Cal and Stanford had played each other in rugby most years for more than 100 years. Until 2001
As the Pac-12 Conference era comes to a close after more than a century we count down the top 50 moments involving Cal athletics.On Wednesday, March 14, 2001, Cal rugby coach Jack Clark received an email from Stanford rugby coach Franck Boivert saying the Cardinal was pulling out of its scheduled April 7 match against the Golden Bears.
Cal and Stanford had faced each other in rugby most years since 1906. There had been no forfeits. Until 2001. That’s when Boivert polled his players about their interest in facing Cal and sent his infamous email. There is some uncertainty about when the email was received by Clark, but the best evidence is that it was read on Wednesday, March 14.Excerpt 1: "Cal and others have pointed out that the fear of losing should not be an excuse for a forfeit.
Excerpt 2: "Cal has also offered to look at this game as a learning experience. The Stanford players see no learning in being physically overrun and outmatched by a huge team, and views it more as a miserable afternoon.""I am in awe of your ability to continually lower the setting of the bar for Stanford rugby, without being challenged."The forfeit elicited a lot of mocking of Stanford for pulling out of the rivalry in such a macho sport.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Top 50 Cal Sports Moments -- No. 50: Overtime Elation, 2003USC lost only one game in 2003 when it won the AP national championship, and that defeat was to Cal when Tyler Fredrickson kicked the winning field goal in the third overtime on September 27
Read more »
Top 50 Cal Sports Moments -- No. 49: Triumphant Spirit, 2010Jill Costello earned a place in Cal lore for the grace she displayed in her dying days, helping the Bears excel in crew
Read more »
Top 50 Cal Sports Moments -- No. 48: Wide Right, 2014A missed 19-yard field goal by Washington State with 15 seconds left in the middle of the night allowed Cal to escape Pullman with a 60-59 victory that defined an era.
Read more »
Top 50 Cal Sports Moments -- No. 47: Chicago Seven, 1922Seven Cal athletes traveled to the Windy City and dominated the second-ever NCAA Track and Field Championships, stunning local favorite Illinois
Read more »
Top 50 Cal Sports Moments -- No. 46: Stolen Axe, 1899Did you ever wonder how the Axe became so important in the Cal-Stanford rivalry? You have to go back to the 19th century.
Read more »
Top 50 Cal Sports Moments -- No. 45: Safety Valve, 1983All-America linebacker Ron Rivera’s defensive play in the final minute allowed the Bears to escape Texas A&M in the 1983 opener
Read more »