[terry]

How many Big Games have you attended? What is your favorite Big Game? Your least favorite? What's your favorite Big Game memory? 

Tomorrow's game will be my 45th Big Game. In my first 44 Big Games, Stanford has a W/L record of 28-15-1. So I've seen a lot more wins than losses, which is nice. 

Actually, I think anyone who has been a Stanford fan over the last 65-70 years has seen more Big Game wins than losses. Stanford's record since 1961 is 39-18-1.

My favorite Big Game was the 1990 classic, ending with the touchdown pass, onside kick, and winning field goal. What a game!

My least favorite Big Game probably was the 41-6 drubbing in 2004, which ended in a flurry of embarrassing penalties. 

My favorite moment, aside from the Hopkins FG in 1990, may have been the Casey Moore 94-yard "run for the roses" in 1999, which put us in the Rose Bowl for the first time in many years. That was a great feeling!

[terry]

How many Big Games have you attended? What is your favorite Big Game? Your least favorite? What's your favorite Big Game memory? 

Tomorrow's game will be my 45th Big Game. In my first 44 Big Games, Stanford has a W/L record of 28-15-1. So I've seen a lot more wins than losses, which is nice. 

Actually, I think anyone who has been a Stanford fan over the last 65-70 years has seen more Big Game wins than losses. Stanford's record since 1961 is 39-18-1.

My favorite Big Game was the 1990 classic, ending with the touchdown pass, onside kick, and winning field goal. What a game!

My least favorite Big Game probably was the 41-6 drubbing in 2004, which ended in a flurry of embarrassing penalties. 

My favorite moment, aside from the Hopkins FG in 1990, may have been the Casey Moore 94-yard "run for the roses" in 1999, which put us in the Rose Bowl for the first time in many years. That was a great feeling!

[Spiny_Norman]

My attendance has been selective especially since 1990. I have not been back to Berkeley since then. Reason #1 - the fans (and the townies who hate Stanford with a passion) made it a very unpleasant experience. Reason #2 - how can it ever be better than it was in 1990?

So many favorite Big Game memories.

1981 - cheering for Darrin Nelson in his final game at Stanford and watching my first Big Game victory
1985 - Cal placekicker Leland Rix missing a short FG that would have won the game. We knew that no one named Leland could beat Stanford.
1987 - Walter Batson caught a short crossing route from Brian Johnson and ran past everyone else for 82 yards and a TD. We had never seen that kind of speed from a Stanford WR. It was the start of a 31-7 victory that took away some of the bad taste of 1986.
1991 - I loved everything about this game. Stanford physically dominated. A great, great effort by the OL and tough running from Tommy Vardell. Cal self-destructed. I think they were assessed 7 or 8 personal foul penalties. 
2011 - soaked to the gills. My seats were a few rows from the field just above the Axe Committee's position. I got to watch the Stare Down in person.
2013 - The most memorable aspect of that day occurred before kickoff as we watched the out of town scoreboard in awe and glee as Arizona dismantled Oregon to clear the way for Stanford to win the P12 North with a victory.
2017 - With a one score lead and Bryce Love knocked out of the game, Stanford ran off the final 7:25 of clock on 11 consecutive Cameron Scarlett runs to ice the victory. That's how you become a Big Game legend.

[Spiny_Norman]

My attendance has been selective especially since 1990. I have not been back to Berkeley since then. Reason #1 - the fans (and the townies who hate Stanford with a passion) made it a very unpleasant experience. Reason #2 - how can it ever be better than it was in 1990?

So many favorite Big Game memories.

1981 - cheering for Darrin Nelson in his final game at Stanford and watching my first Big Game victory
1985 - Cal placekicker Leland Rix missing a short FG that would have won the game. We knew that no one named Leland could beat Stanford.
1987 - Walter Batson caught a short crossing route from Brian Johnson and ran past everyone else for 82 yards and a TD. We had never seen that kind of speed from a Stanford WR. It was the start of a 31-7 victory that took away some of the bad taste of 1986.
1991 - I loved everything about this game. Stanford physically dominated. A great, great effort by the OL and tough running from Tommy Vardell. Cal self-destructed. I think they were assessed 7 or 8 personal foul penalties. 
2011 - soaked to the gills. My seats were a few rows from the field just above the Axe Committee's position. I got to watch the Stare Down in person.
2013 - The most memorable aspect of that day occurred before kickoff as we watched the out of town scoreboard in awe and glee as Arizona dismantled Oregon to clear the way for Stanford to win the P12 North with a victory.
2017 - With a one score lead and Bryce Love knocked out of the game, Stanford ran off the final 7:25 of clock on 11 consecutive Cameron Scarlett runs to ice the victory. That's how you become a Big Game legend.

