes the Play in its pantheon of greatest ever comebacks or craziest plays of all time, I stop watching.  It's a moment in football that never would have survived today's review process and thoroughly robbed Elway and the gang of a well-deserved bowl game that season.  Yes, it's memorable; yes, it has become iconic of the Stanford-Cal rivalry; and, yes, I am perhaps being a bit sour-grapes about it all.  But any replay of that kick-off shows multiple infractions that should have halted play.  Nearly forty years later, we are still talking about it, so there's that.  I just don't enjoy watching it, but that's par for the course when your team is on the bad end of an event like that.

This, by far, is the worst aspect of The Play.  For the fans, we've gotten over it (at least I think everyone has*), and we even were treated to Karmic Redemption of sorts in 1990.  But the players on that team were forever robbed of a bowl game experience (and the country was denied another chance to see the wizardry that was Elway in a Cardinal uniform).  That sucked then; and it still sucks today.  And for that reason, I'm even more impressed with the Stanford players' ability to show perspective and grace during the look-back documentary (I'd probably still be pissed . . . although 40 years is a long time to stay bent).

* The documentary also interviewed Jim Rutter, founder of The Bootleg (and as Cardinal Die-Hard as it gets).  His closing remarks were along lines of "I thought at the time that something smelled bad with the way that game ended.  And thirty years later . . . I'd say it smells even worse!"  (Or something like that.  I had to chuckle at that one).

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RE: Beat Cal - 82lsju - 11-19-2021

up to and including 1982 we won 53% of Big Games, 1983 and after we have won 65% of Big Games which I think is karmic payback for the play

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RE: Beat Cal - 82lsju - 11-19-2021

The Night Before Big Game 2021
     with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore
 
'Twas the night before Big Game, when all through the Bay
Not a Cardinal was stirring, not even Elway;
 
The jerseys were hung by the lockers with care,
Knowing that Big Game soon would be there;
 
The Cardinal were nestled all snug in their beds,
Visions of Touchdown Cookies danced in their heads;
 
And Deanne in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
 
When out on the Oval there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the tailgate to see what’s the matter.
 
Away to the stadium I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
 
The sun over the field had just begun to glow
Gave the lustre of gameday to objects below,
 
When, what to my wondering eyes should I see,
But a Cardinal Block S, and eight mighty tree,
 
With a haughty young driver, and his O-line too,
In a moment St. Tanner broke right on through.
 
More rapid than eagles his teammates they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
 
"Now, Tremayne! now, Peat! now, Jones and all!
On, Yurosek! on Kelly! on, Higgins, come all!
 
To the top of the post! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!
 
As dry leaves that before the wild blitz fly,
When they meet with a stunt, mount to the sky,
 
So to the goal his receivers they flew,
With a playbook full of passes, and St. Tanner too.
 
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the street
The prancing and pawing of each little cleat.
 
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Who but St. Tanner came with a bound.
 
He was dressed all in white, from his head to his foot,
And his jersey was tarnished with grasses and soot;
 
A bundle of defenders he fooled with a fake
His arm a weapon that made safeties quake.
 
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks covered in eye black, his pose was quite scary!
 
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the helmet he wore was as white as the snow;
 
The stump of a mouthpiece he held tight in his teeth,
As arcing passes circled his visage like a holiday wreath;
 
He had a quick release and strength that could freeze
And when he hit the bears they scattered like fleas.
 
He was powerful and chiseled, a right jolly young Card,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of my guard;
 
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had little to dread;
 
He spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
And passed through the bears; then turned with a smirk,
 
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up to the goal line he rose;
 
He sprang to his left, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
 
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“We’ve got the Axe, it’s our sacred right”

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RE: Beat Cal - GaryT - 11-19-2021

(11-19-2021, 09:47 AM)teejers1 Wrote:  

(11-19-2021, 04:05 AM)Austroturf Wrote:  To this day, every time some highlight reel includes the Play in its pantheon of greatest ever comebacks or craziest plays of all time, I stop watching.  It's a moment in football that never would have survived today's review process and thoroughly robbed Elway and the gang of a well-deserved bowl game that season.  Yes, it's memorable; yes, it has become iconic of the Stanford-Cal rivalry; and, yes, I am perhaps being a bit sour-grapes about it all.  But any replay of that kick-off shows multiple infractions that should have halted play.  Nearly forty years later, we are still talking about it, so there's that.  I just don't enjoy watching it, but that's par for the course when your team is on the bad end of an event like that.

