STANFORD FOOTBALL
Are You Ready For Some Football?

By Jim Young


Toby Gerhart broke Stanford's single-season rushing record last season, finishing with 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns. Photo: David Gonzales/Stanford Athletics.

With 50 returning letterwinners, including record-setting running back Toby Gerhart, and a recruiting class that was rated among the best in the nation, Stanford has plenty of reasons to be excited about the 2009 season.

The Cardinal has made steady strides under third-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, improving its win total each of the last two seasons. In 2007, the Cardinal posted a 4-8 overall record that included an epic upset of second-ranked USC and a convincing victory over defending Pac-10 Conference co-champion California.

Last season, Stanford improved by one more game to finish 5-7 overall. Only two last-second road losses at UCLA and Oregon stood in the way of the Cardinal and a bowl berth. Along the way, Stanford amassed its second-highest single-season rushing total ever.

Gerhart became the fifth running back in school history to go over the 1,000-yard mark as he finished with 1,136 yards to break Stanford's single-season rushing record.

Stanford is more than ready to push the envelope this season as the Cardinal continue its journey to join the upper echelon of a talent-rich conference and become perennial bowl participants.

Season tickets, starting as low as $169, are available at the Stanford Athletic Ticket Office, online at www.GoStanford.com or by calling 1-800-Stanford.

Season-ticket packages for Stanford's seven-game home schedule, which includes dates against UCLA (Oct. 3), California (Nov. 21) and Notre Dame (Nov. 28), range from $169 up to $299. An attractive Family Plan option (two adults, two kids) is available for just $199.

Four-game You Pick 'Em Mini Plan ticket options begin at just $91, making Stanford Football one of the most affordable sports entertainment options in the Bay Area.

"We've been hard at work during this intense and competitive off-season, throughout winter conditioning and now halfway through our spring practices," said Coach Harbaugh. "We're forging an exciting and winning football team that every Stanford and college football fan will want to watch this fall. It's a bonus that we're blessed with a seven-game home schedule in 2009, making every game this fall at Stanford Stadium a must-see event."

After opening the season with two road games at Washington State and Wake Forest, Stanford will kick off its 2009 home schedule against longtime rival San Jose State in the annual Bill Walsh Legacy Game on Sept. 19, marking the first of three straight home games for the Cardinal. Washington (Sept. 26) and UCLA (Oct. 3) will follow the Spartans into Stanford Stadium on consecutive weekends.

Stanford will play host to Arizona State in the annual Homecoming Game on Oct. 24 and following a bye week, will entertain the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 7.

The Cardinal will close out their regular season with a pair of home games against Cal (Nov. 21) and Notre Dame (Nov. 28).

Individual game tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, Aug. 4. For individual game ticket pricing and other ticket information, please visit www.gostanford.com/tickets/football-pricing-guide.html.