[Goose]

2017 - With a one score lead and Bryce Love knocked out of the game, Stanford ran off the final 7:25 of clock on 11 consecutive Cameron Scarlett runs to ice the victory. That's how you become a Big Game legend.

Hopefully he gets to do something similar tomorrow.

[Goose]

2017 - With a one score lead and Bryce Love knocked out of the game, Stanford ran off the final 7:25 of clock on 11 consecutive Cameron Scarlett runs to ice the victory. That's how you become a Big Game legend.

Hopefully he gets to do something similar tomorrow.

[baymeadows3408]

I have attended five Big Games: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003. Favorites: It's hard to separate 97, 99, and 00. 1997 was my first Big Game and it was the 100th Big Game. In 1999, we clinched the Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth. 2000 was the only Big Game in Berkeley I have attended so far, and it was an entertaining (albeit not a very well played) overtime victory. Least favorite Big Game: 2003, the only loss I have attended (We took an early lead and then did absolutely nothing).

Of all the Big Games I haven't attended, 2010 is my favorite. We flat-out destroyed Cal in Berkeley. That might have been the highest level of offensive execution I have ever seen (and will ever see) from Stanford.

[baymeadows3408]

I have attended five Big Games: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003. Favorites: It's hard to separate 97, 99, and 00. 1997 was my first Big Game and it was the 100th Big Game. In 1999, we clinched the Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth. 2000 was the only Big Game in Berkeley I have attended so far, and it was an entertaining (albeit not a very well played) overtime victory. Least favorite Big Game: 2003, the only loss I have attended (We took an early lead and then did absolutely nothing).

Of all the Big Games I haven't attended, 2010 is my favorite. We flat-out destroyed Cal in Berkeley. That might have been the highest level of offensive execution I have ever seen (and will ever see) from Stanford.

[winflop]

My first Big Game was in 1984, my freshman year. Since then I've attended somewhere around 25-30 of them - a gap in the mid 90s when I was living in Chicago for a few years, and a couple more recent games in Weenieville.

As stated elsewhere, my favorite was 1990 (like many). My second favorite was 1988 - Tuan Van Le. My least favorite was 1997 when the Weenies stormed the field after losing, tore down one of our goalposts, and I thought there was a real chance of a brobdingnagian brawl breaking out between the student sections who were both on the field.

[winflop]

My first Big Game was in 1984, my freshman year. Since then I've attended somewhere around 25-30 of them - a gap in the mid 90s when I was living in Chicago for a few years, and a couple more recent games in Weenieville.

As stated elsewhere, my favorite was 1990 (like many). My second favorite was 1988 - Tuan Van Le. My least favorite was 1997 when the Weenies stormed the field after losing, tore down one of our goalposts, and I thought there was a real chance of a brobdingnagian brawl breaking out between the student sections who were both on the field.

[gailtate]

Total attended: 44
All-time faves, 3-way tie: '78, '90, '99
Least favorite: '82
Best memory: Mike Langford's FG, '74.

[gailtate]

Total attended: 44
All-time faves, 3-way tie: '78, '90, '99
Least favorite: '82
Best memory: Mike Langford's FG, '74.

[BobK]

42-44 for me. Favorite was the Moore run for the roses. While the revenge was great but can’t beat Casey Moore

[BobK]

42-44 for me. Favorite was the Moore run for the roses. While the revenge was great but can’t beat Casey Moore

[Embo]

Tomorrow will be my 48th Big Game.  I started when I was in high school.  Stanford's record in the games I've seen:  30-16-1.

I know this is somewhat of an odd choice, but I think my favorite was 1978.  My senior year, so I knew this was my last as a student and I made sure I would enjoy it fully.  Our dorm had a chartered bus, so we partied both to and from Berkeley. I smuggled in some bottle rockets and fired them off after each Stanford touchdown till I ran out.  Bill Walsh, who we knew he was destined for the NFL, showed his genius.  And Darrin Nelson was to this game what Christian McCaffrey was to the 2016 Rose Bowl - unstoppable with each touch.  Curiously, even the Cal PA announcer gave him his due - he stated, in the second quarter after another big run, that "Nelson has 130 yards on nine carries".

