It's no secret that coaches hate looking ahead. Players are forbidden from
looking ahead. Coaches often preach to their players to focus not on the
rewards, but on the results.
Former Denver Broncos kicker Jim Turner acknowledged this, when, in the
immediate aftermath of Super Bowl XII, he offered this explanation for the
Broncos' loss to the Dallas Cowboys: “We were out there thinking about winning. They were out there thinking about football.”
Judging from his remarks at the press luncheon earlier this week hyping the
108th Big Game, I'm sure Walt Harris and crew will be thoroughly focused on
football this week. And I'm equally sure that Walt Harris and crew are forbidden
from thinking about winning.
They can't think about winning. They won't talk about winning. But I can. So
I will. Beating the Bears this year would be a big win with especially big
rewards.
Granted, every game is a big game and every win is a big win when you're
trying to transform a football program into something consistently competitive. But for Stanford, this big game isn't just a Big Game. It's Bigger than Big
usually is.
For Stanford, this could be the biggest Big Game since 2001, when the
Cardinal had to hold off an all-time bad Bears squad to ensure themselves of an
upper tier Pac-10 bowl. (Or so we all thought at the time…) It definitely will
be the biggest Big Game for Stanford since the 1999 game when a trip to the Rose
Bowl was at stake. This year, a trip to any bowl is likely at stake.
But I think the case could also be made that this could be the biggest game
Stanford has played in the past six years, period. Even bigger than the 2001
games against Oregon and UCLA. Just as big as that 1999 Big Game. And if
Stanford can pull it off, the rewards of a win this week would be bigger and
more well-deserved than any other game I can think of since that afternoon when
Casey Moore ran for Roses.
It is possible to suggest that a Stanford victory this week could signal a
shift in the balance of power in Bay Area college football. When it came to the
Bay Area, Stanford owned the 1990s. In those days, Cardinal Football meant big
wins and bowl bids, while all Golden Bear Football was good for was an afternoon
of comedy.
Of course, since then the Bears have come back, made remarkable strides, and
flirted with national prominence. As I type this sentence, cal has control of
the Bay Area's college football scene.
But judging from the performances of both teams over the past six weeks,
cal's grip might be slipping. While Old Blues are busy renaming their
quarterback from Joe Ayoob to Joe Ay-“boo”, Stanford fans are gaining more
confidence in their team and getting more reasons to believe in their players
each week. Based on those facts, control of the Bay Area's college football
conscience may very well be up for grabs again.
A Big win could also remove some of the mystique surrounding Jeff Tedford. There is no question that what Tedford has done at Berkeley has been nothing
short of phenomenal. There is also no question that he has earned all the power,
the respect, and the reputation that has come with his success.
But let's be honest, compared to the other men who coached college football
teams in the Bay Area from 2002 to 2004, he really didn't have much competition. When it came to coaching skills (and having the talent to match), the other guys
couldn't touch Tedford with a 10-foot pole. Or, in this case, an Axehandle.
Now, that perception is starting to change, and Walt Harris is the reason
why. Outgoing Stanford athletic director Ted Leland often says that the true
test of a coach's worth is how they perform when their team isn't playing well. “Not playing well” aptly described Stanford
Football through most of September,
and again during the critical moments of the games against UCLA and U$C.
But each time, Walt has been able to pull the team together and win games. For the first time, there is someone in the Bay Area who might actually be able
to — gasp! — outcoach Jeff Tedford.
To me, those are two of the big subplots and two of the main rewards for a
Stanford win this weekend. But the biggest reward of all just might be the most
basic. Bowl wins are nice. So are the pats on the back from alumni and
supporters. So are the bragging rights. But this year, Big Game for Stanford
means simply this: a tangible reward not only for all of the setbacks they had
to endure over the past three years, for all of the hard work of those young men.
Every year, Stanford Football players work hard to make themselves and their
program better. They run, they practice, they study, they sweat, they puke, they
win, they lose, they live, they learn. They risk their own physical and mental
well-being. The coaches drive themselves to exhaustion thinking of ways to make
their players and their program better.
Every year they do this. The last three years, they've had nothing to show
for it.
But this year, a win against cal would give Stanford two tangible, physical
rewards for all of their sacrifices and all of their hard work: The Axe and a
bowl bid. For the Cardinal, it is a truly Big Game indeed.
BEAT CAL!!
