1. 1982. My job app to the great UCB a dopy hazy gleam in my eye; living in Oakland close enough to hear the canon boom from tight wad hill over-looking Memorial stadium. I don't quite remember where exactly I was that day, but I know 'the play' in the theater of gridiron heroics stands as the greatest, engaging, most dramatic of collegiate endings. Score 20-19. John Elway, the All American, standing on the Stanford sidelines thinking Heisman, and his day is done. 4 seconds left. Not so fast big boy. Joe Kapp, the fiery Cal coach, gathers his players around him, and calls for 'gra-bass,' an old training exercise: a designated group of players tries to keep the ball away from the linemen. 'Furd' kicks off. The undisciplined, infamous, red and white band sheathed in hard hats to protect against frozen projectiles (oranges and grapefruits) storms the field of play, a violation (!!), while the ball is in the air. Five gra-bass laterals, when luck inter-twined with destiny, on that field of play that day, when everybody wearing blue in Memorial would rather be lucky than good, the Bear did not go quit. Nor did they die. Kevin Moen, elevated, ascending like Jesus over the insane band... Cal 25-Stanford 20.
2. Old Blues vs the Cardinal red. In an election year. Just saying...
3 On the 30th Anniversary, of 'the play' a tip of the cap, and tequila shots to Joe Kapp. Go Bears!
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