Stanford Cardinal football

Stanford Cardinal football
2017 Stanford Cardinal football team
First season 1891 (1891)[1]
Athletic director Bernard Muir
Head coach David Shaw
7th season, 64–17 (.790)
Stadium Stanford Stadium
(Capacity: 50,000)
Field Foster Field
Year built 1921
Field surface Grass
Location Stanford, California
NCAA division Division I FBS
Conference Pac-12 (since 1959)
Division North (since 2011)
Past conferences Independent (1891–1905)
PCC (1919–1942, 1946–1958)
All-time record 635–450–49 (.582)
Bowl record 14–13–1 (.518)
Claimed nat'l titles 2 (1926, 1940)[2]
Conference titles 15
Division titles 3
Heisman winners 1
Consensus All-Americans 34
Current uniform
Colors Cardinal and White[3]
         
Fight song "Come Join The Band" (official)
"All Right Now" (de facto)
Mascot Stanford Tree (unofficial)
Marching band Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band
Rivals California Golden Bears (rivalry)
USC Trojans (rivalry)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (rivalry)
San Jose State Spartans (rivalry)
Website GoStanford.com

The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with a FBS program,[4] has a highly successful football tradition. The team is currently known as the Cardinal, adopted prior to the 1982 season.[5] Stanford was known as the "Indians" from 1930 to January 1972,[6] and the "Cardinals" from 1972 through 1981. A student vote in December 1975 to change the nickname to "Robber Barons" was not approved by administrators.[6][7]

Stanford has fielded football teams every year since 1892 with a few exceptions. Like a number of other teams from the era concerned with violence in the sport, the school dropped football in favor of rugby from 1906 to 1917. The school also did not field a team in 1918 (due to World War I) or in 1943, 1944, and 1945 (due to World War II).

The school participated in the first-ever Rose Bowl against Michigan in 1902, in which they were routed 49-0. Its annual Big Game against California is the oldest and most storied rivalry in the Pac-12 and western United States. The Cardinal also compete for the Legends Trophy against independent rival Notre Dame.

The program has an all-time record of 628–448–49 for a winning percentage of .582 and has winning series records against all of its Pac-12 North rivals, except for the Washington Huskies, against whom they are 41–42–4.[8] Stanford claimed National Championships in 1926 and 1940. In 1926, led by legendary coach Glenn "Pop" Warner, who still has the most wins in Cardinal history, the team was undefeated in the regular season and tied Alabama in the 1927 Rose Bowl. The 1940 team went unbeaten and untied after defeating Nebraska 21–13 in the 1941 Rose Bowl, but the team ranked #2 in the final AP poll released before the game was played.

Pop Warner's era predated the AP poll, but Stanford has finished at least one season in the Top 10 in six different decades under seven different coaches: Claude E. Thornhill in 1934, Clark Shaughnessy in 1940, Chuck Taylor in 1951, John Ralston in 1970 and 1971, Bill Walsh in 1992, Jim Harbaugh in 2010, and David Shaw in 2011, 2012, and 2015. Stanford's most recent season finish in the top 5 was in 2015 after the #5 Cardinal dismantled Big Ten West Division Champion #6 Iowa Hawkeyes 45–16 in the 2016 Rose Bowl to finish with a record of 12–2 (Stanford's third 12-win season ever, after 2010 and 2012) and a final ranking of #3 in the final AP Poll and the final Coaches Poll (Stanford's highest AP Poll ranking since 1940 and its highest Coaches Poll ranking ever).

The Cardinal have played in 28 bowl games in their history, including 17 appearances in bowls now comprising the College Football Playoff, specifically 15 Rose Bowls (the third-most appearances of any team, behind only USC's 33 appearances and Michigan's 22), the 2011 Orange Bowl, and the 2012 Fiesta Bowl.

Quarterback Jim Plunkett is the only Stanford player to win the Heisman Trophy, doing so in 1970. Four Stanford players have finished second in Heisman voting: quarterback John Elway was second to Herschel Walker in 1982; running back Toby Gerhart was second to Mark Ingram in 2009; quarterback Andrew Luck finished second to Cam Newton in 2010 and to Robert Griffin III in 2011; and Christian McCaffrey finished second to Derrick Henry in 2015.[9]

History

Early history (1891–1962)

Stanford first fielded a football team in 1891. The team was without a coach and only played a few games. Early football pioneer Walter Camp served as Stanford's head coach in 1892 and from 1894–1895.

