Tomorrow I will be attending my 44th Big Game. Here are my favorites:
1)1982
2)1970
3) 1972
4) 2009
5) 2019
6) 1986

And here are the ones I most wish could be wiped from my memory
1)1974
2)1990
3)2007
4)1988
5)1968
6)1997

What are yours?

You didn't go to the 1979 Big Game? That was an amazing game.

1986 was my first Big Game. It's still my favorite Cal game.

HateRed said:

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You didn't go to the 1979 Big Game? That was an amazing game.

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This will be my 36th Big Game.

Favorite:
1) 1982 (clear #1, for pretty obvious reasons)
2) 1986 (still the biggest upset in BG history)
3) 2019 (may be this high due to recency bias, but that was a very fun win, snapped 9-game losing streak)
4) 2009 (Mikey Mo with the pick...I could watch Harbaugh's reaction on a loop for hours)
5) 2002 (snapped 7-game losing streak)
6) 2008 (a lot of fun, creative play calling by Cal)

honorable mention: 1993 and 2005


Least favorite:
1) 1990 (just the worst)
2) 1998 (In that Doug Cosbie offense, our best offensive weapon was our punt returner.)
3) 1991 (best or second best Cal team of my lifetime falls apart)
4) 1985 (we trusted a kicker named "Leland"....)
5) 2013 (would be higher on this list except the beatdown was expected)
6) 2010 (still have nightmares of Luck running over Cattouse)

dishonorable mention: 1992 and 1988

Finnish Oski said:

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Tomorrow I will be attending my 44th Big Game. Here are my favorites:
1)1982
2)1970
3) 1972
4) 2009
5) 2019
6) 1986

And here are the ones I most wish could be wiped from my memory
1)1974
2)1990
3)2007
4)1988
5)1968
6)1997

What are yours?

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I wish I could have seen that 1972 BG. 1975 would have been fun as well.

The last one was forgettable, I don't remember anything other than it being painful.

HateRed said:

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You didn't go to the 1979 Big Game? That was an amazing game.

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And the celebration begins. pic.twitter.com/lyx9nQZ3iU

— California Gridiron (@calgridiron) November 19, 2021

Finnish Oski said:

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Tomorrow I will be attending my 44th Big Game. Here are my favorites:
1)1982
2)1970
3) 1972
4) 2009
5) 2019
6) 1986

And here are the ones I most wish could be wiped from my memory
1)1974
2)1990
3)2007
4)1988
5)1968
6)1997

What are yours?

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2002 might have been my favorite where we ended Furd's 7 game winning streak, Tedford's first year, Boller's first BG win after having to hide under his hoodie on campus in 2001 and crowd surfing, etc. Didn't they take the goal posts down Bancroft? Pretty crazy.

1975. Cal 52. Stanford 14.

HighlandDutch said:

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HateRed said:

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You didn't go to the 1979 Big Game? That was an amazing game.

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And the celebration begins. pic.twitter.com/lyx9nQZ3iU

— California Gridiron (@calgridiron) November 19, 2021

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Thanks for sharing my tweets.

Tomorrow will be my 47th Big Game. Covid broke my streak of 45 consecutive.

Best:

1982
1972 (my first, and still one of the best)
1975
1993
2002
2008
2009
2019

Worst:

1981: weather was rainy, game was boring
1991: as mentioned above, one of the best Cal teams ever totally self-destructs
1998: Bears had negative rushing yardage

I don't include the last-play heartbreakers (1974, 1990) -- at least they were exciting and memorable.

oskidunker said:

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1975. Cal 52. Stanford 14.

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Close - 48-15

Least favorite may be a tie:

1990 - watched from Tightwad Hill. During our kickoff after we took the lead, we all headed down to Memorial as the gates were open. We watched the last few moments from the stadium in horror. Nuff said.

