Tag: Stanford Cardinal

Stanford Cardinal Saturday game wrap: Trojans ground Cardinal in 45-20 defeat

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sfgate.com photo: Southern California running back Stephen Carr (7) scores a rushing touchdown against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Los Angeles

By Pearl Allison Lo

LOS ANGELES — In the 99th matchup between these California rivals, No. 23 Stanford was shut out in the second half as the teams kicked off the Pac-12 season at United Airlines Field Saturday.

Quarterbacks Kedon Slovis (USC) and Davis Mills (Cardinal) also had their first starts of their college careers 99th meeting first Saturday

USC tweeted, “Slovis is the first true freshman in USC history to throw for 2 touchdowns in his first career start.” He went 28 of 33 for 377 yards and three scores.

Mills went 22 of 36 with 237 yards for one score and one interception.

Neither quarterback had a fumble but each were sacked at least once.

Stanford’s leaders were for rushing Cameron Scarlett, 82 yards, 1 TD and receiving Colby Parkinson for 89 yards.

For the Trojans, their leaders for rushing was Vavae Malepeai, 42 yards, 2 TDs and receiving Amon-Ra St. Brown 97 yards, 2 TDs.

The Cardinal started with the momentum even though the Trojans scored first. Stanford scored on every drive, including on a fumble recovery, until 2:21 left to go in the first half. USC’s first touchdown came with 11:29 left in the second and they halted the Cardinal defensively in the end zone after 14:56 left in the second.

In the second half, we saw the first sacks and interception.

Both teams scored on their opening drive.

The Trojans’ first drive was highlighted by a 45-yard pass to Drake London, but Stanford was able to cut them off from a touchdown. The closest USC got was the two yard line, ending the drive with two incomplete passes before Chase McGrath made it 3-0 with a 23-yard field goal.

Connor Wedington was the highlight of the Cardinal’s first drive. He gave them good field advantage with a 60-yard return and two plays after the Trojans were stalled by a holding penalty, he took a 15-yard pass into the end zone, the second pass of the drive.

Both teams combined for 34 points in the second quarter.

Stanford was helped down the field with an illegal use of hands call. A 21-yard pass to Parkinson at the four was then ruled out of bounds before it was called good after review. Scarlett then had two runs in the first and second quarter to make it a 14-3 lead.

With 14:43 left in the half, the Cardinal then forced a fumble off Velus Jones Jr.’s 21-yard return, which was recovered by Stanf Tobe Umerah. Stanford went down the field four straight plays to fourth down and Jet Toner converted a 32-yard field goal to extend the Cardinal’s lead to 17-3.

The Trojans found themselves on third down with 12:54 left, but that was followed by three double-digit plays, the last a 39-yard pass to one of the St. Brown brothers, Amon-Ra, in the end zone for both USC and Slovis’s first touchdown.

One of Stanford’s drives was filled with penalties, two from USC (personal foul and pass interference) and one from the Cardinal (holding). The Cardinal continued scoring with a 37-yard field goal by Toner to double their lead to 20-10.

The Trojans got to within three (20-17) with their second touchdown in a row. The longest plays were a 25-yard return by Jones Jr., a 29-yard pass to Tyler Vaughns and a 25-yard touchdown run to the left by Stephen Carr.

Then Stanford was forced to punt for the first time with 2:21 left.

USC kept rolling with their third straight touchdown that gave them their first lead (24-20) since their opening drive. They had a holding penalty but Vaughns caught a 31-yard pass and the Cardinal had two straight defensive offside penalties. It was their fastest drive, 1 minute and 50 seconds, as the Tronjans went 70 yards.

USC nearly duplicated their first half total in the second half.

The first quarterback sack came with 12:09 left in the third on Mills by Connor Murphy. It was Murphy’s first career sack. Mills was also sacked by Jay Tufele on the same drive. Toner missed his first and longest field goal of the night, 39 yards, in the second half’s opening drive. It was the longest drive of the night in terms of plays (14) and time (7:09).

Slovis was sacked the following drive by Casey Toohill with 7:08 left. It was the shortest drive in terms of plays (three) and yards (one).

Toner then attempted a 47-yard field goal, but he was blocked by Austin Jackson with 3:21 left.

The Trojans made it 31-20 with 44 seconds left in the third. Michael Pittman Jr. accounted for the bulk of the yardage with a total of 61 yards through three plays. Malepeai ran four yards into the end zone to complete the drive.

Mills took the game’s first interception too as he was caught by Greg Johnson with 13:21 left in the game. USC was able to turn it into a touchdown when Malepeai ran six yards for his second score three minutes later. It was the game’s biggest lead at 38-20.

Things continued to look grim as they turned over the ball on downs with 8:21 left. This also went the opposite way as Vaughns had 30 yards, 16 on the scoring reception to make it 45-20. He ended up with the most total yardage in the game with 106.

Up Next: Next Saturday, the Trojans will face BYU at 1:30 pm and Stanford will take on UCF at 12:30 pm

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Cal and Stanford get opening day wins; 49ers open in Tampa Bay and Raiders host Denver on MNF; plus more

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On the Headline Sports podcast with Barbara:

#1 For the Cal Bears, getting a victory on opening day last Saturday was an important way to start the 2019 season with a win over UC Davis at Memorial Stadium and what a way to start with running back Christopher Brown Jr. rushing for 197 yards to help lead the team to a 27-13 win.

#2 The Stanford Cardinal defeated Northwestern, but the Cardinal lost their starting quarterback during the game when KJ Costello took a forearm to the head. The Cardinal hung onto win it 17-7. Costello could muster only one strong drive before the injury. The Cardinal are on the road next week to face the USC Trojans next Saturday.

#3 The San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took Thursday Night Football off last week and the 49ers went with three quarterbacks: Nick Mullins, CJ Beathard, and Nick Speight. Speight and Beathard both saw the most time in the game with Mullens resting. Is that an indication that Nick Mullens, who saw limited time will be the backup, and head coach Kyle Shanahan wants to see if Beathard or Speight will fill the third-string spot?

#4 The Oakland Raiders look as if they had a very solid preseason winning three of their four games. Raider head coach Jon Gruden said he’s happy with the progress of backup quarterbacks Nathan Peterman (out with elbow injury) and Mike Glennon who he’ll really depend on if starting quarterback Derek Carr ever needs a rest.

#5 The Oakland A’s are hosting the LA Angels and Detroit Tigers this week at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s are 1/2 game back in the AL wild card behind second place Cleveland. It could go right down to the wire for a chance of a wild card birth.

Join Barbara for Headline Sports each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Many Stanford players step up in opening win vs. Northwestern

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By Ana Kieu

With last season’s top receivers JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Trenton Irwin and Kaden Smith departed, Stanford needs youngsters such as Connor Wedington, Michael Wilson and Colby Parkinson to step up.