Football on the Pacific Coast had been on the rise since the late 1910s.[n 1] Early in 1922, Warner signed a contract with Stanford University in which he would begin coaching in 1924 (after his contract with Pitt expired).[11] Health concerns, a significant pay raise and the rising status of Pacific Coast football made Warner make the big change. Years later, he wrote:

I felt my health would be better on the Pacific coast. Weather conditions at Pittsburgh during the football season are rather disagreeable, and much of the late season work had to be done upon a field which was ankle deep in mud. At the close of every season I would be in poor physical condition, twice being rendered incapable of coaching while I recuperated in a hospital. Doctors advised me that the climate of the Pacific coast would be much better for a man of my age and in the work in which I was engaged.[12]

In 1924, Warner began his nine-year tenure at Stanford.[n 2] When he began coaching, Stanford was one of nine teams in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC). Warner inherited a notable squad from the previous year, including Ernie Nevers (whom Warner considered his greatest player)[14] and All-American ends Ted Shipkey and Jim Lawson.[15] A season highlight was the final game against Stanford's arch-rival California at California Memorial Stadium, the last game of the regular season. Before the game, both teams were undefeated and Stanford had not beaten California since 1905.[n 3][15] Nevers did not play due to a broken ankle.[16] Late in the game, California was leading 20–3; California coach Andy Smith, sure the game was over, began substituting regular players.[17] Warner seized the opportunity to combine passing with the trick plays for which he was known (a fake reverse and a full spinner), and Stanford made a comeback. The game ended in a 20–20 tie.[17]

Warner called Ernie Nevers (pictured) his greatest player.

Because the game was California's second tie, Stanford was chosen to play in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day against the University of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish coached by Knute Rockne. Like Warner, Rockne is considered one of the greatest coaches in football history. According to journalist Allison Danzig, "With the exception of Knute Rockne of Notre Dame, Pop Warner was the most publicized coach in football."[18] The game was thus a test of two different and highly influential systems of football:[19] "the Warner system with the wing backs, unbalanced line and gigantic power [and the] Knute Rockne system with its rhythmic, dancing shift, lightning speed, balanced line and finely timed blocking".[20][21] Notre Dame's backfield was composed of the renowned Four Horsemen. Nevers played all 60 minutes of the game, and rushed for 114 yd (104 m) (more yardage than the Four Horsemen combined).[22] Warner's offense moved the ball but was unable to score, and Notre Dame won 27–10.[23]

During the 1925 season, Stanford lost just one PCC game (to Washington);[24] California was finally defeated, 27–7. It was the first year of a new rivalry, with coach Howard Jones and the University of Southern California (USC) team.[n 4] In their first game, at the Los Angeles Memorial Colosseum, Stanford scored twice in the first half but had to hold off the charging Trojans in a 13–9 win. Because of the loss to Washington, Warner's team was not invited to the Rose Bowl.[24]

Stanford won all its 1926 games, crushing California 41–7 and narrowly defeating USC 13–12.[27] Warner's team was invited to the Rose Bowl to play Alabama. Like the game against the Fighting Irish, Stanford dominated but the result was a 7–7 tie.[27] After the game, both teams were recognized as national champions by a number of publications.[28][n 5]

The 1927 season was one of underachievement and ultimate success. Stanford lost its third game to non-conference St. Mary's College.[30] Stanford's next loss was against non-conference Santa Clara. The game against USC was a 13–13 tie.[30]

However, that year, Stanford defeated California 13–6. The game included a bootleg play, the invention of which some credit to Warner. Powers stated that,

Stanford put the game on ice in the fourth period when Pop introduced the bootlegger play, which was to be widely copied and still is in use. On the original bootlegger, Warner made use of Biff Hoffman's tremendous hands. Hoffman would take the pass from center and then fake to another back. Keeping the ball, he would hide it behind him and run as though he had given it to a teammate. Sometimes defensive players would step out of Hoffman's path, thinking he was going to block. Hoffman "bootlegged" for the touchdown against California ...[31]

Despite the two losses, Stanford finished the season as PCC co-champion. They were invited to the 1928 Rose Bowl against Pitt, Warner's former team now coached by protégé Jock Sutherland. Warner broke his losing Rose Bowl streak, defeating Sutherland 7–6.[32] The win was Warner's last appearance at the Rose Bowl.[33]

The 1929 season is known for Warner's regular use of the hook and lateral, a play that involves a receiver who runs a curl pattern, catches a short pass and immediately laterals the ball to another receiver running a crossing route.[34] According to the October 25, 1929 Stanford Daily, "The trickiness that Pop Warner made famous in his spin plays and passing is very evident ... The frosh have been drilling all week on fast, deceptive forward and lateral pass plays, and together with the reverses will have a widely varied attack".[35] That season brought Warner his second straight loss to Jones, with Stanford defeated by the Trojans 7–0. USC won the conference, and went to the Rose Bowl.[34] Jones went on to win every year thereafter, including 1932, Warner's last season at Stanford. Because of the five consecutive defeats, Warner was severely criticized by Stanford alumni.[n 6] In all, Warner and Jones played eight games; Jones won five, Warner two and one was a tie.[37] Against Stanford's main rival, California, Warner won five games, tied three and lost one.[36]