This, by far, is the worst aspect of The Play.  For the fans, we've gotten over it (at least I think everyone has*), and we even were treated to Karmic Redemption of sorts in 1990.  But the players on that team were forever robbed of a bowl game experience (and the country was denied another chance to see the wizardry that was Elway in a Cardinal uniform).  That sucked then; and it still sucks today.  And for that reason, I'm even more impressed with the Stanford players' ability to show perspective and grace during the look-back documentary (I'd probably still be pissed . . . although 40 years is a long time to stay bent).

* The documentary also interviewed Jim Rutter, founder of The Bootleg (and as Cardinal Die-Hard as it gets).  His closing remarks were along lines of "I thought at the time that something smelled bad with the way that game ended.  And thirty years later . . . I'd say it smells even worse!"  (Or something like that.  I had to chuckle at that one).

Well said, Teejers. We both remember how down, dark, and weird the times were in our community through the rest of the school year. Walker probably still would have won the tHeisman, but, as someone wrote in one of their stories about The Play several years later: even when Stanford guys lose, they win. It's a long game. 65-47-11

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RE: Beat Cal - 81alum - 11-19-2021

I remember seeing some documentary years ago of a frame-by-frame analysis of the play that unequivocally showed forward laterals, but not for the reason I expected.  When two players side by side are running forward and one laterals to the other, the ball looks like it is moving perpendicularly to the sideline but in fact it is traveling forward.  It isn't even a close call once you know how to watch for it.  That is what instant replay would have easily spotted, even if "his knee was down" turned out to be a close call.

And yes, I do turn it off now when it comes on.  Decades of time have not healed that wound.

I do think the fake Daily Cal is one of the best hoaxes off all time, as I have posted here before several times.  Masterfully done.

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RE: Beat Cal - GaryT - 11-19-2021

(11-19-2021, 09:31 PM)81alum Wrote:  I remember seeing some documentary years ago of a frame-by-frame analysis of the play that unequivocally showed forward laterals, but not for the reason I expected.  When two players side by side are running forward and one laterals to the other, the ball looks like it is moving perpendicularly to the sideline but in fact it is traveling forward.  It isn't even a close call once you know how to watch for it.  That is what instant replay would have easily spotted, even if "his knee was down" turned out to be a close call.

And yes, I do turn it off now when it comes on.  Decades of time have not healed that wound.

I do think the fake Daily Cal is one of the best hoaxes off all time, as I have posted here before several times.  Masterfully done.

I recently did a show with Kevin [Eli's Places on ESPN+, which was fun and irreverent], and, among the outtakes, I mentioned the 5th "lateral" being forward, and my remarks were received like a fart in church.

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RE: Beat Cal - teejers1 - 11-19-2021

(11-19-2021, 09:50 PM)GaryT Wrote:  

(11-19-2021, 09:31 PM)81alum Wrote:  I remember seeing some documentary years ago of a frame-by-frame analysis of the play that unequivocally showed forward laterals, but not for the reason I expected.  When two players side by side are running forward and one laterals to the other, the ball looks like it is moving perpendicularly to the sideline but in fact it is traveling forward.  It isn't even a close call once you know how to watch for it.  That is what instant replay would have easily spotted, even if "his knee was down" turned out to be a close call.

And yes, I do turn it off now when it comes on.  Decades of time have not healed that wound.

I do think the fake Daily Cal is one of the best hoaxes off all time, as I have posted here before several times.  Masterfully done.

I recently did a show with Kevin [Eli's Places on ESPN+, which was fun and irreverent], and, among the outtakes, I mentioned the 5th "lateral" being forward, and my remarks were received like a fart in church.

Which is still better-received than would be any mention of one of Cal's key participants in the travesty that was The Play.  
But we civilized folks don't do that because . . . well, we "get" that some things make a football game - even one ending with The Play - look so unimportant in the grand scheme of life.

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RE: Beat Cal - thunder_chik - 11-20-2021

My most memorable Big Game was freshman year, 1972.  It was a mudder at Memorial, we were leading 21-18.  My date wanted to leave before game's end, so we took off a few minutes early to go find his car (parked somewhere in the surrounding neighborhood).  As we wandered away from the stadium, we heard a tremendous roar--with 1:13 remaining, Cal had engineered a 62-yard drive, culminating with a spectacular TD catch (Ferragamo to Sweeney) with 3 seconds left.  I think the final score was 24-21.
As Yogi famously said, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

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RE: Beat Cal - Phogge - 11-20-2021

A couple of years later Madden was leaving the field after Raiders practice and mentioned to Sweeney that Sunday was a big game. Sweeney answered, “No coach Big Game is tomorrow.”

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RE: Beat Cal - martyup - 11-20-2021

Pac-12 Network is promoting Big Game as "THE BIG GAME."  Get a clue.

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