From ‘Bearial’ to Regatta: LSJUMB prepares for Big Game

While for many, Stanford’s annual football game against Cal is no laughing matter, this seriousness is no match for the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band, better known as LSJUMB. 

LSJUMB helped lead the charge into Big Game week on Monday by proclaiming dead Oski the Bear (an effigy of Cal’s mascot) after impaling him on the Claw Fountain in White Plaza during the “Bearial.”

Trombonist Kaleb Gjestson ’28 said that events like the “Bearial” help electrify the Stanford community in preparation for Big Game. “Everybody kind of gets into the band spirit themselves,” Gjestson said.

“It’s fun to have silly traditions,” Lillian Sanders ’26, a percussionist, saxophonist and member of the Band’s leadership team, said.

The Band’s activities continued on Wednesday, competing against Cal’s band during a sailing regatta between the two schools at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, as well as a handful of otehr sporting events throughout the week.

However, the focus of the Band’s energies remains on Saturday’s Big Game. In preparation, musicians have been practicing in the Band Shak and listening in the hallways to the same background track all week: an alumni-recorded sound bite called “We’re Gonna Eat the Bears”. Each section of LSJUMB also prepared group costumes that remain secret until Saturday, even to other sections. 

“There’s so many traditions that we have that make [Big Game] super special and fun,” said Stella Chung ’25 M.S. ’26, a melaphonist, tubist and saxophonist. “I think if anyone’s wanting to join in the future, they definitely should check that off the bucket list.”

Any Stanford student is eligible to join LSJUMB and play for Big Game — the only requirement is attending a Friday volleyball game and the Band’s field rehearsal on Saturday before kickoff. Sanders said this flexibility means the Band usually varies in size from around 30 to 80 musicians.

Of the freshmen who had already joined the band earlier in the quarter, Sanders sees a lot of enthusiasm. “We’ve got a great class of newcomers this year,” she said. “They’re definitely ready.”

Sanders hopes more students join the Band and find the community and environment she enjoys so much. “I feel like it’s an amazing way to, like, get out of the stress of being a Stanford student and just like, rock the f**k out.”

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