Stanford Coach Troy Taylor Recalls 1988 Big Game as Cal’s Quarterback

The game ended in a 19-19 tie, and Taylor remembers the big fight between the mascots, Oski and The Tree

Troy Taylor’s presence as Stanford’s first-year head coach provides an interesting side story to this Saturday's Big Game against Cal since Taylor played in two Big Games as Cal’s starting quarterback and was on the sidelines in two others.

Taylor had been Cal’s starting quarterback in 1986 and 1987, but he missed the Big Game both years because of injuries suffered in the previous game. But he was the Golden Bears starter in the 1988 Big Game and nearly led Cal to a comeback victory. A 23-yard field goal by usually reliable Cal kicker Robbie Keen in the closing seconds is all that stood between Cal and victory.

On Tuesday Taylor recalled the 1988 game, which he spiced up with his memory of a fight between the mascots during that game.

“I remember we had the ball and were driving, and we were going to set up for a field goal. We were moving the ball pretty well. The hash marks were a little wider back then, two yards wider than they are now, so the angles on field goals when you’re on hash was pretty severe. So we did not center the ball, we were on the left hash. We had a really good kicker, and Tuan Van Le came off the edge and made an unbelievable play to block it. And I remember neither team really knew what to do, because typically your memories of the Big Game . . . like my freshman year is when Joe Kapp got carried off the field; it was his last game as a Cal coach. It was a huge upset and everyone is on the field and just celebrating, you run around with the Axe, and it’s just a great energy. And if you lose the game you saunter off and you’re really not that excited. So once we all realized it was a tie, and there was going to be no celebration, we just kind of walked around, shook hands and left. It was very strange.”

At which point Taylor immediately transitions into the comic-relief segment of the 1988 Big Game.

“It was also the game that I remember Oski and the Tree getting in a fight. And it was a legitimate fight; they were trying to hurt each other. I think it was in between series, and I remember Oski trying to tear the Tree apart and got pulled apart, and I remember Oski pointing his finger – one of his, whatever, four fingers he has – at The Tree like, ‘This isn’t over.’ It’s going to continue at some point. I’m thinking, this is bizarre, living in a cartoon world or something.”

Video highlights of that 1988 game.

Taylor never played in a Big Game that was won by Cal. He threw 57 passes in the 1989 Big Game his senior season, but the Bears lost that one 24-14 as Stanford blitzed Taylor mercilessly. And, of course, Cal tied the other Big Game he played in 1988, a 19-19 draw.

He had been Cal’s starting quarterback in 1986 as a freshman, but he suffered a broken jaw against USC in the game before the Big Game that season. But with backup Kevin Brown leading the 1-9 Golden Bears, Cal pulled off what is considered the biggest upset in Big Game history, a 17-11 victory over a 7-2, 16th-ranked Stanford squad that had already accepted a bid to the Gator Bowl. Kapp had been told before the game that he would not be back for the next season, so it was his final game. Taylor watched from the sidelines with his mouth wired shut.

Taylor was also the Bears’ starting quarterback in 1987, but he broke his finger against Arizona State in the game before the Big Game. Taylor was missed in that game as Cal got smashed 31-7 with Brad Howe serving as Cal’s quarterback.

Here is Taylor’s Tuesday press conference, with his memories of the 1988 Big Game starting 27 minutes into the video.

There is an interesting parallel between Taylor’s rise at Cal and that of current Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Taylor began his freshman season at Cal behind two quarterbacks and got his first start against Oregon State in 1986. Mendoza began his redshirt freshman season behind two quarterback and got his first start this season against Oregon State.

To which Taylor responded:

“I think I was the eighth quarterback when I got to Cal. I thought I was redshirting until Tuesday of the Oregon State game. I’m sure he’s much more prepared than I was both mentally and emotionally. He’s pretty special. I’ve been impressed. The times that I’ve seen him play, just seems very composed, he’s got great toughness. And the team has really rallied behind him. They’ve really taken a step forward once he kind of really became their guy. They’ve really kind of taken off offensively."

Saturday's 126th Big Game will be played at Stanford Stadium starting at 3:30 p.m., and televised by Pac-12 Network.  Cal (4-6, 2-5 Pac-12) is a 6.5-point favorite in Saturday's game against Stanford (3-7, 2-6), and the Bears need to beat Stanford this week and UCLA the following week to become bowl-eligible.

Cover photo of Troy Taylor by Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports

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