RANDOM PAC-10 THOUGHTS
I'm not going to lie to you… as I watched Alexis Serna's last-ditch field goal
sail toward the uprights, I thought it was good. I even uttered an expletive or
two while the ball was in the air. Then the kick fell to the earth, bounced in
the endzone, and I took it all back. Udeme Udofia's tackle for a six-yard loss
three plays before that kick may very well have been the difference in that
game…
Is it me, or is Nick Sanchez having one of the better seasons a Stanford
defensive back has had in a while? Every time I look up, he's either swatting
away passes, recovering fumbles, or getting the job done some other way…
Stanford is going to need a running game. If not this week, then certainly
next week…
Don't be fooled by what Jeff Tedford says this week about his quarterback
situation. I think he knows darn well who's going to start, and I would be
absolutely amazed if it wasn't Joe Ayoob. That is, unless Tedford really thinks
Steve Levy (the quarterback, not the ESPN anchor) can give the Bears a better
chance to win this Saturday than Joe Ay-“boo”…
I'm not saying Tedford's in a bind for a quarterback, but my cal spies tell
me that Wes Dalton, Kerry McGonigle, and J. Torchio were taking snaps at
practice the other day…
Not a bad start when your first three completions go for 163 yards and two
scores. Not a bad finish when your final stat line read 22-of-27 for 510 yards,
five scores, and no picks. Take a bow, Drew Olson…
I mean, come on. Seriously. Could that Oregon-Washington State game possibly
have ended any other way? These are the Cougs we're talking about…
Stat of the Week: after his team's close win over Washington State, Mike Bellotti is now 41-12 in games decided by seven points or less…
Hey, Arizona… nice going. I can't believe those guys messed themselves against
the Huskies, of all teams…
Runner-up for Quote of the Week, courtesy of U$C head coach Pete Carroll, who
talked about the significance of their win at cal: “It seems like California has
been right behind us for a while, [so last week's game] was about trying to
separate, a little bit. And I think in this game that happened.”
Quote of the Week, courtesy of Texas tight end David Thomas, who was asked
whether the Longhorns ran up the score en route to a 52-0 halftime lead over
Kansas: “I don't think you can ever call the dogs off in the first half.”
Cheap Shot of the Year, courtesy of cal linebacker Zack Follett, who
intentionally head-butted a helmet-less and defenseless Lendale White while
White was on the ground. Follett's despicable act was caught by ABC's cameras,
and was replayed to Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts' disgust. Jeff Tedford later
apologized to Pete Carroll, and forced Follett to apologize as well…
Not a Pac-10 thought, but… does anyone else think the Indiana Pacers' jerseys
look like an awful lot like cal's jerseys?
Not a Pac-10 thought, but… is Massachusetts one of those weird states where
you can't pump your own gas? I was driving up to Vermont the other day (just so
I can say I've been to Vermont), stopped off at a gas station in Holyoke, and
looked quizzically at the man approaching my car who was asking me how much gas
I wanted. Being from California, I automatically assumed the guy was begging and
got my sorry-I-don't-have any-cash-on-me speech ready. Then I realized the
station was full-serve only. Is all of Massachusetts like that? And does that
guy get a tip? If so, I owe him some dough…
Not a Pac-10 thought, but… the Philadelphia Eagles are phreaking phinished…
E-MAILBAG
Was it something I said, TrojanFans?
Craig from parts unknown writes: “Troy Walters over Mike Williams? You are kidding. That is a strictly ‘homer’ pick. Williams was at least as good
as Keyshawn Johnson and played in more important games than either Johnson or
Walters. What about Sean Dawkins (he may be before your time) or Derek Hagan? Williams, Dawkins and Hagan were basically unstoppable.”
Dawkins was a bit before my time, so I didn't get a chance to see him play at
cal. But I can tell you that, like Keyshawn and Mike Hass, Troy Walters simply took
over entire football games. Plus, that Biletnikoff Award that sits on his mantle
carries some weight as well.
U$C alum Bill from parts unknown writes: “I linked into your column
while looking up some USC football items. Great column! My only beef is not a
real beef, but here goes... Your use of "U$C" to refer to USC is clever but not
very accurate. I am a USC alum from ‘77 and I have a son who is a senior today. While U$C might have some historic relevance it is not accurate today. In fact
something like 65% of the current student body is on some scholarship. I like
the column and have no problem with U$C, but wanted to clarify the facts. Fight
on for Troy!”