After Warner's departure, Claude E. Thornhill was promoted from line coach and named head coach. In his first three years, Thornhill's team, which had named itself the Vow Boys due to their promise never to lose to USC, led his Indians to the Rose Bowl each season. Thornhill was the first Stanford coach to lead his team to postseason play in his first three seasons, a feat not matched until David Shaw's 2011 to 2013 teams. Stanford lost Thornhill's first two appearances, but won the 1936 Rose Bowl over SMU, 7–0. After the first three seasons, Thornhill's teams went steadily downhill, culminating in a 1–7–1 season in 1939, after which Thornhill was fired and replaced by Clark Shaughnessy.

Marchmont Schwartz led Stanford's football program from 1942 to 1950 (Stanford did not field a football team from 1943 to 1945 because of World War II). During his tenure, Stanford made one bowl appearance, a win in the 1949 Pineapple Bowl.

Chuck Taylor led Stanford's football team from 1951–1957. Taylor's 1951 team finished 9–2 and lost in the Rose Bowl.

The tenure of Jack Curtice was a dismal one. The Indians compiled a record of 14–36 from 1957 to 1962, which included an 0–10 campaign in 1960.

John Ralston era (1963–1971)

John Ralston came to Stanford in 1963 and helped revive a sagging program. Over nine seasons, Ralston guided the team back to national respectability while building a mark of 55–36–3. In his last two seasons, 1970–1971, Ralston's teams won two Pacific-8 titles and notched back-to-back Rose Bowl victories over Ohio State and Michigan, both of whom were undefeated coming into the Rose Bowl game. Under Ralston's tutelage, Stanford quarterback Jim Plunkett won the Heisman Trophy in 1970. Plunkett and a stout defense led the team to a 9–3 record in 1970, an effort which resulted in a Rose Bowl victory, the program's 4th. Plunkett also won the Heisman trophy that season, and he remains the only Stanford player to receive the award. Stanford won the Rose Bowl again the following year, 13–12 over Michigan, as Stanford kicker Rod Garcia booted a 31-yard field goal with 12 seconds left in the game.

Ralston left Stanford following the 1971 season to take his talents to the NFL, accepting the position of head coach for the Denver Broncos.[38]

Jack Christiansen era (1972–1976)

In January 1972, when Ralston left to coach the NFL's Denver Broncos, Jack Christiansen was promoted from assistant coach and hired as Stanford's head coach.[39]

Christiansen spent five years as Stanford's head coach, compiling a winning record each years and a 30–22–3 overall record. He was criticized for starting Mike Cordova rather than Guy Benjamin at quarterback during the 1975 season and for switching between quarterbacks during the 1976 season. One day prior to the final game of the 1976 season, Stanford announced that it was terminating Christiansen as its head coach.[40]

Under Christianson, Stanford never had a losing season, though Christiansen's tenure was largely marked by mediocrity. He left Stanford in 1976, having amassed a 30–22–3 record.[41]

Bill Walsh era (1977–1978)

In 1977, Bill Walsh was hired as the head coach. He stayed for two seasons. His two Stanford teams were successful, posting a 9–3 record in 1977 with a win in the Sun Bowl, and 8–4 in 1978 with a win in the Bluebonnet Bowl. His notable players at Stanford included quarterbacks Guy Benjamin and Steve Dils, wide receivers James Lofton and Ken Margerum, linebacker Gordy Ceresino, in addition to running back Darrin Nelson. Walsh was the Pac-8 Conference Coach of the Year in 1977.

Walsh left Stanford after the 1978 season to move to the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, where he would earn a reputation as one of the NFL's greatest head coaches of all time.[42]

Rod Dowhower era (1979)

John Elway played quarterback at Stanford from 1979-1982

In 1979, Rod Dowhower was promoted from wide receivers coach to Stanford's head coach.[43] In his lone season, Stanford compiled a record of 5–5–1.[44]

Future NFL hall of famer John Elway enrolled at Stanford in 1979. Elway became one of Stanford's most iconic and successful players; however, the team struggled during his tenure.

Paul Wiggin era (1980–1983)

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Paul Wiggin was hired as head coach at his alma mater on February 1, 1980.

Despite the presence of quarterback John Elway on the team during his first three years, Wiggin was unable to lead Stanford to a bowl game during his tenure and was dismissed following the 1983 season with a 16–28 record over four years. Wiggin's efforts to reach a bowl game had come agonizingly close in 1982, when his team fell victim to what simply became known as The Play on November 20.