They did Saturday in No. 25 Stanford’s season-opening 17-7 victory against Northwestern at Stanford Stadium.

Wedington secured a team-high seven receptions, Wilson had six and Parkinson had four. Wedington and Wilson showcased their quickness and athletic ability on quick sideline throws from K.J. Costello and Davis Mills, breaking tackles against single coverage.

“We wanted to take the pressure off the quarterbacks,” said David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football. “We have to take advantage of their off-coverage and give those guys a chance. It was probably the most tackles we’ve broken since Ty Montgomery and Doug Baldwin and those guys.”

The 6-foot Wedington, a junior, is a former running back and appeared in only four games last year due to injury. Wilson, a 6-foot-2-inch sophomore who Shaw calls “a complete receiver,” demonstrated his potential a year ago by grabbing 14 passes in 13 games.

“We have threats all over the field,” said fifth-year senior running back Cameron Scarlett.

Wilson scored the first Cardinal touchdown on a four-yard pass from Costello late in the second quarter. The play was installed earlier in the week, with Costello faking a handoff to Scarlett running left, then rolling right and finding Wilson in the flat.

“Coach said there is going to be one man you have to beat or it’s going to be a race to the pylon,” said Wilson.

It turned out to be the latter — Wilson stretching the ball over the goal line.

He said the extra work the receivers and quarterbacks put in during the offseason is paying off.

“We’ve got guys that can go,” Wilson said. “Brycen (Tremayne), Connor, Simi (Fehoko), Osiris (St. Brown). “We’re all going to play a big role and I’m really excited about this year.”

Getting defensive: Stanford suffocated Northwestern in the first half, limiting the Wildcats to 79 yards on 21 plays and only seven minutes in time of possession. Northwestern didn’t reach the Stanford side of the field until late in the second quarter.

With that said Stanford out-gained Northwestern, 365-210, and finished with a nearly 17-minute time of possession advantage.

“It was a lot of fun out there flying around with the guys,” said senior inside linebacker Andrew Pryts, who intercepted his first pass in his first start. “We had great energy and can feed off that all year.”

The unit produced four takeaways and sealed the game with 20 seconds remaining when fifth-year senior outside linebacker Casey Toohill and senior outside linebacker Jordan Fox blasted Wildcat quarterback Hunter Johnson, who fumbled. Fox recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.

“We knew they were trying to go down the field to pick up something,” Fox said. “We pinned our ears back and just let it go. Casey made a great first hit on him. I just tried to find the ball. It was a great way to finish the game on the defensive side of the ball. It was high effort all day.”

On its first possession of the third quarter, Northwestern drove to the Cardinal five-yard line, but Robinson and sophomore strong safety Kendall Williamson sacked quarterback TJ Green and forced a fumble, and Williamson recovered at the nine-yard line.

“Our rush was really getting there, and he was just trying to get out of the pocket,” said Williamson. “I saw him spin off a couple guys and just went and pursued it. I really wish I would have scooped and scored, but it was a turnover.”

Many players received their first extended playing time and made it count.

“It was great being out there,” Williamson said. “I got to play with a lot of people in my class who redshirted last year and came up big. I just loved how we were attacking.”

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Mills steps in: After settling into a nice rhythm, a sliding Costello sustained a blow to the head by Northwestern defensive end Earnest Brown IV on a scramble with two seconds remaining in the half. Brown was called for a personal foul, and Costello walked to the locker room and didn’t return, completing 16-of-20 passes for 152 yards.

Shaw declined to comment when asked if targeting should have been called. “I didn’t see it live,” Shaw said.

Mills, a junior who redshirted in 2017 and saw brief action in one game last season, played the rest of the way and finished 7-of-14 for 81 yards.

“It was a dogfight for most of the game and our defense played extremely well to keep us on top,” said Mills.

After a strong fall camp, Mills was excited to contribute to the win.

“It definitely builds confidence,” Mills said.

Said Shaw, “He can make all the throws and is athletic enough to get out in scrambles for positive yards. If K.J. is healthy, he’ll go back out there (Saturday against USC). He’s our leader and captain. And if he’s not healthy, we have all the faith and confidence that Davis can go out there and win the game.”

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Big rush: Shaw was especially pleased with the Cardinal running game, led by Scarlett’s career-high 97 yards on 22 carries.

“Give Cam Scarlett the credit,” said Shaw. “We challenged him after the bowl game last year. Multiple times today we had a running back one-on-one with a guy in space.”

Stanford rushed 39 times for 132 yards.

“We can’t block everything perfectly, especially against a really good, big, physical defense,” Shaw said. “I thought our running backs ran through the trash.”

Early contributions: Seven freshmen saw action for Stanford — running backs Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat, wide receiver Elijah Higgins, cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, safety Jonathan McGill, punter Ryan Sanborn and offensive tackle Walter Rouse.

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Extra motivation: Chris Marinelli, an All-American offensive tackle in 2009, served as Stanford’s honorary captain. His father, Jim, was a member of the Local 88, Tunnel Workers Union in Braintree, Massachusetts, for more than 30 years. Chris and his fellow offensive linemen nicknamed themselves the Tunnel Workers Union and the nickname remains in tact.

“It’s an analogy that fits perfectly for the offensive line because we need to open holes and grind no matter how we feel,” said Chris, who made 41 starts during his Cardinal career. “It’s just about having that blue-collar attitude.”

Marinelli gave a stirring motivational speech to the team on Friday night and it carried over Saturday. His father passed away on June 30 at age 60 from cancer.

“It was super impactful for us,” said junior center Drew Dalman. “We still kind of live by the Tunnel Workers Union credo and hopefully for many years to come. We just wanted to make him proud and show him what we could do.”

Shaw heard players talking about the Tunnel Workers Union in the fourth quarter.

“They were running it and being physical,” Shaw said. “Chris put something in their heads and we really started churning.”

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Up next: Stanford begins Pac-12 play on Saturday when it travels to Los Angeles to tackle the USC Trojans at 7:30 p.m. in a contest that will be broadcast by ESPN. Stanford prevailed at home last year, 17-3, and has won four of the last six meetings.

The Trojans opened the season by beating Fresno State on Saturday night, 31-23.

Shaw’s teams have swept USC, UCLA and Cal three of the last four years and six of the last nine.

