STANFORD FOOTBALL
Stanford hopes to ace big test in 2011

By Estela Marie L. Go


Quarterback Andrew Luck has his eyes set on a national championship in 2011.
Photo: Bob Drebin/StanfordPhoto.com

The 2010 Stanford football team made history by finishing ranked fourth in the nation, winning the Orange Bowl and the Big Game, and finishing second in the Pac-10. The team's determination and perseverance were the talk of the Bay Area.

Setting a school record for wins (12), Stanford also accumulated a record 524 points, ranking ninth in the nation in scoring at 40.3 points per game. The defense was equally impressive, shutting out UCLA (35-0), Washington (41-0) and Oregon State (38-0). The team's only loss was against BCS title game participant Oregon (52-31). Nonetheless, the team stood strong and completed a remarkable season with coach Jim Harbaugh, who in his four-year career at Stanford turned the program around from a 1-11 season the year before he arrived.

The Cardinal featured two-way starter Owen Marecic, the winner of the Paul Hornung Award for the nation's most versatile player in what was a remarkable season. Against Notre Dame, he scored on offense and then 13 seconds later scored on defense. This was one of many Cardinal highlights in a year that boasted 25 Stanford players who earned All-Pac-10 honors.

While Harbaugh will be coaching the San Francisco 49ers next season, Heisman Trophy runner-up Andrew Luck decided to stay to complete his degree. Luck will continue on in the 2011 season, alongside starters Chris Owusu, Griff Whalen, David DeCastro and Jonathan Martin, under the guidance of new head coach David Shaw, a Stanford alum who was Harbaugh's offensive coordinator for the past four seasons.

As Shaw said when he was hired, last year's season has been wrapped up with a bow and put up on top of a shelf. There is still a lot of work to do. With fall comes a new football season, a new coach and a new team with the same goals: to compete for a national championship.

Luck will team up with tight ends Coby Fleener and Zach Ertz while running backs Jeremy Stewart, Stepfan Taylor, Tyler Gaffney and Usua Amanam will look for daylight in the backfield. On defense, the Cardinal will be led by linebackers Shayne Skov, Chase Thomas, cornerback Michael Thomas and safety Delano Howell.

Stanford will be competing in a newly expanded Pac-12. The Cardinal kicks off its seven-game home schedule with San Jose State on Sept. 3.

Season-ticket plans start at $199 and family plans start at $240. There are also mini-plans available. Single-game tickets are also available; they go on sale in early August. For more ticket information, go online at www.gostanford.com or call 1-800-Stanford (7726).