Stanford Cardinal running back Bryce Love (20) gives thanks after his touchdown run during the PAC-12 Championship game between the USC Trojans and the Stanford Cardinals on Friday, December 01, 2017 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
Alamo Bowl/Stanford Cardinal Football Podcast with Matt Harrington:
The Cardinal had a rough start after their trip in Australia earlier this season and then they had to struggle with San Diego State so for them to be at the point of where they’re at now it’s pretty impressive. The Cardinal are happy where their at compared to earlier this season and happy to be playing in the bowl game. The Cardinal are going to be playing a very prominent opponent the TCU Horned Frogs for the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.
There was the possibility for Stanford to play in some lower bowl game so Stanford wound up with a pretty good bowl game to play in all things considered having not been the winner of the Pac 12 Championship and not getting by USC. Not getting the Fiesta Bowl which would have been the Rose Bowl in the past. This year because it’s the National Championship it’s the Fiesta Bowl.
PALO ALTO–The Stanford Cardinal men’s basketball team returned home from Southern California (after getting defeated by Long Beach State 76-68 on Sunday, December 3) to face, and defeat, the University of Denver Pioneers.
Stanford, who recently endured four consecutive defeats before winning two of the three most recent matches, kept a lead over Denver the entire match, even though the Pioneers trailed close at various moments.
In addition to the Cardinal’s 75-62 win, this match also marked freshman Daejon Davis’ career-peaking game to date as his first college quarter comes to a close. The stars of the game were and Davis and Reid Travis, who each put up 20 points.
”With the long [5 day] stretch off, coach [Haase] really held us accountable on everything,” Davis said. ”The level of focus on the little things helped us.”
Even the Pioneers’ coach, Rodney Billups, had to acknowledge Davis’ acceleration.
“Davis got hot. We didn’t anticipate him making so many shots. If you look at his season stats from behind the arc, we would have bet that he would not make so many tonight. But good players make plays,” Billups said.
Isaac White was the runner-up for Stanford. He put up 17 points and contended that being under .500 is “unacceptable.” Losing teams do not make NCAA tournaments, White explained, clearly wanting to compensate for the Cardinal’s recent streak of losses.
”We got a win. That was the number one thing,” Jerod Haase, Stanford’s coach, said following the match, also noting that the team was much stronger offensively tonight.
The Cardinal will face the University of San Francisco Dons this Sunday, December 17, at 3:00 p.m.
AP File photo: Reid Travis of the Stanford Cardinal leads with points, rebounds, and had a double double last weekend against the Long Beach 49ers
On the Stanford Cardinal Podcast with Alexandra Evans:
The Cardinal’s point leader per game Reid Travis he hasn’t had one game where he scored less than 20 points. Travis scored matter of fact 26 points in his last game against the Long Beach 49ers in a game the Cardinal lost last weekend at Long Beach 76-68. Travis also had a double double and 11 rebounds and had all the support of his teammates including Isaac White and Michael Humphrey the Cardinal also have a good amount of Freshman on the team.
The freshman present a good future for Stanford that bodes well for the organization. It’s going to be interesting to see how the future will be when the older players graduate. There was a series in the game last weekend in Long Beach where the 49ers ran off a 8-0 run against the Cardinal and head coach Jerrod Haase was none too pleased by the defense during that stretch towards the end of the game. The Cardinal have had 12 days between games to work that kink out as they prepare to face Denver on Friday night at Maples Pavilion.
Heisman Trophy finalist, Stanford running back Bryce Love, poses with the award during a media event Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
By Matt Harrington
Their in the Big Apple for the big decision tonight as the winner of the Heisman Trophy Award will be announced. The Stanford Cardinal’s Bryce Love is a finalist along with Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson. Mayfield is the leading favorite to win the award but it’s Love’s story that shouldn’t be dismissed no matter the decision of tonight’s judges. Love ran for 1973 yards, 8.3 yards per carry, he carried for over 100 yards in 11 games, also has the FBS record with 12 runs for 50 yards.
The Cardinal will be in the Alamo Bowl on Dec 28th in San Antonio they’ll be facing the 10-3 TCU Horned Frogs and for Stanford not making this year’s Fiesta Bowl was just not in the cards after they just came up short against the USC Trojans in the Pac 12 Championship at Stanford. This was a game for the Trojan quarterback Sam Darnold more than anything.