Notes: Starting offensive tackle Walker Little sustained a late injury and his status in unknown … Toohill led the Cardinal with six tackles, including one sack, two tackles for loss and forced a fumble … Seven Stanford players recorded four or more stops … Stanford has won 12 straight home openers and 21 consecutive non-conference games on home turf … All-American cornerback Paulson Adebo pilfered his first pass of the season … Jet Toner booted a career-best 51-yard field goal to end the first half. The last Stanford kicker to convert from 50-plus yards was Conrad Ukropina, who hit from 52 against Oregon State in 2016 … Former Cardinal standout Richard Sherman, now a starting cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, attended the game and was recognized as Stanford celebrates its 125th season of football … The next home game for the Cardinal is September 21 against Oregon, time TBD. The 2019 Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame Class, which includes running back/linebacker Bill Tarr ’55, will be recognized.

Quote: “We’re all still learning, but I think this is the start of something big.” — Michael Wilson on the play of the wide receivers.

Stanford and Northwestern fail to meet expectations in the Cardinal’s 17-7 season-opening win

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By Morris Phillips

STANFORD — Stanford wanted to regain their run-first identity, Northwestern wanted to maintain their momentum from 2018, and gain a foothold in the nation’s Top 25.

Those were the plans. But neither came to fruition, and both teams need not only to forge an identity in the coming weeks, they need to overcome some key injuries as well.

Stanford got the win, 17-7, the product of a stingy, first half defensively, but not much else. Quarterback K.J. Costello departed early after taking a forearm to the head near midfield, but could only muster one, credible drive in a half of football before that unfortunate occurrence.

“We’ve got so many veterans on the defensive side,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “So many fourth- and fifth-year seniors, so much leadership that we knew it was going to take those guys keeping us in the game, and they did.”

Northwestern trumpeted the debut of quarterback Hunter Johnson, the transfer from Clemson, but he was ineffective, getting picked off twice, and briefly replaced when the Wildcats couldn’t get anything going offensively in the first half. The Cats managed just 74 yards in four, first half drives, and Johnson finished 6 of 17 passing. Consequently, the questions after the game regarding Johnson’s performance came across harsh.

“This is not an excuse-making business,” Coach Pat Fitzgerald said of Johnson when questioned on the transfer’s preparedness. “He’s got to be a lot better. We’ve got to continue to help him do the things. But I though he responded really well in the second half. That’s why I completely disagree with what you said.”

TJ Green replaced Johnson to start the second half, and helmed Northwestern’s most promising drive of 10 plays that reached Stanford’s five-yard line. But on second-and-goal, Green inexplicably held the ball too long, and was stripped. Not only did Northwestern lose the football, Green suffered a leg injury that will keep him out indefinitely.

With Northwestern struggling to move the football, the Stanford offense was afforded time to find its footing. With NU’s defense effective and physical, that process wasn’t immediate. Eventually Stanford found room outside the harsh marks where they won some key one-on-one scenarios. That process led to Michael Wilson’s two-yard touchdown catch that gave Stanford a 7-0 lead before halftime.

Throughout, the Wildcats were nasty inside, consistently getting a second defender in to finish tackles. With the time of possession nearly two-to-one in Stanford’s favor, Northwestern eventually showed cracks. But they kept their team in the game on the scoreboard, limiting the final, seven Stanford drives to seven plays or less. That kept the score at 10-7, the outcome in doubt, until Johnson was stripped with 20 seconds remaining, a play that resulted in Jordan Fox’s fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown.

Cameron Scarlett led Stanford with 22 carries for 97 yards, and Connor Wedington came up with seven catches for 69 yards, but Shaw was bothered that the production didn’t translate on the scoreboard in a game that didn’t feel as if it should be so tight. Afterwards, Shaw complained his team didn’t take advantage of big play scenarios that arose when Northwestern’s defense gambled.

“When someone drops safeties down or blitzes, like Northwestern did today, that we pick it up. We have an opportunity down the field one-on-one. Mike Wilson was open down the field. Colby Parkinson was open twice down the field. Cyrus. We took one shot. It was kind of a 50/50 ball.”

The Cardinal travel to Los Angeles this week to face USC in a meeting of teams trying to recapture the magic. At press time, the Trojans were in a tight battle with Fresno State in USC’s home opener Saturday night.

Stanford looking for fast start in season opener vs. Northwestern

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By Ana Kieu

Many new faces on defense are expected to make contributions on Saturday when No. 25 Stanford hosts Northwestern at Stanford Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Even before spring practice, the unit began jelling in the film room and during voluntary workouts. New leaders emerged and reminded underclassmen about the program’s high standards.

“Absolutely,” said senior inside linebacker Andrew Pryts. “That’s been a theme of ours. The individuals in our locker room only care about team success. We’ve developed that mentality that we’re all in this together and we’re going to pursue the ball 11 guys at a time.”

Senior free safety Malik Antoine started 11 games in 2018 and is the veteran of the secondary. Voted one of five captains by his peers, Antoine likes the energy and attention to detail he has seen and expects Stanford to surprise people.

“We have a lot of guys emerging, like Kendall Williamson, Noah Williams, J.J. Parson and Stuart Head,” Antoine said. “We spent a lot of time together watching tape and on the field.”

Both contributed to added confidence and communication, which will be critical on Saturday when the No. 25 Cardinal hosts Northwestern in its season opener at 1 p.m. at Stanford Stadium.

“The first game of the year, you really don’t know what will happen,” said Antoine. “That communication serves as the calmness in the game.”

It hasn’t gone unnoticed by David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football.

“It is loud, it’s clear and it is crisp,” Shaw said. “They are on the same page every single play and I think our team feeds off that.”

Lance Anderson, the Willie Shaw Director of Defense and Associate Head Coach, has been impressed by the grit and unselfishness demonstrated by his entire group.

“There’s a lot of guys who don’t have egos and just want to go out and do their job,” Anderson said. “I think it’s a reflection of the leadership group, especially Casey Toohill and Malik.”

In addition to new starters, many younger players could see action in certain packages and situations. If they impress, it could result in expanded playing time.

“We’re going out to play well,” said Anderson. “I don’t think any of us will be satisfied with anything less. Our expectations haven’t changed.”

Pryts believes Stanford will be ready.

“A lot of less experienced guys have been stepping up and playing good ball throughout camp,” Pryts said. “We’re excited. There are a lot of guys who can’t wait to go out and play.”

Antoine is anxious to see how they respond.

“This could be a four-quarter game,” said Antoine. “I just want to see how we fight.”

RECOGNIZING LUCK: Shaw coached Andrew Luck for four years and watched him throw for 9,430 yards (No. 2 in program history), 82 touchdowns (No. 1) and compile a completion percentage of .670 (No. 1). They visited just before the Cardinal began fall camp and Luck sounded excited to start his eighth season with the Indianapolis Colts.

Like many others, Shaw was surprised when Luck announced his retirement from the NFL last week.

