Cal fans should never, under any circumstances, find themselves pulling for Stanfurd. If they put us in the Rose Bowl or nat'l title game, so be it, but that is no justification for rooting for them against U$C or anyone else. There will be times when we are good, bad, great or horrible. But the one constant will be Stanfurd and the Big Game. Our hatred of them is the bedrock of our football identity. It all starts with that.
Ragnarok
· 2 years ago
Between Stanford and USC, gosh, well, it's hard to root for either. But, having to choose, I'll always root against insufferable arrogance, and right now, that means rooting against USC.
milo2
· 2 years ago
Okay Cal fans, I think an analogy or story of some sort is in order when talking about who do you hate more Stanfurd or U$C.
Once upon a time there was a neighborhood called the Pacific Ten where 10 kids of varying abilities, intelligence and demeanor lived.
One day, U$C, the big, strong, dumb, rich and snotty kid (and semi-retarded) challenged, Stanfurd, the weak/geeky, rich, snotty (and slightly dull) kid to a game of a game of dodgeball.
At first Stanfurd said, "gee whiz, U$C, you're going to kill me and then how would I achieve my goal of becoming an analyst for a top VC in the Valley?"
U$C replied, "oh don't be a wussy Stanfurd, how you gonna get chicks if you don't play sports or drink beer?"
Stanfurd, "Gonna isn't a proper word, although it is acceptable as in slang usage. Are you talking slang to me?"
U$C, "Shut up, you gonna play or do I have to pound your butt without a ball just for fun?"
Stanfurd, "Give me one good reason not used by the Stanfurd Rugby team to forfeit against Cal in the 2001 Big Scrum!"
U$C, "You can put it on your resume and maybe we'll get soda pop after the game."
Stanfurd, "Fair enough $C, let me call up our dungeon master for some strategy, we just got a new guy, Capt. Comeback."
U$C, "Bring whoever you want, we're going to stomp you anyway."
Stanfurd, "You're really going to get soda afterwards?"
U$C, "My Dad owns a soda factory, we can have all we want!"
Stanfurd, "Okay, deal."
So, as it went, the weak/geeky kid, Stanfurd looked to be whooped, beaten and a bit dull. Then the dungeon master pulled a few string and the big/strong dumb kid puked on himself and cried, even as they were 40 pt favorites. To compound matters, Stanfurd stole $C's ball, kicked onto the freeway, drank all of $C's soda, kissed his sister and then stole his lunch money to buy candy.
In this situation I pull for Stanfurd. 'nuff said.
Rishi
· 2 years ago
Yeah, a Cal vs. USC, #1 vs. #2 match, like last year's OSU-Michigan game, would have been incredible. I would have woken up at 5 am (or earlier) just to get on tv and hold up anti-USC signs (or maybe just a sign saying "Lee Corso is a homo").
But, in this sense, we control our own destiny. Save for pollsters being shady and voting another team ahead of us for no reason, if Cal wins out, Cal is in the NC game.
The Pac-10 is a strong conference full of strong teams. We can't constantly measure our success by how well we play USC. Cal is not an elite program just because Cal beat USC once and plays USC close every other non-Ayoob time. Cal should be an elite program on its own merits.
So while I feel guilty rooting for Stanford, ever, in this one circumstance, I could help but feel happy afterwards.
Avinash
· 2 years ago
Tony, I agree that you need a rival, but would you rather pound Stanford into the ground every year (like we've been doing for most of the Tedford era) or have a competitive Big Game? The last few Big Games have been sad--I mean, should I be unhappy with our performance when our team is only winning by single digits?
I came to Cal when USC was the only consistent California rival. They're the monkey on our back. Until we topple them in a meaningful game, we will never be treated seriously by anyone outside of the Bay Area.
Avinash
· 2 years ago
Milo2 has just made the greatest comment on the history of this site. I need to celebrate this somehow.
Avinash
· 2 years ago
Rishi,
We would have controlled our destiny either way. Yeah, it'd be nice to knock off #1 on our way to the top, but there's too far a road to go--I'm sure USC would have been cut down in a later week against much stiffer opposition.
David
· 2 years ago
I think this has to do with my relationship to living so close to the rose bowl, going to SC games and having that many friends at USC... but I honestly don't hate USC. I seriously want it to be a Cal v. SC battle for the pac-10 every year.... Stanford is just there to make fun of. After the game, i called a friend on SC's band and offered her my helping hand in any retribution on Stanford's "Shak" that she sought fit.
Beetle
· 2 years ago
But Holmoe was such a nice guy.
Avinash
· 2 years ago
The Daily Cal is full of nice guys too.
