Big Game blowout, Stanford over Cal in annual rivalry

The University of California football team hosted the 113th edition of the Big Game—the storied bout between Cal and Stanford University—on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, but for Cal, this will be a memory to soon forget.

In a game that was never close, the No. 6-ranked Stanford Cardinal took down the unranked Golden Bears, 48-14, the largest victory for Stanford over their chief rival in 80 years. Under Head Coach Jeff Tedford, Cal had actually won seven of the previous eight games between the two universities, which are located just 31 miles apart.

Paced by junior quarterback Andrew Luck, Stanford went up on Cal early, leading 31-0 at the end of the first half, and never once looked back. Luck is arguably the best signal caller in the college ranks this season, and a Heisman Trophy—college football’s most prestigious award—hopeful.

“I thought our players put an exclamation point on things today by playing their best football,” said Jim Harbaugh, Stanford head coach, after the game. “Playing smart, playing disciplined, playing poised.”

Cal, who had won the last two meetings between these two Pac-10 programs, tried to make it respectable by adding two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it had no impact on the result, or how difficult the loss was for the team wearing blue and gold.

“It’s very hard to swallow,” said Tedford at his post-game press conference. “This rivalry means a lot to a lot of people and, you know, we take a great deal of pride in it. We’ve had the ax seven out of eight years,” said Tedford, referring to the award held by the victorious team each year. “It’s tough to take.”

Hometown fans were disappointed, too. “That was pathetic,” a fan was heard saying upon exiting Memorial Stadium.

Saturday marked the last time the Big Game will be played at Cal’s home facility before it undergoes major renovations at the close of the season. The stadium is scheduled to reopen in time for the start of the 2012 football campaign.