SYDNEY -- College football fever landed here on Saturday.
Australian fans saw a high-flying affair with plenty of points scored between Cal and Hawaii (the Bears won 51-31). But like so many college football game days, the sights and sounds around the contest were just as memorable as what the two teams provided on the field.
Here are The Woot and Wye Show's favorite things about the Sydney Cup:
1. The Aussie spin on the college football tailgate
Licensing laws in Sydney limit a true authentic tailgate experience in the ANZ Stadium complex, however the promoters of the event made up for it with a free tailgate party at a nearby venue called "The Brewery." Inside the complex was live music, beer, food trucks, cornhole and more. The atmosphere didn't match that of traditional tailgate, but it was among the best we have experienced in Australia with lots of energy and laughter.
Bit of cornhole action at the official #tailgate for the #SydneyCup. Not quite a proper tailgate but still hella fun pic.twitter.com/UWJ6V60CMY
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 27, 2016
The Australian spin on a traditional tailgate isn't too bad. #SydneyCup pic.twitter.com/52H7iWHEhl
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 27, 2016
2. The obscure fan jerseys
Understandably the crowd was not filled with a huge amount of Cal Bears and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors fans, although some diehards did make the trip.
People repping old school @JForsett @CalFootball jerseys here at the #SydneyCup tailgate. pic.twitter.com/jzalNqhOg4
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 27, 2016
The Australian spectators dusted off and pulled out their favorite football jerseys. The most popular being a 49ers' Jarryd Hayne jersey, which was easily being worn by over a thousand spectators. Some of our personal favorites included a Jaguars' Eugene Monroe jersey, a Joshua Cribbs' jersey and these Tim Tebow Florida jerseys.
We expect a wide variety of American football jerseys today at the #SydneyCup pic.twitter.com/9uShEFCrD2
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 26, 2016
Nothing beats this wife and daughter combo.
Best jersey combo in the stadium. #SydneyCup pic.twitter.com/rxhTkGi0lP
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 27, 2016
3. James Jones-ing
There were way too many people doing this. This is an ugly trend that needs to be stopped. It was 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Plenty of James Jonesing going on today. #SydneyCup pic.twitter.com/HP5OQVyCpA
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 26, 2016
4. The Cal cannon
We spoke with the cannon operators pregame and the cannon was brought in from a country town five hours from Sydney called "Wagga Wagga." The two tests of the cannon pregame were so loud that it actually broke two microphones. The Sydney crowd absolutely loved the cannon, which was fired after every Cal touchdown.
The Cal cannon was brought from Wagga for today's game. Told it is extremely loud. Will be shot after Cal TD's. pic.twitter.com/pWKucCMN8M
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 27, 2016
The #Cal cannon in full flight. #SydneyCup pic.twitter.com/FNvf0gfp0A
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 27, 2016
5. Food and drink
The most popular thing during the game was these two-foot long hot dogs. The abnormally large hot dog was in such high demand people queued close to an hour to get their hands on one. Aussies love their food.
Feeling hungry at halftime!? Chow down on Hot Dog. It is absolutely massive, well exactly 2 ft actually. pic.twitter.com/hlet8dhzZ4
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 27, 2016
6. This guy
The Puppeter. No explanation needed.
Keep an eye out for this guy & Razz when your down here for the #SydneyCup. pic.twitter.com/AhgNLacibN
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 26, 2016
7. Aisea Tongilava's support
Tongilava, a sophomore linebacker for the Cal Bears, had a huge supporter group make the long journey down under. Tongilava's family were the first people we met this morning on the train ride to the stadium and are extremely passionate about football. They were seen throughout the game holding a giant banner in support of Aisea.
1st people we met this morning was the family of Aisea Tongilava. Travelled here to watch him play. Amazing family. pic.twitter.com/LgwWYFovqi
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 27, 2016
8. The stadium ran out of beer
Just after halftime we started receiving a plethora of tweets from fans who claimed ANZ Stadium had "run out of beer." A Defcon 1 scenario for ANZ Stadium.
Update: there is no beer left. Or Smirnoff. Only warm cans of JB & Coke. Line still 100+ long. #SydneyCup
— Matt Bungard (@TheMattBungard) August 27, 2016
And one more thing
It had everything ... even a marriage proposal.
Two Hawaii fans from Adelaide, Australia ,were participating in some halftime entertainment when one of them decided to shake it up a little. "PG" got down on one knee and asked "Emma" to marry him. She said yes and the crowd went wild. A moment of love and joy among the beautiful chaos of college football in Sydney.
This day has had everything. Cornhole, Puppets, Tebow jerseys, insanely large hot dogs & now a marriage proposal. pic.twitter.com/N7pCadjQAB
— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) August 27, 2016
All in all it was a fantastic experience for the people of Australia with many fans leaving the stadium with smiles on their faces and praying to the football gods that football will be back on their shores, sooner rather than later.