“This guy was going to play the game at the highest level for as long as he could,” Shaw said. “But he’s also going to be one of those guys that wants life after football as much as he wants life with football. He came to that point much earlier than many of us anticipated or wanted, but he came to that point where it was time for him to stop for his health, his family and his future, and I applaud him for it.”

Asked if any memories of Luck stood out during his time on The Farm, Shaw said, “We could spend the next two hours talking about those four years. There’s so many for me, and many are not on the football field. Unbelievably competitive and talented, but also a great leader and a great teammate.”

K.J. Costello grew up a USC fan until he watched Luck play. His star power helped persuade Costello to visit Stanford and eventually commit to the Cardinal.

“I was fortunate enough to have lunch with him about three months ago,” Costello said. “I was huge fan growing up and he’s one of the main reasons why I decided to leave Southern California and come up here. Look at what he did here; nobody is ever going to touch what he did. He won a lot of football games and set the standard.”

ADEBO ISLAND: Cornerback Paulson Adebo had a sensational sophomore season in 2018 as a first-year player. He led the country with 24 passes defended, 20 pass breakups and four interceptions.

Shaw thinks he’s raised his game.

“Regardless of the stats, I think he’s a better football player this year,” Shaw said. “Smart, more versatile, more experienced. He’s been through a lot and loves to be pushed. He’s set his own standards.”

Anderson echoed Shaw’s sentiments.

“For all the individual accolades he gets, he still works harder than anybody,” said Anderson.

BIG SURPRISE: On Monday morning, Shaw surprised former walk-on wide receiver Brycen Tremayne with a scholarship.

“It was overwhelming, for sure,” Tremayne said. “It was just a blessing to get that from Coach Shaw.”

Tremayne made sure to call his parents.

“My mom and dad and sister are my biggest supporters,” said Tremayne. “They’re overjoyed, too.”

Tremayne was caught off guard by the news.

“It was something I was always working for and it was a goal of mine,” said Tremayne. “I tried not to let it in my mind too much and just work as hard as I could.”

Treyman credited his teammates for their support and his improvement.

“They’ve always had my back,” Treyman said. “Coming in here as a walk-on was kind of overwhelming at first. Last year they took me in and they’re all my brothers now. I’m grateful for that.”

NORTHWESTERN NOTES: Last year, the Wildcats (9-5, 8-1) won the Big Ten West Division, and another solid season is expected.

“They’ve got a defensive line coming in that is big, long, physical and they play with relentless effort and great technique,” Shaw said. “They’re very versatile on the offensive side and use different tempos and different schemes. They’ve got two really good quarterbacks and who knows who’s going to start.”

Senior TJ Green appeared in nine games last season, while sophomore Hunter Johnson sat out after transferring from Clemson. In 2016, Johnson was named Mr. Football in Indiana.

Shaw expects both to play.

Isaiah Bowser rushed for 866 yards and six touchdowns last year as a true freshman. Shaw said he breaks tackles, is tough and faster than he looks.

“The biggest thing for us is to concentrate on our assignments, techniques and our effort,” Bowser said.

Photo credit: gostanford.com

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The Cardinal has no breathers in 2019 and has the hardest non-conference slate in the land, playing Northwestern, at UCF and Notre Dame. That’s in addition to nine Pac-12 games.

“I think that’s a question for after the season,” said Shaw. “Right now, we’ve got one game to play. All the schedule stuff for me stopped last week.”

HOME CROWD: As has often been the case, Stanford will play home games before school starts on Sept. 23. That limits student attendance for the season opener, but Antoine hopes a noisy crowd will cheer on the Cardinal against Northwestern and Oregon on Sept. 21.

“We’ve kind of gotten used to that,” Antoine said. “We say we don’t need added motivation and let our play do the talking. At the same time, we love and appreciate our fans and hope they come out in force.”

DEVIOUS DAYS: Saturday is Cardinal Kids Day (gostanford.com/CKDpromo), Educators Appreciation Day (gostanford.com/educators) and Band Day (call 800-STANFORD). Stadium gates open at 11:30 a.m.

Photo credit: gostanford.com

EXTRA ENTRIES: Running back Trevor Speights and strong safety Stuart Head won’t play Saturday, but Shaw expects everyone else to be available … Freshmen running backs Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat made good impressions in fall camp and could see action … Freshman Walter Rouse also has a chance to play and is backing up both offensive tackle spots … Freshmen cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly and punter Ryan Sanborn will likely make their college debuts … Stanford will have 22 double numbers this season.

QUOTE: “We’ve got a bunch of guys we’re going to roll out Saturday that haven’t played a lot of college football. We expect them to play hard and play fast, do their jobs, and do them well.” — David Shaw

What’s new with Stanford football?

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By Ana Kieu

As the the title implies, there has been quite a few things regarding the Stanford Cardinal football team. Let’s check out the latest press releases.

Preseason Ranking
Stanford was ranked No. 25 in the preseason Top 25 poll released by the Associated Press on Monday. It marks the ninth straight season in which the Cardinal has started ranked in the AP Top 25, the sixth-longest streak in the nation.

The Cardinal, led by Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw, is the winningest Pac-12 program in the last decade. They’ve won 82 games in Shaw’s eight seasons at the helm, and 94 games since the start of the 2010 season. Their 102 wins in the last 10 seasons is the sixth-most in college football.

Stanford finished the 2018 campaign at 9-4 overall, winning each of its last four games. They’ve been to a school-record 10 straight bowl games, the longest active streak in the Pac-12.

Quarterback K.J. Costello returns after passing for 3,540 yards and 29 touchdowns a season ago. His passing yards were the second-most in school history, while his passing touchdowns were third-most, in a single season.

Cornerback Paulson Adebo highlights the defensive returners. The junior led the nation in passes defended last season, with 20 breakups and four interceptions.

Stanford begins arguably the nation’s toughest schedule when it plays host to Northwestern on Saturday, Aug. 31 inside Stanford Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT on FOX. The Cardinal also hosts No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 11 Oregon and No. 13 Washington this season, while traveling to No. 17 UCF and No. 23 Washington State.

Stanford Stadium Enhancements
Fans will notice a number of enhancements to the game day experience at Stanford Stadium throughout the upcoming season.

Stanford Stadium experienced a major audio upgrade this past off season, with the newly installed Meyer Sound system. The 174 state of the art speakers with over 2,300 individual speaker cones create an incredibly balanced, clear, and precise audio solution. The extraordinary pattern control avoids problems often encountered in large stadium sound systems and creates a level experience for all fans regardless of location in the stadium or volume of crowd noise.

Season Ticket Members now have exclusive access to three entry gates upon arrival at Stanford Stadium. In response to feedback received from our Season Ticket Members, the new access policy provides access to STM-Only Gates 6, 9 and 12, as well as the STM entry points at the shared entry Gate 4.

