Cal students warm up for Big Game with bonfire

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Crowds of Cal students were busy rallying ahead of Saturday's Big Game against Stanford.

They worked hard all day at the Greek Theater to nail together 120 wooden pallets for the Big Game bonfire.

Based on the excitement around the campus, you wouldn't know that both teams are 5-5 this season. It's just that when the Big Game comes around, nothing else seems to matter.

About 7,000 Cal students packed into the Greek Theatre Friday night, with hopes of taking back the axe from Stanford. Cal is trying to end a four-game losing streak in this 117-year rivalry and this year they believe they can win.

Cal coach Sonny Dykes tried to erase memories of last year's 1-11 team that lost to Stanford 63-13. He assured the crowd they were an entirely different team.

This week's big game festivities were very traditional at Cal, but at Stanford the band dressed in black held a funeral procession and marched a stuffed bear, representing Oski, into a coffin. So that could intensify the mood at the game on Saturday.

This is a big game for both teams who are trying to become bowl eligible with a win this weekend.