GAME PREVIEW: STANFORD
BY ANDREW OWENS
O
nce former Stanford head
coach Jim Harbaugh left the
program to take over the
NFL's San Francisco 49ers,
many wondered when the Cardinal
would take a step back.
But only Stanford — hardly known
as one of the country's most presti‑
gious football programs — can claim
trips to the Bowl Championship
Series in each of the last four sea‑
sons of the system's existence, three
of which came with David Shaw as
head coach.
Following the Cardinal's sloppy
13‑10 home loss to USC Sept. 6, it's
fair to wonder if 2014 is the year the
program finally falters, considering
not only that it lost but how it lost: two
turnovers, eight penalties for 68 yards
and two missed field goals.
"I don't see any signs they're step‑
ping back, but I'm not so sure they're
as strong defensively as they were last
year," said Tom Fitzgerald, who covers
the team for The San Francisco Chronicle.
"They're ranked No. 1 in the country
in yards and points allowed, but two of
those were shutouts against UC Davis
CARDINAL RULE
Stanford has won four of the
past five against Notre Dame,
but is the series about to shift?
David Shaw became one of just three head coaches
to ever lead his team to BCS bowl games in each
of his first three years, guiding the Cardinal to the
Fiesta Bowl in 2012 and back-to-back Rose Bowls
in 2013-14.
PHOTO COURTESY STANFORDPHOTO.COM