In an incredible finish against Cal, the school's arch-rival, Stanford, led by quarterback Elway, drove down the field to kick a go-ahead field goal with just seconds left. On the ensuing kickoff, Cal lateraled five times to score the winning touchdown. Elway's career culminated in a that game's loss, a game Stanford athletic director Andy Geiger said cost Elway the Heisman Trophy.[45]

Wiggin was fired following a poor 1–10 campaign in 1983.[46]

Jack Elway era (1984–1988)

Succeeding Wiggin as the Cardinal's head coach was John Elway's father, Jack Elway, who came to Stanford from San Jose State.[47] Under his tutelage, the Cardinal compiled a record of 25–29–2.[48] The best season during the Elway era was an 8–4 campaign in 1986, which culminated in a loss in the Gator Bowl.[49] That season would be the only winning campaign during Elway's tenure as head coach. He was dismissed after 3–6–2 season in 1988.[47]

Dennis Green era (1989-1991)

In 1989, former Northwestern head coach Dennis Green left the 49ers, where he was serving as wide receivers coach, and took the head coaching position at Stanford, inheriting a team that had graduated 17 of its 21 starters from 1988. Green led the Cardinal from 1989 to 1991. During that time, his teams finished with an overall record of 16–18,[50] going 3–0 in the Big Game against the California Golden Bears. In 1990, his Stanford team defeated the top-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. His tenure culminated with an 8–4 record (Stanford's best since 1986).[51] A loss to Washington in the opening game of the season was the deciding factor for the Pac-10 championship. The Cardinal made an appearance in the 1991 Aloha Bowl, where his team lost to Georgia Tech on a last-minute touchdown.

Green left Stanford after three seasons to accept the head coaching position with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.[52]

Walsh's return (1992-1994)

Bill Walsh returned to Stanford as head coach in 1992, leading the Cardinal to a 10-3 record and a Pacific-10 Conference co-championship. Stanford finished the season with an upset victory over Penn State in the Blockbuster Bowl on January 1, 1993 and a # 9 ranking in the final AP Poll. In 1994, after consecutive losing seasons, Walsh left Stanford and retired from coaching.[53]

Tyrone Willingham era (1995–2001)

Coach Willingham

Despite lacking experience as a head coach or coordinator, Tyrone Willingham was appointed head coach of the football program at Stanford, succeeding Bill Walsh.[54] In his seven seasons as head coach, he led the Cardinal to a 44–36–1 record and four bowl game appearances.[55] In 2000, he was presented with the Eddie Robinson Coach of Distinction Award that is given annually to honor "an outstanding college football coach and role model for career achievement".[56]

His best team was the 1999 team, which won the school's first outright Pacific-10 Conference title in 29 years and appeared in the 2000 Rose Bowl. Willingham's 44 wins were the most by a Stanford coach since John Ralston. Troy Walters was arguably Stanford's best player during this time, receiving All-American honors and the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 1999, and setting school career records in receiving yards and receptions.

Willingham left Stanford following the 2001 season to accept the head coaching position at Notre Dame.[57]

Buddy Teevens era (2002–2004)

Buddy Teevens coached Stanford from 2002 to 2004.[58] In his three years at the Farm, his teams posted a 10–23 record,[58] beat BYU twice and San Jose State three times.[59] However, Stanford failed to improve much during his tenure. Teevens went winless against rivals USC, Cal, and Notre Dame, and never posted a win against a team that finished the season with a winning record.[59] Teevens was fired on November 29, 2004.[60] The Associated Press noted that Teevens was "respected for his class and loyalty" and that he even appeared at the official announcement of his firing.[61]

Walt Harris era (2005–2006)

Walt Harris was the head coach at Stanford for two seasons. In his first season as head coach there he posted a record of 5–6. In his second season as head coach the team posted a 1–11 record, the school's worst since going 0–10 in 1960.[62] Harris was notorious for the extremely rare and bizarre decision to punt on 3rd down while trailing UCLA 7–0 on October 1, 2006 during his second season.[63] He was fired on December 4, 2006, two days after Stanford's regular season ended. By the end of his tenure at Stanford, Harris had surpassed Jack Curtice with the lowest winning percentage in the history of Stanford football, with a .261 mark.[64]

Jim Harbaugh era (2007–2010)

2007 offense lined up for a play

Jim Harbaugh was named the head football coach at Stanford University in December 2006, replacing Walt Harris.[65] Harbaugh's father, Jack, was Stanford's defensive coordinator from 1980–1981, while Harbaugh attended Palo Alto High School, located directly across the street from Stanford Stadium.[66]

