Already "The Drive" has become the stuff of Cal legend.

At one level, parts were hard to watch. At another level, the best Big Games have generally been close and have often involved coming from behind.

Best all time? (I'd say no)
Top 5 (maybe?)

Best big game this year, for sure.

In "excitement"….:
1982
1972
1977
2009
2019
2024

JSC 76 said:

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In "excitement"….:
1982
1972
1977
2009
2019
2024

---

'75 in the mix somewhere for sheer dominance....

If you really want to compare, here are two sources for a deep dive on The Big Game:

• Golden Bears by Ron Fimrite - covers Cal football from the beginning through 2008. Every serious Cal football fan should own this. Fimrite was NorCal native, a Cal alum, a sports columnist in The Chron when there was a real Sporting Green section, and 30 + year journalist for Sports Illustrated. Written in his elegant, straightforward style - imagine using the term "panglossian" in a book about football! Yeah, I had to look it up . . .
• The Big Game by John T. Sullivan - covers Big Games up through 1982. A good read.

Christmas is coming - buy (especially Fimrite's book) for your favorite Cal fan or yourself. Not sure if it's still in print, but looks like used copies are on Amazon and The Bay.

Add in Kapp's last Big Game as HC ('86?). Thrilling victory/upset, close game, etc.

The Battle For Fifteenth Place will never be forgotten!

In terms of my personal list, '86 is my #1 Big Game and the best game of football I've ever seen. It has Disney sports film qualities - the beloved coach about to lose the job he loves and his team that rallies around him against all odds.

I had Fimrites book but gifted it to a more worthy Bear fan.

It's time it was updated!

MilleniaBear said:

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Add in Kapp's last Big Game as HC ('86?). Thrilling victory/upset, close game, etc.

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Good call. I'd insert it into the middle of my list.

1. 1982
2. 1986
3. 2005
4. 1919
5. 2024

okaydo said:

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1. 1982
2. 1986
3. 2005
4. 1919
5. 2024

---

I'm curious why 2005 is in there. For me, 2002 and 2019 are both more meaningful in that they ended Cal Big Game winless streaks. For those alumni who got to experience a Big Game victory as a student, they may not mean as much, but for those of us who never saw the Axe as students, they're much more meaningful.

I mentioned in another thread that I did not care about this game considering the big picture, so this Big Game for me was interesting in that we did just enough to not lose which is fine, but won't make any lists for me

mbBear said:

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JSC 76 said:

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In "excitement"….:
1982
1972
1977
2009
2019
2024

---

'75 in the mix somewhere for sheer dominance....

---

….followed by Stephen Stills with Neil Young and Flo and Eddie at Maples.


November 22, 1975

bearister said:

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mbBear said:

---

JSC 76 said:

---

In "excitement"….:
1982
1972
1977
2009
2019
2024

---

'75 in the mix somewhere for sheer dominance....

---

….followed by Stephen Stills with Neil Young and Flo and Eddie at Maples.


November 22, 1975

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I recognize those words but do not comprehend the meaning of the post.

JSC 76 said:

---

In "excitement"….:
1982
1972
1977
2009
2019
2024

---

I think you must mean the 1975 game instead of the 1977 game.

In the 1975 game on the farm Chuck Muncie caught a pass for a TD, ran for 3 TDs, and threw a TD pass to Wesley Walker in a thorough thrashing of LSJU.

In the 1977 game, Mike White's last game as Cal's head coach, Cal's only points came from a Jim Breech FG in a very disappointing game.

"I recognize those words but do not comprehend the meaning of the post."

I was a senior. I went to the game and then a Steve Stills concert at Maples after the game. At one point when the audience was making noise during the acoustic set, Stills promptly stopped playing and said, "Just because you lost a football game today, don't take it out on me. If you interrupt me again, I'm outa here."*


*I saw Stills and Neil Young many times in the early 1970's and to this day play their music frequently…..but they were both a$$h@les, at least back then. Always announcing their Rules from the stage and threatening to leave if you didn't comply.

This was not a well played game, but I enjoyed the gut check, memorable come back by Cal. Exciting last few minutes. So I rate it better than average, but not a classic. For 3 quarters, Furd seemed like the better team.