STM-Only Gate Entry credentials (one per seat on your account) will still need to be accompanied by a valid game ticket, as your credential does not serve as a valid ticket for entrance into the game. Guest Services staff will monitor entry to STM-Only lines at these gates and direct all fans without this credential, and a valid ticket, to another entry point.

Season ticket members can add on the Sky Deck Experience on a full season or single game basis and catch the game from one of the best views in the house. The Sky Deck, perched atop the press box on the west sideline, provides a bird’s-eye perspective of the action, satellite TVs for viewing, comfortable lounge furniture to relax during timeouts, and complimentary food and beverage service, including beer and wine for those 21+, starting when gates open through the start of the fourth quarter.

Limited group ticket opportunities on the Sky Deck are also available, complete with a semi-private cabana space for your group to enjoy. Contact the Stanford Athletics Ticket Office at (800)-STANFORD for additional details.

Mobile ticketing is in full swing this season, as students can enjoy a fully mobile ticketing experience from the time they claim tickets until they enter Stanford Stadium. Mobile tickets enabled with near field communication technology will allow students to tap and go at the student entrance, located at Gate 3.

The new Stanford Athletics mobile app, set to launch soon, will also allow fans to manage their tickets, access exclusive offers, follow their favorite sports and stay connected to The Farm from anywhere with live game streams, news, videos, schedules, student-athlete features and more! Visit www.gostanford.com/AppDL for more information!

The bag check location previously found at the track lot has been relocated to the north end of the stadium outside Gate #9 to better accommodate the flow of fan traffic into the venue.

Featuring new stand options, additional menu items, increased value combos and health-conscious selections, Stanford’s concessions have received quite the overhaul for this season.

Here are some exciting new flavors that can be found around Stanford Stadium:

  • Los Carnalitos (Section 102) — Featuring authentic Mexican tacos, nachos, horchata and aguas frescas
  • Cardinal Sweets (Section 118) — Satisfy your sweet tooth with beignets plus ice cream sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, and churros made with Ghirardelli® chocolates and syrups
  • The New Twist (Section 113) — Order up a delicious carved roast beef sandwich, pretzels and pretzel bites with cheese pub sauce, and cold brew coffee

Your favorite food stations now have new menu items:

  • The Catch (Section 112) – Crab sandwich, clam chowder and chowder fries
  • Top Chips (Section 133) – Street corn
  • The Stadium Grille (Sections 102 & 125) – Cajun fries
  • Kikka Sushi (Section 113) – Salmon poke bowl
  • California Pizza Kitchen (Section 128) – Loaded baked potato soup and key lime pie

We’re offering savings on an expanded list of combos for $10 or less:

  • All-American Sandwiches (Section 134) – ½ Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for $10
  • Stadium Express (235) – Colossal Dog and fountain beverage for $10
  • Dog House (Sections 112, 114, 132 & 134) – Choice of Polish or Colossal Dog and fountain beverage for $10
  • Stadium Grille (Sections 102 & 125) – Hamburger and fountain beverage for $10
  • Cardinal Sweets (Section 118) – Cookie and hot chocolate made with Ghirardelli chocolate for $8
  • Fan Food (Section 118) – Popcorn and fountain beverage for $9

Fans looking for kosher, healthier and allergy-friendly options will find a new selection of meals and desserts at Farm-to-Table (Section 108):

  • Pho (vegetarian or chicken), served with rice noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro and Thai basil
  • Kosher hot dogs on a gluten-free bun or on a stick
  • Açai bowl with fresh fruit and granola
  • Mediterranean box with tabbouleh, baba ganoush, pepper hummus and carrots
  • Healthy wraps and salads
  • A rotating selection of gluten-free treats including brownies and chewy marshmallow bars

You can find a stadium concessions map and more menu detail at concessions.stanford.edu. You can also pick up a printed copy at any concessions location on game days.

2019 Football Promotions

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Saturday, August 31 • 1 p.m.
Purchase Tickets

Cardinal Kids Day, presented by Stanford Children’s Health

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Bay Area families are invited to The Farm to enjoy one of the best football teams in the area. With the purchase of an adult ticket, kids in 8th grade and below can receive a free ticket, as part of the Bill Walsh Legacy game. There will be several pregame activities, including the Kids Zone (with a petting zoo!) as part of Fan Fest, which is free to the public.

Please visit gostanford.com/cardinalkidsday for more information.

Educator Appreciation Day
The Stanford Cardinal appreciates all the hard work teachers and administrators put in everyday. All California K-12 educators can register to receive up to 4 free tickets.

 Click here to register.

Band Day
The Leland Stanford Junior Marching Band (LSJUMB) invites all high school band members to join them for a full immersion band experience. Directed by Dr. Russell Gavin, the Dr. Arthur P. Barnes Director of Band, along with band leadership, the experience will include a pregame rehearsal, pregame and halftime field show. All attendees will receive a t-shirt and lunch as well.

For more information on participating, please call 800-STANFORD or email groupsales@stanford.edu

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Saturday, September 21 • TBD
Purchase Tickets

Hall of Fame
More information on inductees coming soon.

Sexual and Relationship Violence Awareness Game
Stanford football is bringing awareness of sexual and domestic violence to the Stanford community. Stay tuned for more information, so you can join them in taking the pledge to stop this behavior.

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Saturday, October 5 • TBD
Purchase Tickets

Breast Cancer Awareness Game, presented by Stanford Medicine
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Stanford football student-athletes and coaches will be sporting pink to bring awareness to this disease and breast cancer survivors will be honored throughout the game.

Sustainability Game
Join the Cardinal in the Game Day Zero Waste Challenge as we battle other Pac-12 schools to become the greenest recycling team! Check out some of these Cardinal Green facts.

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Thursday, October 17 • 6 p.m.
Purchase Tickets

BeWell
Eligible Faculty and Staff have the opportunity to claim up to four (4) free tickets by participating in the BeWell program. Members are eligible for free tickets once they have completed their SHALA and registered an account with Stanford Athletics.

Learn more here.

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Saturday, October 26 • TBD
Purchase Tickets
Reunion Homecoming

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Make the most of Reunion and your trip back to The Farm with a Stanford football game. Opportunities for your entire class to get together come along only once every five years. Sit with your classmates by using the unique promo code distributed by the Alumni Association.

For more information, please contact Stanford Alumni Association or email reunion-info@alumni.stanford.edu

Cheer Day

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Stanford Athletics welcomes Varsity Spirit for our 2nd Annual Cheer Day at Stanford Stadium! Cheer participants will arrive pregame for an onsite practice and will have the opportunity to perform on the field with their fellow teammates during game time!