Least favorite - perhaps a tie for 1980 and 1986.  Both teams were ginormous favorites and had no business losing.  And both teams mailed it in....

(I won't mention 2004 as the worst, because we all had the same thought:  Beat Cal. or get blown out.  The latter was the only way Ted Leland would be forced to get rid of his crony hire.)

[Embo]

Tomorrow will be my 48th Big Game.  I started when I was in high school.  Stanford's record in the games I've seen:  30-16-1.

I know this is somewhat of an odd choice, but I think my favorite was 1978.  My senior year, so I knew this was my last as a student and I made sure I would enjoy it fully.  Our dorm had a chartered bus, so we partied both to and from Berkeley. I smuggled in some bottle rockets and fired them off after each Stanford touchdown till I ran out.  Bill Walsh, who we knew he was destined for the NFL, showed his genius.  And Darrin Nelson was to this game what Christian McCaffrey was to the 2016 Rose Bowl - unstoppable with each touch.  Curiously, even the Cal PA announcer gave him his due - he stated, in the second quarter after another big run, that "Nelson has 130 yards on nine carries".

Least favorite - perhaps a tie for 1980 and 1986.  Both teams were ginormous favorites and had no business losing.  And both teams mailed it in....

(I won't mention 2004 as the worst, because we all had the same thought:  Beat Cal. or get blown out.  The latter was the only way Ted Leland would be forced to get rid of his crony hire.)

[French Rage]

Tomorrow is my 15th.  Didn't go on my first year in 2004 (watched from Palo Alto) but have gone every year since.  Best was 2007, my first win.  Worst was 2009, given the roll we were on that year.

[French Rage]

Tomorrow is my 15th.  Didn't go on my first year in 2004 (watched from Palo Alto) but have gone every year since.  Best was 2007, my first win.  Worst was 2009, given the roll we were on that year.

[Nan3cy]

There's no way any Big Game can beat 1990. After the joy of being there, I watched on tape and was amazed at how nervous I was with just a few minutes left of game time. I mean, I KNEW what was going to happen, had seen it happen, but was still unable to believe it. Wonderful.

[Nan3cy]

There's no way any Big Game can beat 1990. After the joy of being there, I watched on tape and was amazed at how nervous I was with just a few minutes left of game time. I mean, I KNEW what was going to happen, had seen it happen, but was still unable to believe it. Wonderful.

[triangle2]

I have fond memories of the '76 game. I remember my dad talking to me as we were walking to Memorial Stadium (from, it seemed, miles away) about Stanford having just fired Jack Christiansen but that he was going to coach the Big Game as his last game. My dad seemed to think that Stanford was going to get wiped out. Obviously, it hadn't been the greatest season overall. When we got to our seats, there was this loud and animated discussion (argument?) that broke out around me. Several already mildly intoxicated fans were arguing the merits of Christiansen starting Cordova over Benjamin. It was impossible to see much of the field because everyone was standing and screaming. I had to stand on tiptoes to get a lucky glimpse of the field between the swarm of bodies in front of us. I have this memory of the smells of hotdogs, beer, peanuts, and someone spilling booze behind our seats from some hidden hip flask.

I seem to remember Cordova throwing an early TD pass and being thrilled by the roar of the Stanford fans. It was loud and raucous, and it seemed like we were packed into the seats like sardines in a can. The game see-sawed back and forth. At the end, my dad picked me up on his shoulders and pointed out that the team was carrying Christiansen off the field. A fun childhood memory for sure.

[triangle2]

I have fond memories of the '76 game. I remember my dad talking to me as we were walking to Memorial Stadium (from, it seemed, miles away) about Stanford having just fired Jack Christiansen but that he was going to coach the Big Game as his last game. My dad seemed to think that Stanford was going to get wiped out. Obviously, it hadn't been the greatest season overall. When we got to our seats, there was this loud and animated discussion (argument?) that broke out around me. Several already mildly intoxicated fans were arguing the merits of Christiansen starting Cordova over Benjamin. It was impossible to see much of the field because everyone was standing and screaming. I had to stand on tiptoes to get a lucky glimpse of the field between the swarm of bodies in front of us. I have this memory of the smells of hotdogs, beer, peanuts, and someone spilling booze behind our seats from some hidden hip flask.