1999 -- we had to see what must have been 50 riot police officers set up in in front of the fence (yes that stupid fence at old Furd Stadium) that lined the half circle of the end zone where the Cal student section was. Had to see that and the worst team in the history of the Pac-8, Pac-10, Pac-12 to clinch a RB berth, clinch a RB berth (Boller got injured the game before so we had to play Wes Dalton). So yah we have a history of not being prepared with backups. Deltha did run one back 100 yards and I believe had a couple of picks. He was our team.

KoreAmBear said:

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Least favorite may be a tie:

1990 - watched from Tightwad Hill. During our kickoff after we took the lead, we all headed down to Memorial as the gates were open. We watched the last few moments from the stadium in horror. Nuff said.

1999 -- we had to see what must have been 50 riot police officers set up in in front of the fence (yes that stupid fence at old Furd Stadium) that lined the half circle of the end zone where the Cal student section was. Had to see that and the worst team in the history of the Pac-8, Pac-10, Pac-12 to clinch a RB berth, clinch a RB berth (Boller got injured the game before so we had to play Wes Dalton). So yah we have a history of not being prepared with backups. Deltha did run one back 100 yards and I believe had a couple of picks. He was our team.

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My initial reaction to your post was, "Crap...I can't believe I left 1999 off my least favorite list." But then I looked back at my list, and came to the sad realization that we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to picking BGs we'd like to forget.

The OP listed 1997. I have mixed feelings about that one. One one hand, I hated the close loss, especially after sitting through the crappy halftime celebration of the 100th Big Game that seemed to take longer than the game itself. On the other hand, watching the Furd students go on the field and taunt the Cal section like a bunch of tough guys, then seeing them run 4.4 40s in the other direction after the Cal section knocked the fence over, was comedy of the highest order.

Edit: And the 1997 game gave us this gem:

In 1997, a Cal engineering student named Alex Smith attended all of Stanford's home games. Strange as it seemed, he had a master plan to hack into the stadium sound system and be heard through the referee's microphone. During the season-ending Big Game, Stanford was flagged for an infraction and the fans heard this: "Penalty ... excessive arrogance ... Stanford sucks!"

https://www.sfchronicle.com/college/jenkins/article/Cal-vs-Stanford-Big-Game-rivalry-built-on-humor-14851136.php

My senior year. Muncie and Roth spanking Furd hard down on the Farm. Steve Stills and Neil Young at Maples after game.

Tomorrow will be my 46th (consecutive... of games with fans): Off the top of my head...

FAVS:

1. 1982
2. 1975 (Chuck Muncie)
3. 1986 (Huge upset. Kapp carried off field.)
4. 2009 (Shane Vereen and Mikey Mo)
5. 2019
6, 1979 (Joe Rose, yes it;s a TD,,, Ron Coccimiglio saves the game)

WORST:

1. 2013 (Skov commits felony, no penalty)
2. 1991 ("Touchdown... Tommy Vardell!")
3. 1978 ("Darrin Nelson, in for the Stanfurd touchdown." Cue "All Right Now"... )
4. 2014 (Luke Rubenzer scores 3 TDs on one drive... each of them overturned from the booth. Some days I still wake up and think, no, that couldn't have happened, but it did.)

Favorite Loss: 1985 (Cal surges back to take the lead on that pitch-reverse to Vince Delgado. Oh the exhilaration! I still like this game just for that moment. Later we lose on a missed FG.)

Most memorable:

1963 - For obvious reasons, it was an amazing experience. Following a Minute of Silence, during which 88,000 people stood at quiet attention (not a sound in the stadium), the Stanford band introduced the Lone Trumpet and the crowd was eerily quiet during the performance of the National Anthem. A very sad day but one I will never forget.

All other games pale in comparison to that one……

I don't know if it was my favorite game, but my favorite Big Game PLAY that I witnessed, was in 2004, when Aaron Rodgers rushed downfield to throw a block to help Marshawn Lynch rush for a TD.

My least favorite Gig Game I ever saw was in 1998. Not only did the Cardinal win, but the final score (10-3) illustrated what a anemic, listless game it was - Cal couldn't even muster a TD (reminiscent of our game vs. Arizona this year) - and the weather was the same - just a dreary overcast day.

