Big Game Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
For the lottery game formerly called The Big Game, see Mega Millions. For an article about big game hunting see big game.
The "Big Game" is the annual football game between Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley (known simply as "California" or "Cal"), held in November. The first Big Game was held in 1892 on San Francisco's Haight Street grounds when Stanford upset Cal 14-10. It is the tenth longest rivalry in NCAA Division 1A football. Through 2003, Stanford leads the series record at 54-41-11 (wins-losses-ties). California has won the past two games (2002 and 2003), but Stanford won the previous seven meetings before that. The location of the game alternates between the two schools each year. The Big Game can also refer to the annual college football matchup between the Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.
It is the biggest college football event in the Bay Area, and has a rich history. Since 1933, the Stanford Axe has been granted possession to the victor of the game. If the game was tied, the Axe stayed on the side that already possessed it; however, college football games can no longer end in ties. The Axe is a key part of the rich history, having been stolen on several occasions by both sides.
The conclusion of the 85th Big Game on November 20, 1982 is known simply as "The Play". Many consider it one of the greatest plays in the history of college football, if not the greatest. With 4 seconds left on the clock, Cal lateraled the ball five times on a kickoff return and ran through the Stanford Band, which had run onto the field to celebrate prematurely. The Play is often recounted with KGO radio announcer Joe Starkey's dramatic call of The Play, which he hailed as "the most amazing, sensational, traumatic, heartrending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of college football!" The legitimacy of The Play has remained controversial. To this day, the final score is noted as Stanford 20, Cal 19 in many Stanford publications, whereas the official score went down as 25-20, with Cal winning.
This is an Article on Big Game. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Big Game 20 most recent results
(away team listed first, winning team bolded)
External links