Both bands were present for the 64th Annual Guardsman Big Game Luncheon. Cal and Stanford alumni came out in droves to support their teams for the 113th Big Game Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
As for the players, Cal senior Cameron Jordan wants to keep the axe in Berkeley.
"There's a whole lot of pride going on into this week. We've had the ax for seven out of eight years, we're looking to keep the ax. I think I've lost it once in the last four years and I'm not looking to give it up again," says Jordan.
Stanford leads this series 55-46, with 11 ties. Senior Richard Sherman, who's only beaten Cal once in his career, has had this game circled on his calendar all season.
"You have a game every week, but this one is the one. This is the one you have to win. A team can go 1-9, if they go win their rivalry game, that's a decent season," says Sherman.
Master of ceremonies and Cal alumnus Bob Sarlatte took his annual shots at both teams.
"Stanford's ranked No.3 nationally and Cal's poised to crack the top 25, but enough about women's basketball," says Sarlatte. "In short, this year's Stanford team has more weapons than a security guard at a Raiders game. The Cal defense has only allowed 27 points at home; opposing touchdowns are harder to come by than a straight guy at a Lady Gaga concert."
The hype will continue throughout the week, until kickoff Saturday in Berkeley.
