University of California cousins — the Aggies and the Bears — face off tomorrow (Sept. 4) on the gridiron for the first time in 71 years. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium on the Berkeley campus is set for 1 p.m.

The Aggies' home opener is set for next week, Sept. 11, with a 6 p.m. kickoff against Portland State. The campus Police Department is selling discounted tickets as a fundraiser for Concerns of Police Survivors, or COPS. See details below.

UC Davis vs. Cal: Sept. 4

The Aggies and Bears have played eight times previously, from 1932 to 1939 — with the Bears victorious every time, or so they say. UC Davis' El Rodeo yearbook staff declared the Aggies the winners of the 1939 game — because the Aggies were ahead 14-12 at halftime, which coincided with the end of the agreed-upon two-hour time limit.

The Cal coach insisted that the game be played out — a full four quarters — and, in the end, Cal came out on top, 32-14. Read about the series.

Now, seven decades later, some might look upon tomorrow's game as a grudge match. So, if you want to be part of history, get yourself to Berkeley for the  game.

The athletics department has arranged for a bus caravan (five buses, all full, each carrying 50 passengers) and discounts if you choose to go by train.

CAPITOL CORRIDOR DISCOUNT: The Capitol Corridor line is offering a 20 percent discount on fares to and from Richmond. Once you get to Richmond, you simply walk to the adjacent BART station, for the ride to downtown Berkeley. Then you can walk to the stadium or take a free shuttle.

To arrange Capitol Corridor reservations, click here or call (800) 872-7245 and use one of the following Promotion Codes:

• V287 — for trips originating in Davis.

• V129 — for trips originating at any other stop along the Capitol Corridor (Sacramento, for example).

The athletics department plans to have ambassadors on board Train No. 729 (scheduled to depart from Davis at 9:25 a.m.) to make sure Aggie fans have an easy travel day.

PREGAME CELEBRATION FOR ALL: Everyone is invited to the Aggies pregame celebration on Memorial Glade in the heart of the Cal campus. The party is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and continue until noon — at which time the Aggie contingent will march to Memorial Stadium.

Organizers said they sold approximately 1,000 tickets for the pregame party (including food and beverages) by the Aug. 20 deadline. But, even if you missed out, you are still welcome to attend and buy individual food items and beverages.

WEAR WHITE TO THE GAME: UC Davis normally asks its fans tyo wear blue — but, because Cal use the same color, the Aggie fans are asked to switch to white for this game.

Need an Aggie football T-shirt in white? No problem. Look for the special UC Davis-Cal football T-shirt at the main bookstore and the Pro Shop at the Activities and Recreation. The price is $14.95; if any are still available, they will be sold at the pregame celebration.                                         

TICKETS: UC Davis sold its allotment of 5,000, but Cal still has tickets available. Click here or call (800) GO BEARS; be sure to ask for seating close to the other 5,000 Aggie fans — in the Blue Zone.

TV, WEB AND RADIO: If you cannot make it to Berkeley for the football game, you can watch on Comcast SportsNet California (click here for channel locations) or online, or listen on KHTK (1140 AM) or KDVS (90.3 FM).

WATER POLO AND WINE TASTING: There iss more than football in store for Aggie fans in Berkeley:

• The men’s water polo team is set to take on Cal at the Spieker Aquatics Complex at 10 a.m., three hours before the football game.

• And, the night before, from 5:30 to 7:30, the Cal Aggie Alumni Association is hosting a wine tasting at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. $15 for CAAA, Parent Association and TeamAGGIE members; $20 for nonmembers. Click here to arrange reservations. Click here for map.

UC Davis vs. Portland State: Sept. 11

Every home football game has a theme, starting with Sept. 11’s A Salute to Heroes, celebrating law enforcement and honoring local officers killed in the line of duty.

If you a buy a discounted ticket from the campus Police Department, you will be supporting Concerns of Police Survivors, or COPS, a national program that runs a summer camp for surviving children, and provides other resources to surviving families and co-workers of slain officers.

A SALUTE TO HEROES: The program is set to begin at 4 (two hours before kickoff) with a display of helicopters, bomb squad robots, armored vehicles and vintage police cars on the Dairy Road Intramural Field across La Rue Road from Aggie Stadium.

UC Davis police Lt. Matt Carmichael said the equipment will come from the California Highway Patrol; the Yolo County Bomb Squad; the Placer County Sheriff's Department; the Elk Grove, Rocklin and Vallejo police departments; and Travis Air Force Base. Carmichael said the Sacramento Police Department’s equestrian unit and Placer County’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team also will be represented.

PAYING RESPECT: Carmichael said A Salute to Heroes will specifically honor the Vallejo Police Department’s Jeffrey Azuar, shot and killed while apprehending a suspect in 2000; the Rocklin department’s Matthew Redding, struck and killed by an intoxicated driver in 2005; and special agent David Wieger, Air Force Office of Special Investigations at Travis Air Force Base, killed when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Iraq in 2007.

Relatives and colleagues of the three officers are scheduled to take to the football field before the game begins. A helicopter flyby is planned as a salute to the special guests.

“The aim is to honor these officers, raise funds and draw attention to this national program,” Carmichael said.

TICKETS: The discounted tickets, $18 each, include reserved seating and a large drink. For more information or to order tickets, contact Carmichael, (530) 752-5350 or mecarmichael@ucdavis.edu.

Regular tickets are available from the Freeborn Hall box office, in person or by telephone, (530) 752-1915; and online (via Tickets.com).