The Stanford Axe

The Stanford Axe is the trophy awarded to the winner of the annual "Big Game" of American football between the University of California, Berkeley ("Cal") and Stanford University.

The Axe has a rich history. It was originally used as a rallying cry for Stanford against Cal at a baseball game in 1899.

The axe cheer, which inspired bringing the red axe to the baseball game, runs as follows:

"Give 'em the axe, the axe, the axe! Give 'em the axe, the axe, the axe! Give 'em the axe, give 'em the axe, give 'em the axe, Where?

"Right in the neck, the neck, the neck! Right in the neck, the neck, the neck! Right in the neck, right in the neck, right in the neck! There!"