And in response to Highland Dutch's quoting of the Chronicle's article on Big Game pranks, wherein someone named Smith claims to have pulled the microphone prank at Stanford. A few years back a guy named Kelly claimed that honor, when he posted the following on this site a few years back. I have no evidence one way or the other as to if Smith or Kelly is the actual perpetrator - I'll leave that up to others to decide. Anyway, here is what Kelly posted:

"Greetings all,

1st time viewer,
1st time poster,
Long time mad-wild prankster.

While I was at the Big Game a buddy told me there was a thread about a little job I pulled back in '97 down on the farm.

My name is Theodore Barnwell Kelly and I'm the one who pulled the the radio prank back at the 100th Big Game.

I'm pleased to read that many of you enjoyed it. To clear up one small issue, the actual statement that made it on the air was "Penalty, Unsportsmanlike arrogance, Stanfurd Sucks"
There were two more words that were cut off but if any of you have a video tape of the game the full message did appear earlier in the game as well, except that it was hidden by other sounds at the time and not noticed by the crowd in general.

The main source of error in the reporting of the message was Joe Eskenazi's November 26, 1997 story "Damn Near Exclusive Coverage of the Mad-Wild Prankster," in which he reported the words as being "Excessive arrogance." Given that I designed the prank to resemble a Referee's call, it's easy to see why "Unsportsmanlike Arrogance" makes more sense and if you happen to have it on tape, that is what you will hear. In other regards, Eskenazi's reportage was correct although he spared his readers most of the technical data that I supplied to him.

So if I may add my own brief recollection to those posted here. My memory is of how after flipping the switch and starting the transmission, I could clearly hear my voice literally booming out over the stanfurd PA. Hours and hours of effort were bearing fruit and the fruit was being thrown in stanfurd's face. It was the 100th Big Game and it was at stanfurd. Chelsea Clinton was there, and tons of stanfurd alums were there for, and they all heard their school get punked when "Stanfurd Sucks!" blared out on the PA. The damage was done. the perfect stanfurd love fest had been soiled. The roar that emanated from our fans, despite being on the losing end of the score, was a sound I'll never forget. Nor will I forget the looks of dismay and puzzlement that appeared on the faces of the stanfurd fans. stanfurd had been had and there was no denying it.

I still bear a small scar from that day. One that I got helping to tear down the chain link fence after the stanfurd fans taunted us with chants of "Cal's our @#%$!" We all know what happened after that as Cal became the first visiting team ever to tear down a goalpost after suffering a loss.

I doubt that I'll ever top that prank, but then again you never know."

2003 at Furd -. 28-16, AR to GMAC all day long. Bears singing "Bear Territory" in the Furd visitors locker room - ;booming across the stadium. Icing on the cake -Walked back to our hotel room in Palo Alto and JT, his wife, and two family members walk into the quiet lounge bar where my wife and I were celebrating. Even though my wife protested, I got JT to autograph the Furd program and we spoke for a 1/2 hour - had a beer with them - And as he left, he turned and said "See you at the bowl game!" And we did - Insight Bowl - we stayed at the team hotel and said hi again!

Favorites
1: 2002 (first big game)
2: 2009
3: 2004 (Marshawn's run)
4: 2019

Worst
2007

1986 - a good part of me wants to forget it.
We were 1-9 (Stanford 7-2)
Joe had been fired.
There was no way we were going to win.
Two buddies and I had an apartment on Haste and none of us could stand the sight of losing to Stanford.
We also had a lot of school work to do. So we thought we'd watch one quarter on our black and white tv and get back to work. Well that didn't happen. We sat in our small Haste St apt for 4 hours 3 feet from a blurry black and white tv and missed what would have been one of our best Cal experiences.

WE DIDN'T GO TO THE GAME!!!! ARGH!!!

