Stare down - sure.
But don't have the kids run like they are getting POTUS into the bunker. I know the fans were SORTA storming the field.

Here is what SHOULD have happened....(in a perfect world)
1) Cal gets possession. Victory formation and kneel down. Axe should be in posession of Furd at that point because things can happen.
2) As soon as it is clear that Shaw isn't calling TO axe transfers. I believe they waited till O:00. that was the problem
3) Now with it secure the cal students can JOG with it. No need to link arms. Just run together. No one is going to steal it or hurt it or do anything foolish.

Watching that all unfold was funny as S. But then I got chocked up a bit. Weird.

UrsaMajor said:

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Don't know if it's a fair question, Wife, but how are things at the WIAF house today?

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My wife loves the whole football pageantry and is less into who is winning than her husband, other than she hates USC. She was more upset about Furd and Cal losing to SC, than Cal beating Furd. Of course, she just may be feeling pity for me after so many losses.

Quote:

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He kinda has a point.

No he doesn't have a point. He's an idiot.

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Sure, disagree with him like some others have on this thread, but name calling one of our players? Stay classy, dude

AndyHogan14 said:

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I would like to remind everyone that the chair of the Rally Committee is the legal owner of the axe when in Cal's possession and it is for this reason that a Rally Comm hand must be on the axe at all times. As far as celebrating on the field with the axe, that is much more common in Berkeleyas far as I know, they do not stay on the field all too long before heading into the locker room when down on the farm.

(But what do I know, we never won the axe when I was in Rally Comm)

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It's odd that the Stanford axe committee doesn't have that "hand on the axe" policy. (there are plenty of pictures of Stanford players holding the axe by themselves)

As for celebrating with the axe on the Farm, we've done that plenty of times (well in context of the too few times we've actually won on the Farm)..

1993



2003


2005


2009

If they're going to continue to do the Staredown, then they should at least get some more intimidating looking people or work on their snarl/ poker face.

GranadaHillsBear said:

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If they're going to continue to do the Staredown, then they should at least get some more intimidating looking people or work on their snarl/ poker face.

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I think what makes it funny is you have these somewhat dorky/bookish looking kids doing this. Remember the guy who looked like a stork in 2009? I couldn't stop laughing. Legend.

TheFiatLux said:

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AndyHogan14 said:

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I would like to remind everyone that the chair of the Rally Committee is the legal owner of the axe when in Cal's possession and it is for this reason that a Rally Comm hand must be on the axe at all times. As far as celebrating on the field with the axe, that is much more common in Berkeleyas far as I know, they do not stay on the field all too long before heading into the locker room when down on the farm.

(But what do I know, we never won the axe when I was in Rally Comm)

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It's odd that the Stanford axe committee doesn't have that "hand on the axe" policy. (there are plenty of pictures of Stanford players holding the axe by themselves)

As for celebrating with the axe on the Farm, we've done that plenty of times (well in context of the too few times we've actually won on the Farm)..

1993



2003


2005


2009

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Neith, Egyptian goddess of hunting, weaving, war and of all kinds of weaponry including axes approves this message.

Sebastabear said:

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GranadaHillsBear said:

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If they're going to continue to do the Staredown, then they should at least get some more intimidating looking people or work on their snarl/ poker face.

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I think what makes it funny is you have these somewhat dorky/bookish looking kids doing this. Remember the guy who looked like a stork in 2009? I couldn't stop laughing. Legend.

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Definitely.

Look, folks, these two schools are filled with nerds. No need to hide it.

Sebastabear said:

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GranadaHillsBear said:

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If they're going to continue to do the Staredown, then they should at least get some more intimidating looking people or work on their snarl/ poker face.

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I think what makes it funny is you have these somewhat dorky/bookish looking kids doing this. Remember the guy who looked like a stork in 2009? I couldn't stop laughing. Legend.

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If you like it. You like it. That's fine. But it is not a tradition. It is contrived and hasn't been around that long. I'm not upset by it, but don't claim tradition status. Personally, I prefer the winner just haphazardly runs over and takes it and then gives it to the football team to parade around. They earned it and you see more jubilation like the picture of Levy.

If you remember in the 90's there were some post game problems with one year there being fights. I believe one year they announced ahead of time the Axe would not be presented in the field. I'm guessing this process evolved out of the schools overreacting and putting tighter reigns on everything .

But don't tell me people have to like it because it's tradition. It simply isn't.

OaktownBear said:

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Sebastabear said:

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GranadaHillsBear said:

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If they're going to continue to do the Staredown, then they should at least get some more intimidating looking people or work on their snarl/ poker face.

---

I think what makes it funny is you have these somewhat dorky/bookish looking kids doing this. Remember the guy who looked like a stork in 2009? I couldn't stop laughing. Legend.

