Cal Berkeley Furries Infiltrated College Gameday With Students Dressed In Cartoon Animal Costumes

The scene at College Gameday in Berkeley on Saturday morning was unlike any other. Not only did Cal fans take over ESPN’s broadcast with all kinds of intentionally woke signs, furries showed up in mass.

A large contingency of costume-clad individuals made for a truly bizarre moment in college football history.

Berkeley, of course, is one of the most liberal cities in the United States— if not the entire world. Politically speaking, the population of 120,000 leans heavily toward the left. So does the student body. Although political preference does not matter when it comes to sports, it is an important piece of this specific conversation. Extreme open-mindedness is a big theme in The People’s Republic of Berkeley.

Furries are part of that!

A ‘Furry’ is defined as “an enthusiast for animal characters with human characteristics, in particular a person who dresses up in costume as such a character or uses one as an avatar online.” They are a community of inclusivity, acceptance, and friendship that allows people the opportunity to express themselves however they so choose.

The ethos of a Furry goes hand-in-hand with the culture of Berkeley. Cal even has a club for it.