Classics to me:

1972 (saw in high school): in a well played game, Cal drove 62 yards in the final 1:13, to win 24-22 on ann incredible TD reception by Sweeny.
1974: Furd upsets a really good Cal good team on a walk off 50 year field goal to win 22-20.
1988 tie as Cal Wilcox's it.
2008: Javid Best dominating performance (better than McCaffrey - I think so)
2009 The interception. The number of future NFL players on both teams speaks to how well this game was played. Each team took its punches.
2016 McCaffrey's dominating performance (best in a recent Big Game), helped Furd past a game Cal team.
2019. Sure everyone remembers Garbers leading and that incedible driven in the last 2 minutes, but it took Evan Weaver to preserve the 2420 victory for the Bears with a dramatic fourth-and-one stop on Cameron Scarlett to end the Furd wining streak.

wifeisafurd said:

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This was not a well played game, but I enjoyed the gut check come back by Cal. Exciting last few minutes. So I rate it better than average, but not a classic. For 3 quarters, Furd seemed like the better team.

---

This leads to a more general philosophical question. Are the "great" Big Games ones like yesterday or '82, where we come back late or have an amazing final play, or a game like 2005, in which we won 27 - 3 and DJax and Marshawn put on a clinic.

SoFlaBear said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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This was not a well played game, but I enjoyed the gut check come back by Cal. Exciting last few minutes. So I rate it better than average, but not a classic. For 3 quarters, Furd seemed like the better team.

---

This leads to a more genera philosophical question. Are the "great" Big Games ones like yesterday or '82, where we come back late or have an amazing final play, or a game like 2005, in which we won 27 - 3 and DJax and Marshawn put on a clinic.

---

Good question. I put up the classics to me (which I saw), and it is some of both. A lot of what is classic to me is who plays in the game as well, which is why I like at the 2009 game so well. It was a changing of the guard, with Cal's last loaded JT team versus a Harbuagh team which turned out to be loaded with talent.

wifeisafurd said:

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SoFlaBear said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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This was not a well played game, but I enjoyed the gut check come back by Cal. Exciting last few minutes. So I rate it better than average, but not a classic. For 3 quarters, Furd seemed like the better team.

---

This leads to a more genera philosophical question. Are the "great" Big Games ones like yesterday or '82, where we come back late or have an amazing final play, or a game like 2005, in which we won 27 - 3 and DJax and Marshawn put on a clinic.

---

Good question. I put up the classics to me (which I saw), and it is some of both. A lot of what is classic to me is who plays in the game as well, which is why I like at the 2009 game so well. It was a changing of the guard, with Cal's last loaded JT team versus a Harbuagh team which turned out to be loaded with talent.

---

The 2009 game was great because more was being played for than just the Axe (PAC-12/bowl races, Heisman, etc.), and 2019 was good just because we ended a long streak, but generally I don't want the Axe having to be decided late in the game and prefer pleasant afternoons like in 2021 or 2008, although like I have mentioned elsewhere, I had no feelings on what I was watching yesterday

BerkeleyBear said:

---

JSC 76 said:

---

In "excitement"….:
1982
1972
1977
2009
2019
2024

---

I think you must mean the 1975 game instead of the 1977 game.

In the 1975 game on the farm Chuck Muncie caught a pass for a TD, ran for 3 TDs, and threw a TD pass to Wesley Walker in a thorough thrashing of LSJU.

In the 1977 game, Mike White's last game as Cal's head coach, Cal's only points came from a Jim Breech FG in a very disappointing game.

---

I think I may have meant 1979. The game ended with Stanford in the red zone, and Ron Coccimiglio breaking up a Turk Schonert potential game-winning pass in the end zone.

01Bear said:

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okaydo said:

---

1. 1982
2. 1986
3. 2005
4. 1919
5. 2024

---

I'm curious why 2005 is in there. For me, 2002 and 2019 are both more meaningful in that they ended Cal Big Game winless streaks. For those alumni who got to experience a Big Game victory as a student, they may not mean as much, but for those of us who never saw the Axe as students, they're much more meaningful.