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If you like it. You like it. That's fine. But it is not a tradition. It is contrived and hasn't been around that long. I'm not upset by it, but don't claim tradition status. Personally, I prefer the winner just haphazardly runs over and takes it and then gives it to the football team to parade around. They earned it and you see more jubilation like the picture of Levy.

If you remember in the 90's there were some post game problems with one year there being fights. I believe one year they announced ahead of time the Axe would not be presented in the field. I'm guessing this process evolved out of the schools overreacting and putting tighter reigns on everything .

But don't tell me people have to like it because it's tradition. It simply isn't.

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You don't have to like any of it. But we've been doing it since at least our current students were in elementary school if not longer. I'm not choosing this year, of all years, to get all twisted up about it. Bottom line people seem to have a hard time remembering this is for the students. If they like it and want to do it then it's all good.

That's restaurant quality!!!

okaydo said:

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Well, it was good advice anyway.

I wonder if there have been any cases of a Cal student pretending to be a Stanford student during a game.

The only thing I can thing of is this video from 2 years ago where the Cal TV reporter, posing as a Stanford student, gets two Stanford guys to say "Go Cardinals!" (1:25 mark).

okaydo said:

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That's outstanding. Best part is that it says people should be picking Cal to win.

OaktownBear said:

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Sebastabear said:

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GranadaHillsBear said:

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If they're going to continue to do the Staredown, then they should at least get some more intimidating looking people or work on their snarl/ poker face.

---

I think what makes it funny is you have these somewhat dorky/bookish looking kids doing this. Remember the guy who looked like a stork in 2009? I couldn't stop laughing. Legend.

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If you like it. You like it. That's fine. But it is not a tradition. It is contrived and hasn't been around that long. I'm not upset by it, but don't claim tradition status. Personally, I prefer the winner just haphazardly runs over and takes it and then gives it to the football team to parade around. They earned it and you see more jubilation like the picture of Levy.

If you remember in the 90's there were some post game problems with one year there being fights. I believe one year they announced ahead of time the Axe would not be presented in the field. I'm guessing this process evolved out of the schools overreacting and putting tighter reigns on everything .

But don't tell me people have to like it because it's tradition. It simply isn't.

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In all of those Big 10 rivalry games, each with their own trophy (Floyd of Rosedale, Paul Bunyan's Axe, Little Brown Jug...) the game ends with the winning team running to the sidelines and hoisting the trophy.

I'm not sure how we got so weird about it.

Sebastabear said:

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OaktownBear said:

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Sebastabear said:

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GranadaHillsBear said:

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If they're going to continue to do the Staredown, then they should at least get some more intimidating looking people or work on their snarl/ poker face.

---

I think what makes it funny is you have these somewhat dorky/bookish looking kids doing this. Remember the guy who looked like a stork in 2009? I couldn't stop laughing. Legend.

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If you like it. You like it. That's fine. But it is not a tradition. It is contrived and hasn't been around that long. I'm not upset by it, but don't claim tradition status. Personally, I prefer the winner just haphazardly runs over and takes it and then gives it to the football team to parade around. They earned it and you see more jubilation like the picture of Levy.

If you remember in the 90's there were some post game problems with one year there being fights. I believe one year they announced ahead of time the Axe would not be presented in the field. I'm guessing this process evolved out of the schools overreacting and putting tighter reigns on everything .

But don't tell me people have to like it because it's tradition. It simply isn't.

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You don't have to like any of it. But we've been doing it since at least our current students were in elementary school if not longer. I'm not choosing this year, of all years, to get all twisted up about it. Bottom line people seem to have a hard time remembering this is for the students. If they like it and want to do it then it's all good.

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Absolutely it is for the students to make their own traditions. Or to do what they like. I'm arguing with your characterization of this as a tradition. The second the students don't want to do this, they should stop.

Also, the fact that roughly 20 students on each side do something doesn't make it "what the students want". Honestly in my day everyone I knew who was not in Rallycom had a negative view of students who were in Rallycom.

I'd also say that the opinion I most care about is the football team. Personally, I think they should get the trophy.

OaktownBear said:

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Sebastabear said:

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OaktownBear said:

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Sebastabear said:

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GranadaHillsBear said:

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If they're going to continue to do the Staredown, then they should at least get some more intimidating looking people or work on their snarl/ poker face.

---

I think what makes it funny is you have these somewhat dorky/bookish looking kids doing this. Remember the guy who looked like a stork in 2009? I couldn't stop laughing. Legend.

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If you like it. You like it. That's fine. But it is not a tradition. It is contrived and hasn't been around that long. I'm not upset by it, but don't claim tradition status. Personally, I prefer the winner just haphazardly runs over and takes it and then gives it to the football team to parade around. They earned it and you see more jubilation like the picture of Levy.