Love had a chance to get in the red zone they ended up going with they’re short yardage back and Love was reinjured so the Cardinal came up a little bit short. You look at Love’s Heisman profile it was a signature moment that he had there and he had a chance to push them into the end zone and push them into a lead in that Pac 12 Championship game.
AP File Photo: The Heisman Trophy sits on a table during a college football game between the Penn Quakers and the Ohio Dominican Panthers on September 16, 2017 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
On the Stanford Cardinal Podcast with Jerry F:
1 After Stanford’s tough loss last week at Stanford Stadium to USC they will face the TCU Horned Frogs for the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio
2 The Cardinal worked hard all season to get a decent bowl game. It was quite disappointing for them as Cardinal head coach David Shaw describes to get that far in the Pac 12 Championship and not make the Fiesta Bowl
3 Bryce Love had a career year with 1972 yards, 8.3 yards per carry, he carried for over 100 11 times during the season
4 Love also set an FBS record with 12 runs good for 50 yards
5 Jerry says Love is a hands down Heisman winner his numbers impressive and what he did with a injured ankle during the regular season was unbelievable
Jerry Feitelberg did the Stanford Cardinal Football podcasts join Matt Harrington for the football podcasts and Alexandra Evans for Stanford basketball podcasts at http://www.sportsadioservice.com
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) calls the signal during the Big 12 Championship Game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Oklahoma Sooners on December 2, 2017 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
Michelle on the NCAA Football podcast this week:
1 SC got a roll and a big victory over Stanford 31-28 quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 325 and two touchdowns to advance to the Fiesta Bowl
2 The Oklahoma Sooners (12-1) left little doubt with a 41-17 victory over the TCU Froghorns (10-3) on Saturday Ok quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 243 yards and four touchdowns Mayfield had a great year
3 Boise State Broncos (10-3) are first in the MWC with a narrow 17-14 win over Fresno State Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien threw for 246 yards and no interceptions
By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Despite the efforts of junior Reid Travis, the Stanford Cardinal dropped a 78-66 men’s basketball decision to the Long Beach State 49ers Sunday in a non-conference game at Walter Pyramid.
Travis posted his third double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 26 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. It was the seventh time Travis has topped the 20-point mark this season, scoring 18 of his points in the second half.
Stanford (4-6) led by as many as five points midway through the second half before the 49ers (4-6) rallied to take the lead with eight minutes to play.
Travis scored eight straight points to pull the Cardinal to within 62-61 at 3:21 of the second half. Long Beach State responded with an 8-0 run in the final three minutes, scoring 14 of the game’s last 21 points.
Jordan Griffin scored eight straight points during the 49ers game-clinching run. Griffin led LBSU with 21 points, followed by Bryan Alberts (15), Gave Levin (13) and Deishaun Booker (13).
Freshman Isaac White added 17 points for the Cardinal, and senior Michael Humphrey had 13 points and six rebounds.
The 49ers scored 17 points off 17 Stanford turnovers. LBSU outshot the Cardinal 51 percent (28-55) to 49 percent (28 of 57, 6-19 3-pointers), including 45 percent from 3-point range (10 of 22).
At the free throw line, LBSU hit 63 percent from the stripe (10 of 16), while Stanford was 60 percent (6 of 10).
The Cardinal held a 37-24 rebounding edge and collected five steals.
After a break for final exams, the Cardinal return to action on Friday, Dec. 19, hosting the Denver Pioneers at 7 p.m. PST at Maples Pavilion.
USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) scrambles in the endzone to get a pass down field for a 1st down during the PAC-12 Championship game between the USC Trojans and the Stanford Cardinals on Friday, December 01, 2017 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Matt Harrington:
The game between Stanford and USC in which USC won 31-28 was a battle and it was the only game going in the Bay Area last Friday. It was really a great battle between the two teams and you saw a little bit of everything. Stanford head coach David Shaw tried to get them over the goal line towards the end of the game. There was USC quarterback Sam Darnold who threw for over 500 yards he’s a promising future start that will be going to the NFL.
The Cardinal came into the contest with a lot on the line and they ran out of octane and the team with the better record on paper came out with the victory. The Trojans were right in the Cardinal’s grasp with a late goal line stop from USC that was after a great 54 yard pass by Darnold for a touchdown. The Pac 12 Championship had a little of everything and there was certainly some drama. For the Cardinal now they will see how things unfold as they wait to see what bowl they will be in either the Alamo, Holiday or Foster Farms bowl.
