Cal's athletic teams are nicknamed the Golden Bears, and blue and gold are their colors (which are also the official colors of the State of California). The Bears' chief rival is the Cardinal of Stanford, known as "the Farm." Woe to any Berkeley fan who wears Stanford's red when these two schools compete.

The more-than-century-old intense, but generally friendly, rivalry between the University of California and Stanford University comes to a climax each year in the "Big Game" between the California and Stanford football teams. In odd-numbered years the game is played at Stanford Stadium; in even years, at Berkeley's California Memorial Stadium; the winner of the game receives the Axe, which first appeared at a Cal-Stanford baseball game in 1899. The football game is always the centerpiece of the season but there are numerous other (usually) annual rivalries, including an "Ink Bowl" game between the student newspapers, a touch-football contest with a bronzed apple trophy between the Departments of Economics at Cal and Stanford (both of which boast several Nobelists), and an enthusiastic "Big Sing" between student musical groups.

The Cal mascot is Oski, whose name derives from the cheer, "Oski Wow! Wow! Whiskey Wee! Wee!" Students whose identities are closely guarded wear oversized costumes and serve as Oski.

Check online for information on other Cal athletic traditions.

last updated on 5/8/07