For more information, please contact Sarah Asmaro at sasmaro@stanford.edu
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(122nd Big Game)
Presented by Stanford Medicine
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Saturday, November 23 • TBD
Purchase Tickets

Long Sleeve T-Shirt Giveaway, presented by Stanford Medicine

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All Stanford fans can add more Cardinal to their closet as everyone in attendance will receive a long sleeve t-shirt, courtesy of Stanford Medicine.

Honoring Our Heroes
Join us as we honor local veterans, military, fire and police officers in conjunction with Veterans Day.

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presented by Coca-Cola
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Saturday, November 30 •  TBD
Purchase Tickets

Fan Appreciation Game
Stanford appreciates the support of their fans all season long, and will be thanking them with prize giveaways throughout the game.

Stanback to retire from Stanford men’s basketball

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By: Ana Kieu

PALO ALTO–Rising senior Trevor Stanback announced on Thursday that he will retire from basketball and not play in 2019-20, but will remain with the Stanford Cardinal men’s basketball team as a Student Assisted Coach.

“After much consideration, the doctors, my family, and I have come to a mutual agreement that I will retire from basketball due to medical reasons,” Stanback said. “We concluded it was my best option and most beneficial for my overall health moving forward. I want to thank Stanford University as well as the coaching staff for allowing me the chance to pursue my dreams and accomplish my goals both in the classroom and on the court. The guys on my team are forever my family and I plan to support them and be involved in whatever way possible.”

“Trevor is a senior leader for us and we’ll miss him on the court,” said Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball Jerod Haase. “Throughout this process, Trevor has exhibited incredible character, courage, maturity, patience and positivity. Though he will not be able to play, Trevor will remain a meaningful and essential member of the team as a student assistant for the upcoming season.”

Stanback is on track to graduate with his degree in psychology in the Spring. Stanback and the Cardinal will begin a 10-day European road trip through Italy, Switzerland and Germany on Sunday.

Stanford football goes after Pac-12 success

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By: Ana Kieu

There’s just over two weeks before Stanford’s season opener against Northwestern on August 31 at 1 p.m. in Stanford Stadium.

While many jobs are up for grabs, things are becoming clearer for David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, and his coaching staff after last Sunday’s open scrimmage.

“All in all, good on both sides,” said Shaw. “It’s physical and it’s competitive.”

Here’s a position-by-position update from Tavita Pritchard (Andrew Luck Director of Offense), Kevin M. Hogan (Quarterbacks Coach), Lance Anderson (Associate Head Coach) and Willie Shaw (Director of Defense).

Offensive Line
“We’re still not sure who the first five will be,” Pritchard said. “Overall, the group has been pretty darn good. Guys have a better understanding of the system and the things we’re trying to get done.”

Standouts have been tackles Walker Little, Foster Sarell and center Drew Dalman.

“We expect a big year out of Walker,” said Pritchard. “We need him to play like an elite tackle. Depending how things shake out, we hope to be able to keep Foster at right tackle. He’s comfortable out there and has made some big strides. Freshman Walter Rouse is also playing well at tackle.

Dalman takes over for Jesse Burkett at center.

“We’re excited about the leadership role that he’s taken on,” said Pritchard. “We need that center to be the heartbeat of the unit. The guys take their cue from him and he’s done a phenomenal job of stepping into that role.”

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Although 10 players have been practicing, the guard spots are up in the air while returnees Devery Hamilton and Henry Hattis and freshmen Bragg Branson battle through injuries. Dylan Powell is also in the mix.

“You may see a few different combinations that first game,” Pritchard said.

Wide Receivers
As expected, Connor Wedington and Michael Wilson have excelled.

“It’s good to have a guy like Connor to direct the troops,” said Pritchard. “Michael played a ton of snaps on special teams and offense last year…as many total plays as we’ve had a true freshman play. He works hard and has refined his skills as a receiver.”

Wilson was busy on Sunday and snagged a touchdown pass from Jack West.

Osiris St. Brown has been limited in camp, but Pritchard has big plans for him this season. The same with Simi Fehoko, one of the fastest players on the team.

“Osiris is a game changer,” he said. “We’ll use him to attack defenses and he knows our system. Simi is working hard to become a complete player and his ceiling is extremely high.”

Elijah Higgins, a 6-3 freshman, impressed in the scrimmage.

Tight Ends
Junior Colby Parkinson (6’7″, 251 lbs) is bigger, reduced his body fat, and is having a strong camp. Scooter Harrington and Tucker Fisk will also play key roles.

“Harrington is versatile inside and out and someone we trust,” Pritchard said. “Fisk has grown a ton since the beginning of last season and has a chance to be an exceptional blocking tight end with the ability to catch the ball and run. I wouldn’t want to tackle him.”

Running Backs
Pritchard said Dorian Maddox had a great offseason and has developed into an every-down back. “He does everything well,” he said.

Pritchard likes the versatility of fifth-year senior Cameron Scarlett and the explosiveness of Trevor Speights. Freshmen Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat have also received opportunities and impressed with speed and quickness. Peat caught a well-thrown swing pass from Davis Mills and motored for a long score.

“Those two young running backs showed us exactly what we thought when we recruited them,” Shaw said.

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Quarterbacks
K.J. Costello looks to pick up where he left off last year, establishing himself as one of the best in the country. He has been sharing time with Mills, sidelined most of the past two years due to injury.

“It’s been good to give Davis some reps with 22 guys out there,” said Pritchard. “He’s coming along with the mastery of our system and progressions.”

Since spring practice, the theme for the quarterbacks has been to execute with precision.

“I want to see mind-numbing efficiency,” he said. “Don’t get bored making the right decision. We want to be machine-like on every play. The explosive plays are going to come.”

With that mind, the Cardinal playbook has been modified.

“It’s all relative,” said Pritchard. “I think we probably still run a more complex system than most teams with what our guys are able to handle.

“In years past, we’ve carried a lot of volume. A big offseason project for our staff was to ask ourselves what we hang our hats on, what’s our foundation and core plays, and make sure we get really, really good at those.”

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Defense
Anderson saw many good things last Sunday and hopes to keep building.

“The guys played hard and there was a lot of energy,” he said. “Guys played with passion, which we love seeing out there. There were a lot of positive plays and things we can learn from.”

Anderson lauded the efforts of Jacob Mangum-Farrar and Curtis Robinson.

“Jacob made a number of plays and has been doing that since spring ball,” Anderson said. “Curtis looked good making the transition to inside linebacker.”

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Line
Anderson has experienced players who are excited to step up.

“We really need to improve and respond,” he said. “We’re really not that young anymore. This is the fourth year in the program for Jovan Swann, Michael Williams and Thomas Schaffer. Swann is having a nice camp and Thomas Booker played a lot last year and is bigger and stronger.”

