The Tedford years show that when you have the opportunity to do something great, you have to take advantage of it, because you may not get that opportunity again. Ca.l had some really good opportunities under Tedford, but didn't take advantage. They never made a BCS game. Their high-water marks were the 2004 season, when they went 10-2 with a loss in the Holiday Bowl, and the 2006 season, when they went 10-3 with a Pac-10 co-championship and a win in the Holiday Bowl. They never were able to break into the very top level. Ca.l was unfortunate because Tedford's best years came during U.S.C.'s dominant run. Ca.l never managed to break through U.S.C.'s stranglehold on the conference.
Stanford, on the other hand, took advantage of its opportunity. We made three straight BCS games, won an undisputed conference championship, and won the Rose Bowl and the Orange Bowl. No matter what happens in our future, we will have those great seasons. Stanford was in danger of the same thing that happened to Ca.l -- having the misfortune of being the second-best team behind a dominant champion, Oregon. But we were able to beat Oregon, win the conference, and win the Rose Bowl. I'm glad we seized the moment while we had the chance.
Stanford, on the other hand, took advantage of its opportunity. We made three straight BCS games, won an undisputed conference championship, and won the Rose Bowl and the Orange Bowl. No matter what happens in our future, we will have those great seasons. Stanford was in danger of the same thing that happened to Ca.l -- having the misfortune of being the second-best team behind a dominant champion, Oregon. But we were able to beat Oregon, win the conference, and win the Rose Bowl. I'm glad we seized the moment while we had the chance.