If you remember in the 90's there were some post game problems with one year there being fights. I believe one year they announced ahead of time the Axe would not be presented in the field. I'm guessing this process evolved out of the schools overreacting and putting tighter reigns on everything .

But don't tell me people have to like it because it's tradition. It simply isn't.

---

You don't have to like any of it. But we've been doing it since at least our current students were in elementary school if not longer. I'm not choosing this year, of all years, to get all twisted up about it. Bottom line people seem to have a hard time remembering this is for the students. If they like it and want to do it then it's all good.

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Absolutely it is for the students to make their own traditions. Or to do what they like. I'm arguing with your characterization of this as a tradition. The second the students don't want to do this, they should stop.

Also, the fact that roughly 20 students on each side do something doesn't make it "what the students want". Honestly in my day everyone I knew who was not in Rallycom had a negative view of students who were in Rallycom.

I'd also say that the opinion I most care about is the football team. Personally, I think they should get the trophy.

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I guess I'm just not hearing the students agitating for a change. What I am hearing is some . . . uh . . . "Slightly older" fans shouting a variation of "get the hell off my lawn."

But I think we totally agree it's up to the kids. I just firmly believe that if they wanted a change Cal students have ways of making their feelings heard.

Cal88 said:

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TheSouseFamily said:

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CannonBlast said:

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Sebastabear said:

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Grandours said:

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When the Rally Committee seized the axe and started for our sideline, they took a fall and this happened. Not to be deterred, the group including this determined member carried on to the promised land. She will live on in Big Game lore. Go Bears!

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For folks who didn't see (and since I don't think this picture came through) Claire got good sized gash on her neck which was bleeding pretty freely as they were running off the field. But she kept going. The Bear will not quit, the Bear will not die!

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He kinda has a point.

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Not a good look for Netherda.

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Disagree, the whole Rally Com running with scissors haphazard wedge running through the crowd thing is not only goofy and dangerous, it also detracts from the celebration and deprives the team and the fans from the basic and spontaneous reward of raising the trophy they fought for on the field.

The whole "secret service protecting the "President" thing is a silly zoomer LARP, as if a Furd contingent was ever going to steal the Axe and wrestle it from the team and thousands of celebrating Cal students and alums on the field.

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Agree - it is not like the Ax was ever stolen, or that there are safes and alarmed cabinets for the Ax at the institutions where it is kept, or that it is in fact a trophy PRECISELY BECAUSE IT WAS STOLEN...

This is a good perspective.


https://instagr.am/p/B5Tr05chtsw

okaydo said:

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That's outstanding in several different ways.

I really don't get this crowd sometimes.
calling out our players. calling out our cheerleaders.

now we are calling out student rally committee members and calling them names too??!??

I thought we wanted students to attend games, and provide energy???

I thought we wanted students to have fun while they are attending THEIR school and THEIR school's sporting event. I thought we complain that the students just aren't into football and basketball games because they are pre-occupied with their phones (like none of us are that way too)

The rally committee are some of the BIGGEST cal sports fans of the entire student body, and they not only attend games, but they provide energy and do other things to promote cal sports. They actually KNOW the words to the traditional Cal songs, and SING them

Personally, I like the rally committee, and appreciate what they do for the teams and the game day atmosphere

I also like the Axe exchange because it a silly college thing.

oh, and besides the picture of them during the stare down, the other pictures actually look like they are having fun. Imagine that.

https://instagr.am/p/B5TCijqBGWM

Where is Wilcox in this pic and what is Sonny Dykes doing kneeling next GA?

HoopDreams said:

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I really don't get this crowd sometimes.
calling out our players. calling out our cheerleaders.

now we are calling out student rally committee members and calling them names too??!??

I thought we wanted students to attend games, and provide energy???

I thought we wanted students to have fun while they are attending THEIR school and THEIR school's sporting event. I thought we complain that the students just aren't into football and basketball games because they are pre-occupied with their phones (like none of us are that way too)

The rally committee are some of the BIGGEST cal sports fans of the entire student body, and they not only attend games, but they provide energy and do other things to promote cal sports. They actually KNOW the words to the traditional Cal songs, and SING them

Personally, I like the rally committee, and appreciate what they do for the teams and the game day atmosphere

I also like the Axe exchange because it a silly college thing.

oh, and besides the picture of them during the stare down, the other pictures actually look like they are having fun. Imagine that.

https://instagr.am/p/B5TCijqBGWM

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Well put but some may accuse you of going to A&M for such heresy.

HoopDreams said:

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I really don't get this crowd sometimes.
calling out our players. calling out our cheerleaders.

now we are calling out student rally committee members and calling them names too??!??

I thought we wanted students to attend games, and provide energy???