Thanks for the kind words, Bill! It's too bad not all Trojan fans are so
cordial. David from parts unknown writes: “Do you really take the time to type
the $ in every USC mention? A Stanford fan making fun of moneyed SC fans? Now
I've seen everything. But if it helps ease the pain of yearly ass-kickings at
the hands of SC, then go for it!”
Putting the $ in U$C is habit. Sorry. Besides, feel free to refer to our
school as $tanford. Not only am I secure enough in my feelings about my school's
standing in the academic community to not be offended by it, it's also pretty
darn accurate!
So call it $tanford if you want to. U$C alum Donald from parts unknown
does: “Troy (what a nice name, even if it's wasted), your USC envy is
showing and is more than a bit tiresome. As it happens, $tanford's costs are
higher than USC's. I thought only UCLA fans had genetic cases of USC Envy but it
appears that I was wrong.”
OK, folks. Once and for all, let me dig back into the archives to the Clardy's Corner that was posted on November 6, 2002, when I wrote the following
on U$C fans:
“...let me be honest here. Is U$C's tradition of football excellence
enviable? I don't think there's any doubt about that. Howard Jones. John
McKay. Mike Garrett. The Juice. Ronnie Lott. Junior Seau. Student Body Left. Student Body Right. National championships. The list goes on. A list that's
been crammed down our throats every chance TrojanFan gets, mind you, but it's
a mighty impressive list nonetheless.
I think Stanford unquestionably has one of the more storied programs in the
Pac-10, and certainly there's no shortage of historical items to be proud of
when it comes to the cardinal and white. But when it comes to the cardinal and
gold, I think we'd all have to agree that U$C's football tradition blows
everyone else in the Pac-10 (and, perhaps outside of Notre Dame, everyone else
in the country) out of the water.
But do they have to throw their "excellence" in everyone's faces? Do they
have to take themselves so seriously, yet be so superficial about it? Do they
have to be so pompous and arrogant about everything? They haven't won a
national championship since 1978, but you wouldn't know it.
Speaking of Notre Dame, many dislike the Fighting Irish because of the very
same reasons. Both programs have "it" (and, to quote Louis Armstrong, if you
have to ask what "it" is, you'll never know). To me, though, there's a slight,
almost imperceptible distinction that makes all the difference in the world
between Notre Dame and U$C. You may have "it", but it's what you do with "it"
that counts. When "it" works, you have the ceremony that surrounds Notre Dame
Football. When "it" doesn't work, you have the cornball that surrounds U$C
Football.”
And to all that, I'll add this: TrojanFan, turn the page. Your team has
handled its business every week so far this season, and there's no indication
that will change anytime before the Rose Bowl. As fans, you need to enjoy it
more instead of proving my points for me every week. And with that, I'm
considering this matter closed.
Quickly, E-mailbag resident Duck fan Scott in Los Angeles checks in:
“Joe Ayoob was a disaster against Oregon. Thank god Cal brought him to the
game. DeSean Jackson did not help by dropping all of those passes but watching
Ayoob is more fun than watching Derek Anderson. With DA there was a 50% chance
of something going horribly wrong. With Ayoob even successful plays are an
adventure.”
But see, here's the thing… Derek Anderson was also dangerous to the other
team! When he and Hass were clicking, it was breathtaking. Ay-“boo” is only
dangerous to his own team. Big difference.
PAC-10 PICKS
And now, for my least favorite week to try to pick games… it's Rivalry Week!
Washington State @ Washington. This time last week, I thought the
Cougars were a shoo-in to beat Washington. Now, who knows? I do know this: the
last time I checked, Tyrone Willingham had a pretty decent record during Pac-10
Rivalry Week, and that's something I can't really overlook. Jerome Harrison,
Jason Hill, Mkristo Bruce, and the other Cougars deserve better, but I like
Washington by 6.
Oregon State @ Oregon. The team whose quarterbacks make the fewest
mistakes will win. Plus, even with Sabby Piscatelli, I'm still nowhere near sold
on the Beavers' defense. I like Oregon by 10.
Last week: 3-1 (straight-up), 2-2 (ATS).
This year: 19-9 (straight-up), 14-14 (ATS).
Troy Clardy is a host and reporter for the Stanford Cardinal Farm Report,
airing Saturdays on FSN Bay Area.
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