Why does stanford have a train whistle

The Axe debuted on the eve of a baseball game between the universities in , when Stanford students used it to decapitate a straw man adorned in Cal blue and gold. The Bears rallied to upset Stanford the next day, and fans wrestled the Axe away from the Stanford students and smuggled it across the bay via ferry. The Axe was placed in a safe at a Berkeley bank, to be removed once a year for the Axe Rally.

In , the Axe became the Big Game trophy. It was unclear until this week if one of the most indelible images of Big Game would be allowed during the pandemic, but Stanford head coach David Shaw never lost hope. The Axe will be displayed behind the Cal bench for most of the game Friday, and it will be moved into the tunnel during the final two minutes.

Instead of the usual staredown between committee members, the schools will each have two masked and distanced representatives. The players, who often parade the trophy around the stadium after the game, will not be able to touch it this year. It means business. Dating to , Cal and Stanford have played every year, except during the World Wars. Members of the Stanford Band play with an impaled Oski in the background. Previous post Two Stanford professors tapped for new council on online education.

Next post U. Supreme Court calls on Buzz Thompson for help. The Dish All Posts. Yuck How could you. That was one hell of a game, Gary. Ah yes, the hills of the nation were alive with the sound of K5LA music last night How cool would it be to have a rematch with Oregon for all the marbles? At fill-in-name-of-your-hated-rival-college they fire a cannon from which a flag pops out, with the word "BOOM" AA How cool indeed! I have to believe if the Oregon game would have been played at Stanford, we'd be playing for the national championship next week.

But it is what it is. Even the guy napping in the corner stirs. People begin to characterize the enemy student population, launching into a discussion about UC admissions standards. Another AxeComm member counters that Cal certainly has its fair share of weirdos. The only person with her mind made up is Selby Sturzenegger. There are hours before Big Game, and nobody realizes it until the clock tower strikes 3 a.

I begin to pack my bag and take a sip from my water bottle, which, by now, is ice cold. The first two blasts from the whistle sound fine, but the third quickly peters out — no one had refilled the Nitrogen. Most of AxeComm laughs while one member announces the countdown to White Plaza, which has long been empty, save for the teddy bear impaled on the Claw.

I stand up to leave, tiptoeing around the fallen pizza crusts still sitting at my feet from two hours earlier. Accessibility statement Skip to main content We need your help: All banner donations made today will support The Daily's new staff financial aid program.

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