Avinash
· 2 years ago
David,
Interesting thought. I guess I only have a few friends who go to 'SC (none seriously interested in the program), but it's not as big a deal to me.
In fact most of my friends at 'SC and Stanford aren't into football. I guess it's probably more stable or something.
Tony
· 2 years ago
Yes, Stanfurd's pathetic football prowess the last few years has taken some of the shine off the rivalry. But you younger Blues need to remember that Stanfurd will not be pathetic forever. Stanfurd went to the 2000 Rose Bowl. Stanfurd beat us seven straight times, including all the years I was in college (and I'm not that old!). Stanfurd just beat U$C. And I guarantee you that if we ever, Tedford forgive, lose to Stanfurd again, it will be the worst day of your sports fandom life.
Avinash
· 2 years ago
My teams have lost way too many games in ridiculous fashion for me to consider it the worst. It'd have to be the Anti-Play; it'd have to destroy both Rose Bowl and National Title opportunities, and it'd have to send Tedford packing. All three things would have to happen for this to be considered the worst.
Since Tedford isn't leaving, I feel pretty safe.
Not needed
· 2 years ago
In this kind of situation, you shouldn't root for either team, but instead hope both teams break each other.
All Comments
Once upon a time there was a neighborhood called the Pacific Ten where 10 kids of varying abilities, intelligence and demeanor lived.
One day, U$C, the big, strong, dumb, rich and snotty kid (and semi-retarded) challenged, Stanfurd, the weak/geeky, rich, snotty (and slightly dull) kid to a game of a game of dodgeball.
At first Stanfurd said, "gee whiz, U$C, you're going to kill me and then how would I achieve my goal of becoming an analyst for a top VC in the Valley?"
U$C replied, "oh don't be a wussy Stanfurd, how you gonna get chicks if you don't play sports or drink beer?"
Stanfurd, "Gonna isn't a proper word, although it is acceptable as in slang usage. Are you talking slang to me?"
U$C, "Shut up, you gonna play or do I have to pound your butt without a ball just for fun?"
Stanfurd, "Give me one good reason not used by the Stanfurd Rugby team to forfeit against Cal in the 2001 Big Scrum!"
U$C, "You can put it on your resume and maybe we'll get soda pop after the game."
Stanfurd, "Fair enough $C, let me call up our dungeon master for some strategy, we just got a new guy, Capt. Comeback."
U$C, "Bring whoever you want, we're going to stomp you anyway."
Stanfurd, "You're really going to get soda afterwards?"
U$C, "My Dad owns a soda factory, we can have all we want!"
Stanfurd, "Okay, deal."
So, as it went, the weak/geeky kid, Stanfurd looked to be whooped, beaten and a bit dull. Then the dungeon master pulled a few string and the big/strong dumb kid puked on himself and cried, even as they were 40 pt favorites. To compound matters, Stanfurd stole $C's ball, kicked onto the freeway, drank all of $C's soda, kissed his sister and then stole his lunch money to buy candy.
In this situation I pull for Stanfurd. 'nuff said.
But, in this sense, we control our own destiny. Save for pollsters being shady and voting another team ahead of us for no reason, if Cal wins out, Cal is in the NC game.
The Pac-10 is a strong conference full of strong teams. We can't constantly measure our success by how well we play USC. Cal is not an elite program just because Cal beat USC once and plays USC close every other non-Ayoob time. Cal should be an elite program on its own merits.
So while I feel guilty rooting for Stanford, ever, in this one circumstance, I could help but feel happy afterwards.
I agree that you need a rival, but would you rather pound Stanford into the ground every year (like we've been doing for most of the Tedford era) or have a competitive Big Game? The last few Big Games have been sad--I mean, should I be unhappy with our performance when our team is only winning by single digits?
I came to Cal when USC was the only consistent California rival. They're the monkey on our back. Until we topple them in a meaningful game, we will never be treated seriously by anyone outside of the Bay Area.
We would have controlled our destiny either way. Yeah, it'd be nice to knock off #1 on our way to the top, but there's too far a road to go--I'm sure USC would have been cut down in a later week against much stiffer opposition.
Interesting thought. I guess I only have a few friends who go to 'SC (none seriously interested in the program), but it's not as big a deal to me.
In fact most of my friends at 'SC and Stanford aren't into football. I guess it's probably more stable or something.
My teams have lost way too many games in ridiculous fashion for me to consider it the worst. It'd have to be the Anti-Play; it'd have to destroy both Rose Bowl and National Title opportunities, and it'd have to send Tedford packing. All three things would have to happen for this to be considered the worst.
Since Tedford isn't leaving, I feel pretty safe.