Coach Harbaugh

Harbaugh stirred some intra-conference controversy in March 2007, when he was quoted as saying rival USC head coach "Pete Carroll's only got one more year, though. He'll be there one more year. That's what I've heard. I heard it inside the staff." Upon further questions, Harbaugh claimed he had heard it from staff at USC. The comment caused a rebuke from Carroll.[67] (In fact, Carroll would be at USC for three more years.) At the Pacific-10 Conference media day on July 26, 2007, Harbaugh praised the Trojans, stating "There is no question in my mind that USC is the best team in the country and may be the best team in the history of college football." The declaration, especially in light of his earlier comment, garnered more media attention.[68][69] Later in the season, Stanford defeated #1 USC 24–23 with a touchdown in the final minute. With USC being the favorite by 41 points, it was statistically the greatest upset in college football history.[70][71] Although Stanford lost to USC in 2008, Harbaugh and the Stanford Cardinal upset USC at home again with a score of 55–21 on November 14, 2009.[72] Stanford's 55 points was the most ever scored on USC in the Trojans' history until Oregon scored 62 in a 62–51 win over USC on November 3, 2012. It was Pete Carroll's first November loss as USC head coach. Harbaugh never lost in USC's home stadium, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

In January 2009, Harbaugh was confirmed to have been interviewed by the New York Jets for the head coach position,[73] although the job was eventually offered to Rex Ryan.[74]

In 2009, the Cardinal had a comeback season, finishing the regular season at 8–4, finishing #21 in the polls, and receiving an invitation to play in the 2009 Sun Bowl, the Cardinal's first bowl appearance since 2001. Running back Toby Gerhart was named a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing second to Mark Ingram in the closest margin of voting in Heisman history. On December 13, 2009, Harbaugh was rewarded with a three-year contract extension through the 2014 season.[75]

The 2010 season brought more success for Harbaugh and the Cardinal. The team went 11–1 in the regular season, with their only loss coming from Oregon, a team that was undefeated and earned a berth in the BCS National Championship Game. The first 11 win season in program history earned the Cardinal a #4 BCS ranking and a BCS bowl invitation to the Orange Bowl. Stanford defeated Virginia Tech 40–12 for the Cardinal's first bowl win since 1996 and the first BCS bowl victory in program history.[76] Second year starting quarterback Andrew Luck was the runner-up to for the Heisman Trophy, the second year in a row that the runner-up was from Stanford. Harbaugh was named the winner of the Woody Hayes Coach of the Year Award.[77]

David Shaw era (2011–present)

After Harbaugh left to coach the San Francisco 49ers, the team's offensive coordinator David Shaw became head coach. Shaw led the team to three consecutive BCS bowl games, including two Rose Bowls. The team was led by its quarterback, Andrew Luck, and its dominating defense. After Luck departed for the NFL Draft, Kevin Hogan became the team's starting quarterback. Hogan led the team to a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin. The team returned to the Rose Bowl again the following year in the 2013 season, but lost a heart-breaker to Michigan State.

After a rebuilding season in 2014, the 2015 season saw Shaw, Hogan, and Heisman-candidate Christian McCaffrey lead Stanford to its third Pac-12 championship in four years, and consequently, its third Rose Bowl in four years. With the 2015 conference title, Shaw became the first Stanford coach in 80 years to win three conference titles and only the third ever in program history (after Tiny Thornhill from 1933–1935 and Pop Warner in 1924, 1926, and 1927).

Bowl games

Year and bowl Winning team Losing team Result
1902 Rose Bowl Michigan 49 Stanford 0 Lost
1925 Rose Bowl Notre Dame 27 Stanford 10 Lost
1927 Rose Bowl Stanford 7 Alabama 7 Tied
1928 Rose Bowl Stanford 7 Pittsburgh 6 Won
1934 Rose Bowl Columbia 7 Stanford 0 Lost
1935 Rose Bowl Alabama 29 Stanford 13 Lost
1936 Rose Bowl Stanford 7 SMU 0 Won
1941 Rose Bowl Stanford 21 Nebraska 13 Won
1952 Rose Bowl Illinois 40 Stanford 7 Lost
1971 Rose Bowl Stanford 27 Ohio State 17 Won
1972 Rose Bowl Stanford 13 Michigan 12 Won
1977 Sun Bowl Stanford 24 LSU 14 Won
1978 Bluebonnet Bowl Stanford 25 Georgia 22 Won
1986 Gator Bowl Clemson 27 Stanford 21 Lost
1991 Aloha Bowl Georgia Tech 18 Stanford 17 Lost
1993 Blockbuster Bowl Stanford 24 Penn State 3 Won
1995 Liberty Bowl East Carolina 19 Stanford 13 Lost
1996 Sun Bowl Stanford 38 Michigan State 0 Won
2000 Rose Bowl Wisconsin 17 Stanford 9 Lost
2001 Seattle Bowl Georgia Tech 24 Stanford 14 Lost
2009 Sun Bowl Oklahoma 31 Stanford 27 Lost
2011 Orange Bowl Stanford 40 Virginia Tech 12 Won
2012 Fiesta Bowl Oklahoma State 41 Stanford 38 (OT) Lost
2013 Rose Bowl Stanford 20 Wisconsin 14 Won
2014 Rose Bowl Michigan State 24 Stanford 20 Lost
2014 Foster Farms Bowl Stanford 45 Maryland 21 Won
2016 Rose Bowl Stanford 45 Iowa 16 Won
2016 Sun Bowl Stanford 25 North Carolina 23 Won
Overall record 14–13–1