I seem to remember Cordova throwing an early TD pass and being thrilled by the roar of the Stanford fans. It was loud and raucous, and it seemed like we were packed into the seats like sardines in a can. The game see-sawed back and forth. At the end, my dad picked me up on his shoulders and pointed out that the team was carrying Christiansen off the field. A fun childhood memory for sure.

[cardcrimson]

Best memory, easy: 1998. I snuck a six pack and some snacks into my dads room in ICU to watch the game with him--just the two of us. Lost him several days later, but will have that memory forever.

Attending the game just isn't the same as it once was--I think the enjoyment and fun went out when Cal fans starting storming fields and ripping down goal posts after they lost. Games at Memorial are worse and just not worth the effort (tho the experience might have changed, stopped going 15 years ago). Can't even imagining taking a kid into that environment.

[cardcrimson]

Best memory, easy: 1998. I snuck a six pack and some snacks into my dads room in ICU to watch the game with him--just the two of us. Lost him several days later, but will have that memory forever.

Attending the game just isn't the same as it once was--I think the enjoyment and fun went out when Cal fans starting storming fields and ripping down goal posts after they lost. Games at Memorial are worse and just not worth the effort (tho the experience might have changed, stopped going 15 years ago). Can't even imagining taking a kid into that environment.

[Mick]

I've been to about 1/3 of the Big Games from 1970 to this year.  

This might be a little odd, but my best memory was 1988, Elway's last season as coach.  Stanford finished 3-6-2, but four of their six losses were by less than a TD and they scored more than they gave up..  Cal finished 5-5-1.

Score was tied, Cal went down to the Stanford 3 yard line with 4 seconds left.  Cal's kicker, Robbie Keen, had already kicked five field goals.  The attempt as just 21 yards.  Stanford redshirt frosh Tuan Van Le raced in from the left end to block the kick and preserve a 19-19 tie.  I was in the fifth row of the stands, surrounded by Cal idiots fans, and got to see it close up.  That meant Stanford kept the Axe.  Very cool.  Only Big Game after 1953 to end in a tie.

[Mick]

I've been to about 1/3 of the Big Games from 1970 to this year.  

This might be a little odd, but my best memory was 1988, Elway's last season as coach.  Stanford finished 3-6-2, but four of their six losses were by less than a TD and they scored more than they gave up..  Cal finished 5-5-1.

Score was tied, Cal went down to the Stanford 3 yard line with 4 seconds left.  Cal's kicker, Robbie Keen, had already kicked five field goals.  The attempt as just 21 yards.  Stanford redshirt frosh Tuan Van Le raced in from the left end to block the kick and preserve a 19-19 tie.  I was in the fifth row of the stands, surrounded by Cal idiots fans, and got to see it close up.  That meant Stanford kept the Axe.  Very cool.  Only Big Game after 1953 to end in a tie.

[BostonCard]

Thanks for sharing your story cardcrimson.  I have a few BG stories from the ICU (on the other side, as attending in charge trying to watch in bits and pieces from patients rooms).

These days I have the luxury of watching in person.

BC

[BostonCard]

Thanks for sharing your story cardcrimson.  I have a few BG stories from the ICU (on the other side, as attending in charge trying to watch in bits and pieces from patients rooms).

These days I have the luxury of watching in person.

BC

[ADPinWDC]

How many tickets were sold TODAY?

[ADPinWDC]

How many tickets were sold TODAY?

[BostonCard]

Stadium looks about 80% full.  Not bad, but this is frogging big game!

BC

[BostonCard]

Stadium looks about 80% full.  Not bad, but this is frogging big game!

BC

[winflop]

Today might be my new least favorite. A winnable game with even half-decent coaching.

[winflop]

Today might be my new least favorite. A winnable game with even half-decent coaching.

[yvonne]

Stadium looks about 80% full.  Not bad, but this is frogging big game!

BC

How Big Game Ceased to be a Big Deal

[yvonne]

Stadium looks about 80% full.  Not bad, but this is frogging big game!

BC

How Big Game Ceased to be a Big Deal