Photo gallery: Student spirit during Big Game Week

The Axe Committee, the guarder of the Stanford Axe, cheer on the Cardinal from the bleachers.
The Axe Committee, the guarder of the Stanford Axe, cheer on the Cardinal from the bleachers. (Photo: WILLIAM MENG/The Stanford Daily)
By Crystal Chen and Andy Huynh
Dec. 2, 2021, 10:14 p.m.

Daily photographers Nikolas Liepins, Ula Lucas, William Meng and Audrey Nguyen-Hoang captured the buzz on Stanford’s campus leading up to the Big Game and and on the sidelines of the game itself.

Read more about Big Game Traditions here.

A banner reading “BEAT CAL” hangs on the Clubhouse building at Old Union in the week leading up to Big Game.
A banner reading “BEAT CAL” hangs on the Clubhouse building at Old Union in the week leading up to Big Game. (Photo: NIKOLAS LIEPINS/The Stanford Daily)
The Stanford Band, dollies, and tree dressed in black attire walk alongside Main Quad. Two band members hold a wooden casket, which reads "Here lies a poor pathetic fool".
The Stanford Band and the Tree walk to White Plaza, carrying a casket containing Oski, the Cal mascot. (Photo: ULA LUCAS/The Stanford Daily)
Several band members, dressed in all black, play saxophones in White Plaza.
The Band plays and dances to both new and iconic music for an onlooking crowd at White Plaza. (Photo courtesy of Robert Siegel)
The tree and two band members with tubas stand in front of the fountain in White Plaza. The fountain's water is dyed red.
Two band members and the Tree await the anticipated execution of Oski in front of the Claw. (Photo courtesy of Robert Siegel)
A band member, dressed in all black, stabs a bleeding teddy bear on the top of The Claw.
Students gathered in White Plaza to hear a brief eulogy for Oski, followed by a public execution. A member of the Band climbs atop the Claw and skewers the teddy bear at its apex in effigy. (Photo: ULA LUCAS/The Stanford Daily)

Check out The Daily’s Instagram video of the Bearial procession here.

In the night, the Stanford Axe Committee, Football, Band and Cheer dance in front of a banner labeled "Stanford". Hoover Tower is lit red in the background.
The Stanford Axe Committee, football team, Band and Cheer host the Big Game Rally on Nov. 18, 2021. (Photo: NIKOLAS LIEPINS/The Stanford Daily)
In the night, three Stanford dollies stand in front of a banner labeled "Stanford". Hoover Tower is lit red in the background.
The Stanford Dollies perform at the Big Game Rally. (Photo: NIKOLAS LIEPINS/The Stanford Daily)
A crowd of students wearing red and white packed the Stanford Stadium to support the Cardinal at the Big Game. They wave a large flag with the Stanford logo.
A sea of students wearing red and white packed the Stanford Stadium to support the Cardinal at the Big Game. (Photo: SYLER PERALTA-RAMOS/The Stanford Daily)
Two Axe Committee members hold The Stanford Axe.
Axe Committee members hold up the Stanford Axe, the trophy of the annual Big Game. They camped out for 124 hours in White Plaza prior to the game, along with participating in a slew of other traditions. (Photo: WILLIAM MENG/The Stanford Daily)
Stanford band members dressed in costume play their instruments form the bleachers.
The Stanford Band cheers on the football team from the bleachers. The Band put on an iconic half-time show with exciting music and fun formations. (Photo: AUDREY NGUYEN-HOANG/The Stanford Daily)
A Stanford Band member dressed as a spider crawls on the field. A photographer looks at them.
A Stanford Band member dressed as a spider crawls on the field. The Band is known for its unique, creative costumes. (Photo: AUDREY NGUYEN-HOANG/The Stanford Daily)
A crowd of Stanford students dressed in red and white cheeer.
Stanford fans clap and cheer with passion for their home team. (Photo: AUDREY NGUYEN-HOANG/The Stanford Daily)

Crystal Chen ’24 from Southern California is studying Human Biology and co-leading the Photo Video section at the Daily. In her free time, she likes to pretend to know how cameras work and finding the best iced almond milk latte around. Contact her at [email protected].

Andy Huynh '23 is Managing Editor of the Photo and Video. Outside of The Daily, he enjoys hiking the outdoors and wildlife photography. He also loves the Star Wars and Marvel cinematic universes!

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