Aiming for the three-peat: Ink Bowl 2023 preview

This Saturday, flashes of crimson and blue will path behind the gamers of essentially the most anticipated, prestigious and notorious collegiate brawl of the Bay: the Ink Bowl. 

As Stanford’s fountains flip crimson in preparation for Large Recreation towards Cal on Saturday, The Stanford Day by day and the Day by day Californian are getting ready for their very own on-field custom courting again to 1952. The Ink Bowl contests the athletic prowess of the 2 rivaling universities’ impartial newspapers via a flag soccer recreation. 

The prize? An X-Acto knife that has comfortably referred to as The Stanford Day by day dwelling for the previous two years. Identical to the well-known Axe fought for on the large display, the blade holds a longstanding time-honored custom in every faculty’s historical past.

Accompanied by a long time of previous Day by day newspaper clippings and propped up on a picket plaque, the Knife now hangs proudly at The Stanford Day by day home — a far cry from the soul-crushing newsroom the Day by day Cal as soon as relegated the accolade to a few years in the past.

After a 45-25 level win final 12 months, The Stanford Day by day goals to conquer the Day by day Californian as soon as once more. 

Present sports activities managing editor, Ink Bowl organizer and first-time participant Kaushik Sampath ’25 highlights the numerous work that must be finished to make sure a profitable Ink Bowl.

“You’ll have a look at flag soccer after which say, ‘Oh, this isn’t a really critical factor, this isn’t a critical occasion that takes loads of time,’” Sampath stated. “However, in actuality, it takes rather a lot to coordinate.”

Sampath described duties of each groups contributing to the logistical group of Ink Bowl. Elements included being aware of writers’ obligations and time allotments for Large Recreation, coordinating with KZSU, Stanford College’s FM radio station, on broadcasting their protection of Ink Bowl and guaranteeing adherence to flag soccer guidelines.

The Stanford Day by day staff has practiced routinely on the weekends main as much as the sport, a vital step in safeguarding the Knife’s dwelling. The Day by day’s staff this 12 months is various, consisting of a set of gamers from sections throughout the newspaper, presenting a singular, but rewarding problem for the staff.

“Individuals who haven’t actually performed flag soccer earlier than nonetheless need to take part … I undoubtedly need to give them that chance to apply and see what it’s like to simply play soccer,” Sampath stated. 

Whereas the Axe could at present be claimed by Cal, The Stanford Day by day is assured that the Knife will stay on the Farm.

“We now have loads of gamers again from final 12 months’s staff who will likely be taking part in, who will lead us to this victory,” Sampath stated. “We now have individuals who can create performs and have good soccer minds.”

Considered one of these key gamers is former sports activities managing editor and repeat Ink Bowl participant Ells Boone ’24. For him, Ink Bowl isn’t just about flag soccer. 

“My mentality and purpose is to win. We want the three-peat,” Boone wrote. “I need to graduate from Stanford by no means having misplaced Ink Bowl.”

Boone, a veteran of the sport, participated within the crushing defeat of the Day by day Cal final 12 months. He credit “the psychological benefit over Cal having received two [Ink Bowls] in a row,” as a energy within the annual recreation.

What does a win for The Stanford Day by day imply for the Cardinal soccer staff? Effectively, we are able to discover that reply in a story {that a} Stanford Day by day article from 1969 prophesized.

“The college that wins The Ink Bowl loses Large Recreation,” wrote 1969 Stanford Day by day author Fred Mann ’72. However with comparable dropping information between the Cardinal and the Golden Bears within the Pac-12, it could not damage seeing Cal lose on the Ink Bowl.

The battle of The Dailys will start at 11 a.m. on Roble Subject, officiated by one referee from every respective newspaper’s staff. 

“They take dwelling the Axe, however we’re gonna be taking dwelling the Knife this 12 months, so let’s do it,” Sampath stated.