http://www.sloh.org/cal-athletics-berkeley/
Cal – UC Berkeley
If a college in the state of California, which has kept many traditions of the school over the years, is the University of California at Berkeley, also known as Berkeley, California, UC Berkeley, or simply Cal This university, founded in 1868, was the first public university in the state to be called the University of California. Today, however, the University of California consists of many UC campuses statewide.
One of the traditions which stuck to Cal since its foundation are the school colors, which are gold and blue. Berkeley gold founders chose to represent the state of gold and blue Yale came into blue, because most of the founders of this college came from Yale. Since then the team sports at the University of California at Berkeley began to join the intercollegiate games in 1882, which brought gold and blue. From school sports teams, alumni and students are called Golden Bears. It all began in 1895 when the team track and field impressed many people by winning five of the eight competitions. As a result of notable victories, Berkeley became known in the U.S. as an athletic team formidable. In honor of the impressive performance of track and field team that year, UC Berkeley professor Charles Mills Gayley created a song titled "The Bear Gold. Since then, the sports teams in California have been called by that name. Pets Berkeley before 1941 were live bear cubs. However, for security of the spectators, the school decided to wear costumes pets in place. In 1941, Oski the Bear, the official mascot of Berkeley, was presented. The name of the mascot came from the Oski-wow-wow scream. Today, there is a Oski Committee, whose sole purpose is to care for clothing and to keep secret the identity of the wearer.
In order to protect the Great C – which was often vandalized by students of Stanford College – and other school traditions and spirits Cal, UC Rally established the Committee in 1901. Members of this committee have been in the main spirit and sporting events are responsible for maintaining and caring for large California flag, Big C, the California Victory Canon Card Stunts, and the five Cal flags. Moreover, the Rally Committee is also responsible for maintaining the Stanford Axe, when ever you are in possession of the University of California at Berkeley.
The California Victory Cannon and card tricks are two of the traditions of school Original Cal. The canyon victory, first used in the Great Game in 1963, shot at the start of each football game, each time the Golden Bears scored, and also after a victory. The first time the cannon ran out of ammunition was on September 7, 1991, when the Golden Bears won a game against Pacific. The card trick, also known as the trick of the stands is something that Cal students invented. Card stunts are a Big Blue C and a photo of Stanford Axe, were carried out for the first time during a game of Big 1910.
About the Author
Freddie Brister is a huge fan of the Pac 10 and Cal Golden Bears. Check out his Golden Bears gear at
http://www.sportsfantreasures.com/ncaa-cal-golden-bears.htm
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Cal Athletics in Beijing – Part 2