Sports ROSE BOWL
Stanford has opportunity at a second straight victory
À> ÌÊ- À
The Stanford band and some fireworks in last year’s game helped highlight a 20-14 victory over Wisconsin as the Cardinal captured its 11th triumph in its bowl history.
V Ì Õi`ÊvÀ Ê«>}iÊÎÇ®
great competition, a team that comes every single week, a team that finds ways to win, whether it’s run or throw, they’ll do whatever it takes to try to win a football game.” Offensively, both teams will do whatever it takes to win. AllAmerica return specialist Ty Montgomery, also Stanford’s top receiver, may be the X-factor. Quarterback Kevin Hogan seems to rise to the level of the competition and his running ability will also make a difference. “We have to prepare this year completely different,” Shaw said. “We’re playing a different team. Michigan State has been on a phenomenal run, nine straight games, tough competition, and has come to play every week, and we know it’s going to be a great game. People that appreciate real football are going to love this game.” Another statistic to keep in mind is tackles-for-loss allowed. The Cardinal ranks fourth in the nation, giving up 3.69 per game, while the Spartans allow 4.62.
Stanford recorded drives of at least 89 yards seven times for touchdowns over the course of the year, twice marching 96 yards in the 26-20 victory over the Ducks. Only one of those drives came against a team with a losing record (93 yards against Cal). What the Cardinal did against Oregon was to execute its offensive plans to near perfection, holding onto the ball for more than 42 minutes. Stanford wins the time-of-possession battle nearly every game, but then so does Michigan State. The Cardinal needs to establish itself in the trenches in order to have a chance. It won’t be pretty but Shaw doesn’t care how it looks Gaffney gets his rest as much as he likes results. Tyler Gaffney was one of just “It’s going to be blocking and four Football Bowl Subdivision tackling and running running backs who the ball and makcarried the ball at least ing big passes down 300 times during the the field and playregular season. Geting great defense and ting nearly a month playing special teams break was good for his and playing field pophysical condition and sition,” Shaw said. “I mental health. think you’re going to “He’s just now see strategy. I think starting to look like you’re going to see himself,” Shaw said. some young men that Tyler Gaffney “He’s gotten beat up are excited to play the and we’ve been getgame of football and play it with ting him off his feet, shortening passion.” his practice and taking reps away The Spartans’ defense allows a from him. He’s starting to get his national-best 248.2 yards a game, legs back. By the time we get to including 80.8 rushing yards. Southern California, he’ll be Stanford ranks 15th in total de- ready to roll.” fense, allowing 339 yards a game, Gaffney never asked to come including 91.2 against the run, out. He kept insisting he was fine. third in the country. Shaw said the only game Gaffney “We’ve been good on defense needed time off was against the for the last couple years,” Shaw Ducks, after he carried the ball said. “This team is going to be 45 times. challenged by a team that’s played “It’s not just his size and
strength but also desire,” Shaw said. “He fights off the pain and soreness. He almost craves it.” Gaffney did not play in last year’s Rose Bowl game as he was playing professional baseball. Last time against Spartans In the most lopsided bowl game victory in Stanford history, the Cardinal romped to a 38-0 win over Michigan State in the 1996 Sun Bowl. It was Stanford’s first shutout since 1974. The Sun Bowl victory completed what was then one of the most surprising turnarounds in the history of Stanford football. The cardinal was 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the Pac-10 and was not in anybody’s bowl picture. But, head coach Tyrone Willingham led Stanford to four straight wins to conclude the regular season and finish in third place in the Pac-10. The quarterback was Chad Hutchinson, who was named the game’s MVP after throwing for 226 yards on 22-of-28 passing. The Defensive MVP was Stanford’s Kailee Wong. Streaking Stanford is 10-0 in its past 10 games against opponents ranked in the AP Top 25, including 6-0 this season. A win over No. 4 Michigan State would make it 7-0. However, the Cardinal is 15-42-3 all-time against top-five foes — including a 7-5 mark since 2000. Events leading up to the game Monday: Stanford Day at Santa Monica Pier, 3 p.m. Includes Beer Garden, Stanford Bookstore tent, free ride wristbands for Pacific Park, trapeze lessons, bike rental, book signing with authors of “Rags to Riches: The Rise of Stanford Football,” (4 p.m.); giveaways (5:30 p.m.), Assistant coach chalk talk (6 p.m.), Rose Bowl pep rally with Stanford team captains (6:30 p.m.), buffet and no-host bar at Mariasol Restaurant (8 p.m.). Tuesday: Kickoff Luncheon Wednesday: Tailgate N