Head coaching history

Head coach Years Record Pct. Bowl record
No coach 1891 3–1–0 .750
Walter Camp 1892, 1894–1895 11–3–3 .735
C. D. Bliss 1893 8–0–1 .944
Harry P. Cross 1896, 1898 7–4–2 .615
George H. Brooke 1897 4–1–0 .800
Burr Chamberlain 1899 2–5–2 .333
Fielding H. Yost 1900 7–2–1 .750
Charles Fickert 1901 3–2–2 .571 0–1
Carl L. Clemans 1902 6–1–0 .857
James F. Lanagan 1903–1905 23–2–4 .862
Bob Evans 1919 4–3–0 .571
Walter D. Powell 1920 4–3–0 .571
Eugene Van Gent 1921 4–2–2 .625
Andrew Kerr 1922–1923 11–7–0 .611
Glenn Scobey Warner 1924–1932 71–17–8 .781 1–1–1
Claude E. Thornhill 1933–1939 35–25–7 .575 1–2
Clark Shaughnessy 1940–1941 16–3–0 .842 1–0
Marchmont Schwartz 1942, 1946–1950 28–28–4 .500
Chuck Taylor 1951–1957 40–29–2 .577 0–1
Jack Curtice 1958–1962 14–36–0 .280
John Ralston 1963–1971 55–36–3 .601 2–0
Jack Christiansen 1972–1976 30–22–3 .573
Bill Walsh 1977–1978, 1992–1994 34–24–1 .585 3–0
Rod Dowhower 1979 5–5–1 .500
Paul Wiggin 1980–1983 16–28–0 .364
Jack Elway 1984–1988 25–29–2 .464 0–1
Dennis Green 1989–1991 16–18–0 .471 0–1
Tyrone Willingham 1995–2001 44–36–1 .549 1–3
Buddy Teevens 2002–2004 10–23 .303
Walt Harris 2005–2006 6–17 .261
Jim Harbaugh 2007–2010 29–21 .580 1–1
David Shaw 2011–present 64–17 .790 4–2

Individual honors

See also Stanford Cardinal football statistical leaders

Award winners

Stanford Cardinal playing the UCLA Bruins in the Rose Bowl Stadium
Christian McCaffrey – 2015
Jim Plunkett – 1970
Toby Gerhart – 2009
Troy Walters – 1999
Jim Plunkett – 1970
Andrew Luck – 2011
Jim Plunkett – 1970
Andrew Luck – 2011
Joshua Garnett – 2015
Owen Marecic – 2010
Christian McCaffrey – 2015
Dick Norman – 1959
Guy Benjamin – 1977
Steve Dils – 1978
John Elway – 1982
Jim Plunkett – 1970
Andrew Luck – 2011

Retired numbers

No. Player Pos. Career
1 Ernie Nevers FB 1921-24
7 John Elway QB 1979-82
16 Jim Plunkett QB 1968-70

College Football Hall of Fame

The following Stanford players and coaches are members of the College Football Hall of Fame:[78]

Pro Football Hall of Famers

The following Stanford players are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame:[79]

Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame

The following Stanford players and coaches are members of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame:[80]

Rivalries

California

Stanford's main rival is Cal. The rivalry between the two schools is one of the oldest in college football. The two teams play in the Big Game with the winner receiving the Stanford Axe. The most famous moment of the rivalry occurred in the 1982 Big Game, when Cal used a series of laterals to defeat Stanford 25-20 as time expired. Currently, Stanford leads the series 59-46-11 and has won the last 5 meetings.

USC

Stanford maintains an active rivalry with USC. In 2007, an unranked Stanford team upset a # 1 ranked USC team 24-23. Stanford was a 41-point underdog prior to the game, and many observers have called it the greatest upset in college football history. In 2009, Stanford defeated USC 55-21, resulting in a post-game verbal confrontation between Harbaugh and USC head coach Pete Carroll. In 2013, USC returned the favor by defeating # 5 Stanford 20-17. In 2015, un-ranked Stanford went into L.A. and left with a 41-31 win over #6 USC, with Stanford QB Kevin Hogan playing the majority of the second half with a sprained ankle. USC currently leads the series 60-29-3.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame and Stanford have been rivals since 1925. The two teams have met every year since 1988, with the exception of 1995 and 1996. Notre Dame leads the series 19-10.

