Pac-10 Week 12 Notes and Observations: Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Cardinal 7-4 Overall (6-3 Conference)
This Week’s Score: Cal 34 – Stanford 28
Next Week’s Opponent: Notre Dame
“Cal did an outstanding job. They deserved the credit. They controlled the line of scrimmage most of the game especially in the 3rd and 4th quarter. It wasn’t just that one play. To win a game you have to win the phases: offense, defense. I thought we won special teams, but that’s only one.”- Jim Harbaugh
Who would have thought that Cal would be the physical aggressor in this game? Sure it’s an intense rivalry and the Bears undoubtedly had a chip on their shoulder, but for Jeff Tedford’s squad to control the line of scrimmage against the Cardinal is an incredible accomplishment.
Obviously Stanford didn’t want to end a special Pac-10 season by losing the Big Game, but you really have to credit the boys from Berkeley for a great effort. If it’s any consolation ‘Furd supporters, at least Arizona lost, so the Rose Bowl dream would have ended anyway.
Besides the shocking physical domination that Cal exhibited, I saw one other thing Saturday that I never would have expected. QB Andrew Luck finally looked like a freshman (10/30 157 yards 0 TDs 1 INT). For the first time since early in the year, Luck missed a few throws that he probably should have hit, and more importantly, he turned the ball over at a critical point.
Normally, I’m not one to value individual achievements over team goals, but it was tough to see Toby Gerhart’s Heisman hopes fade after such a great individual effort (20 carries 136 yards 4 TDs). Gerhart is still my choice for best tailback in America, and I can only hope that the Doak Walker Award Committee has been able to watch him play often this season.
The Cardinal defense really started to come on late in the season, but Ron Lynn’s unit couldn’t hold up against a motivated Cal offense (Bears racked up 477 yards of offense). RB Shane Vereen played out of his mind (42 carries 193 yards 3 TDs) and the Wildcat offense seemed to cause Stanford a lot of trouble.
The Pac-10 season is now over for the Cardinal, and while it didn’t end in an ideal way, a second place finish is still probable (though it could be a 4-way tie). Stanford closes out the 2009 season this week against the underwhelming Fighting Irish.
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