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 Welcome to Oski.com
 Thursday, September 09 2010 @ 02:38 AM PDT

Oski has the Axe!

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Saturday, November 21 2009 @ 11:00 PM PST
Contributed by: oski
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Amazon Electronics

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Monday, December 29 2008 @ 10:05 AM PST
Contributed by: oski
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The Tree is #1... on the Worst College Mascots List

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Thursday, November 20 2008 @ 09:48 AM PST
Contributed by: oski
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Robert O. Briggs 1927-2008 R.I.P.

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Thursday, September 18 2008 @ 09:15 AM PDT
Contributed by: oski
Views: 2,309
ROBERT ORLANDO BRIGGS

20 August 1927 - 17 September 2008

Robert O. Briggs, Director Emeritus of the University Of California Band, has passed away at the age of 81 after complications developed following routine surgery.

Bob Briggs was director of the Cal Band from 1971 until his retirement in 1995. Bob's association with the Cal Band extend much further than his time as director, however. Bob joined the Cal Band as an entering freshman in the Fall of 1947, and continued his association for the next 61 years. Even in retirement, Bob served as a resource for the current Cal Band, sharing his expertise and experience with successive generations of Cal Band members.

Because Bob's years as an undergraduate coincided with the "Glory Years" of Cal Football under Pappy Waldorf, Bob was fortunate enough to march in three successive Rose Bowls. In late 1958, as Cal was preparing for yet another (and to date its last) Rose Bowl, Bob Briggs was invited to march with the Band in order to help fill out its ranks. He thus gained the unique distinction of being the only member of the Cal Band in its 117 year history to have marched in four Rose Bowls.

In 2004, Bob recalled, "I marched in some Rose Bowls -- in fact 4 of them -- '49,'50,'51 as a student member and '59 as an invited alum. I am the only Cal Bandsman to have20done that many. It was always my goal to conduct at one of them, and we almost did after the '75 season. But UCLA went!!!"

Bob Briggs was born in Modesto, California, on 20 August 1927. He attended public schools in Modesto, graduated from Modesto High School, and briefly attended Modesto Junior College.

At Cal, Bob played cornet in the Band, and took up the study of the French horn. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music in 1951. Bob served in the U.S. Army for two years after his time at U.C. Berkeley. During his service in the Army, Bob played in the Army Band at Fort Ord in Monterey, California, and at other postings. Bob graduated from the U.S. Army Music School. He continued his musical studies, receiving a Master of Arts in Music at San Francisco State University.

Bob became band director at Armijo High School in Fairfield, California in 1955, and continued in that position until 1967 when he returned to the University of California in the capacity as assistant
Band Director as he pursued doctoral studies. He served under James Berdahl until 1971 when Berdahl took an extended leave of absence to work in Japan. Bob served as acting director for two years until he was formally appointed director of the Cal Band in 1973.

During Bob's time as director of the Cal Band, the Band made an extensive national tour in honor of the Bicentennial of the United States in the Summer of 1976 . The Cal Band's opportunities to perform at bowl games improved during his tenure as well, as the fortunes of Cal Football improved; in 1979 the Cal Band performed at its first bowl game since the 1959 Rose Bowl, the Garden State Bowl in New Jersey. During Bob's time, the Cal Band would march in three more bowl games and make an appearance at a conference game in Tokyo.

Because of the unique organization of the Cal Band as a student-run University activity, Bob Briggs had to balance the dynamics of a vigorous and youthfully demanding student government with the requirements and politics of the larger university administration. In a position fraught with potential conflicts and burdened with competing and often contradictory demands, Bob's non-confrontational style served the Cal Band and the University well.

In his earlier days as director, Bob was more formal and reserved in his relationship with band members. He was most often addressed as "Mr. Briggs." In later years, Bob developed a more casual style and later generations of Cal Band members know him best as simply, "Bob."

Upon his retirement in 1995, at the recommendation of Chancellor Tien, President of the University Peltason appointed Bob Director Emeritus of the University Of California Band. In retirement, Bob r emained active in music, helping to organize the Solano Winds, a community musical ensemble, and serving as its conductor for the past 13 years. In 2005, Bob celebrated his fiftieth year as a director with a special Solano Winds concert.