(pretended that I made up for it by being there in 2019)

The Campbell TD pass to TE Rose, originally called out of the end zone, official realized his mistake and corrected his call. My prediction tomorrow Cal 45...Stanford 29...This will be my 45th Big Game and my daughter's 29th.

metabear said:

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1986 - a good part of me wants to forget it.
We were 1-9 (Stanford 7-2)
Joe had been fired.
There was no way we were going to win.
Two buddies and I had an apartment on Haste and none of us could stand the sight of losing to Stanford.
We also had a lot of school work to do. So we thought we'd watch one quarter on our black and white tv and get back to work. Well that didn't happen. We sat in our small Haste St apt for 4 hours 3 feet from a blurry black and white tv and missed what would have been one of our best Cal experiences.

WE DIDN'T GO TO THE GAME!!!! ARGH!!!

(pretended that I made up for it by being there in 2019)

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Let metabear's experience serve as a lesson to everybody: Attend ALL Big Games -- in person -- as you never know what you might miss. Spread the word to those who might not know this / do this... you don't want to look back at your life with regrets.

Big C said:

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metabear said:

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1986 - a good part of me wants to forget it.
We were 1-9 (Stanford 7-2)
Joe had been fired.
There was no way we were going to win.
Two buddies and I had an apartment on Haste and none of us could stand the sight of losing to Stanford.
We also had a lot of school work to do. So we thought we'd watch one quarter on our black and white tv and get back to work. Well that didn't happen. We sat in our small Haste St apt for 4 hours 3 feet from a blurry black and white tv and missed what would have been one of our best Cal experiences.

WE DIDN'T GO TO THE GAME!!!! ARGH!!!

(pretended that I made up for it by being there in 2019)

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Let metabear's experience serve as a lesson to everybody: Attend ALL Big Games -- in person -- as you never know what you might miss. Spread the word to those who might not know this / do this... you don't want to look back at your life with regrets.

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Absolutely no regrets..

I saw every one from 1960-2009 (I stopped once I hit 50 straight).

It was a lot of fun but time moves along and I have other priorities now….

Of the games I attended...

FAVS
1972--This was first experience of Cal football. What an introduction. Steve Sweeney was my favorite sports figure for like 5 years.
2009 on the farm--Shane Vereen!! Tedford outcoaching Harbaugh. Tiger Woods making a half time appearance and then shortly after that getting clubbed by his wife. The whole series of events was khamic.
1982 well you know...


WORST
2014-- I left after the TD overturns. Yeah, I abandoned Cal in a time of need. But, I knew (thought) the fix was in at that point. What's the point in watching a game like that.

2010--There was a Furd nurd sitting next to us. Seeing him getting up and dance witrh a **** eating grin everytime Furd scored was just nauseating.



BEST LOSS
1974
This was a very entertaining game and I thought Cal had won. Of course that happened in 1988 and 1990 as well.

OF THOSE I DID NOT ATTEND
BEST
1975--Probably the greatest offense we've had at Cal along with 1991 and 2006.

WORST
2013--What Skov did to Goff was brutal. What the officials didn't do was criminal.

I will be attending tomorrow and I anticipate it will join a long list of the closest games in Big Game history. Actually this is probably the most consistently close stretch of big games in some time. The final score hasn't always reflected it, but the big game has been pretty competitive since 2015, although Cal has only won once during that time. There was also a stretch in the late 80s when 5 of the 6 games were pretty close, including 1 tie.
Although tomorrow's game might be close, it may also be one of the most poorly played games. I hope not, but the combination of injuries and disappointing performances for both squads raises that possibility. On paper, Cal has the better squad, but what condition will those guys be in? I'm especially concerned about the OL, which has under-performed in most of our losses and is already without Craig and Mettauer with Cindric and Coleman questionable. That leaves Daltoso as the lone representative of the pre-season 1st team OL, and he is playing out of position at OT. Without an OL, this game could look a bit like the game in Tucson and won't be as entertaining as we might like.