San Jose State

Stanford and San Jose State have been rivals since 1900. These two institutions are separated by approximately 23 miles in the Silicon Valley. The rivalry was named after Bill Walsh, who was a SJSU alumnus and positively contributed to Stanford Cardinal football through head coaching, notably the win against No. 21 Penn State in the 1993 Blockbuster Bowl, which later became the Camping World Bowl. Stanford currently leads the series 52–14–1, where the vast majority of matches have been played at Stanford.

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of October 14, 2015[81]

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
at Rice vs San Diego State at UCF at Vanderbilt at BYU vs TCU at BYU at TCU
at San Diego State vs Northwestern vs BYU at Kansas State vs BYU vs Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt vs Vanderbilt
vs Notre Dame at Notre Dame vs Notre Dame at Notre Dame vs Notre Dame at Notre Dame vs Notre Dame at Notre Dame

Notes

  1. ↑ At the 1917 Rose Bowl, the University of Oregon defeated University of Pennsylvania 14 to 0. While at the 1920 Rose Bowl, Oregon lost to one of the recognized national champions, Harvard, by one point: 6 to 7. The next year, Andy Smith's University of California team beat an undefeated Ohio State 28 to 0, making California the widely agreed national champions of the 1920 season.[10]
  2. ↑ Stanford was founded in 1887 and had fielded a football team every year since 1892, with the exception of 1906 to 1918, when football was dropped due concerns over the sport's increasing numbers of injuries and deaths. Along with other west coast schools the sport of rugby was played instead.[13]
  3. ↑ In 1906, concerned with the growing levels of violence in football, both schools schools stopped playing American football and switched to rugby as their university's main sport. California switched back to football in 1915, with Stanford waiting until 1919.[13]
  4. ↑ Jones won 1921 and 1922 Big Ten conference titles while heading the University of Iowa.[25][26]
  5. ↑ Parke H. Davis selected the Lafayette Leopards, coached by Herb McCracken, Warner's former player at Pittsburgh, as national champion.[29]
  6. ↑ During Warner's latter years at Stanford, USC became the undisputed leader of the west, winning multiple national championships.[36]

