Despite the foolish and sunshiny optimism that rang through our post-Hawaii commentary (and convinced me to bet Stanford +29.5), the Cardinal were demolished by the Trojans in the Coliseum last Saturday night, 56-10.
Oh Clay Helton, where have you gone? We miss you so.
U$C Heisman darling and future Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 281 yards and 3TD, only missing 2 completions before exiting the game to count fat stacks of NIL paychecks.
Stanford trotted out two QBs for the bout. Sophomore Ashton Daniel followed up a solid performance against Hawaii with just 2 completions and an INT before getting hurt early in the second quarter. Fellow sophomore Justin Lamson went 8/18 for 121 yards–a serviceable effort that was regretttably still lesser in yards and completions than U$C's backup quarterback that same night.
Coach Taylor continued to rely on a committee approach to running backs, with Casey Filkins, EJ Smith, and Sedrick Irvin all getting touches from the backfield. Even stud TE Benjamin Yurosek recorded 5 carries (for 19 yards!), proving both that Coach Taylor intends to share the love... and that he'd try anything.
It's a shame that Stanford is hardcore rebuilding amidst cataclysmic conference upheaval, if for no other reason than it would be nice to key the door of U$C's metaphorical Bentley as a thanks for jilting us. But that is the nature of the rebuild. We endure and find light in the little things: the cool Palo Alto air blowing through our hair at 5pm on a Saturday Homecoming night, a charmingly off-pitch rendition of Welcome to Paradise by the LSJUMB, the dyed fountains and online pageantry leading up to yet another installment of Big Game...
Next week, a team with revenge aspirations of its own will visit Stanford Stadium: Troy Taylor's former Sacramento State squad will be marching into town hoping to slash the tires of Stanford's veritable lemon.
September 16th.
5PM PT.
Home Opener.
And if things go awry? Don't worry, Stanford Stadium has got you covered:
--Fear The Me.