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and teammates celebrate after defeating Stanford 31-28 in the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
By Morris Phillips
SANTA CLARA, CA–Tense, close and littered with pivotal plays, the Pac-12 Championship Game was, for once, a whale of a ballgame.
USC kept Stanford from gaining its first lead with a fourth quarter, goal line stand and went on to capture the conference title, winning 31-28. The Trojans became Pac-12 Champs for the first time since 2008, ending a period lowlighted by NCAA sanctions, coaching changes and for their tastes, too many losses to Stanford.
“We knew it would be a fourth quarter game,” USC coach Clay Helton said. “It would be four quarters. Credit to these guys, you go all the way through the season, how they finish games is amazing to me. They’re the best finishing bunch I’ve been associated with in my 23 years of college coaching.”
The Trojans preserved their 24-21 lead with eight minutes remaining by stuffing Cameron Scarlett on consecutive plays at the goal line. But peril wasn’t far removed until quarterback Sam Darnold got USC moving with a 54-yard pass and run to Michael Pittman that got the Trojans off the goal line and into what would be their game-winning drive. Five times on the eight-play drive, back Ronald Jones II would handle the ball culminating with his eight-yard touchdown run with 4:22 remaining.
While Jones finished with 140 yards rushing on 30 carries, Stanford standout Bryce Love settled for 125 yards on 22 carries. The difference? Jones had something left in his tank off two weeks rest, and was around for the Trojans’ final scoring drive. Love, the Heisman candidate, was still hampered by his nagging, ankle injury only six days after a bruising game against Notre Dame. Consequently, when Stanford threatened to take the lead, Scarlett spelled Love and was stuffed twice at the goal line.
“We made enough plays to keep it close but not enough plays to win,” coach David Shaw explained. “The sequence of fourth-and-1 to take the lead in the Pac-12 championship game, there’s no hesitation at all. That’s what we’re going to do.”
Love was questioned later about the condition of his ankle, but said very little other than that it felt fine at the game’s beginning. Other areas of concern given injuries and players’ availability–along both Stanford’s offensive and defensive lines–were met with disdain by Coach Shaw. The Cardinal made no excuses regarding injuries–or their short week of preparation–given that some many reserves stepped up and played well.
“The word you’ll keep hearing me say which I said in our locker room is character,” Shaw said. “And Devery (Hamilton, Stanford’s starting offensive tackle) like a lot of guys late in the year, guys are banged up. He went out there, battled, got hurt. We take him back to re-evaluate him. We throw guys in there. And Brandon Fanaika plays well.”
If Stanford could have done anything differently, it may have been to turn quarterback K.J. Costello loose earlier. Heading into the final drive of the game, Costello had attempted just 15 passes, completing seven. But with Stanford trailing by 10 late, Costello completed three big passes, the last to Kaden Smith for a 28-yard touchdown with two mintes left.
Costello finished 10 of 22 for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Darnold was 17 of 24 for 325 yards and two scores. The Trojans racked up 501 yards in total offense and held a pair of 10-point leads. The game’s only turnover–a Stephen Carr fumble–was minimized when USC responded with their goal line stand.
USC became the first team from the Pac-12 South to win the championship game and will play in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s.
AP Photo File: Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello (3) hands off to Stanford running back Bryce Love (20) against Notre Dame during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif. The Stanford team that walked out of the Los Angeles Coliseum nearly three months ago after being overpowered by Southern California in a way perhaps no team had done to the Cardinal under David Shaw seemed an unlikely pick to get a rematch with the Trojans. Yet here Stanford is in the Pac-12 title game ready to get revenge against USC for that 42-24 loss in the second game of the season having won eight of nine games with a familiar formula. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
On the Pac 12-Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry:
1 The Pact 12 Title game brings the USC Trojans 10-2 (8-1) and the Stanford Cardinal 9-3 (7-2) in for battle Jerry takes a look at how much will Stanford head coach David Shaw will depend on running back Bryce Love in this one
2 This game is considered the biggest game of the year for Stanford and the players are anxious, nervous, and ready to play it
3 How important will defensive end freshman Jovan Swann mean for the Cardinal he replaced starter Eric Cotton last week against Notre Dame
4 Jerry talks about Stanford quarterback KJ Costello and the job that he did since taking over the role of starter mid season
5 USC comes ready with that mighty 10-2 record they’ve had a pretty good season. Jerry talks about how things stack up against Stanford in a game that Jerry predicts the Cardinal will win by two points in Santa Clara next Friday
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