References

  1. ↑ Games for 1891 season were played in early 1892.
  2. ↑ "Stanford Football". Stanford Department of Athletics. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Color". Stanford Identity Toolkit. Stanford University. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  4. ↑ In virtually all rankings of U.S. universities, Stanford is rated in the top six with Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, MIT, and Caltech. None of these field an FBS team.
  5. ↑ "What is the history of Stanford's mascot and nickname?". Stanford University Athletics. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Stanford vote favors "Robber Barons" tag". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. December 5, 1975. p. 17.
  7. ↑ "Prince Lightfoot objects to name". Victoria Advocate. Texas. Associated Press. December 6, 1975. p. 2B.
  8. ↑ According to the Stanford Football media guide, the all-time series records against the rest of the Pac-12 North are: California, 62–46–11; Oregon, 47–32–1; Oregon State 55–25–3; Washington State 40–26–1.
  9. ↑ Groke, Nick (December 12, 2015). "Derrick Henry wins Heisman Trophy, Christian McCaffrey finishes second". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  10. ↑ "1920 National Championships". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  11. ↑ Powers, p. 48
  12. ↑ Miller, p. 135
  13. 1 2 "From Football to Rugby—and Back, 1906–1919: The University of California-Stanford University Response to the "Football Crisis of 1905"" (PDF). Journal of Sport History. 11 (3 (Winter, 1984)): 23 and 28.
  14. ↑
  15. 1 2 Powers, p. 55
  16. ↑ Powers, p. 57
  17. 1 2
  18. ↑ Danzig, p. 221
  19. ↑
  20. ↑ Powers, pp. 58, 59
  21. ↑ cf. Nelson, p. 156
  22. ↑ "Bowl Game Recaps" (PDF). p. 129. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  23. ↑ Powers, p. 61
  24. 1 2 Powers, p. 62
  25. ↑ "Gridiron Glory 100+ Years of Iowa Football 1921". www.iowalum.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Gridiron Glory 100+ Years of Iowa Football 1922". www.iowalum.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2016.
  27. 1 2 Powers, p. 63
  28. ↑ "Recognized National Championships by Year". www.cfbdatawarehouse.com. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  29. ↑ National Collegiate Athletic Association 2015, p. 108
  30. 1 2 Powers, p. 65
  31. ↑ Powers, p. 66
  32. ↑ "Rose Bowl 1928". rosebowlhistory.org. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  33. ↑ Powers, p. 67
  34. 1 2 Powers, p. 68
  35. ↑ "Bruin Frosh Invade Farm Tomorrow". The Stanford Daily. October 25, 1929. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  36. 1 2
  37. ↑ Pope, p. 300
  38. ↑ Paige, Woody. "Paige: Why John Ralston must be remembered in Broncos history – The Denver Post". Denverpost.com. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  39. ↑ "Stanford Job To Assistant Christiansen". The Des Moines Register. January 22, 1972. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ "Stanford Fires J. Christiansen". The Terre Haute (IN) Tribune. November 20, 1976. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ↑ "Jack Christiansen Coaching Record | College Football at". Sports-reference.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  42. ↑ "Bill Walsh dies at 75; led 49ers to three Super Bowl titles". Espn.com. 2007-07-31. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  43. ↑ http://www.sbroundtable.org/hall-of-fame/inductees/athletes/rod-dowhower/
  44. ↑ http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/ron-dowhower-1.html
  45. ↑ "Stanford to retire John Elway's No. 7 jersey". NFL.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  46. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1983/11/12/paul-wiggin-shown-door-at-stanford/879b1304-d8fd-47b5-ab49-aea3f50db48f/
  47. 1 2 http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Jack-Elway-Dies-at-Age-69-John-Elway-s-dad-2930648.php
  48. ↑ http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/jack-elway-1.html
  49. ↑ http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/stanford/1986-schedule.html
  50. ↑ http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/dennis-green-1.html
  51. ↑ http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/stanford/1991-schedule.html
  52. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/sports/football/dennis-green-dead.html?_r=1
  53. ↑ http://www.mercurynews.com/2007/07/31/coaching-legend-bill-walsh-dies-at-75/
  54. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/sports/ncaafootball/with-football-in-past-tyrone-willingham-is-at-peace.html
  55. ↑ http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/tyrone-willingham-1.html
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  57. ↑ "ESPN.com: NCF - Willingham gets six-year deal to coach Notre Dame". Assets.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  58. 1 2 "Buddy Teevens Bio - DartmouthSports.com". Dartmouth Varsity Sports.
  59. 1 2 "Eugene "Buddy" Teevens All-Time Coaching Records by Opponent". College Football Data Warehouse.
  60. ↑ "Stanford Ends Buddy Teevens' Tenure as Head Football Coach". Stanford University Athletics. November 29, 2004.
  61. ↑ "Coach won 10 games in three losing camapigns". Associated Press. November 29, 2004.
  62. ↑ Maisel, Ivan (2006-12-06). "Harris out as Cardinal coach following 1–11 season". ESPN. Stanford, California: Associated Press.
  63. ↑ "Stanford vs. UCLA Play-By-Play". ESPN.com.
  64. ↑ "Stanford 2009 Football Media Guide". Stanford University.
  65. ↑ "Harbaugh takes over program that went 1-11". Espn.com. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  66. ↑ "Stanford to Introduce Jim Harbaugh as Head Football Coach" (Press release). Stanford University. December 18, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
  67. ↑ Miller, Ted (April 7, 2007). "Spring look around the Pac-10". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  68. ↑ Peters, Ken (July 26, 2007). "Trojans top preseason poll for fifth straight year". ESPN.com. Associated Press."
  69. ↑ Forde, Pat (July 27, 2007). "Harbaugh declaration delivers Pac-10 jolt". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  70. ↑ Jake Curtis (October 7, 2007). "Upset for the Ages; Stanford Stunner: The Cardinal, 41-point underdogs, pull off an inconceivable win over No. 2-ranked USC". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
  71. ↑ Mark Schlabach (November 16, 2009). "Strong personalities leading teams down the stretch". ESPN.
  72. ↑ Klein, Gary (November 14, 2009). "USC's November reign ends with shocking 55–21 loss to Stanford". LATimes.com. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  73. ↑ Bonjour, Douglas (2009-01-14). "Rumor Roundup: Coaching Search Winding Down". JetsInsider.com. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  74. ↑ Evans, Simon (2009-01-19). "Jets appoint Rex Ryan as new head coach". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  75. ↑ "Jim Harbaugh staying at Stanford through 2014". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 18, 2009. Also published on ESPN.com as "Harbaugh, Stanford have 3-year deal".
  76. ↑ "Stanford Post-Game Notes vs. Virginia Tech, January 3, 2011". CBS Interactive. 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  77. ↑ Schefter, Adam (2011-01-07). "Sources: Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers agree to 5-year deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  78. ↑ "Hall of Famers". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  79. ↑ "Colleges: Pro Football Hall of Fame". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2007-05-12. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  80. ↑ "The Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame". Stanford Department of Athletics. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
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