---

I'm wondering if the poster meant 2004. I took my dad (Cal '55) to the 2004 Big Game. It was a 41-6 Cal slaughter with Aaron Rodgers at QB and JJ Arrington running for 169 yards. 2005 was on the Farm, and we won convincingly, and DJax and Marshawn both had great days. Steve Levy was QB.

JSC 76 said:

---

BerkeleyBear said:

---

JSC 76 said:

---

In "excitement"….:
1982
1972
1977
2009
2019
2024

---

I think you must mean the 1975 game instead of the 1977 game.

In the 1975 game on the farm Chuck Muncie caught a pass for a TD, ran for 3 TDs, and threw a TD pass to Wesley Walker in a thorough thrashing of LSJU.

In the 1977 game, Mike White's last game as Cal's head coach, Cal's only points came from a Jim Breech FG in a very disappointing game.

---

I think I may have meant 1979. The game ended with Stanford in the red zone, and Ron Coccimiglio breaking up a Turk Schonert potential game-winning pass in the end zone.

---

Yeah, the 1979 game was a good one. I remember Coccimiglio's break of that Schonert 4th down pass at the goal line to preserve the win.

I also remember the earlier TD pass from Rich Campbell to TE Joe Rose which was initially called incomplete because the ref who made the initial call thought that Rose came down behind the endzone due to the way that the endzone was chalked. Thankfully, the refs conferred and correctly called the catch in bounds and a TD.

bearister said:

---

"I recognize those words but do not comprehend the meaning of the post."

I was a senior. I went to the game and then a Steve Stills concert at Maples after the game. At one point when the audience was making noise during the acoustic set, Stills promptly stopped playing and said, "Just because you lost a football game today, don't take it out on me. If you interrupt me again, I'm outa here."*


*I saw Stills and Neil Young many times in the early 1970's and to this day play their music frequently…..but they were both a$$h@les, at least back then. Always announcing their Rules from the stage and threatening to leave if you didn't comply.

---

Thanks! I have no idea who Stills and Young are. I'm assuming Stills is the same dude from Crosby, Stills, and Nash. I'm not sure about Young, though.

01Bear said:

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okaydo said:

---

1. 1982
2. 1986
3. 2005
4. 1919
5. 2024

---

I'm curious why 2005 is in there. For me, 2002 and 2019 are both more meaningful in that they ended Cal Big Game winless streaks. For those alumni who got to experience a Big Game victory as a student, they may not mean as much, but for those of us who never saw the Axe as students, they're much more meaningful.

---

The Steve Levy story was the interesting part of the 2005 game for sure. No one knew what to expect from the third string QB, but he held his own and contributed well. Granted, that Cal team just needed a QB to not f*** it up and mostly let the defense and running game do their thing.

I was lucky to see two of the best Big Games ever. Until I witnessed the 1982 game as an alum, I thought the 1972 game my Jr year was the best. Freshman Vince Ferragamo to Steve Sweeney in the back of the end zone to win. Memorable. But yesterday was a gutsy comeback.

2008 was fun because of all the gadget plays Tedford pulled out to put us over the top. The hook-and-ladder to Best. Faking the rollout at the goal line to find Morrah wide open in the opposite corner. Vereen wheeling out of the backfield to be left wide open on a bomb pass down the left sideline.

Jahvid was great as usual, but his fully dominant game came a week later vs Washington.

01Bear said:

---

bearister said:

---

"I recognize those words but do not comprehend the meaning of the post."

I was a senior. I went to the game and then a Steve Stills concert at Maples after the game. At one point when the audience was making noise during the acoustic set, Stills promptly stopped playing and said, "Just because you lost a football game today, don't take it out on me. If you interrupt me again, I'm outa here."*


*I saw Stills and Neil Young many times in the early 1970's and to this day play their music frequently…..but they were both a$$h@les, at least back then. Always announcing their Rules from the stage and threatening to leave if you didn't comply.

---

Thanks! I have no idea who Stills and Young are. I'm assuming Stills is the same dude from Crosby, Stills, and Nash. I'm not sure about Young, though.

