Do you remember two weeks ago when Oregon humiliated USC, 47-20? Oregon rose to #7 in the national rankings...until they ran into the new bully on the block, the Stanford Cardinal. Stanford rolled to an impressive 51-42 win last Saturday, thus becoming bowl eligible and bumping them into the national rankings for the first time since 2001. Some of you unfamiliar with the nickname might ask, "isn't it cardinals, like the bird?" No, it's the color. It's a long story, but years ago they were the Indians. Then came the sensitivity issue and they went from Indians to the color of their jerseys--AND their mascot is now a tree. So, they've got that going for them.
Seriously, what they really have going for them is a rising star for a head coach, the nation's toughest running back, and a rookie QB who could rank with the all-time Stanford bests when he is all finished. Stanford's athletics director, Bob Bowlsby, did a little outside the box thinking when he hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach three years ago. Harbaugh is, in fact, that same guy who starred at Michigan as a quarterback for Bo Schembechler, finished third in the Heisman after being Player of the Year in the Big Ten, and was taken in the first round of the NFL draft by the Bears. Harbaugh built a name for himself over his 15-year pro career as a fiery competitor, great leader, and someone who found a way to win. He's doing exactly that in Palo Alto.
The Cardinal boss cut his head coaching teeth at a non-scholarship Division I-AA school--the University of San Diego--for three years. He posted a shiny 29-6 mark and then was offered the chance to rebuild the Cardinal program. In his first year, 2007, Stanford knocked off USC in the LA Coliseum and also defeated co-conference champ Cal. The solid foundation continued to be built last year as the Cardinal played a better brand of football and came up just shy of a bowl opportunity. This year Stanford has taken on even more of their coach's personality and are playing great football, proven by last week's upset of previously ranked #7 Oregon.
Given a rich history in throwing the football, it's a wonder what Harbaugh is doing with his offense. Running back Toby Gerhart is #2 in the nation with 1,217 yards and a 135 yds/game average. He's a 6'1, 235 combination of power and agility. Who knew a school known for academics also could get big, tough kids up front to block for him? Gerhart is such a good athlete that he is a starter in the outfield for the Stanford baseball team that went to last year's College World Series and he was 12-12 in stolen bases.
Harbaugh's offense is extremely well-balanced rushing for 211 yds/game and passing for 232. They have produced over 500 total yards in each of their last three games. The person passing the football so well is a young guy. Andrew Luck, a red-shirt freshman and son of former University of West Virginia star and Houston Oiler quarterback Oliver Luck, is playing like a poised veteran. With Luck's talent and Harbaugh's coaching, young Mr. Luck is #1 in the PAC-10 in passing efficiency and #9 in the nation. Luck has thrown only three INTs all year versus his 11 TD passes. He's mobile enough to carry the ball, too, boasting a 5.2 yard rushing average on 44 attempts.
The Cardinal now sits at 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the conference. This weekend they have another opportunity to provide for great Monday morning coffee shop talk when they travel to USC. Sure, the Trojans will remember what took place two years ago when the upstart Cardinal shocked them in the game's waning seconds. But this is a more mature, more physical, and far mentally tougher group than what Harbaugh had in his inaugural season "on The Farm."
Playing with the confidence, energy and swagger of their head coach, let's see if the Cardinal can prove last week's pinball scoring shootout with Oregon wasn't a fluke.
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