For only the second time in school history, Stanford football will be playing for a second straight victory in the Rose Bowl. The first time, of course, came in the 1971 and ‘72 games as quarterbacks Jim Plunkett and Don Bunce helped lead Stanford to victories. Now, Kevin Hogan has an opportunity to become the first quarterback in program history to win back-to-back games. Here’s a look at the games where Stanford played in consecutive Rose Bowls: 1934: Columbia 7, Stanford 0 This game continues to be regarded as one of the greatest upsets in Rose Bowl history as heavily-favored Stanford was beaten on a trick play. Torrential rains soaked the field for three days leading into the game, limiting attendance to 35,000. In all, 12 inches of rain fell on Pasadena in the 48 hours before the Rose Parade, themed appropriately as “Tales of the Seven Seas.” 1935: Alabama 29, Stanford 13 A rematch of the 1927 showdown, Stanford and Alabama again arrived undefeated. Stanford’s Vow Boys were good, but Alabama featured one of the great ends of all-time, Don Hutson, the future Green Bay Packers star. The Crimson Tide’s other end was “Bear” Bryant, who had been inspired to play in a Rose Bowl after listening to the 1927 game on the radio. 1936: Stanford 7, SMU 0 The Vow Boys finally got their Rose Bowl victory, using a oneyard run by Bill Paulman and a strong defensive effort to beat the undefeated Mustangs from Dallas.
1971: Stanford 27, Ohio St. 17 A massive underdog to undefeated Ohio State, a three-loss Stanford team surprised the Buckeyes behind the play of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jim Plunkett and a defensive front seven called the Thunder Chickens. Ohio State led 17-14 in the fourth quarter and tried to put the game away on a fourth-down run, but fullback John Brockington was stopped by Rod Kadziel. Stanford drove downfield, with the help of a 35-yard pass to tight end Bob Moore on third-and-15, to take the lead. After an interception by Jack Schultz, Plunkett hit Randy Vataha for the clinching score. 1972: Stanford 13, Michigan 12 For the second consecutive season, Stanford beat an undefeated Big Ten power. This time, it was Rod Garcia’s 31-yard field goal with 12 seconds left that won the game. Michigan came in as a 10-point favorite against another three-loss Stanford team. Don Bunce, a fifth-year senior in his only season as a starter, completed all five passes during the winning touchdown drive. 2013: Stanford 20, Wisconsin 14 Stanford earned its first Rose Bowl victory in 41 years by taking an early lead and letting its defense take over. Ben Gardner made a big stop on a Wisconsin fourth-and-goal attempt at the 1-yard line and Usua Amanam clinched the victory with a late interception. 2014: Stanford vs. Michigan State (?) It will be a matchup of similar styles in what is expected to be a low-scoring game. As Sports Illustrated noted in its annual bowl game preview: “First team to 10 wins.” N
STANFORD FOOTBALL BOWL HISTORY (11-12-1) YEAR 2012 2011 2010 2009 2011 2000 1996 1995 1993 1991 1986 1978 1977 1972 1971 1952 1941 1936 1935 1934 1928 1927 1924 1902
BOWL Rose Bowl Fiesta Bowl Orange Bowl Sun Bowl Seattle Bowl Rose Bowl Sun Bowl Liberty Bowl Blockbuster Bowl Aloha Bowl Gator Bowl Bluebonnet Bowl Sun Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Rose Bowl
RESULT Stanford 20, Wisconsin 14 Oklahoma St. 41, Stanford 38 (OT) Stanford 40, Virginia Tech 12 Oklahoma 31, Stanford 27 Georgia Tech 24, Stanford 14 Wisconsin 17, Stanford 9 Stanford 38, Michigan State 0 East Carolina 19, Stanford 13 Stanford 24, Penn State 3 Georgia Tech 18, Stanford 17 Clemson 27, Stanford 21 Stanford 25, Georgia 22 Stanford 24, Louisiana State 14 Stanford 13, Michigan 12 Stanford 27, Ohio State 17 Illinois 40, Stanford 7 Stanford 21, Nebraska 13 Stanford 7, SMU 0 Alabama 29, Stanford 13 Columbia 7, Stanford 0 Stanford 7, Pittsburgh 6 Stanford 7, Alabama 7 Notre Dame 27, Stanford 10 Michigan 49, Stanford 0
ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ iVi LiÀÊÓÇ]ÊÓä£ÎÊU Page 39