---

That would be Neil Young, Canadian rocker and yes, part of CSNY.

okaydo said:

---

01Bear said:

---

okaydo said:

---

1. 1982
2. 1986
3. 2005
4. 1919
5. 2024

---

I'm curious why 2005 is in there. For me, 2002 and 2019 are both more meaningful in that they ended Cal Big Game winless streaks. For those alumni who got to experience a Big Game victory as a student, they may not mean as much, but for those of us who never saw the Axe as students, they're much more meaningful.

---

---

I remember the game beibg a blowout. Steve Levy was a Big Game hero for sure, but I don't remember that game being exceptional. Maybe I'm misremembering?

01Bear said:

---

okaydo said:

---

01Bear said:

---

okaydo said:

---

1. 1982
2. 1986
3. 2005
4. 1919
5. 2024

---

I'm curious why 2005 is in there. For me, 2002 and 2019 are both more meaningful in that they ended Cal Big Game winless streaks. For those alumni who got to experience a Big Game victory as a student, they may not mean as much, but for those of us who never saw the Axe as students, they're much more meaningful.

---

---

I remember the game beibg a blowout. Steve Levy was a Big Game hero for sure, but I don't remember that game being exceptional. Maybe I'm misremembering?

---

It's hard to forget because it was the pre-Harbaugh era, but Stanford had a winning record (5-4) and Cal was 6-4.

And Steve Levy, who began the season as the No. 3 QB and who had played fullback, was starting his first-ever game.

There are probably more deserving choices, but 2005 and that image above is iconic in Big Game history. That's why there's a "Big Game Hero" video available.


https://archive.nytimes.com/thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/01/have-you-seen-me-lately-on-the-sideline-part-iii/

LarsBear74 said:

---

01Bear said:

---

bearister said:

---

"I recognize those words but do not comprehend the meaning of the post."

I was a senior. I went to the game and then a Steve Stills concert at Maples after the game. At one point when the audience was making noise during the acoustic set, Stills promptly stopped playing and said, "Just because you lost a football game today, don't take it out on me. If you interrupt me again, I'm outa here."*


*I saw Stills and Neil Young many times in the early 1970's and to this day play their music frequently…..but they were both a$$h@les, at least back then. Always announcing their Rules from the stage and threatening to leave if you didn't comply.

---

Thanks! I have no idea who Stills and Young are. I'm assuming Stills is the same dude from Crosby, Stills, and Nash. I'm not sure about Young, though.

---

That would be Neil Young, Canadian rocker and yes, part of CSNY.

---

For What It's Worth, he might recognize Stills and Young from Buffalo Springfield.

BerkeleyBear said:

---

LarsBear74 said:

---

01Bear said:

---

bearister said:

---

"I recognize those words but do not comprehend the meaning of the post."

I was a senior. I went to the game and then a Steve Stills concert at Maples after the game. At one point when the audience was making noise during the acoustic set, Stills promptly stopped playing and said, "Just because you lost a football game today, don't take it out on me. If you interrupt me again, I'm outa here."*


*I saw Stills and Neil Young many times in the early 1970's and to this day play their music frequently…..but they were both a$$h@les, at least back then. Always announcing their Rules from the stage and threatening to leave if you didn't comply.

---

Thanks! I have no idea who Stills and Young are. I'm assuming Stills is the same dude from Crosby, Stills, and Nash. I'm not sure about Young, though.

---

That would be Neil Young, Canadian rocker and yes, part of CSNY.

---

For What It's Worth, he might recognize Stills and Young from Buffalo Springfield.

---

I had to google those references. According to Wikipedia, that band broke up 11 years before I was even born. Man, you guys are old!

LarsBear74 said:

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I was lucky to see two of the best Big Games ever. Until I witnessed the 1982 game as an alum, I thought the 1972 game my Jr year was the best. Freshman Vince Ferragamo to Steve Sweeney in the back of the end zone to win. Memorable. But yesterday was a gutsy comeback.

---

Yes, the 1972 game was exhilarating. It's the first time that I can recall winning on the final play.

Another satisfying win was just two years earlier in 1970 when Cal upset Rose Bowl bound Jim Plunkett, winning the Big Game in Berkeley for the first time in a decade.