I thought we wanted students to have fun while they are attending THEIR school and THEIR school's sporting event. I thought we complain that the students just aren't into football and basketball games because they are pre-occupied with their phones (like none of us are that way too)

The rally committee are some of the BIGGEST cal sports fans of the entire student body, and they not only attend games, but they provide energy and do other things to promote cal sports. They actually KNOW the words to the traditional Cal songs, and SING them

Personally, I like the rally committee, and appreciate what they do for the teams and the game day atmosphere

I also like the Axe exchange because it a silly college thing.

oh, and besides the picture of them during the stare down, the other pictures actually look like they are having fun. Imagine that.

https://instagr.am/p/B5TCijqBGWM

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Is the stare down a little lame? Of course it is! But if you say you don't like the stare down are you not criticizing Rallycom itself and by extension all Big Game traditions. Aren't you putting down the entire Cal student body!? And if you put down the student body, isn't that an indictment of the whole university? Well, say what you must about the stare down, but I will not stand here while you badmouth the University of California!

Rally Comm is a good deal, I have noticed over the past decade the number of students at games in the rally comm uniform is significantly less than in decades past.
I'd love to see their numbers grow. They are a strong part of the student section at football and basketball games and would love to see them in greater force because they are a big part of making game day more fun.
We've got the Axe, we've got the Axe!
Go Bears

BearsWiin said:

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SFCityBear said:

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As I viewed the triumphant run with the axe, with a girl carrying it, and 8-10 other students forming a ring of protection around her as they ran, it looked like she tripped, and dropped the axe. I thought, "How lame is that? How embarrassing. We can't even hold on to this trophy for even a minute's run without dropping it." I think the poor girl herself really should not come under any scrutiny. We haven't had this axe for nine years, is it? So we are very much out of practice in how to carry it, hold on to it, protect it, and defend it with life and limb, if necessary. I hope the proper authorities will install stricter qualifications for axe protectors, and institute intensive training in axe carrying while standing or running, so this does not ever happen again when the axe is in our possession.

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If only we could design something to make it easier to carry around

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Looks like a plan.

okaydo said:

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Looks like there's an A-hole over there.

HoopDreams said:

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I really don't get this crowd sometimes.
calling out our players. calling out our cheerleaders.

now we are calling out student rally committee members and calling them names too??!??

I thought we wanted students to attend games, and provide energy???

I thought we wanted students to have fun while they are attending THEIR school and THEIR school's sporting event. I thought we complain that the students just aren't into football and basketball games because they are pre-occupied with their phones (like none of us are that way too)

The rally committee are some of the BIGGEST cal sports fans of the entire student body, and they not only attend games, but they provide energy and do other things to promote cal sports. They actually KNOW the words to the traditional Cal songs, and SING them
...

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In this case though, they are actively sucking the energy out of the event by running off with the Axe instead of keeping it as THE centerpiece of the postgame on field victory celebration, actually going against the tradition from decades past, and doing this for no reason whatsoever; concerns for Axe theft in this situation are plain silly and totally irrational.

The picture of Big Game Heroes raising the Axe on the field in the midmidst of thousands of Cal fans is the picture we all remember and keep from great Big Game victories past. That's what players fight for, what the fans look most forward to in a Big Game. We wanted to see Weaver, Hawkins and Garbers raising and sharing the trophy at midfield, that is the moment everyone looks forward to, and the picture that stays with you years thereafter.

socaltownie said:

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Stare down - sure.
But don't have the kids run like they are getting POTUS into the bunker. I know the fans were SORTA storming the field.

Here is what SHOULD have happened....(in a perfect world)
1) Cal gets possession. Victory formation and kneel down. Axe should be in posession of Furd at that point because things can happen.
2) As soon as it is clear that Shaw isn't calling TO axe transfers. I believe they waited till O:00. that was the problem
3) Now with it secure the cal students can JOG with it. No need to link arms. Just run together. No one is going to steal it or hurt it or do anything foolish.

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I'd suggest that 5) team captains come over to escort the Rally Comm & Axe. (What 'furdie is gonna mess with Weav?)

https://instagr.am/p/B5YU2GXg1jW

Love the staredown, and anything that gets more students more involved is likely to be a plus. But I do wish they would get the Axe into the hands of the players more quickly in the postgame celebration. I was going crazy waiting to see them hoist that thing into the air. Rally Comm should have given it to Weaver to hoist in his TV interview!



The way the Rally Comm displays and guards the Axe always reminds me of depictions of the cross in Crusader armies (note: very much NOT an endorsement of the Crusades or militant religion in general)

I'd personally pay for RallyCom to get some of those full length shields. Those are awesome and would be perfect for the Big Game. Also, is there any prohibition around fire? Could they also carry torches? Now that we have the axe, I say we take the spectacle up a few notches.