I hope I'm wrong. I have fond memories of 2009, the last time I went to PA to watch the big game. Cal upset that team, although, pre-season 2009, Cal was supposed to be the better team. I'd like to see something similar tomorrow evening. Tedford was smart to run and run and run against Furd. We should do the same tomorrow with Brooks and company, assuming we have an OL to run behind.

Mikeman said:

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The Campbell TD pass to TE Rose, originally called out of the end zone, official realized his mistake and corrected his call. My prediction tomorrow Cal 45...Stanford 28.......This will be my 45th Big Game and my daughter's 28.

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Hey Mike - I hope things are going well you and your kids….

Happy Thanksgiving!

Finnish Oski said:

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Tomorrow I will be attending my 44th Big Game. Here are my favorites:
1)1982
2)1970
3) 1972
4) 2009
5) 2019
6) 1986

And here are the ones I most wish could be wiped from my memory
1)1974
2)1990
3)2007
4)1988
5)1968
6)1997

What are yours?

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1974 was my first Cal football game. I was still in high school and didn't know anything about Cal or Stanfurd other than both my sisters went to Cal. I was a fan of neither school. Somehow, I think from my sister's Furd friend, I ended up sitting in the Furd student section. It was actually pretty exciting when the winning fg was made. Go figure that my introduction to Cal football would foreshadow some 50 years of anguish. And I didn't even know it.

1974 was my first Big Game and the most agonizing. Tie for the favorites are between 1979, (how many thousands of Cal fans screaming Rose is in bounds does it take for the ref to believe us?) and the 1986 upset. I missed 1982 because of the flu but got to hear Joe Starky's call of The Play live on the radio. After that I vowed dead or alive, I'm not missing any more Big Games. Well, until I moved to Texas.

Best wishes to you and your family. Lynae made a mistake and then realized this will be her 29th Big Game. Youngest daughter is in Nome on an internship and middle daughter is in St. Paul. All roads lead to Rome, no roads lead to Nome. -10 there. Go Bears!

Mikeman said:

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Best wishes to you and your family. Lynae made a mistake and then realized this will be her 29th Big Game. Youngest daughter is in Nome on an internship and middle daughter is in St. Paul. All roads lead to Rome, no roads lead to Nome. -10 there. Go Bears!

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Thanks. It is good to hear your kiddos are doing well.

We are heading to New York on Tuesday to see our grandson (he is 15 months old) for the first time. Weekly videos are great but an in-person visit will make this the best Thanksgiving we have had in a loooooong time.

It was my first Big Game. Being from Massachusetts and not really knowing college football, it was sure an awakening. The Sweeney catch in the end zone on a muddy field on the last play of the game is "priceless".

My worst: 1976

The only game I ever saw from Tightwad Hill. Cal with the lead and the ball on their own two yard line with two minutes to go. For some inexplicable reason, a pitchout. Fumble. Stanford recovers and scores the game winning touchdown. Oh, and Joe Roth died a few months later.

JimSox said:

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My worst: 1976

The only game I ever saw from Tightwad Hill. Cal with the lead and the ball on their own two yard line with two minutes to go. For some inexplicable reason, a pitchout. Fumble. Stanford recovers and scores the game winning touchdown. Oh, and Joe Roth died a few months later.

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Poor Markey Crane. I think Markey was a bit overrated coming out of high school. Great stats. Horrible league. And ran behind the biggest, meanest fullback high school football has ever seen, Angelo Dillion. Not only did Angelo threaten me and my little league pitcher that he'd come after us with a bat should we intentionally walk him in the last inning of our game as he was coming up to bat (I was the catcher) but damn if he did come after us with a bat after the game. His coach and our coach had to physically restrain him. I'm pretty sure I could have run behind Angelo Dillon in the AAA and gained good yardage.

Perhaps a new contender for a favorite Big Game? My prediction of 45-29 was a bit off.

Has any other Bear team faced the adversity that this squad did getting ready for Big Game?? This one is way up at the top - for them to come together essentially in one week and to put on that display? It's incredible.