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‘EVERYONE WANTS THE AXE’: ENTHUSIASM STILL HIGH…


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BREAKING NEWS

THE BIG GAME: CAL CLAIMS THE AXE AFTER STEAMROLLING STANFORD

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‘EVERYONE WANTS THE AXE’: ENTHUSIASM STILL HIGH AS CAL, STANFORD FACE OFF IN
124TH BIG GAME


QUARTERBACKS TANNER MCKEE AND CHASE GARBERS WILL RETURN FOR SATURDAY’S RIVALRY
GAME


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BERKELEY, CA – NOV. 27: Stanford’s Austin Jones (20) scores a touchdown against
California in the third quarter of the 123rd Big Game at Memorial Stadium in
Berkeley, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. Stanford defeated Cal 24-23. (Jose
Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
By Harold Gutmann | Correspondent
PUBLISHED: November 20, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. | UPDATED: November 20, 2021 at 3:51
p.m.

Stanford linebacker Gabe Reid was sitting in class this week watching a
PowerPoint presentation when his professor snuck in an extra slide.

Essentially, the slide read: Beat Cal.



“I think it’s really special because you’re playing for something that’s bigger
than yourself,” Cardinal wide receiver Michael Wilson said. “You’re playing for
past football players, the student body, all the athletes, the guys in the NFL.
So many people have opinions in the game, so many people are invested in the
game, so many people have poured so much into it and you don’t want to
disappoint anyone.”

The rivalry lived up to its billing in each of the past two years.



In 2019, Cal QB Chase Garbers scrambled for a touchdown with 1:19 remaining at
Stanford Stadium as the Bears won 24-20 to reclaim the Axe for the first time in
10 years. Last year, defensive end Thomas Booker blocked an extra point with 58
seconds left as Stanford beat Cal 24-23 in Berkeley.

This year, the build-up for Saturday’s 124th Big Game at Stanford Stadium (4
p.m., Pac-12 Network) is a little different.

Stanford (3-7, 2-6 Pac-12) heads into Saturday on a five-game losing streak —
its longest in 15 years. And Cal (3-6, 2-4 Pac-12) has been sidetracked by a
COVID outbreak and in its previous game became the only team to lose to Arizona.

But the losing skid and the messy COVID situation haven’t dampened the
enthusiasm within both programs.

“Any Cal fan you talk to, the first thing they bring up is, `Go beat Stanford
this year,’” Cal center Matthew Cindric said. “It’s exciting to go get a win for
not only us but the fan base. Everyone wants The Axe.”



Wilson, a senior, has experienced both winning and losing the Axe.

“I’ve been on both sides, and there’s no greater feeling than winning the Axe,
and on the flip side there’s no worse feeling that losing the Axe,” Wilson said.
“In 2019, when Cal stormed our field, that was the worst I’ve ever felt after a
loss. Just chasing that victorious feeling and holding the Axe is what’s pushing
us this week.”

On the back wall of the auditorium where Stanford holds team meetings, there are
pictures where the seniors from victorious teams hold the Axe after beating Cal.

“That’s something we always talk about,” Reid said. “At the end of the week, we
want to have our seniors up there, cheering, celebrating, holding the Axe.”

The emotion is just as strong in Berkeley, where Cal coach Justin Wilcox devotes
time each season to telling his team about the meaning of the Big Game.

“Each year we talk about the story of The Axe in detail,” Wilcox said. “It’s an
incredible story and I want them to appreciate it because they have a chance to
play in this game and it means so much to so many people. I think it’s a
special, special game for so many reasons and I want them to feel that.”

Here are the biggest keys to the game:

QBS RETURN

Tanner McKee is back for Stanford while Garbers is available for Cal. Stanford
was outscored 87-21 while McKee missed the last two games with a leg injury,
while Cal scored just three points against Arizona when Garbers was sidelined
because of COVID protocols. Garbers was one of seven starters, and 21 players
overall, who were unavailable against the Wildcats.

STANFORD’S NEW FRONT

The Cardinal’s defense, ranked 127th in the FBS in yards allowed, switched to a
four-man front last week against Oregon State, and the new alignment seemed to
work better. The Beavers still ran for 218 yards but it was less than their
conference-leading average, and those yards were more a product of missed
tackles rather than big holes.

NO TURNOVERS

Cal is tied for the national lead for fewest turnovers (six) and is fifth
nationally in turnover margin. The Bears haven’t committed a turnover in four
straight games. Stanford has won the turnover battle in all three victories this
season and lost the turnover battle in all six defeats.


RELATED ARTICLES

 * Goal line failures, allowing big plays doom Stanford in blowout loss to Cal
 * The Big Game: Cal claims The Axe after steamrolling Stanford
 * Cal-Stanford: What to know before the 124th Big Game
 * Big crowd expected for Big Game on Saturday at Stanford
 * Stanford QB McKee probable to return for Big Game

RUNNING BETTER

Stanford’s 136 yards on the ground last week may not sound like much, but it was
its most productive running game in eight weeks. The Cardinal hopes to continue
to be balanced against the Bears, but most do it without right guard/tackle
Branson Bragg, who had started every game this season but suffered a
season-ending injury in Corvallis.

FINISHING STRONG

It’s been a demoralizing few weeks for both teams, as Stanford lost all hope for
bowl eligibility and Cal was depleted by a COVID outbreak. But a win on Saturday
will go a long way in erasing those bad feelings. Stanford linebacker Jordan Fox
said the team has a new motto: Finishing Strong.

“We had high hopes, with goals in mind to win the Pac-12 championship and fight
for a playoff spot,” Fox said. “Things got deterred a little bit, but it’s how
you respond, how you face adversity, and how do you get back from that. We have
two opportunities left to fight to the finish.”

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HAROLD GUTMANN | CORRESPONDENT


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