Anderson said Schaffer’s play has been a pleasant surprise and also singled out Ryan Johnson and Dylan Boles.

Outside Linebackers
Casey Toohill, Jordan Fox and Gabe Reid have separated from the group so far. But they’re being pushed by Thunder Keck, Andres Fox and freshman Tobe Umerah.

“Andres is a good pass rusher and he’s long and athletic,” said Anderson. “Same with Tobe.”

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Inside Linebackers
This group started training camp with the least experience of any position, but continues to progress. Returnees Andrew Pryts and Ryan Beecher saw limited game action last year, but sophomores Magnum-Farrar and Ricky Miezan shined in spring ball and are expected to carry the load.

“Jacob has all the tools you look for and becomes a better football player each day,” Anderson said. “Ricky has been hurt but we hope to get him back next week.”

Safeties
Kendall Williamson and Stuart Head helped themselves in the scrimmage at free safety and strong safety, respectively. Both showed good speed and came up quickly against the run.

With several players nursing injuries, Noah Williams and J.J. Parson are making the most of their opportunities.

“They came here as walk-ons and earned scholarships,” said Anderson. “They do things right and whatever you ask.”

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Cornerbacks
Returning All-America Paulson Adebo is having a strong camp and Obi Eboh is the other front-runner while Treyjohn Butler and Ethan Bonner get healthy. Freshmen Kyu Blu Kelly, Zahran Manley and Salim Turner-Muhammad will all vie for playing time.

Anderson wants his defense to be more physical and it has demonstrated that in 10 practices. He also wants to minimize big plays.

“A lot of our issues were poor tackling,” Anderson said. “We’ve tried to address that since the spring.”

Shaw has instituted more one-on-one tackling periods, with tight ends going against outside linebackers, running backs going against inside linebackers and wide receivers going against defensive backs.

“I think it’s really helping,” said Anderson.

Guest Speaker
The Cardinal dedicated more than an hour on Tuesday to listen to a great message from Shan Foster, former Vanderbilt basketball player who played in the NBA and was the 2008 SEC Player of the Year. Foster’s message centered around relationship violence and redefining manhood. Foster spoke to the Cardinal — both football and men’s basketball programs — about holding their teammates and brothers accountable in the process. He ended by talking to the teams about using their influence – at home, around campus and in the locker room — to change how women are viewed, treated and respected in society in an effort to end relationship violence.

Open House
The public is invited to attend Sunday’s practice from 3-5:20 p.m. at Elliott Field. Afterward, freshmen and sophomore players will conduct a clinic for kids 18-and-under from 5:40-6:15 p.m. From 6:15-7:00 p.m., juniors and seniors will sign autographs.

Fan Fest
Many pregame activities are scheduled prior to kickoff for the Northwestern game. Located near the hammer throw area at Cobb Field, activities will include a petting zoo, rock wall climbing, face painting, a bounce house and chalk talk. Food trucks will be available and Fan Fest runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Photo credit: gostanford.com

Notes
The first AP poll is scheduled to be released on Monday…In a Sports Illustrated poll of the Greatest College Mascots of All-Time, the Stanford Tree was ranked No. 5…Freshman Joshua Pakola has been moved from outside linebacker to defensive end.

Quote
“He looks like an action figure.” — Tavita Pritchard on Colby Parkinson

Stanford football mines knowledge from 49ers and Raiders

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By: Ana Kieu

One of the many benefits of playing football at Stanford is the proximity and relationship the team has with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders.

David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, played at Stanford with 49ers general manager John Lynch in the early 90’s and coached with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden from 1997-2001 (the first year with the Philadelphia Eagles).

Last week, Shaw and his staff attended a 49ers practice and they visited the Raiders today for a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams. It’s a great way to learn, share ideas, and catch up with former players.

On Monday afternoon, Lynch and 49ers kicker Robbie Gould came to a Stanford practice.

“It’s a huge resource for us,” said senior kicker Jet Toner.

Special teams coordinator Pete Alamar met Gould last week and invited him to attend.

“He shot me a text over the weekend and said I have an off-day Monday, is it all right if I come out?” said Alamar. “He’s a football junkie and loves the game. He’s got a lot of years in the game and good knowledge.”

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Gould arrived early.

“We talked about a few things, from the mental side of the game to how much you kick on a certain day,” Alamar said. “It was fun to pick his brain.”

Gould provided pointers to Cardinal kickers and long snappers. One of the most reliable kickers in the NFL, he converted 33 of 34 field goals for San Francisco last season and has hit 82 of 85 the last three years.

“A guy that good — probably the best kicker in the league — it was great to get a few tips and reiterate what Coach Alamar says, especially from someone with so much experience,” said Toner. “It was great having him out there.”

After practice, Toner guided Gould through STRIVR, a virtual reality, immersive learning device the program has used for many years. Former Stanford kicker Derek Belch is the founder and CEO of STRIVR Labs, and the high-tech headsets are now used by many pro and college sports teams and corporations.

“I walked him through my process and how I use it,” said Toner. “He liked it and thought it was an awesome tool. He really was interested in one aspect where we take VR footage of the stadiums we visit, so the night before — even that week — while we’re prepping, we can put ourselves in that setting and sort of find high lines or places to line up the ball.”

The 49ers also use VR, but not the kickers.

“He might look into it,” Toner said of Gould. “He’s also been kicking for a long time, has his own process and knows what works best for him. I don’t know if he will incorporate it into his process.”

PLAYERS COUNCIL: Earlier this year, Cardinal players formed a team council to promote leadership and communication within the program.

“Pretty much every year you have a core of team leaders that are kind of mediators between what the coaches want and what the players want and our goals,” said junior center Drew Dalman. “This year, we formalized that and had a team vote to elect representatives from every position group. If the team wants something done, they can go through the leadership council. It’s kind of an easy way to distribute knowledge so Coach Shaw can text us and we can go to our position groups and talk about it.”

Fifth-year outside linebacker Casey Toohill thinks it has been a good way for players to stay connected.

“It serves as a way for us to have very concise and meaningful dialogue with position group heads, but also for us to serve as leaders of the team,” Toohill said. “And it’s not just us. We take feedback and will add new members at some point.”

Toner added, “I think it has helped improve communication as far as getting the message and making sure it is heard down the line. Just to make sure each guy is on it. We have some great leaders and I think it will be a useful tool.”

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EXTRA MOTIVATION: After last Sunday’s practice, members from The Program LLC addressed the team. The teams consists of world-class former special operations warriors and elite athletes, who share lessons about brotherhood, leadership and sustaining high performance.

Cardinal players spent a day in the spring training with The Program each of the last two years.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” said Dalman. “They are some of the best leaders around. They’re successful and competitive. They challenge us in different ways that we’re not used to.”

