clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Big Game Photo Extravaganza - Post Game

Royal Exchange

Pregame

First Half

2nd Half

Whew!  What a game.  Cal wins!  We have the Axe.  Go Bears!

And nobody was more excited than the players themselves:

N1218201_42494295_5700_medium

N1218201_42494296_6032_medium

Well, the players themselves and that one shirtless dude at the bottom of the photo there.

So, quickly, I made my way down.  When we rushed the field after the lackluster 2006 Big Game, it was sort of like "We're doing what now?"  But this was legit.  We had the Axe back!

And I was right behind David Lonie (or somebody who beat up Lonie and took his jersey!):

N1218201_42494299_6884_medium

Cal puntstud, Bryan Anger, came rolling by:

N1218201_42494300_7174_medium

N1218201_42494301_7455_medium

And soon I was in the middle of it all:

N1218201_42494302_7743_medium

It was pretty crazzy:

N1218201_42494303_8034_medium

Here are some videos of the scrum.  Sometimes they got a bit wobbly, because I was getting pushed around.  If you think the kwality is poor, click over to YouTube and watch them on high kwality:



You can see Felder in the distance in this one:



I saw some helmets, so I pushed my way through the crowd:

N1218201_42494306_8921_medium

I saw a big lug OLineman who I later found out was Dominic Galas:

N1218201_42494307_9207_medium

No offense to you, Mr. Galas, but I quickly spied Anthony Felder and moved on to him:

N1218201_42494308_9518_medium

N1218201_42494309_9831_medium

I slapped him on the shoulder and yelled "Great Job!" Somebody said "Stay for another year!" which I don't believe is legal under NCAA rules.  Felder said "Nah, I'm outta here."  It'll be tough to replace him, but better than forfeiting all our games, because of NCAA violations.

There were many players up in the crowd.  I saw Kevin Riley, but was not able to get a photo of him.  I was able to get a photo of Jeremy Ross, though:

N1218201_42494310_126_medium

N1218201_42494311_407_medium

Then, to my left Alex Mack came trucking through like a Mack truck (I'm so witty!).  No idea where he was going, but he just didn't stop:

N1218201_42494312_689_medium

N1218201_42494313_981_medium

People were slapping him silly. 

And there he goes:

N1218201_42494314_1276_medium

This might be Sean Young, it's tough to see the number:

N1218201_42494316_1894_medium

A lot of these photos might look the same to you.  People jumping up and down with their hands in the air.  But in this specific instance, there was a camera man doing a full 360 in the middle.  It spurred people to go even crazzier:

N1218201_42494318_2528_medium

You can see the camera on the right there.

N1218201_42494320_3153_medium

I was trying to find the Axe, which I later found out had been quickly taken from the field.  I did stumble upon the PAIN TRAIN signing endless autographs:

N1218201_42494323_4115_medium

N1218201_42494324_4422_medium

N1218201_42494325_4753_medium

Honestly, it must feel weird.  You are stuck in the middle of a HUGE crowd.  People are slapping you silly.  And sticking stuff in your face and demanding autographs.  He was eating it up, though:

N1218201_42494326_5080_medium

A true fan favorite!

Then, a camera crew pushed their way through to do an interview. 

N1218201_42494329_6061_medium

N1218201_42494330_6390_medium

N1218201_42494331_6728_medium

Here's video of it.  All I can tell is that he thanks the Lord:



I continued my search for the Axe when Follett came running out of the crowd.  Somebody had him by the hand and was all "GET OUT OF THE WAY!  GET OUT OF THE WAY!"  Prolly some Cal person, I don't know. 

N1218201_42494333_7398_medium

N1218201_42494334_7729_medium

Even as he sprinted out, people were slapping him:

N1218201_42494335_8073_medium

Sweet sign:

N1218201_42494338_9115_medium

Most of the players were gone, so I headed back to hear the band.  They were playing and the Stanford band was also playing.  Here is the crowd watching the Cal band:

N1218201_42494737_564_medium

And watching the Stanford band:

N1218201_42494738_763_medium

Cal wins yet again!

The band was having a great time.  Another dance block:

N1218201_42494742_1705_medium

Even the Director, who generally doesn't direct the Band in the stands got involved:

N1218201_42494743_1933_medium

N1218201_42494751_3851_medium


On the way out, we passed by Rally Comm.  Their leaders were hyping up the main crew.  Probably telling them how great their rhythmic clapping was. 

N1218201_42494755_4847_medium

"Yes, we *did* clap in a circle!  We did it!"

Although to be fair, this guy was pretty pimp:

N1218201_42494756_5102_medium

And god, when we got out of the stadium, we were hit by one of the most gorgeous sights you'll ever see:

N1218201_42494758_5607_medium

N1218201_42494759_5840_medium

It was another gorgeous Berkeley day and only made the Big Game victory that much more special.

I also saw this thing.  What the hell is it?

N1218201_42494760_6078_medium

We had missed the band at Bowles Hall, but the basses were still there:

N1218201_42494762_6588_medium

There was a huge crowd singing along with the basses.

N1218201_42494764_7098_medium

N1218201_42494761_6334_medium

N1218201_42494765_7360_medium

N1218201_42494766_7627_medium

And then we turned the corner again and what did we see?

N1218201_42494767_7888_medium

N1218201_42494768_8144_medium

N1218201_42494770_8409_medium

The setting sun was so amazing that I decided to stop up on Euclid on my way out.  There is a place up in the hills there where no house is built.  If you know the right place, you can just sit there and watch the sun set over the Golden Gate Bridge.

N1218201_42494776_9912_medium

N1218201_42494777_146_medium

N1218201_42494778_415_medium

N1218201_42494780_951_medium

N1218201_42494772_8935_medium

Truly, the perfect end to a perfect day.  Cal beats Stanford!  Gets the axe back!  And the Bay Area is as gorgeous as ever.  Go Bears!

Oh and lest I forget always nice to see this.  And from a great angle:

N1218201_42494332_7068_medium