FIVE in a Row!

1919-1923, and 2002-2006.

Those are the two periods in the history of the Big Game that Cal has defeated Stanford five consecutive times. Coming on the heels of seven straight losses to the Cardinal, it is especially gratifying to be able to say that an entire graduating class at Stanford will go through life without ever having won a Big Game. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but this is life and death stuff, folks!

Unfortunately, for me it wasn't quite the same this year. With the addition of a game to every Pac-10 team's schedule this year, the Big Game was moved from its customary spot - the Saturday before Thanksgiving - to the first weekend in December. Unfortunately, because our Annual Conference coincides with that date, I had to miss being there in person in Berkeley for the first time since 1984. For the past 20 years, a friend (and Stanford season ticket holder) and I would leave Sacramento early in the morning, spend a couple of hours perusing the stacks at some of the used book stores on Telegraph Avenue (Moe's, Shakespeare, some others) and then walk up to the Stadium for the game.

Driving home from San Francisco late yesterday afternoon, I listened to Joe Starkey's post-game show, featuring the annual interviews with seniors who were playing their last game at Memorial Stadium. This year, it felt odd - not quite right.

But in the end, all is right with the world. The Axe remains in Berkeley for another year.

ROLL ON YOU BEARS!