Last year, team-building exercises included carrying logs. This year, players treaded water in a pool.

“They’re great guys and put us through something that got us out of our comfort zone,” Toohill said. “They really gave us an opportunity for leadership to develop. They came here and reminded us about mental toughness. No one feels bad for us. Camp is hard but it’s really not that hard. People have it worse. We love working with them.”

CAMPBELL TROPHY: Toohill has been nominated for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by the National Football Foundation to the college player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance. Nominees must be in their final year of eligibility and maintain a 3.20 GPA.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Toohill, who carries a 3.71 GPA in political science. “I love being at a place where you’re not treated differently. You go to class and people may recognize you as an athlete, but when you’re there, you’re expected to perform the same.”

A native of San Diego, Toohill is grateful for his time on The Farm, growing as a person and a student-athlete.

“There are few things in life where you can get the best of both worlds,” Toohill said. “You often have to make choices, but Stanford is not one of them. You can succeed at the highest level academically and in sports. This has been the best experience of my life.”

The Campbell Trophy is named for late Palo Alto businessman Bill Campbell, former Chairman of Intuit, VP of Marketing, board member of Apple Inc., and beloved mentor to many Silicon Valley executives. Campbell graduated from Columbia, where he played football and served as head coach from 1974-79.

PUNTING COMPETITION: Jake Bailey was a weapon for Stanford as a punter and kickoff specialist the last four years. He was adept at changing field position for the Cardinal defense and finished as the school’s career leader in punting average at 43.71 yards per attempt. Now playing for the New England Patriots, Bailey boomed 60 of 72 kickoffs for touchbacks last season.

Early in camp, three players are vying for his punting job: senior Collin Riccitelli, sophomore Alex Gracey and freshman Ryan Sanborn.

“Ryan has done a really good job of coming in quickly and trying to learn fast,” said Alamar. “He possesses a good leg, but it’s different — just the timing and speed of my operation. From high school to college can be up to half-a-second. And to do it without hurrying. He’s also competing for the kickoff job.”

Competition could come down to the final week of training camp.

“The bottom line is what punter gives us the best chance to create positive field position for the defense,” Alamar said.

BUSY SUMMER: Like many Stanford players, Toner interned this summer with a local venture capital firm called UP2398. One of the founders is from Hawaii, where Toner grew up, and attended the same high school (Punahou).

“There’s a big Hawaii connection and the name comes from the number of air miles from San Francisco to Hawaii,” said Toner.

EXTRA POINTS: Of Stanford’s 21 scholarship freshmen, about half have completed summer school classes and the rest will finish in the next 10 days … Fall classes start on Sept. 23 … The team wore full pads for the first time on Tuesday. “It was a hot day,” Shaw said. “Guys had to push through it a little bit but it was good.” … The public is invited to attend the only open scrimmage of camp on August 11 from 3:15-5:30 p.m. at Elliott Field.

QUOTE: “Walker (Little) is practicing at a high level and Foster (Sarell) is practicing the best since he’s been here.” — David Shaw on his junior offensive linemen.

Stanford football opened training camp on Friday afternoon

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By: Ana Kieu

Whether it’s Pop Warner, high school, college or the pros, there’s something special about the first practice of the season.

That was the case Friday afternoon at Elliott Field, where 102 Stanford Cardinal players gathered in shorts, jerseys and helmets under a cloudless, blue sky. It was the first of 24 sessions before the season opener against the Northwestern Wildcats on August 31 and was crisp and fast-paced.

“Absolutely,” said senior defensive end Jovan Swann. “I started playing when I was six years old. After the hard training, just being out there with my guys was a great thing.”

Junior offensive tackle Walker Little, a preseason All-American, also felt the excitement.

“Almost more so now than when I was little in Houston,” Little said. “It was so hot and I knew I was going to be sweating. The game just elevates so much more as you get into it. There are so many more things to think about and so many things I want to get better at.”

Every practice matters.

“You work all offseason and yes it does get you ready for the season, but ultimately, it’s what you do on these days during training camp that gets you ready for the season,” said Little.

All in
Friday’s practice lasted three hours.

“It was really good,” said David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football. “Not everything was perfect. Compared to last year, we looked like a mature football team and that was great to see. Guys played hard, smart, kept teammates off the ground and were still making great effort.”

There are 21 freshmen on scholarship, and many have a chance to make impacts.

“We have adopted the mentality that we can help the young guys right away,” said Swann. “With the four-game (redshirt) rule, they’ll definitely be able to contribute. We’ve got guys who work hard and are willing to fight. We saw that throughout the summer.”

Quick start
A key theme is starting fast with Northwestern, USC, UCF and Oregon looming on the schedule in the first month. For Stanford to accomplish its goals, starting with a Pac-12 North title, it must set an early tone with focus and execution.

“There is a sense of urgency,” Swann said. “We have guys who have been around and are leading the young guys and they follow suit. It’s top down at every position.”

Said Little, “We know in the back of our minds it’s a brutal little stretch. We’re coming out of the gate swinging and don’t have time to ease into the year.”

Since the end of last season, the coaching staff has stressed maximum effort and accountability.

“We’re trying to finish each play and each practice,” Little said.

Little expects big things from the offensive line.

“This is probably the most cohesion we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Little said. “We’re all comfortable with each other and have played together. There’s been a lot of flipping the last two years because of injuries but we’re pretty solid across the board.”

Special teams
Specialty units have always been a priority under Shaw. It’s also a great way for underclassmen to get noticed and earn playing time.

“I believe it’s the way for us to win games,” said sophomore inside linebacker Jacob Mangum-Farrar, who didn’t start playing football until his freshman year of high school and saw action in the last four games in 2018.

“Playing last year, it was a great learning experience to get some college-level football in,” Mangum-Farrar said. “This year, in addition to playing my own position, I plan on starting on just about all teams. That’s my mission.”

Rankings
The preseason college football Coaches Poll was released on Thursday and Stanford ranked No. 23. Cardinal opponents who made the list were No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 12 Washington, No. 13 Oregon, No. 17 UCF, No. 21 Washington State and No. 25 Northwestern.

Extra points
The Cardinal will don full pads on Tuesday, followed by a non-practice day Wednesday … Stanford’s only open scrimmage is August 11 from 3:15-5:30 p.m. The other open practice is August 18 from 3-5:30 p.m. and features a post-practice Youth Clinic and autograph session … Shaw attended a San Francisco 49ers practice last week … Stanford will wear a uniform patch in the opener to celebrate 150 years of college football and a helmet decal to recognize the 125th year of Stanford football.

Quotable
“That’s why you come to Stanford. You want to play the best teams around the country. It’s going to test us, but we’re going to see what we’re all about.” — Walker Little on the challenging schedule.