[Goose]

In the 1960s-80s (which I think covers most CardBoard readers), the LSJU undergrads were at least ~ half Californians. It's fallen to a little over a third. And international students, negligible back then, are now 12% of the students. One out of eight. I doubt they know or care much about the Axe.

I agree that non-Californians are less likely to have an understanding/attachment to the Cal-Stanford Big Game rivalry. The effects you cite are relevant. Going back to the 1960s, it should be remembered that Stanford was very predominantly male. Essentially everybody had played the game at at least some level, if only in PE. Additionally California itself contains a larger population of immigrants and children of immigrants than it did in the past.
On top of that the interest in football at the High School level in general is not what it was in the past. Much like the college game there are more "high profile" programs but much less strength at the "grass roots" level. Football is not the social force that it used to be. Many students in high school attended games because "that is just what you did". The girls went because it was a social exercise. Many of them only vaguely knew who was playing, but they went. Not so today, both at the high school and college level. "Friday Night Lights" just isn't anymore.

[Goose]

In the 1960s-80s (which I think covers most CardBoard readers), the LSJU undergrads were at least ~ half Californians. It's fallen to a little over a third. And international students, negligible back then, are now 12% of the students. One out of eight. I doubt they know or care much about the Axe.

I agree that non-Californians are less likely to have an understanding/attachment to the Cal-Stanford Big Game rivalry. The effects you cite are relevant. Going back to the 1960s, it should be remembered that Stanford was very predominantly male. Essentially everybody had played the game at at least some level, if only in PE. Additionally California itself contains a larger population of immigrants and children of immigrants than it did in the past.
On top of that the interest in football at the High School level in general is not what it was in the past. Much like the college game there are more "high profile" programs but much less strength at the "grass roots" level. Football is not the social force that it used to be. Many students in high school attended games because "that is just what you did". The girls went because it was a social exercise. Many of them only vaguely knew who was playing, but they went. Not so today, both at the high school and college level. "Friday Night Lights" just isn't anymore.