The Rivalry

Content taken from BGW 2005 page.

 

A Brief History of Cal Football:

A Tradition Begins
In 1881, the first football game was held on the Berkeley campus when the class of '81 challenged the class of 1880. The class of 1880 prevailed in this crude form of rugby, but the class of 1881 felt differently about the outcome and took off with the ball, the game trophy. A fight ensued and the ball was eventually cut in half as a memento to both sides. A rivalry with the infant University across the bay was begun with the first Big Game versus Stanford, played in San Francisco on March 19, 1892. The tradition of football was stalled in 1905 with the abolition of football on both campuses. Rugby was played by the teams during the interim period. In 1915, the agreement keeping the contest alive between the schools was severed over an eligibility clause. For three years the Bears played Washington in their "Big Game" until 1918 when Cal and Stanford resumed play of the real Big Game.

The Legend Arrives
Jimmy Schaeffer was asked in 1915 to stay on as coach and teach the California team in the ways of American Football. After coaching rugby for nine years, Coach Schaeffer agreed to coach on the provision that he only coach for one year while finding a replacement. Schaeffer threw himself into learning and went all over the country to learn American Football. Getting only basic instruction from Gil Dobie, the coach at Washington, Schaeffer found himself in a bar in Chicago where he was recognized by the bartender (Schaeffer had become somewhat famous in his search for instruction). The bartender made the suggestion to seek advice from the young couch at Purdue, Andy Smith. After spending some time with Coach Smith, gaining valuable knowledge, he offered Coach Smith the job at Cal. Smith, persuaded by Schaeffer's enthusiasm and the potential at Cal, agreed to start after his contract with Purdue expired in 1915. In 1916, Andy Smith took over as head coach of the football team and California football was forever changed. Andy Smith led the Wonder Teams of the early 20s, and the Bears, with a lifetime record of 74-16-7, 5-1-1 against Stanford. These teams included the 1920 Wonder Team that went 8-0-0 and scored an unbelievable 510 points to opponent's 14.

Rejuvenation & Pappy's Boys
The 1937 "Thunder Team" rocketed a sputtering California football program back into the national spotlight. Producing the first undefeated season since the Wonder Teams, the 1937 Bears accumulated 214 points to opponent's 33 on their way to a 10-0-1 record and a Rose Bowl victory over Alabama. cAfter a brief respite from football during WWII, the Bears made the 1946 season their worst. Going 2-7-0 in 1946, 1947 looked bleak even with the addition of new Head Coach Lynn O. "Pappy" Waldorf. Pappy envisioned a powerhouse in the Golden Bears and turned bleak predictions into the greatest Cinderella season ever. California ended the season 9-1-0 and greatness once again shone on the horizon. 10 seasons of greatness graced California football during the Pappy Waldorf years. In his career, Pappy garnered a 67-32-4 overall mark, 7-1-2 against Stanford and three Rose Bowl appearances for the Golden Bears.

The Latest Chapter
After 7 long years with the Axe in Stanford's hands, on November 23, 2002 at Memorial Stadium, then Golden Bears won the Axe, 30-7. In 2003, the Bears fought to keep the Axe in Berkeley and succeeded, 28-16. This year, the Big Game is back at Memorial, and we Golden Bears must show the Cardinal that THIS IS BEAR TERRITORY, and this is where the Axe Belongs. Go Bears!
*written by Thomas Leroe Munoz, '03 and Sean Byrne, '03

History of the Stanford Axe
Read the full Axe Story here.

The Axe was not custom made for the Stanford yell leaders, but was a standard lumberman's axe, weighing ten pounds with a fifteen inch blade and a red handle. In April of 1899, the Axe made its first appearance at a rally during a three game baseball series between Cal and Stanford; it was used to decapitate a straw man dressed up in Blue and Gold. Game Two was played at 16th Street and Folsom in San Francisco. The Stanford yell leaders brought the Axe with them and did the Axe Yell while parading the Axe around after every good play by the Stanford team. Needless to say, this upset the California fans present, and two groups conceived plans to steal the Axe. Cal eventually won the game 9 to 7, and Cal students stole the Axe as the Stanford yell leaders left the field. The Axe was passed on to Cal sprinter Billy Drum, Class of 1900, who took the Axe along a winding route through the City. At one point, Drum accidentally handed the Axe to two Stanford men dressed as Cal men, but it was later recovered by Cal students. The handle was eventually sawed off at a butcher shop and giving to Clint Miller, Class of 1900, who stuffed the Axe under his overcoat and put the handle down the leg of his pants. When Miller reached the Ferry building and attempted to cross the Bay, he evaded the police through the assistance of an old girlfriend, who helped him sneak the Axe across the Bay. It was initially stored in various places, including behind a sliding door at Chi Phi. However, the debate over the Axe became so heated, that it was rushed to Judge Edward J. Pringle?s home in East Oakland. Pringle, father of one of the original culprits, helped sneak the Axe to the offices of Pringle and Pringle in San Francisco, where the Axe was stored in a bank vault for thirty-one years. It was brought out only for the annual Big Game Rally and spring baseball rallies. However, on April 3, 1930, Stanford students posed as photographers and reporters outside a baseball rally at the Greek Theatre. They set off tear gas bombs, grabbed the Axe, and headed for the Farm. After years of debate, the Axe was finally made a perpetual trophy in 1933 for the winner of the annual Big Game.