On December 1, 2006, the Cal Band Alumni Association presented Bob with its Tony Martinez award in recognition of his many contributions to and accomplishments with the Cal Band during his long association.

Bob was an avid enthusiast of automobiles, both the classics and more modern creations. He often used one or another of his antique sedans to transport Cal Band brides and grooms to their wedding ceremonies, acting as chauffeur, a role he relished.

In his six decades of association with the Cal Band, Bob touched thousands of lives. He will be long remembered by generations of Cal Band members and Cal Band fans.
 
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Oski at mybearterritory.com

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Friday, August 15 2008 @ 10:54 AM PDT
Contributed by: oski
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Oski Photos at MyBearTerritory.com
 
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Cool Alum:Oski at Lab Notes

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Thursday, May 15 2008 @ 10:47 AM PDT
Contributed by: oski
Views: 2,069
Oski. He cavorts along Memorial Stadium sidelines. He hugs kids on Cal Day. He drinks through a straw in his eyehole, a gross but mesmerizing trick. This fall, Berkeley's lovable bear mascot turns 65, with no signs of stopping. Which means, for over six decades, a parade of undergraduates have sweated it out under a stuffy bear head, wool sweater and size-15 tennis shoes. Moreover, they're under a super-duper, heavy-duty, triple-strength oath to keep it a secret from everyone forever and ever. It's enough to make you wonder, as your attention drifts between plays at a Cal football game, what is Oski all about? How did the goofy grin, high-stepping gait, clasped hands and rumors of permanent intoxication become a Cal institution?

The story begins with an engineer, of course.
 
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Bear Trivia: Test your Oski knowledge

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Tuesday, April 15 2008 @ 10:45 AM PDT
Contributed by: oski
Views: 2,256
Bear Trivia: Test your Oski knowledge at Cal Engineering News.
 
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Oski and Cal Band Drumline WSU 2007

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Sunday, March 30 2008 @ 11:06 AM PDT
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Meeting Oski in Hartford, Connecticut

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Friday, November 30 2007 @ 04:23 PM PST
Contributed by: Richard Sipan
Views: 1,237
This story is apropos of nothing, other than an interesting trip to Hartford for the NCAA East Regionals (Basketball), the first time Cal had been to the NCAA Basketball playoffs in 30 years. I flew out of Las Vegas to attend, connected in Dallas/Fort Worth, Cal Band boarded same plane at DFW.
Was on my own, to the East Coast for the first time at age 29, and went to Friday nightcap game between Cal and Indiana (then coached by Bobby Knight). Almost got run down by the Indiana bus, which was parking, as I approached the arena.
Approaching my seat, saw Oski. Not that I am the touchy feely type, but I was overcome with an urge to hug the Bear, which I did, commenting, "Oski! How good it is to see you!" Somewhat to my surprise, ascertained that Oski was a female. Somewhat abashed, had a seat.
Cal proceeded to defeat Indiana 69-67, as Cal guard Keith (memory fails as to last name) drained two free throws with about a second left. Indiana could not get a shot off; Knight was quite evidently pissed.
This was a different era; ESPN covered all the NCAA basketball playoff games, with one, maybe two cameras per game.
UConn proceeded to destroy Cal on Sunday morning, though, in fairness, Cal could not buy a call from East Coast referees.
One does not think of Oski as having a specifically either male or female persona; I can only say, across the continent from my familiar haunts in California and Nevada, to see Oski, was a kind of religious experience, reminiscent of the Acts of the Apostles, where Moses representing The Law, and Isiah representing the Prophets, appeared on Mount Tabor with Jesus.
By the way, I think it is absurd that religious zealots in Sudan are persecuting an English school teacher for her class naming a Teddy Bear "Mohammed". Of course, if the Bear had been named "Oski," this problem would not have arisen.
 
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Oski sings the Cal Drinking Song

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Monday, October 15 2007 @ 06:03 PM PDT
Contributed by: oski
Views: 2,084
 
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