Michelle Miller, ’06, knows her way around the Stanford-Cal rivalry. A former Dollie now living in New York City, she ruminates on Big Game week, run-ins with Oskie and Stanford students’ true feelings toward Cal.
From a student perspective, why does Big Game matter?
I grew up in North Carolina, where basketball rivalry is sacred. My father refused to pay for me to go to Duke because of his loyalty to his alma mater, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. To be honest,
I was disappointed when I first
came to Stanford at the lack of utter hatred for our biggest rivals. Although students played into “Cal sucks,” there was a general sense of respect and politically correct appreciation for our neighbors across the Bay. After being on the Farm for a while, though, I realized that Stanford’s take on rivalry was unique. It isn’t at all about hating the other school; it’s about having an excuse to express self-congratulatory pride in ourselves. Big Game is important because it’s the one time when the whole campus combines to celebrate that indefinable, quirky Stanford wit that makes the Farm what it is.
As a Dollie, did you encounter any abuse from Cal students?
During half-time of a basketball game at Cal, Oskie made some extremely offensive gestures toward the five of us. It was really appalling. I mean, we all know the Tree would never publicly exhibit inappropriate behavior.
Have you ever found yourself labeling Cal students in a particular way because of the rivalry?
I think most Stanford students are kind of apathetic toward Cal and enjoy the rivalry more as an excuse to celebrate ourselves. No one ever left Gaieties hating Cal—we left loving Stanford.
Has your outlook changed now that you’ve graduated?
Being back on the East Coast, I always love running into people from the Bay Area, including Cal alumni. We share common ground: we understand the same terms—Big Game, the Axe, Oskie—and, even if we’re coming from different sides, we can understand one another’s college experiences better than these silly East Coast types.