Big Game History:
1892 Stanford, 14-10 (SF)
1892 Tie, 10-10 (SF)
1893 Tie, 6-6 (SF)
1894 Stanford, 6-0 (SF)
1895 Tie, 6-6 (SF)
1896 Stanford, 20-0 (SF)
1897 Stanford, 28-0 (SF)
1898 Cal, 22-0 (SF)
1899 Cal, 30-0 (SF)
1900 Stanford, 5-0 (SF)
1901 Cal, 2-0 (SF)
1902 Cal, 30-0 (SF)
1903 Tie, 6-6 (SF)
1904 Stanford, 18-0 (B)
1905 Stanford, 12-5 (PA)
1906 Stanford*, 6-3 (B)
1907 Stanford*, 21-11 (PA)
1908 Stanford*, 12-3 (B)
1909 Cal*, 19-13 (PA)
1910 Cal*, 25-6 (B)
1911 Cal*, 21-3 (PA)
1912 Tie*, 3-3 (B)
1913 Stanford*, 13-8 (PA)
1914 Stanford*, 36-8 (B)
1918 Cal+, 67-0 (B)
1919 Cal, 14-10 (PA)
1920 Cal, 38-0 (B)
1921 Cal, 42-7 (PA)
1922 Cal, 28-0 (PA)
1923 Cal, 9-0 (B)
1924 Tie, 20-20 (B)
1925 Stanford, 27-14 (PA)
1926 Stanford, 41-6 (B)
1927 Stanford, 13-6 (PA)
1928 Tie, 13-13 (B)
1929 Stanford, 21-6 (PA)
1930 Stanford, 41-0 (B)
1931 Cal, 6-0 (PA)
1932 Tie, 0-0 (B)
1933 Stanford, 7-3 (PA)
1934 Stanford, 9-7 (B)
1935 Stanford, 13-0 (PA)
1936 Cal, 20-0 (B)
1937 Cal, 13-0 (PA)
1938 Cal, 6-0 (B)
1939 Cal, 32-14 (PA)
1940 Stanford, 13-7 (B)
1941 Cal, 16-0 (PA)
1942 Stanford, 26-7 (B)
1946 Stanford, 25-6 (B)
1947 Cal, 21-18 (PA)
1948 Cal, 7-6 (B)
1949 Cal, 33-14 (PA)
1950 Tie, 7-7 (B)
1951 Cal, 20-7 (PA)
1952 Cal, 26-0 (B)
1953 Tie, 21-21 (PA)
1954 Cal, 28-20 (B)
1955 Stanford, 14-12 (PA)
1956 Cal, 20-18 (B)
1957 Stanford, 14-12 (PA)
1958 Cal, 16-15 (B)
1959 Cal, 20-17 (PA)
1960 Cal, 21-10 (B)
1961 Stanford, 20-7 (PA)
1962 Stanford, 30-13 (B)
1963 Stanford, 28-17 (PA)
1964 Stanford, 21-3 (B)
1965 Stanford, 9-7 (PA)
1964 Stanford, 21-3 (B)
1965 Stanford, 9-7 (PA)
1966 Stanford, 13-7 (B)
1967 Cal, 26-3 (PA)
1968 Stanford, 20-0 (B)
1969 Stanford, 29-28 (PA)
1970 Cal, 22-14 (B)
1971 Stanford, 14-0 (PA)
1972 Cal, 24-21 (B)
1973 Stanford, 26-17 (PA)
1974 Stanford, 22-20 (B)
1975 Cal, 48-15 (PA)
1976 Stanford, 27-24 (B)
1977 Stanford, 21-3 (PA)
1978 Stanford, 30-10 (B)
1979 Cal, 21-14 (PA)
1980 Cal, 28-23 (B)
1981 Stanford, 42-21 (PA)
1982 Cal, 25-20 (B)
1983 Cal, 27-18 (PA)
1984 Stanford, 27-10 (B)
1985 Stanford, 24-22 (PA)
1986 Cal, 17-11 (B)
1987 Stanford, 31-7 (PA)
1988 Tie, 19-19 (B)
1989 Stanford, 24-14 (PA)
1990 Stanford, 27-25 (B)
1991 Stanford, 38-21 (PA)
1992 Stanford, 41-21 (B)
1993 Cal, 46-17 (PA)
1994 Cal, 24-23 (B)
1995 Stanford, 29-24 (PA)
1996 Stanford, 42-21 (B)
1997 Stanford, 21-20 (PA)
1998 Stanford, 10-3 (B)
1999 Stanford, 31-13 (PA)
2000 Stanford, 36-30 OT (B)
2001 Stanford, 35-28 (PA)
2002 Cal, 30-7 (B)
2003 Cal, 28-16 (PA)

Games:
California 41
Stanford 54
Ties 11

Points:
California 1578
Stanford 1683
* Rugby, not in official records.
+ SATC game, not in official records.