The connection between Stanford and Cornell Universities extends back to the founding of Stanford. Upon the death of their son Leland, Jr., the Stanfords asked Cornell’s first president, the historian Andrew Dickson White, if he would come out to California to start up their university. No, he said, but call up David Starr Jordan, one of my old students. Jordan said yes; Stanford not only got a Cornellian from a Cornellian for its first president, but also almost half of its first faculty from Cornell, too.

The only real attempt to memorialize this connection I know of was the ghastly Cornell-Stanford football game of 1991, scheduled on the occasion of Cornell’s 125th anniversary and Stanford’s 100th. Stanford won 56-6. I went to that game. At the half Stanford was already up 35-0 or something like that. The highlight of the contest came at around that time, when a group of Cornell fans unfurled a banner reading, “OK, let’s play hockey now.”

Ivy-undefeated 14th seed Cornell Big Red face 3rd seed Stanford Cardinal in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Thursday at or slightly before 2PM Pacific in Anaheim. We wish the gentlemen cagers the best of luck.