“Asking Stanford” is a series that collects bite-sized stories from students to highlight the diversity of experiences and perspectives on campus.
My freshman year, I went to the game with a few of my friends who attended UC Berkeley. It took a long time, but I remember the first touchdown we scored deep in the fourth quarter, finally giving me a chance to gloat back at my friends. — Ishan Mehta ’25 M.S. ’26
The (only) two football games that I’ve been to at Stanford have been alumni reunion games. I’ve staffed the 50th reunion the last two years and have been with the alums, from tailgate to walking the field. I guess that might be my game day tradition then, eating Stanford catering tailgate food, the same menu of pulled pork with Hawaiian rolls, chickpea chili and roast chicken. Loading up on Sweet Street brown butter rice krispies and alumni conversations. Passing out red pom poms and crossing the field. Both times I’ve been there the football team was pretty good. We were winning the game last year up until halftime and we beat FSU this year, so I have something to look forward to next year! — Sonnet Xu ‘27
My favorite game day memory is screaming in the rain with friends against Cal, in one of the worst weather experiences of the year. I also enjoyed seeing Stanford people storm the field, despite Cal winning. — Michael Malone ’26
The first and last tailgate I attended was five years ago. I stuffed my face with pigs in a blanket and flat Coke while someone tried to explain the football rules. I left early to finish a p-set due the next day. — Iris Hwang M.S. ’27
I remember being seventeen, running out to the 50 yard line and staring back at the stands full of people. Being on a high school dance team meant that game days were mandatory. High ponytail, tight fitted skirt, and glitter smeared on my cheeks (which I later had an allergic reaction to). But my favorite game day moments were being out in the center of that field, when the audience is so far away that you really can’t hear them. The peace of being able to count “five, six, seven, eight” to keep your teammates in sync, without anyone overhearing you. I haven’t touched a football field since then, but perhaps if we win Big Game, I will. — Sharis Hsu ‘28
The line to get into the game is my favorite part. Stanford students, Cal “people,” all spewing vitriol in one sardine-packed space. — Odin Farkas ’26
My junior year, I traveled to Boulder to broadcast Stanford vs. Colorado for 90.1 FM KZSU for what would be one of the last “PAC-12 After Dark” classics. At halftime, Stanford was down 29-0, and it looked like the season would only get worse — especially since Stanford didn’t win a single home game that year. But then the comeback happened: Stanford clawed back to win 46-43 in double overtime. I even FaceTimed my friend Scott back on campus so he could witness the game-winning moment from the stands. What started as a crushing cold evening turned into one of the most unforgettable highlights of my junior year. — Joanne dePierre ’25 M.A. ’26
One memory I have is leaving Big Game at halftime when we were up, only to come back to Stanford and watch us lose on TV. — Dhruv Naik ’26
Absorbed in a mob of students covered head to toe in Cardinal red, we marched towards the stadium, heckling anyone foolish enough to don the blue and gold of the enemy. We lost that day, but never again! On Saturday we go to battle once again! Roll Card! — Zachary Ewing ’27
It’s freshman year and you’re a little homesick and quite sniffly from the freshman flu. Despite the bout of finals that face you after Thanksgiving break, you wake up bright and early nonetheless and spend 2 hours coming up with a clever name for your borg (you end up going with “the BORG game” anyway). Life has never been better. — Hoang Nguyen ’26
